GB2241255A

GB2241255A - Electric cable manufacturer

Info

Publication number: GB2241255A
Application number: GB9020557A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruce Henry Keen; Raymond Slater
Original assignee: BICC PLC
Current assignee: Balfour Beatty PLC
Priority date: 1989-09-21
Filing date: 1990-09-20
Publication date: 1991-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2010-09-20
Also published as: GB2241255B; GB8921405D0; GB9020557D0

Abstract

In the continuous manufacture of cable C in which predetermined lengths of cable are detachably connected end to end and sheathed with plastics material, the position at which the sheathed cable is to be cut is detected at 35 and a delay signal sent to cable cutting means 23 positioned adjacent rotated block 21 of a down coiler. The trailing end of the cut cable drops into a pak under the coiler, and the upstream cut cable, held by temporarily stalled pinch rollers 32 is temporarily stored by bowing outwards on a tray. A tensile force is imparted to the temporarily stored cut cable length by re-starting rollers 32, when the leading end is guided by rollers 30 around the block 21. The leading end is temporarily caught on retractable fingers 27 beneath the block 21 whilst the full pak is replaced by an empty pak. The necessity of temporarily stopping passage of the cable C through an extruder is eliminated. Cable is pressed onto block 21 by rollers 28 and flaked from the block by rollers 29. The cutting position may be first detected upstream of detector 35, the first detector causing the cable to be slowed. The delay signal depends on cable speed and spacing of the detector and cutter. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRIC CABLE MANUFACTURE In the manufacture of electric cable in which a cable core advancing in the direction of its length is caused to pass through one or more than one processing station in a cable manufacturing line and, at the downstream end of the line, is fed on to or into storage means such as a drum or reel on which it is wound or a pak or other container in which it is coiled in a multiplicity of superimposed turns, it is generally desirable that the manufacturing process is substantially continuous and that, when the cable-storage means is full or has a desired length of cable wound thereon or coiled therein, the advancing cable can be cut and the leading end of the cut length of cable transferred to empty storage means without stopping passage of the cable core through the cable manufacturing line.This is especially desirable in the case where,.at at least one processing station in the cable manufacturing line, a layer of plastics or other material is continuously extruded around the advancing cable core.

One form of storage means in general use in the cable industry is a pak comprising a base and, upstanding from the base, a plurality of circumferentially spaced pillars bounding a space downwardly into which an advancing cable can be coiled in a multiplicity of superimposed turns by means of equipment generally known and hereinafter referred to as a down coiler. A down coiler includes a circular block which is mounted with its axis vertical and which can be rotatably driven about its axis to impart a tensile force to a cable core and so draw the cable core through the processing station or stations of a cable manufacturing line.Cable manufactured in and advancing from the cable manufacturing line passes several times around the block and, as the rotatably driven block continues to impart a tensile force to the cable core and so draw it through the cable manufacturing line, coils of cable from the block drop successively into a pak positioned beneath the down coiler in a multiplicity of superimposed turns.

It is an object of the present invention to provide, for use in with a method of cable manufacture in which a cable core is drawn through a processing station or stations of a manufacturing line by a down coiler and in which coils of cable on the block of the down coiler drop successively into a pak or other container positioned beneath the drum coiler in a multiplicity of superimposed turns, an improved method of and improved apparatus for cutting the continuously advancing cable at a predetermined position along its length and transferring the leading end of the continuously advancing cut length of cable into another pak or other container without stopping passage of the cable core through the cable manufacturing line.

According to the invention, the improved method comprises detecting at a detecting station a position on the advancing cable core or cable when manufactured at which the cable is to be cut and, as said cutting position is detected at said detection station, sending a delay signal to cable cutting means fixed in space and positioned adjacent the block of the down coiler, the length of delay of said signal being determined by the length of cable core or cable extending between the cable cutting means and the detection station and by the speed of the advancing cable core or cable; automatically cutting the advancing cable at said cutting position and, as the cutting operation is effected, allowing the trailing end of the cut length of cable to drop into a pak or other container positioned beneath the drum coiler and temporarily storing immediately upstream of the cable cutting means the cut length of advancing cable; imparting a tensile force to the leading end of said temporarily stored cut length of advancing cable to take up said temporarily stored cut length; guiding said leading end of the cut length of advancing cable around the block of the down coiler; automatically temporarily introducing beneath the block of the down coiler means for catching turns of the leading end of the cut length of advancing cable as they drop from the block whilst said pak or other container is removed and replaced by an empty pak or other container; and automatically withdrawing said temporary turn-catching means to allow the turns caught thereby to drop into said empty pak or other container.

Preferably, the cutting position is first detected on the advancing cable core at a first detection station in the cable manufacturing line and, as said cutting position is detected at said first detection station or at a predetermined time after said cutting position is detected at said first detection station having regard to the speed of the advancing cable core, the speed of the advancing cable core is automatically gradually decreased to a predetermined value, preferably at a predetermined rate, and the cutting position is detected a second time on the advancing cable at a second detection station immediately upstream of the down coiler and, as said cutting position is detected at said second detection station, said delay signal is sent to the cable cutting means, the length of delay of said signal being determined by the length of cable extending between the cable cutting means and the second detection station and by said predetermined speed to which the advancing cable core has been reduced.

Each successive cutting position detected on the advancing cable core may be a position on the core at which a desired length of cable will have passed through the cable manufacturing line and will be stored in a pak or other container, or said cutting position may be a position on the core at which separately formed predetermined lengths of core are temporarily connected end to end to enable a continuous length of core to be drawn through the processing station or stations of the cable manufacturing line.

The improved apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises cable cutting means fixed in space and positioned adjacent the block of a down coiler; means for temporarily storing a cut length of advancing cable immediately upstream of said cable cutting means; supplementary means, independent of the down coiler, for imparting a tensile force to the advancing cable; retractable means associated with the block for temporarily catching turns of the leading end of a cut length of advancing cable as they drop from the block; and, operatively coupled to the cable cutting means and the retractable turn-catching means, means for detecting on an advancing cable core or on a cable when manufactured a position at which the cable is to be cut and for sending a delay signal to said cable cutting means and the retractable coil turn-catching means to effect their automatic operation, the length of. delay of said signal being determinable by the length of cable core or cable which will extend between the cable cutting means and the detection means and by the speed of the advancing cable core or cable.

Preferably, the improved apparatus includes first means for detecting on an advancing cable core at a first detection station in the cable manufacturing line a position at which the cable is to be cut, which first detecting means is operatively coupled to the drive motor of the block of the down coiler so that, on or at a predetermined time after receipt of a signal from the first detecting means, the speed of the advancing cable core can be automatically gradually decreased to a predetermined value, preferably at a predetermined rate, and second means for detecting said cutting position on the advancing cable when manufactured at a second detection station immediately upstream of the drum coiler and for sending a delay signal to the cable cutting means and the retractable coil turn-catching means to effect their automatic operation, the length of delay of said signal being determinable by the length of cable which will extend between the cable cutting means and the second detection means and the speed to which the advancing cable core will have been reduced.

The or each detecting means may be any known means for monitoring the length of cable core or cable passing the detecting means and/or any known means for detecting a major discontinuity in the length of cable core passing the detecting means, such as a temporary connection between two separately formed predetermined lengths of core.

The cable cutting means preferably comprises a hydraulically or pneumatically operated reciprocating cutting blade which is adapted to effect a substantially instantaneous cut through the cable at each identified cutting position on receipt of the appropriate signal from the detecting means.

The means for temporarily storing a cut length of advancing cable immediately upstream of the cable cutting means may comprise a continuous or discontinous tray of substantially arcuate shape which extends alongside and partially around the block of the drum coiler immediately upstream of the cutting means and which may be bounded at its edge remote from the block by a peripherally continuous or discontinuous wall, the arrangement being such that, whilst the cutting means is cutting through the cable and passage of the cable is stopped for an instant, the slack in the advancing length of cable immediately upstream of the cutting means will bow outwardly from the block and can be temporarily supported on and stored in the arcuately shaped tray.In a preferred embodiment, the peripherally discontinuous wall of the arcuately shaped tray comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced upstanding pillars or rollers.

Preferably, the rotatably driven block of the down coiler has, at a plurality of positions circumferentially spaced around the block, pneumatically or hydraulically operated snugger rollers for urging the turns of the cable against the circumferential face of the block and, at another plurality of positions circumferentially spaced around the block, flaking rollers for causing the turns of cable to move down the circumferential face of the block.

The supplementary means, independent of the down coiler, for imparting a tensile force to the advancing cable preferably comprises a pair of upstanding pinch rollers positioned between the cable cutting means and the temporary storing means and urged one towards the other, between which pinch rollers a cable wound around the block of the drum coiler can be caused to pass, and, for rotatably driving one or each pinch roller, a supplementary drive motor. The arrangement is such that, whilst the cutting means effects a cut through the cable, the supplementary drive motor will momentarily stall so that slack in the advancing cable is temporarily stored on the temporary storing means and, as soon as the cut has been effected, the pinch rollers will again impart a tensile force to the leading end of the temporarily stored cut length of advancing cable to take up the slack.

Preferably, immediately downstream of the cutting means guide means is provided for guiding the leading end of the cut length of advancing cable back around the block of the down coiler. This guide means may comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced upstanding rollers or pillars so positioned as to guide and urge the cut length of advancing cable against the block.

Preferably, the rectractable means associated with the block for temporarily catching turns of the leading end of a cut length of advancing cable as they drop from the block comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced pneumatically or hydraulically operated fingers pivotally mounted about horizontal axes and retractable between a position at which the fingers extend downwardly beneath the block so that the fingers do not impede turns of cable from dropping from the block into a pak and a position at which the fingers extend radially outwardly beneath the block so that the fingers will catch turns of cable as they drop from the block.

The improved method of and improved apparatus for cutting a continuously advancing cable at a predetermined position along its length and transferring the leading end of the continuously advancing length of cable into another pak or other container beneath a down coiler without stopping passage of the cable core through the cable manufacturing line is especially, but not exclusively, suitable for use in a method of manufacturing a plastics sheathed mineral insulated cable in which the mineral insulated cable being caused to travel in the direction of its length through an extrusion line in which a plastics sheath is applied to the cable is built up of a plurality of separately formed lengths of mineral insulated cable temporarily connected end to end.When using the improved method of the present invention in such manufacture of plastics sheathed mineral insulated cable, the plastics sheathed mineral insulated cable need only be cut when a pak or other container beneath the down coiler is substantially filled with superimposed turns of the cable, such cut then being effected at a detected position immediately adjacent a temporary connection between two separately formed lengths of mineral insulated cable. This method has the advantage that there is less risk of entanglement of turns of mineral insulated cable in the pak than is otherwise the case where each separately formed length of plastics sheathed mineral insulated cable is formed by the drum coiler into a coil comprising a multiplicity of superimposed turns in a pak and the coils of successive separately formed lengths of plastics sheathed mineral insulated cable are stacked one on top of another in the pak. Moreover, by arranging for continuous passage of a mineral insulated cable through the extrusion line and, hence continuous extrusion of plastics material around the advancing mineral insulated cable, wastage of plastics material between the sheathing operations of separately formed lengths of mineral insulated cable is avoided.

The invention is further illustrated by a description, by way of example, of a preferred method of manufacturing plastics sheathed mineral insulated electric cable with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2, respectively, are side and plan views of the apparatus of the manufacturing line used in the preferred method; Figure 3 is a plan view of the down coiler of the manufacturing line shown in Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 4 is a side view of the down coiler looking in the direction of arrow A in Figure 3.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, in the preferred method of manufacturing plastics sheathed mineral insulated electric cable, the mineral insulated electric cable to which a plastics sheath is to be applied is built up of a plurality of separately formed lengths of mineral insulated cable temporarily connected end to end. The metal sheathed mineral insulated electric cable C is fed towards and along the manufacturing line from a drum supported in a revolving turntable and vertical pay-off unit 1 from which the cable passes through a straightening device 2 and past first, detecting means 3 which detects each temporary connection between the separately formed lengths of mineral insulated cable C.Downstream of the first detecting means 3, the mineral insulated cable passes through an extrusion machine 4 which continuously extrudes a sheath of plastics material on to the mineral insulated cable and, downstream of the extrusion machine, the plastics sheathed cable passes through control means 5 which continuously monitors the overall diameter of the plastics sheathed cable, and into a conventional cooling trough 6. Emerging from the cooling trough 6, the sheathed cable C is further cooled by an air blower 7 and from the air blower the sheathed cable passes through a conventional spark tester 8 and around a pulley 9 to the down coiler apparatus and pak storage apparatus generally indicated at 10.

The down coiler apparatus comprises an upstanding framework*11 of generally rectangular cross-section at the upper end of which a down coiler 12 is mounted with its axis vertical. The pak storage apparatus comprises a permanent track 14 which is disposed at the foot of the framework 11 and which extends transversely through the framework beneath the down coiler 12. Trolleys 15 for supporting paks 16 into which plastics sheathed mineral insulated electric cable C is coiled in a multiplicity of superimposed turns run on track 14.

As will be seen on referring to Figures 3 and 4, the down coiler 12 includes a circular block 21 which is mounted with its axis vertical and which is rotatably driven about its axis by an electric motor 22 (Figure 1) to impart a tensile force to the plastics sheathed cable C to draw the cable through the processing stations of the cable manufacturing line. Fixed in space and positioned adjacent the block 21 of the down coiler 12 is a pneumatically operated reciprocating cutting blade 23 which it adapted to effect a substantially instantaneous cut through the cable C at each identified cutting position on receipt of an appropriate signal.Immediately upstream of the reciprocating cutting blade 23 is a plurality of circumferentially spaced upstanding rollers 25 around which the cable C passes in its passage to the cutting blade and outwardly from which the leading end of the cut length of cable will bow slightly during the instant in which the cable is cut, if necessary being supported on circumferentially spaced radially extending tzars (not shown) protruding beneath the rollers.

Disposed beneath the block 21 for temporarily catching -turns of the leading end of a cut length of advancing plastics sheathed cable as they drop from the block is a is retractable means 26 comprising a plurality of circumferentially pneumaticallly operated fingers 27 pivotally mounted about horizontal axes and retractable between a position at which the fingers extend downwardly beneath the block so that the fingers do not impede turns of cable from dropping from the block into a pak 16 disposed beneath the block on a trolley 15 and a position at which the fingers extend radially outwardly beneath the block so that the fingers will catch turns of cable as they drop from the block.

At a plurality of positions circumferentially spaced around the block 21 of the down coiler 12 pneumatically operated snugger rollers 28 are disposed for urging turns of the plastics sheathed cable C against the circumferential face of the block and, at another plurality of positions circumferentially spaced around the block, flaking rollers 29 are disposed for causing the turns of cable to move down the circumferential face of the block. Circumferentially spaced upstanding rollers 30 are disposed immediately downstream of the reciprocating cutting blade 23 for guiding and urging a cut length of advancing cable against the block 21 of the down coiler.

Positioned between the retractable cutting blade 23 and the temporary storage tray 24 is supplementary means 31, independent of the down coiler 12, for imparting a tensile force to the plastics sheathed cable C, which supplementary means comprises a pair of upstanding pinch rollers 32 which are urged towards one another and between which plastics sheathed cable to be wound around the block 21 can be caused to pass and, for rotatably driving at least one of the rollers, a supplementary drive motor 33.

Second detecting means 35 for detecting each cutting position identified by the first detecting means 3 (Figures 1 and 2) is disposed immediately upstream of the down coiler 12. The first detecting means 3 is operatively coupled to the drive motor 22 of the block 21 of the down coiler so that, on or at a predetermined time after receipt of a signal from the first detecting means 3, the speed of the advancing plastics sheathed cable C can be automatically decreased at a predetermined rate to a predetermined value.The second detecting means 35 is operatively coupled to the retractable cutting blade 23 and the retractable turn-catching means 26 so that, on detecting a cutting position on the advancing plastics sheathed cable C, a delay signal is sent to the retractable cutting blade and the retractable turn-catching means to effect their automatic operation, the length of delay of the signal being determined by the length of cable which will extend between the second detecting means and the retractable cutting blade and the speed to which the advancing plastics sheathed cable will have been reduced. The second detecting means is also indirectly operatively coupled to the supplementary drive motor 33 for reasons which will be explained.

During the manufacture of plastics sheathed mineral insulated electric cable C using the apparatus illustrated in the drawings, turns of plastics sheathed cable from the block 21 of the down coiler 12 drop successively, in a multiplicity of superimposed turns.

into a pak 16 carried by a trolley 15 positioned beneath the down coiler. When the first detecting means 3 identifies a position in the advancing cable C at which two separately formed lengths of cable are temporarily connected end to end, a delay signal is sent to the motor 22 of the down coiler 12 so that at a predetermined time after receipt of the signal, the speed of the advancing cable is automatically reduced at a predetermined rate to a predetermined value. When said cutting position is identified by the second detecting means 35, a delay signal is sent to the retractable cutting blade 23 and the retractable turn-catching means 26 to effect their automatic operation at the instant the cutting position is immediately adjacent the cutting blade.Whilst the cutting blade 23 effects a cut through the cable C, the supplementary drive motor 33 of the pinch rollers 32 is momentarily caused to stall so that slack in the advancing cable is temporarily stored on the tray 24; as soon as the cut has been effected, momentary stalling of the supplementary motor ceases and the pinch rollers will again impart a tensile force to the leading end of the temporarily stored cut length of advancing cable to take up the slack. As soon as the last turn of the plastics sheathed cable C has dropped from the block 21 into the pak 16, and whilst the leading end of the cut length of advancing cable is guided by the upstanding rollers 30 around the block and the first turns of the cut length of cable drop on to and are temporarily supported by the retractable fingers 27 of the temporary turn-catching means 26, the trolley 15 carrying the pak 16 will be moved from beneath the down coiler 12 and will be replaced by another trolley carrying an empty pak. When the empty pak 16 has been so positioned, the retractable fingers 27 are automatically pivotted downwardly to permit the leading turns of the cut length of cable to drop into the pak and coiling of turns of the plastics sheathed cable C into this pak will continue until the next cutting position is identified, when the described procedure will be repeated.

Claims

Claims:

1. In a method of cable manufacture in which a cable core is drawn through a processing station or stations of a manufacturing line by a down coiler and in which coils of cable on the block of the down coiler drop successively into a pak or other container positioned beneath the drum coiler in a multiplicity of superimposed turns, a method of cutting the continuously advancing cable at a predetermined position along its length and transferring the leading end of the continuously advancing cut length of cable into another pak or other container without stopping passage of the cable core through the cable manufacturing line, which method comprises detecting at a detecting station a position on the advancing cable core or cable when manufactured at which the cable is to be cut and, as said cutting position is detected at said detection station, sending a delay signal to cable cutting means fixed in space and positioned adjacent the block of the down coiler, the length of delay of said signal being determined by the length of cable core or cable extending between the cable cutting means and the detection station and by the speed of the advancing cable core or cable; automatically cutting the advancing cable at said cutting position and, as the cutting operation is effected, allowing the trailing end of'the cut length of cable to drop into a pak or other container positioned beneath the down coiler and temporarily storing immediately upstream of the cable cutting means the cut length of advancing cable; imparting a tensile force to the leading end of said temporarily stored cut length of advancing cable to take up said temporarily stored cut length; guiding said leading end of the cut length of advancing cable around the block of the down coiler; automatically temporarily introducing beneath the block of the down coiler means for catching turns of the leading end of the cut length of advancing cable as they drop from the block whilst said pak or other container is removed and replaced by an empty pak or other container; and automatically withdrawing said temporarily turn-catching means to allow the turns caught thereby to drop into said empty pak or other container.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the cutting position is first detected on the advancing cable core at a first detection station in the cable manufacturing line and, as said cutting position is detected at said first detection station or at a predetermined time after said cutting position is detected at said first detection station having regard to the speed of the advancing cable core, the speed of the advancing cable core is automatically gradually decreased to a predetermined value, and wherein the cutting position is detected a second time on the advancing cable at a second detection station immediately upstream of the down coiler and, as said cutting position is detected at said second detection station, said delay signal is sent to the cable cutting means, the length of delay of said signal being determined by the length of cable extending between the cable cutting means and the second detection station and by said predetermined speed to which the advancing cable core has been reduced.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the speed of the advancing cable core is automatically gradually decreased to said predetermined value at a predetermined rate.

4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein each successive cutting position detected on the advancing cable core is a position on the core at which a desired length of cable will have passed through the cable manufacturing line and will be stored'in a pak or other container.

5. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein each successive cutting position detected on the advancing cable core is a position on the core at which separately formed predetermined lengths of core are temporarily connected end to end to enable a continuous length of core to be drawn through the processing station or stations of the cable manufacturing line.

6. For use in a method of cable manufacture in which a cable core is drawn through a processing station or stations of a manufacturing line by a down coiler and in which coils of cable on the block of the down coiler drop successively into a pak or other container positioned beneath the drum coiler in a multiplicity of superimposed turns, apparatus for cutting the continuously advancing cable at a predetermined position along its length and transferring the leading end of the continuously advancing cut length of cable into another pak or other container without stopping passage of the cable core through the cable manufacturing line, which apparatus comprises cable cutting means fixed in space and positioned adjacent the block of the down coiler; means for temporarily storing a cut length of advancing cable immediately upstream of said cable cutting means; supplementary means, independent of the down coiler, for imparting a tensile force to the advancing cable; retractable means associated with the block for temporarily catching turns of the leading end of a cut length of advancing cable as they drop from the block; and, operatively coupled to the cable cutting means and the retractable turn-catching means, means for detecting on an advancing cable core or on a cable when manufactured a position at which the cable is to be cut and for sending a delay signal to said cable cutting means and the retractable turn-catching means to effect their automatic operation, the length of delay of said signal being determinable by the length of cable core or cable which will extend between cable cutting means and the detection means and by the speed of the advancing cable core or cable.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, which apparatus includes first means for detecting on an advancing cable core at a first detection station in the cable manufacturing line a position at which the cable is to be cut, which first detecting means is operatively coupled to the drive motor of the block of the down coiler so that, on or at a predetermined time after receipt of a signal from the first detecting means, the speed of the advancing cable core can be automatically gradually decreased to a predetermined value, and second means for detecting said cutting position of the advancing cable when manufactured at a second detection station immediately upstream of the drum coiler and for sending a delay signal to the cable cutting means and the retractable turn-catching means to effect their automatic operation, the length of delay of said signal being determinable by the length of cable which will extend between the cable cutting means and the second detection means and the speed to which the advancing cable core will have been reduced.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 or 7, wherein the cable cutting means comprises a hydraulically or pneumatically operated reciprocating cutting blade which is adapted to effect a substantially instantaneous cut through the cable at each identified cutting position on receipt of the appropriate signal from the detecting means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the means for temporarily storing a cut length of advancing cable immediately upstream of the cable cutting means comprises a continuous or discontinuous tray of substantially arcuate-shape which extends alongside and partially around the block of the drum coiler immediately upstream of the cutting means and which is bounded at its edge remote from the block by a peripherally continuous or discontinuous wall, the arrangement being such that, whilst the cutting means is cutting hrough the cable and passage of the cable is stopped for an instant, the slack in the advancing length of cable immediately upstream of the cutting means will bow outwardly from the block and can be temporarily supported on and stored in the arcuately-shaped tray.

10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the peripherally discontinuous wall of the arcuately-shaped tray comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced upstanding pillars or rollers.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 10, wherein the rotatably driven block of the down coiler has, at a plurality of positions circumferentially spaced around the block, pneumatically or hydraulically operated snugger rollers for urging the turns of the cable against the circumferential face of the block and, at another plurality of positions circumferentially spaced around the block, flaking rollers for causing the turns of cable to move down the circumferential face of the block.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 11, wherein the supplementary means, independent of the down coiler, for imparting a tensile force to the advancing cable comprises a pair of upstanding pinch rollers positioned between cable cutting means and the temporary storing means and urged one towards the other, between which pinch rollers a cable wound around the block of the drum coiler can be caused to pass, and, for rotatably driving one or each pinch roller, a supplementary drive motor, the arrangement being such that, whilst the cutting means effects a cut through the cable, the supplementary drive motor will momentarily stall so that slack in the advancing cable is temporarily stored on the temporary storing means and, as soon as cut has been effected, the pinch rollers will again impart a tensile force to the leading end of the temporarily stored cut length of advancing cable to take up the slack.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 12, wherein, immediately downstream of the cutting means, guide means is provided for guiding the leading end of the cut length of advancing cable back around the block of the down coiler.

14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said guide means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced upstanding rollers or pillars so positioned as to guide and urge the cut length of advancing cable against the block.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 14, wherein the retractable means associated with the block for temporarily catching turns of the leading end of a cut length of advancing cable as they drop from'the block comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced pneumatically or hydraulically operated fingers pivotally mounted about horizontal axes and retractable between a position at which the fingers extend downwardly beneath the block so that the fingers do not impede turns of cable from dropping from the block into a pak and a position at which the fingers extend radially outwardly beneath the block so that the fingers will catch turns of cable as they drop from the block.

16. In a method of cable manufacture in which a cable core is drawn through a processing station or stations of a manufacturing line by a down coiler and in which coils of cable on the block of the down coiler drop successively into a pak or other container positioned beneath the drum coiler in a multiplicity of superimposed turns, a method of cutting the continuously advancing cable at a predetermined position along its length and transferring the leading end of the continuously advancing length of cable into another pak or other container without stopping passage of the cable core through the cable manufacturing line substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. For use in a method of cable manufacture in which a cable core is drawn through a processing station or stations of a manufacturing line by a down coiler and in which coils of cable on the block of the down coiler drop successively into a pak or other container positioned beneath the drum coiler in a multiplicity of superimposed turns, apparatus for cutting the continuously advancing cable at a predetermined position along its length and transferring the leading end of the continuously advancing cut length of cable into another pak or other container without stopping passage of the cable core through cable manufacturing line hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.