Forming cable core units

摘要

Cable core unit forming apparatus having a plurality of wire guide means, each for stranding wires together. The guide means are laterally spaced and each extends along a longitudinal axis to be non-rotatable about the axis at its upstream end. It is rotationally flexible to be torsionally twisted by rotatable twisting means at its downstream end. Each guide means are disposed at one of two or more twisting stations. Feedpaths for wires from other twisting stations converge to a stranding station for the core unit. Wire separation tubes prevent the wires from stranding into pairs until immediately before the stranding station. Each separation tube is rotated about its axis which is maintained curved to follow one of the converging paths and the tube is flexible to enable its curved axis position to be maintained during rotation.