Patents by Inventor Christina M. McClard

Christina M. McClard has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Methods and systems for manufacturing advanced composite components
    Patent number: 9802368
    Abstract: A fiber placement system for manufacturing composite components includes at least one material storage enclosure including a material spool assembly, a swiveling roller assembly, and a redirect roller assembly, for each tow to be produced per course, at least one material feeding/cutting station configured with a nip roller drive system, and a cutting mechanism, at least one material transfer station configured with an individual, moveable guide tray for each tow to be produced per course, the moveable guide trays respectively being configured with a vacuum system, and at least one layup station comprising a vacuum table/layup surface, and a pick-and-place device equipped with an end-effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: DIEFFENBACHER GMBH MASCHINEN-UND ANLAGENBAU
    Inventors: Robert E. Borgmann, Wendell Beachy, Don O. Evans, Christina M. McClard
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANUFACTURING ADVANCED COMPOSITE COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20170173897
    Abstract: A fiber placement system for manufacturing composite components includes at least one material storage enclosure including a material spool assembly, a swiveling roller assembly, and a redirect roller assembly, for each tow to be produced per course, at least one material feeding/cutting station configured with a nip roller drive system, and a cutting mechanism, at least one material transfer station configured with an individual, moveable guide tray for each tow to be produced per course, the moveable guide trays respectively being configured with a vacuum system, and at least one layup station comprising a vacuum table/layup surface, and a pick-and-place device equipped with an end-effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: ROBERT E. BORGMANN, WENDELL BEACHY, DON O. EVANS, CHRISTINA M. McCLARD
  • Methods and systems for manufacturing advanced composite components
    Patent number: 9597842
    Abstract: A fiber placement system for manufacturing composite components includes at least one material storage enclosure including a material spool assembly, a swiveling roller assembly, and a redirect roller assembly, for each tow to be produced per course, at least one material feeding/cutting station configured with a nip roller drive system, and a cutting mechanism, at least one material transfer station configured with an individual, moveable guide tray for each tow to be produced per course, the moveable guide trays respectively being configured with a vacuum system, and at least one layup station comprising a vacuum table/layup surface, and a pick-and-place device equipped with an end-effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Dieffenbacher GmbH Maschinen- und Anlangenbau
    Inventors: Robert E. Borgmann, Wendell Beachy, Don O. Evans, Christina M. McClard
  • System and method for making advanced composite laminates
    Patent number: 9162434
    Abstract: A system and method for making advanced composite laminates includes a tape dispensing system, a tape placement head, and a tooling surface. Tape sections are formed and moved through a tape section guide using a gripping assembly. The tape section guide system is suspended over the tooling surface. Once the tape section is positioned over a desired location on the tooling surface, a tape tacking device tacks or otherwise attaches the tape section to the tooling surface or another underlying tape section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Dieffenbacher GMBH Maschinen-und Anlagenbau
    Inventors: David R. Cramer, Don O. Evans, Christina M. McClard, Dennis L. Weinman
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANUFACTURING ADVANCED COMPOSITE COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20140299266
    Abstract: A fiber placement system for manufacturing composite components includes at least one material storage enclosure including a material spool assembly, a swiveling roller assembly, and a redirect roller assembly, for each tow to be produced per course, at least one material feeding/cutting station configured with a nip roller drive system, and a cutting mechanism, at least one material transfer station configured with an individual, moveable guide tray for each tow to be produced per course, the moveable guide trays respectively being configured with a vacuum system, and at least one layup station comprising a vacuum table/layup surface, and a pick-and-place device equipped with an end-effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Dieffenbacher GmbH Maschinen- und Anlagenbau
    Inventors: Robert E. BORGMANN, Wendell BEACHY, Don O. EVANS, Christina M. McCLARD
  • System And Method For Making Advanced Composite Laminates
    Publication number: 20130186557
    Abstract: A system and method for making advanced composite laminates includes a tape dispensing system, a tape placement head, and a tooling surface. Tape sections are formed and moved through a tape section guide using a gripping assembly. The tape section guide system is suspended over the tooling surface. Once the tape section is positioned over a desired location on the tooling surface, a tape tacking device tacks or otherwise attaches the tape section to the tooling surface or another underlying tape section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: FIBERFORGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: David R. Cramer, Don O. Evans, Christina M. McClard, Dennis L. Weinman