WO2003006355A1

WO2003006355A1 - Mounting jig and trolley for mounting and optionally transporting a roll of material

Info

Publication number: WO2003006355A1
Application number: PCT/AU2002/000872
Authority: WO
Inventors: David J Stevens
Original assignee: Cryovac Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2001-07-13
Filing date: 2002-07-02
Publication date: 2003-01-23
Also published as: NZ530674A; AUPR636201A0

Abstract

A mounting jig for mounting a roll of material (14) comprising: a mounting shaft (11) onto which the cylindrical roll is mounted; and a locking portion (12) including at least one electro-magnetic lock (13), the locking portion being associated with the mounting shaft, wherein the electro-magnetic lock is adapted to engage an inner surface of the roll of material.

Description

MOUNTING JIG AND TROLLEY FOR MOUNTING AND OPTIONALLY TRANSPORTING A ROLL OF MATERIAL

The present invention relates to a mounting jig for mounting a roll, such as a cylindrical roll, and to a trolley for transporting such a roll. More particularly, the invention relates to mounting jigs and trolleys which include same having, as a locking mechanism, an electromagnetic lock.

Devices and systems for mounting cylindrical rolls are known. For example, United States Patent No. 5,163,725 discloses a method for mounting and transporting of rolls of carpet material wherein a plug is thrust into the cylindrical roll onto which the carpet material is wound. The plug is adapted to receive the lift pole of a lift truck, thus facilitating lifting and transport of the roll. A roll chucking apparatus is also disclosed in United States Patent No. 5,308,217. In this case, openings at each end of the cylindrical roll of material receive opposed support pins which engage and support the roll.

The present invention aims to provide an alternative means for mounting a roll of material, for transport or for unwinding the roll of material, particularly for unwinding the roll of material.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a mounting jig for mounting a roll of material comprising: a mounting shaft onto which the cylindrical roll is mounted; and a locking portion including at least one electro-magnetic lock, the locking portion being associated with the mounting shaft, wherein the electro-magnetic lock is adapted to engage an inner surface of the roll of material.

According to the invention, at least one electro-magnetic lock is provided on the mounting jig to facilitate locking engagement of the roll on the mounting jig. This may be achieved by any suitable arrangement. For example, the locking portion may include a plurality of electro-magnetic strip locks spaced about the circumference of the shaft. In this case, the roll may include a metallic core, or may have a metallic plug inserted into the core to facilitate locking of the core with the electro-magnetic locks. Preferably, however, the electro-magnetic lock is secured to the distal end of the mounting shaft, and preferably engages an internal metallic rim of the roll. In this case, the internal metallic rim may be provided by means of an insert or may be integral with the inner wall of the roll. More particularly, the roll is a cylindrical roll and the electro-magnetic lock is a circular lock sized to fit within the roll of material and engage the internal rim.

In order to facilitate alignment of the shaft during mounting of the roll on the shaft, the mounting shaft preferably includes a collar at a proximal end thereof. It will be recognised, however, that the collar may be disposed at any position along the shaft depending on the depth of insertion of the shaft into the roll. The collar preferably includes a forward frustoconical section which assists in the insertion of the collar into the roll, and a rearward section the diameter of which is only slightly less than the internal diameter of the roll to ensure that only minimal movement of the roll on the shaft is possible.

Although the electro-magnetic lock or locks will, in use, firmly engage the roll in position, the roll may in some instances be unstable on disengagement of the electro-magnetic lock. Therefore, for safety reasons, it is preferable that the locking portion includes means for preventing the roll from falling off the shaft on disengagement of the electro-magnetic lock. In a preferred embodiment, the locking portion includes a mandrel or circumferential groove on the locking portion which is adapted to receive an internal rim of the roll. For example, the internal rim of the roll may be that which is preferably engaged by the electro-magnetic lock as discussed above.

The mounting jig is preferably used for unwinding of material from the roll, such as unwinding of film from a cylindrical roll. As such, the mounting shaft is generally rotatably mounted for axial rotation. For example, the mounting shaft may be mounted on a support, which may take the form of a trolley or a fixed support, by means of a bearing joint. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a trolley for transporting a roll of material, the trolley comprising: a mounting jig which includes a mounting shaft onto which the roll of material is mounted and a locking portion including at least one electro-magnetic lock adapted to engage an inner surface of the roll, the locking portion being associated with the mounting shaft; and a supporting frame relative to which the mounting jig is mounted to facilitate lifting of the roll of material from a rest position to an elevated position, the support frame including means for facilitating conveyance of the trolley.

According to this aspect of the invention, the mounting jig of the trolley may include the preferred features discussed and set out above.

The support frame for mounting the jig, or relative to which the jig is mounted, facilitates lifting of the roll of material and includes means for facilitating conveyance of the trolley. More particularly, when the roll of material is loaded onto the mounting shaft, the mounting jig may be moved from the rest position to the elevated position either manually or automatically. Preferably, the trolley includes a motor which can be actuated to lift the roll of material to the elevated position. In this regard, the support frame preferably includes two guiding struts relative to which the mounting jig is mounted to ensure vertical movement of the mounting jig from the rest position to the elevated position. More preferably, the mounting jig includes a pair of collars on either side of the mounting jig which receive the guiding struts of the support frame.

To facilitate conveyance of the trolley, the support frame preferably includes a chassis provided with wheels. More preferably, the chassis includes two spaced legs which extend on either side of and parallel to the mounting shaft, each leg having front and rear swivel wheels. The support frame may also be provided with handles to assist an operator in steering of the trolley during conveyance thereof. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for mounting a roll comprising: providing a roll having an internal metallic rim; mounting the roll on a mounting jig which includes a mounting shaft and a locking portion including an electro-magnetic lock adapted to engage the internal rim of the roll; and engaging the internal rim of the roll with the electro-magnetic lock.

According to the system of the invention, the internal rim of the roll may be integral with the roll or may be provided by means of an insert fitted into the roll. Alternatively, the internal rim may be replaced with internal abutment surfaces circumferentially spaced on the internal wall of the roll.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a mounting jig according to one aspect of the invention;

Figures 2A-2B illustrate another embodiment of a mounting jig;

Figure 3 illustrates a cut-away view of the locking portion of the mounting jig; and Figures 4A-4D illustrate a trolley which includes the mounting jig.

Referring to Figure 1, the mounting jig 10 includes a mounting shaft 11 and a locking portion 12. The locking portion 12 includes an electro-magnetic lock 13 which, in use, is inserted into a roll 14 and which engages an internal rim 15 of the roll 14. The internal rim 15 is integral with the roll 14 and is located at a longitudinal mid point of the roll 14. This advantageously ensures that the mounting jig 10 can be inserted into the roll 14 from either end thereof and the electro-magnetic lock 13 may engage the rim 15 from either side while the system will remain balanced.

The mounting jig 10 further includes a collar 16 which includes a frustoconical front portion 17 to assist in the insertion of the mounting jig 10 into the roll 14. More particularly, the collar 16 acts as a guide for the mounting jig on insertion into the roll 14. Referring to Figures 2A-2B, an alternative embodiment is shown wherein the locking portion 12 is engaged with the internal rim 15 of the roll 14. These Figures, as well as Figure 3 more clearly illustrate a mandrel 18 which, on disengagement of the locking portion 12 with the internal rim 15, is adapted to receive the internal rim 15 in the event that the roll 14 begins to slip off the mounting jig.

Referring to Figure 3, in more detail the locking portion 12 includes a spigot core 40 and an inner coil housing 41 and an outer coil housing 42 which house an inner coil 43 and outer coil 44 respectively. The inner and outer coils 43, 44 are held in place by means of an epoxy resin adhesive. The unit as a whole is fastened to a magnetic coupling shaft 45 by means of fastening screws 46.

Referring to Figures 4A-4D, a trolley 20 for transporting a roll 14 is illustrated. The trolley 20 includes a mounting jig 10 as illustrated in Figure 1, and also includes a support frame 21 onto which the mounting jig 10 is mounted.

The support frame 21 includes a chassis 22 which includes two legs 23, each of which is provided with a pair of swivel wheels 24. Each leg 23 is elongate and extends on either side of the trolley 20 in parallel alignment with the mounting jig 10. This ensures that material wound on the roll 14 is not obstructed by the legs 23 as the material is unwound from the roll 14.

The legs 23 are connected to a body portion 25 of the trolley 20 by means of struts 26. The body 25 acts as a housing for two guide struts 27 which are received by collars 28 mounted relative to the mounting jig 10. The guide struts 27 act to ensure vertical translation of the mounting jig 10 as it is raised from a rest position X to an elevated position Y following engagement of the mounting jig 10 with the roll 14.

To facilitate translation of the mounting jig 10 from the rest position X to the elevated position Y, a lifting mechanism 29 is provided. The lifting mechanism 29 illustrated includes a winding handle 30 which is in winding engagement with the mounting jig 10 by means of a chain link 31. It will be recognised that this manual lifting mechanism 29 may be replaced by an automated system which is powered by a motor.

The trolley 20 also includes handles 32 attached to the body portion 25. Thus, a user of the trolley 20, after engagement of the roll 14 by the electro-magnetic lock of the mounting jig 10 and lifting of the roll to the elevated position Y, can transfer the roll 14 to a desired location, for example to an unwinding station in a packaging system.

The trolley 20 further includes a motorised winding and unwinding mechanism 33 which engages the mounting jig 10 and which facilitates motorised rotation of the mounting jig 10, and therefore the roll 14 when this is engaged on the mounting jig 10. Thus, the trolley 20 may itself act as an unwinding station in a packaging system.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within its spirit and scope. The invention also includes all the steps, features, compositions and compounds referred to or indicated in this specification, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A mounting jig for mounting a roll of material comprising: a mounting shaft onto which the cylindrical roll is mounted; and a locking portion including at least one electro-magnetic lock, the locking portion being associated with the mounting shaft, wherein the electro-magnetic lock is adapted to engage an inner surface of the roll of material.

2. A mounting jig according to claim 1, wherein the electro-magnetic lock is secured to a distal end of the mounting shaft and engages an internal metallic rim of the roll.

3. A mounting jig according to claim 2, wherein the roll is a cylindrical roll and the electro-magnetic lock is a circular lock sized to fit within the roll of material and engage the internal metallic rim.

4. A mounting jig according to claim 1, wherein the mounting shaft includes a collar at a proximal end thereof to facilitate alignment of the shaft during mounting of the cylindrical roll on the shaft.

5. A mounting jig according to claim 4, wherein the collar includes a forward frustoconical section which assists in the insertion of the collar into the roll, and a rearward section the diameter of which is only slightly less than the internal diameter of the roll to ensure that only minimal movement of the roll on the shaft is possible.

6. A mounting jig according to claim 1, wherein the locking portion includes means for preventing the roll from falling off the shaft on disengagement of the electro- magnetic lock.

7. A mounting jig according to claim 6, wherein the locking portion includes a mandrel or circumferential groove on the locking portion which is adapted to receive an internal rim of the roll.

8. A mounting jig according to claim 1, wherein the mounting shaft is rotatably mounted for axial rotation.

9. A mounting jig according to claim 8, wherein the mounting shaft is mounted on a support, in the form of a trolley or a fixed support, by means of a bearing joint.

10. A trolley for transporting a roll of material, the trolley comprising: a mounting jig which includes a mounting shaft onto which the roll of material is mounted and a locking portion including at least one electro-magnetic lock adapted to engage an inner surface of the roll, the locking portion being associated with the mounting shaft; and a supporting frame relative to which the mounting jig is mounted to facilitate lifting of the roll of material from a rest position to an elevated position, the support frame including means for facilitating conveyance of the trolley.

11. A mounting jig according to claim 10, wherein the trolley includes a motor which can be actuated to lift the roll of material to the elevated position.

12. A mounting jig according to claim 10, wherein the support frame includes two guiding struts relative to which the mounting jig is mounted to ensure vertical movement of the mounting jig from the rest position to the elevated position.

13. A mounting jig according to claim 12, wherein the mounting jig includes a pair of collars on either side of the mounting jig which receive the guiding struts of the support frame.

14. A mounting j ig according to claim 10, wherein to facilitate conveyance of the trolley the support frame preferably includes a chassis provided with wheels.

15. A mounting jig according to claim 14, wherein the chassis includes two spaced legs which extend on either side of and parallel to the mounting shaft, each leg having front and rear swivel wheels.

16. A mounting jig according to claim 10, wherein the support frame is provided with handles to assist an operator in steering of the trolley during conveyance thereof.

17. A system for mounting a roll comprising: providing a roll having an internal metallic rim; mounting the roll on a mounting jig which includes a mounting shaft and a locking portion including an electro-magnetic lock adapted to engage the internal rim of the roll; and engaging the internal rim of the roll with the electro-magnetic lock.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the internal rim of the roll is integral with the roll or is provided by means of an insert fitted into the roll.

19. A system according to claim 17, wherein the internal rim is constituted by internal abutment surfaces circumferentially spaced on the internal wall of the roll.