Ingersoll Machine Tools, Inc.

Klaus Hoffmann

Mark Curtis Tingley

Tino Oldani

Peter L Mischler

William R Dent

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.

Fiber delivery apparatus and system having a creel and fiber placement head with polar axis of rotation

Tools for compacting composite parts are disclosed. These tools are used while layers of composite material, such as tows or laminae, are being deposited onto a fabricating surface, such as a mold or other forming tool. The compacting tool is typically divided into a series of narrow segments, each segment able to advance or retreat individually so as to conform to the surface of a composite part being formed. Pressurized fluid, such as air or hydraulic fluid, or non-pressurized internal bladders with incompressible fluid, are used to evenly apply pressure to the segments in order to compact the material with which the tool and the segments are in contact. The compacting tool thus helps eliminate voids and helps the material conform to the desired shape on the forming tool.

Compaction roller for a fiber placement machine

A compact fiber placement apparatus includes a fiber placement head, an articulated wrist apparatus, and a wrist mounting adapter for connecting the compact fiber placement apparatus to a fiber placement machine. The components of the compact fiber placement apparatus are operatively connected to one another by a wrist rotation torque motor, a head rotation torque motor, and a wrist pivot torque motor, to provide pivoting and rotating motion. A redirect arrangement includes a pivot redirect element driven by the wrist rotation torque motor at one half of the rotational speed at which a first and second wrist element of the articulated wrist apparatus pivot with respect to one another.

Compact fiber placement apparatus and method of making and using same

An apparatus and method are provided for replacing a creel in a fiber placement machine, by sequentially moving replaceable creels into place on the fiber placement machine, via tracks and/or guide rails, as one or more spools in a previously operating creel are exhausted, and removing the creel having the one or more exhausted spools, to thereby allow fiber placement to continue from the replacement creel while the creel having one or more exhausted spools of material is replenished. An auto-splice apparatus and method are incorporated into the replaceable creel and fiber placement machine, for assisting in the exchange of replaceable creels.

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Rockford, IL, United States of America

Klaus Hoffmann