A rope guide apparatus to assist with mooring a vessel comprises an elongate pole and a length of rope. The length of rope is slidably retained by the elongate pole at a first point of retention adjacent a first end of the pole. The rope extends from the first point of retention towards a second end of the pole where it is slidably retained by the pole at a second point of retention adjacent the second end. The rope extends from the second end of the pole back towards the first end and is slidably retained at a third point of retention, with the rope extending freely from the pole. This apparatus allows easier one-person mooring of a vessel by looping the rope over a bollard and avoids the need for the individual to lean out of a vessel when attempting to moor at a distance.

A winding station of a textile machine for producing cross-wound bobbins includes a base unit, a cover unit, and a bobbin holder configured to hold the cross-wound bobbin. A traversing device is configured to lay a thread in a crosswise manner on the cross-wound bobbin. A thread finding device is configured to find a thread end on the cross-wound bobbin. The base unit at least partially covers the cover unit, and the cover unit is movable with respect to the base unit between a working position for laying the thread and seeking the thread end and a cleaning position for cleaning the winding station. At least portions of the thread finding device are configured on the cover unit. A method is also provided for operating the winding station.

A consumable assembly for supplying filament to a 3D printer includes a spool-less filament coil, a payout tube, and a compressive band. The coil of filament is wound in a configuration having a generally cylindrical outer perimeter and an open interior; the coil has a payout hole extending from an inner layer of the coil to an outer layer of the coil and includes a filament strand configured to be withdrawn through the payout hole in response to a pull force, to thereby withdraw filament from the interior of the coil. The payout tube is disposed in the payout hole and provides a filament port. A compressive band is disposed over the outer layer and is configured to exert a compressive radial force on the coil so that the coil maintains its cylindrical shape without deformation, and the filament strand may be drawn through the filament outlet free of kinks, twists or tangles.

A headlock cable installation system includes a headlock assembly, an extension rod, and a flexible headlock cable. The headlock cable installation system is used for installing a pre-connectorized cable assembly. The headlock assembly defines a cavity configured to receive a connectorized end of the pre-connectorized cable assembly. The flexible headlock cable has opposite first and second ends. The first end of the headlock cable is coupled to the headlock assembly, whereas the opposite second end of the headlock cable is adjustably coupled to the extension rod. Adjustment of the second end varies a position of the headlock assembly relative to the extension rod.

A method and system for fabricating a susceptor coil assembly ribbon. An apparatus comprising a tensioning section 100 that provides a predetermined amount of tension to a plurality of susceptor coil assemblies 20, a collimating section 200 that receives the plurality of susceptor coil assemblies 20 from the tensioning section 100 and aligns the plurality of susceptor coil assemblies 20. An impaling section 300 receives the plurality of susceptor coil assemblies 20 aligned by the collimating section 200 and impales the plurality of susceptor coil assemblies 20 into a matrix material 320 so as to fabricate a susceptor coil assembly ribbon 30.

A method and system for fabricating a susceptor coil assembly ribbon. An apparatus comprising a tensioning section 100 that provides a predetermined amount of tension to a plurality of susceptor coil assemblies 20, a collimating section 200 that receives the plurality of susceptor coil assemblies 20 from the tensioning section 100 and aligns the plurality of susceptor coil assemblies 20. An impaling section 300 receives the plurality of susceptor coil assemblies 20 aligned by the collimating section 200 and impales the plurality of susceptor coil assemblies 20 into a matrix material 320 so as to fabricate a susceptor coil assembly ribbon 30.

Disclosed is a first creel bobbin brake, a creel bobbin assembly, a creel and a creel method. The first creel bobbin brake is arranged for applying a braking torque to a first shaft of a first creel bobbin. The first creel bobbin brake includes a strap that is provided with a first end, a second end and a strap body extending in a longitudinal direction between the first end and the second end, wherein the strap further includes an opening in the strap body, wherein the strap body and the opening are arranged to taper from the first end towards the second end, wherein the strap is arranged to be wound around the first shaft of the first creel bobbin over at least two revolutions, and wherein the second end is insertable through the opening with each revolution.

Disclosed is a first creel bobbin brake, a creel bobbin assembly, a creel and a creel method. The first creel bobbin brake is arranged for applying a braking torque to a first shaft of a first creel bobbin. The first creel bobbin brake includes a strap that is provided with a first end, a second end and a strap body extending in a longitudinal direction between the first end and the second end, wherein the strap further includes an opening in the strap body, wherein the strap body and the opening are arranged to taper from the first end towards the second end, wherein the strap is arranged to be wound around the first shaft of the first creel bobbin over at least two revolutions, and wherein the second end is insertable through the opening with each revolution.

A method and apparatus are provided for producing a multicomponent feedstock being delivered through a print head of a 3D printer. Multiple component lengths are produced from separate feedstocks and are aligned to form the multicomponent feedstock which is fed into the print head for extrusion. The method includes providing at least two sources of feedstock of different material, feeding a distal end of a first feedstock along a feed path, cutting the first feedstock at a pre-determined length to provide a length of first feedstock having a proximal end. The method includes feeding a distal end of a second feedstock along the feed path and aligning the distal end of the second feedstock with the proximal end of the length of the first feedstock. The second feedstock is cut at a pre-determined length to provide a length of the second feedstock serially aligned with the length of first feedstock, to form a length of multicomponent feedstock. The length of multicomponent feedstock is fed into the print head.

A method and apparatus are provided for producing a multicomponent feedstock being delivered through a print head of a 3D printer. Multiple component lengths are produced from separate feedstocks and are aligned to form the multicomponent feedstock which is fed into the print head for extrusion. The method includes providing at least two sources of feedstock of different material, feeding a distal end of a first feedstock along a feed path, cutting the first feedstock at a pre-determined length to provide a length of first feedstock having a proximal end. The method includes feeding a distal end of a second feedstock along the feed path and aligning the distal end of the second feedstock with the proximal end of the length of the first feedstock. The second feedstock is cut at a pre-determined length to provide a length of the second feedstock serially aligned with the length of first feedstock, to form a length of multicomponent feedstock. The length of multicomponent feedstock is fed into the print head.