US 11,964,459 B1
Systems and methods for removing a backing from a ply of composite material
Travis R. Adams, Villa Ridge, MO (US); Charles A. Rhodes, O'Fallon, MO (US); Benjamin Richards, St. Louis, MO (US); Juliette Dubon, Miami Lakes, FL (US); Adam Martinez, St. Louis, MO (US); Eric E. Moyes, Desoto, MO (US); Timothy J. Luchini, St. Louis, MO (US); and Augustus J. Ellis, St. Louis, MO (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Oct. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/046,552.
Int. Cl. B32B 43/00 (2006.01); B29C 70/54 (2006.01)
CPC B32B 43/006 (2013.01) [B29C 70/54 (2013.01); Y10T 156/1132 (2015.01); Y10T 156/1153 (2015.01); Y10T 156/1174 (2015.01); Y10T 156/1911 (2015.01); Y10T 156/1944 (2015.01); Y10T 156/195 (2015.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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.