Abstract: A method and apparatus to splice a new roll of fabric or material to a roll of material being dissipated from a roll stand by supply to a material consuming machine. The invention includes a pivotally mounted vacuum device which supplies the end of the new material to a position from which it is mated with the end of the material being unwound and is adhered thereto to splice the two materials.

Abstract: A friction feed media drive mechanism for a sign plotter includes a front idler roller and a back idler roller positioned under compression against a drive roller. The compression may be selectively applied by the user depending whether a friction feed or pin feed mode of operation is desired. Where the pin feed mode of operation is desired, the compression assembly is released and no compression is applied. The compression assembly includes a compression spring loaded member which fits through an opening in a housing and is selectively secured therein by a securing rod attached to a cam shaped knob. The front idler roller and back idler roller are both attached to a roller holding assembly, which has a groove therein adapted for fitting over the driving pins. The two idler rollers extend below the surface of the attaching assembly and may have a hard plastic sleeve on the ends thereof to reduce bending.

Abstract: A rotary basket winder with water cooling for winding a material includes a tank in the shape of an open topped point containing a rotatable winding carrier with two upwardly extending concentrically arranged rings of winding rods defining an annular winding space between them. A stationary guide pipe leads material into the winding space. A winding disk can be raised and lowered within the tank. Previously, in rotary winding baskets, the problem has been to effect uniform cooling, particularly in the center of the winding basket because of the formation of a funnel, and to afford trouble-free annular delivery after the winding process with high-strength work material characteristics. In the present rotary basket winder, coolant openings are located in the upper part of the tank and are arranged to recirculate a sufficient quantity of coolant into the center of the tank from above.

Abstract: A kite string reel, suitable for manual operation and also suitable for power-driven operation by reason of its adaptation for use with a cordless screwdriver having a mouth for accepting interchangeable bits. The kite string reel contains a hollow spool having two flanges. One flange is an annular ring while the other flange is a circular disc. The circular disc has a handle extending away from the spool and a bit extending inward. A removable handle is adapted to fit into the open end of the spool for manual operation or, if power-driven operation is desired, a cordless screwdriver can instead be inserted.

Abstract: Yarn 10 is fed from a package 11 to a point of knitting 12 on a knitting machine along a substantially closed path defined by tubing 13. Adjacent to a positive feeding device 14, the tubing 13 includes a section 15 which can be closed for initial blowing of the yarn through the tube, and opened to allow threading of the yarn 10 around the feeding device 14. This facilitates initial feeding of the yarn to the knitting machine, and also helps in the control of loose fly or lint generated from the yarn 10. The section 15 includes a tensioning device (30, not shown) for the yarn.

Abstract: A toilet paper case includes a generally U-shaped housing which has a base mounting segment and two side segments. The housing is opened at the top, front and bottom sides thereof. The side segments are formed in the upper end portions thereof with open-ended vertical slide slots in which two ends of a reel are received slidably. A generally L-shaped cover plate is hinged to the front end portions of the side segments and has a generally horizontal portion covering the top side of the housing, and a generally vertical portion covering the front side of the housing. The rear end of the cover plate rests on the upper end of the base mounting segment and cannot be turned down. The cover plate has a forked lower end which includes serrated outer and inner edges for cutting a roll of toilet paper single handedly while mounted rotatably in the housing.

Abstract: A storage and dispensing reel for borescope insertion tubes which has a reel compartment for the coiled tube and an inner foam filled storage compartment for the proximal end of the tube and the associated control modules therefore. The entire reel is arranged for rotation about its axis and has a cover to secure and protect the apparatus stored therein.

Abstract: A thread end seeking arrangement for preparing a predetermined length of thread for insertion into a core of a cop carrying the thread. The arrangement includes a streaming channel located at a seeking/detection point for coupling to the cop and receiving the thread from the circumference of the cop. A thread engager is provided at the streaming channel and is spaced from one end of the streaming channel by a distance corresponding to the predetermined length of the thread to be inserted. The thread engager is operable to engage the thread at the end of the predetermined length of the thread.

Abstract: A machine producing cross-wound bobbins or cheeses has a drum winding a yarn travelling in a given yarn travel direction on a cheese over a given traverse winding width with reversal points. A traverse winding apparatus includes a traction mechanism transmission having an endless traction mechanism. The traction mechanism is guided over rollers defining first and second traction mechanism segments movable in opposite directions at the same speed. The traction mechanism includes yarn entrainers spaced apart by at least substantially twice the given traverse winding width. First, second and at least one further yarn guide are in alternation with the traction mechanism segments as seen in the given yarn travel direction for supporting the yarn during traverse winding and for transferring the yarn between the yarn entrainers at the reversal points. Each of the yarn guides has a concave yarn guide contour with decreasing depth as seen in the given yarn travel direction to be contacted by the travelling yarn.