Method and apparatus for packaging linear material

Apparatus for producing and packaging a glass strand comprising:

• a. means supplying molten glass streams;
• b. means for attenuating the glass streams into glass filaments;
• c. means for gathering the glass filaments into a strand;
• d. a driven rotatable collet having a package collection region and a temporary collection region for the strand, the collet including a circumferential groove having a substantially frusto-conical guide surface and an elongated fixed member located in the temporary collection region, the guide surface being adapted to automatically guide the strand being linearly advanced through the temporary collection region to the fixed member for engagement therewith;
• e. rotatable interim means for advancing the glass strand during times the strand is not collected on the collet, the interim means being located in spaced relation with the collet adapted to advance the strand along a path into contact with the guide surface in the temporary collection region so that the strand is automatically guided by the surface to the fixed member for engagement therewith during rotation of the collet to begin collection of the strand in the circumferential groove;
• and
• f. strand engaging means movable to a position whereby the strand is moved from collection in the temporary collection region to the package collection region of the collet for package formation.

Apparatus for winding a glass strand from a supply into a package comprising:

• a. a driven rotatable collet having a package collection region and a temporary collection region for the strand, the collet including a circumferential groove having a frusto-conical guide surface and an elongated fixed member located in the temporary collection region, the guide surface being adapted to automatically guide the strand being linearly advanced through the temporary collection region to the fixed member for engagement therewith;
• b. a first rotatable interim means for advancing the strand as waste to a waste collection area when the strand is not being collected on the collet;
• c. a second rotatable interim means for advancing the glass strand after disengagement of the strand from the first interim means, the second interim means being located in spaced relation with the collet in a position effective to advance the strand into contact with the guide surface in the temporary collection region so that the strand is automatically guided by the surface to the fixed member for engagement therewith during rotation of the collet to begin collection of the strand in the circumferential groove;
• and
• d. strand engaging means movable to a position whereby the strand is moved from collection in the temporary collection region to the package collection region of the collet for the package formation.