Abstract: An apparatus for the accumulation of wire or cable, the apparatus including a collapsible reel assembly, the collapsible reel assembly including a central hollow arbor, a fixed inner support structure axially centered on and rigidly attached to the central hollow arbor, wherein the fixed inner support has a first end and a second end, a fixed flange, axially centered on and attached to the first end of the fixed inner support structure, a removable flange, axially centered on and removably attached to the second end of the fixed inner support structure opposite the fixed flange and an inner drum assembly. The inner drum assembly including a plurality of moving inner support structures movably attached to the fixed inner support structure and a plurality of inwardly-collapsible drum segments. Wherein the inwardly-collapsible drum segments collapse inward after the removable flange is removed from the collapsible reel assembly.

Abstract: A web printing apparatus comprising a support platen facing the processing station for supporting the web, when being processed by the processing station and a first guard for guarding a side edge of a web, the first guard being connectable to the support platen for guiding the web along a transport path, when the web is processed by the processing station. A detector is provided for detecting the first guard when connected to the support platen as well as a control unit configured for controlling the processing station to process the web, wherein the control unit is configured to identify the guard based on a detection signal provided by the detector to the control unit. Thereby, the first guard is identified by the control unit which may then control the movement of the print carriage to avoid the first guard, preventing collisions.

Abstract: An assembly for dispensing cable from a spool, including first and second end members separated by one or more cross-members; and an axle extending at least partially between the end members for rotatably coupling the spool to the assembly, wherein end sections of the cross-members are releasably coupled to respective keyed slots of the end members.

Abstract: An adapter for simultaneously winding multiple spools and a method for using the same. The adapter includes a body portion having a pair of opposed faces and an outer wall or perimeter. Each of the opposed faces may include a plurality of recesses configured to receive a plurality of pins for interconnecting multiple spools. The plurality of pins may be offset such that it provides for the entry hubs of the multiple spools to align with one another. The adapter further includes at least one depression or indentation on the perimeter for providing access to at least a portion of the spool flange. The depression provides an operator with easy access to insert or apply the finishing end of the welding wire or similar, to the finishing hub of the spools.

Abstract: A reel has: a hub that has a cylindrical tube portion, an extending portion that extends from an inner peripheral edge of a lower end portion of the cylindrical tube portion toward a radial direction inner side, and an abutting portion provided at the extending portion; an upper flange; a lower flange; and a floor wall that is provided integrally at the radial direction inner side of the lower flange, and that has a position restricting portion that restricts a radial direction position of the abutting portion from the radial direction inner side. A region of the floor wall which is further toward the radial direction outer side than the position restricting portion is welded to the extending portion.

Abstract: A wooden cable reel has a drum made of a plurality of staves and flanges secured at the ends of the drum. A steel support ring is rolled from a strip to have a diameter corresponding to the interior diameter of the drum and the ends of the strip are welded together. The support ring extends around the interior of the drum intermediate its ends and is secured to the drum from the inside by fasteners extending through the ring and into the interior surface of the drum. The support ring resists inwardly directed forces applied to the drum when cable is wound onto the reel and thus prevents the drum from deforming or collapsing.

Abstract: Paired light shielding flange members, each having: a hollow cylindrical boss section to be inserted into a core around which a photosensitive material has been wound, wherein a plurality of rip sections are formed on the exterior surface of the cylindrical boss section parallel with an axis of the boss section, and an interior surface portion of rib is grooved in parallel with the axis of the hollow cylindrically boss section, and a flange section, integrated concentrically with the hollow cylindrical boss section, to prevent the edge of photosensitive material from being exposed to light.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting wound flexible media that includes a first flange, a second flange and a fastener. The second flange may be constructed as an integral, unitary structure. A core around which flexible media is wound is typically disposed between the first flange and the second flange. The first fastener has a first end engaging the first flange and a threaded end that is rotatably secured directly to said second flange.

Abstract: A cable reel is fabricated from wood and is of open or skeletal design while retaining the strength and ruggedness of traditional solid, metal reels. The reel includes two flanges which are constructed of a plurality of arcuate members fastened together at their ends to form an annular rim. A number of wooden spokes are provided for each rim. A main spoke spans the entire diametrical distance of the annular rim and is attached thereto. The other spokes extend radially from the center to the perimeter of the annular rim.

Abstract: A reel flange is provided comprising wooden pieces (2A) disposed in a plane so as to constitute a disk and a connector (100) for maintaining said wooden pieces in the required position. The wooden pieces (2A) each have an overall sector shape which, when placed side by side, form a disk, and the connector includes a band (6) that presses onto the periphery of the disk and two plates centered on the disk that maintain the central area of the disk.

Abstract: A die and method of assembling a high torque capacity metal spool. The spool comprises a cylindrical barrel, a pair of flanges and a pair of flange hubs. The die includes a support member and a curling member that is adapted to move relative to the support housing. The die is adapted to be driven towards a matching die to press a spool therebetween. Each curling member includes an annular curling face which is adapted to curl and compress metal edges of the cylindrical barrel, the flanges and the flange hubs into tightened curls. The tightened curls secure the cylindrical barrel with the flanges and flange hubs. Each die further includes a plurality of nibs carried by the support housings which project outward from the curling face of the curling member after the tightened curls have been formed to swage a plurality of detents into the tightened curls of the spool. The resulting detents in the metal spool provide for increased torque transfer between the flanges, the flange hubs and the cylindrical barrel.

Abstract: A large, warp resistant, reel is formed of a molded plastic cylindrically shaped hub with disk-like flanges co-axially arranged upon and secured to the opposite ends of the hub The flanges are each formed of a framework of numerous, spaced apart, radially extending spokes, and spaced apart concentric hoops. The spokes intersect the hoops and are integrally joined thereto. Thin, rigid co-planar plastic sheets extend across the spaces between, and are integrally joined to, the adjacent portions of the spokes and hoops. The spokes are generally T-shaped in cross-section with the heads of the T-shape being wide and thin and integrally formed on the inner, facing surfaces of the flanges and the legs of the T-shape being narrow and long and integrally formed on the outer surfaces of the flanges.

Abstract: A winding or storage reel for large, continuous lengths of flexible materials such as cable, rope or paper is collapsible into substantially flat components for recycling transport. The reel core is preferably twin sheet, vacuum formed of thermoplastic sheet material and comprises a plurality of laterally hinged stave elements in substantially circular alignment between a pair of end flanges. Threaded assembly rods compress the core stave elements between the end flanges. The adjacent lateral edges of the several stave elements are parallel to the core axis and are flexibly joined to hinge about an axis parallel to the lateral edge. One pair of laterally adjacent edges in the core circle are non-pivotally joined by respectively meshing fingers.

Abstract: A strand winder has three individual component pieces joined together at right angles by cooperating metal inserts and magnet inserts. Once assembled, the strand winding apparatus provides four arms for winding skeins of yarn, in preparation for knitting. In addition, an optional carrying case stores and transports the various components of the strand winder. The strand winder transportable, easily disassembled, and convenient to use in many situations where other, more conventional yarn-winding devices are cumbersome and bulky.

Abstract: A thermal printer has a dye donor supply spool with a body and first and second end portions extending from the body. First and second receptacles are positioned for matingly receiving the first and second end portions of the dye donor supply spool. The supply spool is correctly loaded only when the first and second end portions of the supply spool matingly engage the first and second receptacles, respectively. A mechanical stop prevents incorrect end for end loading of a supply spool that has an off center web wound thereon by engaging the web and preventing the end of the spool from engaging the receptacle.

Abstract: A strip winding mechanism comprises a rotary shaft, a rotary member fixed on the rotary shaft and having at least one projecting pin member extending parallel to the rotary shaft, and a rotary core receiving a roll of strip material, the rotary core being slidably supported on the rotary shaft and engageable with the rotary member to be rotatable integrally therewith.

Abstract: A tool mounts a parcel containing a coil of a cable, for instance, a sleeve for the cable, and two protective rings at the sides of the coil, the tool having two wheel-shaped side supports including one larger and one smaller circle segment having opposite dividing edges, the circle segments being capable to be coupled and locked to each other. The side supports are provided with concentric centering elements to center the sleeve, the dividing edges being provided radially outside the centering elements of the side supports for dividing the distance between the centering element and the peripheral edge element in a ratio of from 1:1 to 1:3. The dividing edge of the larger circle segment is provided at a radial distance from the center of the side support that is less than the radius of the parcel.