Engineering Overview
Autoreel has a complementary range of dancers, accumulators, and catenary arms. These units are used on a production line in conjunction with take-ups or payoffs to synchronise the drum speed to that of the material being processed.
Dancers and accumulators can be produced to suit any product and process. Different sheaves are used according to the type of material.
As well as free-standing units, dancers can also be integrated directly with a take-up or payoff machine, thus reducing floor space and improving control.
Machinery in Action • Factory Demonstration
Continuous Line Tension Control Dancer & Speed Accumulator
Pneumatic analog closed-loop speed feedback synchronising take-up speed with production lines to prevent material stretch.
Dancer & Accumulator Range Configurations
| Configuration | Sheave Material | Tension Control | Integration Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Duty / Delicate Wire | Precision Aluminium / Delrin | Precision Pneumatic Regulator | Free Standing or Machine Mounted |
| Medium Duty / Cable & Cord | Machined Steel / Polyurethane | Pneumatic or Counterbalance | Integrated with Take-Up / Payoff |
| Heavy Duty / Armoured Cable & Pipe | Hardened Alloy Steel | Heavy Pneumatic Cylinders | Continuous Line Accumulator Tower |
Standard Equipment & Safety
- Low-friction sealed precision sheave bearings.
- Proportional 0–10V or 4–20mA analog speed reference potentiometer.
- Adjustable tension damper arm.
- Over-travel emergency stop limit switches.
Optional Extras Available
- Multi-pass accumulator frames for continuous non-stop drum swaps.
- Ceramic coated guide sheaves for abrasive wire rope.
- Digital optical position encoder.
Bespoke Modifications & Custom Drum Requirements
Over 60% of all Autoreel machinery built at our Nottingham plant includes customised modifications such as extended drum widths, automatic closed-loop cable layering, hazardous area ATEX enclosures, or specialised coiling attachments. Contact our design desk on +44 (0)115 939 0200 or email autoreel@autoreel.co.uk.