Patent · US Active

Replaceable creel in a fiber placement machine

US7632372B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by

9References

26Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Ingersoll Machine Tools, Inc. · US

Inventors

Klaus Hoffmann · Bad Tölz, DE
Mark Curtis Tingley · Hutsonville, US

Key dates

Filing date	Aug 25, 2006
Grant date	Dec 15, 2009
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jan 26, 2028

Classification

Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
CPC primaryY10T156/1066
WIPO fieldOther special machines
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

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.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.