Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes – With printing or coating of workpiece – Coating or impregnating workpiece before molding or shaping...
Patent
1996-02-16
1998-07-21
Thurlow, Jeffery R.
Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes
With printing or coating of workpiece
Coating or impregnating workpiece before molding or shaping...
156180, 264143, 26417113, 26417123, 425112, 425114, 4253823, 425461, B29C 4702
Patent
active
057831297
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for producing a long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin composition composed of a thermoplastic resin and fiber bundles. The invention also relates to a die used in the production of composite materials of a thermoplastic resin and fiber bundles, and more particularly, to a coating die used in the production of a long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin composition.
BACKGROUND ART
As examples of apparatuses for producing long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin compositions, there are coating dies with interior passages. Fiber bundles are passed continuously through the interior passages, while a thermoplastic resin melt is extruded into the passages for coating the fiber bundles. The resin coat is allowed to permeate into the fiber bundles.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open (kokai) No. 63-264326 discloses a coating die used in the production of thermoplastic resin profiles reinforced with continuous long fibers. Continuous roving fibers are coated with a thermoplastic resin inside the die. FIG. 3 in the present specification is an example of the die used for coating described in that publication. A thermoplastic resin supplied from an extruder to supply tubes 2 and 2' as indicated by arrows F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 is allowed to pass through slits S.sub.1 and S.sub.2 for permeating into and coating a roving in its width direction W while the roving is moved in the direction of H.
The coating die disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open (kokai) No. 63-264326 has the drawback that supply of a resin melt, coating of fiber bundles, and impregnation of fiber bundles tend to become uneven in the width direction of the roving. Moreover, differences in supply pressure and in amount of supply of the resin which is supplied in the width direction of the roving brings about further problems of clogging of the die and breakage of fibers which occurs due to the uneven shear force against the resin generated inside the subsequent forming die.
The present invention was accomplished after careful studies in view of the above problems. It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and to provide an apparatus, a method, and a coating die for producing a long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin composition.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention is drawn to an apparatus for producing a long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin composition characterized in that at least one side of a moving web-like continuous fiber bundle which has undergone fiber-loosening is coated with a thermoplastic resin melt extruded through a slit disposed in the apparatus, the slit having substantially the same width as that of the web and being in communication with a plurality of resin supply paths branched on the same plane. A second aspect of the present invention is drawn to a method for producing a long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin composition characterized in that at least one side of a moving web-like continuous fiber bundle which has undergone fiber-loosening is coated with a thermoplastic resin melt extruded through a slit disposed in the apparatus, the slit having substantially the same width as that of the web and being in communication with a plurality of resin supply paths branched on the same plane.
A third aspect of the present invention is drawn to a coating die for producing a long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin composition in which at least one of the upper and lower sides of a continuous web-like fiber bundle which has undergone fiber-loosening and which passes through the die is coated with a thermoplastic resin melt extruded through a slit disposed in the apparatus and having substantially the same width as that of the web, characterized in that the slit is in communication with a plurality of resin supply paths branched on the same plane.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is drawn to a coating die for producing a long fiber-reinforced th
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Amaike Takeshi
Murakami Haruji
Nitoh Toshikatsu
Shirai Yoshimitsu
Polyplastics Co. Ltd.
Thurlow Jeffery R.
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