(57) A method of jointing flexible fibrous strands, the method includes the steps of:
placing on the ends 3, 4 of the fibrous strands to be joined a heated thermoplastic
glue:
butt jointing the ends together;
rolling the butt joint 17 to maintain a constant thickness in the strands and to cause
the glue to wick within the fibres of the ends to thereby produce an improved joint.
The invention further provides apparatus for jointing flexible fibrous strands, the
apparatus including guide means (12) and clamping means 5,6 for holding the ends 3,4
together, cutting means 11 for squaring the ends, means 14 for applying a measured
quantity of a hot melt glue to the ends 3,4 means for moving the ends to abutt each
other to allow the glue to wick within the fibres of the ends 3,4 and means 18 for
rolling the joint to even the diameter thereof to produce a joint 17 with no obvious
variations in the strands.
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