A system for transporting fiber ends can comprise a fiber supply assembly that supplies fiber along a first axis. A plurality of eyeboards can be positioned along the first axis. Each eyeboard can define a plurality of openings therethrough. Each opening of the plurality of openings can be configured to receive therethrough a fiber from the fiber supply assembly. A track can extend along the first axis. The track can pass proximate to each eyeboard of the at least one eyeboard. A carriage can be movable along the track. The carriage can define at least one fiber attachment element. An actuator can be configured to move the carriage along the track.

The invention relates to a wire feeding apparatus (3) for feeding a wire (1, 2) to a wire processing station (9), comprising, along a wire transport path (7): —a first wire pre-treatment device (10), which preferably has at least one straightening unit for straightening a wire (1), —a wire conveyor (4) for conveying the wire (1, 2) along the wire transport path (7) in a working transport direction (8), comprising a wire input (5), and—a first wire transfer device (11), which is associated with the first wire pre-treatment device (10), for transferring the wire (1) to the wire conveyor (4) in the region of the wire input (5), characterised in that the first wire transfer device (11) is positioned, in its working position, in the region of the wire input (5) of the wire conveyor (4) and can be moved out of its working position, preferably by means of at least one drive (12, 31).

The invention relates to a wire feeding apparatus (3) for feeding a wire (1, 2) to a wire processing station (9), comprising, along a wire transport path (7): —a first wire pre-treatment device (10), which preferably has at least one straightening unit for straightening a wire (1), —a wire conveyor (4) for conveying the wire (1, 2) along the wire transport path (7) in a working transport direction (8), comprising a wire input (5), and—a first wire transfer device (11), which is associated with the first wire pre-treatment device (10), for transferring the wire (1) to the wire conveyor (4) in the region of the wire input (5), characterised in that the first wire transfer device (11) is positioned, in its working position, in the region of the wire input (5) of the wire conveyor (4) and can be moved out of its working position, preferably by means of at least one drive (12, 31).

The cable coiling device automatically coils heavy-duty electrical cable into a coiled bundle having a predetermined coil diameter. This device matches the over/under coiling method used to manually coil cables that eliminate unnecessary twists and knots in cables. The cable coiling device has a first roller and a second roller that is angularly offset from the first roller. The angular offset adds a twist to the cable as it passes between the rollers. The device maintains the first and second rollers at a predetermined distance away from each other so that the cable does not slip out of the opening between the rollers. When the coil exits the rollers, the resulting cable is coil bundled and has a specific predetermined coil bundle diameter. Guide wheels positioned at specific locations guide the cable through the device, which prevents cable looping before and after the cable passes through the rollers.

A creel threader for use with a creel system that holds a plurality of spools where each spool carries a filamentary material includes a guide supported by the creel, an endless loop carried by the guide, a drive assembly coupled to the endless loop and at least one gripper carried by the endless loop. The gripper receives the filamentary material from at least one of the spools, and the drive assembly moves the gripper and the received filamentary material from the spool to an output end of the creel system for further processing. Related methods of operation are also disclosed.

A creel threader for use with a creel system that holds a plurality of spools where each spool carries a filamentary material includes a guide supported by the creel, an endless loop carried by the guide, a drive assembly coupled to the endless loop and at least one gripper carried by the endless loop. The gripper receives the filamentary material from at least one of the spools, and the drive assembly moves the gripper and the received filamentary material from the spool to an output end of the creel system for further processing. Related methods of operation are also disclosed.

A flexible lance drive device has at least one drive motor in a first portion of a housing and a drive axle projecting across a second portion of the housing carrying a cylindrical spline drive roller. A plurality of cylindrical guide rollers on fixed axles span across the second portion of the housing aligned parallel to the spline drive roller. An endless belt wrapped around the at least one spline drive roller and guide rollers has a generally smooth outer surface and a transverse splined inner surface having splines shaped complementary to splines on the spline drive roller. A bias member supports a plurality of follower rollers each aligned vertically above one of the at least one spline drive roller and guide rollers operable to press each follower roller toward one of rollers to frictionally grip a flexible lance hose when sandwiched between the follower rollers and the endless belt.

A lead wire storage mechanism stores most of a lead wire such that the lead wire can be taken out from a tip end portion. A tension adjusting mechanism including a dancer roller and two lifting and lowering guide rollers is formed with a partial space that is to be a part of a hand travel space at a time of a preparation state. A lead wire guide mechanism including an opening and closing lead guide is formed with a partial space that is to be a part of the hand travel space at the time of the preparation state. A lead wire grasping and moving mechanism can execute a grasping operation for grasping a tip end portion of the lead wire with a grasping part, and a grasping part moving operation for moving the grasping part through the hand travel space.

A lead wire storage mechanism stores most of a lead wire such that the lead wire can be taken out from a tip end portion. A tension adjusting mechanism including a dancer roller and two lifting and lowering guide rollers is formed with a partial space that is to be a part of a hand travel space at a time of a preparation state. A lead wire guide mechanism including an opening and closing lead guide is formed with a partial space that is to be a part of the hand travel space at the time of the preparation state. A lead wire grasping and moving mechanism can execute a grasping operation for grasping a tip end portion of the lead wire with a grasping part, and a grasping part moving operation for moving the grasping part through the hand travel space.

A lead wire storage mechanism stores most of a lead wire such that the lead wire can be taken out from a tip end portion. A tension adjusting mechanism including a dancer roller and two lifting and lowering guide rollers is formed with a partial space that is to be a part of a hand travel space at a time of a preparation state. A lead wire guide mechanism including an opening and closing lead guide is formed with a partial space that is to be a part of the hand travel space at the time of the preparation state. A lead wire grasping and moving mechanism can execute a grasping operation for grasping a tip end portion of the lead wire with a grasping part, and a grasping part moving operation for moving the grasping part through the hand travel space.