A method and apparatus for engaging a cable from a reel having a reel axle, such as for dispensing the cable from the reel with a motor assembly to figure eight a fiber optic cable sensitive to twisting. An adjustable frame is mounted to a first lifting arm. The adjustable frame is stored in a self-stowed configuration wherein the adjustable frame is vertically stacked parallel to the first lifting arm. The adjustable frame is deployed to align a distal frame end of the adjustable frame near the horizontal center of the reel in a plurality of lifting arm pivot positions.

An adjustable height optical fiber cable reel comprises a first piece having a first base plate and a first tab protruding from the first base plate, the first tab having a first opening and a second opening, a second piece having a second base plate and a second tab protruding from the second base plate, the second tab having a pin. The pin is configured to engage the first opening to lock the adjustable height reel at a first height, and to engage the second opening to lock the adjustable height reel at a second height. The adjustable height reel may also be coupled to a slack storage tray. Optical fiber enclosures may also be configured with adjustable height reels with optional slack storage trays.

One aspect of the disclosed subject matter is seen in a wire access line drum assembly that includes a tubular drum and an insert positionable therein to accommodate wire access lines of varying diameter. The tubular drum has a first and a second end and an inner and outer surface. The insert is positionable adjacent the first end of the tubular drum and has a curved channel formed therein extending between the inner and outer surfaces of the tubular drum. The insert has a ramp substantially coinciding with the outer surface of the drum at a first end portion and extending above the outer surface of the drum at a second end portion adjacent the curved channel. The height of the ramp at the second end portion is selected to be substantially similar to the diameter of the wire access line to be stored on the drum assembly.

Unit for winding and unwinding cables of a cable-laying apparatus, comprising a reel to support the cables to be wound or unwound, a support frame configured to keep said reel in a raised position with respect to the ground, and a rotation shaft solid with the reel and associated with a corresponding hydraulic drive unit; the unit also comprises at least a dynamic braking device associated with the rotation shaft and configured to allow, according to a first operating mode, the normal rotation of the shaft and therefore of the reel for winding or unwinding the cables, and to exert on the shaft and therefore on the reel, according to another operating mode, a dynamic braking condition that allows the shaft to rotate in a braked configuration for at least a certain period of time and prevents the instantaneous stoppage of the rotation of the reel.

The apparatus for non-contact damping vibration of a vibrating optical fiber moving over an optical fiber path includes an air bearing and an air supply. The air bearing includes a body having an aperture defined by an inner surface and a central axis that passes through the center of the aperture and along which lies the optical fiber path. A plurality of nozzles is distributed around the inner surface and directed toward the central axis. An air conduit within the body is in pneumatic communication with the plurality of nozzles. The air supply is pneumatically connected to the air conduit and is configured to supply pressurized air to the air bearing. The pressurized air is directed through the nozzles to the vibrating optical fiber and impinges on the optical fiber to damp the vibration of the vibrating optical fiber.

Reel for the purpose of winding a length of cable of optical fiber cable type, comprising: a winding support (12) for winding the length of cable; retaining means suitable for retaining the length of cable wound around the winding support; first attachment means for the purpose of attaching the reel to an edge of a circuit board (50) such that the reel is positioned laterally with respect to the circuit board; second attachment means for the purpose of attaching the reel flat to a face of the circuit board.

System comprising a circuit board and a reel.

Method for assembling an electrical device.

A cable spool for networking and cross connect equipment is shown which comprises a telescoping arrangement and is moveable between a retracted and an extended position. In a particular embodiment a static cable spool is provided together with the moveable cable spool and arranged along the same axis. The cable spool is also moveable horizontally.

A screening apparatus for an optical fiber includes a delivery unit that delivers an optical fiber; a screening unit that applies tension to the delivered optical fiber to perform screening of the optical fiber; a winding unit that winds the optical fiber after screening; and a static electricity removing unit that removes static electricity of the optical fiber traveling on the predetermined passage, the static electricity removing unit being disposed along a predetermined passage of a passage of the optical fiber from an exit side of the screening unit to an entry side of the winding unit.

The invention relates to a method for controlling rotation of a winding spool onto which an optical fiber is wound in a proof-testing machine. The optical fiber is guided in the proof-testing machine at a given line speed from an input pulling device to an output pulling device and then to the spool. The input and output pulling device is arranged to subject the optical fiber to a predetermined tensile stress. The method includes upon detection of a break between an output point (A) of the input pulling device and between an input point (B) of the output pulling device, a step of controlling the rotational speed of the spool to bring it to a complete stop; and a step of passing the optical fiber between an output point (C) of the output pulling device and an input point (D) of the winding spool in a fiber accumulation zone adapted to accumulate a predetermined fiber length preventing an fiber broken end resulting from the break going beyond the input point (D) of the winding spool.

Systems (100) and methods (1400) for operating a Spool Mechanism (SM). The methods comprise: transitioning an operational mode of SM from a first operational mode in which a drag torque is not settable to a second operational mode in which the drag torque is settable; selectively mechanically coupling a rewind motor to a spool (612) of SM by engaging a coupler (1014) in response to the SM's transition into the second operational mode; activating the rewind motor (610) such that the rewind motor applies a motor torque having a pre-defined value selected for facilitating a setting of the drag torque to an optimal value; mechanically gradually adjusting an amount of drag resistance applied to the spool by a drag mechanism (1012); and discontinuing the mechanical adjustment of the drag resistance when the spool's speed is within a threshold percentage range of a zero resistance speed.