Title of Invention	AN EJECTION NOZZLE
Abstract	The present invention relates to an ejection nozzle for transport of fibre thread pieces by means of compressed air, e.g. reinforcement material for manufacturing fibre reinforced plastic products, from a cutter to a moulding cavity, which nozzle is provided with a common flow duct for the compressed air and the fibre thread pieces, characterized in that the flow duct passes along at least one reflector surface (15) for the air flow, and that at least one opening (16) for evacuation of air to the surroundings is located along the flow duct. PRICE: THIRTY RUPEES

Title of Invention

AN EJECTION NOZZLE

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ejection nozzle for transport of fibre thread pieces by means of compressed air, e.g. reinforcement material for manufacturing fibre reinforced plastic products, from a cutter to a moulding cavity, which nozzle is provided with a common flow duct for the compressed air and the fibre thread pieces, characterized in that the flow duct passes along at least one reflector surface (15) for the air flow, and that at least one opening (16) for evacuation of air to the surroundings is located along the flow duct. PRICE: THIRTY RUPEES

Full Text	The present invention refers to an ejection nozzle for transport of fibre thread pieces by means of compressed air, e.g. reinforcement material for manufacturing fibre reinforced plastic products, from a cutter to a moulding cavity, which nozzle is provided with a common flow duct for the compressed air and the fibre thread pieces. BACKGROUND OF THK INVENTJON In robot-controlled production of fibre reinforced plastic products, fibre thread pieces are fed out into a moulding cavity while being oriented, so that the strength of the fibres is utilized efficiently in the finished product. Compressed air is used for the transport of the cut fibre pieces from the cutter to the moulding cavity. If the pressure/speed of the compressed air is not sufficiently high at the cutter, static electricity will make fibre pieces stick to the vicinity of the cutter, so that the feeding out is stopped up. This may be economically seriously damaging if the operations at a production line which depends upon said plastic details, is also influenced by the production loss. However, if air pressure/speed is too high at the moulding cavity, fibre pieces may be oriented wrongly in said cavity, simply by being blown away from their intended location, or because they are deflected from the mould surface by having to high kinetic energy. The problems can be reduced if it is possible to maintain an optimal distance between the feed out apparatus and the moulding cavity. However, this is hardly ever possible, e.g. because of lack of space. One object of the present invention is therefore to provide an apparatus for feeding out fibre thread pieces from a cutter, which makes it possible to maintain a high air pressure/velocity at the cutter and at the same time avoid that the fibres end up wrong in the moulding cavity, or outside the same. THE-SOLUTIGN For this purpose, the apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the flow duct runs past at least one reflector surface for the air flow, and that at least one opening for evacuation of air to the surroundings is located along the flow duct. present invention provides an ejection nozzle for transport of fibre thread pieces by means of compressed air, e.g. reinforcement material for manufacturing fibre reinforced plastic products, from a cutter to a moulding cavity, which nozzle is provided with a common flow duct for the compressed air and the fibre thread pieces, characterized in that the flow duct passes along at least one reflector surface for the air flow, and that at least one opening for evacuation of air to the surroundings is located along the flow duct The invention will be described here below with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. lis a side view of a dan^r unit according to the invention. Fig.2 is an end view of the damper unit in Fig. 1, and Fig.3 shows a series of units according to Fig.l and 2 joined together into an ejector nozzle. The ejector nozzle shown in Fig. 3 is used mounted upon a not shown robot arm, for feeding out fibre thread pieces fi-om a likewise not shown cutter to a moulding cavity. The robot arm is preferably fireely movable in space and is controlled by a programmable micro processor. The ejector nozzle in Fig. 3 is carried by and is supplied with compressed air and fibre thread pieces via an ejector tube 10. The nozzle comprises in the shown embodiment a series of three damper units 11. Together, the ejector tube 10 and the damper unit 11 form a flow duct with varying diameter for the compressed air and the fibre thread pieces. Thus, the ejector tube 10 form a first section of the flow duct, which protrudes into and carries a first damper unit 11. This damper unit in its turn protrudes into and carries a second damper unit, which in its turn carries a third damper unit 11. \s is shown in Fig. 1 and 2, each damper unit 11 comprises a first cylindric tube part 12 and a second tube part 13 with a cross section 13 which is reduced in relation to the first tube part 12. The tube part 13 forms a bracket means with three radially protruding wings 14. the tube part 13 V7ith the bracket means 14 is entirely )rotruding into the cylindrical tube part 12 on the next following damper unit 11, in such a way that the wings 14 ire centring the units along a common longitudinal axis. 'he cylindrical tube part 12 and the tube part 13 with the •racket means 14 are interconnected via tube part 15 which apers conically in the direction of flow. In its position if use, the tube part 15 which tapers in the direction of ir flow forms a reflection surface for the air flow, so hat it is slowed down. Thus, the tube part 15 creates a ocal increase in pressure in front of the mouth of the flow act tube part 13, which forces air to flow back along the utside of the ejector tube 10 and the outside of the revious damper unit tube part 13, respectively, between the hree wings 14 and to evacuate to the surrounding tmosphere. For this purpose, there are also holes 16 rilled in the cylindric tube part 12. While the air stream in this way is slowed down step by step via the damper units 11, the fibre thread pieces which have initially been accelerated by the air stream may on the whole maintain its kinetic energy during the passage through the ejector nozzle. This implies that the range is maintained for the fibre pieces, and that the air flow at the end of the ejector nozzle is so reduced, that it is not able to disturb the already transported fibres in the moulding. It is simple to adapt the ejector nozzle according to the invention to different modes of application by selecting a suitable number of damper units. The invention is not limited to the above described embodiment, but several variants are possible within the scope of the accompanying claims. For example, the tube parts 12, 13 of the damper units do not have to be cylindric. The shape of the reflector surface 15 can also vary within wide limits. The holes 16 are not necessary for the invention, because air can leave between the end edge of the tube part 12 and the outside of the reflector wall 15. Also, the diameter of the tube parts 13 may vary between the damper units 11 along the flow duct, so that the last tube part 13 in the direction of flow has a reduced diameter. WE CLAIM: An ejection nozzle for transport of fibre thread pieces by means of compressed air, e.g. reinforcement material for manufacturing fibre reinforced plastic products, from a cutter to a moulding cavity, which nozzle is provided with a common flow duct for the compressed air and the fibre thread pieces, characterized in that the flow duct passes along at least one reflector surface (15) for the air flow, and that at least one opening (16) for evacuation of air to the surroundings is located along the flow duct. The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the said reflector surface (15) is provided with a cross section which is tapering in the direction of flow, and which runs between a first tube part (12) and a second tube part (13) with a smaller diameter than said first tube part. The nozzle according to claim 2, wherein the said reflector surface (15) forms a damper unit (11) together with the two tube parts (12, 13). The nozzle according to claim 3, wherein it comprises a series of reflector surface (15) forming a series of damper units (11) with a variable quantity. The nozzle according to claim 4, wherein the second tube part (13) is provided with a bracket means (14) for the next following damper unit (11). The nozzle according to claim 5, wherein the bracket means (14) comprise wings protruding radially from the mantle surface. The nozzle according to claim 5, wherein the bracket means (14) protrude entirely into the first tube part (12) of the next following damper thereby centering this. The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the reflector surface (15) is conically tapering. An ejection nozzle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Full Text

The present invention refers to an ejection nozzle for transport of fibre thread pieces by means of compressed air, e.g. reinforcement material for manufacturing fibre reinforced plastic products, from a cutter to a moulding cavity, which nozzle is provided with a common flow duct for the compressed air and the fibre thread pieces.
BACKGROUND OF THK INVENTJON
In robot-controlled production of fibre reinforced plastic products, fibre thread pieces are fed out into a moulding cavity while being oriented, so that the strength of the fibres is utilized efficiently in the finished product. Compressed air is used for the transport of the cut fibre pieces from the cutter to the moulding cavity.
If the pressure/speed of the compressed air is not sufficiently high at the cutter, static electricity will make fibre pieces stick to the vicinity of the cutter, so that the feeding out is stopped up. This may be economically seriously damaging if the operations at a production line which depends upon said plastic details, is also influenced by the production loss.
However, if air pressure/speed is too high at the moulding cavity, fibre pieces may be oriented wrongly in said cavity, simply by being blown away from their intended location, or because they are deflected from the mould surface by having to high kinetic energy.
The problems can be reduced if it is possible to maintain an optimal distance between the feed out apparatus and the

moulding cavity. However, this is hardly ever possible, e.g. because of lack of space.

One object of the present invention is therefore to provide an apparatus for feeding out fibre thread pieces from a cutter, which makes it possible to maintain a high air pressure/velocity at the cutter and at the same time avoid that the fibres end up wrong in the moulding cavity, or outside the same.
THE-SOLUTIGN
For this purpose, the apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the flow duct runs past at least one reflector surface for the air flow, and that at least one opening for evacuation of air to the surroundings is located along the flow duct.

present invention provides an ejection nozzle for transport of fibre thread pieces by means of compressed air, e.g. reinforcement material for manufacturing fibre reinforced plastic products, from a cutter to a moulding cavity, which nozzle is provided with a common flow duct for the compressed air and the fibre thread pieces, characterized in that the flow duct passes along at least one reflector surface for the air flow, and that at least one opening for evacuation of air to the surroundings is located along the flow duct
The invention will be described here below with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. lis a side view of a dan^r unit according to the invention.
Fig.2 is an end view of the damper unit in Fig. 1, and
Fig.3 shows a series of units according to Fig.l and 2 joined together into an
ejector nozzle.
The ejector nozzle shown in Fig. 3 is used mounted upon a not shown robot arm, for feeding out fibre thread pieces fi-om a likewise not shown cutter to a moulding cavity. The robot arm is preferably fireely movable in space and is controlled by a programmable micro processor.
The ejector nozzle in Fig. 3 is carried by and is supplied with compressed air and fibre thread pieces via an ejector

tube 10. The nozzle comprises in the shown embodiment a series of three damper units 11.
Together, the ejector tube 10 and the damper unit 11 form a flow duct with varying diameter for the compressed air and the fibre thread pieces. Thus, the ejector tube 10 form a first section of the flow duct, which protrudes into and carries a first damper unit 11. This damper unit in its turn protrudes into and carries a second damper unit, which in its turn carries a third damper unit 11.
\s is shown in Fig. 1 and 2, each damper unit 11 comprises a first cylindric tube part 12 and a second tube part 13 with a cross section 13 which is reduced in relation to the first tube part 12. The tube part 13 forms a bracket means with three radially protruding wings 14.
the tube part 13 V7ith the bracket means 14 is entirely )rotruding into the cylindrical tube part 12 on the next following damper unit 11, in such a way that the wings 14 ire centring the units along a common longitudinal axis.
'he cylindrical tube part 12 and the tube part 13 with the
•racket means 14 are interconnected via tube part 15 which
apers conically in the direction of flow. In its position
if use, the tube part 15 which tapers in the direction of
ir flow forms a reflection surface for the air flow, so
hat it is slowed down. Thus, the tube part 15 creates a
ocal increase in pressure in front of the mouth of the flow
act tube part 13, which forces air to flow back along the
utside of the ejector tube 10 and the outside of the
revious damper unit tube part 13, respectively, between the
hree wings 14 and to evacuate to the surrounding
tmosphere. For this purpose, there are also holes 16
rilled in the cylindric tube part 12.

While the air stream in this way is slowed down step by step via the damper units 11, the fibre thread pieces which have initially been accelerated by the air stream may on the whole maintain its kinetic energy during the passage through the ejector nozzle. This implies that the range is maintained for the fibre pieces, and that the air flow at the end of the ejector nozzle is so reduced, that it is not able to disturb the already transported fibres in the moulding.
It is simple to adapt the ejector nozzle according to the invention to different modes of application by selecting a suitable number of damper units.
The invention is not limited to the above described embodiment, but several variants are possible within the scope of the accompanying claims. For example, the tube parts 12, 13 of the damper units do not have to be cylindric. The shape of the reflector surface 15 can also vary within wide limits. The holes 16 are not necessary for the invention, because air can leave between the end edge of the tube part 12 and the outside of the reflector wall 15. Also, the diameter of the tube parts 13 may vary between the damper units 11 along the flow duct, so that the last tube part 13 in the direction of flow has a reduced diameter.

WE CLAIM:
An ejection nozzle for transport of fibre thread pieces by means of compressed air, e.g. reinforcement material for manufacturing fibre reinforced plastic products, from a cutter to a moulding cavity, which nozzle is provided with a common flow duct for the compressed air and the fibre thread pieces, characterized in that the flow duct passes along at least one reflector surface (15) for the air flow, and that at least one opening (16) for evacuation of air to the surroundings is located along the flow duct.
The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the said reflector surface (15) is provided with a cross section which is tapering in the direction of flow, and which runs between a first tube part (12) and a second tube part (13) with a smaller diameter than said first tube part.
The nozzle according to claim 2, wherein the said reflector surface (15) forms a damper unit (11) together with the two tube parts (12, 13).
The nozzle according to claim 3, wherein it comprises a series of reflector surface (15) forming a series of damper units (11) with a variable quantity.
The nozzle according to claim 4, wherein the second tube part (13) is provided with a bracket means (14) for the next following damper unit (11).
The nozzle according to claim 5, wherein the bracket means (14) comprise wings protruding radially from the mantle surface.
The nozzle according to claim 5, wherein the bracket means (14) protrude entirely into the first tube part (12) of the next following damper thereby centering this.

The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the reflector surface (15) is conically tapering.
An ejection nozzle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

1062-mas-1995 abstract.jpg

1062-mas-1995 abstract.pdf

1062-mas-1995 claims.pdf

1062-mas-1995 correspondence-others.pdf

1062-mas-1995 correspondence-po.pdf

1062-mas-1995 description (complete).pdf

1062-mas-1995 drawings.pdf

1062-mas-1995 form-1.pdf

1062-mas-1995 form-26.pdf

1062-mas-1995 form-4.pdf

1062-mas-1995 others.pdf

1062-mas-1995 petition.pdf

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Patent Number

190413

Indian Patent Application Number

1062/MAS/1995

PG Journal Number

30/2009

Publication Date

24-Jul-2009

Grant Date

15-Mar-2004

Date of Filing

22-Aug-1995

Name of Patentee

APLICATOR SYSTEM AB

Applicant Address

METALLVAGEN 65435 33 MOLNL YCKE

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	KJELL SAND	VITLINGGATAN S-421 58 VASTRA FROLUNDA SWEDEN

PCT International Classification Number

B05B1/00

PCT International Application Number

N/A

PCT International Filing date

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1			NA