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).

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.

Disclosed is a drive wheel set, comprising a common shaft and at least two external rotor motors installed on the common shaft. External rotors of the external rotor motors form drive wheels of the drive wheel set. Also disclosed are a vertical-type wire storage frame, a swing-type wire storage frame, a guide wheel frame, a traction mechanism and a multi-path conveying mechanism using the drive wheel set. The drive wheel set is small in size, occupies less space, and is suitable for a situation where a plurality of motors need to be driven but sufficient space is lacking.

Disclosed is a drive wheel set, comprising a common shaft and at least two external rotor motors installed on the common shaft. External rotors of the external rotor motors form drive wheels of the drive wheel set. Also disclosed are a vertical-type wire storage frame, a swing-type wire storage frame, a guide wheel frame, a traction mechanism and a multi-path conveying mechanism using the drive wheel set. The drive wheel set is small in size, occupies less space, and is suitable for a situation where a plurality of motors need to be driven but sufficient space is lacking.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a rope dispensing device for delivering elongated material such as rope, wire, or hosing and generally has a mounting frame operatively coupled to a material feeding device comprising a wheel and pinch device, an adjustable shroud, and a stabilizing device. The elongated material is received into the material feeding device from a first location and driven through the rope dispensing device by the wheel to be output at a second location. The adjustable shroud may be positioned about the periphery of the wheel so as to direct the output elongated material from the rope dispensing device. The invention is at least partially supported by the stabilizing device operatively coupled to a body of a user. Additionally, the stabilizing device is extendable, collapsible, and detachable allowing the invention to take on a more compact form for easier storage and/or transportation.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a rope dispensing device for delivering elongated material such as rope, wire, or hosing and generally has a mounting frame operatively coupled to a material feeding device comprising a wheel and pinch device, an adjustable shroud, and a stabilizing device. The elongated material is received into the material feeding device from a first location and driven through the rope dispensing device by the wheel to be output at a second location. The adjustable shroud may be positioned about the periphery of the wheel so as to direct the output elongated material from the rope dispensing device. The invention is at least partially supported by the stabilizing device operatively coupled to a body of a user. Additionally, the stabilizing device is extendable, collapsible, and detachable allowing the invention to take on a more compact form for easier storage and/or transportation.

The present invention provides an elastic hair tie material and an elastic hair tie dispenser for dispensing varying lengths of elastic hair tie material. More particularly, the present Elastic Hair Tie Dispenser device has been configured with a flexible cover, a pivoting cutting blade actuator and cutting blade to conveniently dispense elastic hair tie material of varying color, cut to any desired length by the user of the dispenser, to be worn by women or men to restrain their hair in many varying different stylish configurations and for varying purposes, and wherein the dispenser is refillable by either winding hair tie material onto a spool rotatably housed within the dispenser or inserting a new coil of hair tie material sold separately.

The present invention provides an elastic hair tie material and an elastic hair tie dispenser for dispensing varying lengths of elastic hair tie material. More particularly, the present Elastic Hair Tie Dispenser device has been configured with a flexible cover, a pivoting cutting blade actuator and cutting blade to conveniently dispense elastic hair tie material of varying color, cut to any desired length by the user of the dispenser, to be worn by women or men to restrain their hair in many varying different stylish configurations and for varying purposes, and wherein the dispenser is refillable by either winding hair tie material onto a spool rotatably housed within the dispenser or inserting a new coil of hair tie material sold separately.

An automated wire feeder assembly to first repetitively receive a wire from a gripper of an automated processing tool and then load the wire into a hollow conduit coupled to the gripper of the automated tool. The wire feeder assembly includes belts that pivot between open and closed positions and each belt rotate to advance a wire into the conduit attached to the gripper of the automated tool. When the belts are in the open position the gripper of the automated tool places a free end of the wire into a wire guide. Pivoting the belts to the closed position engages the belts with the free end of the wire. Once the belt is engaged with the free end of the wire, rotating the belts advances the wire out of the wire feeder and into the gripper conduit.