Modular head automated fabric laminating apparatus

摘要

An apparatus for laminating a fabric material to a part broadly comprises a vacuum table, a cutting element, a plurality of pinch rollers, and a plurality of compaction rollers. The vacuum table receives the fabric material from a supply spool and retains the material while the cutting element cuts scrap material from the sides of the fabric material. The pinch rollers receive the fabric material after the scrap material has been cut and are configured to stretch the fabric material from a center line outward toward the edges of the material. The compaction rollers receive the fabric material from the pinch rollers and are configured to press the fabric material against a surface of the part.

主权项

1. An apparatus for laminating a fabric material to a part, the apparatus comprising:
a plurality of pinch roller pairs configured to prevent wrinkling of the fabric material before the fabric material is applied to the part, wherein the fabric material is generally planar while it is in contact with any single pinch roller pair, the pinch roller pairs including a set of left pinch roller pairs comprising a plurality of left pinch roller pairs positioned on one side of a lateral center line of the fabric material, the left pinch roller pairs including a first left pinch roller pair positioned adjacent to the center line with each successive left pinch roller pair positioned downstream and laterally outward from the previous left pinch roller pair, and a set of right pinch roller pairs comprising a plurality of right pinch roller pairs positioned on the opposing side of the center line, the right pinch roller pairs including a first right pinch roller pair positioned adjacent to the center line with each successive right pinch roller pair positioned downstream and laterally outward from the previous right pinch roller pair; and at least one compaction roller configured to receive the fabric material from the pinch roller pairs and to press the fabric material against a surface of the part.