Abstract: A web of a first sheet material and a web of a second sheet material are laminated together by a process wherein the sheet materials are wound, in an interleaved relationship, upon a roller having a radially displaceable outer surface. The roller and webs and then subjected to heating and/or a low-pressure environment so as to complete the lamination. A body of adhesive material, such as a hot melt adhesive, may be interposed between the webs and the heating or low pressure environment can activate this adhesive. Further disposed are particular configurations of rollers with radially displaceable surfaces.

Abstract: A manufacturing method and apparatus for manufacturing a coated optical fiber which has a superior surface smoothness of a resin coating and which can be coated with a colored ink with high coating performance. In the method including the steps of making a coated optical fiber by forming an outer coating layer around a bare optical fiber; and winding the coated optical fiber via pulleys by a take-up, the surface roughness of each solid body which the outer layer of the running coated optical fiber contacts is 0.8 &mgr;m or less. When the temperature of the outer coating layer is a room temperature or the Young's modulus of the outer coating layer is higher than 500 MPa, the surface roughness of each solid body, which the outer layer of the coated optical fiber contacts during drawing or rewinding, is 1.2 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: A storage device for data transmission lines, which serve for data transmission between a moving object and a base station, has a spool unit (2) on which a data transmission line (1) is wound in the form of a package of several layers (21) of windings. The windings in each layer are introduced at a maximum tensile stress or force, which is dependent on the modulus of elasticity of thedata transmission line (1). In this way, a creep or flow of the material of data transmission line (1), which is due to the pressure that is produced on the individual layers (21), is reduced or avoided, and a stable ordering of the windings is assured over a long period of time. The pressure of a winding on the layer (21) lying thereunder is less than 0.6 N/mm2, at least in the lower region of the windings. The maximum tensile stress is calculated from the diameters of data transmission line (1) and spool unit (2), the modulus of elasticity of data transmission line (1) and the total number N of layers (21) of the package.

Abstract: A forming tube assembly may include an adapter tube configured to extend over at least a portion of a collet of a winder; and at least one forming tube extending around at least a portion of the adapter tube. A forming package assembly may include an adapter tube; and at least one forming package extending around the adapter tube.

Abstract: A method of forming a wound fiber package comprises winding a first portion of strand having at least one fiber on a bobbin using a first indexing ratio A:B, wherein A is greater than 0 and A is greater than B, and winding a second portion of strand having at least one fiber on the bobbin using a second indexing ratio A:B different from the first indexing ratio, wherein A and B are greater than 0. In one non-limiting embodiment of the invention, B equals 0 in the first indexing ratio, A in the first indexing ratio equals A in the second indexing ratio, and A equals B in the second indexing ratio. In another non-limiting embodiment of the invention, B is greater than 0 in the first indexing ratio, A in the first indexing ratio equals A in the second indexing ratio, and A equals B in the second indexing ratio. This method may be used to produce a wound package.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring material winding between spools. The apparatus includes spindels for positioning first and second spools in a co-planar arrangement with parallel axes of rotation. With the material initially secured to the base of a first spool with tape, a winding mechanism is energized to turn the spools. When the first spool is filled, a first sheave directs the incoming material to the second spool which is rotated at the rate of material supply. A tape applicator is then directed to apply a section of tape over the material, pressing it against the base of the second spool. A small wire is included on the base of the tape being applied. The applicator force on the wire against the material is designed to be sufficient to sever the material, separating the material on the first spool from the material being wound on the second.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable tensioning and positioning apparatus includes a base, and a vertical support wall integrally connected to the base. A first support connects to a portion of the vertical support wall and supports a first portion of the fiber optic cable. A first clamp attaches to the first support for securing the first portion of the fiber optic cable to the first support. A second support connects to another portion of the vertical support wall and supports a second portion of the fiber optic cable. The second support is pivotally connected to the vertical support wall. A second clamp attaches to the second support for securing the second portion of the fiber optic cable to the second support. A knob also pivotally connects to the vertical support wall, and is connected to a cam.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming multiple packages on a single collet includes a pair of collets that are mounted on a rotatable turret. A moving strand is provided and the collet is rotated to wind the strand and build a first package on one end of the collet. The strand is reciprocated with a strand reciprocator to lay the strand on the package surface as the package rotates. After the first package is built, a strand positioner and a secondary shoe assist in transferring the strand to build a second package on the collet. After the second package is built, the turret is rotated while the cam moves away from the collet and turret. The strand breaks off after a few revolutions of the second collet. Then, the cam moves toward the second collet to begin building a first package on the second collet.

Abstract: Method for winding a fiber element onto a support. The fiber element having at least two longitudinal portions (Pi) with different characteristics. The method including the steps of supplying the fiber element to the support and associating with each longitudinal portion a respective value of the winding pitch (pi) which is different from the values associated with the portions adjacent thereto. The winding pitch associated with each portion being modulated in accordance with a periodic function.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for winding an optical fiber. The device includes a mandrel that is connected to a brace. In an operative mode, the brace engages a stabilizer and the stabilizer is releasably fastened to an optical fiber storage assembly. The stabilizer can be releasably fastened to a spool, a hub, or a tray.

Abstract: The invention includes an optical waveguide whipping end cutting apparatus. The apparatus includes an active cutting element. The element is positioned to cut a segment from a whipping end of an optical fiber, while the fiber is being wound onto a rotating spool. This apparatus will prevent fiber whip. The invention also includes a method of cutting a whipping end from an optical fiber. The method includes removing a segment of the end of the fiber with an active cutting element. A method of cutting an optical fiber while winding the fiber onto a storage spool is further discussed. The fiber has a whipping end and a wound segment. The method includes separating the whipping end of the fiber from the wound segment with an active cutting element. Furthermore, the invention includes a method of reducing fiber whip damage to fiber wound on a spool. This includes engaging an active cutting element on the fiber being wound onto the spool, and removing a whipping end from the fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing or preventing fiber entry whip as the loose end of a fiber being wound on a spool enters a fiber winding device. A fiber winding device comprises a spool winder entrance, a winding spool and a fiber whip shield substantially surrounding the winding spool. A fiber entry whip reducer positioned in front of the fiber winding device comprises at least one pulley and a guide channel including a straight entry section and a curved section leading to the fiber winding device. The guide channel is formed and positioned such that the loose end of the fiber is maintained against the guide channel by centrifugal force imparted onto the fiber by the curvature of the channel and forward motion of the fiber produced by the rotating spool, thereby producing a trajectory such that the loose end of the fiber enters the fiber winding device and is maintained against the whip shield.

Abstract: A fiber guide for spooling glass fiber from an automatic coil winding machine onto a spool. The guide has a body or pay guide assembly with a receiving aperture. Two similar sections are held together with a slight gap between them. Left and right parallel strands of music wire are tightly stretched through the gap across the receiving aperture of the arc and are anchored at each end. A spool with flanged edges receives the left and right parallel strands or guides and is maintained very close to the last layer or surface of fiber laid down. A guide pulley is carried by the guide for guiding glass fiber between the left and right parallel strands and onto the spool. The parallel strands are tensioned by anchoring each wire in a respective standoff. In one embodiment, each end of a music wire wraps around a standoff. The wires extend through the cross drilled holes permitting adjustment by turning the standoff. In an alternative embodiment, a tensioner is formed by a pivotal plate, relative to the guide.

Abstract: A cam follower includes a radially inner arcuate bearing surface that matches the curvature of the outer surface of the cam. Engagement of this bearing surface with the surface of the cam opposes undesired motion of the cam follower, including motion radially away from the cam, about an axis perpendicular to the cam rotation axis, and/or about an axis parallel to the cam rotation axis. This arcuate engagement also facilitates effective lubrication of the cam follower. The cam housing is formed with arcuate bearing surfaces that define with the cam surface an annular cam follower cavity and that engage a radially outer arcuate bearing surface of the cam follower, maintaining the cam follower in position against the cam surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for threading a fiber that is being continuously supplied by a supplying device for winding on a spool, includes a collecting device, adjacent to the supplying device, that collects the fiber by urging the fiber from the supplying device into the collecting device to provide a tension in the fiber between the supplying device and the collecting device, a positioning device that engages the fiber, between the supplying device and the collecting device, with an engaging portion that allows the fiber to be continuously collected in the collecting device and that moves from a position adjacent to the supplying device and the collecting device to a position adjacent to the spool to move the fiber to at least one threading position, and a threading device that automatically threads the fiber at the at least one threading position onto the spool.

Abstract: A compact multi-position spindle-and-turret winder for winding synthetic continuous fibers having a first winding position and one-four subsequent indexed winding positions and a method for winding continuous filaments are provided.

Abstract: A continuous length of fiber from a fiber supply is wound onto first and second sections of a spool by an apparatus and method that collect a first portion of the continuous length of fiber from the fiber supply, wind the collected first portion onto the first section of the spool, and wind a second portion of the continuous length of fiber onto the second section of the spool.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing or preventing fiber entry whip as the loose end of a fiber being wound on a spool enters a fiber winding device. A fiber winding device includes a spool winder entrance, a winding spool and a fiber whip shield substantially surrounding the winding spool. A fiber entry whip reducer positioned in front of the fiber winding device includes at least one pulley and a guide channel including a straight entry section and a curved section leading to the fiber winding device. The guide channel is formed and positioned such that the loose end of the fiber is maintained against the guide channel by centrifugal force imparted onto the fiber by the curvature of the channel and forward motion of the fiber produced by the rotating spool, thereby producing a trajectory such that the loose end of the fiber enters the fiber winding device and is maintained against the whip shield.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for equalizing the tension of optical fibers to a predetermined value, in which optical fibers (3) are passed from starting reels (1) through an equalizer wheel structure (4) to the next stage of the process. The equalizer wheel structure (4) is formed by two wheels (5, 6) on which the fibers (3) travel in succession. The first wheel (5) is adapted to supply fiber to the second wheel (6) at a greater rate than that which passes on the second wheel and is supplied to the next stage.

Abstract: A fiber guide for spooling glass fiber from an automatic coil winding machine onto a spool. The guide has a pay guide assembly with a receiving aperture. Two similar sections are held together with a slight gap between them. Left and right parallel strands of music wire are tightly stretched through the gap across the receiving aperture of the arc and are anchored at each end. A spool receives the left and right parallel strands or guides and is maintained very close to the last layer or surface of fiber laid down. A guide pulley is carried by the guide for guiding glass fiber between the left and right parallel strands and onto the spool. The parallel strands are tensioned by anchoring each wire in a respective standoff. In one embodiment, each end of a music wire wraps around a standoff. The wires extend through the cross drilled holes permitting adjustment by turning the standoff. In an alternative embodiment, a tensioner is formed by a pivotal plate, relative to the guide.