Western Electric Company, Inc.

Michael J Hyle

Daryl L Myers

James G Wright, Jr

Philip W Dalrymple

In taking up drawn lightguide fiber (31), the fiber is distributed on the hub of one of two coaxially mounted takeup spools 42-42 which are driven independently of each other at ends of indexable turrets (94-94) that also have spools mounted on their opposite ends. Following takeup on one of the spools, a distributor 201 effects a cutover to a collector groove of the adjacent spool until several convolutions of the fiber are secured within the collector groove to provide access to a leading end of the fiber on this spool for testing purposes. Then the distributor begins its traverse across the hub of the empty spool and the lightguide fiber which extends across the adjacent collector spools is severed to form an end portion on the spool now being filled, said end portion advantageously being accessible for testing. The full spool is caused to be moved out of its takeup position and another empty spool is moved into that position to be filled after takeup has been completed on the spool in the other takeup position.

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Doraville, GA, United States of America

Michael J Hyle