Abstract: A gripper on a powered gantry, which moves longitudinally relative to a porous conveyor belt, pulls a selected length of a composite sheet material and its backing from a supply roll on a carrousel and past a cutter. After a segment has been cut, the gantry returns the gripper to pull the composite sheet and its backing from the supply roll while the belt moves the segment thereon to a desired position thereon. This continues until the belt supports a plurality of segments. The gripper gantry includes a marker to mark each segment on the belt. After marking is completed, a powered gantry moves to dispose a top film over the segments. A powered gantry, which has a cutter thereon, is then moved so that the cutter, which can move orthogonal to the motion of the gantry and also has its reciprocating cutting blades rotatable about a vertical axis, can cut one or more pieces of desired shapes from each segment. After cutting is completed, the segments are advanced from the belt through a separator.

Abstract: A strand laying head is disclosed wherein strands of composite material pass from a strand storage device under a spacing roller and are warmed by a heat source. A precompaction roller applies pressure to the strands against a laydown surface as the head moves along the laydown path. A trailing main compacting roller applies final compacting pressure. A heat source is applied to the strand at a point between the precompaction and main compacting rollers to ensure final bonding of the strands.