Patent ID: 7703495

Claim:
A compact fiber placement apparatus, comprising: a head rotation torque motor, having a rotatable member thereof defining a rotational axis of the rotatable member and an opening passing axially through the head rotation torque motor disposed about the rotational axis of the rotatable member; and a fiber placement head including a fiber placement head frame having a mounting plate thereof which is adapted for fixed attachment to the rotatable member of the head rotation torque motor; the mounting plate of the fiber placement head frame having a hole extending therethrough which is substantially aligned with the opening in rotatable member of the head rotation torque motor, when the fiber placement head frame is attached to the rotatable member of the head rotation torque motor; a fiber tow guide having a plurality of substantially axially oriented passages extending therethrough for guiding a plurality of tows through the opening in the rotatable member and the hole in the mounting plate of the fiber placement head frame; the fiber tow guide being rotatably mounted within the rotatable member of the fiber head torque motor in a manner allowing the fiber tow guide to rotate freely with respect to the rotatable member of the fiber head torque motor, about the rotational axis of the rotatable member of the fiber head torque motor.