Patent ID: 7731119

Claim:
A method for positioning and loading at least one new standby package on a mandrel of a creel while an active package is being unwound, wherein said mandrel is supported on a creel frame by a package support assembly including a mandrel support bar pivotally mounted on said frame comprising: sliding a new standby package over an end of the mandrel adjacent to a side of said mandrel support bar, at least one of an active package and a standby package being adjacent to an opposite side of said mandrel support bar; tying a leading fiber end of the new standby package to a trailing fiber end of the at least one of an active package and standby package; pivotally and detachably mounting a package change fixture on said creel frame adjacent to said end of said mandrel and inserting a mandrel core holder and an end pivot stud of said package change fixture into the mandrel and creel frame, respectively; releasing the package support assembly and pivoting the package support assembly away from the mandrel; pivoting the package change fixture, the mandrel, the mandrel support bar, and packages upward at least 10° until the end of the mandrel support bar disengages a mandrel support bolt; removing the mandrel support bar from the creel frame and from slots in the mandrel; pivoting the package change fixture, mandrel, and packages until the package change fixture contacts and is aligned with the creel frame; sliding the standby package onto the mandrel at least until the new standby package contacts the at least one of the active package and a standby package and further sliding the new standby package to eject an exhausted core of an old active package from the end of the mandrel; reinserting the mandrel support bar through the slots in the mandrel and into the support bar slots of the creel frame; pivoting the package change fixture, mandrel and packages upward at least 10°; pushing the mandrel support bar into the creel frame until the mandrel support bar is aligned with the mandrel support bar bolt; pivoting the package change fixture, mandrel and packages back down to a normal operating position; and removing the package change fixture by pulling outward until the pivot stud and the mandrel core holder are disengaged from the creel frame and mandrel, respectively.