Patent ID: 8826509

Claim:
A system for forming composite material parts, the system operating in an axial direction and an orthogonal lateral direction, the system comprising: a charge station operable to receive a first charge, the charge station including at least one centering gripper with first and second spaced-apart arms that are operable to contact the first charge along opposing sides, a plurality of end stops operable to contact the first charge along opposing ends, and a plurality of alignment rollers that are operable to raise above an upper surface of the charge station to align and move the first charge in the axial direction, the at least one centering gripper in combination with the end stops and alignment rollers operable to provide alignment of the first charge in the lateral direction and the axial direction which positions the charge in a known location; a tool station operable to receive a first tool; a forming station operable to form a second charge against a second tool; a cooling station operable to cool a third charge and a third tool; a pick and place apparatus operable to retrieve the first charge from the charge station and the first tool from the tool station and transport both the first charge and the first tool to the forming station; and a transfer unit operable to transport the second charge and the second tool from the forming station to the cooling station while at the same time transporting the third charge and the third tool from the cooling station to the tool station.