Automated production of acoustic structures
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsEric Herrera, Noel Timothy Gerken, John Scott Bauman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser cuts overlapping ribbons of acoustic material into acoustic devices. An automatically controlled manipulator includes an end effector having groups of placement tools for simultaneously placing multiple acoustic devices in a cellular core. The placement tools include mandrels provided with vacuum pickups for picking up and holding the acoustic devices during transport to the core. A vision system aligns the placement tools with the cells of the core. The end effector includes a thermal radiation device for bonding the acoustic devices to the core.
Claims23
An apparatus for producing an acoustic structure having a core with a plurality of cells, comprising:
- a manipulator;
- an end effector mounted on the manipulator, including a plurality of acoustic device placement tools each capable of placing an acoustic device in one of the cells of the core, wherein the tool is elongate and tapered along its length;
- a digital controller including a set of digital instructions for controlling movement of the manipulator and operation of the end effector;
- and
- a material supply system for supplying overlapping ribbons of acoustic material and ribbons of adhesive material that overlap and adhere to the ribbons of acoustic material.
An apparatus for automated production of an acoustic core having a plurality of cells, comprising:
- a material supply system for supplying ribbons of acoustic material;
- a laser for converting the ribbons into a plurality of acoustic devices;
- an end effector for picking up the acoustic devices and placing the acoustic devices in the cells;
- and,
- a controller coupled with the laser and the end effector.
An apparatus for installing an acoustic device in a cell of a cellular core, wherein the acoustic device is generally hollow, the apparatus comprising:
- a tool capable of being inserted into the acoustic device, wherein the tool is elongate and tapered along its length;
- a vacuum pickup on the tool capable of holding the acoustic device against the tool;
- and
- a shaper on the tool for shaping an end of the acoustic device, wherein the shaper includes fingers slidable over the tool and into the acoustic device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.