Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus employing stepped overlap apertures disposed in adjacent overlap rings. The rings are arranged so that the diameters of the stepped apertures are sequentially decreasing. The apertures form a generally flat advancing metal tape into a cylindrical tube having overlapped edges. Typically, the cylindrical tube is used as a metal guard about a cable core. Each aperture is generally circular but one quadrant of the circle contains a step whereby the diameter of the aperture increases. The final tubular configuration of generally circular cross-section of the metal tape about the cable core is developed in the final smaller diameter overlap rings which bring together the two overlapped metal edges of the metal tape. Then, the metal tape passes to finishing rings which press the two engaged overlapped edges so that these edges now stay together as a longitudinal overlapped seam.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes a core (22) comprising optical fibers (24-24) in ribbon or single fiber form and a sheath system (50) which provides flexibility for ease of handling and installation, strength to resist tensile and torsional stresses and rodent and/or lightning protection. The core is enclosed by a tube (28) which is made of a plastic material, a shield system (52) and outer plastic jacket (54). The shield system provides rodent and/or lightning protection. Strength is provided by a plurality of longitudinally extending strength members (58-58) which are disposed in a single layer concentric with the core and which in a preferred embodiment are disposed adjacent to an outer surface of the shield and with substantial portions of their perpheries embedded in the plastic of the outer jacket.

Abstract: A bonded ASP cable includes a multiconductor core which is filled with a waterproofing material. The core is enclosed by a plastic layer (28) which is flooded with a waterproofing material. Wrapped longitudinally about the plastic layer is a corrugated inner shield (31) having a longitudinal seam (35) and having an outer surface covered with a waterproofing material. The inner shield is enclosed by a corrugated outer shield (36) which has an overlapped longitudinal seam (38) and which has an outer surface coated with a layer of an adhesive material. As the outer shield is being formed, a sealant material is introduced into engagement with the inner shield in the vicinity of the longitudinal edge portions of the outer shield. Then as the longitudinal edge portions of the outer shield are overlapped and engaged with each other, the sealant material is caused to flow into cavities between the two shields adjacent to the seam of the outer shield to form a gasket (66).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling the quantity and distribution of a waterproofing material (26) on an advancing strip (76) of plastic material which is wrapped subsequently about an advancing cable core (22) to form a core wrap. When the plastic strip is wrapped about the core, which has been filled with the same waterproofing material, the waterproofing material on the strip fills any spaces between the strip and the core, between the strip and an inner metallic shield (31) and a longitudinal overlapped seam of the core wrap. In another cable structure, a controlled amount of waterproofing material is disposed along a longitudinal edge portion of the advancing strip of plastic material to insure a sealed seam when the strip is wrapped about the core.

Abstract: A bonded ASP cable includes a multiconductor core which is filled with a waterproofing material. The core is enclosed by a plastic layer (28) which is flooded with a waterproofing material. Wrapped longitudinally about the plastic layer is a corrugated inner shield (31) having a longitudinal seam (35) and having an outer surface covered with a waterproofing material. The inner shield is enclosed by a corrugated outer shield (36) which has an overlapped longitudinal seam (38) and which has an outer surface coated with a layer of an adhesive material. As the outer shield is being formed, a sealant material is introduced into engagement with the inner shield in the vicinity of the longitudinal edge portions of the outer shield. Then as the longitudinal edge portions of the outer shield are overlapped and engaged with each other, the sealant material is caused to flow into cavities between the two shields adjacent to the seam of the outer shield to form a gasket (66).

Abstract: A bonded ASP cable includes a multiconductor core which is filled with a waterproofing material. The core is enclosed by a plastic layer (28) which is flooded with a waterproofing material. Wrapped longitudinally about the plastic layer is a corrugated inner shield (31) having a longitudinal seam (35) and having an outer surface covered with a waterproofing material. The inner shield is enclosed by a corrugated outer shield (36) which has an overlapped longitudinal seam (38) and which has an outer surface coated with a layer of an adhesive material. As the outer shield is being formed, a sealant material is introduced into engagement with the inner shield in the vicinity of the longitudinal edge portions of the outer shield. Then as the longitudinal edge portions of the outer shield are overlapped and engaged with each other, the sealant material is caused to flow into cavities between the two shields adjacent to the seam of the outer shield to form a gasket (66).

Abstract: A sheath system (50) for a lightguide fiber cable (20) includes a corrugated inner shield (51) which is made of a metallic material having suitable electrical and thermal conductivity to dissipate lightning energy and a corrugated outer shield (60). The outer shield which has an overlapped longitudinal seam is a laminate comprising a corrosion-resistant metallic material (64) which has a relatively high elongation, at least a predetermined chromium content, and a relatively coarse outer surface, and an adhesive system (62). Included in the adhesive system is a first adhesive material (66) which bonds to the outer surface of the metallic material and a second adhesive material (68) which causes the outer shield to become bonded to a plastic jacket (70) which is extruded thereover. The bond between the jacket and the outer shield has sufficient peel strength to prevent the jacket from being separated readily from the outer shield.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making a laminate which is used to form a corrugated outer shield (60) of a sheath system (50) for a lightguide fiber cable (20). A strip (81) of a corrosion-resistant metallic material having a relatively high elongation, an oxide surface layer (65) and a relatively coarse outer surface is preheated to a temperature within a predetermined range. Afterwards, a composite adhesive strip is brought into engagement with the metallic strip and moved between a pair of rollers (91--91) which are maintained at a first temperature and which causes the strips to be subjected to a predetermined pressure. Then the two strips are moved between another pair of rollers (97--97) which are at a second temperature greater than the first and which subject the strips to the predetermined pressure. The resulting laminate (61) is corrugated by a device (104) and formed into the outer shield (60) about an inner shield (51) which is made of a highly conductive metallic material.

Abstract: A strip (56) of non-metallic material and one (59) of a metallic material are wrapped simultaneously about an advancing cable core (32) to enclose partially the core. Then longitudinal edge portions (71, 72) of the strip of non-metallic material are separated by a shoe (150) which permits movement of the edge portions in a direction circumferentially of the core. One longitudinal edge portion (72) of the non-metallic strip becomes confined in a guideway (118) of a tool (99) and longitudinal edge portions (73, 74) of the metallic strip (59) are guided along guideways (117, 118) of the tool as the strips are moved through a converging passageway (103). This controls the relative circumferential movement between the edge portions as the strips are moved through the passageway to form a core wrap (33) and a shield (34).

Abstract: A cable shielding method and apparatus are disclosed wherein adhesive 42 is applied to a strip 40 of shielding material within a shield forming die 20 as the strip 40 is being formed about a cable core 10 with an overlapped shield seam.

Abstract: The invention relates to the formation of a substantially circular metallic shield (37) about a cable core (32) by wrapping a metallic tape (64) longitudinally about the core with longitudinal edge portions of the tape being overlapped by a forming key (100) to provide a closed seam (38). As the seam is formed, an underlying longitudinal edge portion (48) of the shield is supported while an overlying longitudinal edge portion (45) at the overlap is directed inwardly toward the cable core to preclude its protrusion into a jacket (39) which is subsequently extruded over the shielded cable core. A relatively thin strip (145) of metal attached to an inner surface of the forming key assures formation of the seam before juxtaposing the longitudinal edge portions and the core, and avoids penetration of a priorly formed inner shield by the longitudinal edge of the outer shield to prevent rotation of the inner shield and undesirable alignment of the shield seams.

Abstract: The invention relates to the formation of a substantially circular metallic shield (37) about a cable core (32) by wrapping a metallic tape (64) longitudinally about the core with longitudinal edge portions of the tape being overlapped by a forming key (100) to provide a closed seam (38). As the seam is formed, an underlying longitudinal edge portion (48) of the shield is supported while an overlying longitudinal edge portion (45) at the overlap is directed inwardly toward the cable core to preclude its protrusion into a jacket (39) which is subsequently extruded over the shielded cable core. A relatively thin strip (145) of metal attached to an inner surface of the forming key assures formation of the seam before juxtaposing the longitudinal edge portions and the core, and avoids penetration of a priorly formed inner shield by the longitudinal edge of the outer shield to prevent rotation of the inner shield and undesirable alignment of the shield seams.

Abstract: In a system for processing strips of taped axial lead components of different types and values extending from separate supplies, wherein the leads of the components are joined together by elongated tapes, the strips of the components are advanced linearly through a bank of fluid-operated processing heads of essentially planar configuration arranged in closely spaced side-by-side relationship. As each strip of components is advanced through its respective processing head, each component is automatically centered within the head, regardless of the length of the component's body, and its leads are severed to equal lengths from their respective tapes. As the leads of each component are severed, the component is discharged directly onto a conveyor which carries the component to a test station and then to a station in which the leads of the component are retaped for subsequent use in a component inserting machine.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes a core (22) comprising optical fibers (24-24) in ribbon or single fiber form and a sheath system (50) which provides flexibility for ease of handling and installation, strength to resist tensile and torsional stresses and rodent and/or lightning protection. The core is enclosed by a tube (28) wich is made of a plastic material, a shield system (52) and outer plastic jacket (54). The shield system provides rodent and/or lightning protection. Strength is provided by a plurality of longitudinally extending strength members (58-58) which are disposed in a single layer concentric with the core and which in a preferred embodiment are disposed adjacent to an outer surface of the shield and with substantial portions of their perpheries embedded in the plastic of the outer jacket.