Alliant Techsystems Inc.

James P Nielsen

Noel I Shepherd

Vernon M Benson

Dee R Gill

Keith G Shupe

John A Johnson

Hosein Mansouri

A fiber placement machine undergoes a plurality of axes of motion in locating a delivery head (containing a compaction roller) perpendicular to a mandrel, with relative movement between the head and the mandrel along a predetermined path, which may be over a complex compounded shape. The machine includes a temperature controlled creel where rovings (or tows) of fibrous material are stored on spools and are fed from the creel to the delivery head. The delivery head processes the tows into a band and applies the band on the surface of the mandrel by means of the roller compaction.

Multiple axes fiber placement machine

A delivery head assembly is provided for forming a tape band from a plurality of tows and applying the band as superimposed layers in a helical pattern on to a mandrel to produce non-uniform cross sectional articles. This head assembly is composed of a distribution section, ribbonizing section, coating section, add section, and compaction roller.

Band fiber forming and placement delivery head

Growing community of inventors

West Valley City, UT, United States of America

James P Nielsen