Fibre Tape Laying Device with Independent Creel Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laying devices for fibre tapes in fibre placement methods face challenges such as complex construction, difficulty in changing over spools, exposure to contamination, and potential warping or twisting of fibre tapes due to inadequate guidance systems, which can affect the alignment and quality of composite components.
Innovation Solution
A laying device with a creel mounting on an individually controllable and traversable positioning device that maintains a constant minimum distance to the laying head, allowing for simplified fibre tape guidance without tension or deflection rollers, and enables easy creel changeover, reducing contamination and twisting, and allowing for flexible operation with multiple creels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the creel is attached to the laying head, then the construction is compact, but the weight increases and spool changeover becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two independently controllable units: the laying head mounted on its own positioning device, and the creel mounted on a separate traversable positioning device. This segmentation allows the creel to be easily removed and replaced without affecting the laying head, solving the spool changeover difficulty while maintaining compact construction through coordinated positioning.
2Ease of operation
If the fibre tapes are guided over tension and deflection rollers, then the guidance is provided, but the fibre tapes are exposed to contamination and warping or twisting occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The problematic tension and deflection rollers are completely removed from the system. Instead, the fibre tapes are guided directly from the creel to the laying head through a protected path, eliminating the sources of contamination and mechanical distortion that rollers would cause.
Solution Approach 2:
A protected guidance path is introduced as an intermediary between the creel and laying head. This path shields the fibre tapes from environmental contamination and prevents warping or twisting during transport, while still providing necessary guidance.
3Ease of operation
If the creel is positioned at a distance from the laying head, then the fibre tapes can be guided, but the alignment precision decreases due to warping or twisting
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning devices for both the creel and laying head are independently controllable and traversable, allowing dynamic adjustment of their positions and orientations. This enables precise alignment to be maintained even when the creel is positioned at an optimal distance from the laying head, preventing warping or twisting while ensuring guidance.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a laying down device and method for the automated laying down of fiber tapes on a surface, wherein a creel is arranged on an independent positioning device that can be individually traversed in three dimensions, and tracks the movements of a laying head; also disclosed is a laying method.