Patent ID: 11951658
Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 15:
16. A method of forming a composite member constructed from a plurality of composite plies, the method comprising:
introducing first composite plies onto a conveyance member from a first supply station with the first supply station positioned at a first longitudinal end of the conveyance member;
introducing second composite plies onto the conveyance member from additional supply stations that are aligned on one or more lateral sides of the conveyance member at non-perpendicular orientations relative to the conveyance member, with the one or more lateral sides extending from the first longitudinal end of the conveyance member;
moving the first composite plies and the second composite plies along the conveyance member;
transferring the first composite plies and the second composite plies from the conveyance member to a transfer station that is positioned at a second longitudinal end of the conveyance member;
individually transferring each of the first and second composite plies to a forming tool at the transfer station; and
forming the first and second composite plies on the forming tool;
the first composite plies being comprising different design variables than the second composite plies with the design variables comprising one or more of material, fiber orientation, and ply widths.