The present invention is an oscillating traverse coiler for flexible elongated materials apparatus, system, and method for use. The invention may include a reel having a first flange, a second flange, and a barrel between. The invention may include a take-up machine having a computer control that works in communication with a positioning system, which may include a frame, guide rails that traverse the frame with a motor, a computer controller, and a rotating materials guide for rotating pipe flexible elongated materials on the barrel of a reel.

A system that may be used for deploying optical cables, the system may include a track having an outer edge and a surface, the track having a track gear disposed proximate the outer edge and a plurality of track grooves disposed on the surface of the track. The system may also include a spool having a first outer edge and a second outer edge. The spool may include a first wheel disposed on the first outer edge, a second wheel disposed on the second outer edge, a spool gear disposed on the first wheel and interfacing with the track gear, plurality of spool grooves, and a plurality of guides interfacing with the track to align the track grooves with the spool grooves.

An optical fiber distribution terminal assembly comprises a housing having a rear housing portion and a front housing portion moveable between an open position and a closed position defining an interior. The housing further defines at least one port for passage of a optical fiber distribution cable. A rotatable reel is located in the interior of the housing, the reel carrying a length of optical fiber distribution cable. A distribution module, also located in the housing, is operative to distribute source fibers of the optical fiber distribution cable to individual subscriber cables.

An optical fiber pay-off system includes a draw spool around which an optical fiber is wound and defining a longitudinal axis; a pay-off arm movable parallel to the longitudinal axis and engaged with a pay-off portion of the optical fiber; a controller configured to receive first and second position signals and instructs the pay-off arm to selectively move in a first direction and in an opposite second direction; first and second proximity sensors mounted on the pay-off arm; a tilting support rotatably mounted on the pay-off arm. The system further includes an activation body fixed to the tilting support and extending between the first and second proximity sensors to be selectively detected by the sensors according to positions assumed by the tilting support. The system further includes first and second contacts fixed to the tilting support and defining an intermediate space in which the pay-off portion can move.

A spool apparatus includes a first flange with a first layer of conformable material defining an inner face of the first flange and a second flange with a second layer of conformable material defining an inner face of the second flange. Methods are also provided where a first end winding of a first layer of windings is pressed into the inner face of the first flange such that the first layer of conformable material of the first flange conforms the inner face of the first flange into a shape of a circumferential surface portion of the first end winding.

The invention relates to a winding device (100) for winding a fibre coil, comprising a coil carrier (110) for wrapping with fibre (210) in order to produce a coil body (220) made of wound fibres (210), a fibre supply (120) for supplying a fibre (210) for wrapping the coil carrier (110), and an adhesive device (130) for producing droplets of adhesive (140) for bonding the outermost layer of fibres (210) on the coil body (220) to fibres (210) freshly laid onto the coil body (220).

Embodiments of a method of collecting a tail section of a long product, such as an optical fiber cable, are provided. In the method, a lead wire from a tail spool is unwound, and the lead wire is fed through a flange of a main spool. The tail spool and the main spool have a common rotation axis. The lead wire is attached to the long product. The tail spool is rotated while holding the main spool stationary so as to wind the lead wire and the tail section onto the tail spool. The rotation of the tail spool is stopped, and the main spool and the tail spool are rotated together so as to wind the long product onto the main spool. Also provided are embodiments of a winding apparatus using the tail spool and a tail reel that includes the tail spool and a drive mechanism.

An automated system for coiling a large (e.g., >1000 km) length of cable in a cable tank. In an example embodiment, the system comprises a gantry positioned above the cable tank and a swarm of robots deployed on the floor of the tank. The gantry operates to controllably move a touchdown point of the cable, which is being fed into the tank by a cable engine. Each of the robots is equipped with a rake that can be used to push or pull downed sections of the cable on the floor of the tank. An electronic controller operates to control the speed of the cable engine and movements of the gantry and individual robots to coil the cable in the tank in spirally wound, vertically stacked layers. Different embodiments of the system may be used for cable coiling at the cable factory and on the deck of a cable-laying ship.

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.

A method may include (1) coating a segment of fiber optic cable with an adhesive substance, (2) forming a coil of the segment of fiber optic cable, (3) deforming the coil into a noncircular shape defining a slot external to the coil while obeying a minimum bend radius requirement for the segment of fiber optic cable, and (4) activating the adhesive substance to stabilize the noncircular shape of the coil. Various other methods and apparatuses, such as those for performing the deforming operation, are also disclosed.