Reel spindle for multiple width reels

Claim 1

A reel spindle particularly adapted to accommodate reels of different widths while maintaining the same center line thereof, said spindle comprising a mounting hub adapted to be rotated, a first spindle section fixed in axially aligned relation to said hub, means for maintaining driving engagement with a reel mounted on said spindle, at least two spindle sections pivotally connected to said first section with releasable means for maintaining the same in axial alignment with said first section but permitting either of said sections to be pivoted into a retaining position disposed at substantially right angles to the axis of said first spindle section and in this position to engage and retain a reel on said spindle, the outer section being disposed in retaining position for reels of greater width and the inner spindle section being disposed in retaining position for reels of lesser width, and yieldable means for engaging the reel on the opposite side thereof from the retaining spindle element to maintain contact between the reel and said spindle element, the difference between the effective length of said pivoted spindle sections being equal to one-half the difference between the width of the reels to be mounted thereon to maintain a common center line location for different width reels.