The feeding unit (10) comprises: support means (12) for rotatably supporting a first reel (R1) of two-layer tissue web and a second reel (R2) of two-layer tissue web about respective axes of rotation (x1, x2); cutting means (32, 42) for cutting the two layers (L1_1, L2_1) of the tissue web (W1) of the reel (R1) in use, the cutting means (32, 42) being configured to cut the two layers (L1_1, L2_1) of the tissue web (W1) along two cut lines spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the web (W1); joining means (44_1, 44_2) for joining each of the two layers (L1_2, L2_2) of the tissue web (W2) of the other reel (R2) of said first and second reels (R1, R2), and precisely of the new reel, to a respective layer (L1_1, L2_1) of the tissue web (W1) of the reel (R1) in use; and tissue web accumulation means (30) for accumulating a given amount of web (W1) downstream of the cutting means (32, 42) and the joining means (44_1, 44_2) so as to ensure the feeding of the machine with the tissue web (W1) while the portion of tissue web (W1) on which the cutting means (32, 42) and the joining means (44_1, 44_2) act is kept temporarily still to allow the cutting of the two layers (L1_1, L2_1) of the tissue web (W1) in use and the joining of the latter with the two layers (L2_2, L2_2) of the new tissue web (W2).

A self-threading lamination head has a material supply drum, a backing layer collection drum, and a material threading system. The material supply drum supports a material roll of layup material backed by a backing layer. The material threading system includes at least one threading belt located on one side of the lamination head. The threading belt is supported by belt rollers driven by a belt drive motor. A belt-mounted layer engagement device is coupled to the threading belt for engaging a backing layer leading edge portion. The backing layer collection drum collects the backing layer as the lamination head applies the layup material onto a substrate. The belt drive motor drives the threading belt over the belt rollers and causes the belt-mounted layer engagement device to thread the backing layer through the lamination head, and position the backing layer leading edge portion proximate the backing layer collection drum.

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.

A CIPP liner feed roller for manipulating and feeding CIPP liner by pulling CIPP liner from a liner source and feeding it to where it is needed. The CIPP liner feed roller generally includes a main roller attached to a frame, a clamping roller attached to the frame and configured to be in parallel with the main roller, wherein the distance between the clamping roller and the main roller can be adjusted using one or more actuators, a drive unit comprising a motor configured to control the rotation of the main roller within the frame, a controller coupled to the drive unit and the one or more actuators, wherein the controller is configured to control the rotation of the main roller and the distance between the clamping roller and the main roller, and a support beam attached the frame and configured to be in parallel with the main roller.

Disclosed are systems for applying materials to components. The system comprises a tool operable for transferring a portion of a material from a supply of the material to a component. A first portion of the tool may be configured for cutting along a side or edge of the portion of the material. A second portion of the tool may be configured for tamping, pressing, or pushing against the portion of the material to cause uncut sides or edges of the portion of the material attached to the supply of the material to be torn, severed, detached, or separated from the supply of the material.

A method of conveying a glass film composite uses a roll-to-roll process for winding a glass film composite wound on a feed roller by a winding roller through a plurality of conveyance rollers. The glass film composite includes an elongated glass film, and linear resin tapes disposed on one side of the glass film along a longitudinal direction of the glass film at both ends in a width direction of the glass film. The method includes a step of conveying the glass film composite from the feed roller to the winding roller through the plurality of conveyance rollers without passing a state in which the glass film composite is bent so that the resin tapes are directed to the inside.

Disclosed are systems for applying materials to components. The system comprises a tool operable for transferring a portion of a material from a supply of the material to a component. A first portion of the tool may be configured for cutting along a side or edge of the portion of the material. A second portion of the tool may be configured for tamping, pressing, or pushing against the portion of the material to cause uncut sides or edges of the portion of the material attached to the supply of the material to be torn, severed, detached, or separated from the supply of the material.

A heat treatment apparatus for high-quality graphene synthesis comprises an upper roll chamber, a deposition chamber connected to the upper roll chamber to deposit graphene on a catalytic metal film, and a lower roll chamber mounted on a lower portion of the deposition chamber. The upper roll chamber includes a supply roller and the lower roll chamber includes a lower direction shifting roller shifting a direction of the catalytic metal film supplied from the supply roller. In the deposition chamber, a catalytic metal film at a supply side transferred from the supply roller to the lower direction shifting roller and a catalytic metal film at a discharge side transferred from the lower direction shifting roller to a winding roller are passed, and a heater portion is mounted around the catalytic metal film at the supply side and the catalytic metal film at the discharge side.

A self-threading lamination head has a material supply drum, a backing layer collection drum, and a material threading system. The material supply drum supports a material roll of layup material backed by a backing layer. The material threading system includes at least one threading belt located on one side of the lamination head. The threading belt is supported by belt rollers driven by a belt drive motor. A belt-mounted layer engagement device is coupled to the threading belt for engaging a backing layer leading edge portion. The backing layer collection drum collects the backing layer as the lamination head applies the layup material onto a substrate. The belt drive motor drives the threading belt over the belt rollers and causes the belt-mounted layer engagement device to thread the backing layer through the lamination head, and position the backing layer leading edge portion proximate the backing layer collection drum.

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.