In a filament winding method, while a rotating tank relatively reciprocates in a tank axial direction to a helical winding head, fibers are fed from yarn-feeding sections to the tank. After the tank turns back in the tank axial direction, a large number of fibers are wound around one domed portion and a trunk portion of the tank, and trailing ends of the large number of fibers are located at one end portion of the trunk portion. Then a piece or a small number of fibers are fed from a rotating hoop winding head to the trunk portion, and hoop winding is performed on helical winding layers formed around the trunk portion. Then, at the one end portion of the trunk portion, the large number of fibers pulled from the yarn-feeding sections of the helical winding head are cut off.

Apparatus and methods for winding flexible material include a rotatable plate assembly rotatably driven by a first rotary shaft, the assembly supporting second and third rotary shafts with corresponding first and second mandrel parts mounted thereon. The first and second mandrel parts each form at least part of a winding spool. The second and third rotary shafts have rotational axes that are parallel to one another and parallel to, but laterally offset from, the rotational axis of the first rotary shaft. The rotation of the plate assembly is coordinated with counter rotation of the first and second mandrel parts. In embodiments, such coordinated rotation occurs during transition operations performed between winding operations that employ the first and second mandrel parts in an ordered sequence one after the other. The flexible material can be cable, wire, tubing, hose, rope, or other filamentary material. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Apparatus and methods for winding flexible material include a rotatable plate assembly rotatably driven by a first rotary shaft, the assembly supporting second and third rotary shafts with corresponding first and second mandrel parts mounted thereon. The first and second mandrel parts each form at least part of a winding spool. The second and third rotary shafts have rotational axes that are parallel to one another and parallel to, but laterally offset from, the rotational axis of the first rotary shaft. The rotation of the plate assembly is coordinated with counter rotation of the first and second mandrel parts. In embodiments, such coordinated rotation occurs during transition operations performed between winding operations that employ the first and second mandrel parts in an ordered sequence one after the other. The flexible material can be cable, wire, tubing, hose, rope, or other filamentary material. Other aspects are described and claimed.