Other

Denise A Blauch

Steven A Young

Virgil W Jainicke

Rex B Gosnell

Lawrence E Swarts

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the automated production of a cross-plied material, preferably for structural or anti-ballistics end use. The apparatus comprises means for advancing a first, continuous ply of material into a cross-plying zone; means for sequentially laying a plurality of discontinuous second plies of material coplanarly on the first ply in the cross-plying zone with the longitudinal axis of each of the second plies rotated relative to the longitudinal axis of the first ply; means for preconsolidating the first and the second plies; and means for withdrawing the cross-piled material from the cross-plying zone. The method features the steps of advancing the first ply of material into a cross-plying zone; sequentially laying the second plies of material coplanarly on the first ply in the cross-plying zone with the longitudinal axis of each of the second plies rotated relative to the longitudinal axis of the first ply; preconsolidating the first and the second plies; and withdrawing the cross-piled material from the cross-plying zone. The cross-piled material produced can be rolled up in a bolt, which also forms part of this invention, for subsequent processing or use.

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Louisville, KY, United States of America

Denise A Blauch