Reel-holding device

Claim 2

A reel-holding device comprising a base, first and second movable elongated reel-supporting arms extending away from said base, guiding means for limiting the motion of said arms to a single plane, a shaft adjacent said base and passing through both arms, a first jackscrew on that portion of the shaft that passes through the first arm and a second jackscrew on that portion of the shaft that passes through the second arm, each arm defining a (chamber) cavity around its complementary jackscrew, and a nut in each (chamber) cavity having internal threads engaging those of its complementary jackscrew, each nut having (play) loose fit within its (chamber) cavity in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the shaft yet being restrained from substantial rotation by its complementary arm to thereby permit easy assembly of the shaft.

Claim 3

A reel-holding device comprising a base, a pair of supporting elements extending away from said base, each of said supporting elements defining a cavity adjacent said base, guiding plates movable in a plane perpendicular to said supporting elements and attached to said supporting elements, said base defining a guiding groove therein for guiding said guide plates, a shaft located closely adjacent said base and extending adjacent said upright supporting elements, a first jackscrew on said shaft adjacent the first of said elements, a first nut free to translate in the first of said elements, said first nut cooperating with said first jackscrew for moving said first element when the said shaft is rotated, a second jackscrew on said shaft adjacent the second of said elements, a second nut free to translate in said cavity that is in said second element, said second nut cooperating with said second jackscrew for moving said second element when said shaft is rotated, said first and second jackscrews and their cooperating first and second nuts being arranged to move the elements toward each other when the shaft is rotated, first and second reel-holding rotatable shafts respectively supported at the free end of the supporting elements, each of said reel-holding rotatable shaft extending from its supporting element toward the other such supporting element and each having a clamping disc thereon located between the two supporting elements, driving means coupled to one of said reel-holding rotatable shafts to thereby rotate said reel, and brake element means between each such disc and its complementary supporting element, each brake element means being of material that is relatively compressible when compared to the material of the said supporting elements.

Claim 4

A reel-holding device comprising a base, a pair of supporting elements extending away from said base, each of said supporting elements defining a cavity adjacent said base, guiding plates movable in a plane perpendicular to said supporting elements and attached to said supporting elements, said base defining a guiding groove therein for guiding said guide plates, a shaft located closely adjacent said base and extending adjacent said upright supporting elements, a first jackscrew on said shaft adjacent the first of said elements, a first nut free to translate in the first of said elements, said first nut cooperating with said first jackscrew for moving said first element when the said shaft is rotated, a second jackscrew on said shaft adjacent the second of said elements, a second nut free to translate in said cavity that is in said second element, said second nut cooperating with said second jackscrew for moving said second element when said shaft is rotated, said first and second jackscrews and their cooperating first and second nuts being arranged to move the elements toward each other when the shaft is rotated, first and second reel-holding rotatable shafts respectively supported at the free end of the supporting elements, each of said reel-holding rotatable shaft extending from its supporting element toward the other such supporting element and each having a clamping disc thereon located between the two supporting elements, driving means coupled to one of said reel-holding rotatable shafts to thereby rotate said reel, and brake element means between each such disc and its complementary supporting element, each brake element means being of material that is relatively compressible when compared to the material of the said supporting elements.

Claim 5

The reel-holding means as defined in claim 2 wherein said first and second nuts in said cavities have a loose fit in the direction perpendicular to the axis of said shaft.

Claim 6

The reel-holding means as defined in claim 2 wherein said driving means is a crank.

Claim 7

A reel-holding device comprising, a base, a pair of supporting elements extending away from said base with each supporting element defining a cavity near its base end, guiding means on said base for limiting the motion of said supporting elements to a single plane, a shaft located closely adjacent said base and extending adjacent said upright supporting elements, a first jackscrew on said shaft adjacent the first of said elements and arranged to pass through the cavity associated with the first of said pair of supporting elements, a first threaded means cooperating with said first jackscrew and located in said first cavity for moving said first element when said shaft is rotated, said first threaded means being in the form of a nut which has a loose fit in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said first jackscrew whereby to permit easy assembly of said first jackscrew, a second jackscrew on said shaft adjacent the second of said elements and arranged to pass through the cavity associated with the second of said pair of supporting elements, a second threaded means cooperating with said second jackscrew and located in said second cavity for moving said second element when said shaft is rotated, said second threaded means being in the form of a nut which has a loose fit in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said second jackscrew whereby to permit easy assembly of said second jackscrew, the first and second jackscrews and their cooperating first and second threaded means being arranged to move the elements toward each other when the shaft is rotated in one direction and away from each other when the shaft is rotated in the other direction, first and second reel-holding rotatable shafts respectively supported at the free ends of the supporting elements and on a common axis, each of said reel-holding rotatable shafts extending from its supporting element toward the other such supporting element and each having a clamping disc thereon located between the two supporting elements, driving means coupled to one of said reel-holding rotatable shafts for rotating said one of said reel-holding rotatable shafts to thereby rotate said reel, and brake element means between each said disc and its complementary supporting element, each brake element means being of material that is relatively compressible when compared to the material of the said supporting elements.

Claim 8

A reel-holding device comprising, a base, a pair of supporting elements extending away from said base with each supporting element defining a cavity near its base end, guiding means on said base for limiting the motion of said supporting elements to a single plane, a shaft located closely adjacent said base and extending adjacent said upright supporting elements, a first jackscrew on said shaft adjacent the first of said elements and arranged to pass through the cavity associated with the first of said pair of supporting elements, a first threaded means cooperating with said first jackscrew and located in said first cavity for moving said first element when said shaft is rotated, said first threaded means being in the form of a nut which has a loose fit in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said first jackscrew whereby to permit easy assembly of said first jackscrew, a second jackscrew on said shaft adjacent the second of said elements and arranged to pass through the cavity associated with the second of said pair of supporting elements, a second threaded means cooperating with said second jackscrew and located in said second cavity for moving said second element when said shaft is rotated, said second threaded means being in the form of a nut which has a loose fit in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said second jackscrew whereby to permit easy assembly of said second jackscrew, the first and second jackscrews and their cooperating first and second threaded means being arranged to move the elements toward each other when the shaft is rotated in one direction and away from each other when the shaft is rotated in the other direction, first and second reel-holding rotatable shafts respectively supported at the free ends of the supporting elements and on a common axis, each of said reel-holding rotatable shafts extending from its supporting element toward the other such supporting element and each having a clamping disc thereon located between the two supporting elements, driving means coupled to one of said reel-holding rotatable shafts for rotating said one of said reel-holding rotatable shafts to thereby rotate said reel, and brake element means between each said disc and its complementary supporting element, each brake element means being of material that is relatively compressible when compared to the material of the said supporting elements.