Patent ID: 9028634
Filing Date: 2015-05-12
Classification: B29C,B29K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for producing a two layer off-axis composite prepreg material in tape form comprising: a roll of backing paper mounted on a first roll stand; at least one paper guide adapted to unroll the backing paper and wrap the backing paper around a cylindrical mandrel supported on at least two mandrel stands; a first application wheel downstream from the at least one paper guide, the first application wheel supported independently of the mandrel and configured to be rotated around the mandrel in a first angular direction, the first application wheel further comprising: a second application wheel downstream from the first application wheel, the second application wheel supported independently of the mandrel and configured to be rotated around the mandrel in a second angular direction opposite the first angular direction, the second application wheel further comprising: a compacting component downstream from the second application wheel and configured to compact and press the prepreg material onto the backing paper to form a prepreg tube wrapped around the mandrel; a cutting component for cutting the prepreg tube; and, an opener component for opening and laying flat the cut prepreg tube to form a substantially flat two layer off-axis composite prepreg output material in tape form formed from the backing paper and the composite prepreg, wherein the tape is wrapped around to form an output roll mounted on a second roll stand.