E.i. Dupont De Nemours and Company

Invista North America S.a.r.l.

Invista Technologies S.a.r.l.

Dennis Hicks

Daniel J Heaney

Jon P Graverson

Kenneth Edward Martin

Jeff Shackleton

Paul De Moel

The present invention compact creel using the OETO method that accommodates an increased number of packages in a relatively small footprint while providing a straight in-line delivery path in which fiber bends and changes in direction are minimized. In addition, the present invention is a system, apparatus and method for tension control in a fiber feeding system that provides a fast and reliable method for feeding high tack elastomeric thread or fiber from a package to a manufacturing process. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for changing packages on a creel without interrupting the manufacturing process. In particular, the compact creel of the present invention provides for continuous operation of unwinding and fiber delivery by allowing a standby package to be loaded on the same mandrel as an active package that is presently being unwound.

Compact single mandrel creel for over end take-off thread delivery

An over-end takeoff device (OETO) and a method for unwinding elastomeric fiber from a package are provided. The OETO includes a fiber guide spaced apart from the fiber package and disposed at an acute angle between 0&deg; and 30&deg; to the rotational axis of the package.

Unwinder for as-spun elastomeric fiber

Growing community of inventors

Neenah, WI, United States of America

Dennis Hicks