Automatic winding unit

Abstract

An automatic strand winding unit having a plurality of stations each comprising a strand supply such as glass roving, guide/traverse means, a horizontally positioned spindle for taking up strand material and automation for servicing the winding unit is described. The winding unit, including the automation, is programmed whereby, inter alia, the automation moves into a station having a full spindle, cuts the strand between the strand supply and the horizontally positioned full spindle and, while retaining the strand end from the strand supply, doffs the full spindle by pivoting the spindle to a substantially vertical or down position, and thereafter engages the strand end with a horizontally positioned empty spindle and restarts the winding operation. In a preferred embodiment the automatic winding unit is for winding glass roving using an improved coreless, expandable spindle having an automatic strand engaging and releasing mechanism.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.