Provided are systems and apparatuses for manufacturing aircraft support structures. An example robotic end effector comprises a rotatable reel with a flat strip of material wound around the reel. The end effector further includes a forming shoe including a forming surface contacting the strip of material. A first end of the forming surface corresponds to a start shape and a second end of the forming surface corresponds to an end shape. As the strip of material passes from the first end of the forming surface to the second end of the forming surface, the strip of material transitions from the first shape to the end shape and is deposited as a formed stringer ply onto an application surface. The forming shoe may further include a vacuum system to suction air through a plurality of ports along the forming surface to urge the strip of material against the forming surface.

In a joining jig for disposing a sheet-shaped adherend on one surface side of a sheet-shaped material, folding back the adherend in an end edge portion of the sheet-shaped material, and causing adhesion of an end edge portion of the adherend on the other surface side of the sheet-shaped material, by a tip portion of an attachment piece pivoting in the end edge portion of a placement surface of a placement base, the attachment piece is switchable between a deployment position where an attachment surface to which the adherend is attached is deployed outside the end edge portion of the placement surface of the placement base and a facing position where the attachment surface faces the end edge portion of the placement surface.

An automated wrapping system for wrapping a substrate with a material includes a support and a nest mounted to the support that is configured to position the material between an outer portion of the substrate and the nest. The automated wrapping system also includes a material folding assembly positioned adjacent to the nest configured for movement between a rest position and an actuated position, wherein the movement of the material folding system to the actuated position engages and folds the free end portion of the material over the edge of the substrate and onto a part of the inner portion of the substrate while retaining the material against the edge of the substrate. An actuator connected to the material folding assembly moves the material folding assembly between the rest position and the actuated position.

Provided are systems and apparatuses for manufacturing aircraft support structures. An example robotic end effector comprises a rotatable reel with a flat strip of material wound around the reel. The end effector further includes a forming shoe including a forming surface contacting the strip of material. A first end of the forming surface corresponds to a start shape and a second end of the forming surface corresponds to an end shape. As the strip of material passes from the first end of the forming surface to the second end of the forming surface, the strip of material transitions from the first shape to the end shape and is deposited as a formed stringer ply onto an application surface. The forming shoe may further include a vacuum system to suction air through a plurality of ports along the forming surface to urge the strip of material against the forming surface.

The first aspect of the present invention provides a foamed structure, comprising: a first foamed body extending in a first direction; a second foamed body extending in the first direction and facing the first foamed body with a gap interposed therebetween; and a reinforcement disposed in the gap between the first foamed body and the second foamed body, the reinforcement having an elongated shape, wherein the first foamed body has a portion overlapping with the second foamed body in the first direction view.

Provided are systems and apparatuses for manufacturing aircraft support structures. An example robotic end effector comprises a rotatable reel with a flat strip of material wound around the reel. The end effector further includes a forming shoe including a forming surface contacting the strip of material. A first end of the forming surface corresponds to a start shape and a second end of the forming surface corresponds to an end shape. As the strip of material passes from the first end of the forming surface to the second end of the forming surface, the strip of material transitions from the first shape to the end shape and is deposited as a formed stringer ply onto an application surface. The forming shoe may further include a vacuum system to suction air through a plurality of ports along the forming surface to urge the strip of material against the forming surface.

A laminating device and method for laminating a decor layer onto a carrier part includes a lower tool with a support region for receiving the carrier part, an upper tool including a pressing surface for exerting a pressing pressure onto the decor layer which is arranged between an upper side of the carrier part and the pressing surface, and at least one movable slider for edge-folding an overhang of the decor layer around an edge of the carrier part by way of pressing the slider against the overhang of the decor layer. A distance between the lower tool and the pressing surface can be enlarged or reduced. The lower tool includes a first membrane, wherein the arrangement of the first membrane and the slider to one another is such that the first membrane is movable onto the slider, for pressing the slider against the overhang of the decor layer.

An automated wrapping system for wrapping a substrate with a material includes a support and a nest mounted to the support that is configured to position the material between an outer portion of the substrate and the nest. The automated wrapping system also includes a material folding assembly positioned adjacent to the nest configured for movement between a rest position and an actuated position, wherein the movement of the material folding system to the actuated position engages and folds the free end portion of the material over the edge of the substrate and onto a part of the inner portion of the substrate while retaining the material against the edge of the substrate. An actuator connected to the material folding assembly moves the material folding assembly between the rest position and the actuated position.

The first aspect of the present invention provides a foamed structure, comprising: a first foamed body extending in a first direction; a second foamed body extending in the first direction and facing the first foamed body with a gap interposed therebetween; and a reinforcement disposed in the gap between the first foamed body and the second foamed body, the reinforcement having an elongated shape, wherein the first foamed body has a portion overlapping with the second foamed body in the first direction view.

Provided are systems and apparatuses for manufacturing aircraft support structures. An example robotic end effector comprises a rotatable reel with a flat strip of material wound around the reel. The end effector further includes a forming shoe including a forming surface contacting the strip of material. A first end of the forming surface corresponds to a start shape and a second end of the forming surface corresponds to an end shape. As the strip of material passes from the first end of the forming surface to the second end of the forming surface, the strip of material transitions from the first shape to the end shape and is deposited as a formed stringer ply onto an application surface. The forming shoe may further include a vacuum system to suction air through a plurality of ports along the forming surface to urge the strip of material against the forming surface.