Apparatus for winding and unwinding an elongated flexible member

Apparatus for winding and unwinding an elongated flexible member of the type wherein an end of said flexible member is affixed to a winding rod and said flexible member is wound on said winding rod or unwound from said winding rod, respectively, said apparatus comprising

• a winding rod mounted for selective rotation in winding and unwinding directions about a fixed axis of rotation;
• an elongated flexible member having one end affixed to said winding rod;
• traction means operatively connected to said flexible member for selectively pulling said flexible member at a predetermined speed in said winding and unwinding directions;
• first driving means selectively rotatable in normal and reverse directions and including a torque motor for driving said winding rod;
• and
• clutch means operatively coupling said driving means to said winding rod, said clutch means being maintained in a disengaged state during the unwinding operation of said winding rod by making the speed of rotation of said driving means in the reverse direction higher than the speed of rotation of said winding rod in the unwinding direction thereby considerably reducing tension of said flexible member during said unwinding operation.