Roller apparatus for a cover and method of use thereof

Roller apparatus for rolling in and/or out a ground cover, said roller apparatus including roller means in the form of a roller member or roller members that are able to roll or rotate across a surface in use, drive means for driving rotation of the roller means in use, and an electrical power source for providing electrical power to the drive means in use, wherein said electrical power source is provided by one or more batteries or one or more rechargeable batteries located internally of the roller means;

• the drive means includes at least one motor and gearing provided internally of the roller means, wherein the gearing is provided closer to an end of the roller means than the at least one motor;
• and the apparatus includes at least one reaction arm, at least part of which is provided externally of the roller means and is arranged for movement across the surface in use;
• and wherein the at least one reaction arm is provided at the end of the roller means which is the same end as where the drive means is provided;
• a rotatable output shaft of the gearing is connected to the at least one reaction arm and is arranged so that movement of the at least one reaction arm across the surface in use is driven directly from the rotation movement generated via the drive means;
• and wherein movement of the at least one reaction arm across the surface drives movement of the roller means across the surface in use.