A three-dimensional image forming system according to the present invention includes a conveyance path along which a heat-expandable sheet is conveyed, a heating unit which heats the heat-expandable sheet by irradiating the heat-expandable sheet with light, a detection sensor which detects that the rear end of the heat-expandable sheet comes close to the heating unit by the conveyance of the heat-expandable sheet along the conveyance path, and a control unit which increases the conveying speed of the heat-expandable sheet whose rear end is detected when the detection sensor detects that the rear end of the heat-expandable sheet comes close to the heating unit.

A ply transporting and compacting apparatus comprises a rigid frame, a top-layer sheet of flexible rubber material fastened to the frame, and a bottom-layer sheet of perforated flexible rubber material having openings. The apparatus also comprises a middle-layer sheet of flow media material disposed in a first plenum area that is defined between the top and bottom layer sheets. The apparatus further comprises a moving device coupled to the frame and arranged to lower the frame and sheets onto a composite ply at a trimming location to pick up the composite ply with a suction force when a vacuum is drawn in the first plenum area to create the suction force through the openings of the bottom-layer sheet.

A method is provided for fabricating a composite ply layup with a desired shape. The method includes moving a shuttle having a sheet of elastic material into engagement with at least one composite ply at a ply pickup station, and picking up the at least one composite ply with the shuttle. The method also includes transporting the shuttle and the at least one composite ply from the ply pickup station to a forming station, and moving the shuttle and the at least one composite ply into engagement with a forming tool at the forming station or any previously laid plies on the forming tool. The method further includes compacting the at least one composite ply on the forming tool or any previously laid plies on the forming tool with the shuttle to form the composite ply layup with the desired shape.

A reinforced molding is formed having an internal continuous fiber reinforcement preform embedded therein. Continuous reinforcing fiber is deposited in a reinforcement volume to form a continuous fiber reinforcement preform, and the reinforcement preform is then located within a mold of a molding apparatus. The mold is loaded with flowable and substantially isotropic molding material, e.g., by injection with heated and/or pressurized resin. The molding material is hardened (by curing or cooling or the like) to overmold the continuous fiber reinforcement preform. The resulting reinforced molding surrounds the internal continuous fiber reinforcement preform with a hardened substantially isotropic molding material.

Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for controlling a flow of a material through a vehicle component. In some embodiments, the apparatus may include a plurality of baffle layers, each baffle layer of the plurality of baffle layers having a contour, wherein at least one space between at least some of the plurality of baffle layers defines at least one flow path. The apparatus may also include a first plurality of spacers positioned in the at least one flow path, the first plurality of spacers having one or more hydrodynamic properties determined based on a first plurality of dimensions, the one or more hydrodynamic properties determining, at least in part, a second flow property of the at least one flow path.

Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for controlling a flow of a material through a vehicle component. In some embodiments, the apparatus may include a plurality of baffle layers, each baffle layer of the plurality of baffle layers having a contour, wherein at least one space between at least some of the plurality of baffle layers defines at least one flow path. The apparatus may also include a first plurality of spacers positioned in the at least one flow path, the first plurality of spacers having one or more hydrodynamic properties determined based on a first plurality of dimensions, the one or more hydrodynamic properties determining, at least in part, a second flow property of the at least one flow path.

A method and apparatus for constructing a tubular assembly (24) comprising an inner portion (21) and a further portion (22) surrounding the inner portion, the further portion being formed from a strip (50) of material comprising two opposed longitudinal marginal side portions (53). The apparatus (100) comprises an assembly station (106) having a wall (122). The apparatus (100) comprises means for advancing the inner portion (21) along a first path (111) extending past the wall, and means for advancing the strip (50) along a second path (112) and causing the strip to encircle the wall and thereby wrap about and surround the inner portion (21). The two marginal side portions (53) are disposed in overlapping relation on the side of the wall opposed to the first path (111). The apparatus (100) further comprises a system (131) for affixing the two longitudinal marginal side portions (53) together in overlapping relation to assemble the strip (50) into a tubular configuration about the inner portion (21), whereby the strip in the tubular configuration provides the further portion (22).

A manufacturing system includes a plurality of lamination heads and a head-moving system defining a continuous loop lamination path configured to move the lamination heads in series along the lamination path. The manufacturing system also includes at least one lamination mandrel positioned along a portion of the lamination path. The lamination heads are each configured to dispense a layup material onto the at least one lamination mandrel or onto layup material previously applied onto the lamination mandrel while the lamination heads are moved by the head-moving system through one or more revolutions of the lamination path to lay up a composite laminate.

The invention relates to a fibrous-preform conveying device for conveying fibrous preforms, wherein at least one contact roller which on its circumferential face displays an electrode and/or counter electrode is provided, such that an electric contact with the fibrous preform to be conveyed is achieved in order to initiate a current flow in the fibrous preform when the fibrous preform is conveyed in the conveying direction.

The invention relates to a fibrous-preform conveying device for conveying fibrous preforms, wherein at least one contact roller which on its circumferential face displays an electrode and/or counter electrode is provided, such that an electric contact with the fibrous preform to be conveyed is achieved in order to initiate a current flow in the fibrous preform when the fibrous preform is conveyed in the conveying direction.