US Patent 7841375 Tow catch for fiber placement head

An apparatus and method are provided, for selectively clamping a fiber tow against a support in a fiber placement head, in a manner allowing one-way motion of the tow in a forward direction from an input side to an output side of the support, and precluding motion of the tow in a reverse direction from the output side to the input side of the support, through use of a tow catch apparatus mounted on the fiber placement head, at a position along the forward path of the tow before the shears and clamps of a cut/add mechanism.