Abstract: An automated fiber bundle placement apparatus including a placing head configured to place each of fiber bundles onto a placement die and including a plurality of conveying mechanisms each configured to convey the fiber bundle toward a pressing part configured to press the fiber bundles onto the placement die, a plurality of guidance mechanisms each including a guide roller for guiding the fiber bundle toward the conveying mechanism, and a frame attached to a multi-jointed robot configured to move the placing head and provided with the conveying mechanisms and the guidance mechanisms. The frame is constituted by a main frame part provided with the conveying mechanisms and attached to the multi-jointed robot and a sub-frame part provided with the guidance mechanisms and detachably attached to the main frame part.

Abstract: An automated fiber bundle placement apparatus includes a supply device, a placement head, and an articulated robot. The articulated robot includes a head swing mechanism and a guide mechanism. The guide mechanism includes a position changing mechanism which includes a support member for supporting a tow guide, and which displaces the tow guide corresponding to a change in a position of an introduction section by a head swing mechanism.

Abstract: A fiber bundle cutting method in an automated fiber bundle placement apparatus includes: obtaining a placement length of a fiber bundle in an operating time of a movable blade from a start time point of a drive period to an end time point of a contact period, based on an operating time and a basic speed; setting, as a first time point, a time point determined as preceding the start time point by a predetermined preceding period; obtaining an additional speed to extra deliver at least a placement length during the preceding period; changing a feeding speed from an actual feeding speed to a corrected feeding speed obtained by adding the additional speed to the actual feeding speed at the first time point; and stopping rotary drive of a roller by a drive motor at the start time point.

Abstract: An automated fiber bundle placement apparatus including a placing head configured to place each of fiber bundles onto a placement die and including a plurality of conveying mechanisms each configured to convey the fiber bundle toward a pressing part configured to press the fiber bundles onto the placement die, a plurality of guidance mechanisms each including a guide roller for guiding the fiber bundle toward the conveying mechanism, and a frame attached to a multi-jointed robot configured to move the placing head and provided with the conveying mechanisms and the guidance mechanisms. The frame is constituted by a main frame part provided with the conveying mechanisms and attached to the multi-jointed robot and a sub-frame part provided with the guidance mechanisms and detachably attached to the main frame part.

Abstract: An automated fiber bundle placement apparatus includes a supply device, a placement head, and an articulated robot. The articulated robot includes a head swing mechanism and a guide mechanism. The guide mechanism includes a position changing mechanism which includes a support member for supporting a tow guide, and which displaces the tow guide corresponding to a change in a position of an introduction section by a head swing mechanism.