The invention relates to a method for spooling a strip of wires, piaced next to each other on a reel . whereby the reel consists of a core and two flanges.

The spooling of a strip or band of wires, placed next to each other, is now usually done by fixing the leading end of the strip to the core of the reel by means of strips of adhesive tape. Such a strip or band of wires, placed next to each other, is e.g. described in the Belgian patent no. 796.955 of applicant N.V. BEKAERT S.A.. Such a strip can e.g. consist of 100 to 200 wires, placed next to each other, in which the wires show an almost rectangular cross section. The wires are preferably held together with glue.

A first disadvantage of the present method for fixing the leading end of the strip of wires placed next to each other, to the core of the reel, is that it is necessary to fix the beginning of it by means of strips of adhesive tape, which is rather cumbersone and timewasting. Besides, this method requires the use of adhesive tape.

A second disadvantage of the present method is that the extremities of the wires, placed next to each other, form a very sharp extremity. When spooling and paying off the strip of wires, placed next to each other on the core of the reel, this sharp extremity can damage the adjoining windings.

The object of the invention is to eliminate the above- mentioned disadvantages.

For this purpose the invention learns, in case of a method of the type mentioned in the beginning, that a reel is

taken, of which the core is provided with at least one cross groove, that the leading end of the strip of wires placed next to each other is placed into the cross groove, and that next, the spooling of the successive windings of the strip on the reel is continued.

An advantage of the method according to the invention is. that it is no longer necessary to fasten the leading end of the strip to the core of the reel by means of adhesive tape.

Another important advantage of the method, according to the invention, is that the sharp leading end of the strip of wires, placed next to each other, is completely taken up in the core, through which the cutting effect of it on the other successive windings is completely eliminated.

Preferably a reel, of which the core consists of a number of almost identical parts and whereby a cross groove is formed each time between each pair of adjoining core parts, is taken.

The invention will be further illustrated in the following description, on the basis of the corresponding drawing. In the drawing are shown : fig. 1 in perspective, part of a strip of wires, placed next to each other ; fig. 2 in perspective, the fixing of the beginning of the wires, placed next to each other, to the core of the reel . and fig. 3 in perspective, the placing of the core parts to a f1ange of the reel .

Fig. 1 shows in perspective part of a strip 1 of wires 2 placed next to each other. The width of the strip or band 1 can e.g. vary from 100 to 200 mm. The strip 1 consists e.g. of 100 to 200 steel wires placed next to each other.

in which the steel wires present an almost rectangular cross section. The dimensions of the rectangular cross section of each wire are e.g. 0.95 mm to 0,64 mm. The wires 2 are preferably glued to each other. Such strips of glued steel wires are used in particular for the making of staples. As already mentioned, such a band or strip 1 of steel wires is already described in the Belgian patent no. 796.955 of applicant N.V. BEKAERT S.A..

Fig. 2 shows in perspective how the leading end of the strip 1 of the steel wires 2 placed next to each other is being fixed to the core 3 of the reel 4. For this purpose, a reel or spool 4 is taken, of which the core 3 is at least provided with one cross groove 5, and the beginning of the strip 1 is placed into the cross groove 5. Preferably, the cross groove 5 extends to the distance between the two flanges 6 of the reel 4, and the width of the strip is a little smaller than the distance between the flanges 6. After the fixing of the leading end of the strip 1. the successive windings of the strip 1 are spooled on the reel 4. The fixing of the trailing end of the strip 1 of the last winding is done by means of adhesive tape, binding wire or other fixing materials.

Fig. 3 shows in perspective the placing of two core parts 3 on a flange 6 during the composition of a reel 4, when the core 3 of the reel 4 consists of two almost identical core parts 3. The reel 4 consists of two almost identical flanges 6 and two almost identical core parts 3 ; whereby the core parts 3 are fixed to the flanges 6 by means of pegs 7 and nuts 8. The two almost identical core parts 3 are e.g. made out of steelsheet with a thickness of 2 mm. folded over half a circle circumference with an inner diameter of ± 500 mm and a width of ± 160 mm. Each sheet is provided at two places with a thin tube 9, which is welded to the sheet and which serves for taking up the pegs or threaded rods 7. The flanges 6 are preferably made out

of wood and provided with a number of four distanceholders 10 to fix the core parts 3 on the right place and to support them. The flanges 6 are also provided with a shaft hole 11 and a number of four holes 12 to take up the pegs 7.

It is important to care that the distance d beween the edges of the two adjoining core parts 3 is big enough to take up the leading end of the strip of wires placed next to each other in the formed cross groove 5. The distance d is preferably about 10 to 20 mm.

Other advantages while using a metal core of at least two core parts consist in the following : when the reels 4 are being dismounted, the core parts 3 can be stacked in and upon each other ; which leads to a considerable space- saving when transporting those core parts 3. The flanges 6 can be tightened very securely, because the metal core parts 3 are not compressible, which is not the case when using cardboard cores.

All the above-mentioned dimensions are only given as example.