Patent ID: 8741084
Filing Date: 2014-06-03
Classification: B29C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of laminating composite tape over a convex radius edge on a substrate, comprising: moving a material placement head over the substrate toward and around the convex radius edge; laying down a bandwidth of composite tape strips on the substrate as the material placement head moves over the substrate and around the convex radius edge, including using a compaction device to compact the composite tape strips against the substrate; preventing the compaction device from lifting off composite tape strips laid near the convex radius edge by pivoting the compaction device about an axis through a pivot point in contact with the convex radius edge, wherein the pivot point is located between a center strip and a last strip of the bandwidth, and wherein the axis is perpendicular to the convex radius edge; and folding the bandwidth as the material placement head moves around the convex radius edge.