In one embodiment, a fiber treatment system includes a rotatable nubbed roller including an axis of rotation, a surface, and a number of spaced apart nubs projecting away from the surface, the number of spaced apart nubs imparting a number of spaced apart openings in a fiber tow. In another embodiment, the fiber treatment system further includes an optionally rotatable spreader roller for flattening the fiber tow. In yet another embodiment, the loosened, but still continuous fiber tow is chopped by a downstream chopper to form short fibers with reduced tow sizes.

In one embodiment, a fiber treatment system includes a rotatable nubbed roller including an axis of rotation, a surface, and a number of spaced apart nubs projecting away from the surface, the number of spaced apart nubs imparting a number of spaced apart openings in a fiber tow. In another embodiment, the fiber treatment system further includes an optionally rotatable spreader roller for flattening the fiber tow. In yet another embodiment, the loosened, but still continuous fiber tow is chopped by a downstream chopper to form short fibers with reduced tow sizes.

An apparatus feeds a plurality of threads to rotating godets of a melt spinning machine including a manual injector (e.g., a main manual injector) and a cutting device. In order to be able to selectively feed the threads individually or as a bunch, a transfer device and a second manual injector (e.g., an auxiliary manual injector) are associated with the manual injector.

A composite placement machine has a simplified fiber delivery path from a creel to a lay-up table. A carriage is mounted for motion in the Y-axis along the length of an overhead beam. A composite placement head having a shiftable compaction roller is supported by the carriage. A stationary creel at one end of the overhead beam forms a band of composite material having a width that extends in the X-axis. A lay-up table is mounted for motion in the X-axis and rotary motion about a C-axis that is perpendicular to the X and Y-axes. The motion of the head in the Y-axis, the shiftable compaction roller, and the motion of the lay-up table X-axis and the C-axis allows the head to apply composite material to the lay-up table in both Y-axis directions in any orientation without twisting the band of composite material relative to the X and Y-axes.

A system for braking rotational movement of at least one beam is disclosed. The system can comprise a frame and at least one beam rotatably supported on the frame. Each beam of the at least one beam can comprise at least one sheave groove on at least one longitudinal end. A rope can have a first end and a second end. Each of the first end and second end can be fixedly coupled to the frame. The rope can be received within a portion of at least one of the at least one sheave groove of each beam. A tensioning assembly can be configured to selectively cause a predetermined braking tension in the rope.

A roller assembly having a central axis can comprise a roller having an outer surface and defining an inner bore. The apparatus can further comprise a bushing comprising a sleeve having an outer surface and defining an inner bore. The inner bore of the sleeve can have an operative circumference. The sleeve comprises a bladder that is configured to expand radially upon receipt of a fluid to reduce the operative circumference of the inner bore. The bushing can further comprise a flange extending radially outwardly from the sleeve. The flange defines a vessel containing fluid therein. The vessel is in fluid communication with the bladder of the sleeve. The bushing comprises an actuator that is configured to cause the fluid from the vessel of the flange to flow into the bladder of the sleeve. An alignment feature can be configured to rotationally position the roller relative to the bushing.

A passive tensioning system is disclosed for composite material that is dispensed by a composite placement machine. A spool is mounted on a spool shaft and material on the spool is pulled from the spool and applied to a surface. The tensioning system has a drag brake on the spool shaft and a drag brake control for the drag brake. A dancer roll is mounted on a linear slide having a spring force and a slide control is provided for the linear slide. A control system continually varies the drag brake control and the slide control to control the tension of the composite material based on the instantaneous operating characteristics of the composite placement machine.

A system (10) for winding multiple elongated elements (12, 14) simultaneously under a substantially same tension on a single spool (16) comprises one pendulum arm (18) and one set of actuators (22) acting on the pendulum arm (18) and balancing with the sum of tensions of each elongated element (12, 14). The system (10) further comprises one or more balancing arms (26, 40): A first balancing arm (26) is attached to the pendulum arm (18), the other balancing arms (if any) are attached to the first balancing arm (26). Each balancing arm (26) is pivotable upon a balancing arm axis (28). A first set of one or more reversing pulleys (30) is positioned at one side of the first balancing arm axis (28) and a second set of one or more reversing pulleys (32) is positioned at the other side of said balancing arm axis (28). Each of the reversing pulleys (30, 32) guides an elongated element (12, 14) to be wound.

An object is to control the position of a fiber bundle on a roller of a guide assembly in a filament winding apparatus. There is provided a filament winding apparatus that winds a fiber bundle consisting of a plurality of fibers on an outer surface of a liner and comprises a fiber feeder configured to feed the fiber bundle; and a guide assembly including a roller configured to guide the fiber bundle fed by the fiber feeder to the outer surface of the liner while making the fiber bundle in contact with the roller. The roller comprises a suction hole configured to suck the outside air and is provided in at least a surface of the roller that is to be in contact with the fiber bundle; and a suction unit configured to suck the outside air from the suction hole with such a suction force that draws the fiber bundle in contact with the roller.

A composite placement machine has a simplified fiber delivery path from a creel to a lay-up table. A carriage is mounted for motion in the Y-axis along the length of an overhead beam. A composite placement head having a shiftable compaction roller is supported by the carriage. A stationary creel at one end of the overhead beam forms a band of composite material having a width that extends in the X-axis. A lay-up table is mounted for motion in the X-axis and rotary motion about a C-axis that is perpendicular to the X and Y-axes. The motion of the head in the Y-axis, the shiftable compaction roller, and the motion of the lay-up table X-axis and the C-axis allows the head to apply composite material to the lay-up table in both Y-axis directions in any orientation without twisting the band of composite material relative to the X and Y-axes.