Patent ID: 7404868

Claim:
A tape placement head for applying thermoplastic tape/tow to an object comprising a supply of thermoplastic tape/tow, a heated compactor located in a heated zone downstream from said supply, a feeder for feeding the tape/tow from the supply and into the heated zone, said heated compactor having a plurality of heated members which are independently movable with respect to each other so as to be conformable to the shape of the object, a chilled zone downstream from said heated zone, a chilled compactor in said chilled zone, said chilled compactor having a plurality of chilled members which are independently movable with respect to each other so as to be conformable to the shape of the object, said tape/tow having a path of travel through said heated zone and through said chilled zone to be capable of being disposed against the object and to be in a heated condition in said heated zone and in a chilled condition in said chilled zone, an upstream shim arrangement for disposing an upstream shim in a path extending through said heated zone between said heated members and said tape/tow whereby said heated members may press said upstream shim against said tape/tow to press said tape/tow against the object, a downstream shim arrangement for disposing a downstream shim in a path through said chilled zone between said chilled members and said tape/tow whereby said chilled members may press said downstream shim against said tape/tow to maintain said tape/tow against the object, an upstream pressure applying arrangement for urging said plurality of heated members against said upstream shim in said heated zone which then can press the heated tape/tow against the object, and a downstream pressure applying arrangement for urging said chilling members against said downstream shim in said chilled zone which then can press the chilled tape/tow against the object.