Strand laying head
AssigneeCincinnati Milacron Inc.
InventorJohn H. Pugh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A strand laying head is disclosed wherein strands of composite material pass from a strand storage device under a spacing roller and are warmed by a heat source. A precompaction roller applies pressure to the strands against a laydown surface as the head moves along the laydown path. A trailing main compacting roller applies final compacting pressure. A heat source is applied to the strand at a point between the precompaction and main compacting rollers to ensure final bonding of the strands.
Claims6
In a machine tool having a base and a head carrier movable on a base way system with respect to a composite laydown surface, a composite strand laying head, comprising:
- (a) a head frame on said head carrier;
- (b) means, carried on said frame, for spacing a plurality of composite strands while said head frame is moving;
- (c) means, carried on said frame, for precompacting said strands on said laydown surface;
- (d) means, carried on said frame, for compacting said strands on said laydown surface;
- said means for precompacting being located between said means for spacing and said means for compacting,
- (e) means for independently moving said means for precompacting and said means for compacting with respect to said laydown surface and with respect to each other;
- and
- (f) means for cutting said strands, said means for cutting being located on said frame between said means for precompacting and said means for compacting.
A method for laying fiber strands on a laydown surface with a strand laying head, comprising the following steps:
- (a) spacing a plurality of fiber strands in a parallel array;
- (b) training said strands across a pair of spaced presser members on said head;
- (c) pressing said strands against said surface by advancing said presser members toward said surface, thereby tensioning said strands;
- (d) longitudinally moving said strands relative to said head;
- (e) retracting one of said presser members away from said surface, thereby allowing strands to follow in a lateral direction;
- (f) clamping said laterally-moved strands;
- (g) cutting said laterally-moved strands;
- and
- (h) allowing one end of said cut strands to continue longitudinally moving relative to said head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.