Automated system and method for smoothing wrinkled material

US10800091B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Daniel D. Bloch · Saint Peters, US
• Samuel Joseph Easley · Saint Peters, US
• Frederick C. Wear · Chesterfield, US
• Michael Brian Gedera · Creve Coeur, US
• Nicholas Lee Buelow · Chesterfield, US
• Alan F. Tegeler · O'Fallon, US
• William John Keyes · Holden, US
• Joshua Bryan Reando · Bismarck, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 18, 2018
• Grant date: Oct 13, 2020
• Expiry date: Dec 7, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B29L2007/002
• WIPO field: Machine tools
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for smoothing a material having wrinkles. The material is positioned on a vacuum table having a group of segments. A smoothing device is moved across a surface of the material to form a substantially smooth section of the material. A vacuum is progressively applied to a portion of the group of segments in the vacuum table corresponding to the substantially smooth section of the material to pull the substantially smooth section of the material against the vacuum table.