Abstract: A fiber placement head for applying a plurality of composite tape segments on a mold includes a supply roll for storing and supplying composite tape having a backing film to the fiber placement head; a film roll for receiving the backing film from the composite tape that is removed from the film roll; an electric motor that rotates the supply roll or the film roll; and a slip clutch, coupled with the supply roll or the film roll, that permits the relative displacement of the angular position of the film roll with respect to the angular position of the supply roll.

Abstract: A fiber placement head assembly for applying a plurality of composite tape segments on a mold that includes a fiber placement head configured to receive composite tape from a composite tape source and apply the composite tape to the mold. The assembly also includes one or more air-operating conveyors, coupled with the fiber placement head, each having an inlet that is configured to receive an end of composite tape from the composite tape source, an outlet configured to provide the end of composite tape to the fiber placement head, and one or more inline vacuum conveyors that are configured to receive compressed fluid from a source and direct the compressed fluid toward the outlet thereby transporting the end of the composite tape from the inlet to the outlet and into the fiber placement head.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading spools into a creel of a fiber placement machine that is used to charge a mold includes a creel loader and a spool magazine carried by the creel loader. At least one loader mandrel in the spool magazine receives full spools and transfers the full spools to the creel of the fiber placement machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading spools into a creel of a fiber placement machine that is used to charge a mold includes a creel loader and a spool magazine carried by the creel loader. At least one loader mandrel in the spool magazine receives full spools and transfers the full spools to the creel of the fiber placement machine.

Abstract: A fiber placement machine includes a movable wrist with a fiber placement head at one end of the wrist. A roller system for delivering fibers to the fiber placement head includes a J-axis roller located spaced from the ends of the wrist, a K-axis roller at the end of the wrist that supports the head, and an A-axis roller at the opposite end of the wrist. The axis of the K-axis rollers swivel depending on the rotation of the head, and the A-axis rollers swivel as a function of the swiveling of the K-axis rollers. As the A-axis rollers swivel, at least one end of the A-axis roller is displaced toward the J-axis roller to maintain a constant path length for the fiber tows between the A-axis roller and the J-axis roller.

Abstract: The invention provides a rapidly disintegrating tablet comprising an active ingredient, a water soluble, directly compressible carbohydrate, and a water soluble, directly compressible filler. Also provided is a method of producing a rapidly disintegrating tablet, which method comprises wet granulating a mixture comprising a directly compressible, water soluble carbohydrate, a directly compressible, water insoluble filler, a beneficial ingredient, and a solvent, and compressing the granulate to produce the tablet.

Abstract: The invention provides a rapidly disintegrating tablet comprising an active ingredient, a water soluble, directly compressible carbohydrate, and a water soluble, directly compressible filler. Also provided is a method of producing a rapidly disintegrating tablet, which method comprises wet granulating a mixture comprising a directly compressible, water soluble carbohydrate, a directly compressible, water insoluble filler, a beneficial ingredient, and a solvent, and compressing the granulate to produce the tablet.

Abstract: A head is positionable close to a supported composite material. A compactor on the head is movable relative to the head by a fluid actuator. A programmable valve means ports air into the actuator at several different pressures to provide variable compaction force.

Abstract: A head is positionable close to a supported composite material. A compactor on the head is movable relative to the head by a fluid actuator. A programmable valve means ports air into the actuator at several different pressures to provide variable compaction force.

Abstract: An improved tape laying machine, more particularly an improved tape laying head assembly is provided for laying plastic tape onto a work surface to produce a reinforced plastic structure. The improvement provides means for transferring the vertical movement of at least one segment of a stacked plate segmented shoe presser member, of the head assembly, as it engages the work surface to a non-terminal segment of the stacked plate segmented shoe and a sensor means, e.g. a linear variable differential transformer, sensing the movement of the non-terminal segment to produce a signal related to the movement of the non-terminal segment that can be employed to control and direct the movement of the head assembly and/or presser member. The improvement of the invention produces a smooth shimless transition of the presser member onto the work surface, from a work surface non-engaging position, in a tape laying operation.

Abstract: A main compactor and a tail compactor are independently movable with respect to a tape laying head when compacting composite tape. A piston-driven linkage switches the two compactors alternately to a tape laydown point defined with respect to the tape head.

Abstract: An improved tape laying machine for depositing and compacting composite plastic tape onto a work surface, for producing a plastic article, has a presser shoe member for applying and compacting a strip of composite plastic tape onto a work surface, and a tail compaction member for compacting the tail of the strip of composite plastic tape that are independently actuated, coordinately movable and linked to each other. The tail compaction member has a roller that engages the strip of tape substantially rearward of the point where the centerline of the presser shoe member intersects the compacted tape applied to the work surface as the presser shoe member is in compaction engagement with the tape. The tail compaction member roller then moves along a straight line path on the tape as the presser shoe member progressively retracts from compaction engagement with the composite plastic tape.

Abstract: Redirect rollers are fitted with non-rotating upstanding fins to provide enhanced guidance for spaced tows which wrap the rollers.

Abstract: A motorized tape reel is carried on a mandrel shaft extending between a pair of brackets. At the first bracket, the mandrel shaft joins with a swivel ring which permits rotation and axial sliding of the mandrel shaft. The swivel ring swivels on vertical pins in order to swing the mandrel shaft out of its position between the brackets. A second shaft, journalled for rotation within the second bracket, has a power drive connection at its outer end and a separable coupling at its inner end for driving the mandrel shaft. A biasing spring at the first bracket urges the mandrel shaft towards the second bracket, thereby closing the coupling. To change tape reels, manual force is applied to the mandrel shaft to overcome the biasing spring and separate the coupling. The mandrel shaft is then swung out from between the brackets, and the old tape reel is removed. The reverse steps are followed to install a new tape reel.

Abstract: A composite tape laying machine removes each severed portion of a composite tape of a tape assembly from its backing that is not to be applied to a mold or the like. A removal tape of a material, which has a greater adherence to the composite tape than the backing has to the composite tape to which the composite tape is releasably adhered, is moved into engagement with each non-selected severed portion at least at the start of each non-selected severed portion. When the non-selected severed portion has a varying width, the removal tape is removed from engagement with the non-selected severed portion at the start of its maximum width. When the non-selected severed portion has a constant width, the removal tape is removed from engagement therewith substantially prior to the termination of the non-selected severed portion.

Abstract: Composite tape is heated from both sides by cooperating subsystem. The system at one side has a heating chute with resistance heaters, controller and thermocouple for maintaining a heating chute temperature setpoint. T.sub.chute. The opposite side of the tape has hot air selectively played on it by the other subsystem, comprising an air distribution box, air heater, controller and thermocouple for maintaining air at the tape face at an air heater setpoint temperature, T.sub.air.

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 composite tape laying machine removes each severed portion of a composite tape of a tape assembly from its backing that is not to be applied to a mold or the like. A removal tape of a material, which has a greater adherence to the composite tape than the backing has to the composite tape to which the composite tape is releasably adhered, is moved into engagement with each non-selected severed portion at least at the start of each non-selected severed portion. When the non-selected severed portion has a varying width, the removal tape is removed from engagement with the non-selected severed portion at the start of its maximum width. When the non-selected severed portion has a constant width, the removal tape is removed from engagement therewith substantially prior to the termination of the non-selected severed portion.

Abstract: Thin plates are stacked across the width of a composite tape strip. A pressurized membrane extends along the top edges of the plates, biasing the plates down against the tape strip. The membrane yields to vertical movement of the plates sliding relative to one another, in response to contour changes occurring across the tape strip.

Abstract: The tape laying head of a composite tape laying machine is rotatable around the tape laydown surface on circular guideways. The presser shoe assembly is likewise rotatable around the common radius point by means of circular cam faces journalled on cam followers supported by the tape head presser assembly. A feedback transducer signals rotation of the tape presser member while adapting to contour changes, and the signal is employed to effect rotation and realignment of the entire tape head with the presser shoe. The mechanism additionally embodies a brake assembly which is selectively energized to prevent presser shoe rotation at predetermined times.