Patent ID: 7717151

Claim:
A placement head for applying a plurality of lengths of a material to a surface, said placement head comprising: a base; a first roller assembly supported by the base and including a first roller for applying a first length of the material along a first path of the surface; a second roller assembly supported by the base and including a second roller for applying a second length of the material along a second path of the surface; a third roller assembly supported by the base and including a third roller for applying a third length of the material along a third path of the surface; a first actuator for moving the first roller assembly relative to the base and independently of the second roller assembly and the third roller assembly; a second actuator for moving the second roller assembly relative to the base and independently of the first roller assembly and the third roller assembly; and a third actuator for moving the third roller assembly relative to the base and independently of the first roller assembly and the second roller assembly, wherein the first actuator moves the first roller assembly in six-degrees of freedom independently of the second and third roller assemblies, wherein the second actuator moves the second roller assembly in six-degrees of freedom independently of the first and third roller assemblies, wherein the third actuator moves the third roller assembly in six-degrees of freedom independently of the first and second roller assemblies, wherein each roller assembly comprises: a first roller with an outer circumferential surface; a first guide element having a first end and a second end, the first guide element being movable between a first position and a second position; a second guide element presenting a first guide surface that generally follows a first portion of the outer circumferential surface of the first roller; and a third guide element presenting a second guide surface that generally follows a second portion of the outer circumferential surface of the first roller; wherein the first end of the first guide element is proximate the second guide element when the first guide element is in the first position, and is proximate the third guide element when the first guide element is in the second position.