Patent ID: 11872778

Abstract:
Method of manipulating a sheet of fiber reinforced material built up with parallel longitudinally oriented fibers embedded in a thermoplastic matrix material, wherein at least one face of the sheet is engaged by a friction element that extends substantially transversely to the orientation of the fibers, and that exerts friction onto the face in a direction substantially along the orientation of the fibers. And a device for moving sheets of fiber reinforced material having parallel longitudinally oriented fibers embedded in a thermoplastic matrix material, in particular sheets presenting anisotropic stiffness is disclosed. The device comprises a conveying path for conveying sheets of fiber reinforced material in a direction substantially along the orientation of the fibers, and a drive element arranged substantially transversely to the conveying path to in use engage a face of a sheet of fiber reinforced material to be conveyed along the path, and arranged to exert friction onto the face in a direction substantially along the orientation of the fibers. The device may further include a guide element arranged substantially transversely to the conveying path to in use engage the opposite face of the sheet of fiber reinforced material to be conveyed along the path, the drive element and the guide element being arranged to envelope the conveying path.