Fiber Placement Roller with Segmented Guides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for placing fiber materials onto aircraft molds are time-consuming and prone to wear, with machines requiring complex rotations and large mechanical assemblies, leading to increased maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
A material delivery system with a movably rotatable roller that changes positions between two directions, eliminating the need for 180-degree rotations, and featuring guides with offset channels to simplify the material placement process, reducing the complexity and size of the end effector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a fiber placement head rotates 180 degrees to lay down fiber material in opposite directions, then the machine can cover the mold surface more completely, but the rotation increases time consumption and wear on the fiber placement head
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the fiber placement function into two independent sides (first side and second side) of the material delivery structure, each with its own guide elements and roller positioning, eliminating the need for 180-degree rotation by allowing seamless switching between sides
Solution Approach 2:
The roller is made movably rotatable and configured to move between first and second positions relative to the end of the material delivery structure, enabling dynamic repositioning without full rotation of the placement head
2Productivity
If a fiber placement head rotates 180 degrees to change direction, then bidirectional material placement is achieved, but wear and tear on the fiber placement head increases
Solution Approach 1:
The material delivery structure is segmented into first and second sides, each capable of guiding material independently to the roller, allowing the system to switch directions without rotating the entire placement head, thereby reducing mechanical stress and wear
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of rotating the placement head to change direction, the system inverts the approach by repositioning the roller and switching which side (first or second) guides the material, achieving bidirectional placement without the harmful rotation
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex rotation mechanisms are used for fiber placement, then directional flexibility is improved, but device complexity and maintenance needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the directional control function into independent guide elements on first and second sides, with a movably rotatable roller that can be positioned independently, eliminating complex rotation mechanisms while maintaining directional flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The roller is configured as movably rotatable with the ability to move between first and second positions, providing dynamic directional control without requiring complex fixed rotation mechanisms, thereby simplifying the overall device
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus comprising a material delivery structure, a roller, a first guide, and a second guide. The material delivery structure may be configured to receive a plurality of lengths of material. The roller may be configured to move between a first position and a second position relative to the material delivery structure. The first guide may be on a first side of the material delivery structure. The first guide may be configured to guide a first number of lengths of material in the plurality of lengths of material to the roller. The second guide may be on a second side of the material delivery structure. The second guide may be configured to guide a second number of lengths of material in the plurality of lengths of material to the roller.