Tape laying apparatus and method
US5352306A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 27, 1993 |
| Grant date | Oct 4, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 27, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T156/1788
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An improved tape laying machine, more particularly an improved tape laying head assembly is provided for laying plastic tape onto a work surface to produce a reinforced plastic structure. The improvement provides means for transferring the vertical movement of at least one segment of a stacked plate segmented shoe presser member, of the head assembly, as it engages the work surface to a non-terminal segment of the stacked plate segmented shoe and a sensor means, e.g. a linear variable differential transformer, sensing the movement of the non-terminal segment to produce a signal related to the movement of the non-terminal segment that can be employed to control and direct the movement of the head assembly and/or presser member. The improvement of the invention produces a smooth shimless transition of the presser member onto the work surface, from a work surface non-engaging position, in a tape laying operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.