Patent ID: 8578995
Filing Date: 2013-11-12
Classification: B29C,B29K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for fabricating a composite article with a plurality of composite material dispensers, the method comprising: installing an independent supply roll of composite strip material onboard each of the composite material dispensers; based at least in part on a dimension of the composite strip material, selectively spacing the material dispensers on two opposite sides of a bridge rail to which the dispensers are adjustably coupled, the bridge rail thus extending between, and supporting, a first plurality of material dispensers and a second plurality of material dispensers, the first and second pluralities of material dispensers configured relative to one another such that the first and second pluralities of material dispensers dispense the composite strip material in opposite directions relative to the bridge rail; moving the bridge rail in a first direction to apply the composite strip material from the first plurality of material dispensers during a first stroke, where the first direction is toward a first of the opposite sides of the bridge rail; moving the bridge rail in a second direction to apply the composite strip material from the plurality of second material dispensers during a second stroke, where the second direction is toward the second of the opposite sides; further moving the bridge rail pivotally about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bridge rail, to collectively rotate all of the first and second pluralities of material dispensers, the rotation being performed either subsequent to the first stroke or subsequent to the second stroke, and then stopping movement of the bridge rail relative to the work datum before applying the composite strip material from one of the first or second pluralities of material dispensers in a subsequent stroke; and the composite strip material forming at least a first layer of the composite article having the composite material oriented in a first orientation and, a second layer of the composite material of the composite article having a second orientation which is not parallel to the first layer.