The present disclosure is directed to a reusable yarn carrier tube around which yarn may be wound at high speeds (e.g., within winding machines). The yarn carrier tube may include a pick-up groove having structural features configured to better snag yarn to initiate winding of the yarn around the cylindrical body of the yarn carrier tube. The structural features may include an adaptable snagging feature that is adaptable to many different yarn types (e.g., diameter, denier, texture, material). The structural features may include projections (e.g., teeth) with incremental narrowing therebetween in the direction opposite to the rotational winding direction. The teeth may increase in sharpness (e.g., decreasing radii of curvature) as the yarn moves further into the pick-up groove.

The present disclosure is directed to a reusable yarn carrier tube around which yarn may be wound at high speeds (e.g., within winding machines). The yarn carrier tube may include a pick-up groove having structural features configured to better snag yarn to initiate winding of the yarn around the cylindrical body of the yarn carrier tube. The structural features may include an adaptable snagging feature that is adaptable to many different yarn types (e.g., diameter, denier, texture, material). The structural features may include projections (e.g., teeth) with incremental narrowing therebetween in the direction opposite to the rotational winding direction. The teeth may increase in sharpness (e.g., decreasing radii of curvature) as the yarn moves further into the pick-up groove.

Embodiments of a method of collecting a tail section of a long product, such as an optical fiber cable, are provided. In the method, a lead wire from a tail spool is unwound, and the lead wire is fed through a flange of a main spool. The tail spool and the main spool have a common rotation axis. The lead wire is attached to the long product. The tail spool is rotated while holding the main spool stationary so as to wind the lead wire and the tail section onto the tail spool. The rotation of the tail spool is stopped, and the main spool and the tail spool are rotated together so as to wind the long product onto the main spool. Also provided are embodiments of a winding apparatus using the tail spool and a tail reel that includes the tail spool and a drive mechanism.

Embodiments of a method of collecting a tail section of a long product, such as an optical fiber cable, are provided. In the method, a lead wire from a tail spool is unwound, and the lead wire is fed through a flange of a main spool. The tail spool and the main spool have a common rotation axis. The lead wire is attached to the long product. The tail spool is rotated while holding the main spool stationary so as to wind the lead wire and the tail section onto the tail spool. The rotation of the tail spool is stopped, and the main spool and the tail spool are rotated together so as to wind the long product onto the main spool. Also provided are embodiments of a winding apparatus using the tail spool and a tail reel that includes the tail spool and a drive mechanism.

A wire body winding device that winds a wire body around a bobbin includes a bobbin pivoting mechanism that pivotally supports and pivots the bobbin, a wire body holding mechanism that holds the wire body, and a wire body moving mechanism configured to move the wire body holding mechanism. When the wire body is pulled out, the wire body moving mechanism moves the wire body holding mechanism between a take-up position where the wire body holding mechanism is capable of holding the wire body and a wire body winding position where the wire body is woundable around the bobbin.

A wire body winding device that winds a wire body around a bobbin includes a bobbin pivoting mechanism that pivotally supports and pivots the bobbin, a wire body holding mechanism that holds the wire body, and a wire body moving mechanism configured to move the wire body holding mechanism. When the wire body is pulled out, the wire body moving mechanism moves the wire body holding mechanism between a take-up position where the wire body holding mechanism is capable of holding the wire body and a wire body winding position where the wire body is woundable around the bobbin.

The present invention provides a clip line fixture suitable for use with a clip line wound around a clip reel, the clip line fixture being configured to prevent the clip line from unwinding from the clip reel. The clip line fixture comprises at least one attachment portion shaped to removably attach the clip line fixture to at least one corresponding mating portion of a clip reel at a position along an outer rim portion of the clip reel. The clip line fixture further comprises a hold-down portion shaped to engage at least one corresponding portion of a clip line wound around the clip reel so as to prevent a free end portion of the clip line at least from radially separating from the clip reel. The present invention further provides a clip reel and a clip reel assembly.

The present invention provides a clip line fixture suitable for use with a clip line wound around a clip reel, the clip line fixture being configured to prevent the clip line from unwinding from the clip reel. The clip line fixture comprises at least one attachment portion shaped to removably attach the clip line fixture to at least one corresponding mating portion of a clip reel at a position along an outer rim portion of the clip reel. The clip line fixture further comprises a hold-down portion shaped to engage at least one corresponding portion of a clip line wound around the clip reel so as to prevent a free end portion of the clip line at least from radially separating from the clip reel. The present invention further provides a clip reel and a clip reel assembly.

The present disclosure is directed to a reusable yarn carrier tube around which yarn may be wound at high speeds (e.g., within winding machines). The yarn carrier tube may include a pick-up groove having structural features configured to better snag yarn to initiate winding of the yarn around the cylindrical body of the yarn carrier tube. The structural features may include an adaptable snagging feature that is adaptable to many different yarn types (e.g., diameter, denier, texture, material). The structural features may include projections (e.g., teeth) with incremental narrowing therebetween in the direction opposite to the rotational winding direction. The teeth may increase in sharpness (e.g., decreasing radii of curvature) as the yarn moves further into the pick-up groove.

The present disclosure is directed to a reusable yarn carrier tube around which yarn may be wound at high speeds (e.g., within winding machines). The yarn carrier tube may include a pick-up groove having structural features configured to better snag yarn to initiate winding of the yarn around the cylindrical body of the yarn carrier tube. The structural features may include an adaptable snagging feature that is adaptable to many different yarn types (e.g., diameter, denier, texture, material). The structural features may include projections (e.g., teeth) with incremental narrowing therebetween in the direction opposite to the rotational winding direction. The teeth may increase in sharpness (e.g., decreasing radii of curvature) as the yarn moves further into the pick-up groove.