US 12,275,199 B2
Multiple heating sources for individual tows in composites manufacturing
Michael M. Zieve, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to Electroimpact, Inc., Mukilteo, WA (US)
Filed by Electroimpact, Inc., Mukilteo, WA (US)
Filed on Apr. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/237,933.
Prior Publication US 2022/0339891 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B29C 70/38 (2006.01); B29C 70/54 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 70/384 (2013.01) [B29C 70/54 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An AFP system, comprising:
an AFP head configured to supply one or more tows under tension, for which the one or more tows are intermittently fed according to a preselected pattern to a compaction roller;
the compaction roller configured to receive the one or more tows and to press each of the one or more tows with pressure onto the substrate;
a plurality of heat sources in the form of heat source modules each having an electrical power supply, each heat source module selectably associated with the one or more tows, wherein heat from a set of two or more heat sources of the plurality of heat sources is directed to and heats one intermittently-placed tow of the one or more tows, an area of the substrate corresponding to the one intermittently-placed tow of the one or more tows, or both the one intermittently-placed tow and the area of the substrate corresponding to the one intermittently-placed tow; and
a control system configured to control the respective supply of heat from the set of heat sources, heat sources of the set being controlled, independently from heat sources not in the set, in accord with the preselected pattern to be powered on during a first period corresponding to when the one intermittently-placed tow is known to be fed from the AFP head and being controlled to be powered off during a second period corresponding to when the one intermittently-placed tow is known not to be fed from the AFP head, wherein the status of being fed or not being fed changes for the one intermittently-placed tow during the application of the one or more tows onto the substrate in accordance with the preselected pattern of tow application.