Systems and methods for removing a backing from a ply of composite material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024123723-A1
Application number	US-202218046552-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2022
Priority date	Oct 14, 2022
Publication date	Apr 18, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and method for removing a backing from a ply of composite material is disclosed. The system includes a roller having a roller axis and a roller surface that circumscribes the roller axis. The system also includes an adhesion feature disposed on the roller surface. The system further includes a roller drive to move the roller along a travel path that is perpendicular to the roller axis and to rotate the roller about the roller axis.

First claim

1 . A system for removing a backing from a ply of composite material, the system comprising:
a roller comprising a roller axis and a roller surface that circumscribes the roller axis; an adhesion feature disposed on the roller surface; a roller drive to move the roller along a travel path that is perpendicular to the roller axis and to rotate the roller about the roller axis; and a cooling element that moves along the travel path to reduce a temperature of at least one of the backing and the ply ahead of the roller.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the roller surface is configured to contact a backing surface of the backing; the adhesion feature is configured to procure adhesion between the roller surface and a portion of the backing surface; and rotation of the roller during movement of the roller along the travel path peels the backing away from the ply.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the roller drive is configured to apply a first force to the roller, perpendicular to the roller axis, and to apply a second force to the roller, perpendicular to the roller axis and to the first force.

4 . (canceled)

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling element is located adjacent to the roller.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling element comprises a gas dispenser that dispenses a gas along a contact interface between the roller surface of the roller and a backing surface of the backing.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the adhesion feature comprises at least one vacuum port disposed through the roller surface of the roller.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the adhesion feature comprises a plurality of vacuum ports disposed through the roller surface of the roller.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the vacuum ports extend along a length of the roller.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the vacuum ports extend around a circumference of the roller.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the adhesion feature comprises at least one suction cup.

12 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a support platform comprising a support surface,
wherein:
the support surface supports the ply opposite the roller; and
the support platform comprises a second adhesion feature disposed on the support surface.

13 . A method for removing a backing from a ply of composite material, the method comprising steps of:
positioning a roller in contact with the backing; adhering a roller surface of the roller to a portion of the backing; moving the roller along a travel path while rotating the roller about a roller axis; moving a cooling element along the travel path to reduce a temperature of at least one of the backing and the ply ahead of the roller; and wrapping the backing around the roller surface to peel the backing away from the ply.

14 . (canceled)

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the cooling element comprises a gas dispenser; and the step of moving the cooling element along the travel path comprises dispensing a chilled gas from the gas dispenser along a contact interface between the roller surface of the roller and a backing surface of the backing.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of adhering the roller surface of the roller to a portion of the backing comprises a step of procuring adhesion between the roller surface and a backing surface of the backing using an adhesion feature disposed on the roller surface.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the step of positioning the roller comprises:
positioning the roller at a corner of the backing; and
orienting the roller relative to the ply such that the travel path is oblique to an edge of the backing; and
the step of adhering the roller surface of the roller to a portion of the backing comprising adhering a portion of the roller surface to the corner of the backing.

18 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
supporting the ply on a support platform opposite the roller; and adhering the ply to the support platform during the step of wrapping the backing around the roller surface.

19 . A method removing a backing from a ply of composite material, the method comprising steps of:
applying an adhesion force to a backing surface of the backing; producing a static friction force applied to the backing surface via the adhesion force; directing the static friction force along a cycloidal path; producing a peel force applied to the backing via the adhesion force and the static friction force, wherein peel force is sufficient to remove the backing from the ply; and cooling at least one of the backing and the ply to reduce a temperature of an area upon which the peel force is applied along a travel path that is approximately perpendicular to the peel force.

20 . (canceled)

21 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the gas dispenser comprises a nozzle.

22 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the gas dispenser comprises a diffuser.

23 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising one of increasing or decreasing a velocity of the gas.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Adams Travis R
• Rhodes Charles A
• Richards Benjamin
• Dubon Juliette
• Martinez Adam
• Moyes Eric E
• Luchini Timothy J
• Ellis Augustus J

Classifications

• B32B43/006 Primary

  Delaminating · CPC title

• 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

• B29C70/388 Primary

  Tape placement heads, e.g. component parts, details or accessories · CPC title

• B29C37/0075

  using release sheets · CPC title

• Y10T156/1132

  Using vacuum directly against work during delaminating · CPC title