Patent ID: 7992414

Claim:
A strand forming and chopping apparatus, comprising: a bushing for forming a continuous strand; a size applicator for applying a size to said strand; a chopping device for chopping said strand into individual segments; and a thread up apparatus for directing said strand into said chopping device, said thread up apparatus including: (a) a cot including a cot shoe; (b) a strand guide displaceable between a rest position wherein said strand guide is free from said strand and a thread up position wherein said strand guide holds said strand in a feed position from which said strand is engaged by said cot shoe and delivered to said chopping device; and (c) a thread feeding device including a thread up shoe carried on a linearly extensible arm, said thread feeding device being linearly displaceable between a home position and a threading position wherein said thread up shoe positions said strand in a thread position for engagement by said strand guide, wherein said home position is further from a rotary axis of said cot than said threading position, wherein said strand guide is in said rest position if said linearly extensible arm is in said home position, and wherein said strand guide is in said thread up position if said linearly extensible arm is in said threading position.