An equipment is disclosed for attaching an optical fiber to a reel, the equipment including a tape supply station configured to cut and supply pieces of tape, an attachment device having a frame with a collector for collecting a piece of tape from the tape supply station for attaching the optical fiber to the reel, an actuator for moving the attachment device and for pressing the collector, having the piece of tape, against the optical fiber and the reel in order to attach the optical fiber to the reel, and a cutter for cutting the optical fiber. Such an equipment can be advantageous as manual labour can be excluded from the process of attaching an optical fiber to a reel.

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.

A method of winding an optical fiber includes winding the optical fiber using a bobbin that includes: a body portion having two end portions; and a pair of flanges, respectively disposed at the end portions in an axial direction of the body portion. An inner surface of each of the flanges is inclined toward an outer side in the axial direction and toward a radial outer side. The method further includes guiding the optical fiber to the bobbin using a final pulley. The bobbin and the final pulley reciprocate relative to each other in the axial direction at a traverse speed V (mm/sec) such that 0.0050 (rad)0.1000, where is a delay angle, =arctan (V/L), and L (mm) is a distance from a winding position of the optical fiber at the bobbin to the final pulley in a radial direction.

A cable storage device (100) includes a removal station (110) and a storage spool (120). Slack length of the cable (190) is advanced into the cable storage device. At least a jacket (195) of the cable (190) is removed at the removal station (110). At least a signal-carrying portion of the cable (190) is wound at the storage spool (120). The removed jacket (195) exits the cable storage device (100). The cable (190) can be axially secured at the cable storage device (100). Certain types of spools can index the cable.

Technology is provided for a cable management spool assembly. The cable management spool assembly includes a spool and one or more arcuate covers. The spool includes a flange portion having a first side configured to confront a mounting surface and a second side opposite the first side. A drum portion extends from the second side of the flange portion and one or more latches extend away from the first side of the flange portion. The latches are positioned to engage one or more corresponding mounting features of the mounting surface. The arcuate covers are coupled to the spool and are pivotable between an open position where a cable may be wound on the drum portion and a closed position where the cable is retained on the drum portion.

The disclosed system may include (1) a spool that carries a length of fiber optic cable to be installed on a powerline conductor, where the spool defines multiple axes of rotation, and (2) a motion subsystem that carries the spool, where the motion subsystem (a) causes the system to travel along the powerline conductor, (b) revolves the spool helically about the powerline conductor at a first rate related to a second rate at which the system travels along the powerline conductor, and (c) rotates the spool about the multiple axes of rotation while revolving the spool helically about the powerline conductor to helically wrap the fiber optic cable about the powerline conductor. Various other systems, apparatuses, and methods are also disclosed.

Transformable cable reels, related assemblies and methods are disclosed. The transformable cable reels may be provided in a first reel configuration for spooling on cable to the transformable cable reel and to pay out the spooled cable from the transformable cable reel. Cable spooled on the transformable cable reel may be payed out during cable installations. The transformable cable reel may also be configured in a second reel configuration for storage of any excess cable after cable payout. As one non-limiting example, the volume of the cable reel may be less in the second reel configuration than in the first reel configuration so that less volume is required to store the transformable cable reel. Providing the transformable cable reel in the second reel configuration may make it more feasible to store the transformable cable reel in fiber optic equipment, and/or avoid storing excess cable removed from a cable reel.

A cable storage device includes a first elongate bracket member attachable to a support structure and having a length extending between a first end and a second end. A second elongate bracket member is configured to be coupled to the first elongate bracket member proximate one of the first end or the second end such that the second elongate member extends in a different direction from the first elongate member when installed on the support structure. At least one set of a plurality of retaining mechanisms is configured to be coupled to the first and second elongate bracket members to receive and store a first cable. The at least one of the at least one set of the plurality of retaining mechanisms is adjustable along the first elongate bracket member or the second elongate bracket member. Methods of installing and making the cable storage device are also disclosed.

A container may be provided. The container may comprise a first surface and a second surface concentric with the first surface. The first surface and the second surface may define a volume. The volume may house a concentric length of multiple parallel conductors. The multiple parallel conductors may pass through a restricting mechanism to restrict the multiple parallel conductors to pass at the same rate and at the same length.

A method and reel design enables blowing cable from a reel into a mid-span access point within a cable conduit. The cable reel includes a central hub, a first flange located proximate one edge of the central hub, a second flange located proximate an opposite, second edge of the hub, and a third flange located between the first and second flanges. A continuous communications cable has first and second portions spooled on first and second reel sections. The technician inserts a first end of the communications cable into a mid-span opening in the conduit, so that the first end of the communications cable is directed toward the first end of the conduit. The first portion of cable is blown off of the first reel section. The technician inserts a second end of the communications cable into the opening in the conduit so that the second end of the communications cable is directed toward the second end of the conduit. The second portion of cable is blown off of the second reel section. Then, a mid-portion of the communications cable is separated from the third flange of the cable reel and resides proximate the opening in the conduit.