A method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade includes the use of an apparatus having an engagement part. The engagement part has: a support element having a first support edge and a second support edge, a belt extending around the support element and forming a primary engagement edge of the engagement part along the first support edge of the support element. The method includes: providing one or more pre-shaped elements, including a first pre-shaped element, in a first element position, positioning the engagement part in a first position, moving the support element in a first direction with a first velocity to extend underneath the first pre-shaped element, and at the same time moving the belt relative to the support element around the first support edge in a primary direction from below the first support edge to above the first support edge with a primary velocity.

A green tyre (2) for bicycles is built, comprising at least one carcass ply (4) having axially opposite end flaps (4a) engaged with respective bead cores (5) and a tread band (6) applied in a radially outer position around said at least one carcass ply (4). The built tyre (2) removed from the building drum, is profiled so as to translate the tread band (6) in a radially outer direction with respect to the bead cores (5), so as to impart a cross-sectional convex profile to the tyre (2) in a radially outer direction. The profiled tyre is engaged by means of a transfer member (31) comprising a gripping device (30) which retains it at the radially outer surface (2b) so as to maintain said cross-sectional convex profile in a radially outer direction.

A green tyre (2) for bicycles is built, comprising at least one carcass ply (4) having axially opposite end flaps (4a) engaged with respective bead cores (5) and a tread band (6) applied in a radially outer position around said at least one carcass ply (4). The built tyre (2) removed from the building drum, is profiled so as to translate the tread band (6) in a radially outer direction with respect to the bead cores (5), so as to impart a cross-sectional convex profile to the tyre (2) in a radially outer direction. The profiled tyre is engaged by means of a transfer member (31) comprising a gripping device (30) which retains it at the radially outer surface (2b) so as to maintain said cross-sectional convex profile in a radially outer direction.

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for applying noise reducing elements to tyres for vehicle wheels. Noise reducing elements (12), all equal to each other, are fed in succession on a conveyor (20) according to a predetermined path and are oriented on the predetermined path all in the same way. Tyres (2) of different sizes (C, P) are fed in succession on a conveyor (20) up to an application station (34). In the application station (34), the noise reducing elements (12) are picked up from the conveyor (20) and applied to radially inner surfaces of the tyres (2). The application comprises: arranging the noise reducing elements (12) with the larger dimension (L) directed in a circumferential direction or arranging the noise reducing elements (12) with the larger dimension (L) directed in an axial direction as a function of the sizes (C, P) of the tyre (2) in which they are applied.

An apparatus and method for the automated manufacturing of three-dimensional (3D) composite-based objects is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a material feeder, a printer, a powder system, a transfer system, and optionally a fuser. The method comprises inserting a stack of substrate sheets into a material feeder, transferring a sheet of the stack from the material feeder to a printer, depositing fluid on the single sheet while the sheet rests on a printer platen, transferring the sheet from the printer to a powder system, depositing powder onto the single sheet such that the powder adheres to the areas of the sheet onto which the printer has deposited fluid, removing any powder that did not adhere to the sheet, optionally melting the powder on the substrate, and repeating the steps for as many additional sheets as required for making a specified 3D object.

Methods and apparatus for additive manufactures of complex parts using co-aligned continuous fibers are disclosed. Filament subunits having complex shapes are fabricated and inserted into a mold cavity. The layup is compression molded to form a complex part having high tensile strength.

Systems and methods for manufacturing a composite member. The system and methods are configured to move different types of composite plies from different supply stations. The composite plies are moved along a conveyance member and then with a transfer station to a forming tool. One or more forming members form the composite plies onto the forming tool.

A robot is disclosed that deposits pre-preg patches. The end effector of the robot comprises a source of light that is characterized by a wavelength λ; a plenum comprising a plurality of thru-holes and a plurality of gas shafts, wherein each of the plurality of thru-holes comprises a first opening and a second opening, and wherein each of the plurality of thru-holes intersects at least one of the plurality of gas shafts; a hermetic window that: (i) is substantially transparent to light characterized by the wavelength λ, and (ii) substantially prevents the gas from flowing through the first opening of the each of the plurality of thru-holes; and an optical instrument that directs the light from the source through the hermetic window, through the first opening of each of the plurality of thru-holes, and through the second opening of each of the plurality of thru-holes.

Methods, systems, and robots for multi-layer prepreg composite sheet layup. The method includes obtaining a dataset including start and end point pairs of a mold of the 3D part. The method includes generating a layup sequence based on the dataset and generating multiple trajectories for one or more movements of the first robot or the first robot arm based on the layup sequence. The method includes causing a second robot or a second robot art to hold or grasp the prepreg layer or sheet a threshold distance above the mold or the 3D part. The method includes causing the first robot or the first robot arm to place or conform the prepreg layer or sheet to the mold of the 3D part.

Methods and apparatus for additive manufactures of complex parts using co-aligned continuous fibers are disclosed. Filament subunits having complex shapes are fabricated and inserted into a mold cavity. The layup is compression molded to form a complex part having high tensile strength.