US 2025/0263267 A1 · SPOOL HAVING FLANGE WITH TIE-OFF FEATURE

Abstract

A spool, spooling system and associated method for winding media onto a spool includes a flange provided with a tie-off feature for retaining a finish end of the media on the spool. The spool includes a barrel and at least one flange extending outwardly from the barrel. The tie-off feature includes a receiving portion for receiving the finish end of the media and a retaining portion for retaining the finish end of the media within the tie-off feature. The tie-off feature may be in the form of a deflecting tab or a flexible membrane. The spooling system includes a feed arm for feeding the media to the spool and a drive unit for rotating the spool to wind the media onto the spool. The method includes winding the media onto the spool and retaining the finish end of the media within the tie-off feature provided on the flange.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A spool for winding a length of a media onto the spool and for retaining a finish end of the media on the spool, comprising:

a barrel;
and
a flange extending outwardly from the barrel, the flange provided with a tie-off feature at an outer periphery of the flange;
wherein the tie-off feature comprises a receiving portion for receiving the media and a retaining portion for retaining the media within the tie-off feature on the flange of the spool;
and
wherein the receiving portion narrows from the outer periphery towards the retaining portion to a transition region between the receiving portion and the retaining portion that is narrower than a diameter of the media.

3 more elements

A spooling system for winding a length of a media onto a spool and for retaining a finish end of the media on the spool, comprising:

a flange of the spool provided with a tie-off feature at an outer periphery of the flange, the tie-off feature comprising a receiving portion, a retaining portion, and a transition region between the receiving portion and the retaining portion, the receiving portion extending from the outer periphery towards the retaining portion and narrowing from the outer periphery to the transition region between the receiving portion and the retaining portion, the receiving portion defining a receiving area larger than a diameter of the finish end of the media adjacent the outer periphery and smaller than the diameter of the finish end of the media adjacent the transition region;
a feed arm for feeding the media to the spool and for directing the media to the tie-off feature at the outer periphery of the flange and for disposing and inserting the finish end of the media within the retaining portion of the tie-off feature.

A method for winding a length of media onto a spool and for retaining a finish end of the media on the spool, the method comprising:

providing a spool having a flange provided with a first tie-off feature at an outer periphery of the flange, the tie-off feature comprising a receiving portion that extends from the outer periphery towards a retaining portion and a transition region between the receiving portion and the retaining portion, the receiving portion narrowing from the outer periphery to the transition region;
winding the length of the media onto the spool;
directing the finish end of the media to the first tie-off feature at the outer periphery;
disposing and inserting the finish end of the media within the receiving portion of the first tie-off feature;
passing the finish end of the media through the transition region of the first tie-off feature from the receiving portion to the retaining portion;
and
retaining the finish end of the media within the retaining portion of the first tie-off feature.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Spool having flange with tie-off feature

Life of this patent

Spool having flange with tie-off feature

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20