Abstract: Liquid finish is applied to a travelling filament by bringing the travelling filament into contact with an arcuate surface portion associated with a normally stationary, but rotatable, annular finish applicator, and thereafter periodically rotating the annular finish applicator to bring at least one other arcuate surface portion thereof into contact with the travelling filament. Most preferably, an actuator assembly is provided having first and second actuator fingers which are capable of relative separable rectilinear movements towards and away from one another. These actuator fingers, in an especially preferred embodiment, are each pivotally moveable and magnetically coupled to one another. As such, separable movement will in turn cause that one of the actuator fingers connected to the annular finish applicator to pivot thereby rotating the later to expose a “fresh” arcuate surface region in contact with the filament.

Abstract: A filament guide assembly is provided with a support rod carrying a plurality of filament guides each for guiding a respective one of a plurality of filaments. A pair of support blocks mount the support rod at each end thereof to allow for (i) rotational movements between a raised position, wherein the filament guides are spaced from a respective one of the filaments, and a lowered position wherein the guides are in contact with the respective one of the filaments, and (ii) lateral shifting movements between an operative position, wherein the guides are aligned with the respective one of the filaments, and a rest position wherein the guides are laterally misaligned with the respective one of the filaments. Most preferably, the guide assembly is employed in combination with a finish oil applicator so that the guides bias the individual filaments into contact with finish oil nozzles thereof, and in so doing, ensure that positive contact between the finish oil nozzles and the filaments occurs.

Abstract: Materials are off-wound from a package by magnetically levitating the package about a centerline, such that the package remains relatively free from rotation; and removing the material from the package in a direction that is approximately parallel to the centerline.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided whereby additive for thermoplastic materials may be recovered in a primary additive supply system simultaneously with the supply of an additive from a secondary additive supply system to a molten thermoplastic stream. Each of the primary and secondary additive supply systems is provided with respective recirculation lines so as to prevent sedimentation of the additive. According to the present invention, therefore, a protocol is employed whereby substantially all of the additive in the additive supply system, including that quantity of additive in the recirculation lines, may be recovered so that a fresh supply of additive (which oftentimes is different from the previous additive) may be connected for injection into the molten thermoplastic stream at the appropriate time.

Abstract: Methods are provided whereby additive for thermoplastic materials may be recovered in a primary additive supply system simultaneously with the supply of an additive from a secondary additive supply system to a molten thermoplastic stream. Each of the primary and secondary additive supply systems is provided with respective recirculation lines so as to prevent sedimentation of the additive. According to the present invention, therefore, a protocol is employed whereby substantially all of the additive in the additive supply system, including that quantity of additive in the recirculation lines, may be recovered so that a fresh supply of additive (which oftentimes is different from the previous additive) may be connected for injection into the molten thermoplastic stream at the appropriate time.

Abstract: A finish applicator mounting unit includes an apertured member having a plurality of apertures shaped to receive a corresponding plurality of finish applicator nozzles, and a locking mechanism that selectively obstructs the plurality of apertures such that when the corresponding plurality of finish applicator nozzles are received in the plurality of apertures, the finish applicator nozzles are selectively locked in the finish applicator mounting unit. The mounting unit preferably includes an alignment pin that ensures both proper alignment and proper insertion of the finish applicator nozzles. The finish applicator nozzles include a ceramic applicator head fictionally received in an elastic connector. A filament slot is configured to cooperate with the alignment pin to ensure the proper alignment and insertion of the nozzles. The nozzles operate more effectively and efficiently than conventional nozzles, and the mounting unit enables easy access to the nozzles for cleaning, repair and/or replacement.

Abstract: Apparatus for clamping a length of a brittle material in preparation for severing thereof into shorter lengths without chipping thereof towards the end of such severing. A pair of bifurcated clamps or clamping members are correspondingly actuated toward each other by a pressurized fluid cylinder and associated piston rod, such cylinder being attached to a clamp support member to which one of the clamps is attached and the otherwise free end of the piston rod being attached to a second clamp support member to which the other of the clamps is attached. A pair of coil springs supports the clamp suppprt members in a vertically floating manner, such clamp support members slidably surrounding guide shafts for vertical alignment of the support members and the attached clamps.