Abstract: The invention relates to a tubular bobbin core onto which roving or slubbing is wound and which is able to be transported overhead with its axis substantially vertical, suspended by its upper part. In order to avoid unwinding of said roving or slubbing during core transport, said core shows, in a tube portion below the wound area, at least one projecting part which can grip the running end of the roving or slubbing wound on by a winding machine or freely uncoiling from the wound bobbin.

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: 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: The metallic-filament take-up reel according to the present invention comprises a winding drum on which a metallic filament is wound, a pair of flanges provided at opposite axial ends of the winding drum to hold, between the opposite inner surfaces thereof, the metallic filament wound on the drum, and a device for retaining the end portion of the metallic filament, provided on at least one of the flanges. The filament retaining device includes a catcher of which a base portion is securely fixed to an outer surface of the flange and an access hole formed in the flange, through which the free end of the catcher is displaced to inside the flange. The free end of the catcher is formed into a hook for retention of the end portion of the metallic filament. The catcher has an intermediate portion extending from the base portion thereof to the hook portion.

Abstract: A spool (10) is filled with an elongated metal element (12) which is wound onto the spool with a plurality of windings. The plurality of windings end with a final winding (22) and n windings (24) preceding the final winding ("n preceding windings"), n is hereby greater than or equal to one. The final winding (22) comprises a beginning part (26), a middle part (28) and a trailing end (20). The middle part (28) is under the n preceding windings (24) in order to secure the final winding to the rest of the elongated element. The beginning part (26) and the trailing end (20) are at the same side of the n preceding windings (24).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for picking up an yarn end so as to fix the same on a yarn package comprising picking up an yarn end from a yarn package by a suction means so as to hold the yarn end therein in a drawn state, inserting an yarn end handling bar between the held yarn end and the package surface, revolving the yarn end handling bar along the package surface while maintaining the bar beneath an outermost layer yarn connected to the yarn end until a layered portion is formed, in which the end yarn held in a drawn state coincides with the outermost layer yarn, and ejecting a jet of pressurized fluid onto or in the vicinity of the layered portion so as to entangle the yarn end with the outermost layer yarn so that the yarn end is fixed on the package.

Abstract: A compact packaging system for elongated flexible products, such as catheters, guidewires and the like which keeps the products in a sterile environment until they are used but which allows preparation of the product for subsequent use. The system includes a housing with a main portion and a movable portion. The main portion has a plurality of passageways which receive the elongated product and a catch which releasably secures an elongated product within the housing passageways. The movable housing portion is adapted to expose a portion of the elongated product within the housing to facilitate its preparation for subsequent use.

Abstract: A shipping and storage case for a borescope or endoscope has a coil of a tubular low-friction material, such as PVC tubing, to receive the borescope's flexible insertion tube. The coil can be in a form of a flat spiral positioned adjacent one side wall of the shell, or in the form of a helical spiral positioned adjacent the side walls within the case. The coil of tubing provides a convenient way for insertion tubes to be packaged and protected during shipping and storage.

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 package having a stretch membrane convolutely position about an unwindable wound body of strand where a tacky surface of the membrane contacts the outer layer of strands. The tacky surface also interlocks multiple layers of the membrane together.

Abstract: An optical fiber payout canister (22) comprises a bobbin (30) having a dispensing end and an optical fiber pack having a plurality of optical fiber layers (34, 36) wound upon the bobbin (30). The pack has a transition winding pattern between the optical fiber layers (34, 36) at the dispensing end thereof, and an overcoat adhesive layer overlies the transition winding pattern of the optical fiber pack. The adhesive layer desirably comprises from about 80 to about 72 parts by weight of a precatalyzed organofunctional siloxane polymer and from about 20 to about 28 parts by weight of a silicone elastoplastic resin. The adhesive layer desirably has a tensile strength of from about 25 to about 40 psi, and a modulus of elasticity of from about 1200 to about 1600 psi, over a temperature range of from about -50.degree. C. to about +80.degree. C.

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: A system for preparing for transport roving bobbins having a multiplicity of roving windings and a free end carried on an elongated bobbin core comprises a holder engageable with the windings for retaining the free end tightly against the windings. This holder can be an annular element or elastically deformable ring engaged at least partially around the windings on the bobbin and made of a durable synthetic resin. The ring can be discontinuous, formed with a crosswise throughgoing slot and of arcuate outwardly concave section. The outwardly concave shape is useful for engagement by an automatic handling fork.

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: Apparatus for use in withdrawing yarn from a wound package in an over-end direction includes a body having a circumferential surface coaxial with the yarn package that extends beyond the bobbin upon which package is wound and touches the end of the yarn package over which the yarn is withdrawn.

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 coil of cable is formed by winding a predetermined length of cable (1) on to a spool (2) and fastening to the cable a clip (7), the clip including first and second recesses (8,9). Each recess receives a portion of the cable (1) to secure the free end (6) of the cable to the coil (3).The recesses (8,9) receive a portion of the penultimate turn (10) and final turn (11) respectively. The clip may be applied to the cable as the penultimate or final turns are being wound.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to method and apparatus for facilitating the withdrawal of strand from the interior of a wound package a strand comprising biasing a movable manifold means against a portion of the arcuate periphery of the package, the manifold means having an apertured section in contact with the package; and drawing a vacuum in the manifold means effective to retain the strands at the periphery of the package until withdrawn to facilitate the complete withdrawal of the strand from the package.

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: A tube for packaging elongated, flexible members such as a flexible guidewire for medical purposes or the like. The tube comprises a flexible tube body capable of being coiled and having a projecting member extending outwardly from the tube body longitudinally along at least a substantial portion of the length of the tube body. A concave member extends along at least a substantial portion of the tube body in a diametrically opposed position from the projecting member. The concave member is positioned and preportioned to receive the projecting member of another portion of the tube in retentive relation when the tube is coiled.

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 device that is placed upon a large spool of line or other wound material to control the alignment of the line as it is unwound therefrom comprising a first means defining an aperture through which the unwinding line passes and second means for holding said first aperture loosely adjacent about the outer windings intermediate the ends of the spool to allow it to slip around the spool during unwinding.

Abstract: An axial flux induction electric motor and method and apparatus for the production thereof, said motor having a rotor and stator, each formed of a core consisting of metal strip having holes punched therein at longitudinally spaced locations so that holes on the core form radially extending slots on a radial face of the core, and wherein said core has the radially inner coils and the radially outer two coils fixed together by deformations thereby preventing unwinding of the core.

Abstract: A method of facilitating the unwinding of a wound body of strand includes encompassing the body in a heat-shrinkable stretch membrane and heating the resulting composite to a temperature greater than the temperature at which the strand is to be wound.

Abstract: An improved balloon-control guide for use in end-unwinding packages of crosswound filamentary yarn. The guide comprises self-centering means for permitting the guide to self-center, under yarn balloon forces, towards an axis representing the yarn balloon's energy center at any point in time. Use of the guide, in otherwise conventional beaming operations, results in significant increase in productivity.

Abstract: A package of wound glass fiber strand from which the glass fiber strands can be removed more efficiently for feeding into processing operations. The wound package of glass fiber strand is a package of superimposed annular layers of glass fiber strands having a central longitudinal, cylindrical cavity about which the strands are wound and having an outer cylindrical surface and a substantially flat circular top and bottom section. This package is covered with a stretchable polymeric film having a stiffness modulus of at least 1200 pounds/square inch and an elongation of about at least 5 and a thickness of about 0.75 to about 10 mils. The stretchable polymeric film is stretched around the package of glass fiber strands with a force greater than 4 pounds (18 Newtons) to stretch the film to cover the outer peripheral, cylindrical portion and to extend at least 0.5 inches (1.27 cm.) radially onto the top and bottom flat circular portions of the package.

Abstract: Tubular packages of glass fibers having a generally cylindrical shape are provided that have a reduced tendency to slump or to collapse as the glass fibers are removed from the package. The tubular package has glass fibers wound in superimposed annular layers to form a tubular package of continuous glass fibers having a generally cylindrical shape. The tubular, generally cylindrical shaped package of glass fibers has a fibrous net on the external surface of the package of glass fibers, wherein the net is sufficient to provide support to at least the external peripheral surface of the package of glass fibers. This support can be provided by having the net composed of stiff fibrous material that is used in conjunction with strips of adhesive on the external surface of the net, or heat shrinkable fibrous material, or fibrous material with a tacky surface, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: In a package having a wound body of strand having an outer cylindrical portion and an elastic membrane convolutely wound about the cylindrical portion in a plurality of plies, the membrane being of a sufficient thickness and being stretched sufficiently to partially collapse as the strand is withdrawn from the interior of the body, such that the membrane mechanically captures the strand of the outer cylindrical portion to retain such strand along said membrane until said strand is withdrawn from the package wherein the improvement comprises: a control layer of material having different physical characteristics than said membrane, said control layer being positioned between the plies of said membrane to control the collapse of said membrane to a predetermined amount.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting vegetation with a rotating head having a ball member portion and carrying non-metallic cutting line extended into the cutting plane by pushing the ball member against the ground while rotating the head. The ball member portion moves inwardly and a spool carrying coiled cutting line forces a predetermined length of line out of the head. After the cutting line length is extended, the head is secured automatically to the spool for further rotation with the driven spool. A cover is releasably secured to the head by a twist-lock connection to allow the spool to be removed from the head for rewinding, etc. Movement of the spool with respect to the head is regulated by uniform interlocking, straight teeth that are rugged, long wearing and provide positive control without any possibility of "free wheeling" with respect to the spool and the head.

Abstract: A package and a method to produce said package are provided comprising a wound body of strand having an outer cylindrical portion; and an elastic membrane wound about the cylindrical portion of said body, the membrane being wound to a sufficient thickness and being stretched sufficiently to partially collapse when the strand is withdrawn from the body such that the membrane captures the strand of the outer cylindrical portion to retain such strand along said membrane until said strand is withdrawn from the package at a predetermined time.

Abstract: A ball of hand knitting yarn is formed by winding the yarn in an overlapping constantly progressing angular winding to form a partial sphere, thereafter continuing the winding by applying a plurality of turns of said yarn in substantially parallel circumferential turns about substantially a central equator of the ball and subsequently finishing the winding with a plurality of overlapping progressively angled windings so as to hide the circumferential turns.

Abstract: In a coil of material wound in a series of figure-8 coils with the crossovers progressing around the package but being interrupted at one point to provide a radial opening into the axial opening of the coil, in order to produce a thick-walled coil the material is first wound in a normal way with varying gains in order to produce a set of dense inner layers, while the outer layers are wound without variation in the gain to produce a honeycomb structure. The honeycomb section is of greater width (axially of the package) than the inner layers. A plurality of pins slidably mounted on a strip are pushed into the outside of the package through the openings in the honeycomb, whereafter the outer layers are compressed axially while retaining the pins within the outer layers. The pins permit payoff of the outer layers without danger of their collapsing and thereby forming kinks or twists within the package.