Louis Rodriguez

US Patent:

6554217, Apr 29, 2003

Filed:

Aug 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/944433

Inventors:

Louis Rodriguez - Savage MD

Assignee:

Stocker Yale, Inc. - Salem NH

International Classification:

B21C 4702

US Classification:

242362, 2425734, 2425737, 2425771

Abstract:

A fiber optic cable winding tool having a disk-shaped base with a central axis, and four quarter-circle spools. Each spool has a fiber optic cable contacting surface with a radius of curvature exceeding a minimum bend radius of the fiber optic cable. The tool further includes four radial guides connected to the disk-shaped base for slidably mounting the four spools on the disk-shaped base such that the spools are radially adjustable relative to the central axis of the disk-shaped base. A resilient ring inwardly biases the spools on the radial guides towards the central axis of the disk-shaped base. A moveable wedge-shaped disk engages the spools to permit the spools to be radially adjustable relative to the central axis of the disk-shaped base. The radial guides permit the spools to be radially collapsed towards the central axis of the disk-shaped base after winding the fiber optic cable to permit removal of the fiber optic cable from the spools.