Patent ID: 11872778
Assignee: AIRBORNE INTERNATIONAL B.V.
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 1:
2. A device for moving sheets of fiber reinforced material having parallel longitudinally oriented fibers embedded in a thermoplastic matrix material, in particular sheets presenting anisotropic stiffness, comprising:
a conveying path for conveying sheets of fiber reinforced material in a direction substantially along the orientation of the fibers;
a drive element arranged substantially transversely to the conveying path to in use engage a face of a sheet of fiber reinforced material to be conveyed along the path, and arranged to exert friction onto the face in a direction substantially along the orientation of the fibers;
a guide element arranged substantially transversely to the conveying path to in use engage an opposite face of the sheet of fiber reinforced material to be conveyed along the path;
the drive element and the guide element being arranged to envelop the conveying path; and
wherein the drive element and guide element are disposed on opposite sides of the conveying path and each of the drive element and guide element is interspaced along the conveying path to leave a slot between the drive element and guide element that allows limited free movement of the sheet to be conveyed transverse to its face;
wherein a plurality of drive and/or guide elements is arranged substantially transversely to the conveying path to in use engage a face of a sheet of fiber reinforced material substantially transversely to the orientation of the fibers;
wherein at least one of the drive and/or guide elements is arranged to exert traction forces with a transverse component and is arranged to extend substantially transversely to the conveying path at an angle that is offset from perpendicular and is arranged to maintain linear contact across a whole width of the sheet of fiber reinforced material.