# US 2023/0056597 A1 · Processing apparatus for composite material and processing method for composite material

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- Number: US 2023/0056597 A1
- Document ID: US20230056597A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/882,983
- Filed: 2022-08-08
- Published: 2023-02-23
- Earliest claimed: 2021-08-18
- Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
- Applicants: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
- Inventors: Yuki KANI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230056597A1

## CPC

- B29C 70/46: using matched moulds, e.g. for deforming sheet moulding compounds [SMC] or prepregs
- B29C 70/462: {Moulding structures having an axis of symmetry or at least one channel, e.g. tubular structures, frames}
- B29C 33/04: using liquids, gas or steam {(tyre moulds with incorporated heating or cooling means using liquids, gas or steam B29D30/0601)}
- B29C 33/34: movable, e.g. to or from the moulding station
- B29C 33/565: {Consisting of shell-like structures supported by backing material}
- B29C 35/16: Cooling {(cooling extruded material B29C48/911; cooling preforms for blow moulding B29C49/6427; cooling blown articles B29C49/66; cooling tyres during post cure inflation B29D30/0643)}
- B29C 70/18: in the form of a mat, e.g. sheet moulding compound [SMC]
- B29C 70/541: {Positioning reinforcements in a mould, e.g. using clamping means for the reinforcement (positioning inserts in moulds B29C33/12; lay-up on a mould B29C70/30)}
- B29C 2035/1616: {using liquids}
- B29D 99/0003: {Producing profiled members, e.g. beams}
- B29K 2101/12: Thermoplastic materials
- B29K 2105/0863: {SMC, i.e. sheet moulding compound}
- B29K 2307/04: Carbon
- B29L 2031/3076: {Aircrafts (blades, propellers B29L2031/08)}
- Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction
- 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)
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- 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
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

An object of the disclosure is to improve the quality of a molded component after processed. A processing apparatus 10 is the processing apparatus 10 for a composite material 1 in which fibers and a thermoplastic resin are compounded. The processing apparatus 10 includes: a pair of pallets 20 configured to clamp the composite material 1; a heating die 30 configured to press and heat the composite material 1 via the pair of pallets 20; a cooling die 40 configured to press and cool the composite material 1 via the pair of pallets 20; a temperature adjustment unit configured to adjust a temperature of the cooling die 40; and a conveyance device 50 configured to convey the pair of pallets 20 clamping the composite material 1 from the heating die 30 to the cooling die 40.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A processing apparatus for a composite material in which fibers and a thermoplastic resin are compounded, the processing apparatus comprising:
a pair of pallets configured to clamp the composite material;
a heating die configured to press and heat the composite material via the pair of pallets;
a cooling die configured to press and cool the composite material via the pair of pallets;
a temperature adjustment unit configured to adjust a temperature of the cooling die; and
a conveyance unit configured to convey the pair of pallets clamping the composite material from the heating die to the cooling die.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The processing apparatus for the composite material according to claim 1 further comprising a restriction part configured to restrict relative movement between the pair of pallets.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The processing apparatus for the composite material according to claim 1,
wherein the cooling die includes a first contact part with which a first region of the composite material comes into contact via the pallet and a second contact part with which a second region of the composite material comes into contact via the pallet, and
wherein the temperature adjustment unit adjusts temperatures of the first contact part and the second contact part in accordance with shapes of the first and second regions of the composite material with which the first and second contact parts come into contact, respectively.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The processing apparatus for the composite material according to claim 2,
wherein the cooling die includes a first contact part with which a first region of the composite material comes into contact via the pallet and a second contact part with which a second region of the composite material comes into contact via the pallet, and
wherein the temperature adjustment unit adjusts temperatures of the first contact part and the second contact part in accordance with shapes of the first and second regions of the composite material with which the first and second contact parts come into contact, respectively.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The processing apparatus for the composite material according to claim 1,
wherein the cooling die includes a first contact part with which a first region of the composite material comes into contact via the pallet and a second contact part with which a second region of the composite material comes into contact via the pallet, and
wherein the temperature adjustment unit adjusts temperatures of the first contact part and the second contact part in accordance with positions of the first and second regions of the composite material with which the first and second contact parts come into contact, respectively.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The processing apparatus for the composite material according to claim 2,
wherein the cooling die includes a first contact part with which a first region of the composite material comes into contact via the pallet and a second contact part with which a second region of the composite material comes into contact via the pallet, and
wherein the temperature adjustment unit adjusts temperatures of the first contact part and the second contact part in accordance with positions of the first and second regions of the composite material with which the first and second contact parts come into contact, respectively.

### Claim 7

A processing method for a composite material in which fibers and a thermoplastic resin are compounded, the processing method comprising:
pressing and heating the composite material by a heating die via a pair of pallets clamping the composite material;
pressing and cooling the composite material by a cooling die having a temperature adjustment unit via the pair of pallets; and
conveying the pair of pallets clamping the composite material from the heating die to the cooling die.