Abstract:
Miniature capacitor is formed from a single strip of dielectric material metallized on each of its sides. The strip is wound generally from the middle of the completed capacitor using its lead wires as mandrels. The winding time is considerably shortened and a plurality of insulating thicknesses of strip material are quickly placed between the two lead wires by initially locating a central portion of the strip between the first lead wire and a retractable winding pin which orbits so as to carry the strip around the first lead wire in the form of a loop which is wound into the capacitor after the second lead wire has been inserted. The winding pin is mounted adjacent an elongated slot. The first lead wire may be loaded in an axial direction at one end of the slot and carried to the other end of the slot by the looped strip as the strip is carried around the lead wire by the orbiting of the winding pin and slot. The second lead wire may then be fed into the slot along the same axis as the first lead wire was fed, and the winding pin retracted, without any interruption in the winding. The leads are retained in the capacitor by heat shrinking the dielectric strip.