Automated method and system for trimming a multi-ply structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021237301-A1
Application number	US-202016778055-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 31, 2020
Priority date	Jan 31, 2020
Publication date	Aug 5, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is an automated method for trimming a multi-ply structure having at least a first ply and a second ply, where the method includes applying the first ply over a platen, positioning a cutting board over a protected portion of the first ply, applying the second ply over the platen such that the cutting board is between the protected portion of the first ply and a superjacent portion of the second ply, and cutting the superjacent portion of the second ply.

First claim

1 . An automated method for trimming a multi-ply structure comprising at least a first ply and a second ply, the method comprising:
applying the first ply over a platen; positioning a cutting board over a protected portion of the first ply; applying the second ply over the platen such that the cutting board is between the protected portion of the first ply and a superjacent portion of the second ply; and cutting the superjacent portion of the second ply.

2 . The automated method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to the applying the first ply, positioning a film over the platen.

3 . The automated method of claim 2 further comprising, prior to the applying the first ply, positioning the cutting board over a protected portion of the film.

4 . The automated method of claim 3 wherein the applying the first ply is performed such that the cutting board is between the protected portion of the film and a superjacent portion of the first ply.

5 . The automated method of claim 4 further comprising, subsequent to the applying the first ply over the platen, and prior to the positioning the cutting board over the protected portion of the first ply, cutting the superjacent portion of the first ply to generate a scrap from the first ply.

6 . The automated method of claim 5 further comprising, subsequent to the cutting the superjacent portion of the first ply, and prior to the positioning the cutting board over the protected portion of the first ply, discarding the scrap from the first ply.

7 . The automated method of claim 5 wherein the cutting the superjacent portion of the first ply comprises moving a cutting tool relative to the first ply, and wherein the cutting the superjacent portion of the second ply comprises moving the cutting tool relative to the second ply.

8 - 11 . (canceled)

12 . The automated method of claim 1 wherein the applying the first ply over the platen comprises using a laminator moveable with respect to the platen.

13 . The automated method of claim 1 wherein the first ply comprises a first composite material.

14 - 16 . (canceled)

17 . The automated method of claim 13 wherein the second ply comprises a second composite material.

18 - 21 . (canceled)

22 . The automated method of claim 1 wherein the positioning the cutting board over the protected portion of the first ply comprises positioning the cutting board in direct contact with the protected portion of the first ply.

23 . The automated method of claim 1 wherein the cutting board is connected to a swing arm, and wherein the positioning the cutting board over the protected portion of the first ply comprises rotating the swing arm about an axis of rotation.

24 . (canceled)

25 . The automated method of claim 23 further comprising sliding the swing arm with respect to the axis of rotation using a slot.

26 . The automated method of claim 1 wherein the applying the second ply over the platen comprises using a laminator moveable with respect to the platen.

27 . (canceled)

28 . The automated method of claim 1 further comprising:
positioning a second cutting board over a second protected portion of the first ply such that the second cutting board is between the second protected portion of the first ply and a second superjacent portion of the second ply; and
cutting the second superjacent portion of the second ply.

29 . The automated method of claim 28 wherein the cutting the second superjacent portion of the second ply comprises moving a second cutting tool relative to the second ply.

30 . An automated method for trimming a multi-ply structure comprising at least a first ply comprising a first composite material and a second ply comprising a second composite material, the method comprising:
positioning a film over a platen; positioning a cutting board over a protected portion of the film; applying with a laminator the first ply over the platen such that the cutting board is between the protected portion of the film and a superjacent portion of the first ply; cutting the superjacent portion of the first ply; positioning the cutting board over a protected portion of the first ply; applying with the laminator the second ply over the platen such that the cutting board is between the protected portion of the first ply and a superjacent portion of the second ply; and cutting the superjacent portion of the second ply.

31 . An automated multi-ply structure trimming system comprising
a platen; a laminator movable relative to the platen to apply at least a first ply and a second ply over the platen; a cutting board moveable relative to the platen and positionable between the first ply and the second ply; and a cutting tool movable with respect to the platen to cut the second ply.

32 . (canceled)

33 . The system of claim 31 wherein the cutting board is moveable relative to the platen about an axis of rotation.

34 . (canceled)

35 . The system of claim 31 further comprising an automated actuator operationally associated with the cutting tool.

36 - 37 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Krajca Scott E
• Justice Jeremy E

Classifications

• B29C70/54

  Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations {, e.g. feeding or storage of prepregs or SMC after impregnation or during ageing} · CPC title

• B29C70/06 Primary

  Fibrous reinforcements only · CPC title

• B29C69/001

  a shaping technique combined with cutting, e.g. in parts or slices combined with rearranging and joining the cut parts (for reinforced material B29C70/545; B29C49/4278, B29C51/268 take precedence) · CPC title

• B29C70/30

  Shaping by lay-up, i.e. applying fibres, tape or broadsheet on a mould, former or core; Shaping by spray-up, i.e. spraying of fibres on a mould, former or core · CPC title

• B26D7/086 Primary

  by vibrating, e.g. ultrasonically · CPC title