Method and apparatus for winding/unwinding cable

Abstract

An apparatus, assembly and method for winding elongate material onto a flanged reel, or unwinding material from a flanged reel. The apparatus includes a linear powered drive shaft and a substantially helical drive pin. The drive pin is utilized to rotate a flanged reel about the drive shaft, and the helical shape of the drive pin causes the reel to be urged onto the drive shaft thereby preventing unwanted displacement of the reel from the drive shaft. To this end, the tension of the material being wound onto, or unwound from, the reel generates a torque on the reel to cause it to screw onto the drive pin as a nut screws onto a bolt.

1 . Apparatus for winding/unwinding elongate material onto/from a flanged reel, comprising: 
 a substantially linear shaft for rotatably supporting the flanged reel; and    a non-linear drive pin extending transversely of said shaft and rotatable about said shaft for rotating the flanged reel; 
 whereby, when the flanged reel is supported on said shaft and is engaged by said drive pin and when said drive pin is rotated about an axis extending through said drive shaft, a torque is generated on the flanged reel by the tension of the elongate material being wound/unwound which causes the flanged reel to be urged onto said shaft and to prevent the flanged reel from being displaced from said shaft.  
   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said drive pin has a helical shape which at least partially extends about said shaft.  
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a hub from which said shaft and drive pin extend.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a motor for rotating said hub, shaft, and drive pin.  
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said shaft defines a rotational axis about which said shaft is rotated in a pre-determined direction of rotation, wherein said helical-shaped portion of said drive pin includes at least a tip of said drive pin, and wherein, when said apparatus is utilized to wind material onto the flanged reel, said tip wraps at least partially about said shaft in a direction corresponding to said pre-determined direction of rotation of said shaft.  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said shaft defines a rotational axis about which said shaft is rotated in a pre-determined direction of rotation, wherein said helical-shaped portion of said drive pin includes at least a tip of said drive pin, and wherein, when said apparatus is utilized to unwind material from the flanged reel, said tip wraps at least partially about said shaft in a direction corresponding to opposite said pre-determined direction of rotation of said shaft.  
     
     
         7 . An assembly for winding/unwinding elongate material, comprising 
 a linear powered drive shaft extending from a hub and defining an axis of rotation;    a flanged reel slidably supported on said drive shaft for rotation about said axis of rotation, said flanged reel having an inboard flange received on said drive shaft; and    a drive pin extending from one of said hub and said inboard flange of said flanged reel and matingly engageable with a corresponding drive pin receiving channel located on an opposite one of said hub and said inboard flange so that, when said drive shaft is rotated about said axis, said flanged reel is caused to rotate about said axis and a torque is generated on said flanged reel to urge said flange reel in a direction onto said drive shaft and to prevent said flanged reel from being displaced from said drive shaft.    
     
     
         8 . An assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of said drive pin has a helical shape which at least partially wraps about said drive shaft.  
     
     
         9 . An assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said drive pin extends from said hub and said drive pin receiving channel is located on said inboard flange of said flanged reel.  
     
     
         10 . An assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein said drive pin receiving channel extends parallel to said axis of rotation and has a diameter which is significantly larger than a diameter of said drive pin.  
     
     
         11 . An assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein said drive pin receiving channel has a shape corresponding to said drive pin and a diameter of a size similar to a diameter of said drive pin.  
     
     
         12 . An assembly according to  claim 9 , further comprising a motor for rotating said hub, drive shaft, and drive pin.  
     
     
         13 . An assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein said drive shaft rotates in a pre-determined direction of rotation about said axis, wherein said helical-shaped portion of said drive pin includes at least said tip of said drive pin, and wherein, when said assembly is utilized to wind the material onto said flanged reel, said tip wraps at least partially about said drive shaft in a direction corresponding to said pre-determined direction of rotation of said drive shaft.  
     
     
         14 . An assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein said drive shaft rotates in a pre-determined direction of rotation about said axis, wherein said helical-shaped portion of said drive pin includes at least said tip of said drive pin, and wherein, when said assembly is utilized to unwind the material from said flanged reel, said tip wraps at least partially about said drive shaft in a direction corresponding to opposite said pre-determined direction of rotation of said drive shaft.  
     
     
         15 . A method of winding/unwinding elongate material onto/from a flanged reel, comprising the steps of: 
 sliding a flanged reel onto a linear shaft which extends from a hub, said flanged reel having an inboard flange relative to said hub and said inboard flange having a drive pin receiving channel;    engaging at least a tip of a non-linear drive pin which extends from said hub beyond said channel of said inboard flange;    rotating said non-linear drive pin about an axis extending through said linear drive shaft to perform one of a winding and unwinding operation;    wherein, during said operation, the tension of the material generates a torque on said flanged reel to urge said flanged reel in a direction toward said hub and to prevent said flange reel from being displaced from said drive shaft.    
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said rotating step includes rotating said drive pin in a pre-determined direction of rotation about said axis, wherein said drive pin has a shape substantially approximating a helical-shape, wherein said operation is a winding operation, and wherein said tip of said drive pin wraps at least partially about said drive shaft in a direction corresponding to said pre-determined direction of rotation.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said rotating step includes rotating said drive pin in a pre-determined direction of rotation about said axis, wherein said drive pin has a shape substantially approximating a helical-shape, wherein said operation is an unwinding operation, and wherein said tip of said drive pin wraps at least partially about said drive shaft in a direction corresponding to opposite said pre-determined direction of rotation of said drive shaft.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said step of engaging said drive pin with said channel includes engaging only said tip of said drive pin beyond said channel and thereby permitting the rotation of said drive pin and torque acting on said flanged reel to further advance said flanged reel onto drive shaft and into further engagement with said drive pin during said operation.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of removing said flanged reel from said drive shaft after said rotating step is completed, wherein said drive shaft has a free end opposite said hub which remains free during said rotating step to permit prompt removal of said flanged reel from said drive shaft after said rotating step.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein at least one of said steps of sliding a flanged reel onto said drive shaft and removing said flanged reel from said drive shaft are accomplished by an automated mechanism.