US 11,999,116 B2
Composite forming apparatus, system and method
Kurtis S. Willden, Kent, WA (US); Brian G. Robins, Renton, WA (US); Steven M. Shewchuk, St. Louis, MO (US); and Brice A. Johnson, Federal Way, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Aug. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/461,238.
Prior Publication US 2023/0060932 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 70/44 (2006.01); B29C 35/08 (2006.01); B29C 70/34 (2006.01); B29C 70/54 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 70/44 (2013.01) [B29C 35/0805 (2013.01); B29C 70/342 (2013.01); B29C 70/54 (2013.01); B29C 2035/0811 (2013.01); B29C 2035/0822 (2013.01); B29C 2035/0838 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A composite forming apparatus comprising:
an end effector;
a forming feature that is coupled to the end effector, wherein the end effector moves the forming feature relative to a composite ply to form the composite ply over a forming tool or a prior formed composite ply;
a first arm;
a first non-contact heating element that is coupled to the first arm, wherein the first arm positions the first non-contact heating element ahead of the forming feature along a forming direction, such that the first non-contact heating element indirectly heats a local portion of the composite ply from a first heating direction before the local portion of the composite ply is formed over the forming tool or the prior formed composite ply by the forming feature;
a second arm;
a second non-contact heating element that is coupled to the second arm, wherein the second arm positions the second non-contact heating element ahead of the forming feature along the forming direction, wherein the second non-contact heating element indirectly heats the local portion of the composite ply from a second heating direction, which is opposite the first heating direction, before the local portion of the composite ply is formed over the forming tool or the prior formed composite ply by the forming feature and
a control unit configured to:
control the first arm to position the first non-contact heating element ahead of the forming feature and move the first non-contact heating element along the forming direction relative to a first ply surface of the composite ply; and
control the second arm to position the second non-contact heating element ahead of the forming feature and move the second non-contact heating element along the forming direction relative to a second ply surface of the composite ply, opposite the first ply surface the composite ply.