Takeup spool drive with clutch mechanism and method of operation

A takeup spool drive mechanism including a takeup spool, a driver and a driven member, said spool having internal drive teeth and being mounted for rotation on an axis in forward and reverse directions, is characterized by:

• said driven member being rotatably mounted on said axis and having a flange extending within said spool, said flange having first and second angularly spaced openings aligned laterally with said drive teeth, each said opening being defined by angularly opposite edges of said flange;
• said driver being rotatably mounted on said axis and within said flange;
• said driver including a radially projecting lug extending into said first opening of the flange, said lug being engagable with said opposite edges defining said first opening for driving said driven member in either forward or reverse directions of rotation, said lug being sufficiently narrower than said first opening to provide lash allowing limited oscillating movement of said driver relative to said flange;
• and
• said driver further including an outwardly biased radially movable finger extending through said second opening into engagement with said drive teeth for driving said spool in said forward direction when said lug is positioned against one of said edges of the first opening with the lash taken up in said forward direction of rotation;
• said finger and one of said opposite edges defining said second opening having cooperating angled surfaces operative to cam said finger radially inward out of engagement with said drive teeth when said driver is oscillated relative to said flange to take up said lash in said reverse direction, said spool being thereby freed for rotation about said driver.