A method for feeding elastic threads in a process for the production of layered composite articles includes: feeding at least one elastic thread along a path extending from a reel of an elastic thread up to a joining zone with at least one web material. Feeding the elastic thread along the above path includes: giving the elastic thread a first percentage elongation along a first section of the path extending between the reel and a control zone; giving the elastic thread a second percentage elongation along a second section of the path extending between the control zone and the joining zone. The second percentage elongation is greater than the first percentage elongation and a length of the first section is greater than a length of the second section.

A method for feeding elastic threads in a process for the production of layered composite articles includes: feeding at least one elastic thread along a path extending from a reel of an elastic thread up to a joining zone with at least one web material. Feeding the elastic thread along the above path includes: giving the elastic thread a first percentage elongation along a first section of the path extending between the reel and a control zone; giving the elastic thread a second percentage elongation along a second section of the path extending between the control zone and the joining zone. The second percentage elongation is greater than the first percentage elongation and a length of the first section is greater than a length of the second section.

A tube holder supports a spool of flexible line wrapped onto the outer surface of a tube. The tube holder comprises a body portion configured to support the tube thereon, such that the interior surface of the tube rests of the top surface of the body portion; and an end protector detachably secured to the distal end of the body portion via a quick-release, contact fastener. The end protector is configured to be detachably secured to the body portion, while remaining spaced away from the tube such that the tube does not interfere with connecting the end protector with the body portion.

A tube holder supports a spool of flexible line wrapped onto the outer surface of a tube. The tube holder comprises a body portion configured to support the tube thereon, such that the interior surface of the tube rests of the top surface of the body portion; and an end protector detachably secured to the distal end of the body portion via a quick-release, contact fastener. The end protector is configured to be detachably secured to the body portion, while remaining spaced away from the tube such that the tube does not interfere with connecting the end protector with the body portion.

Provided is a useful improvement in a manufacturing method of a CF-SMC using a partially split continuous carbon fiber bundle. The manufacturing method of an SMC of the present invention includes (i) a step of drawing out a continuous carbon fiber bundle (10) from a package, the continuous carbon fiber bundle (10) having a filament number of NK and partially split into n sub-bundles in advance, (ii) a step of chopping the continuous carbon fiber bundle (10) drawn out from the package with a rotary cutter (234) into chopped carbon fiber bundles (20), and (iii) a step of depositing the chopped carbon fiber bundles (20) on a carrier film (41) traveling below the rotary cutter (234) to form a carbon fiber mat (30). In the manufacturing method, due to a fragmentation processing, in which at least some of the chopped carbon fiber bundles before being deposited on the carrier film (41) are fragmented by being brought into contact with a rotating body, a distribution of the filament number of the chopped carbon fiber bundles in the carbon fiber mat (30) is made different from that when the fragmentation processing is not performed.

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.

A ribbon self-orienting device that is to be interposed between the source and the target of a traveling ribbon, either during winding of a ribbon into a traversed roll or during pay-off of a ribbon from a traversed roll. A pivoting frame is pivotally coupled to a frame support, at a pivot axis. First and second direction changing means coupled to the pivoting frame serve to change the direction of the traveling ribbon. A force transfer means transfers a transversely directed force, imparted by the traveling ribbon due to the ribbon traversing its traversed roll while under tension, to the pivoting frame causing the pivoting frame to move about the pivot axis. Other embodiments are also described.

A power cable arrangement, in particular marine power cable, for offshore wind farms, including at least one cable drum device with a cable drum. The power cable arrangement includes at least one power cable wound on the cable drum with at least one cable end configured to pre-installing at a cable connection of a wind energy device. The power cable is wound on the cable drum such that a first section of the power cable is wound inversely to a further section of the power cable.

A power cable arrangement, in particular marine power cable, for offshore wind farms, including at least one cable drum device with a cable drum. The power cable arrangement includes at least one power cable wound on the cable drum with at least one cable end configured to pre-installing at a cable connection of a wind energy device. The power cable is wound on the cable drum such that a first section of the power cable is wound inversely to a further section of the power cable.

This bobbin unwinding device (32A (32B)) is provided with a bobbin support shaft (33) which rotatably supports a bobbin (B) around which a band-like fiber bundle (F) is wound, a fixed guide (35) which changes the running direction of the fiber bundle (F) unwound from the bobbin (B), and an auxiliary roller (34) arranged between the bobbin (B) and the fixed guide (35), wherein the fixed guide (35) is arranged such that the shaft center of the fixed guide (35) is substantially perpendicular to the shaft center of the bobbin support shaft (33), and the auxiliary roller (34) is arranged such that the shaft center of the auxiliary roller (34) is parallel or substantially parallel to the shaft center of the bobbin support shaft (33).