FIBER DELIVERY APPARATUS AND SYSTEM HAVING A CREEL AND FIBER PLACEMENT HEAD WITH POLAR AXIS OF ROTATION

Title:

FIBER DELIVERY APPARATUS AND SYSTEM HAVING A CREEL AND FIBER PLACEMENT HEAD WITH POLAR AXIS OF ROTATION

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO/2012/050707

Kind Code:

A3

Abstract:

A fiber placement system including positioner and a fiber delivery apparatus having a creel assembly and a fiber placement head is provided. The positioner moves the entire fiber delivery apparatus including the creel assembly and the fiber placement head via at least three linear degrees of freedom. The fiber delivery apparatus includes an articulating wrist for moving the fiber placement head relative to the creel assembly. The fiber placement apparatus is substantially free of linear degrees of freedom within the fiber tow paths between the spools and the fiber placement head. One or more rotational degrees of freedom may be provided along the tow path. In one embodiment, the interface between the fiber delivery apparatus and the positioner is laterally offset such that a portion of the creel axially overlaps with vertical ram of the positioner.

Inventors:

OLDANI TINO (US)
HOFFMANN KLAUS (US)
DENT WILLIAM R (US)

Application Number:

PCT/US2011/051394

Publication Date:

June 21, 2012

Filing Date:

September 13, 2011

Export Citation:

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Assignee:

INGERSOLL MACHINE TOOLS INC (US)
OLDANI TINO (US)
HOFFMANN KLAUS (US)
DENT WILLIAM R (US)

International Classes:

D02H1/00; B65H54/02; B65H81/00; D06B3/02

Foreign References:

US20100200168A1	2010-08-12
US20070084960A1	2007-04-19
US4520530A	1985-06-04
US6096164A	2000-08-01
US5698066A	1997-12-16

Other References: