Control method for an electric seatbelt retractor and electric seatbelt retractor

A control method for an electric seatbelt retractor comprising the steps of,

• providing a spindle and a seatbelt wound thereon,
• providing an electric motor driving the spindle via a rotor in a pull-in direction or in a pull-out direction when activated,
• providing a sensor device detecting the movement of the spindle,
• providing a spring which is arranged between the spindle and the rotor enabling a relative movement of the spindle to the rotor or to a retractor-fixed part, and
• controlling the electric motor by a signal of the sensor device generated by the relative movement of the spindle to the rotor or the retractor-fixed part with a torsional tensioning or torsional expanding of the spring,
• wherein the controlling step further comprises the steps of,
• tensioning the spring by a first relative movement of the spindle to the rotor or to the retractor-fixed part in a first direction,
• driving the spindle, by the tensioned spring, subsequently to a second relative movement of the spindle to the rotor or to the retractor-fixed part in a second direction, which is oriented opposite to the first direction such that the tensioned spring only initiates a short rotational movement of the spindle between 5 and 20 degrees, and
• generating the signal by the sensor device when detecting the second movement of the spindle, by which the electric motor is activated to drive the spindle in the second direction.