Apparatus and methods for winding a plurality of strands

An apparatus for winding a plurality of strands into a multilayered package, comprising:

• (a) a strand supply device for supplying a plurality of strands to a winding device;
• (b) an alignment device spaced apart from the strand supply device for aligning each of the plurality of strands such that each of the strands is generally adjacent and coplanar to each other;
• (c) a strand oscillating device spaced apart from the alignment device, the strand oscillating device comprising a supporting member and a strand guide, the supporting member being rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to a central axis of rotation of a rotatable packaging collector, the strand guide being rotatably mounted upon the supporting member and having an axis of rotation generally parallel to the rotational axis of the supporting member, the strand guide having a first arm and a second arm spaced apart to receive and maintain the plurality of strands in generally adjacent and coplanar alignment therebetween, the first arm and the second arm being positioned at an angle to the rotational axis of the supporting member;
• (d) a winding device spaced apart from the strand oscillating device, the winding device comprising a rotatable packaging collector having a generally arcuate surface adapted to receive the plurality of strands from the strand oscillating device to form a multilayered package;
• and
• (e) a reciprocating device for reciprocating the strand guide relative to the rotatable packaging collector in a first direction generally parallel to a central axis of rotation of the rotatable packaging collector and a second direction opposite to the first direction, the reciprocating device being selected from the group consisting of at least one of the strand oscillating device and the rotatable packaging collector, such that, within each layer of strands wound upon the surface of the rotatable packaging collector, each of the plurality of strands is adjacent to each other and essentially free of overlap and the strand guide oscillates about the pivot axis generally continuously during winding.

A method for winding a plurality of strands into a multilayered package, comprising:

• (a) supplying a plurality of strands to a winding device;
• (b) aligning each of the plurality of strands such that each of the strands is generally adjacent and coplanar to each other;
• (c) generally continuously oscillating the plurality of strands with a strand oscillating device during winding about a pivot axis which is generally perpendicular to a central axis of rotation of a rotatable packaging collector while maintaining the plurality of strands in generally adjacent and coplanar alignment;
• (d) reciprocating a reciprocating device in a first direction generally parallel to a central axis of rotation of a rotatable packaging collector and a second direction opposite the first direction, the reciprocating device being selected from at least one of the strand oscillating device and the rotatable packaging collector;
• and
• (e) winding the plurality of strands about a generally arcuate surface of a rotatable packaging collector to form a multilayered package, such that within each layer of strands wound upon the surface of the rotatable packaging collector, each of the plurality of strands is adjacent to each other and essentially free of overlap.

A method for winding a plurality of strands into a multilayered package, comprising:

• (a) supplying a plurality of strands to a winding device;
• (b) aligning each of the plurality of strands such that each of the strands is generally adjacent and coplanar to each other;
• (c) generally continuously oscillating the plurality of strands during winding by rotating a supporting member of a strand oscillating device about an axis generally perpendicular to a central axis of a rotatable packaging collector, the strand oscillating device including a rotatable strand guide including a first arm and a second arm spaced apart to maintain the plurality of strands in generally adjacent and coplanar alignment, the strand guide being rotatable about an axis generally parallel to the rotational axis of the supporting member, each arm being positioned at an angle to the rotational axis of the supporting member;
• (d) reciprocating a reciprocating device in a first direction generally parallel to a central axis of rotation of a rotatable packaging collector and a second direction opposite the first direction, the reciprocating device being selected from at least one of the strand oscillating device and the rotatable packaging collector;
• and
• (e) winding the plurality of strands about a generally arcuate surface of a rotatable packaging collector to form a multilayered package, such that within each layer of strands wound upon the surface of the rotatable packaging collector, each of the plurality of strands is adjacent to each other and essentially free of overlap.