Reel

A reel for an elongate member, comprising:

• a rotatable member onto which the elongate member may be wound and from which it may be unwound,
• support means on which the rotatable member is mounted,
• drive means operable to turn the rotatable member, and
• control means operable to control the drive means, the control means being operable to sense slackness in the elongate member and to turn the rotatable member to take up the slack, and being operable to sense tautness in the elongate member and to cause the drive means to cease turning the rotatable member to allow the elongate member to be unwound from the rotatable member,
• the drive means comprising an electric motor and the control means comprising first switch means which operates when the elongate member becomes slack or taut, thereby causing the electric motor to turn or to cease to turn the rotatable member,
• the rotatable member being mounted to move relative to the support means by a second movement other than turning to wind the elongate member and to do so in response to the elongate member becoming taut, the first switch means sensing the second movement to control the drive means,
• and the reel further comprising second switch means operable in response to second movement of a magnitude greater than is required to operate the first switch means, the second switch means being operable to disable and re-enable the drive means.