E.i. Dupont De Nemours and Company

Invista North America S.a.r.l.

Invista Technologies S.a.r.l.

Jon P Graverson

Daniel J Heaney

Dennis Hicks

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

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Neenah, WI, United States of America

Jon P Graverson