Patent ID: 8393368
Filing Date: 2013-03-12
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for compacting laminate material onto a mold, comprising: a support member; a motor having a drive shaft operably coupled to the support member to rotate the support member about an axis of the drive shaft; a plurality of rollers in engagement with the support member and spaced in an array around the axis of the drive shaft so that rotation of the support member causes the rollers to rotate about the axis of the drive shaft relative to the support member to compact the laminate material onto the mold; a controller operably coupled to the motor for monitoring and controlling the operation of the motor; a sensor unit for monitoring the compaction of the laminate material and causing the rollers to compact the laminate a material until the compacting is complete; and at least one heater, the heater being housed in one of the rollers for injecting thermal energy into the laminate material on the mold as said one of the rollers rolls over the laminate material, wherein the rollers comprise balls.