Abstract: A substantially rectangular metal blank is formed about a mandrel (76) to provide a very open shell (28) having a pair of axially extending lips (20c,20t) separated by a distance sufficient to permit a prewound spool (10) or other product to be inserted radially, laterally into the shell prior to closing the shell about the spool or other product.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for forming a very open shell (28) having axially extending lips (20c,20t) spaced sufficiently far apart to permit a prewound spool of web material (10) to be inserted radially, laterally into the very open form shell, after which the shell is closed and end caps (24) are installed. Apparatus are disclosed for forming the very open form shell (40), transferring the shell to a mechanism for applying end caps (48), inserting a prewound spool of web material (56) into the very open shell, positioning the spool accurately within the shell (780-856), closing the shell about the spool (58) and staking the end caps in place (60).

Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in making mats of continuous fiber strand using controlled reciprocating strand feeders. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in making continuous fiber glass strand mats having more uniform density by electronically controlling both the rate of reciprocation and the rate at which strands are deposited onto the surface of a moving conveyor while also reducing the vibration associated with the feeders. Still more particularly, the invention relates to improvements in the production of two continuous fiber glass strand mats, one having uniform mechanical properties while the other possesses directionally dependent ones.In the preferred embodiment, brushless stepper or indexing motors are used to reverse the direction of reciprocating strand feeders quickly and smoothly so as to minimize their vibration.