| 摘要 |
This invention is an apparatus and method for reducing or preventing damage to a strand (4) wound at relatively high speed on a machine-rotated spool (3), caused by flailing of a loose end of the strand (7). The apparatus includes capture brushes (8) arranged at intervals in proximity to the machine. The capture brushes (8) are aligned to be approximately perpendicular to the loose end (7) of the strand when the loose end of the strand rotates with the spool (3) into contact with the brushes (8). At respective ends, the brushes (8) have respective tips (9) with a taper that tends to guide or deflect the loose end (7) of the strand to a slot defined by two adjacent brushes. The brushes have bristles (14) extending from a bristle-mounting member, which capture the loose end (7) of the strand. The bristles (14) can be treated with a friction enhancing substance to improve the ability of the brushes (8) to capture and entrap the loose end of the strand. Preferably, the bristles (14) are angled with respect to the bristle-mounting member in a direction away from a respective tapered tip (9). As so angled, the bristles allow the loose end of the strand to pass relatively easily between adjacent brushes in one direction, but capture and entrap the loose end of the strand and prevent it from recoiling in the opposite direction out of contact with the bristles. A loose end of the strand (7) is thus captured before it can damage the strand wound on the spool. After capture, as the spool (3) rotates, the loose end of the strand (7) is drawn through the bristles (14) of the adjacent brushes (8) in a direction approximately perpendicular to the bristle-mounting members. Thus, flailing or whipping of the loose end of the strand against the strand wound on the spool is prevented. <IMAGE>
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