An automated filament spooler for winding and optionally packaging a filament includes an enclosure, a conveyor for conveying an empty spool into the enclosure and for conveying a wound spool from the enclosure, an indexing unit for positioning a feeding hole on the spool at a location for feeding a free end of the filament onto the spool, a filament feeding unit for feeding the free end of the filament through the feeding hole on the spool, a spooling unit for gripping the free end of the filament and rotating the spool to wind the filament onto the spool, and an optional packaging unit for applying a stretch wrap to the wound spool. A method for automatically winding a filament onto a spool includes positioning the feeding hole, feeding the free end of the filament onto the spool, gripping the free end of the filament and rotating the spool.

An automated filament spooler for winding and optionally packaging a filament includes an enclosure, a conveyor for conveying an empty spool into the enclosure and for conveying a wound spool from the enclosure, an indexing unit for positioning a feeding hole on the spool at a location for feeding a free end of the filament onto the spool, a filament feeding unit for feeding the free end of the filament through the feeding hole on the spool, a spooling unit for gripping the free end of the filament and rotating the spool to wind the filament onto the spool, and an optional packaging unit for applying a stretch wrap to the wound spool. A method for automatically winding a filament onto a spool includes positioning the feeding hole, feeding the free end of the filament onto the spool, gripping the free end of the filament and rotating the spool.

Embodiments of a method of collecting a tail section of a long product, such as an optical fiber cable, are provided. In the method, a lead wire from a tail spool is unwound, and the lead wire is fed through a flange of a main spool. The tail spool and the main spool have a common rotation axis. The lead wire is attached to the long product. The tail spool is rotated while holding the main spool stationary so as to wind the lead wire and the tail section onto the tail spool. The rotation of the tail spool is stopped, and the main spool and the tail spool are rotated together so as to wind the long product onto the main spool. Also provided are embodiments of a winding apparatus using the tail spool and a tail reel that includes the tail spool and a drive mechanism.

Embodiments of a method of collecting a tail section of a long product, such as an optical fiber cable, are provided. In the method, a lead wire from a tail spool is unwound, and the lead wire is fed through a flange of a main spool. The tail spool and the main spool have a common rotation axis. The lead wire is attached to the long product. The tail spool is rotated while holding the main spool stationary so as to wind the lead wire and the tail section onto the tail spool. The rotation of the tail spool is stopped, and the main spool and the tail spool are rotated together so as to wind the long product onto the main spool. Also provided are embodiments of a winding apparatus using the tail spool and a tail reel that includes the tail spool and a drive mechanism.

A spindle unit includes a swing mechanism fixed to a fixed frame, a support member swingably supported by the swing mechanism, a spindle main body and an electromagnetic brake supported by the support member. The spindle main body rotates integrally with a bobbin around which a yarn is wound. The electromagnetic brake applies a resistance to the rotating spindle main body. The swing mechanism includes a fixed attachment member fixed to the fixed frame, a swing shaft supported by the fixed attachment member, a spring, and a sensor. The spring applies a spring force to the support member in a direction opposite to a direction in which the support member swings by the tension of the yarn. The sensor detects the tilt amount of the support member when the support member swings.

Embodiments of a method of collecting a tail section of a long product, such as an optical fiber cable, are provided. In the method, a lead wire from a tail spool is unwound, and the lead wire is fed through a flange of a main spool. The tail spool and the main spool have a common rotation axis. The lead wire is attached to the long product. The tail spool is rotated while holding the main spool stationary so as to wind the lead wire and the tail section onto the tail spool. The rotation of the tail spool is stopped, and the main spool and the tail spool are rotated together so as to wind the long product onto the main spool. Also provided are embodiments of a winding apparatus using the tail spool and a tail reel that includes the tail spool and a drive mechanism.

Embodiments of a method of collecting a tail section of a long product, such as an optical fiber cable, are provided. In the method, a lead wire from a tail spool is unwound, and the lead wire is fed through a flange of a main spool. The tail spool and the main spool have a common rotation axis. The lead wire is attached to the long product. The tail spool is rotated while holding the main spool stationary so as to wind the lead wire and the tail section onto the tail spool. The rotation of the tail spool is stopped, and the main spool and the tail spool are rotated together so as to wind the long product onto the main spool. Also provided are embodiments of a winding apparatus using the tail spool and a tail reel that includes the tail spool and a drive mechanism.

Embodiments of a method of collecting a tail section of a long product, such as an optical fiber cable, are provided. In the method, a lead wire from a tail spool is unwound, and the lead wire is fed through a flange of a main spool. The tail spool and the main spool have a common rotation axis. The lead wire is attached to the long product. The tail spool is rotated while holding the main spool stationary so as to wind the lead wire and the tail section onto the tail spool. The rotation of the tail spool is stopped, and the main spool and the tail spool are rotated together so as to wind the long product onto the main spool. Also provided are embodiments of a winding apparatus using the tail spool and a tail reel that includes the tail spool and a drive mechanism.

An automated filament spooler for winding and optionally packaging a filament includes an enclosure, a conveyor for conveying an empty spool into the enclosure and for conveying a wound spool from the enclosure, an indexing unit for positioning a feeding hole on the spool at a location for feeding a free end of the filament onto the spool, a filament feeding unit for feeding the free end of the filament through the feeding hole on the spool, a spooling unit for gripping the free end of the filament and rotating the spool to wind the filament onto the spool, and an optional packaging unit for applying a stretch wrap to the wound spool. A method for automatically winding a filament onto a spool includes positioning the feeding hole, feeding the free end of the filament onto the spool, gripping the free end of the filament and rotating the spool.

An automated filament spooler for winding and optionally packaging a filament includes an enclosure, a conveyor for conveying an empty spool into the enclosure and for conveying a wound spool from the enclosure, an indexing unit for positioning a feeding hole on the spool at a location for feeding a free end of the filament onto the spool, a filament feeding unit for feeding the free end of the filament through the feeding hole on the spool, a spooling unit for gripping the free end of the filament and rotating the spool to wind the filament onto the spool, and an optional packaging unit for applying a stretch wrap to the wound spool. A method for automatically winding a filament onto a spool includes positioning the feeding hole, feeding the free end of the filament onto the spool, gripping the free end of the filament and rotating the spool.