The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 13, 2009
Filed:
Feb. 01, 2006
Roger A. Burgess, Long Beach, CA (US);
Robert Pickell, Long Beach, CA (US);
Toni K Brown, Yorba Linda, CA (US);
Roger A. Burgess, Long Beach, CA (US);
Robert Pickell, Long Beach, CA (US);
Toni K Brown, Yorba Linda, CA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and accompanying method for handling fabrics used in the construction of composite components and in particular those used in aircraft includes a movable, gantry-type frame assembly having a movable robotic arm attached thereto. A drum assembly, attached to the robotic arm has one or more vacuum ports disposed along the surface of the drum. When vacuum from within the drum is applied to the ports and the drum is moved to contact flexible fabric material—such as the reinforcement fabric used for composite manufacture—an end of the fabric may be picked up through the effect of the applied vacuum and the fabric rolled-up around the drum. The movable gantry and/or the robotic arm may then move the drum to a desired location where the fabric is unrolled and prepared for composite manufacture. Variations to the vacuum ports permit the rolling and transport of a variety of materials and shapes.