Apparatus and Method for Manufacturing Resin-Impregnated Cured Sheet, and Apparatus and Method for Manufacturing Carbonaceous Material Sheet

Abstract

An apparatus for manufacturing a resin-impregnated cured sheet includes conveyance means for conveying a long uncured fiber sheet which is obtained by using short fibers to make paper and which contains uncured resin, wherein the conveyance means is equipped with at least one rotation belt set comprising a drive roll, a follower roll, and an endless belt which is put on and around the drive roll and follower roll; resin curing means for curing the uncured resin of the uncured fiber sheet; a winding device in which a trimming cutter for trimming both side edges of the resin-impregnated cured sheet; a press roll for retaining a winding face pressure; and a winding shaft are arranged in order along a running path of the resin-impregnated cured sheet.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for manufacturing a resin-impregnated cured sheet comprising
 conveyance means for conveying a long uncured fiber sheet which is obtained by using short fibers to make paper and which contains uncured resin, wherein the conveyance means is equipped with at least one rotation belt set comprising a drive roll, a follower roll, and an endless belt which is put on and around the drive roll and follower roll;   resin curing means for curing the uncured resin of the uncured fiber sheet;   a winding device in which a trimming cutter for trimming both side edges of the resin-impregnated cured sheet;   a press roll for retaining a winding face pressure; and   a winding shaft are arranged in order along a running path of the resin-impregnated cured sheet.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for manufacturing a resin-impregnated cured sheet according to  claim 17 , wherein the conveyance means is equipped with a least two upper and lower rotation belt sets which are arranged in a paired manner so as to sandwich a conveyance path of the uncured fiber sheet. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for manufacturing a resin-impregnated cured sheet according to  claim 17 , wherein the resin curing means includes a pair of heating and pressuring rolls which are arranged so as to nip the uncured fiber sheet through the endless belt. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for manufacturing a resin-impregnated cured sheet according to  claim 18 , wherein the resin curing means includes a pair of heating and pressuring rolls which are arranged so as to nip the uncured fiber sheet through the endless belt. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for manufacturing a resin-impregnated cured sheet according to  claim 17 , wherein the resin curing means is provided with a heating liquid pressure device which is arranged so as to nip the uncured fiber sheet through the endless belt. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for manufacturing a resin-impregnated cured sheet according to  claim 17 , wherein the resin curing means is equipped with at least a preheating section and a heating and pressuring section. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for manufacturing a resin-impregnated cured sheet according to  claim 18 , wherein the resin curing means is equipped with at least a preheating section and a heating and pressuring section. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for manufacturing a resin-impregnated cured sheet, according to  claim 17 , wherein the resin curing means is provided with a heating liquid pressure device which is arranged so as to nip the uncured fiber sheet through the endless belt. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for manufacturing a resin-impregnated cured sheet according to  claim 27 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a winding device in which a trimming cutter for trimming with side edges of the resin-impregnated cured sheet, a press roll for retaining a winding face pressure, and a winding shaft are arranged in order along a running path of the resin-impregnated cured sheet. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for manufacturing a resin-impregnated cured sheet according to  claim 17 , wherein the resin curing means includes pairs of the heating and pressuring rolls which are arranged so as to nip the uncured fiber sheet through the endless belt. 
     
     
         27 . A method for manufacturing a resin-impregnated cured sheet using an apparatus adapted for the manufacture of a resin-impregnated cured sheet that comprises:
 conveyance means for conveying a long uncured fiber sheet which is obtained by using short fibers to make paper and which contains uncured resin, the conveyance means including upper and lower rotation belt sets each comprising a drive roll, a follower roll, and an endless belt which is put on and around the drive roll and follower roll;   resin curing means for curing the uncured resin of the uncured fiber sheet including a continuous heating and pressurization device having an inner space thereof, wherein said resin curing means includes a pair of heating and pressuring rolls arranged for nipping said uncured fiber sheet through said endless belts, whereby said method includes nipping said uncured fiber sheet through said endless belts using the pair of heating and pressuring rolls;   a winding device including a trimming cutter for trimming both side edges of the resin-impregnated cured sheet;   a press roll for retaining a winding face pressure; and   a winding shaft are arranged in order along a running path of the resin-impregnated cured sheet,   said method including steps of:   positioning a portion of the upper endless belt above the uncured fiber sheet and positioning a portion of the lower endless belt below the uncured fiber sheet such that the sheet is disposed between the portions of the upper and lower endless belts;   advancing the portions of the endless belts and the uncured fiber sheet disposed therebetween into the inner space of the continuous heating and pressurization device;   introducing a fluid into the inner space of the continuous heating and pressurization device above the upper endless belt and below the lower endless belt, the fluid being at a temperature of about 350 degrees Celsius or less and a pressure between about 1.5×10 4  N/m 2  and about 1.0×10 5  N/m 2 ;   contacting the fluid against the endless belts to heat and compress the uncured fiber sheet through the endless belts to produce a cured fiber sheet by curing the uncured resin of the fiber sheet; and   winding up the cured fiber sheet about the winding shaft using the winding device and the press roll.   
     
     
         28 . A method for manufacturing a resin-impregnated cured sheet according to  claim 27 , wherein the uncured fiber sheet contains a carbon short fiber and an organic polymer-based binder. 
     
     
         29 . A method for manufacturing a resin-impregnated cured sheet using an apparatus adapted for the manufacture of a resin-impregnated cured sheet that comprises:
 conveyance means for conveying a long uncured fiber sheet which is obtained by using short fibers to make paper and which contains uncured resin, the conveyance means including upper and lower rotation belt sets each comprising a drive roll, a follower roll, and an endless belt which is put on and around the drive roll and follower roll;   resin curing means for curing the uncured resin of the uncured fiber sheet including a continuous heating and pressurization device having an inner space thereof;   a winding device including a trimming cutter for trimming both side edges of the resin-impregnated cured sheet; a press roll for retaining a winding face pressure; and   a winding shaft are arranged in order along a running path of the resin-impregnated cured sheet,   said method including steps of:   positioning a portion of the upper endless belt above the uncured fiber sheet and positioning a portion of the lower endless belt below the uncured fiber sheet such that the sheet is disposed between the portions of the upper and lower endless belts;   advancing the portions of the endless belts and the uncured fiber sheet disposed therebetween into the inner space of the continuous heating and pressurization device;   introducing a fluid into the inner space of the continuous heating and pressurization device above the upper endless belt and below the lower endless belt, the fluid being at a temperature of about 350 degrees Celsius or less and a pressure between about 1.5×10 4  N/m 2  and about 1.0×10 5  N/m 2 ;   contacting the fluid against the endless belts to heat and compress the uncured fiber sheet through the endless belts to produce a cured fiber sheet by curing the uncured resin of the fiber sheet; and   winding up the cured fiber sheet about the winding shaft using the winding device and the press roll.