US4541886A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic tape laying apparatus
Assignee: BAE Systems PLC
•
Filing: 1984-03-02
•
Granted: 1985-09-17
•
Expires: 2004-03-02
Abstract
Abstract Automatic tape laying apparatus for laying epoxy resin impregnated carbon fibre tape includes a table onto which lengths of tape are laid for profiling to shape and size, a curved form tool on which the profiled lengths of tape are laid-up to form an article to be cured, a roller to transfer the profiled lengths from the table to the tool and to effect laying-up thereon, the roller having suction ducts on its surface to hold the lengths of tape in place during transfer which suction is progressively de-activated and replaced with blowing as the roller is rolled over the form tool and progressively lays-up the profiled tape onto the tool.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher I. Marlow
- 👤 Anthony R. Wiltshire
- 👤 Ivan E. Hulme
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:49
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/28; B29C70/30; B29C70/38; B29C70/386; B29C70/388; B29C70/54; B29C70/545; B29K; B29K2063/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1062; Y10T156/1075; Y10T156/1077; Y10T156/12; Y10T156/17; Y10T156/1788
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
Automatic tape laying apparatus including surface means onto which portions of tape are laid for profiling to shape and size, tool means on which the profiled portions are laid-up to form an article to be cured, and transfer means for transferring the profiled portions from the surface means to the tool means and effecting laying-up thereon, the transfer means comprising carrier means having a generally arcuate surface region, drive means to roll the carrier means over a portion of tape upon the surface means, holding means arranged to hold the tape portion against the arcuate surface of the carrier means as the carrier means is rolled over said portion, traversing means to traverse the carrier means to a laying-up position over the tool means, said drive means effective to both urge the carrier means against and to roll over the tool means, and means to progressively release regions of the carried portion of tape as those regions lie between the arcuate surface and the tool means whereby the tape portion is progressively laid-up upon the tool means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
Automatic tape laying apparatus including surface means onto which portions of tape are laid for profiling to shape and size, tool means on which the profiled portions are laid-up to form an article to be cured, and transfer means for transferring the profiled portions from the surface means to the tool means and effecting laying-up thereon, the transfer means comprising carrier means having a generally arcuate surface region, drive means to roll the carrier means over a portion of tape upon the surface means, holding means arranged to hold the tape portion against the arcuate surface of the carrier means as the carrier means is rolled over said portion, traversing means to traverse the carrier means to a laying-up position over the tool means, said drive means effective to both urge the carrier means against and to roll over the tool means, and means to progressively release regions of the carried portion of tape as those regions lie between the arcuate surface and the tool means whereby the tape portion is progressively laid-up upon the tool means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Automatic tape laying apparatus according to claim 1, in which the arcuate surface region of the carrier means is continuous such that the carrier means is in the form of a roller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
Automatic tape laying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arcuate surface means of the carrier means is of a compliant material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
Automatic tape laying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding means for holding a tape portion onto the surface means comprises aperture means through which a suction is to be effected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
Automatic tape laying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the aperture means are formed in discrete zones whereby suction may be applied selectively to these zones.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
Automatic tape laying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the roller is mounted for rotation on axle means, the axle means is provided with means to effect steering, tilting and axial movement of the roller during its roll over the tool means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
Automatic tape laying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said surface means comprises a planar table with apertures through which a suction can be effected.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
Automatic tape laying apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apertures are zoned such that the suction can be selectively applied to said zones.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
Automatic tape laying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means are provided to remove scrap portions of tape from said surface means subsequent to profiling the tape portions laid thereon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
Automatic tape laying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said scrap portion removal means comprise a matrix of pin elements, means to lower said pin elements onto the scrap portions of tape for impalement purposes, and means to prevent any pin elements from contacting a profiled tape portion to be laid-up.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
Automatic tape laying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tool means is capable of stepped angular movement, whereby successive layers of laid-up tape portions may be of different orientation.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of automatic tape laying comprising the steps of dispensing a length of tape onto a planar surface, holding said tape length onto the surface by suction, profiling at least an end region of the tape length, removing any waste material from said profiling operation from the surface whilst retaining the profiled tape portion in position, rolling a roller over the profiled tape portion, progressively collecting and holding said portion around the roller by suction, translating the loaded roller to the vicinity of a tool surface, urging the roller against the tool surface such that the profiled tape portion is locally compressed between the two, and rolling the roller over the tool surface such that the profiled tape portion is progressively deposited upon the tool surface.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of automatic tape laying comprising the steps of dispensing a length of tape onto a planar surface, holding said tape length onto the surface by suction, profiling at least an end region of the tape length, removing any waste material from said profiling operation from the surface whilst retaining the profiled tape portion in position, rolling a roller over the profiled tape portion, progressively collecting and holding said portion around the roller by suction, translating the loaded roller to the vicinity of a tool surface, urging the roller against the tool surface such that the profiled tape portion is locally compressed between the two, and rolling the roller over the tool surface such that the profiled tape portion is progressively deposited upon the tool surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein the suction holding the profiled tape portion to the surface is progressively removed as the tape portion is collected.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein the suction for collecting the tape portion is progressively initiated around the roller as the roller passes over the tape portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein suction is progressively stopped during rolling over the tool surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein the suction is progressively replaced by blowing to urge the tape portion from the roller during rolling over the tool surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein during rolling over the tool surface, the roller is both steered, tilted and moved axially to accommodate variations in tool contour.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein during rolling over the tool surface, the roller is periodically moved additionally to its rolling movement to effect tensioning of the tape portion being laid up.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-09-16 | 1989-03-18 | 1989-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-16 | 1993-03-18 | 1993-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-16 | 1997-03-18 | 1997-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |