Abstract: An apparatus separates a band of resin-impregnated fiber material into strips and disposes the strips between parallel pin rows of a pinmat to form a layer of strips. The apparatus includes a pinmat-following roller comprising a first roller mounted on a first central axle on which the first roller can rotate and slide transversely, a first circular rib surrounding the first roller and capable of fitting between adjacent pin rows of a pinmat, and a circular groove in the first roller for coupling with the band-separating roller. The apparatus further includes a band-separating roller comprising a second roller mounted on a second central axle on which the second roller can rotate and slide transversely, multiple radially projecting disks from the second roller for separating the band of resin-impregnated fiber, and a second circular rib surrounding the second roller capable of coupling with the circular groove of the pinmat-following roller.

Abstract: A method is described for making a composite laminate formed by curing a stacked structure comprising at least two layers of strips of fibrous material impregnated with resin, wherein the strips in adjacent layers have different directional orientations. An apparatus is provided for simultaneously separating a band of fibrous material impregnated with resin into strips and depositing the strips between adjacent pin rows of a pinmat to form the stacked structure.

Abstract: A method is described for making a composite laminate formed by curing a stacked structure comprising at least two layers of strips of fibrous material impregnated with resin, wherein the strips in adjacent layers have different directional orientations. An apparatus is provided for simultaneously separating a band of fibrous material impregnated with resin into strips and depositing the strips between adjacent pin rows of a pinmat to form the stacked structure.