Tow ejector foot for a fiber placement head

A drive roll assembly for a fiber placement head for applying fiber composite material to an application surface, the drive roll assembly comprising:

• a drive roll and a backup roll comprising the drive roll assembly;
• a drive roll nip formed between the drive roll and the backup roll;
• at least one cutter mechanism mounted on the drive roll for cutting fiber composite material;
• a cam mounted inside the outer surface of the drive roll;
• a displaceable cutter comprising the cutter mechanism, the cam actuating the displaceable cutter from a retracted position to sever the fiber composite material;
• an ejector mechanism mounted on the drive roll behind the cutter mechanism, the ejector mechanism positively displacing the leading end of the cut fiber composite material away from the surface of the drive roll;
• an ejector foot comprising the ejector mechanism;
• a surface on the ejector foot for engaging the cam, whereby the ejector foot is actuated from a retracted position by the cam to displace the leading end of the cut fiber composite material away from the surface of the drive roll;
• a drive transfer arrangement between the drive roll and the backup roll, whereby rotation of the drive roll is synchronized with the rotation of the backup roll;
• at least one cutter mounted on the drive roll;
• and,
• an anvil mounted on the backup roll;
• whereby the drive transfer arrangement between the drive roll and the backup roll synchronizes the rotation of the drive roll and the backup roll so that the at least one cutter on the drive roll impacts the anvil on the backup roll when the cutter on the drive roll is opposite the anvil on the backup roll.