Spatially-clocked digital steering servo for tape-laying machine
AssigneeCincinnati Milacron Inc.
InventorR. William Kneifel, II
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spatially-clocked system in a program controlled tape layer corrects for tape displacement error by rotating the tape application member after a predetermined length of tape is applied rather than on a temporal basis. An interpolator is provided to determine spatial clock period displacement in a temporally-clocked control system.
Claims20
A method of applying substantially inelastic tape to a surface by means of a program controlled tape laying apparatus including a head assembly carrying an application member and a supply of the tape, the application member applying tape to the surface along a machine path, the head assembly being rotatable about an axis through the application member and intersecting the machine path, the method comprising:
- applying tape to the surface by dispensing tape from the supply while effecting relative movement between the application member and the surface along the machine path;
- determining lateral displacement of the tape relative to the machine path occurring upon application of a predetermined length of the tape to the surface;
- and
- rotating the head assembly about said axis of rotation in response to determining lateral displacement of the tape relative to the machine path, the rotation being in a direction to result in reduced displacement of the tape relative to the machine path during continued application of the tape to the surface.
A programmed controlled tape laying apparatus for applying substantially inelastic tape to a surface along a machine path comprising:
- a rotatable head assembly including means to support a supply of the tape;
- application means carried by said head assembly for applying the tape to the surface;
- drive means for effecting relative movement between said application means and the surface along the machine path while applying the tape to the surface;
- first control means for determining lateral displacement of the tape relative to the machine path occurring upon application of a predetermined length of tape to the surface;
- and
- second control means responsive to said first control means for rotating said head assembly about an axis through said application means and intersecting the machine path in a direction to result in reduced displacement of the tape relative to the machine path during continued application of the tape to the surface.
A programmed controlled tape laying apparatus for applying substantially inelastic tape to a surface along a machine path comprising:
- a rotatable head assembly including means to support a supply of the tape;
- application means carried by said head assembly for applying the tape to the surface;
- drive means for effecting relative movement between said application means and the surface along the machine path while applying the tape to the surface;
- control processor means for collecting tape data related to lateral displacement of the tape relative to the machine path and for controlling rotation of said head assembly about an axis through said application means and intersecting the machine path;
- master processor means in electronic communication with said control processor means for determining, from the tape data, lateral displacement of the tape relative to the machine path occurring upon application of a predetermined length of tape to the surface and generating a correction factor related thereto, said control processor means being responsive to the correction factor to rotate said head assembly in a direction to result in reduced displacement of the tape relative to the machine path during continued application of the tape to the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.