Fabric handling apparatus
AssigneeShort Brothers PLC
InventorsAndrew JESS, Lynsey BOWMAN, Paul FRAZER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fabric handling apparatus includes a layup table, a mold disposed adjacent to the layup table, and a fabric handling array suspended above the layup table and the mold. The fabric handling array is adapted to transfer at least one fabric shape from the layup table to the mold. The fabric handling array includes a plurality of attractors in an attractor array. An orientation of the fabric handling array is alterable with respect to at least one of the layup table and the mold so that the at least one fabric shape is positionable on the mold in a predetermined orientation.
Claims27
A fabric handling apparatus, comprising:
- a layup table;
- a mold disposed adjacent to the layup table;
- at least one overhead rail extending above the layup table and the mold,
- a fabric handling array rotatably suspended from the at least one overhead rail and suspended above the layup table and the mold, the fabric handling array being adapted to transfer at least one fabric shape from the layup table to the mold, the fabric handling array comprising a plurality of attractors in an attractor array,
- wherein an orientation of the fabric handling array is alterable with respect to at least one of the layup table and the mold so that the at least one fabric shape is positionable on the mold in a predetermined orientation.
(canceled)
A method of operating a fabric handling apparatus comprising a layup table, a mold disposed adjacent to the layup table, at least one overhead rail extending above the layup table and the mold, a fabric handling array rotatably suspended from the at least one overhead rail and suspended above the layup table and the mold, the fabric handling array being adapted to transfer at least one fabric shape from the layup table to the mold, the fabric handling array comprising a plurality of attractors in an attractor array, wherein an orientation of the fabric handling array is alterable with respect to at least one of the layup table and the mold so that the at least one fabric shape is positionable on the mold in a predetermined orientation, the method comprising:
- lifting a fabric shape from the layup table via the attractors;
- orienting the fabric shape via the fabric handling array to a predetermined orientation;
- and
- depositing the fabric shape onto the mold in the predetermined orientation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.