Reversing fiber placement head
AssigneeFives Machining Systems, Inc.
InventorMilo M. Vaniglia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reversing fiber placement head that is capable of bidirectional fiber placement on an application surface includes a feed mechanism for delivering fiber along two feed paths that are in a V-shaped orientation relative to one another. A pressure tip assembly including a compaction roller receives fiber from the two feed paths and applies the fiber to an application surface. A shifting mechanism shifts the pressure tip assembly from a first position on the fiber placement head to a second position on the fiber placement head to move the compaction roller along a linear path relative to the fiber placement head, allowing the compaction roller to change its direction of rotation in order to apply fiber to the application surface in opposite directions.
Claims16
A reversing fiber placement head capable of bidirectional fiber placement on an application surface, the head comprising:
- a feed mechanism for delivering fiber along two feed paths, the two feed paths being in a V-shaped orientation relative to one another;
- a pressure tip assembly for receiving fiber from the two feed paths and applying the fiber to an application surface;
- a cutting mechanism between the feed mechanism and the pressure tip assembly for cutting the fiber to the desired length;
- a compaction roller mounted on the pressure tip assembly;
- and,
- a shifting mechanism for shifting the pressure tip assembly along a linear path from a first position on the fiber placement head to a second position on the fiber placement head, whereby the compaction roller changes its direction of rotation in order to apply fiber to the application surface in opposite directions.
The method of reversing the direction of travel of a fiber placement head on an application surface comprising the steps of:
- feeding fiber material along two feed paths to a first side of a compaction roller,
- moving the fiber placement head in a first direction along an application surface to apply fiber to the application surface with the compaction roller rotating in a first direction,
- shifting the position of the compaction roller relative to the fiber placement head;
- feeding fiber material along said two feed paths to a second opposite side of the compaction roller;
- and,
- moving the fiber placement head in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction along the application surface to apply fiber to the application surface with the compaction roller rotating in second direction that is opposite to the first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.