A tape placement head and a method for applying thermoplastic tape to an object

摘要

A tape placement head (10) for applying thermoplastic tape (12) to an object includes a heated feeder (16) which guides the tape/tow to a heated zone. The heated zone has a line compactor (20) having a single row of at least one movable heated member. An area compactor is located in the heated zone downstream from the line compactor. The area compactor includes a plurality of rows of movable feet which are extendable toward the tape/tow different distances with respect to each other to conform to the shape of the object. A shim (26) is located between the heated compactors and the tape/tow. A chilled compactor (24) is in a chilled zone downstream from the heated zone. The chilled zone includes a line chilled compactor and an area chilled compactor. A chilled shim (28) is mounted between the chilled compactor and the tape/tow.