Abstract: A strand accumulator apparatus for the transitory accumulation of moving strand material is disclosed which includes a strand accumulator drum and first and second sets of rolls carried by the accumulator drum and arranged in a generally circular pattern about the central axis of the drum with a plurality of grooves formed in the peripheral surface of each roll. First and second guide means cooperate with first and second sets of rolls to guide the incoming and outgoing strands of material to and from the rolls of the accumulator drum. The accumulator drum is rotated about its central axis in one direction to accumulate strand and in the opposite direction to pay out the accumulated strand.

Abstract: To facilitate product identification and/or identification of individual optical glass fiber waveguides in a cable, the optical glass fiber waveguides are color coded with a relatively thin coating of color ultraviolet curable ink. The UV cured ink coating may cover the entire outer surface of the waveguide, or may be applied over less than the entire circumference or discontinuously along the length to form various patterns.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided which applies and cures a coating of viscous ink to a moving strand material. This apparatus includes an ink applicator module which comprises a series of rotatable rollers which receive and apply the ink to the moving strand. This apparatus allows substantial quantities of glass fiber waveguide strand material to thus be coated with a UV curable ink in a relatively short period of time so that they may be color coded to facilitate handling and installation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling stock tension as it is withdrawn from a coil in which a coil support is mounted for rotation about an axis transverse to the direction of withdrawal of stock from the coil and also for limited shifting movement along a path lengthwise of the direction of stock withdrawal. Shifting movement of the coil support in the direction of stock withdrawal is yieldably opposed with a generally uniform biasing force and the rotation of the coil about its axis is variably braked in response to shifting of the coil along said path to maintain the exiting tension on the stock substantially equal to the biasing force.