Composite tape laying machine and method

Apparatus for compacting and applying a tail of composite tape to a mold wherein the tape but not the backing is obliquely severed to form said tail prior to said compaction comprising a support assembly;

• a support assembly
• a first compaction means supported at the lowermost tape assembly compacting position of said assembly;
• a second compaction means supported from said assembly at a position between the tail of the tape to be compacted and the backing removed therefrom;
• linkage means connected among said support assembly and at least one of said first and second compaction means for applying said second compaction means into compacting engagement with tape tail only while removing said first compaction means from compacting engagement with tape and backing;
• and
• power means to selectively move one of said compaction and said linkage means to switch said compacting engagement between said compaction means.

A method of compacting against a mold composite tape derived from a tape assembly of composite tape supported on a backing comprising the steps of

• providing first and second compaction means and means to switch from one to the other,
• cutting the tape obliquely and completely but not severing or cutting completely the backing on which it is supported thereby to form a tail with a leading edge and trailing edge;
• separating the backing and the tape at about said leading edge;
• compacting said tape assembly by applying said first compaction means to the full width of said tape assembly backing;
• applying the tail to said mold while compacting with said second compaction means but not compacting the backing and
• diverting said backing with unused tape to a storage facility.