EP0089251A1 - Method of packaging a reel by means of a sheet metal strip - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of wrapping a spool with metal ribbon, as well as to the spool and to the ribbon designed to carry out the method. The method is particularly characterized by the fact that, while the ribbon (12) is still being profiled only transversely, it is first kept tangent to the band (7) of flanges (4), then, as it is being deformed elastically, it is wound progressively and, as winding proceeds, the edges are fixed on said binding (7) of the flanges (4) by applying stresses on the median portion in such a way as to cause it to bulge outwardly.

Description

The invention relates to a method of packaging a reel with metallic strip as well as to the reel and the strip designed to implement this method and to the reel thus packaged.

For their storage and handling, products such as wires, cables and sheets are generally packaged on reels, commonly known as "reels", formed by a drum and two flanges, which reels must, for their protection against blows and attacks from outside agents, be wrapped in packaging.

In the first known embodiments, this packaging consisted of a series of wooden crosspieces arranged parallel to the axis of the spool and the ends of which rested on the two flanges, on the periphery of which flanges they were nailed, which however constituted quite a long job to do.

To facilitate the installation of these crosspieces, in an alternative embodiment, ligatures pre-assemble these crosspieces so as to form a curtain which then suffices to unroll around the spool and to connect the two ends by exerting between them a tension to ensure the maintenance of the packaging (FR-A-2,095,890).

Commonly known as "staves", by analogy with the longitudinal pieces of wood forming the barrel body, these wooden sleepers bearing on the periphery of the flanges have the drawback of significantly increasing the size of the coils which obviously has repercussions. on the price of transport and storage.

Despite this significant increase in the size they cause, these crosspieces prove to be fragile to shocks. To obtain a more resistant packaging, it is also known (US-A-1,913,477) to replace wooden sleepers with metal sleepers known as closure plates, previously stamped, then to conform without constraints to the curves of the periphery of the flanges on which they will be fixed.

Thus distributed on the periphery of the reels, whether they are made of wood or metal, the sleepers, on the one hand, keep gaps between them allowing external agents to access the product packaged on the reel and to attack it and, on the other hand, form facets at the periphery that interfere with the rolling of the coils on the ground.

For the handling of these reels, the engagement of the lifting straps under the reel is not easy because at least with the wooden sleepers the said reel supports the ground by a whole generator.

In order to remedy some of the drawbacks of these wooden staves or of these metal closure plates, it is known (FR-A-2.324.140) to package the packaged product on the reel with a strip of width slightly less than the distance measured between the flanges so as to come to bear no longer on the periphery of the flanges but on the product, and this, generally after interposition of blocks of plastic foam.

If this strip does not increase the size, does not interfere with the rolling and allows passage to the lifting straps, on the other hand, unlike the wooden staves which ensure the clamping of the flanges, it no longer strengthens the coils. In addition, despite the foam blocks possibly interposed, the shocks on the strip are quickly transmitted to the product.

The major drawback, however, remains the need either to specially slit the strip to adapt it to the real width of each reel whose manufacturing tolerances are fairly wide, or to make the strip with a width much smaller than the average distance. between the flanges to absorb the manufacturing tolerances but then near the flanges, the product may be discovered.

Since the strip is too thin to excessively increase the diametrical size, it is known (FR-A-2,251,481), in order to obtain a better covering of the product, to use a strip of width greater than the measured distance between the external faces of the flanges so that, like the staves, this strip has its edges which bear on the periphery of these flanges while its middle part, located in the same plane as the said edges, surrounds the product.

To immobilize it in axial translation, the excess marginal strips of the strip are then simply folded against the edge of the external faces of the flanges.

To avoid it causing stresses in the middle part of the strip and to facilitate the folding operation before this operation, the marginal strips are corrugated.

If this strip does not significantly increase the size of the coil, being fixed by simply folding the margins, it is however not sufficiently anchored to strengthen the coil or, moreover, to resist a sliding of the margins in the event of shock on its middle part, of which on the contrary, the slightest deformation brings the said margins in a position favorable to their release.

Furthermore, as with wooden staves or metal closing plates, the spool rests on the ground by a whole generator and, therefore, for its lifting, the straps cannot simply be slid under the spool. To clear a passage of straps and especially to reach a relative reinforcement of the coil, it is also known (US-A-2,642,990) to fill the periphery of the coil with a strip which, beforehand, and permanently, has been profiled not only transversely, so that, relative to its median part extending up to the proximity of the internal faces of the flanges, its edges are raised to create grooves covering the periphery of said flanges, but also longitudinally, according to the arch of the flanges to avoid any stress in the strip during and after installation.

Unless a thick and therefore heavy and expensive strip is provided, the strip of a reel packed according to this process still tolerates deformations of its middle part at the slightest shock.

It is also known (US-A-2,642,990) to stamp transverse ribs in this strip not only to guarantee its longitudinal profiling without constraints but above all to reinforce it transversely but unfortunately this also increases the cost price and hinders the passages lifting straps.

One result which the invention aims to obtain is a method of packaging a reel with relatively thin metal strip which nevertheless leads to packaging which, without increasing the bulk or hampering the passage of the lifting straps, is very resistant and solidly anchored on the spool which, even, it reinforces.

To this end, it relates to a method of packaging a coil with metal strip profiled transversely so that its edges are brought into a plane both parallel to the plane of its median part and located projecting on the external face of said median part of the profiled strip, which process is notably characterized in that, while the strip is still only profiled transversely, first of all it is kept tangent to the bandage of the flanges then in that elastically deforming it, gradually it is rolled up by fixing the edges on the said bandage of the flanges as and when they are rolled up, whereby the middle part is inflicted constraints likely to bulge it outwards. It also relates to the coil and the strip specially designed to implement this process as well as the coil thus packaged.

• - figure 1 : une bobine pourvue de l'emballage selon l'invention, dont une partie est en vue externe et une partie en coupe axiale,
• - figure 2 : à plus grande échelle, un détail montrant la liaison entre le feuillard et l'un des flasques.

It will be clearly understood with the aid of the description below given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the attached drawing which schematically represents:

• FIG. 1: a coil provided with the packaging according to the invention, part of which is in external view and a part in axial section,
• - Figure 2: on a larger scale, a detail showing the connection between the strip and one of the flanges.

Referring to the drawing, it can be seen that the coil 1 comprises a drum 2 on which the product 3 is wound such as cable.

The drum is mounted between two flanges 4 of generally circular shape, each consisting of a sheet 5 having folds 6 making radial stiffening ribs.

Pressing on the ribs, each flange is provided on its periphery with a bandage 7 facilitating the rolling of the coil on the ground.

The flanges, which have their practically flat inner face 8, on the other hand have their ribs 6 which have a thickness which, like the stresses which they undergo, decreases as they move away from the center of the reel of so that the face generated by rotation of their vertex 9 is substantially conical

According to a characteristic of the invention, with a view to implementing the process which is the subject of it, a coil is produced, the bandage 7 of which projects, in the form of a cylindrical skirt, towards the outside of the face generated by the rotation of the top 9 of the ribs, by a distance "D" which, in order not to modify the size of the coil, is at most equal to the difference in thickness of the ribs between their foot 10 located near the center of the coil and their head 11 located under the tire 7.

For its packaging, this coil 1 loaded with product 3 is filled with one or more lengths of strip 12, by example in galvanized or electro-galvanized steel, or in aluminum or stainless steel, and for example having a thickness of one millimeter.

This strip has, in known manner, its middle part 13, which, extending to near the internal faces of the flanges, encircles the product while its edges 14 bear on the bandages 7 of said flanges 4. Before winding around flanges of the coil, the strip 12 is shaped so that its edges 14 are brought into a plane parallel to the plane of its median part 13 where said edges 14 are protruding on the external face of said median part of the strip streamlined. While this strip is thus profiled only transversely and it is therefore still longitudinally rectilinear, first of all it is kept tangent on the bandages 7 of the flanges 4 then by deforming it elastically, gradually it is rolled up by fixing its edges 14 around the bandages 7 as they are rolled up.

Due to its withdrawal "R" relative to the banks, the middle part tends to wind around a cylinder of smaller diameter than that on which the said banks 14 are wound; for the same angle at the center, these cylinders therefore have arcs of different lengths.

However, the edges and the middle part of the strip having the same developed length, it follows that when winding the strip undergoes longitudinal stresses of extension in its edges and especially of compression in its middle part which then tends to bulge outwards to gain the cylinder comprising the neutral fiber of the profile.

This compressive stress and the arrow "F" which results therefrom in the middle part, have the great advantage of increasing very appreciably, for equal thickness, the force necessary to break down this middle part which will therefore not take support on the product .

The shrinkage "R" will preferably be between fifteen and twenty five millimeters and for example twenty millimeters. The middle part 13 can be separated from each bank 14 by an inverted double fold 15, 16 delimiting between them an inclined flank 17.

For example, in these inclined sides 17, the strip may have holes 18 allowing the aeration of the product 3.

In order to avoid the entry of water which may run off onto the packaging, these holes 18 will preferably be surrounded by a collar 19, facing outwards.

According to another characteristic of the invention, a strip of sufficient width is provided so that its edges 14 continue beyond the outer edge of the bandages in the form of a margin 20 only as the winding of the strip, we fold, not only against the edge of the bandage, but also under the edge of said bandage.

As a result, the edge is firmly anchored there, which guarantees that the profile is wound around the external plane of the tire and will indeed produce the desired stress in the middle part.

In addition, this allows to communicate to the middle part, a constraint and a transverse extension strengthening the coil.

Indeed, thanks to this constraint, the strip energetically opposes the spacing of the flanges, for example, when during transport the product will tend to move on the drum.

To reinforce the edges and margins, these can obviously be doubled.

Thanks to the shrinkage "R", the strip acquires a certain transverse elasticity making it possible to correct the differences in width of the order of about one centimeter which may exist between the coils due to their manufacturing tolerances.

In the event of a shock on the middle part, as a result of its withdrawal "R", its deformation can only cause an opening of the double plies 15, 16, without direct transfer to the anchoring and, on the contrary, tending to close the hook formed by said anchor.

Claims (4)

1. Method for packaging a coil (1) comprising a drum (2), on which is wound the product (3) such as cable, and two flanges (4) of generally circular shape provided on their periphery with a cylindrical bandage (7), according to which the method is wound around the coil of the metal strip (12) profiled transversely so that its edges (14) are brought in a plane both parallel to the plane of its median part (13) and located projecting on the external face of said median part (13) of the strip (12), which process is CHARACTERIZED in that, while the strip is still only profiled transversely, first of all it is kept tangent to the bandage (7) of the flanges (4) then in that by deforming it elastically, gradually it is rolled up and, as it is rolled up, the edges (14) are fixed on said bandage (7 ) flanges (4) by which one inflicts on the middle part of the stresses likely to bulge it outwards. 2. Method according to claim 1 according to which a coil is produced, the bandages of which each have the shape of a cylindrical skirt which projects beyond the external face of the corresponding flange and in that strip (12) is used, the edges of which ( 14) continue beyond each of the outer edges of these bandages in the form of a margin (20) characterized in that as the strip is wound, this margin is folded not only against the edge said bandage but also under the edge of this bandage (7). 3. Strip (12) designed for the implementation of the method according to claim 1 or 2 CHARACTERIZED in that before being, by elastic deformation, wound on the coil, it is longitudinally rectilinear. 4. Strip according to claim 3 characterized in that the middle part is separated from each of its edges by a double inverted fold (15, 16) defining between them an inclined flank.