# US 2014/0130984 A1 · Apparatus for manufacturing a multi-axial laminate of webs produced from cables broken into strips > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0130984 A1 - Document ID: US20140130984A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/132,744 - Filed: 2013-12-18 - Published: 2014-05-15 - Earliest claimed: 2009-08-14 - Assignees: Ferlam Technologies - Applicants: Ferlam Technologies - Inventors: Xavier DECANT - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140130984A1 ## CPC - B32B 38/0004: {Cutting, tearing or severing, e.g. bursting; Cutter details (cutting in general B26D; laminating combined with punching or perforating B32B38/04; removing all or part of the layers B32B38/10; cutting in combination with laying up and registration B32B38/185 takes precedence)} - B29C 70/14: oriented - B29C 70/202: {arranged in parallel planes or structures of fibres crossing at substantial angles, e.g. cross-moulding compound [XMC] (B29C70/207 takes precedence)} - B29C 70/228: {the structure being stacked in parallel layers with fibres of adjacent layers crossing at substantial angles} - B29C 70/38: Automated lay-up, e.g. using robots, laying filaments according to predetermined patterns {(application heads for tyres B29D30/28)} - B29C 70/50: for producing articles of indefinite length, e.g. prepregs, sheet moulding compounds [SMC] or cross moulding compounds [XMC] - D04H 1/46: by needling or like operations to cause entanglement of fibres (D04H1/45 takes precedence; needling machines D04H18/00) - D04H 1/498: entanglement of layered webs - D04H 3/04: in rectilinear paths, e.g. crossing at right angles - D04H 3/10: with bonds between yarns or filaments made mechanically - D04H 3/105: by needling (needling machines D04H18/00) - B29C 2793/0081: before shaping - Y10T 156/12: Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with cutting, punching, piercing, severing or tearing - Y10T 156/1317: Means feeding plural workpieces to be joined - Y10T 156/17: Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means - Y10T 156/1744: Means bringing discrete articles into assembled relationship - Y10T 428/24058: including grain, strips, or filamentary elements in respective layers or components in angular relation - Y10T 428/24074: Strand or strand-portions - Y10T 428/24083: Nonlinear strands or strand-portions - Y10T 428/24091: with additional layer[s] - Y10T 428/24099: On each side of strands or strand-portions - Y10T 428/24107: including mechanically interengaged strands, strand-portions or strand-like strips - Y10T 428/24116: Oblique to direction of web - Y10T 428/24124: Fibers - Y10T 442/667: Needled - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - D04H: MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL (weaving D03; knitting D04B; braiding D04C; net-making D04G; sewing D05B; tufting D05C; finishing non-woven fabrics D06); FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING {; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION}(non-woven fabrics having an intermediate or external layer of a different kind, e.g. of woven fabric, B32B) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Apparatus for manufacturing a multi-axial laminate of webs produced from cables stretch broken into strips includes a conveyor table, a transfer device, at the entry thereof, arranging a first layer of pre-wound pre-cut strips along the longitudinal axis of the table, the strips being partially superimposed; at least two cross lappers arranged along the table transferring and depositing in an oblique and/or divergent position at predetermined angles a stretch broken strip, and arranging the strips in successive superimpositions on the first layer of pre-cut strips in different planes, to form a multi-axial web of stretch broken strips. The web then being treated by a fixing device. Movement of the support belt of the table taking place in steps to ensure the superimposition of the different layers of pre-broken strips deposited by the cross lappers. Implementation taking place without any prior cohesion treatment of each strip. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-3. (canceled) ### Claim 4 Apparatus for manufacturing a multi-axial laminate of webs produced from stretch broken cables in the form of strips, comprising; a conveyor table having upstream a transfer device for transferring pre-broken and pre-wound strips and downstream a fixing device, and at least two cross lappers positioned at angles defined with respect to a direction of travel of the conveyor table, a first cross lapper receiving from a first device and depositing on the conveyor table a stretch broken strip that has not undergone any prior cohesion treatment operation, as far as a fixing and cutting device situated at an other side of the table, in superimposition on a first layer of stretch broken strips that have not undergone any prior cohesion treatment operation, arranged initially upstream of the conveyor table and the second cross lapper receiving from a second device and depositing a stretch broken strip that has not undergone any prior cohesion treatment operation, as far as a fixing and cutting device situated at an other side of the table, on two layers of stretch broken strips that have not undergone any prior cohesion treatment operation, already deposited, coming from the transfer device and the first cross lapper, thereby providing a multi-axial multilayer superimposed web, and wherein at least one cross lapper has a structure, according to operating phases, with a part under the conveyor table or a part above the conveyor table for the deposition of stretch broken strips without any prior cohesion treatment operation, the parts being connected together by a lateral side part, the at least one cross lapper functioning in a discontinuous alternating movement, and further comprising an endless belt arranged on guide cylinders and deflection cylinders. ### Claim 5 (canceled) ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a first guide cylinder is driven and is situated in a lateral position with respect to the conveyor table, and further comprising second, third and fourth free guidance cylinders, second and third cylinders being situated in a plane above the conveyor table, the first and fourth cylinders being situated in a plane below the conveyor table, deflection cylinders being in a vertical plane of the conveyor table and having a fixed position, the second and fourth cylinders being movable, and the first and third cylinders having a fixed position, and the second and fourth cylinders being translated horizontally by jacks or worms and suitably associated with a pair of the free guidance cylinders respectively, either moving away from or closer to each other according to the operating phases, amplitude of movement travel of the jacks or worms being determined so as to deposit the non-cohesive stretch broken strips on the conveyor table. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a fixed device for blocking and cutting the stretch broken strip without any prior cohesion treatment operation at the end of layering travel, so as to fix and cut the stretch broken strip before beginning layering in an opposite direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4, further including a stretch breaker arranged upstream and providing automatic discontinuous supplying of each cross lapper. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the cross lappers are supplied by continuously functioning stretch breakers, and further comprising a complementary regulation device comprising an accumulation conveyor, and the accumulation conveyor is integrated between each cross lapper and associated stretch breaker, to absorb continuous production of the stretch breaker during stoppage time of the cross lapper during phases of cutting the stretch broken strip without any prior cohesion treatment operation as well as during time of movement of the conveyor table in steps. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the accumulation conveyor comprises a conveyor belt guided by a pair of fixed rotary cylinders, and a third rotary cylinder is situated under the conveyor, said third cylinder being movable along a vertical axis so as to tension the conveyor belt to a greater or less extent, and a fourth cylinder situated above the conveyor and movable along a vertical axis to tension the conveyor belt to a greater or lesser extent, but in an opposite direction. ### Claim 11 Apparatus for manufacturing a multi-axial laminate of webs produced from stretch broken cables in the form of strips, comprising: a conveyor table having upstream multiple delivery carriages for transferring pre-broken and pre-wound strips and downstream a fixing device, and at least a pair of single delivery carriage arranged with respect to the conveyor table respectively on sides of the table in an oblique and/or divergent position, and upstream of the multiple delivery carriages to enable stretch broken strips to be deposited on the conveyor table without any prior cohesion treatment operation, and the delivery carriages receive reels of pre-broken and pre-wound carbon strips without any prior cohesion treatment operation with insertion of a paper strip wound between each carbon strip turn in order to provide protection thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the single and—multiple delivery carriages comprise in combination a first cylinder rotating in a direction for receiving pre-broken and pre-wound strips, and a device for discharging and rewinding the paper strip, and the device is integrated in the delivery carriage behind the first cylinder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the device comprises two driven spindles rotating in opposition, between which the paper strip passes, so as to draw the paper strip onto a recovery cylinder, rotating in opposition with respect to the first cylinder, and said driven spindles absorb the paper strip at a constant linear speed, and the first and recovery cylinders and spindles are arranged in a fixed position with respect to the delivery carriage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the single delivery carriages are arranged on supports to rotate through 180° by rotation means and actuated after each passage on either side of the conveyor table. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the multiple delivery carriages are arranged in parallel and slightly offset to enable strips without any prior cohesion treatment operation to be distributed and unwound on the conveyor table as the table advances, and in a configuration of presentation of the strips in partial superimposition, and the multiple delivery carriages are arranged upstream of the conveyor table and load the table with carbon strips after separation of the paper strip. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the single delivery carriages are arranged so as each to deliver a single carbon strip without any prior cohesion treatment operation and are positioned at predefined angles with respect to the direction of movement of the conveyor table. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the single delivery carriages are arranged on the same side of the conveyor table with a divergent orientation.