US 11,787,101 B2
Device and method for forming a composite laminate for obtaining a z-shaped profile
Salvador Romero Esteban, Madrid (ES); Augusto Perez-Pastor, Madrid (ES); Melania Sanchez Perez, Madrid (ES); and Katia Fernandez Horcajo, Madrid (ES)
Assigned to AIRBUS OPERATIONS S.L., Madrid (ES)
Filed by AIRBUS OPERATIONS S.L., Madrid (ES)
Filed on Nov. 13, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/97,667.
Claims priority of application No. 19382995 (EP), filed on Nov. 13, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0138713 A1, May 13, 2021
Int. Cl. B29C 53/04 (2006.01); B29C 53/84 (2006.01); B29K 101/12 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 53/04 (2013.01) [B29C 53/84 (2013.01); B29K 2101/12 (2013.01); B29L 2031/001 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method to form a composite laminate to have a Z-shaped profile in cross section, wherein the Z-shaped profile includes a web, a first flange joined to the web along first longitudinal edge of the web, and a second flange joined to the web along a second longitudinal edge of the web, the method comprising:
positioning a first portion of a composite laminate between grip plates of a grip module, wherein the first portion is to be formed into the first flange,
positioning a second portion of the composite laminate between feed plates of a feed module, wherein the second portion is spaced from the first portion;
heating the second portion of the composite laminate while the second portion is between the feed plates;
moving at least one of the feed module and the grip module in a direction parallel to a plane in which the web will be formed, wherein the movement is between a first position to a second position, wherein while in the first position the composite laminate extends along a straight line extending between the grip plates and between the feed plates; and
after the moving to the second position, removing the composite laminate from the feed plates and the grip plates, wherein the removed composite laminate has the Z-shaped profile in cross section including the first flange, the web and the second flange;
wherein at the first position, the second portion of the composite laminate includes a first area to be formed into the web and a second area to be formed into the second flange,
wherein during the movement, the first area of the second portion of the composite laminate slides from between feed plates and moves into a gap between the feed module and the grip module,
wherein after the movement to the second position, the removal step includes removing the second area of the second portion of the composite laminate remains the between feed plates, and
wherein due to the movement between the first and second positions, the composite laminate is formed into the Z-shaped profile in cross section.