A gel tensioning device maintains tension on a gel. The gel is wound between two rollers as the diameters of the rollers change by rolling and unrolling the gel, the amount of movement between the two rollers also changes. This difference in movement is absorbed by a spring that biases the rollers relative to one another. The present invention preferably applies force to one of the rollers, that one roller connects to a special spring assembly and through that special spring assembly to the other roller. The special spring assembly includes a special kind of spring, which has desirable characteristics but is susceptible to reverse winding. A roller clutch allows force to be applied to the spring in the winding direction only and not in the non-winding direction. This prevents damage to the spring from any reverse winding.