Automatic reel devices and method of operating the same
First Claim
1. A method for spooling linear material on an automatic device supported above a ground surface, the method comprising:
- monitoring an amount of a linear material unwound from a spool member of the automatic device with one or more sensors;
winding the linear material around the spool member at a first speed when a length of linear material unwound from the spool member is greater than a first predetermined amount, at least a portion of the linear material disposed on the ground surface;
winding the linear material around the spool member at a second speed lower than the first speed when the length of linear material unwound from the spool member decreases below the first predetermined amount but is greater than a docking point location at which the linear material loses contact with the ground surface;
winding the linear material around the spool member at a third speed lower than the first speed when the length of linear material unwound from the spool member decreases below the docking point location but is greater than a third predetermined amount, said linear material length being disposed above the ground surface such that the linear material is not in contact with the ground surface; and
winding the linear material around the spool member at a fourth speed greater than the third speed when the length of linear material unwound from the spool member decreases below the third predetermined amount,wherein winding the linear material comprises automatically winding the linear material via a controller that controls rotation of an electric motor of the automatic device, andwherein winding at said second and third speeds is configured to dissipate kinetic energy from the winding of the linear material so as to maintain swing of an end of the linear material below a predetermined limit amount in a direction transverse to a vertical axis when the linear material passes the docking point location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reel has a spool member on which the linear material is spooled, an electric motor that rotates the spool member, and a controller that controls the operation of the motor. The controller monitors an unwound length of the linear material based on sensed rotation of the spool member by one or more sensors. The controller causes the motor to wind the linear material at a drag speed when the linear material is on a ground, at a crawl speed lower than the drag speed when the length of linear material on the ground is shorter than a first threshold amount and through a second predetermined amount once the linear material lifts off the ground to inhibit swing of the linear material as it comes off the ground, and at a docking speed greater than the crawl speed when the unwound linear material is shorter than the second threshold amount.
91 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method for spooling linear material on an automatic device supported above a ground surface, the method comprising:
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monitoring an amount of a linear material unwound from a spool member of the automatic device with one or more sensors; winding the linear material around the spool member at a first speed when a length of linear material unwound from the spool member is greater than a first predetermined amount, at least a portion of the linear material disposed on the ground surface; winding the linear material around the spool member at a second speed lower than the first speed when the length of linear material unwound from the spool member decreases below the first predetermined amount but is greater than a docking point location at which the linear material loses contact with the ground surface; winding the linear material around the spool member at a third speed lower than the first speed when the length of linear material unwound from the spool member decreases below the docking point location but is greater than a third predetermined amount, said linear material length being disposed above the ground surface such that the linear material is not in contact with the ground surface; and winding the linear material around the spool member at a fourth speed greater than the third speed when the length of linear material unwound from the spool member decreases below the third predetermined amount, wherein winding the linear material comprises automatically winding the linear material via a controller that controls rotation of an electric motor of the automatic device, and wherein winding at said second and third speeds is configured to dissipate kinetic energy from the winding of the linear material so as to maintain swing of an end of the linear material below a predetermined limit amount in a direction transverse to a vertical axis when the linear material passes the docking point location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for spooling linear material on an automatic device mounted on a wall, ceiling, or bench above a ground surface, the method comprising:
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monitoring an amount of a linear material unwound from a spool member of the automatic device with one or more sensors; winding the linear material around the spool member at a drag speed when a length of linear material unwound from the spool member is greater than a first predetermined amount; winding the linear material around the spool member at a crawl speed slower than the drag speed when the length of linear material unwound from the spool member decreases below the first predetermined amount but is greater than a second predetermined amount, wherein between the first and second predetermined amounts is a docking point location at which linear material loses contact with the ground surface, and wherein a distance between the docking point location and the first predetermined amount defines a first length; and winding the linear material around the spool member at a docking speed greater than the crawl speed when the length of linear material unwound from the spool member decreases below the second predetermined amount shorter than the docking point location by a second length, wherein said crawl speed is generally constant and winding the linear material at the crawl speed through the first and second lengths dissipates kinetic energy from the winding of the linear material so as to maintain swing of an end of the linear material below a predetermined limit amount in a direction transverse to a vertical axis when the linear material passes the docking point location and lifts off the ground surface, wherein winding the linear material comprises automatically winding the linear material via a controller that controls rotation of an electric motor of the automatic device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for spooling a linear material, the apparatus comprising:
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a spool member configured to rotate bi-directionally to spool and unspool the linear material with respect to the spool member; an electric motor configured to rotate the spool member; and a controller configured to control the operation of the motor, the controller configured to; monitor a length of the linear material unwound from the spool member based at least in part on an indication of rotation of the spool member generated by one or more sensors and communicated to the controller, control the motor to wind the linear material around the spool member at a start-up speed over a first predetermined length, control the motor to wind the linear material around the spool member at a second speed faster than the start-up speed when the amount of linear material unwound from the spool member is greater than a second predetermined amount, control the motor to wind the linear material around the spool member at a drag speed slower than the second speed when the amount of linear material unwound from the spool member decreases below the second predetermined amount but is greater than a third predetermined amount, control the motor to wind the linear material around the spool member at a crawl speed slower than the drag speed when the amount of linear material unwound from the spool member decreases below the third predetermined amount, and control the motor to wind the linear material around the spool member at a docking speed faster than the crawl speed when the amount of linear material unwound from the spool member decreases below a fourth predetermined amount, wherein winding the linear material at at least one of the drag or crawl speeds is configured to dissipate kinetic energy from the winding of the linear material so as to inhibit swinging of an end of the linear material when the linear material loses contact with a ground surface. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification