A spool endform assembly includes an endform with a central collar that are configured to rotate about a rotational axis. The spool endform assembly further includes a mount sub-assembly configured to be mounted in a fixed orientation on a mounting structure (such as movable arm). The spool endform assembly is further configured to permit misalignment of the fixed orientation of the mount sub-assembly relative to the rotational axis of the endform and central collar. In embodiments, controlled movement of the mounting structure can be used to connect the spool endform assembly to a rotatable mandrel of a wire winding spool and disconnect the spool endform assembly from the rotatable mandrel. By permitting misalignment of the fixed orientation of the mount sub-assembly relative to the rotational axis of the endform and central collar, the spool endform assembly makes it easier to connect the spool endform assembly to the rotatable mandrel and to disconnect the spool endform assembly from the rotatable mandrel. Other features and aspects are described and/or claimed.

A spool endform assembly includes an endform with a central collar that are configured to rotate about a rotational axis. The spool endform assembly further includes a mount sub-assembly configured to be mounted in a fixed orientation on a mounting structure (such as movable arm). The spool endform assembly is further configured to permit misalignment of the fixed orientation of the mount sub-assembly relative to the rotational axis of the endform and central collar. In embodiments, controlled movement of the mounting structure can be used to connect the spool endform assembly to a rotatable mandrel of a wire winding spool and disconnect the spool endform assembly from the rotatable mandrel. By permitting misalignment of the fixed orientation of the mount sub-assembly relative to the rotational axis of the endform and central collar, the spool endform assembly makes it easier to connect the spool endform assembly to the rotatable mandrel and to disconnect the spool endform assembly from the rotatable mandrel. Other features and aspects are described and/or claimed.

A system for winding wire includes a wire take-up unit and a wire cutter/grabber unit. The take-up unit includes rotatable first and second mandrel portions, and a wire directing traverse arranged to feed wire and alternately form coils on the first and second mandrel portions. The cutter/grabber unit is configured to cut the wire at a cut position between the traverse and a coil formed on the first mandrel portion and to grab a free end of the cut wire and move along a predefined cutter/grabber pathway to a hand-off position where the wire is transferred to the second mandrel portion. As the cutter/grabber is moved along the pathway from the cut to the hand-off position, a length of wire between the traverse and the free end of the wire does not decrease, and that length of wire is longer at the hand-off position than at the cut position.

A dispensing cap for a dispensing system may be adapted for dispensing a roll of longitudinally extending material arranged in a center-pull configuration. The dispensing cap may include a dispensing orifice. A first rim having an inner edge may define a wide end of the dispensing orifice. A second rim having an outer edge may define a narrow end of the dispensing orifice. One or more sidewalls may extend between the inner edge of the first rim and the outer edge of the second rim and define the dispensing orifice between the wide end and the narrow end. The dispensing cap may further include a dispensing slot that defines an opening through the second rim.

An apparatus for the transportation and payoff of coiled wire and cable, the apparatus comprising a clamshell package, an inner void formed by the clamshell package, the inner void comprising a compartment within for containing coiled wire and cable during transportation and payoff of the wire and cable, a payoff port is coupled to the clamshell package, wherein the coiled wire and cable is extracted from the clamshell package through the payoff port on an axis substantially similar to the axis of the extracted wire and cable, and wherein the payoff port extends from the clamshell package through the coiled wire and cable.

Systems and methods for winding wire are disclosed. A system includes a wire take-up unit and a wire tensioning unit. The take-up unit includes a rotating mandrel and a wire directing device, the wire directing device arranged to cause the wire to be wound in a figure-eight configuration on the rotating mandrel to form a coil having many layers of wire. The wire tensioning unit applies tension to said wire as it is wound, and applies a first amount of tension to a predetermined amount of wire constituting at least a first two layers of the coil, and a second amount of tension to the wire beyond the predetermined amount. In one embodiment, the wire tensioning unit includes digital self-relieving air regulator pneumatically coupled to and controlling a pressure in said pressurized chamber of a pre-lubricating cylinder that is coupled to the wire being wound.

An apparatus for winding filamentary material includes a mandrel rotatable about a spindle axis of rotation and a traverse reciprocating at a distance with respect to the spindle axis to wind the filamentary material in a figure-eight coil configuration with a payout hole extending radially from the inner to the outer wind of the coil. The apparatus includes a measurement device for measuring the diameter of the coil as it is being wound around the mandrel, and a controller for controlling the reciprocating movement of the traverse with respect to the rotation of the mandrel based on the measured diameter of the coil. The measurement device may include a first sensor configured to measure a length of filamentary material wound about the mandrel and a second sensor configured to measure an angular displacement of said mandrel during the winding of the length of filamentary material about said mandrel.

An apparatus for winding filamentary material includes a mandrel rotatable about a spindle axis of rotation and a traverse reciprocating at a distance with respect to the spindle axis to wind the filamentary material in a figure-eight coil configuration with a payout hole extending radially from the inner to the outer wind of the coil. The apparatus includes a measurement device for measuring the diameter of the coil as it is being wound around the mandrel, and a controller for controlling the reciprocating movement of the traverse with respect to the rotation of the mandrel based on the measured diameter of the coil. The measurement device may include a first sensor configured to measure a length of filamentary material wound about the mandrel and a second sensor configured to measure an angular displacement of said mandrel during the winding of the length of filamentary material about said mandrel.

An apparatus for the transportation and payoff of coiled wire and cable, the apparatus comprising a clamshell package, an inner void formed by the clamshell package, the inner void comprising a compartment within for containing coiled wire and cable during transportation and payoff of the wire and cable, a payoff port is coupled to the clamshell package, wherein the coiled wire and cable is extracted from the clamshell package through the payoff port on an axis substantially similar to the axis of the extracted wire and cable, and wherein the payoff port extends from the clamshell package through the coiled wire and cable.

A system for winding wire includes a wire take-up unit and a wire cutter/grabber unit. The take-up unit includes rotatable first and second mandrel portions, and a wire directing traverse arranged to feed wire and alternately form coils on the first and second mandrel portions. The cutter/grabber unit is configured to cut the wire at a cut position between the traverse and a coil formed on the first mandrel portion and to grab a free end of the cut wire and move along a predefined cutter/grabber pathway to a hand-off position where the wire is transferred to the second mandrel portion. As the cutter/grabber is moved along the pathway from the cut to the hand-off position, a length of wire between the traverse and the free end of the wire does not decrease, and that length of wire is longer at the hand-off position than at the cut position.