A large scale composite structure is fabricated by forming a plurality of composite laminate modules and joining the modules together along their edges using scarf joints.

A device for the production of structural components from a fiber composite material, the components being three-dimensionally arched over a large surface, including a jig having a convex mounting surface having receiving channels for the insertion of structural components, wherein the loaded jig interacts with a laminating bonding device having a corresponding shape for forming the structural component under pressure, wherein the mounting surface includes a plurality of individually elastically deformable mounting shell parts arranged adjacent to each other along at least one longitudinally extending pitch line and attached to a plurality of elastically deformable supporting frame elements extending on the interior of the shell at a right angle to the pitch line, and a plurality of actuators for deforming the mounting surface between an extended position (A) and at least one retracted position (B) to move the jig from the bonding device relative to the receiving channels without undercuts.

The present disclosure generally relates to a method for dispensing material from a roll. The method monitors the weight of a first material roll using a load cell attached to a frame holding the first material roll. The method dispenses material from the first material roll. The method determines, based on at least the weight of the first material roll, when to remove a second material roll from a refrigerator or freezer to reduce the amount of time between the thawing of the second roll and replacing the first roll with the second roll. Also disclosed is an apparatus for dispensing the material from the roll.

A system for pressing one or more stacks of one or more laminae (22), the system comprising: a tool including top (14b) and bottom plates (14a) configured to be disposed on opposing sides of each of one or more stacks (22) of one or more laminae, each of the plates (14a, 14b) having: a center region that overlies or underlies the stack(s) (22) when the stack(s) are disposed between the plates (14a, 14b); and tabs (174) that extend outwardly from edges of the center region and are configured to be coupled to a conveyor or one or more grippers for moving the plate; and a resilient layer (90) configured to be disposed between the top plate and the stack(s) (22) or the bottom plate (14a) and the stack(s) (22); wherein the resilient layer (90) is sized to be disposable between the plates such that, for each of the plates (14a, 14b): the resilient layer (90) overlies or underlies at least 90% of the center region; one or more portions of the resilient layer (90) neither overlie nor underlie the plate; and at least a portion of each of the tabs neither overlies nor underlies the resilient layer ((14a, 14b)). Also claimed is a method for producing laminates by pressing.

A system for pressing one or more stacks of one or more laminae (22), the system comprising: a tool including top (14b) and bottom plates (14a) configured to be disposed on opposing sides of each of one or more stacks (22) of one or more laminae, each of the plates (14a, 14b) having: a center region that overlies or underlies the stack(s) (22) when the stack(s) are disposed between the plates (14a, 14b); and tabs (174) that extend outwardly from edges of the center region and are configured to be coupled to a conveyor or one or more grippers for moving the plate; and a resilient layer (90) configured to be disposed between the top plate and the stack(s) (22) or the bottom plate (14a) and the stack(s) (22); wherein the resilient layer (90) is sized to be disposable between the plates such that, for each of the plates (14a, 14b): the resilient layer (90) overlies or underlies at least 90% of the center region; one or more portions of the resilient layer (90) neither overlie nor underlie the plate; and at least a portion of each of the tabs neither overlies nor underlies the resilient layer ((14a, 14b)). Also claimed is a method for producing laminates by pressing.

A system for manufacturing a composite assembly includes a first mandrel, a second mandrel, a first wrap plate, and a second wrap plate. The first wrap plate and the second wrap plate are positionable in side-by-side relation for receiving a wrap material stack. The first wrap plate and/or the second wrap plate are translatable to a wrap plate open position defining a wrap plate gap between the first and second wrap plate surface edge for receiving a bladder. The second mandrel is translatable to a mandrel open position defining a mandrel gap between the first and second mandrel surface edge. The wrap plate gap and the mandrel gap are configured to receive the wrap material stack formed around a bladder. The first and second wrap plate are configured to fold a first and second material stack base portion into overlapping relation with each other on the bladder top.

The disclosure includes a method and an apparatus for forming a material batch in a continuous manner to form an end product. A material batch (4) is formed from material pieces (1) of predetermined sizes on a temporary storage device (2) by leaving a gap between each of the material pieces (1), and at least two temporary storage devices (2, 108) are arranged side by side and/or one above the other in order to collect the material batch, and the material batch is collected on a temporary storage device such that a material batch is collected on each of the temporary storage devices one after the other and the next material batch is formed on a next temporary storage device when the previous material batch is ready on a previous temporary storage device.

There is provided an automated removal apparatus for selectively removing one or more trimmed portions of a laminated ply in a ply-by-ply fabrication process. The automated removal apparatus includes a rotatable reel having a plurality of retractable vacuum panels attached around the rotatable reel. Each retractable vacuum panel has one or more retractable vacuum pad assemblies, and each retractable vacuum pad assembly has a vacuum pad with a vacuum port and a self-sealing valve. The automated removal apparatus further includes actuator assemblies attached to the plurality of retractable vacuum panels, friction reducing elements attached around the rotatable reel, a drive assembly attached to the rotatable reel, and a pneumatic system attached to the rotatable reel and including a valve manifold operable to control an air flow to the actuator assemblies and to one or more vacuum generators to generate a vacuum flow.

A continuously rotating, non-symmetric preform feed, stretch-blow-moulding machine dedicated to the stretch-blow-moulding of containers from non-symmetric injection moulded preforms; the non-symmetric preforms including an integral handle extending from a first junction point to a second junction point on a body of the preform; the body of the preform and the integral handle constituted from the same material.

A system for placing a composite ply includes a transfer end effector that is movable relative to a carrier transfer device, configured to convey a ply carrier that supports the composite ply, and a placement end effector that is movable relative to the transfer end effector and to a forming tool. The transfer end effector is configured to remove the ply carrier, supporting the composite ply, from the carrier transfer device and to position the ply carrier for removal by the placement end effector. The placement end effector is configured to remove the ply carrier from the transfer end effector and to apply the composite ply to the forming tool.