Method and apparatus for lubricating continuous fiber strand winding apparatus

A method for winding a plurality of mineral fiber strands to build a plurality of packages comprising:

• providing a plurality of strands;
• applying size to the strands;
• providing a collet;
• attaching the strands to the collet;
• rotating the collet to wind the strands and build a separate package of strand for each strand simultaneously;
• reciprocating each strand with a separate strand reciprocator to lay the strands in a pattern on a surface of the respective packages as the packages rotate during building;
• atomizing a lubricant to create a fog of airborne lubrication particles;
• transferring the lubricating fog through a conduit to at least one application location at the strand reciprocators;
• and
• lubricating the strand reciprocators by releasing the lubricating fog from the conduit at the application location.

A method for winding a mineral fiber strand to build a package comprising:

• providing a moving strand;
• applying a size to the strand;
• attaching the strand to a collet;
• rotating the collet to wind the strand and build a package of the strand;
• reciprocating the strand with a strand reciprocator to lay the strand in a pattern on a package surface as the package rotates during building, wherein the strand reciprocator includes a rotatable roller bail for pressing against the package surface, the roller bail being mounted for rotation in a roller bail bearing, and wherein the strand reciprocator includes a cam and a reciprocating strand guide to be reciprocated by rotation of the cam;
• generating a fog of airborne lubrication particles;
• transferring a portion of the fog of airborne lubrication particles via a roller bail conduit to the roller bail, and lubricating the roller bail bearing by releasing the fog of airborne lubrication particles onto the roller bail bearing;
• and
• transferring a portion of the fog of airborne lubrication particles via a cam conduit to the cam and reciprocating strand guide, and lubricating the cam and reciprocating strand guide by releasing the fog of airborne lubrication particles onto the cam and reciprocating strand guide.