Flexible tape applicator and method of operation

摘要

An applicator (1) for applying a flexible tape to a planar sheet having a base, a table, a robotic arm and an applicator head (4). The applicator head (4) is carried by the robotic arm and includes a cradle (33) for receiving a spool (42) of flexible tape. The robotic arm moves the applicator head (4) through the Cartesian coordinate system relative to the table. A motor (47) feeds flexible tape (43) out from the spool (42), over a dancer arm (100) through a plurality of rollers (60,61). A sensor associated with the dancer arm (100) measures the pressure or position in a cylinder (110) connected to the dancer arm (100) and forwards a signal to the motor (47) to increase the speed if the dancer arm pressure is high, and decrease the motor speed if dancer arm pressure is low. A plurality of optical sensors (90) determine the layer of flexible tape (43) currently being removed from the reel, and adjust the motor speed to adjust for the varying length of material removed per revolution as concentric layers of flexible tape (43) are removed from the spool (42).