Abstract: A roller unit aligns tapes in a width direction and feeds the tapes in a length direction while pressing the tapes in a thickness direction. The tapes are made of fibers which have not been impregnated with resin or have been impregnated with the resin. The roller unit includes rollers and a support shaft. The rollers rotate by friction force between the tapes and the rollers. The rollers are aligned so that rotation axes lie on a same straight line. Maximum diameters of the rollers are same as each other. The support shaft supports the rollers rotatably at rotational speeds independent from each other. Each of the rollers includes springs and thereby has elasticity. Length directions of the springs as well as expansion and contraction directions of the springs are radial directions of the each of the rollers. The springs are radially disposed inside the each of the rollers.

Abstract: A method of producing a preform includes: laminating first prepreg tapes with at least one interval in a width direction of the first prepreg tapes using an automated fiber placement apparatus configured to allow disposing desired prepreg tapes, supplied from bobbins, in a width direction of the desired prepreg tapes, and feeding out the disposed desired prepreg tapes in a length direction of the disposed desired prepreg tapes; and laminating at least one second prepreg tape in the at least one interval between the laminated first prepreg tapes, using the automated fiber placement apparatus. The preform is a material for a fiber reinforced plastic.