ROPE AUTO SPOOLER MACHINE
A rope auto spooler is configured to spool rope onto a cable spool. The rope auto spooler includes a frame, a spool mounting and driving assembly rotatably mounted on the frame around a first axis, the spool mounting and driving assembly configured to mount the spool thereon, a guide linearly translatable along the frame along a second axis, the guide being configured to accept rope therethrough, and a drive apparatus to which the guide is operatively coupled, the drive apparatus configured to linearly translate the guide relative to the frame along the second axis.
1 . A rope auto spooler configured to spool rope onto a cable spool, the rope auto spooler comprising:
a frame;
a spool mounting and driving assembly configured to mount the spool thereon and configured to rotate the spool relative to the frame around a first axis, the spool mounting and driving assembly including a seat onto which the spool is mounted and a motor configured to rotate the seat;
a guide linearly translatable along the frame along a second axis, the guide being configured to accept rope therethrough; and
a drive apparatus to which the guide is operatively coupled, the drive apparatus is configured to linearly translate the guide relative to the frame along the second axis.
2 . The rope auto spooler of claim 1 , wherein the first and second axes extend in substantially the same direction.
3 . The rope auto spooler of claim 2 , further comprising a capstan mounted on the frame and rotatably mounted on the frame around a third axis.
4 . The rope auto spooler of claim 3 , wherein the third axis extends in the substantially same direction as the first and second axes.
5 . The rope auto spooler of claim 3 , wherein the third axis extends in a different direction from the first and second axes.
6 . The rope auto spooler of claim 1 , further in combination with a cable puller.
7 . The rope auto spooler of claim 1 , wherein the first and second axes are horizontal.
8 . The rope auto spooler of claim 7 , further comprising a capstan rotatably mounted on the frame around a third axis.
9 . The rope auto spooler of claim 8 , wherein the third axis is horizontal.
10 . The rope auto spooler of claim 1 , wherein the first and second axes are vertical.
11 . The rope auto spooler of claim 10 , further comprising a capstan rotatably mounted on the frame around a third axis.
12 . The rope auto spooler of claim 11 , wherein the third axis is horizontal.
13 . The rope auto spooler of claim 1 , further comprising a capstan rotatably mounted on the frame around a third axis.
14 . The rope auto spooler of claim 13 , wherein the guide is mounted between the capstan and the spool mounting and driving assembly.
15 . The rope auto spooler of claim 1 , further comprising processing circuitry configured to control the motor to rotate the seat.
16 . The rope auto spooler of claim 15 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to control the drive apparatus to linearly translate the guide.
17 . The rope auto spooler of claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly includes a second motor.
18 . The rope auto spooler of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor mounted on the frame configured to sense the presence of a rope in the guide.
19 . The rope auto spooler of claim 1 , wherein the seat is provided by a platform.
20 . The rope auto spooler of claim 1 , wherein the seat is provided by a roller.