Patent ID: 7044417

Claim:
A high speed material transfer apparatus comprising: an apparatus for transferring elongated material on the fly between spools during winding of said material including (a) a first spool drive apparatus for turning a spool in a first rotational direction; (b) a second spool drive apparatus for turning a spool in a second rotational direction, and wherein said spool on said second drive is positioned substantially in a parallel relationship with a spool on said first drive; (c) a material positioning apparatus for positioning a length of material being drawn toward and wound onto a spool on one of said first and second drives, said positioning including placing said length adjacent to a base of said spool on the other one of said first and second drives; (d) a tape applicator apparatus for applying a length of tape to said material for adhering said material to said spool on said other one of said drives during winding of said material on said spool on said one of said first and second drives; and (e) a material severance apparatus for severing said material at a position between said spool on said one of said drives and said spool on said other one of said drives and thereby allowing said material to be wound on said spool on said other one of said drives and allowing said spool to be removed from said one of said drive apparatus, wherein said material severance apparatus includes apparatus for pressing a length of wire attached to said length of tape against said material.