Golf ball retrieval system with automatic cable guide

Abstract

Golf ball retrieval system includes a mechanism for winding cable on a spool on the vehicle to evenly distributes the cable across the width of the spool as it is wound to prevent the cable from bunching up on one side of the spool or from binding on the spool. The spool is driven by a motor which is connected to two sprockets which are turned as the motor turns to wind or unwind the cable. An arm has one end connected to a chain connecting the sprockets and the opposite end connected to a cable guide carriage. As the motor rotates to wind or unwind cable onto or from the spool, the cable guide carriage reciprocates parallel with the axis of the spool to guide the cable onto or from the spool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball retrieval system comprising:
 a vehicle;   a golf ball retrieving device;   a spool mounted on the vehicle comprising cable wound thereon that is connected to the golf ball retrieval device; the spool having a width greater than the width of the cable;   the spool comprising an axis;   a motor connected to the spool operable to rotate the spool to wind the cable onto the spool;   a pair of sprockets connected by a chain, at least one of the sprockets being operably connected to the motor such that the sprockets rotate when the motor rotates the spool to thereby move the chain;   a cable guide through which the cable passes;   an arm connecting the chain to the cable guide, such that the cable guide reciprocates parallel with the axis of the spool to thereby guide the cable along the width of the spool.