An automatic wire puller for use with standard fish tape reels having a play out and take up handle and an axial multisided aperture in the reel case, the wire puller comprising:
- a frame,
- a fish tape reel holder rotatably mounted to the frame, the reel holder having a plate and a plurality of support pins selectively mountable in a second plurality of spaced apertures drilled in the plate to match the intersection of the sides of the reel case aperture for several standard reel cases, the mounted support pins supporting the reel case,
- an arm pivotally mounted to the frame at the axis of rotation of the reel holder,
- a reversible electric motor mounted to the arm distal the pivot point,
- first control means mounted to the frame for providing power to the electric motor and selecting the first and second direction of operation of the motor,
- second control means remote from the frame for directing power to the electric motor and selecting the first and second direction of operation, the second control means having first momentary and continuous power controls for the first direction of operation and second momentary and continuous power controls for the second direction of operation, the second control means also having first means for indicating power to the second control means for the first direction, second means for indicating power to the second control means for the second direction, third means for indicating continuous operation in the first direction and fourth means for indicating continuous operation in the second direction,
- a means for selecting between the first control means and second control means,
- a sprocket driven by the motor,
- a plurality of drive pins mounted to the plate in spaced relation about the axis of rotation to engage the sprocket,
- a spring connected between the frame and the arm urging the arm to a first rest position against a stop mounted on the frame,
- a first micro-switch mounted to the frame in the arc of rotation of the arm to contact the arm at a second torqued position,
- means interconnecting the first micro-switch and motor for removing power to the motor upon contact of the micro-switch by the arm,
- means interconnecting the first micro-switch and the first indicator means for extinguishing the first indicator means upon contact of the micro-switch by the arm,
- a U-shaped clamp pivotally mounted at the base of the U to the frame and extending perpendicular thereto, the plane of the arms of the U tangent to the arc of rotation of the handle of the mounted fish tape reel,
- linkage means urging the clamp to an open position with the arms of the U parallel to the rotation of the handle,
- means for constraining the clamp in a closed position with the arms of the U perpendicular to the rotation of the handle,
- a second micro switch mounted to the frame proximate the linkage means for contact by the linkage means when the clamp is in the closed position,
- means interconnecting the second micro-switch and first control means for disabling the first control means in the first direction when the second micro-switch is contacted,
- a third micro-switch mounted to the frame proximate the linkage means for contact by the linkage means upon pivoting of the clamp beyond the closed position,
- means interconnecting the third micro-switch and the motor for removing power to the motor in the second direction when the third micro-switch is contacted,
- a slotted plate hingedly mounted to the frame and extending perpendicular thereto in a first closed position, the plate rotatable about the hinge to a second open position, the slot extending to an edge of the plate distal the hinge and having width greater than fish tape width and less than the width of a leader attached to the end of the tape,
- a means for releasably constraining the plate in the first closed position whereby the fish tape passing through the slot allows the slotted plate to remain in the closed position while the leader will be captured by the slot causing the slotted plate to rotate from the closed to the open position,
- a fourth micro-switch mounted to the frame proximate the slotted plate for contact by the plate in the closed position,
- means interconnecting the fourth micro-switch with the clamp constraining means for releasing the clamp upon contact of the fourth micro-switch,
- a second arm pivotally mounted to the frame about the axis of rotation of the reel holder,
- a fifth micro-switch mounted to the second arm at a radius from the axis of rotation slightly greater than the radius of the fish tape reel whereby the handle of the fish tape when released from the clamp will rotate in the second direction to contact the fifth micro-switch,
- means interconnecting the fifth micro-switch to the motor for interrupting power to the motor upon contact of the fifth micro-switch, and
- means for mounting the frame to a standard electrical box.