초록 ▼

Disclosed is a machine for forming preimpregnated composite material into thin, narrow structural elements or "fillets" (18). The machine includes a cylindrical lower forming roll (26) rotatably mounted at its ends between two side plates (40). A cylindrical upper forming roll (28) is mounted above

Disclosed is a machine for forming preimpregnated composite material into thin, narrow structural elements or "fillets" (18). The machine includes a cylindrical lower forming roll (26) rotatably mounted at its ends between two side plates (40). A cylindrical upper forming roll (28) is mounted above the lower forming roll and urged into frictional contact therewith. Annular protrusions (30) are formed in the periphery of the lower forming roll and project radially therefrom. Each protrusion comprises a groove (34) formed in its outermost surface that defines a die. The die, with the outer surface of the upper forming roll, combine to form an orifice (35). Each orifice is shaped substantially identical to the cross-sectional shape of the fillet. A strip of composite material (24) is fed through a series of guides and into a selected orifice. A drive mechanism (36) causes rotation of the lower forming roll and hence the frictionally contacting upper forming roll. The resulting rotation causes the strip of composite material to be drawn from its supply source through the guides and to be compacted, while in the orifice, into a fillet.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A machine for drawing a strip of composite material from a supply source and forming it into a fillet, comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a first forming roll rotatably mounted in said frame, said first forming roll containing a plurality of spaced-apart dies formed by grooves located in the periph

1. A machine for drawing a strip of composite material from a supply source and forming it into a fillet, comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a first forming roll rotatably mounted in said frame, said first forming roll containing a plurality of spaced-apart dies formed by grooves located in the peripheral surface of said forming roll; (c) a second forming roll rotatably mounted in said frame adjacent to said first forming roll such that the peripheral surface of said second forming roll impinges on and frictionally engages the peripheral surface of said first forming roll, the peripheral surface of said second forming roll impinging on the peripheral surface of said first forming roll such that said grooves forming said plurality of spaced-apart dies and said surface of said second forming roll define a series of fully closed orifices, each orifice having a fillet crosssectional shape; and, (d) drive means for rotating one of said first and second forming rolls, the frictional engagement between said forming rolls resulting in a corresponding rotation of the other of said first and second forming rolls, the rotation of said first and second forming rolls causing a strip of composite material introduced into a selected one of said orifices to be drawn from its supply source and compacted into a fillet shape. 2. The machine of claim 1, wherein: (a) the peripheral surface of said first forming roll includes a plurality of spaced-apart annular protrusions, each of said protrusions including one of said grooves and, thus, forming one of said spaced-apart dies; and, (b) the peripheral surface of said second forming roll includes a plurality of annular guard rims positioned so as to frictionally engage said plurality of annular protrusions of said first forming roll. 3. The machine of claim 2, wherein: (a) each of said spaced-apart annular protrusions of said first forming roll includes a pair of outer sidewalls; (b) the annular guard rims of said second forming roll have sidewalls and are aligned with the spaces between said spaced-apart annular protrusions of said first forming roll; and, (c) the sidewalls of said annular protrusions of said first forming roll frictionally engage the sidewalls of the annular guard rims of said second forming roll. 4. The machine of claim 3, further including guide means mounted to the machine for directing said strip of composite material into said selected one of said orifices. 5. The machine of claim 4, wherein said guide means includes a guide nozzle assembly mounted to the frame, said guide nozzle assembly having a plurality of bores extending therethrough, the longitudinal centerline of each bore being aligned with a corresponding orifice, said strip of composite material passing through the bore aligned with said selected one of said orifices, said bores being tapered so that the end of each bore nearest its related orifice is smaller than the end of the bore furthest from its related orifice. 6. The machine of claim 5, wherein said guide means further includes a movable guide assembly mounted to said machine upstream of said guide nozzle assembly, said movable guide means being selectively alignable with the bores of said guide nozzle assembly for directing said strip of composite material into the bore of the guide nozzle assembly aligned with said selected one of said orifices. 7. The machine of claim 6, wherein said movable guide assembly includes at least two spaced-apart guide elements, said guide elements having concentrically aligned holes, the centerline of said concentrically aligned holes being alignable with the longitudinal centerline of a selected one of the bores of said guide nozzle assembly, the size of the hole in said guide elements nearest to said guide nozzle assembly being smaller than the hole in said guide element furthest away from said guide nozzle assembly. 8. The machine of claim 7, wherein: at least two annular ridges are formed in and project from the peripheral surface of said first forming roll, said annular ridges projecting outwardly slightly further than said annular protrusions; and, the peripheral surface of said second forming roll is in bearing contact with said annular ridges, said bearing contact preventing said annular protrusions from impinging on the portion of said peripheral surface of said second forming roll that is aligned with said annular protrusions. 9. The machine of claim 8, further including spring means connected to one of said forming rolls for urging said one of said forming rolls into continuous contact with the other of said forming rolls. 10. The machine of claim 9, wherein each said groove is formed by two convex surfaces, the convex surfaces being configured and arranged to define a groove having a V-shape. 11. The machine of claim 1, further including guide means mounted to the machine for directing said strip of composite material into said selected one of said orifices. 12. The machine of claim 11, wherein said guide means includes a guide nozzle assembly mounted to the frame, said guide nozzle assembly having a plurality of bores extending therethrough, the longitudinal centerline of each bore being aligned with a corresponding orifice, said strip of composite material passing through the bore aligned with said selected one of said orifices, said bores being tapered so that the end of each bore nearest its related orifice is smaller than the end of the bore furthest from its related orifice. 13. The machine of claim 12, wherein said guide means further includes a movable guide assembly mounted to said machine upstream of said guide nozzle assembly, said movable guide means being selectively alignable with the bores of said guide nozzle assembly for directing said strip of composite material into the bore of the guide nozzle assembly aligned with said selected one of said orifices. 14. The machine of claim 13, wherein said movable guide assembly includes at least two spaced-apart guide elements, said guide elements having concentrically aligned holes, the centerline of said concentrically aligned holes being alignable with the longitudinal centerline of a selected one of the bores of said guide nozzle assembly, the size of the hole in said guide elements nearest to said guide nozzle assembly being smaller than the hole in said guide element furthest away from said guide nozzle assembly. 15. A machine for drawing a strip of composite material from a supply source and forming it into a fillet, comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a first forming roll rotatably mounted in said frame, the peripheral surface of said first forming roll including at least one spaced-apart annular protrusion, said protrusion including a peripheral groove formed therein, said groove defining a die; (c) a second forming roll rotatably mounted in said frame adjacent to said first forming roll, the peripheral surface of said second forming roll including at least two annular guard rims positioned so as to frictionally engage said annular protrusion of said first forming roll on each side of said groove, said groove defining said die and an associated portion of said peripheral surface of said second forming roll defining a fully closed orifice, said orifice having a fillet cross-sectional shape; and (d) drive means for rotating one of said first and second forming rolls, the frictional engagement between said forming rolls resulting in a corresponding rotation of the other of said first and second forming rolls, the rotation of said first and second forming rolls causing a strip of composite material that is introduced into said orifice to be drawn from its supply source and compacted into a fillet shape.