A method of separating carbon fiber tows. The method includes separating two or more first carbon fiber tows from a first tow band onto a second elevation to form two or more second carbon fiber tows from a second tow band. The two or more second carbon fiber tows from the second tow band leave gaps next to first adjacent tows of the two or more first carbon fiber tows remaining from the first tow band after the separating step. The first adjacent tows from the first tow band leave gaps next to second adjacent tows of the two or more second carbon fiber tows from the second tow band.

A fiber bundle joining apparatus includes: a support table configured to hold a terminal end portion side of a first fiber bundle; a roller mechanism having a roller around which a leading end portion side of a second fiber bundle is capable of being wound; a movement mechanism configured to perform a first movement for moving the roller mechanism to the vicinity of the terminal end portion side of the first fiber bundle, and a second movement for further moving the roller mechanism on the terminal end portion side of the first fiber bundle to create a state where the leading end portion side of the second fiber bundle is stacked on the terminal end portion side of the first fiber bundle; and a thermocompression bonding mechanism configured to pressure-bond the first fiber bundle and the second fiber bundle.

An apparatus feeds a plurality of threads to rotating godets of a melt spinning machine including a manual injector (e.g., a main manual injector) and a cutting device. In order to be able to selectively feed the threads individually or as a bunch, a transfer device and a second manual injector (e.g., an auxiliary manual injector) are associated with the manual injector.

A method of separating carbon fiber tows. The method includes separating two or more first carbon fiber tows from a first tow band onto a second elevation to form two or more second carbon fiber tows from a second tow band. The two or more second carbon fiber tows from the second tow band leave gaps next to first adjacent tows of the two or more first carbon fiber tows remaining from the first tow band after the separating step. The first adjacent tows from the first tow band leave gaps next to second adjacent tows of the two or more second carbon fiber tows from the second tow band.

There is provide a process for unwinding material from a spool (2) wherein the angle () of take off at the first contact point (4) for the unwind is always in the range 020, and wherein the first contact point (4) for the unwind is no more than 600 mm from the axis (3) of rotation of the spool (2). There is also provided an apparatus for the unwinding of material from a spool (2) comprising an axis (3) upon which a spool (2) may be rotatably mounted and a static first contact point (4) for the unwound material positioned no more than 600 mm from the centre of the axis (3), wherein the angle () of take off at the first contact point (4) for the unwind is always in the range 020.

An auxiliary distribution station is configured to be used in cooperation with a primary distribution station. The auxiliary distribution system includes a mobile vehicle, an auxiliary hose reel and auxiliary hose, a lift, a tank, a pump, an auxiliary meter, and a tank hose. The auxiliary hose is configured to be fluidly connected with a hose of the primary distribution station. The lift is configured to move and deploy the auxiliary hose reel from the mobile vehicle. The pump is operable to pump fluid from the tank, through the meter, and through the tank hose.

A yarn monitoring system for textile machine uses sensors to indicate yarn over tensioning and breakage. The sensors are contained within, or adjacent to, eyelets and monitor, sending signals to the controller, the speed of the yarn. The eyelets, each with a sensor, are within a body that also contains a circuit board which is in constant communication with the eyelets and software contained within a controller. The controller, in turn, is in constant communication with the textile machine. The software is preprogrammed by a user with an acceptable signal range for passage of the yarn past the sensors and a predetermined time period for the signal to remain outside the acceptable signal range. To prevent unnecessary shut down of the textile machine, the software averages the signal and, when the averaged signal remains out of the acceptable signal range for the preprogrammed time initiates communication to the textile machine.

A distribution station includes a mobile trailer, a pump on the mobile trailer, at least one manifold on the mobile trailer and fluidly connected with the pump, a plurality of reels on the mobile trailer, and at least one fluid storage tank extending under the reels. A plurality of hoses are connected with a different one of the reels. A plurality of valves on the mobile trailer are situated between the at least one manifold and a respective different one of the reels. A plurality of fluid level sensors are associated with a different one of the hoses, and a controller is configured to individually open and close the valves responsive to the fluid level sensors.

A system (10) for winding multiple elongated elements (12, 14) simultaneously under a substantially same tension on a single spool (16) comprises one pendulum arm (18) and one set of actuators (22) acting on the pendulum arm (18) and balancing with the sum of tensions of each elongated element (12, 14). The system (10) further comprises one or more balancing arms (26, 40): A first balancing arm (26) is attached to the pendulum arm (18), the other balancing arms (if any) are attached to the first balancing arm (26). Each balancing arm (26) is pivotable upon a balancing arm axis (28). A first set of one or more reversing pulleys (30) is positioned at one side of the first balancing arm axis (28) and a second set of one or more reversing pulleys (32) is positioned at the other side of said balancing arm axis (28). Each of the reversing pulleys (30, 32) guides an elongated element (12, 14) to be wound.

A method of forming fiber-reinforced composites. The method includes stabilizing two or more carbon fibers tows together (a) with a stabilizing resin and (b) in-line with a commercial carbon fiber production process to form a semi-finished tape; and impregnating the semi-finished tape with a matrix resin in a process offline of the carbon fiber production process to form a prepreg.