Compact fiber placement apparatus and method of making and using same

US7703495B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ingersoll Machine Tools, Inc. · US

Inventor

• Klaus Hoffmann · Bad Tölz, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 25, 2006
• Grant date: Apr 27, 2010
• Expiry date: Feb 25, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B29C70/384
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A compact fiber placement apparatus includes a fiber placement head, an articulated wrist apparatus, and a wrist mounting adapter for connecting the compact fiber placement apparatus to a fiber placement machine. The components of the compact fiber placement apparatus are operatively connected to one another by a wrist rotation torque motor, a head rotation torque motor, and a wrist pivot torque motor, to provide pivoting and rotating motion. A redirect arrangement includes a pivot redirect element driven by the wrist rotation torque motor at one half of the rotational speed at which a first and second wrist element of the articulated wrist apparatus pivot with respect to one another.