AU2002344688B2 - Mounting jig and trolley for mounting and optionally transporting a roll of material - Google Patents

Description

P:\OPERPHI 2172520 finaldcO.5/04/06 -1- MOUNTING JIG AND TROLLEY FOR MOUNTING AND OPTIONALLY INC TRANSPORTING A ROLL OF MATERIAL 00 The present invention relates to a mounting jig for mounting a roll, such as a cylindrical 00 IN 5 roll, and to a trolley for transporting such a roll.

t' N4 Devices and systems for mounting cylindrical rolls are known. For example, United States SPatent No. 5,163,725 discloses a method for mounting and transporting 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 a mounting jig for securely mounting a roll of material and a trolley including such a mounting jig.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a mounting jig for mounting a roll of material having a hollow portion, the mounting jig comprising: a mounting shaft for supporting the roll of material; and a locking portion including at least one electro-magnetic lock, the locking portion being associated with the mounting shaft and being adapted to be received in the hollow portion of the roll of material such that the at least one electro-magnetic lock can magnetically engage an inner surface of the hollow portion to lock the roll of material on the mounting shaft.

By 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 electromagnetic strip locks spaced about the circumference of the mounting shaft. In this case, the roll may include a metallic core, or may have a metallic plug inserted into the core to P:\OPERPHI2172520 final.do.-05/0I4/O6 -2facilitate locking of the core with the electro-magnetic locks. Preferably, however, the IDlocking portion is secured to a distal end of the mounting shaft and the at least one electro- 0 magnetic lock is adapted to engage an internal metallic rim of the hollow portion of the roll oO of material. In this case, the internal metallic rim may be provided by means of an insert 00oO O 5 or may be integral with the inner wall of the hollow portion of the roll of material. Most ,preferably, the locking portion has a circular cross-section to fit within a cylindrical hollow portion of the roll of material.

In order to facilitate alignment of the roll of material on the shaft, particularly 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 having a diameter only slightly less than the internal diameter of the hollow portion of the roll to allow only minimal movement of the roll on the shaft.

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 when the at least one electro-magnetic lock is magnetically disengaged from the roll of material. In a preferred embodiment, the locking portion includes a mandrel or includes a circumferential groove which is adapted to receive an internal rim of the hollow portion of the roll of material. Such an internal rim of the hollow portion of the roll may be the same internal rim as that which is preferably engaged by the at least one 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 axially rotatable. 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.

P:\OPER\PHHI2172520 fnal.do-05/04/06 -3- SAccording to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a trolley for transporting a roll of material, the trolley comprising: 00 a mounting jig as described with reference to the first aspect of the invention; 00 a support frame relative to which the mounting jig is adjustably mounted for movement of the mounting jig between a rest position and an elevated position, and i 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 the mounting jig facilitates lifting of a roll of material on the jig.

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 move the mounting jig between the rest portion and the elevated position. In this regard, the support frame preferably includes two guide struts on which the mounting jig is adjustably mounted for movement of the mounting jig between the rest position and the elevated position. More preferably, the mounting jig includes a pair of collars which receive the guide struts of the support frame.

To facilitate conveyance of the trolley, the support frame is preferably mounted on a chassis provided with wheels. More preferably, the chassis includes two spaced legs, each of which extends on a respective side of and parallel to the mounting shaft of the mounting jig, each leg having front and rear swivel wheels. The support frame may also be provided with handles to assist an operator to steer the trolley.

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 surface; mounting the roll on a mounting jig which includes a mounting shaft and a locking P:\OPER\PHFAI2172520 inal.do-05/04106 -4portion including an electro-magnetic lock adapted to magnetically engage the internal INO surface of the roll; and 0 magnetically engaging the internal surface of the roll with the electro-magnetic 00 lock.

00 oO According to the system of the invention, the internal surface of the roll may be in the form I of a rim integral with the roll or provided by 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 by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of a mounting jig according to 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 of Figures 2A and B; and Figures 4A-4D illustrate a trolley which includes the mounting jig of Figure 1.

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 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 P:\OPER\PHHMI2172520 fnal.doc-S4/06 Figure 3 more clearly illustrate a mandrel 18 which, on disengagement of the locking INO portion 12 with the internal rim 15, is adapted to receive the internal rim 15 in the event 0 that the roll 14 begins to slip off the mounting jig.

00 00 O 5 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 C outer coil 44 respectively. The inner and outer coils 43, 44 are held in place by means of San epoxy resin adhesive. The unit as a whole is fastened to a magnetic coupling shaft 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.

P:\OPERTPHMI2172520 fna.doc06/04/06 -6- IoN 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 00 10 and lifting of the roll to the elevated position Y, can transfer the roll 14 to a desired 00 O 5 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 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 (19)

1. A mounting jig for mounting a roll of material having a hollow portion, the 00 mounting jig comprising: 00 a mounting shaft for supporting the roll of material; and a locking portion including at least one electro-magnetic lock, the locking (Ni N' portion being associated with the mounting shaft and being adapted to be received in the hollow portion of the roll of material such that the at least one electro- magnetic lock can magnetically engage an inner surface of the hollow portion to lock the roll of material on the mounting shaft.

2. A mounting jig according to claim 1, wherein the locking portion is secured to a distal end of the mounting shaft and the at least one electro-magnetic lock is adapted to engage an internal metallic rim of the hollow portion of the roll of material.

3. A mounting jig according to claim 2, wherein the locking portion has a circular cross-section to fit within a cylindrical hollow portion of the roll of material.

4. A mounting jig according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mounting shaft includes a collar to facilitate alignment of the roll of material on the mounting shaft.

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 of material, and a rearward section having a diameter only slightly less than the internal diameter of the hollow portion of the roll of material to allow only minimal movement of the roll of material on the mounting shaft.

6. A mounting jig according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the locking portion includes means for preventing the roll of material from falling off the mounting P:\OPER\PHFIi2172520 final.doc-O504/06 -8- shaft when the at least one electro-magnetic lock is magnetically disengaged from INO the roll of material. 0 00

7. A mounting jig according to claim 6, wherein the locking portion includes a 00oO mandrel or includes a circumferential groove which is adapted to receive an internal rim of the hollow portion of the roll of material.

8. A mounting jig according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the mounting shaft is axially rotatable.

9. A mounting jig according to claim 8, wherein the mounting shaft is rotatably mounted on a support by means of a bearing joint.

A mounting jig for mounting a roll of material, the mounting jig being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A trolley for transporting a roll of material, the trolley comprising: a mounting jig according to any one of claims 1 to a support frame relative to which the mounting jig is adjustably mounted for movements of the mounting jig between a rest position and an elevated position; and means for facilitating conveyance of the trolley.

12. A trolley according to claim 11, including a motor which can be actuated to move the mounting jig between the rest position and the elevated position.

13. A trolley according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the support frame includes two guide struts on which the mounting jig is adjustably mounted for movement of the mounting jig between the rest position and the elevated position.

14. A trolley according to claim 13, wherein the mounting jig includes a pair of collars PAOPERPHH\I 2172520 final,doc-0504/06 -9- which receive the guide struts of the support frame.

NO A trolley according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the support frame is 00 mounted on a chassis provided with wheels. 00 0

16. A trolley according to claim 15, wherein the chassis includes two spaced legs, each C, of which extends on a respective side of and parallel to the mounting shaft of the Smounting jig, each leg having front and rear swivel wheels.

17. A trolley according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the support frame is provided with handles to assist an operator to steer the trolley.

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

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the internal surface of the roll is in the form of a rim integral with the roll or provided by an insert fitted into the roll. A system according to claim 18, wherein the internal surface is in the form of internal abutment surfaces circumferentially spaced on the internal wall of the roll. Dated this 6 t h day of April, 2006 Cryovac Australia Pty Ltd by their Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE