# US 10,245,791 B2 · Device and method for producing a reinforcing structure on the surface of a moulding > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,791 B2 - Document ID: US10245791B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/528,247 - Filed: 2015-11-10 - Published: 2017-11-16 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-20 - Assignees: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Jakob Steven Marten Kok; Patrick Koelzer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245791B2 ## CPC - B29C 66/65: {with a relative motion between the article and the welding tool (B29C65/10, B29C65/12 take precedence)} - B29C 65/1632: {direct heating the surfaces to be joined} - B29C 65/1645: {heating both sides of the joint, e.g. by using two lasers or a split beam} - B29C 65/1658: {scanning once, e.g. contour laser welding} - B29C 65/167: {using laser diodes} - B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)} - B29C 66/45: {Joining of substantially the whole surface of the articles (methods or apparatus for laminating B32B37/00)} - B29C 66/5326: {said single elements being substantially flat} - B29C 66/61: {Joining from or joining on the inside (for making tubes by bending sheets and joining from the inside B29C53/387)} - B29C 66/636: {using a support which remains in the joined object} - B29C 66/73921: {characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics} - B29C 66/8181: {characterised by the cooling constructional aspects} - B29C 66/83411: {Roller, cylinder or drum types (B29C66/83431 takes precedence; rollers, cylinders or drums moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined B29C66/8362)} - B29C 66/9192: {in explicit relation to another variable, e.g. temperature diagrams} - B29C 70/38: Automated lay-up, e.g. using robots, laying filaments according to predetermined patterns {(application heads for tyres B29D30/28)} - B29C 70/386: {Automated tape laying [ATL]} - B29C 66/7212: {characterised by the composition of the fibres} - B29C 66/83413: {cooperating rollers, cylinders or drums} - B29C 2035/0838: {using laser} - B29K 2105/12: of short lengths, e.g. chopped filaments, staple fibres or bristles - B29L 2031/7156: {Pressure vessels} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract The present invention discloses a device for producing a reinforcing structure, which comprises a strip that is fiber-reinforced and comprises thermoplastic material, on the surface of a molding. The device is characterized in that it is designed such that the laser diode array directly irradiates the heating-up area of the strip and/or the heating-up area of the surface of the molding or of the already formed reinforcing structure, wherein the laser diodes of the laser diode array are formed as surface emitters. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for producing a reinforcing structure, which comprises a fiber-reinforced strip including a thermoplastic material, on a molded body surface of a molded body, the device comprising: a contact pressure unit for pressing the strip onto the molded body surface; the strip positionable between the contact pressure unit and the molded body surface such that a contact pressure region of the strip is bringable into contact with the contact pressure unit and the molded body surface, whereby the strip is subjectable to a force in a direction of the molded body surface by of the contact pressure unit; the device comprises a translation and/or rotation unit coupled in terms of motion to the molded body and/or to the contact pressure unit such that a motion and/or a rotation of the molded body relative to the contact pressure unit is achievable, whereby the strip is applyable to the molded body surface, wherein during application of the strip to the molded body surface, the contact pressure unit moves in a direction of relative motion (R1) with respect to the molded body surface, and the strip is pulled in a pulling direction (R2) in relation to the contact pressure unit; at least one laser diode array having a multiplicity of laser diodes for irradiating a heating surface of the strip ahead of the contact pressure region of the strip in the pulling direction (R2), and/or for irradiating a heating surface of the molded body after the contact pressure region of the strip in the direction of relative motion (R1); the strip is meltable locally in the region of the heating surface thereof and/or the molded body surface is meltable locally in the region of the heating surface thereof by irradiation by the laser diode array to join the strip to the molded body by pressing the strip onto the molded body surface by the contact pressure unit: the laser diode array directly irradiates the heating surface of the strip and/or the heating surface of the molded body or the reinforcing structure; and the laser diodes of the laser diode array are configured as surface emitters. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein emission direction vectors of at least two laser diodes are aligned in a nonparallel manner to one another and are directed toward one another in a direction of the heating surface of the strip and/or the heating surface of the molded body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: an irradiation module comprising the laser diode array; the irradiation module has at least two emission surfaces, each facing the heating surface of the strip and/or the heating surface of the molded body; at least one laser diode of the laser diode array is arranged in each of the emission surfaces, wherein an emission direction vector of at least one laser diode of the at least one laser diode of the laser diode array arranged in each of the emission surfaces is oriented parallel to a normal vector of the emission surface; and an angle enclosed by two adjacent emission surfaces is changeable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: an irradiation module comprising the laser diode array; the irradiation module has at least two emission surfaces, each facing the heating surface of the strip and/or the heating surface of the molded body; at least one laser diode of the laser diode array is arranged in each of the emission surfaces, wherein an emission direction vector of at least one laser diode of the at least one laser diode of the laser diode array arranged in each of the emission surfaces is oriented parallel to the normal vector of the emission surface; and the normal vectors of the emission surfaces are aligned in a nonparallel manner to one another and are directed toward one another in the direction of the heating surface of the strip and/or the heating surface of the molded body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: an irradiation module comprising the laser diode array; the irradiation module has at least one emission surface facing the heating surface of the strip and/or the heating surface of the molded body; the at least one emission surface is of concave design; and the laser diodes of the laser diode array are arranged spaced apart in the emission surface, wherein respective emission direction vectors of the laser diodes are oriented parallel to the local normal vectors of the at least one emission surface surrounding them, whereby the emission direction vectors of at least two laser diodes are aligned in a nonparallel manner to one another and are directed toward one another in a direction of the heating surface of the strip and/or the heating surface of the molded body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the laser diodes of the laser diode array are spaced apart in a non-equidistant manner. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an emission output of the individual laser diodes of the laser diode array are separately settable by means of a control unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the laser diode array is adapted to emit a radiation field which causes such a nonuniform intensity distribution on the heating surface of the strip that the radiation intensity on the heating surface at least in one section of the strip decreases in the pulling direction (R2). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a heating unit, by which the strip ahead of the heating surface in the pulling direction (R2) is heatable to a predetermined temperature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a second laser diode array in addition to the first laser diode array, the second laser diode array being configured to heat the heating surface of the strip, which heating surface is to be brought into contact with the molded body; and the second laser diode array comprises a multiplicity of laser diodes for irradiating a rear side of the strip situated opposite the heating surface of the strip. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one laser diode array is adapted to irradiate the heating surface of the molded body after the contact pressure region in the direction of relative motion (R1), wherein the laser diode array is adapted to emit a radiation field which causes such a nonuniform intensity distribution on the heating surface of the molded body that the radiation intensity on the heating surface at least in one section of the molded body decreases counter to the direction of relative motion (R1). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the laser diode array is adapted to heat the respective heating surfaces of the strip and of the molded body to different temperatures in the regions immediately ahead of a line of contact of the strip with the molded body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact pressure unit is configured as a contact pressure roller having an outer surface formed of an elastomeric material, whereby the contact area between the contact pressure roller and the strip increases as the strip is pressed onto the molded body with an increasing force by the contact pressure roller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact pressure unit in the region that is bringable into contact with the strip and with the molded body is substantially transparent for the radiation emitted by the laser diode array. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing structure is a supporting sleeve of a pressurized container and the molded body is an inner container of the pressurized container. ### Claim 16 A method for producing a reinforcing structure, which comprises a fiber-reinforced strip including a thermoplastic material, on a molded body surface of a molded body, wherein the method has the following method steps: positioning the strip between a contact pressure unit and the molded body surface such that a contact pressure region of the strip is in contact with the contact pressure unit and the molded body surface, subjecting the contact pressure unit to a force in a direction of the molded body surface, such that the strip is pressed onto the molded body surface; moving and/or rotating the molded body relative to the contact pressure unit such that the molded body and the contact pressure unit perform a relative movement and/or a relative rotation with respect to one another, whereby the strip is applied to the molded body surface, wherein the contact pressure unit moves in a direction of relative motion (R1) with respect to the molded body surface, and the strip is pulled in a pulling direction (R2) in relation to the contact pressure unit; irradiating, directly and without intermediary, a heating surface of the strip ahead of the contact pressure region of the strip in the pulling direction (R2), and/or irradiating a heating surface of the molded body after the contact pressure region in the direction of relative motion (R1), by a multiplicity of laser diodes of a laser diode array; and locally melting the strip in the region of the heating surface thereof and/or the molded body surface in the region of the heating surface thereof by the laser diode array, such that the strip is joined to the molded body by pressing the strip onto the molded body surface by the contact pressure unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising changing at least one angle between radiation direction vectors of adjacent laser diodes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein, before irradiating, directly and without intermediary, the heating surface of the strip ahead of the contact pressure region of the strip in the pulling direction (R2), the strip is heated to a predetermined temperature by a heating unit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising heating a rear side of the strip situated opposite the heating surface of the strip by a second laser diode array. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the laser diode array emits a radiation field which causes such a nonuniform intensity distribution on the heating surface of the molded body that the radiation intensity on the heating surface at least in one section of the molded body decreases counter to the direction of relative motion (R1).