Patent ID: 11919261
Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. An automated removal apparatus for selectively removing one or more trimmed portions of a laminated ply in a ply-by-ply fabrication process, the automated removal apparatus comprising:
a rotatable reel comprising a plurality of retractable vacuum panels attached around a hub portion of the rotatable reel, each of the plurality of retractable vacuum panels comprising one or more retractable vacuum pad assemblies, each having a vacuum pad with a vacuum port and a self-sealing valve;
a plurality of actuator assemblies attached to the plurality of retractable vacuum panels;
a plurality of friction reducing elements attached around the rotatable reel;
a drive assembly attached to the rotatable reel; and
a pneumatic system attached to the rotatable reel, the pneumatic system comprising a valve manifold operable to control an air flow to actuate the plurality of actuator assemblies, and operable to control the air flow to one or more vacuum generators to generate a vacuum flow through one or more of the vacuum ports, and the vacuum flow generating a vacuum force configured to pull up and hold the one or more trimmed portions against one or more of the vacuum pads, when the rotatable reel is rotated over the one or more trimmed portions to be removed.