Patent ID: 7688010
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. An automatic reel for facilitating the spooling of linear material, the automatic reel comprising: a rotatable member configured to wind a linear material as the rotatable member rotates in a first direction, the rotatable member being further configured to deploy the linear material as the rotatable member rotates in a second direction; and a motor controller configured to control a motor, the motor configured to interact with the rotatable member, the motor controller configured to control the motor in response to a sensor configured to sense a tension of the linear material, the motor controller configured to selectively control a rotational velocity of the rotatable member in the first direction or in the second direction; wherein the sensor is configured to sense the tension of the linear material by monitoring a motor signal indicative of the tension of the linear material; and wherein the motor controller is configured to cause the motor to cease rotation of the rotatable member in the first direction when the motor signal monitored by the sensor indicates that the tension of the linear material exceeds a predetermined threshold.