A device for receiving an extruded elastomer strand, during the transport thereof to a processing location, including a reel that receives the elastomer strand as a winding, wherein the moving reel is provided for temporary inclusion into a production facility that continuously processes the elastomer strand, by rotation of the reel, to form seals for doors or boots of vehicle bodies. The average thickness of the reel resulting from the total mass and the total volume of the material of the reel is <2.5 g/cm.sup.3.

A device for receiving an extruded elastomer strand, during the transport thereof to a processing location, including a reel that receives the elastomer strand as a winding, wherein the moving reel is provided for temporary inclusion into a production facility that continuously processes the elastomer strand, by rotation of the reel, to form seals for doors or boots of vehicle bodies. The average thickness of the reel resulting from the total mass and the total volume of the material of the reel is <2.5 g/cm.sup.3.

A modular reel drive assembly comprises two reel drive tower modules (12, 14), a reel hub adapter (54) and a reel hub adapter support module (22, 24). The hub adapter support module (22, 24) comprises at least one support pin which is configured to be movable between a storage position in which the at least one support pin is not aligned with at least one aperture (38, 39, 40, 41) on the hub adapter support module (22, 24) and an operational position in which the support pin is aligned with at least one aperture (38, 39, 40, 41) on the hub adapter support module (22, 24).

Method for the handling of parent reels in paper converting plants, comprising the following steps: (a) providing at least one platform with a base adapted to support a parent reel in a waiting station and at least one unwinder (S) adapted to receive said reel in an unwinding station where the parent reel is unwound; (b) positioning a parent reel (1) on the platform at the waiting station; (c) transporting the parent reel (1) along a predefined path from said platform to said unwinder (S) by means of a bridge crane (CP) equipped with movable arms (BC). The step (c) is preceded by a first step consisting in the temporary association of two pins (P) to the arms (BC) of the bridge crane (CP) and by a second step consisting in inserting the two pins (P) in two opposite bases of the parent reel (1) using the same arms (BC); and the step (c) involves the transport of the reel (1) along a path comprising at least one ascending or descending portion with the pins (P) thus inserted into the parent reel (1).

Method for the handling of parent reels in paper converting plants, comprising the following steps: (a) providing at least one platform with a base adapted to support a parent reel in a waiting station and at least one unwinder (S) adapted to receive said reel in an unwinding station where the parent reel is unwound; (b) positioning a parent reel (1) on the platform at the waiting station; (c) transporting the parent reel (1) along a predefined path from said platform to said unwinder (S) by means of a bridge crane (CP) equipped with movable arms (BC). The step (c) is preceded by a first step consisting in the temporary association of two pins (P) to the arms (BC) of the bridge crane (CP) and by a second step consisting in inserting the two pins (P) in two opposite bases of the parent reel (1) using the same arms (BC); and the step (c) involves the transport of the reel (1) along a path comprising at least one ascending or descending portion with the pins (P) thus inserted into the parent reel (1).

A bobbin and spool management system includes a bobbin topper having a central disc with upwardly and downwardly extending stanchions projecting therefrom, each being capped with a mushroom bolster and having a medially located chamfered collar. The upwardly projecting stanchion is adapted to mate with an axial bore in the barrel of a bobbin and retain the bobbin while the downwardly projecting stanchion is adapted to penetrate the axial bore in the barrel of a supply spool and be retained on the supply spool.

A bobbin and spool management system includes a bobbin topper having a central disc with upwardly and downwardly extending stanchions projecting therefrom, each being capped with a mushroom bolster and having a medially located chamfered collar. The upwardly projecting stanchion is adapted to mate with an axial bore in the barrel of a bobbin and retain the bobbin while the downwardly projecting stanchion is adapted to penetrate the axial bore in the barrel of a supply spool and be retained on the supply spool.

A filament container for housing a spool of filament comprising a base and a lid that define an inner volume. The lid rotatably attached to the base and moveable between a closed position, wherein the inner volume is substantially sealed, and an open position, wherein the inner volume is accessible. First and second horizontal shafts are supported rotatably within the inner volume, parallel to and spaced from one another a distance, and rotatable about a respective longitudinal axis. The first and second horizontal shafts are adapted to support a spool of filament vertically within the inner volume and to allow the spool of filament to freely rotate about a horizontal axis that is parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis of each of the first and second horizontal shafts as filament is pulled from the spool and out of the filament container.

A filament container for housing a spool of filament comprising a base and a lid that define an inner volume. The lid rotatably attached to the base and moveable between a closed position, wherein the inner volume is substantially sealed, and an open position, wherein the inner volume is accessible. First and second horizontal shafts are supported rotatably within the inner volume, parallel to and spaced from one another a distance, and rotatable about a respective longitudinal axis. The first and second horizontal shafts are adapted to support a spool of filament vertically within the inner volume and to allow the spool of filament to freely rotate about a horizontal axis that is parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis of each of the first and second horizontal shafts as filament is pulled from the spool and out of the filament container.