Synchronized drive and cable handling system for a rotational machine element

In a machine of the type incorporating a driven rotational element, upon which element are carried devices to which a medium is required to be supplied through cables attached thereto, which cables terminate externally of the rotational element, an improved synchronized drive and cable handling system for the rotational element by which the cables are smoothly and reliably fed at a substantially constant tension during rotation of the element, said improvement comprising:

• first and second spaced-apart idler pulley sets about which a cable is wound to form an elongated loop with one end of the cable being attached to a device carried by the rotational element, and with the other end of the cable terminating externally thereof, said elongated loop being formed intermediate the cable ends;
• said first pulley set being disposed about a substantially fixed first axis;
• said second pulley set being disposed about a translatable second axis mounted on a lead screw nut mechanism;
• translating means comprising a lead screw upon which said nut mechanism is disposed and a driven pulley operated gear box means for rotating said lead screw and effecting translation of said second axis so as to vary the distance between said first and second axes and thus vary the length of said elongated loop, whereby the cable can be played-out and taken-in with respect to the rotational element;
• a drive means having a motor shaft drive pulley of about which drive pulley and said rotational element a first belt is disposed for causing rotation of the rotational element;
• and a second belt disposed about a drive pulley of said motor shaft and said driven pulley of said lead screw gear box means such that said translating means plays-out and takes-in measured lengths of cable in synchronism with the rotation of the rotational element.