An article of footwear may include a motorized tensioning system. The tensioning system may include a tensile member and a motorized tightening device configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear. The tensioning system may further include a power source configured to supply power to the motorized tightening device. The tensile member, the motorized tightening device, and the power source may be configured to be removably attached to the article of footwear.

A lead wire storage mechanism stores most of a lead wire such that the lead wire can be taken out from a tip end portion. A tension adjusting mechanism including a dancer roller and two lifting and lowering guide rollers is formed with a partial space that is to be a part of a hand travel space at a time of a preparation state. A lead wire guide mechanism including an opening and closing lead guide is formed with a partial space that is to be a part of the hand travel space at the time of the preparation state. A lead wire grasping and moving mechanism can execute a grasping operation for grasping a tip end portion of the lead wire with a grasping part, and a grasping part moving operation for moving the grasping part through the hand travel space.

A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a tensioning member that is tightened or loosened using a motorized tensioning device for winding and unwinding the tensioning member on a spool. The tensioning system may be used with various sensors to determine how the motorized tensioning device should be controlled.

A footwear lacing apparatus can comprise a housing structure, a spool and a drive mechanism. The housing structure can comprise a first inlet, a second inlet, and a lacing channel extending between the first and second inlets. The lacing channel can comprise a spool receptacle located between the first and second inlets, a first relief area located between the spool receptacle and the first inlet, and a second relief area located between the spool receptacle and the second inlet. The first and second relief areas can be linearly tapered between the spool receptacle and the first and second inlets, respectively. The spool can be disposed in the spool receptacle of the lacing channel. The drive mechanism can be coupled with the spool and adapted to rotate the spool to wind or unwind a lace cable extending through the lacing channel and through the spool.

A guiding chain carrier system (1) is configured for an installation (2), for deploying and for storing without folding said guiding chain and flexible supply cables and/or pipelines. Said guiding chain carrier system comprises a mobile workstation (6) movable over a work surface (3) and connected to the said cables and/or pipelines, at least one guiding chain (20), connected to a static connection area (7) on one end and to the mobile workstation (6) on the other end thereof, for supporting said cables and/or pipelines; characterized by at least one compensation trolley (8), comprising a compensation system. Said compensation trolley (8) is movable and the compensation system is able to generate a resistance force in order to maintain the guiding chain (20) straight while the mobile workstation (6) moves from an operation location nearest the static connection area (7) until an operation location furthest from the static connection area (7).

Systems and apparatus related to automated tightening of a footwear platform including a lacing engine drive apparatus are discussed. In an example, a drive apparatus to rotate a lace spool of a motorized lacing engine within a footwear platform can include a gear motor, a gear box, a worm drive, and a worm gear. The gear box can be mechanically coupled to the gear motor, and the gear box can include a drive shaft extending opposite the gear motor. The worm drive can be slidably keyed to the drive shaft to control rotation of the worm drive in response to gear motor activation. The worm gear can rotate the lace spool upon rotation of the worm drive to tighten or loosen a lace cable on the footwear platform.

The present invention is an apparatus, system, and method for a low tension application spooler and or coiler system that positively drives the material into the coil and or reel so that the tension is minimum during the winding process.

An automated unspooling mechanism capable of dispensing of knitting material strands in a dynamically-controlled tension on a knitting machine. An unspooling device is configured to sense the tension of a strand fed to the knitting machine, and responsively adjust the strand deployment speed to avoid too little or too much strand dispensing without interrupting the knitting process. The unspooling device includes a variable motor drive that can rotate the strand package in various speeds, and a spring arm trigger that can sense the current tension of the dispensed material. The spring arm trigger can vary its arm position based on the sensed tension. The arm position is then processed and converted to a signal to vary the motor speed. Therefore, the deployment speed of the strands can be dynamically controlled based on a sensed tension of feeding the strand.

A feeding system configured to transport a material to a tape applicator, the feeding system comprising: a flexible conduit coupled between a spool unloading device and a tape applicator, wherein the flexible conduit receives the material from a source; and a fluid amplifier coupled to the flexible conduit to facilitate movement of the material therein by creating a vacuum effect.

A speed adjusting cable assembly in accordance with some example embodiments is configured for use with a cable feeder having at least one motor-driven roller configured to pay out cable. The assembly includes a frame, a boom arm pivotally connected thereto by a shaft, a cable guide on the boom arm configured to allow at least one cable to pass therethrough, a sensor in communication with the shaft and configured to measure a rotational position of the boom arm relative to a plane, and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller is configured to control a speed at which the at least one roller rotates to feed the cable through the cable feeder based upon information received from the sensor. A method of use is also provided.