Patent ID: 11969957
Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A system for use in forming a composite structure, the system comprising:
a forming tool comprising at least one surface and a length dimension; and
a ply distribution apparatus comprising:
at least one dispenser configured to dispense at least one sheet of composite material to a transport mechanism;
a work station; and
at least one cutter configured to receive the at least one sheet of composite material from the transport mechanism, form a plurality of cut plies of composite material therefrom, and provide the plurality of cut plies to the work station, one at a time, in a ply laydown sequence,
wherein each cut ply is individually retrievable from the work station for positioning on the forming tool, and
wherein the ply distribution apparatus is positionable at different locations along the length dimension of the forming tool.