Fiber entry whip reduction apparatus and method therefor

Abstract

An apparatus and method for reducing or preventing fiber entry whip as the loose end of a fiber being wound on a spool enters a fiber winding device. A fiber winding device includes a spool winder entrance, a winding spool and a fiber whip shield substantially surrounding the winding spool. A fiber entry whip reducer positioned in front of the fiber winding device includes at least one pulley and a guide channel including a straight entry section and a curved section leading to the fiber winding device. The guide channel is formed and positioned such that the loose end of the fiber is maintained against the guide channel by centrifugal force imparted onto the fiber by the curvature of the channel and forward motion of the fiber produced by the rotating spool, thereby producing a trajectory such that the loose end of the fiber enters the fiber winding device and is maintained against the whip shield. By maintaining the free end of the fiber against the guide channel during fiber entry, whip damage to the fiber on the spool due to impact of the fiber end during its entry is substantially reduced or completely eliminated.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.