Abstract: A scrap collection assembly for a tape lamination head that applies a plurality of composite tape segments includes a crack-off assembly with a scrap crack-off redirect roller configured to engage one or more composite tape segments and one or more scrap portions; and a secondary crack-off roller configured to engage one or more composite tape segments and one or more scrap portions; a pivot that connects the crack-off assembly to the tape lamination head, wherein the secondary crack-off roller selectively moves about the pivot to change a direction of composite tape movement.

Abstract: A cutting assembly for a tape lamination head that applies a plurality of composite tape segments includes a cutter carriage configured to slide relative to the tape lamination head and adjacent to composite tape in a direction of composite tape movement; and a cutter assembly, carried by the cutter carriage, comprising a cutting blade and a cutting anvil, wherein the cutting blade is configured to cut the composite tape while the cutting carriage is moving at the same velocity as composite tape moving through the tape lamination head.

Abstract: A scrap collection assembly for a tape lamination head that applies a plurality of composite tape segments includes a crack-off assembly with a scrap crack-off redirect roller configured to engage one or more composite tape segments and one or more scrap portions; and a secondary crack-off roller configured to engage one or more composite tape segments and one or more scrap portions; a pivot that connects the crack-off assembly to the tape lamination head, wherein the secondary crack-off roller selectively moves about the pivot to change a direction of composite tape movement.

Abstract: A scrap collection assembly for a tape lamination head that applies a plurality of composite tape segments includes a crack-off assembly with a scrap crack-off redirect roller configured to engage one or more composite tape segments and one or more scrap portions; a secondary crack-off roller configured to engage one or more composite tape segments and one or more scrap portions; a pivot that connects the crack-off assembly to the tape lamination head, wherein the secondary crack-off roller selectively moves about the pivot to change a direction of composite tape movement; and a conveyor that receives the scrap portion(s) from the secondary crack-off roller.

Abstract: A tape lamination head for applying composite tape onto a mold or mandrel amid the formation of a composite workpiece. The tape lamination head is but one component of a larger tape lamination machine and assembly. Among its components, the tape lamination head includes a tape supply reel, a backing paper take-up reel, and a tape tension control system. The tape tension control system has a first dancer roller assembly located downstream of the tape supply reel and has a second dancer roller assembly located upstream of the backing paper take-up reel. The first dancer roller assembly can include a first roller, a first guide, a first actuator, a first lock, and a first position sensor. The second dancer roller assembly can include a second roller, a second guide, a second actuator, a second lock, and a second position sensor.

Abstract: A scrap collection assembly for a tape lamination head that applies a plurality of composite tape segments includes a crack-off assembly with a scrap crack-off redirect roller configured to engage one or more composite tape segments and one or more scrap portions; a secondary crack-off roller configured to engage one or more composite tape segments and one or more scrap portions; a pivot that connects the crack-off assembly to the tape lamination head, wherein the secondary crack-off roller selectively moves about the pivot to change a direction of composite tape movement; and a conveyor that receives the scrap portion(s) from the secondary crack-off roller.

Abstract: A tape lamination head for applying composite tape onto a mold or mandrel amid the formation of a composite workpiece. The tape lamination head is but one component of a larger tape lamination machine and assembly. Among its components, the tape lamination head includes a tape supply reel and multiple rollers. The tape supply reel receives a tape supply spool. The rollers carry composite tape from the tape supply spool downstream of the tape supply reel. The composite tape is carried by the rollers about a composite tape path that is defined by the tape lamination head. At a location along the composite tape path, one or more of the rollers situates the composite tape so that a backing paper side of the composite tape ends up in confrontation with a layup surface upon which the composite tape is applied.

Abstract: A cutting assembly for a tape lamination head that applies a plurality of composite tape segments includes a cutter carriage configured to slide relative to the tape lamination head and adjacent to composite tape in a direction of composite tape movement; and a cutter assembly, carried by the cutter carriage, comprising a cutting blade and a cutting anvil, wherein the cutting blade is configured to cut the composite tape while the cutting carriage is moving at the same velocity as composite tape moving through the tape lamination head.

Abstract: A tape lamination head for applying composite tape onto a mold or mandrel amid the formation of a composite workpiece. The tape lamination head is but one component of a larger tape lamination machine and assembly. Among its components, the tape lamination head includes a tape supply reel, a backing paper take-up reel, and a tape tension control system. The tape tension control system has a first dancer roller assembly located downstream of the tape supply reel and has a second dancer roller assembly located upstream of the backing paper take-up reel. The first dancer roller assembly can include a first roller, a first guide, a first actuator, a first lock, and a first position sensor. The second dancer roller assembly can include a second roller, a second guide, a second actuator, a second lock, and a second position sensor.

Abstract: Internet-based printing to a home printer in which the print job is pre-rasterized at the cable head end and sent in rasterized format to the set top box. Because the print job is pre-rasterized at the cable head end, and not at the set top box, resources are not wasted at the set top box when they are more readily available at the cable head end. In addition, because of the high speed communication network already in existence between the cable head end and the set top box, even large pre-rasterized print jobs can be transmitted to the set top box in reasonable amounts of time, meaning more quickly than a situation in which it was the set top box that performed rasterization.

Abstract: Internet-based printing to a home printer in which the print job is pre-rasterized at the cable head end and sent in rasterized format to the set top box. Because the print job is pre-rasterized at the cable head end, and not at the set top box, resources are not wasted at the set top box when they are more readily available at the cable head end. In addition, because of the high speed communication network already in existence between the cable head end and the set top box, even large pre-rasterized print jobs can be transmitted to the set top box in reasonable amounts of time, meaning more quickly than a situation in which it was the set top box that performed rasterization.

Abstract: Secure printing of print data from a client application residing on a data network to a set top box which has a printer, the set top box residing on a digital cable network which has a cable head end for interfacing the digital cable network to the data network, wherein print data is generated in the client application after which it is determined whether a secure communication path exists between the client application and the set top box. If the secure communication path exists, the print data is transmitted from the client application to the set top box. The print data is then sent from the set top box to the printer for printing.

Abstract: Authorized transmission of print data from an internet application to a home access device having a printer connected thereto, the printer being serviced by a remote print server which controls data transmission to the home access device, in which authorization is obtained from an intermediary service for the internet application to transmit the print data to the home access device via the remote print server, and in which the authorized print data is transmitted to the home access device via the remote print server for printing on the printer.

Abstract: A software architecture for printing to a home printer via a cable television communication network includes complementary clients and servers executing on each of the internet components participating in the internet-based printing. A client executes at the remote internet-based site that originates the print job, and transmits the print job to a complimentary server at the cable head end. A server at the cable head end spools the print job and preferably converts the print job into a format more suitable for a next-downstream device, such as a cable set top box. The cable head end further includes a client which transmits the print job from the cable head end's server to a server at the set top box. The server at the set top box spools the print job to an attached printer.

Abstract: A software architecture for printing to a home printer via a cable television communication network includes complementary clients and servers executing on each of the internet components participating in the internet-based printing. A client executes at the remote internet-based site that originates the print job, and transmits the print job to a complimentary server at the cable head end. A server at the cable head end spools the print job and preferably converts the print job into a format more suitable for a next-downstream device, such as a cable set top box. The cable head end further includes a client which transmits the print job from the cable head end's server to a server at the set top box. The server at the set top box spools the print job to an attached printer.