REEL HAVING AN IMPROVED RECIPROCATING MECHANISM

A reel (20) comprises a drum assembly (22) enclosed within a shell comprising upper and lower shell portions (24, 26). The drum assembly (22) is secured to the lower shell portion (26). The drum assembly (22) comprises a motor-driven rotating drum (36) secured between two discs (38, 40), and a frame subassembly (23). The drum (36) is adapted to receive linear material (150) spooled thereon. An outer surface of one of the discs has a spiral groove (88), with a first end (90) near the center of the disc and a second end (92) near an outer edge. The second end (92) is tapered to lesser depth. The frame subassembly (23) includes a track assembly (54) facing the disc with the spiral groove (88) and a translating plate (70) adapted to translate horizontally within the track assembly. As the drum and discs rotate, horizontal pins (76, 78) of the plate (70) alternatingly engage the spiral groove (88), causing the translating plate to translate linearly within the track assembly. The translating plate is connected to and causes the upper shell portion to reciprocatingly rotate about a vertical axis with respect to the lower shel l portion and drum assembly. A guide aperture (128) is provided in the upper shell portion, through which linear material (150) is drawn onto the rotating drum (36). Advantageously, the aperture translates through an arc in front of the drum (36), so that the linear material (150) is distributed across the drum surface as it is wound.