Device for automatically layering prepreg sheets and method for layering prepreg sheets

A device for automatically layering prepreg sheets, the device forming a prepreg layered body by layering a plurality of semi-cured prepreg sheets, each of the semi-cured prepreg sheets being formed of a fiber sheet impregnated with resin, the device comprising:

• a first roller which presses a layered sheet including a release sheet and the semi-cured prepreg sheet attached to one surface of the release sheet, from an other surface of the release sheet so as to layer the semi-cured prepreg sheet forming the layered sheet on a top surface of a layered body formed of one or more layers of semi-cured prepreg sheets;
• a second roller arranged downstream from the first roller, the second roller guiding the release sheet in a direction in which the release sheet is peeled off from the semi-cured prepreg sheet layered on the top surface of the layered body;
• and
• a temperature gradient formation unit which forms a temperature gradient in a predetermined region of the layered sheet located upstream from the first roller such that the temperature is lowered in a direction from one surface of the semi-cured prepreg sheet layered on the top surface of the layered body toward the other surface of the release sheet,
• wherein the predetermined region includes a first region, and the temperature gradient formation unit is a cooling unit which cools the release sheet located in the first region from the other surface side of the release sheet.

A method for layering prepreg sheets in which a prepreg layered body is formed by layering a plurality of semi-cured prepreg sheets, each of the semi-cured prepreg sheets being formed of a fiber sheet impregnated with resin, the method comprising:

• a layering step of pressing a layered sheet including a release sheet and the semi-cured prepreg sheet attached to one surface of the release sheet, from an other surface of the release sheet with a first roller so as to layer the semi-cured prepreg sheet forming the layered sheet on a top surface of a layered body formed of one or more layers of semi-cured prepreg sheets;
• a peeling-off step of peeling off the release sheet from the semi-cured prepreg sheet layered on the top surface of the layered body with a second roller arranged downstream from the first roller after the layering step;
• and
• a temperature gradient formation step of forming a temperature gradient in a predetermined region of the layered sheet located upstream from the first roller such that the temperature is lowered in a direction from one surface of the semi-cured prepreg sheet layered on the top surface of the layered body toward the other surface of the release sheet before the layering step,
• wherein, in the temperature gradient formation step, the release sheet located in the first region of the predetermined region is cooled from the other surface side of the release sheet.