APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A CABLE BOLT

摘要

An apparatus for manufacturing a cable bolt includes a rotatably driven pay-out reel (20) for paying out a cable (1) coiled in use about the pay-out reel (20). An upstream accumulator (40) is located downstream of the pay-out reel (20) for accu-mulating cable (1) advanced from the pay-out reel (20). A bulb forming device (80) is located downstream of the upstream accu-mulator (40), for forming a bulb (2) in cable (1) advanced from the upstream accumulator (40). A cable drive (60) is located downstream of the upstream accumulator (40), for advancing cable (1) through the bulb forming device (80). The pay-out reel (20) is configured to rotate at least substantially continuously whilst the cable drive (60) is configured to advance the cable (1) af-ter formation of each bulb (2) to a position for formation of a subsequent bulb (2) in the cable. The cable drive (60) stops a central portion (1b) of the cable downstream of the upstream accumulator (40) for formation of the subsequent bulb (2), the upstream ac-cumulator accumulating or decumulating an upstream portion (Ia) of the cable (1) as required throughout operation of the appara-tus to allow at least substantially continuous rotation of the pay-out reel (20) whilst the central portion (1b) of the cable (1) is sta-tionary.