Method and Apparatus for Applying a Strip of Material Over an Edge on a Structure
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRichard Allen Miller, II, America Olsen Schaaf, Kevin L. Braun, Mark C. Iden, Brian Henry Korenaga, Scott Telford O'Farrell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus automatically places, forms and compacts an adhesive strip on an edge of a structure in a single pass.
Claims28
Apparatus for applying a strip of material along an edge of a structure, wherein the edge includes a top and first and second sides, comprising:
- a spool adapted to hold a strip of material;
- a guide roller for guiding the strip of material from the spool onto the edge of the structure;
- a cutter for cutting the strip of material;
- a compaction shoe for compacting the strip of material onto the top of the edge;
- a pre-shaper for partially shaping the strip of material down onto the sides of the edge;
- and,
- a conformer for conforming the strip of material onto the sides of the edge.
Apparatus for applying an adhesive strip along an edge of a structure, comprising:
- a frame movable along the edge;
- a supply of the adhesive strip supported on the frame;
- a cutter supported on the frame for cutting the adhesive strip;
- a compaction shoe supported on the frame for compacting the adhesive strip onto the edge as the frame moves along the edge;
- and,
- a conformance wheel for forming the adhesive strip down onto sides of the structure along the edge.
Apparatus for applying a material strip along an edge of a structure, comprising:
- a numerically controlled manipulator;
- an end effector coupled with the manipulator for placing and compacting the material strip along the edge;
- and
- a numeric controller for controlling the manipulator and the end effector.
A method of applying an adhesive strip along an edge of a structure, comprising:
- moving an apparatus along the edge;
- feeding the adhesive strip from the apparatus onto the edge as the apparatus moves along the edge;
- pre-shaping outer edges of the adhesive strip away from the edge toward sides of the structure;
- and
- conforming the outer edges of the adhesive strip to the sides of the structure, by passing the outer edges of the adhesive strip through a conformance wheel.
A method of applying an adhesive material strip along an edge of a structure, comprising:
- drawing the material strip from a supply of the material strip;
- heating the material strip;
- feeding the material strip to a guide roller;
- guiding the material strip on to the edge of the structure;
- compacting the material strip onto the edge;
- shaping outer edges of the material strip by partially folding the outer edges of the material strip;
- conforming the material strip onto sides of the structure;
- and,
- compacting the outer edges of the material strip against the sides of the structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.