Method and means for producing disks of tightly packed on-end aligned fibers

The method of providing a mass of densely packed filaments in an elongate tube comprising

• placing a mass of said filaments in side-by-side relation in a pulling gripper sleeve,
• said sleeve being of a type which constricts in cross-sectional dimension upon being pulled to an elongated condition and which in untensioned condition has a length and cross-sectional dimension greater than said tube,
• providing a strength imparting backup casing for said tube,
• pulling one end of the sleeve with the filaments therein through a draw-down die directly in advance of said tube-containing casing,
• said die having as its exit dimension a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of said tube,
• pulling said sleeve and contained filaments from said draw-down die directly into said tube in extended relation for its full length,
• severing said sleeve from its pulling means, and
• cutting said tube cross-wise to provide smooth faced exposed ends of compactly held fibers formed of said filaments which fibers are held in unbonded relation by the wall of said tube.

Apparatus for fabricating a tube containing a compacted mass of side-by-side aligned filaments comprising an elongate tube for receipt of filaments therein,

• a strength imparting backup casing with open ends shaped to hold said tube in fixed position,
• an annular draw-down die at one end of said casing through which filaments are to be drawn into said tube,
• said die having a tapered annular opening therethrough with its smaller dimension substantially matched to the interior diameter of said tube,
• a mass of continuous filaments for insertion in side-by-side relation in said tube,
• a braided pulling sleeve for surrounding said filaments which is of type which constricts in dimension upon being pulled to an elongate condition,
• pulling means for exerting a pulling force on one end of said pulling sleeve with said filaments contained therein into said tube through said draw-down die,
• said pulling sleeve and contained filaments being pulled into a position in said tube where said filaments and sleeve portion therein extend through the entire length of said tube,
• means for severing said sleeve from said pulling means to permit removal of said tube and contained filaments from said casing to provide a tube of highly intensified unbonded filaments aligned in side-by-side relation therein.