Spool for telecommunications cable and method

A spool for a telecommunications cable, the spool comprising:

• a base including a spool mount and a first cable wrapping area, the first cable wrapping area being generally cylindrical and defining a first radius and a rotation axis;
• a cable wrap reverser including a first cable guide, the cable wrap reverser rotatably mounted about the rotation axis of the base, the first cable guide including a generally radial portion defining a second radius, and the generally radial portion positioned generally tangent to a portion of the first cable wrapping area;
• and
• a hub including a second cable wrapping area, the hub rotatably mounted about the rotation axis of the base, the second cable wrapping area being generally cylindrical and defining a third radius, a portion of the second cable wrapping area positioned generally tangent to the generally radial portion of the first cable guide, and the second cable wrapping area being rotatable with respect to the first cable wrapping area.

A method of wrapping a telecommunications cable about a spool, the method comprising:

• wrapping the telecommunications cable about a first cable wrapping area of a base of the spool in a first wrapping direction, wherein the base further includes a spool mount and wherein the first cable wrapping area is generally cylindrical and defines a first radius and a rotation axis;
• wrapping the telecommunications cable about a second cable wrapping area of a hub of the spool in a second wrapping direction, the second wrapping direction being substantially opposite the first wrapping direction, wherein the hub is rotatably mounted about the rotation axis, wherein the second cable wrapping area is rotatable with respect to the first cable wrapping area, and wherein the second cable wrapping area is generally cylindrical and defines a second radius;
• transitioning the telecommunications cable with a cable guide of a cable wrap reverser from the first wrapping direction on the first cable wrapping area to the second wrapping direction on the second cable wrapping area, wherein the first cable guide includes a generally radial portion that defines a third radius, wherein the generally radial portion is positioned generally tangent to a portion of the first cable wrapping area, wherein the cable wrap reverser is rotatably mounted about the rotation axis, and wherein a portion of the second cable wrapping area is positioned generally tangent to the generally radial portion of the first cable guide;
• and
• rotating the cable wrap reverser and thereby unwrapping a portion of the telecommunications cable from the second cable wrapping area, transitioning the unwrapped portion of the telecommunications cable with the cable guide of the cable wrap reverser, and wrapping the transitioned portion of the telecommunications cable about the first cable wrapping area of the base of the spool in the first wrapping direction.

A method of unwrapping a telecommunications cable about a spool, the method comprising:

• unwrapping the telecommunications cable from a first cable wrapping area of a base of the spool in a first unwrapping direction, wherein the base further includes a spool mount and wherein the first cable wrapping area is generally cylindrical and defines a first radius and a rotation axis;
• unwrapping the telecommunications cable from a second cable wrapping area of a hub of the spool in a second unwrapping direction, the second unwrapping direction being substantially opposite the first unwrapping direction, wherein the hub is rotatably mounted about the rotation axis, wherein the second cable wrapping area is rotatable with respect to the first cable wrapping area, and wherein the second cable wrapping area is generally cylindrical and defines a second radius;
• transitioning the telecommunications cable with a cable guide of a cable wrap reverser from a first wrap direction on the first cable wrapping area to a second wrap direction on the second cable wrapping area, the second wrap direction being substantially opposite the first wrap direction, wherein the first cable guide includes a generally radial portion that defines a third radius, wherein the generally radial portion is positioned generally tangent to a portion of the first cable wrapping area, wherein the cable wrap reverser is rotatably mounted about the rotation axis, and wherein a portion of the second cable wrapping area is positioned generally tangent to the generally radial portion of the first cable guide;
• and
• rotating the cable wrap reverser and thereby unwrapping a portion of the telecommunications cable from the first cable wrapping area, transitioning the unwrapped portion of the telecommunications cable with the cable guide of the cable wrap reverser, and wrapping the transitioned portion of the telecommunications cable about the second cable wrapping area of the hub of the spool in the second wrap direction.

A spool for a telecommunications cable, the spool comprising:

• a first cable wrapping member defining a rotation axis;
• a cable wrap reverser rotatably mounted about the rotation axis of the first cable wrapping member and including a first portion positioned generally tangent to a cable wrapping portion of the first cable wrapping member;
• and
• a second cable wrapping member rotatably mounted about the rotation axis of the first cable wrapping member, the second cable wrapping member including a cable wrapping portion positioned generally tangent to a second portion of the cable wrap reverser, and the second cable wrapping member rotatable with respect to the first cable wrapping member;
• wherein the first and second portions of the cable wrap reverser always rotate together when the cable wrap reverser is rotated about the rotation axis of the first cable wrapping member.