# US 2014/0193618 A1 · Method and apparatus for accurate registration of composite laminates > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193618 A1 - Document ID: US20140193618A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/734,082 - Filed: 2013-01-04 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Paul E. Nelson; Mark Boberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193618A1 ## CPC - B29C 70/30: Shaping by lay-up, i.e. applying fibres, tape or broadsheet on a mould, former or core; Shaping by spray-up, i.e. spraying of fibres on a mould, former or core - B29C 70/543: {Fixing the position or configuration of fibrous reinforcements before or during moulding (for non-woven fabrics D04H3/08)} - B32B 41/00: Arrangements for controlling or monitoring lamination processes; Safety arrangements - Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction - Y10T 29/49622: Vehicular structural member making - Y10T 29/49764: with testing or indicating - Y10T 29/49771: Quantitative measuring or gauging - Y10T 29/49773: by radioactive tracing - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - Y10T 29/53039: with control means energized in response to activator stimulated by condition sensor - Y10T 29/53052: including position sensor - Y10T 29/53091: for work-holder for assembly or disassembly - Y10T 428/24802: Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.] - Y10T 428/24917: including metal layer - 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) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Methods, systems and apparatuses for dimensionally registering composite laminates are disclosed, wherein readable elements acting as alignment and identification features are incorporated integrally in laminates. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for orienting a laminate comprising the steps of: providing an uncured laminate material; providing at least one readable element; implanting the readable element into the uncured laminate; providing a laminate processing apparatus comprising a readable element detector; directing the laminate comprising the implanted readable element to the laminate processing apparatus; detecting the readable element; and positioning the laminate to a desired position relative to the readable element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of curing the laminate after the step of positioning the laminate to a desired position relative to the readable element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the readable element is made from a material selected from the group consisting of: metal-containing material, organometallic-containing material, radioactive-containing material, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the readable element is detected by a detector selected from the group consisting of: proximity sensors, ultrasonic sensors, thermal imaging sensors, x-ray sensors, eddy current sensors, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the readable element uniquely identifies the laminate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of readable elements uniquely identifies the laminate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the laminate processing apparatus is selected from the group consisting of: a lay-up mandrel, a cure mandrel, and an inspection apparatus. ### Claim 8 A method for forming a finished laminate comprising the steps of: providing a laminate material to a lamination head; providing at least one readable element; implanting the readable element into the laminate material; providing a layment forming apparatus comprising a readable element detector; providing the laminate comprising the readable element to the layment forming apparatus, detecting the readable element and precisely positioning the laminate on the layment forming apparatus to form a layment; removing the layment from the layment forming apparatus; providing a curing apparatus comprising a readable element detector; directing the layment to the curing apparatus; detecting the readable element and precisely positioning the layment on the curing apparatus; and curing the layment to form a finished laminate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the readable element is made from a material selected from the group consisting of: metal-containing material, organometallic-containing material, radioactive-containing material, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the readable element is detected by a detector selected from the group consisting of: proximity sensors, ultrasonic sensors, thermal imaging sensors, x-ray sensors, eddy current sensors, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the readable element uniquely identifies the laminate. ### Claim 12 A laminate comprising: at least one readable element implanted into the laminate, said readable element able to be detected by a detector to facilitate precise positioning. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The laminate of claim 12, wherein the readable element is made from a material selected from the group consisting of: metal-containing material, organometallic-containing material, radioactive-containing material, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The laminate of claim 12, wherein the detector is selected from the group consisting of: proximity sensors, ultrasonic sensors, thermal imaging sensors, x-ray sensors, eddy current sensors, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The laminate of claim 12, wherein the readable element uniquely identifies the laminate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The laminate of claim 12, wherein a plurality of readable elements uniquely identifies the laminate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A structure comprising the laminate of claim 12. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) A vehicle comprising the laminate of claim 12. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) An aircraft comprising the laminate of claim 12. ### Claim 20 An apparatus for orienting and identifying a laminate comprising: a means for preparing an uncured laminate material on a mandrel; a means for implanting at least one readable element into the uncured laminate material; a detector for detecting the readable element, said detecting means capable of sending a signal; and a positioning means for directing the laminate comprising the implanted readable element to a preselected location relative to the readable element, said positioning means capable of receiving a signal.