A system configured to position a tip of a cable. The system includes: a cable delivery system; a cable tip positioning module situated at a workstation in proximity to the cable delivery system; a pair of wheels operable to push a cable into the cable tip positioning module when a cable is in a nip between the wheels; an apparatus configured to hold the wheels; a motor operatively coupled to drive rotation of the wheels; and a proximity sensor configured to issue a cable present signal indicating the proximity of a conductor in the cable. The cable tip positioning module comprises a computer system configured to activate the motor to drive rotation of the wheels in a cable pulling direction in response to issuance of the cable present signal.

The present invention provides void fill dispenser systems and methods that highly effectively enable the easy and usable creation of void fill with expanded slit sheet paper in a manner unattainable in the existing art. According to some illustrative embodiments, a void fill dispenser is provided that advantageously dispenses unique void fill in a manner not previously possible. In some embodiments, the void fill dispenser is made with a recyclable material, such as, e.g., a corrugated box made from paper. In some embodiments, the void fill dispenser is made with metal and/or other rigid and/or non-recyclable materials. In some embodiments, the void fill dispenser can comprise an automated metal dispensing system that dispenses expanded slit sheet paper particularly for void fill in an automated manner.

A cable reel that includes a one-piece frame body, a flange separate from the frame body, and a hub member therebetween. The one-piece frame body includes an outer frame portion and an inner flange portion. The flange has an inner side that faces the inner side of the one-piece frame body. The hub member is located between the one-piece frame body and the flange along a central longitudinal axis of the cable reel. The hub member has a first end that rotatably couples to the inner flange portion of the one-piece frame body and a second end that couples to the flange. The hub member is configured to support a coil of cable and is sized to be received inside of an inner diameter of the coil of cable. The flange and the hub member rotate together with respect to the one-piece frame body.

A cable reel apparatus that has a cable reel for holding a coil of cable and includes a central longitudinal axis. A first flange is configured to be rotatably coupled to a first frame and has opposite inner and outer sides. A second flange that is separate from the first flange is configured to be rotatably coupled to a second frame and has opposite inner and outer sides. One of the first and second flanges includes a hub portion that extends transversely from the inner side thereof. The first and second flanges are configured to be releasably coupled to one another for supporting a coil of cable on the hub portion between the first and second flanges along the central longitudinal axis of the cable reel and are configured to be decoupled from one another when replacing the coil of cable once dispensed from the cable reel apparatus.

A system for using a cable reel apparatus that includes providing components of a separable cable reel for assembly of a cable reel apparatus. The components include a first frame, a second frame, and the second frame is separate from the first frame. A first flange is configured to engage the first frame. The outer side of the first flange faces the first frame when the first flange is engaged therewith. A second flange is configured to engage the second frame. The outer side of the second flange faces the second frame when the second flange is engaged therewith. The system also includes providing a pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable that is separate from the separable cable reel. The first and second flanges are configured to releasably couple with one another to support the pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable therebetween.

A method of installing a coil of cable on a cable reel apparatus that includes the steps of placing the coil of cable on a first flange of a separable cable reel of the cable reel apparatus; releasably coupling the first flange with a separate second flange of the separable cable reel after placing the coil of cable on the first flange; and placing the separable cable reel in a bag of the cable reel apparatus. The first flange includes a hub portion configured to be received in an inner diameter of the coil of cable, and the hub portion supports the coil of cable between the first and second flanges when the first and second flanges are releasably coupled. The coil of cable is a pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable.

A method of installing cable on a cable reel apparatus that includes providing a pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable for installing on a separable cable reel. The cable reel includes a first flange that is configured to be rotatably coupled to a first frame, and the first flange has opposite inner and outer sides, and a second flange that is separate from the first flange and is configured to be rotatably coupled to a second frame, and the second flange has opposite inner and outer sides. One of the first and second flanges includes a hub portion that extends transversely from the inner side thereof. The method also includes instructing a user to releasably couple the first and second flanges to support the pre-wound, reel-lees coil of cable on the hub portion between the first and second flanges along the central longitudinal axis of the separable cable reel.

A cable reel apparatus that includes a bag, a first frame that is configured to be received inside the bag, a first flange that is configured to be removably engaged with the first frame, a second frame that is configured to be received inside the bag, a second flange that is configured to be removably engaged with said second frame, and a hub member that is configured to releasably couple the first flange with the second flange, and the hub member is configured to support a coil of cable.

A cable payout apparatus that comprises a bag with a payout opening for dispensing cable, and first and second frames inside the bag. A first flange is configured to be rotatably coupled to the first frame. A second flange is configured to be rotatably coupled to the second frame. An elongated wall extends from the first flange and releasably couples to the second flange for supporting a coil of cable between the first and second flanges. The first frame is positioned in the base of the bag and the second frame is positioned at the cover of the bag, such that when the cover of the bag is closed with respect to the base of the bag, the second frame releasably couples with the second flange and such that when the cover of the bag is opened, the second frame decouples from the second flange.

Trimmer lines having length indicators disposed along the external surface of its elongated body, packages containing the same, and methods of manufacturing such trimmer line are provided. The trimmer lines have length indicators disposed along the external surface at regular increments of at least about 6 inches to indicate a measured length of the trimmer line of at least 6 inches.