Cable winding and packaging.

摘要

The cable winding apparatus includes a conveyor system (12) which moves empty cable formers (10) into position beneath a winding station (14) mounted on a support framework (22) above the conveyor (12). During winding of cable onto the former (10), a plate (36) is held against the top of the former (10) to prevent cable slipping over the top thereof. The cable is wound by means of a rotary/traverse cable guide (20) which has a rotating guide arm (24). As the guide arm (24) is raised and lowered to ensure an even winding, the plate (36) is kept in contact with the former (10) by a plate clamping mechanism (38,39, 45). The former (10) is a lightweight body comprising a pallet (40) and an integral frusto-conical body (42) onto which the cable is wound. A recess is provided in the base of the pallet (40) and frusto-conical body (42) to allow a number of such formers (10) to be nested when empty.