has grown to a diameter beyond the observed fault region in the prior art whereupon the primary arms 56 are retracted thereby disengaging the drive belt 60 so that the spool 24 ceases to have torque applied by the drive motor 62 the centre wind assist device 50 is returned to its original position fig5 by pivoting of the main frame member 72 about its axis as the primary arms 56 retract as the belt 60 ceases to engage the pulley 58 the resulting slack in the belt 60 is taken up by the sliding pulley 68 in the retracted position fig4 and 5 the belt tension is automatically lowered such that a new empty reel spool can be received ready to repeat the cycle the centre wind assist device of the invention provides a number of benefits not previously attainable with a paper making machine winding mechanism the drive roll provides controlled torque input to the reel spool resulting in improved wound in tension since the device is automatically engaged when a new spool is loaded into the machine the centre wind assist device serves to accelerate the spool to machine speed and replaces the existing reel spool starter the use of a timing drive belt ensures that the spool is at the correct speed before becoming engaged against the reel drum the device of the invention does not interfere with the.