High speed transfer takeup

A high speed material transfer apparatus comprising:

• an apparatus for transferring elongated material on the fly between spools during winding of said material including
• (a) a first spool drive apparatus for turning a spooi in a first rotational direction;
• (b) a second spool drive apparatus for turning a spool in a second rotational direction, and wherein said spool on said second drive is positioned substantially in a parallel relationship with a spool on said first drive;
• (c) a material positioning apparatus for positioning a length of material being drawn toward and wound onto a spool on one of said first and second drives, said positioning including placing said length adjacent to a base of said spool on the other one of said first and second drives;
• (d) a tape applicator apparatus for applying a length of tape to said material for adhering said material to said spool on said other one of said drives during winding of said material on said spool on said one of said first and second drives, wherein said tape applicator apparatus includes
• (i) a tape roller for pressuring said length of tape against said material and against a base of said spooi on said other of said drives;
• (ii) a tape dispenser for ejecting said length of tape towards said tape roller;
• and
• wherein said length of tape has a wire attached, and wherein said roller is further for pressuring said wire against said material for severing said material, thereby providing a material severance apparatus for severing said material at a position between said spool on said one of said drives and said spool on said other one of said drives and thereby allowing said material to be wound on said spool on said other one of said drives and allowing said spool to be removed from said one of said drive apparatus.

A method of high speed material transfer comprising:

• (a) first spool winding a material on a spool on one of first and second spindels, said one spindel rotating in a first rotational direction;
• (b) positioning a length of said material adjacent a base of a spool on the other one of said spindels, said spindel turning in a second rotational direction and positioned parallel to said one of said spindels;
• (c) applying a length of tape over said material adjacent said base of said spool on said other one of said spindels for adhering said material to said base of said spool on said other one of said spindels, said applying occurring while said spools are rotating, wherein said applying includes pressing said tape against said material and against said base with a roller;
• and
• (d) severing said material at a point between said spools, wherein said severing includes said roller compressing a wire against said material.