B65H75/4484

REEL WITH AUTOMATIC LINE EXTENSION
20220332539 · 2022-10-20 ·

An automatic line reel includes a flexible line wound onto a motor-driven reel assembly. A processor controlling the motor detects contact pressure between the flexible line and a triangular pressure transducer, automatically extending the flexible line when the contact pressure exceeds a preset threshold. Line extension stops when contact pressure falls below a second preset threshold. The flexible line may be retracted and rewound around the reel assembly by activation of a switch on a wireless remoted control, by a switch on the automatic line reel, or by activation of a smart phone application program in data communication with the processor controlling the reel assembly. A reel assembly is optionally configured to maintain uninterrupted fluid communications through the automatic line reel as the reel assembly rotates. The reel assembly may optionally be configured to maintain uninterrupted electrical signal communication through the automatic line reel.

Autolacing footwear motor having rotary drum encoder

An article of footwear, method, and motorized lacing system includes a motor, including a motor shaft, a spool, coupled to the motor shaft, configured to spool and unspool the lace based on the turning of the motor shaft, a processor circuit, and a three-dimensional encoder. The three-dimensional encoder defines a major axis and has a surface having a tabs extending from a drum, an optical sensor, positioned within optical range of the cylindrical encoder, configured to output a signal to the processor circuit indicative of a detected one of the tabs, and a beam break, positioned between the three-dimensional encoder and the optical sensor, forming a pair of slits. The optical sensor is positioned to view the tabs through the pair of slits, wherein the processor circuit is configured to operate the motor based, at least in part, on the signal as received from the optical sensor.

Pipeline inspection device

A pipeline inspection device including a stand, a drum rotatably supported by the stand, the drum including an opening in a front wall of the drum, a cable disposed at least partially within the drum, the cable including a camera disposed on a distal end of the cable, the camera and the cable configured to be directed into a conduit, a hub including a body at least partially insertable into the opening of the drum, the hub being electrically coupled to the cable when inserted into the opening, a wireless communication module housed within the hub, and a battery supported by the hub, the battery and the hub being removable from the drum as a single unit.

Drain cleaning device

A drain cleaning device includes a drum, and a cable positioned within the drum. The cable is operable to be extended out of the drum and into a conduit. The drain cleaning device also includes a motor coupled to the drum to rotate the drum, a sensor operable to detect a characteristic of the cable, and a controller coupled to the sensor and the motor. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the sensor indicative of the characteristic of the cable and send an instruction to the motor to change an operating parameter of the motor based on the signal received from the sensor.

AUTOMATED FOOTWEAR LACING SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND TECHNIQUES
20230138617 · 2023-05-04 ·

In an example, a lacing engine apparatus can include a housing and a drivetrain. The housing can be securable within a footwear article. The drivetrain can include a motor, a sun gear, a planet gear, a rotating ring gear, and a spool. The spool can be secured to the ring gear and can be rotatable therewith. The spool can be configured to control a lace of the footwear article and can be configured to wind the lace as the ring gear rotates in a first direction.

PIPELINE INSPECTION DEVICE
20230201893 · 2023-06-29 ·

A hub for use with a pipeline inspection device including a reel and a cable disposed at least partially within the reel, the cable including a camera. The the hub includes a body configured to be selectively coupled to the reel, a mating member positioned on the body, where the mating member is configured to removably secure the body to the reel, a wireless communication module positioned within the body, where the wireless communication module is configured to create a wireless connection between the hub and a remote device including a display, a battery receptacle on the body, and a battery removably coupled to the battery receptacle, the battery configured to provide power to the camera.

DRAIN CLEANING DEVICE
20230193615 · 2023-06-22 ·

A drain cleaning device including a drum, a cable positioned within the drum, a motor coupled to the drum to rotate the drum, a cable feed device operable to extend the cable out of the drum and retract the cable into the drum, a sensor operable to detect a performance characteristic of the drain cleaning device, and a controller coupled to the sensor and to the motor, the cable feed device, or both. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the sensor indicative of the performance characteristic of the drain cleaning device, and send an instruction to the motor, the cable feed device, or both to change an operating parameter of the motor, the cable feed device, or both based on the signal received from the sensor.

Ceiling Lift Tilt Management System
20170354559 · 2017-12-14 ·

A ceiling lift tilt management system includes first and second motor units, which are attachable to a rail system of a medical care facility. Each motor unit includes a flexible strap, which can be coiled or uncoiled within the motor unit to raise or lower a spreader bar attached thereto. Coiling or uncoiling of the straps can cause raising or lowering of a sling attached to the spreader bars. The system also allows for tilting of the spreader bars by coiling or uncoiling a leading motor unit strap. The system includes a control system that measures the relative lengths of the two straps in order to ensure that relative tilt between the spreader bars does not exceed a threshold. Once a threshold tilt for height difference is reached, further user requests for additional tilting are prohibited. Patient comfort and safety are therefore ensured.

Control system for electrical cord reel

In an electrical cord reel, a rotatable member can rotate about a winding axis to spool and unspool a linear material. An input power connector can couple to an electrical power source. An output power connector on the rotatable member can couple to an electrical cord at least partially wound about the rotatable member. A switch is adjustable to allow or prevent electrical current flow from the input power connector to the output power connector. In an aspect, the electrical cord reel includes an electric cord comprising a first power wire, a second power wire, and a signal wire. A method of controlling the electric cord spool system includes energizing the first power wire and the signal wire. The method further includes determining a continuity of the signal wire. The method further includes de-energizing the first power wire when determining discontinuity of the signal wire.

ELECTRIC WINDER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME
20220048727 · 2022-02-17 ·

The disclosure provides an electric winder and a method for controlling the same. The electric winder includes a winder body, a socket and a controller. When a plug is inserted into the contact assembly through the insertion hole, the strain sensor is configured to detect a deformation of the contact assembly caused by the plug, and send the deformation to the controller. The controller is configured to receive the deformation sent from the strain sensor. When the deformation is greater than a deformation threshold, the controller controls the drive mechanism to be in a stop state to prevent the reel from winding.