Abstract: Fiber-optic cable is wound on a cylindrical bobbin without adhesive and is situated in the vehicle so that the cable, attached to a relatively stationary control computer station, is pulled freely off of the bobbin as the vehicle, such as a missile or torpedo, travels rapidly away from the station. In one embodiment, a propulsion engine is located within the hollow interior of the bobbin and the cable flows outwardly in a helix around the plume of the engine.

Abstract: A system for installation of optical fibre transmission lines into ducts by feeding coiled optical fibre packages from a container with an annular configuration. The optical fibre package comprises filamentary material coiled into a series of turns each offset from preceeding turns and containing 360 degrees of torsion.

Abstract: A yarn caddy including a generally tubular body for holding a sequence of skeins, the body having an open top end and an open bottom end; a rigid end cap removably sealing the bottom end of the body and with the end cap openable for allowing access within the body for loading and unloading skeins; and a lid hingeably coupled to the body for removably sealing the top end thereof and with the lid having a bore disposed therethrough for slidably receiving a strand from a skein.

Abstract: A reel payout system preferably for optical fiber guided tactical weapon tems to dispense a fiber data link or other strand member through a relatively small diameter exit aperture at a cone-shaped end of a housing containing the reel at relatively high velocities, the fiber dispensed from the reel generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the reel normal to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

Abstract: A payout tube adapted to be secured to a container having wire or cable contained therein, has a flange at the entrance end thereof. The flange has a radiused surface wherein the radius is greater than the critical or kinking radius R.sub.c, and a central opening where the radiused surface fairs into the inner wall of the tube, with the inner wall being substantially tangential to the radiused surface. A plurality of strengthening ribs are located on the underside of the flange and extend along the outer wall of the tube, with certain ones of the ribs intersecting other ribs at right angles thereto. Mounting mechanism located at the exit end of the tube also has strengthening ribs, with strengthening members intersecting the ribs at right angles thereto. Due to the configuration of the flange, tube, ribs and mounting mechanism, the payout tube can be formed or molded as one integral unit with a consequent reduction in production costs.

Abstract: Container or box for packaging and unwinding a coil (18) of wire (2), which comprises: a box-like body (5, 11) that has a polygonal plan, can be opened at the top and is meant to accommodate a coil for wire; and a coil covering panel (16) that has a central circular opening (17) and a contour that matches the plan shape of the box-like body, so that it can freely descend within the box-like body in contact with the coil as the height of the coil decreases as the wire is unwound from above through the central opening of the panel, in order to prevent the lifting of turns of wire between the peripheral region of the panel and the container and thus the accidental entanglement of turns.

Abstract: A technique for handling filamentary material, specially optical fiber packages, in which the filamentary material is coiled into an annular pan in a series of turns each of which is offset from preceding turns. The turns each contain 360 degrees of torsion which is relieved when the filamentary material is paid out from the pan. A rosetting head for laying the pattern sequence is located in the center of the annular pan.

Abstract: In the case of a spinning machine for the spinning of yarns from slivers with a can feeding, the slivers are transported from the cans to the spinning stations by a belt which is provided with holding elements which hold the sliver on its surface. The holding elements may comprise surfaces which guide the sliver laterally by a frictional engagement or may have devices so that the sliver adheres with its supporting surface to the belt. Advantageously, two slivers are transported by one belt.

Abstract: A two-piece pay-out tube is secured through an outlet opening of a cable box such that cable being fed from the box can be threaded through the assembled pay-out tube. One piece of the pay-out tube includes an elongated tube having an inner flange. This tube is designed to be inserted into the opening within the cable box from inside the box such that the inner flange abuts against the inside wall of the cable box. A second piece, referred to as a locking collar, is designed to be snapped into engagement with the inner flange from outside of the box. In particular, the locking collar includes a plurality of locking tabs that project from the outside of the box, through the opening within the box, and into engagement with the inner flange resulting in a locking relationship between the inner flange and its associated elongated tube and the locking collar.

Abstract: A retainer ring for a container of low twist welding wire which container includes a cylindrical outer wall, a lower partition and an upper opening through which the welding wire is drawn from a hollow, cylindrical spool of welding wire formed from a multitude of convolutions of wire in layers provided in the container wherein the retainer ring comprises a generally flat outer portion with an outer periphery fitting into the outer wall of the container, minimally contacting the wire surface, and comprising a number of projecting lobe portions whereby the outer periphery of the ring contains alternate areas first being closer to and then being farther from the outer walls of the container when the retainer ring is resting upon the hollow spool of welding wire in the container and an inner bell mouthed portion extending upwardly and defining an innermost wire extraction opening with a diameter substantially smaller than the spool of wire in the container.

Abstract: A retainer for use with a bobbin having filamentary material wound thereon to prevent unwanted unwinding of the material. The retainer is formed from a strip of elastic material with one end folded back upon an intermediate portion to form a minor loop, and the other end passed around and superposed with the first end to form a major loop. The three superposed layers in the areas of the intermediate portion and immediately adjacent the two ends are permanently secured and an opening therethrough defined by a grommet. The major loop is stretched to pass over the peripheral edge of the bobbin and engage the outer layer of filamentary material with the free end of the latter passing through the opening in the retainer.

Abstract: A method for preparing an optical fiber canister includes providing a length of a wire (44) having a diameter of about that of the optical fiber (60), and winding the wire (44) onto a mandrel (40) in a preselected winding pattern to form a base layer (46). A replicating strip (48) having a flexible substrate (50) with a patterning layer (52) of b-staged epoxy on one side thereof is provided, and the patterning layer (52) is pressed against the base layer (46) to form a groove pattern (62) in the patterning layer (52). The b-staged epoxy layer (52) is cured to harden it to preserve the groove pattern, and then the flexible substrate (50) is applied to an optical fiber bobbin (56) with the grooved patterning layer (52) facing outwardly. An optical fiber (60) is wound into the groove (62) of the patterning layer (52) to form an optical fiber pack (66).

Abstract: An optical fibre storage system comprising a container in which turns of fibre (4) are wound in a substantially helical formation, the diameter of the turns and container being such the turns of fibre are maintained in position by their natural resilience pressing them outwardly against the inside of the container (5). The inside of the container may be coated to aid location of the turns. In another embodiment an inflatable member located within the turns is inflated to press against them to aid positional stability. A source of gas may be connected to the container to enable propulsion of the fibre out of the container in a duct, or the container itself may be pressurized.

Abstract: An optical fiber canister (90) comprises a hollow housing (102) and an optical fiber pack (98) having a plurality of layers of optical fiber (20) supported on an inner surface of the housing (102) with a free end (96) of the optical fiber (20) positioned to pay out from an interior surface of the fiber pack (98). The optical fiber (20) of the optical fiber pack (98) has an amount of adhesive thereon ranging from zero to an amount sufficient to produce a peel force of less than about 2 grams. There is desirably a support layer (110) of a castable elastomeric material between the inner wall (108) of the hollow housing (102) and the outer surface of the optical fiber pack (98), and a release layer of a release material such as polytetrafluoroethylene between the inner surface of the support layer (110) and the outer surface of the optical fiber pack (98).

Abstract: An improvement is disclosed for payout tubes secured within a container for a coil of cable therein so that the tube projects at its exit end through a hole in a wall of the container. The tube is adapted to dispense cable fed into its entrance end from inside to outside the container. The improvement is, broadly, providing at such entrance end a curved cable support surface extending around the tube of large enough radius of curvature to prevent deformation in cable, fed in contact with the surface into the tube, of tight bends causing kinking of and damage to the cable. Such surface may be provided either on a cap in turn fittable onto the tube at its entrance end or, alternatively, directly on the tube at that end.

Abstract: The invention is for improvements in a payout tube for a container-packaged coiled cable in which the tube in use is in the container along with the coil, a stub of the tube at its exit end protrudes through a hole in a container wall, and the tube is secured to that wall by having portions of the wall around the hole interposed between (a) a flange or flanges disposed on the tube on one side of such wall in contact with such portions, and (b) locking elements axially spaced on the tube from such flange or flanges and disposed on the other side of such wall in contact with such portions. Here, such locking elements are struts coupled to the body of the tube to be movable between radially inner positions at which they will pass through such hole and radially outer positions at which they cooperate with the flange means to secure the tube to such wall as described above.

Abstract: A wire dispensing apparatus (10) and method for dispensing wire or sheathed electrical cable (14) from an annular coil (13) mounted within a storage container (12). The wire dispensing apparatus (10) includes a support axle (24) dimensioned for insertion into a central opening (16) of the coil, and having opposed ends (28, 30) and a length dimension (L) therebetween which is at least about equal to the height dimension (H) of the coil (13). The wire dispensing apparatus further includes a coil retaining assembly (34) which is mountable to the exterior of the container (12), generally in alignment with the opposed ends (28, 30) of the support axle (24) cooperate with the axle (24) to retain or hold the container side walls (20, 22) against the axle ends (28, 30).

Abstract: The invention is for an improvement in a payout tube for container-packaged coiled wire in which the tube in use is in the container which has in a wall thereof a hole comprising a circular main aperture and a pair of notches projecting from such aperture. The tube is secured to the container by passing an end of the tube through such aperture, and radial projecting tabs on the tube at that end through such notches, so as to locate such end and tabs on the wall's outside while radially projecting lugs on the tube remain on the tube's inside, and by then angularly turning the tube to insert sections of such wall bordering such hole between such tabs and such lugs. The improvement constitutes providing on the tube a pair of movable fingers and associated resilient hinges by which those fingers are hingedly coupled to the rest of the tube.

Abstract: A package for handling and shipping optical fiber jumpers which permit testing during manufacturing and by the end user, which package includes a sheet having allochiral halves each with cut-outs to form ears upon which to spirally wind a length of optical fiber having a connector plug formed on each end. The halves are folded together and subsequently the length of fiber bridging the fold line can be cut to provide two pigtails.

Abstract: A fiber optic bundle is wound for inside payout and is provided with a housing, with flanges, which maintains compressive force on the windings, and the payout of optical fiber is controlled by a substantially cylindrical mandrel placed in the interior of the inside payout spool. The mandrel supports a small-diameter tube through which the optical fiber pays and places drag on the optical fiber. The drag placed on the optical fiber passing through the small-diameter tube may be increased by slightly bending the tube. The combination of mandrel and small-diameter tube combine to hold the fiber coils in place and supply a certain amount of payout tension on the optical fiber.

Abstract: An improved dental floss dispenser is provided and consists of a roll of waxed dental floss having a shaft that is rotatably supported in a chamber of a container with a quantity of powdered baking soda. Spring biased perforated sandpaper in the bottom of the chamber roughens the dental floss when it is pulled out. The container is agitated so that the baking soda can adhere to the roughened dental floss. A cutter on the container is for removing a piece of the roughened dental floss with the baking soda adhered thereupon so it can be utilized in conjunction with hydrogen peroxide when used in areas between the teeth for the treatment of gingivitis.

Abstract: The invention is for improvements in a payout tube for a container-packaged coiled wire in which the tube in use is in the container along with the wire coil, a stub of the tube at its exit end protrudes through a hole in a container wall, and the tube is secured to that wall by having sections of the wall around the hole interposed between (a) a flange disposed on the tube on the inside of such wall in contact with such sections, and (b) locking tabs axially spaced on the tube from such flange and disposed on the outside of such wall in contact with such portions.

Abstract: An optical fiber dispensing system (30) includes a canister (42) within which an optical fiber (12) is wound, and a helix dampener (40) that reduces the helical diameter of the optical fiber (12) as it is paid out from the canister (42) along a payout axis (20). The canister (42) is either a cylinder or a slightly tapered cone. The helix dampener (40) is a structure overlying the payout end of the canister (42) and extending beyond the canister (42) along the payout axis (20). The interior surface of the helix dampener (40) defines a locus (36) of points whose distance from the payout axis (20) decreases with increasing distance from the canister (42), to an opening (38) through which the optical fiber (12) is dispensed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing an optical line, in which at least one LWG (4, 11, 15, 19) extends in an envelope (3, 9, 13, 18) with excess length and is fixed with respect to the envelope by positioning elements (7, 8, 12, 20). The adjustment of an exactly defined excess length of one or several LWGs is made possible without the use of expensive manufacturing devices in that the positioning elements (7, 8, 12, 20) are provided on the LWGs (4, 11, 15, 19) prior to or during the insertion in the envelope (3, 9, 13, 18) and that the LWGs are pulled in by unreeling forces acting on the envelope (3, 9, 13, 18).

Abstract: The combination of a backing plate member, a hollow tube and a container having coiled filamentary material therein for paying out filamentary material coiled in the container through the tube, with the hollow tube having an end portion including a pair of oppositely disposed projections and the side wall panel including a cut-out portion substantially conforming to the shape of the end portion including the opposed projections. The backing plate member comprising a substantially planar member made of a resilient material and having a cut-out portion and substantially conforming in shape to the shape of the end portion of the tube enabling passage of the end portion through the cut-out portion of the planar member, a first ramped surface being formed on an edge portion of each of the opposing projections and adapted to enable each projection of the tube to be rotated in a given direction onto the surface of the planar member thereby locking the tube with respect to the planar member.

Abstract: A filament (36) of a material having resilient springlike characteristics is helically wound to form a hollow tubular guide (34) for an optical fiber (14) dispensed from a wound stack (37). The guide can have a constant diameter (34) or, alternatively, include portions of a different diameter (44, 50, 52). A further embodiment especially advantageous for use in a helicopter (10) positions a rigid tube (58) around the guide (56) leaving a portion of the guide extending from the rigid tube.

Abstract: A dispensing package for a fiber-optic cable comprised of two mating members and a separator disposed therebetween. The two mating members have centrally located openings and are joined at their mating edges and define a cavity therebetween. The separator is secured between the mating members to divide the cavity into first and second cable receiving chamber. Each cable receiving chamber accommodates a circularly coiled cable portion. A fiber-optic cable passes through the separator and opposite cable ends exit respectively from the central apertures of each mating member to allow cable to be payed out from opposite sides of the package. A series of apertures in the mating members and separator define a plurality of flow passages through the package for sterilization purposes.

Abstract: A container for accommodating and taking out a string-like article which is assembled using a sheet of some hard paper to be made by a press machine in a specified pattern. The container is formed in a preferably polygonal cylinder which has a chamber formed by the bottom plate and two cover plates provided with holes at the center portion thereof. These cover plates are formed with the flaps extended from the sides opposite each other by folding the flaps inside the cylinder and being bent normal to the sides to reach the opposite side each other and the tips of the flaps being bent upward along the sides to form a symmetrically overlapped cover plates. The upper edge of the container is provided with a slit having a cutter at the bottom thereof.

Abstract: An optical fiber is joined, preferably with an ultraviolet curable adhesive, to a strip of a flexible support material such as a plastic tape to form an optical fiber assembly. The assembly is wound onto a bobbin to form an optical fiber canister, which is then paid out upon demand. The optical fiber assembly requires little or no adhesive to hold it in place on the bobbin, as the support material of each turn aids in holding the adjacent turns in place, with the result that the bend radius during payout is increased.

Abstract: A dispenser for surgical wire has a housing with a cover, the housing having a spirally formed channel therein for receiving guidewire. The housing and cover form an integral cassette. The cassette has an inlet connector through which sterilizing fluid may be injected into the channel and an output port through which the guidewire may be uncoiled from the cassette. A web of the housing is shaped to provide a means of securing a J-shaped tip of the guidewire during transportation so that it does not become unwound inside the cassette.

Abstract: A welding wire packaging container of mono-cylinder pail type accommodating a welding wire winding which includes of a multitude of layers of looped wire portions having diameters smaller than the inside diameter of the container and centrally having a cavity of substantially cylindrical form. The container includes a retaining member placed on overlying layers of wire loops and adapted to be lowered by gravity as the wire is withdrawn from the container, the retaining member being centrally formed with a circular wire guide hole to permit wire withdrawal therethrough, and resilient members mounted at least two spaced positions around the outer periphery of the retaining member for contact with the inner wall surface of the container, the guide hole in the retaining member being located in vertically spaced relation with an upper lid of the container.

Abstract: A wire dispensing and storage box is provided with a plurality of flap tabs appending to the top and bottom portions of the box which are inserted within a plurality of flap slots within the side portions of the box, respectively, so that the top and bottom portions of the box will not interfere with the paying off of the wire from the coil. The flap slot/flap tab construction helps prevent the cones, which provide integrity to the box and help support the wire therein, and locking tabs, which lock the box, of the top of the box and the cones and locking tabs of the bottom of the box from contacting each other in the center of the box thereby facilitating the dispensing of the wire.

Abstract: There is described a Dental Floss Dispenser located in a unique holder capable of acting as a cap for a conventional tube of tooth paste. The cap contains an internal cylindrical member preferably having threads capable of mating with the threads on a tube of tooth paste. The lower end of the internal cylindrical wall has a shoulder and a disc is slipped over the internal wall and over the shoulder in order to hold the disc in a rotatable relationship. Conventional dental floss is located on the disc and is caused to exit through a small hole in the face portion of the cap. The user of the tube of tooth paste thus has a new cap capable of holding a supply of dental floss. The dispenser not only acts as a cap for a tube of tooth paste but also is capable of being inserted in the bottom end of a conventional pump type tooth paste dispenser thereby allowing the user to have a supply of dental floss contained as part of the pump type tooth paste dispenser.

Abstract: In the representative embodiment of a container for continuous supply of wire described in the specification, a coil of wire is supported between two side members joined at their outer peripheries. One of the side members has a continuously circular opening formed by a bar with a central circular section and axially spaced ends extending in opposite directions to the periphery of the side member. Wire from the inner surface of a coil of wire held in the container is supplied through the circular opening and the end of the wire from the outside of the coil is disposed above one end of the bar and below the other end of the bar so that it can be connected to another coil of wire and wire can be supplied continuously from successive containers.

Abstract: Wire carrier and loading apparatus for use with a robot-arm-manipulated wire routing tool in the fabrication of wire harnesses. The wire carrier assembly and associated drive assembly include means for jointly grasping the end of the wire as it is inserted into the wire carrier and winding the wire onto the spool of the carrier.

Abstract: Unlike display bases of the blister type of the prior art, the coil (1) is packaged on a display base (3) with a thin plastic film (14) which matches all the visible surfaces of the coil. This film (14) cooperates with the display base (3) both in the zone (15) inside the coil and in the zone (11) outside the latter. If cutting means (7) are also provided on the display base, the film (14) (as shown at 12) completely envelops the cutting means (7) without it being necessary to use additional fastening means. The inner end (10) of the tie material passes through a hole (9) in the film (14) and thus can be pulled for controlled unwinding due to a braking action caused by the at least partial adherence of the film to the turns of the coil. Packaging of this kind can be achieved by a single-stage process in the course of which a stretched and heated film is applied to a porous substrate carrying the coil and optionally the cutting means (7).

Abstract: Wire is wound in conical layers upon a conical core of a reel or other structure upon which wire can be wound until a predetermined outer diameter of a wound reel is reached. The wire is then wound in layers of decreasing lengths to form a wound reel which has an outer cylindrical shape of the same diameter. A reel can be used from which the core can be removed after winding so that upon unwinding, the wire can be pulled from the interior of the wound reel.

Abstract: A shippable package of wet strands having improved payout from the package in the production of continuous strand products is provided. The package has one or more cylindrical, layered, substantially square edged package of one or more strands, where the strands have a coating on the fibers making up the strands of an aqueous composition having a film forming material. The aqueous composition has an amount of water in the range of about 70 to around 99 weight percent of the composition. The amount of moisture of the package of strands is at least about 3 weight percent of the package. In addition, the shippable package has a sealed covering of substantially water impervious material to age the package of strand or strands for at least about two weeks at ambient temperatures.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for feeding a wire from a wire coil to a processing tation. When wire is taken from a coil and fed to a processing station, because of the tension imposed on the wire, the wire end carries out uncontrolled movements which in arc welding are known as "pig-tailing" effects. In order to obviate such uncontrolled movements of the wire after issuing from conventional guide means, in the present wire guide apparatus the wire is guided with a radius of curvature r which is equal to the radius of curvature which the cylindrical spring formed by the cylindrically wound wire has in its relaxed state. The wire guide apparatus comprises a guide tube which is joined tangentially to the coil housing and which is constructed with a slightly curved shape. Connected to the guide tube is a mouthpiece which has a curved tubular duct the radius of curvature of which is equal to the radius of curvature r.

Abstract: An arrow locating device for use with archery equipment which includes a hollow spool of line for dispensing the line axially from internally of the spool. The spool is fastened to a bow and has the free end of the line attached to the arrow so that upon shooting the arrow, the line is unwound from the spool making it easier to trace the arrow. The spool is provided with an attaching arrangement making it possible for the spool to be carried directly on the arrow until the arrow is noched in readiness for shooting and makes it possible to rapidly reload for subsequent shots.

Abstract: The winding of an internal payout package of flexible filamentary material by having a projection from the winding drum surface so that windings crossing the projection are deflected to one side or the other of the projection. The projection thus forms a radial opening in the package for internal payout of the material. Further, if the projection is tubular and is removed with the package from the drum, it assists in locating the package in position within a closure and the inner end of the package is then fed through the projection and out of the closure for payout purposes.

Abstract: An archery bow with a game finder attachment enables game shot with an arrow to be located over 1200 feet from the point of shot yet does not effect the flight of the arrow at reasonable distances. In the preferred embodiment the attachment includes an elongated tubular canister which is easily mounted to the bow and disposable prepackaged string, wound in a manner that causes the inner wound end of the string to be fed first and the outwardly wound string last so as to substantially reduce the amount of drag imposed upon the arrow to which it is attached, which can simply be dropped into the elongated canister.

Abstract: A reusable guide device for use in guiding elongate filament such as wire from a coil contained within a package or carton, the guide device including a tubular guide member adapted to be inserted radially into the coil and having means for securing an outer end of the guide member within an opening in the carton so that the elongate filament may be paid out from the coil through the guide member. Restraint means in the form of a plurality of finger barriers are provided within the guide member and cooperate with the elongate filament to prevent its retraction or withdrawal back into the package.

Abstract: For guiding flexible material wound in a figure-8 package with inner end feedout, a coil is enclosed in a container with walls of corrugated cardboard. The payout of the material is guided by a tube having a flange adjacent the outer end, and two outwardly extending projections between the flange and the outer end, leaving a space therebetween. The inner edges of the projections are slanted in opposite directions. The tube is inserted into a coil, which is then inserted into a container formed of corrugated material. The corrugated material has an opening equal in diameter to the diameter of the tube and notches on either side of such opening extending in the direction of the corrugations. The outer end of the tube is brought through this opening, with the projections extending through the notches, and is then turned by 90.degree.. The thickness of the cardboard is slightly less than the space between the projections and the flange.

Abstract: The invention relates to a package of material wound in a series of figure-8s with the cross-overs advancing around the package, and the cross-overs being omitted at at least one point on the circumference of the package to leave a radial hole into the center of the package for inner end feedout to allow payout without twist. This hole is ordinarily somewhat diamond shaped, with its major axis extending substantially perpendicular to the axis about which the material was wound. A payout tube is placed in that hole, this payout tube having an oval shape.

Abstract: A tube for insertion into a coil of flexible material wound in a series of figure-8s with a radial opening extending into the axial opening through which the inner end of the material can be drawn out without twist has a flange spaced from its free end and a second flange adjacent the free end with the space between the two flanges being substantially equal to the wall thickness of a container in which the packaged coil is to be enclosed.The outer flange is interrupted at two points and has an outwardly bent portion. The tube is inserted from the outside into the radial opening of the coil, which is then placed inside the container with the outer end of the tube directed towards an opening in the container, which has notches therein. Upon turning the tube, the outwardly bent portions ride up on the wall of the container, so that the tube can be turned to a position in which the principal part of the outer flange engages against the outside of the wall.

Abstract: A cut and scored, paperboard blank and the hexahedronal container formed from the blank. The container has bottom, top and end walls reinforced by at least one additional layer of paperboard material. The container features a handle construction which is connected to one of the side walls and is located within the container and beneath its top wall until the handle is positioned outwardly of the container, by the two steps of: partially opening the container by folding the side panels away from each other; and then, closing the container by folding the side panels towards each other, while urging the handle through a slot in the top wall of the container. The container also features a key shaped hole in an end wall of the container through which a roll of wire, in the container, can be dispensed and which is adapted to hold the end of the wire outwardly of the container in a readily accessible position.

Abstract: In a package formed of a plurality of layers each composed of a number of figure 8 winds with the cross-overs progressing around the package and with a radial opening extending from the periphery of the package to the axial opening through which radial opening the inner end of the material is led out, a funnel is provided with a stem positioned in the radial opening and with its mouth substantially at the mid-plane of the package. The funnel has a width in the axial direction of the package at least substantially as great as the axial length of the package. The funnel may be mounted in such a way that it can wobble slightly. The funnel guides the loops falling off of the inside wall of the package so as to prevent birdsnesting and provide for continuous and rapid payout.