Patent ID: 6390169
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: B29C,F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
A compaction roller for use with a fiber placement machine, the compaction roller comprising:a plurality of roller segments disposed adjacent one another and supported by a pivot shaft in side-by-side fashion for independent movement about said pivot shaft each said roller segment further having a cutout; said pivot shaft extending through each of said roller segments so as to be disposed within a perimeter of each said roller segment, said pivot shaft further being offset from a coaxial center of each said roller segment so as to be disposed eccentrically relative to each said roller segment; a segment moving member disposed within said cutouts for urging said roller segments pivotally in an arcuate path about said eccentrically disposed pivot shaft to conform to a complexly shaped surface of a tool mounted within said fiber placement machine, to thereby enable said roller segments to apply a generally uniform pressure across said complexly shaped surface of said tool.