Continuous reinforcement material, formed by a tensed layer of warps with overlaid wefts and lateral reinforcement filaments to be heated for softening and fusing followed by cooling to give a fault-free material at high production speeds

摘要

Continuous reinforcement material is formed by a tensed layer of warps with overlaid wefts and lateral reinforcement filaments to be heated for softening and fusing followed by cooling. To produce a continuous reinforcement material, at least one layer (2) of parallel warps (3) is bonded together by lateral reinforcements (5). The warps are fed between an entry roller (20) and a pair of exit cylinders (23) to give a tensed layer (2) between them, moving from the entry to the exit . Wefts (4) are deposited on the layer of warps, without bonding, while the warps are advanced. Thermoplastic filaments (7) are introduced, at least locally, with a lower softening point than those in the main material. The layer of warps together with the laid wefts is passed through a heated section (40), with a temp. at the softening point of the bonding filaments, to bond the material at the filament intersection points and/or with the reinforcements. While still under tension, the material is advanced through a cooling stage (42) to solidify the softened filaments to give a firm bond at the fused points. An Independent claim is included for an assembly for the production of the material with a feed (3a) to deliver the continuous reinforcement filaments (3). The warps are laid in at least one tensed layer (2) between an entry roller (20) and a pair of exit rollers (23). A guide (30) lays the reinforcement wefts on the layer of tensed warps. A drive system advances the warps between the entry and exit rollers. Upstream of the outlet rollers, a heating stage (40) softens the bonding filaments, followed by a cooling stage (42) to solidify the fused bonding points.