The present disclosure discloses a process for knotting roving packages, comprising steps of: arranging a plurality of roving packages in a single layer or multiple layers; classifying all roving packages into at least one group of roving packages; selecting, from each group of roving packages, two roving packages as a starting roving package and an ending roving package; successively connecting all roving packages in each group of roving packages from the starting roving package to the ending roving package; and, connecting an inner fiber of a roving package other than the starting roving package and the ending roving package in each group of roving packages to an outer fiber of a previous roving package and connecting an outer fiber of this roving package to an inner fiber of a next roving package, or connecting an outer fiber of a roving package other than the starting roving package and the ending roving package in each group of roving packages to an inner fiber of a previous roving package and connecting an inner fiber of this roving package to an outer fiber of a next roving package. By the process of the present disclosure, the labor cost for manually knotting and moving roving packages per unit can be saved, and creels for holding roving packages per unit can also be reduced. This process is a technical improvement of the packaging technology.

A method of spreading fibres, the method comprises providing a continuous fibre bundle having an initial width W.sub.a and causing the fibre bundle to run, in a running direction, through tensioning means and past or through fluid flow means, the tensioning means intermittently varying the tension in the fibre bundle and the fluid flow means producing a fluid flow through the fibre bundle as the tension varies in the fibre bundle, whereby the width of the fibre bundle increases to a spread width W.sub.b. Apparatus (1) is also disclosed, which apparatus (1) comprises a tensioning means (3) to intermittently vary the tension in the fibre bundle (2) and a fluid flow means (4) for producing a flow of fluid through the bundle (2).

The glass-fiber-yarn joined body 1 is provided with glass fiber yarns 2, 3, and a connection 5 in which a resin yarn 4 is wound around ends of both of the glass fiber yarns 2, 3, the ends being superimposed with each other. The connection 5 has a width W.sub.1 of 20 to 40 mm. When a connection diameter R as a total of diameters of the respective glass fiber yarns 2, 3 and the thickness of the resin yarn 4 wound around the connection 5 is 500 to 5000 m and a mass of each of the glass fiber yarns 2, 3 is 200 to 6000 tex, a value of a ratio of mass of each of the glass fiber yarns 2, 3 relative to the connection diameter R is in the range of 0.32 to 2.00.

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.

A creel, such as may be used to supply fiberglass roving to a production process, includes an enclosure and a number of rotatable axles held within the enclosure. Each of the axles is of a shape and size to be inserted into a bobbin of roving. The creel also includes a drive mechanism coupled to each of the plurality of rotatable axles, the drive mechanism synchronizing the rotation of the axles. Bobbins of roving may be stacked on the axles and connected to provide continuous roving. As roving is drawn from the creel, the rate of rotation of the axles may be selected to counteract twisting of the roving that would otherwise result.

The glass-fiber-yarn joined body 1 is provided with glass fiber yarns 2, 3, and a connection 5 in which a resin yarn 4 is wound around ends of both of the glass fiber yarns 2, 3, the ends being superimposed with each other. The connection 5 has a width W.sub.1 of 20 to 40 mm. When a connection diameter R as a total of diameters of the respective glass fiber yarns 2, 3 and the thickness of the resin yarn 4 wound around the connection 5 is 500 to 5000 m and a mass of each of the glass fiber yarns 2, 3 is 200 to 6000 tex, a value of a ratio of mass of each of the glass fiber yarns 2, 3 relative to the connection diameter R is in the range of 0.32 to 2.00.

A method for producing yarns separated from reinforcing fiber strands including a process of intermittently separating fibers of the reinforcing fiber strands.

A creel, such as may be used to supply fiberglass roving to a production process, includes an enclosure and a number of rotatable axles held within the enclosure. Each of the axles is of a shape and size to be inserted into a bobbin of roving. The creel also includes a drive mechanism coupled to each of the plurality of rotatable axles, the drive mechanism synchronizing the rotation of the axles. Bobbins of roving may be stacked on the axles and connected to provide continuous roving. As roving is drawn from the creel, the rate of rotation of the axles may be selected to counteract twisting of the roving that would otherwise result.

A method of spreading fibres, the method comprises providing a continuous fibre bundle having an initial width W.sub.a and causing the fibre bundle to run, in a running direction, through tensioning means and past or through fluid flow means, the tensioning means intermittently varying the tension in the fibre bundle and the fluid flow means producing a fluid flow through the fibre bundle as the tension varies in the fibre bundle, whereby the width of the fibre bundle increases to a spread width W.sub.b. Apparatus (1) is also disclosed, which apparatus (1) comprises a tensioning means (3) to intermittently vary the tension in the fibre bundle (2) and a fluid flow means (4) for producing a flow of fluid through the bundle (2).

The present disclosure discloses a process for knotting roving packages, comprising steps of: arranging a plurality of roving packages in a single layer or multiple layers; classifying all roving packages into at least one group of roving packages; selecting, from each group of roving packages, two roving packages as a starting roving package and an ending roving package; successively connecting all roving packages in each group of roving packages from the starting roving package to the ending roving package; and, connecting an inner fiber of a roving package other than the starting roving package and the ending roving package in each group of roving packages to an outer fiber of a previous roving package and connecting an outer fiber of this roving package to an inner fiber of a next roving package, or connecting an outer fiber of a roving package other than the starting roving package and the ending roving package in each group of roving packages to an inner fiber of a previous roving package and connecting an inner fiber of this roving package to an outer fiber of a next roving package. By the process of the present disclosure, the labor cost for manually knotting and moving roving packages per unit can be saved, and creels for holding roving packages per unit can also be reduced. This process is a technical improvement of the packaging technology.