Appeal No. 2002-0963
Application No. 08/122,344
parallel paths; this preheating zone has heating means
3 that heats the tows or tape to a temperature range of
300 to 500°F for partially advancing to cure the fiber.
Perforated plates 19 separate the upper and lower paths
and evenly distributes the heating gases from heating
means 3. Tows 10 are then passed through distribution
means which is in the form of comb 4; then the tows are
guided through first ribbonizing section 5. In the
upper and lower ribbonizing sections 5 the tows are
shaped into the desired shape, such as flattened
individual tows or as a consolidated band. The
individual tows or tape is then guided onto a wedge
shaped platform where the tows or tapes meet in a
single plane immediately before passing into a second
ribbonizing compaction section 6 (Figure 1 only) where
the tows or tapes are formed into single band.
Although Figures 1 and 2 show embodiments that has
[sic, have] ribbonizing sections therein, a ribbonizing
section is only optional and not required in other
embodiments not shown; this is especially true where
tapes are preformed before entering the fiber placement
system of this invention for laying down. It should
also be noted that the ribbonizing section can be an
independent device attached to the system for use
therewith. This band then passes to roller 19 and is
pressed onto mandrel 22 not shown. At the point where
the tows or tape is placed onto the workpiece on the
mandrel 22, heating means 7 heats the tows or tape to a
higher temperature above 500°F simultaneously as it is
being placed on the mandrel to substantially completely
cure the resin therein (that is, to cure the resin to
greater than 60%).
As depicted schematically in Figure 3, air flow
through the heater 7 is controlled by the air flow and
controlled device 8. The temperature is maintained by
varying the amount of power with the power control and
regulating system 9. The resin impregnated fiber is to
be heated to a temperature no greater than the melt
7
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007