GB2230794A

GB2230794A - Apparatus for mounting a plurality of reels

Info

Publication number: GB2230794A
Application number: GB9008956A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen John Clarke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-04-20
Filing date: 1990-04-20
Publication date: 1990-10-31
Also published as: GB8908991D0; GB9008956D0

Abstract

Apparatus 10 for mounting a plurality of reels 19 comprises an axle 12 on which a plurality of units 13 are rotatably mounted. Each unit 13 comprises a tubular part 15 which receives the axle 12 and a reel support spindle 16 which is connected to the tubular part 15 by a connector member 17. The reel support spindles 16 are relatively spaceable from one another by pivoting of the relevant unit 13 about the axle 12. Two apparatus 10, 11 may be provided sharing a common axle 12, one apparatus 11 comprising units 14 having longer connector members 17 than the other so that reels 19 can be compactly supported in two adjacent rows. The reel support spindles 16 and the connector members 17 are adjustable in one embodiment. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING A PLURALITY OF REELS The invention relates to apparatus for mounting a plurality of reels.

There are many instances in which it is desired to store a plurality of reels such that filamentary material stored thereon can be removed for use. An example is in a florist's shop where a plurality of reels of ribbon, for example, of different colours or widths must be stored so that lengths of ribbon can be removed for use. At present, the reels of ribbon are conventionally stored on a rod, such as a broom handle. This provides the problem that when all the ribbon on a reel has been used, if the reel is in the middle of the rod, all of the reels between it and the end of the rod must be removed in order for the reel to be replaced, which is clearly undesirable.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for mounting a plurality of reels a comprising a plurality of reel supports mounted by mounting means, each reel support being arranged to support at least one reel and each reel support being spaced from or relatively spaceable from the or each adjacent reel support.

By use of the apparatus, an exhausted reel stored with a plurality of other reels may be replaced either without removing any other reels or by removing only a small number of reels.

Preferably the reel support in the apparatus are arranged to support reels side-by-side. This allows a compact arrangement of the apparatus.

In the case where each reel support is spaceable from the or each adjacent reel support, preferably at least alternate ones of the reel supports are pivotally mounted with respect to the or each adjacent reel support such that the reel supports are relatively spaceable. In this way, when all the material has been removed from a reel, the reel support can be pivoted away from the adjacent reel supports, or alternatively the adjacent reel supports can be pivoted away from it to space the reel supports from the adjacent ones so that the reel can be removed and replaced by a new one. Preferably all of the reel supports are pivotally mounted.

Preferably, the reel supports which are pivotally mounted are arranged to pivot about a common pivot axis.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided the combination of two or more apparatus according to the preceding paragraph, wherein the pivot axis is the same for each apparatus and the reel supports of each apparatus are spaced from the reel supports of the or each other apparatus in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the pivot axis.

Thus, two or more apparatus can be provided about the same axis.

The apparatus may be arranged to support reels offset from one another, e.g in a circumferential direction, about the axis, but preferably the apparatus are arranged to support reels at different distances from the axis. The combination preferably includes spacers to prevent the reel supports of one apparatus from interfering with apparatus in which the reel supports are provided further from the pivot axis.

Means may be provided at either axial end of the apparatus or combination for mounting the end for use and the means may comprise a bracket.

The pivotally mounted reel supports may be pivotally mounted in any suitable manner but preferably are pivotally mounted on an axle. The axle may be about 2.5cm in diameter.

The pivotally mounted reel supports may be mounted on the axle in any suitable manner, for example by hooks or by a clip, but preferably each pivotally mounted reel support is connected to a pivotal member having a bore therein through whizz the axl extends to pivotally mount the reel support. Each pivotal member may take any suitable shape but preferably comprises a cylindrical tube. In the case where spacers are provided, the pivotal members may comprise the spacers.

Each reel support may take any suitable form but preferably comprises a spindle. Each spindle preferably includes a stop at each end. The length of the spindle may be fixed or may be adjustable. Each spindle may be connected to the mounting means by a connector the length of which may be adjustable. The length of the connector may be adjustable in any suitable way and may be adjustable telescopically with the connector being secured at a certain length in any suitable manner, for example, by a locking screw or by the insertion of a peg into apertures in the telescopic parts, but preferably the connector is securable at a certain length by a detent formed by a resiliently biased projection on the inner telescopic part arranged to engage means defining an aperture in the outer telescopic part.

The length of the spindle may be adjustable in any suitable manner and may be adjustable telescopically.

The spindle may be secured at a certain length in any suitable manner and may be secured by a detent formed by a resiliently biased projection on the inner telescopic part arranged to.ngage means defining an aperture in the outer telescopic part. This form of detent allows an outer shape which does not substantially reduce the ability of a reel to rotate on the part of the spindle including the detent.

The connector may extend from, for example, one end of the spindle but preferably extends from a central region of the spindle. The length of the spindle may be adjustable on both sides of the connector.

Tn the case where the length of the connector is adjustable telescopically and the length of the spindle is adjustable telescopically, the outer telescopic part of the connector member is preferably connected to the outer telescopic part of the spindle and may be integral therewith.

The connector may be made from metal and the spindle may 2 1 b ode from metal and may be connected to the connector by a weld. The pivotal member may be made from metal and may be connected to the connector by a weld.

The connector and/or the pivotal member, and/or the spindle may be made from plastics material and where all of these parts are made from plastics material they may be formed as a one piece plastics moulding.

The apparatus preferably comprises a plurality of substantially identical units, each unit including a reel support and the units being arranged to be mounted on the axle.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a unit for use in apparatus according to the preceding paragraph.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference te the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig.1 is an elevation of part of the first embodiment and Fig.2 is an elevation of the second embodiment.

The first embodiment comprises two apparatus 10, 11 having a common pivot axis defined by an axle 12.

The apparatus 10, 11 each comprise a plurality of units 13, 14 and only one unit 13 is shown of the first apparatus and two units 14 of the second apparatus II. Each unit 13, 14 comprises a cylindrical tubular part 15 through which the axle 12 passes and a reel support spindle 16-extending substantially parallel to the axis of the tube 15 and connected thereto by a connector member 17 extending from a central region of the reel support spindle 16.

The ends of the reel support spindles 16 are turned upwardly to provide stops 18 to prevent a reel froin accidentally leaving the reel support spindle 16.

The units 13, 14 of the two apparatus 10, 11 are provided alternately on the axle 12. The connector members 17 of the units 13 of the first apparatus 10 are shorter than the connector members 17 of the units 14 of the second apparatus II so that reefs can be supported in two parallel rows, each being parallel to the axle 12.

The tubular parts 15 of the two apparatus 10, 11 are axially dimensioned so that when they abut, the reel support spindles of the units 13 of the first apparatus 10 do not engage the connector members 17 of the second apparatus 11.

In use, reels 19 will be supported on the reel support spindles 16 of the apparatus 10, 11 and if the material on a reel 19 is exhausted, the relevant unit 13, 14 can be pivoted about tne axle 12to move the reel support spindle with the empty reel 19 to a position in which the real IS can be removed from the reel support spindle 16 and a fresh reel 19 mounted therein.

Fig.2 shows a second embodiment comprising a reel holder unit 20. The reel holder unit 20 is similar to the units 13, 14 of the apparatus 10, II of the first embodiment and only relevant differences will be described.

The connector 17 is formed in two parts which fit together telescopic a lly. The inner part 21 extends from the tubular part 15 and is received in the outer part 22. Thp inner part 21 mounts toward its lower end a projection 23 which is resiliently biased outwardly. The lower part 22 includes a plurality of axially spaced apertures 24 dimensioned to receive the projection 23 to secure the outer and inner parts 21, 22 of the connector 17 together to provide different lengths for the connector 17.

The spindle 16 also includes telescopically related parts but in this case a single outer part 25 is provided and an inner part 26 is provided at each end. Each part 26 mounts a projection 27 which is resiliency biased outwardly and the outer part 25 includes a plurality of axially spaced apertures 28 which are dimensioned to receive the projections 27.

In this way the length of the reel support spindle 16 is adjustable on each side of the connector 17.

The outer part 25 of the reel support spindle 16 and the outer part 22 of the connector 17 are connected and may be formed integrally.

The detent provided by the resiliently biased projection 27 in the apertures 28 does not extend in an uneven fashion transverse: to the axis cf the reel support spindle 16 so that it does not interfere with free rotation of a reel supported on the reel support spindle 1s, As this is not a consideration for the detent between the outer and inner parts 21, 22 of the connector 17, a different form of detent may be used there if desired.

Claims

CLAYS

1. Apparatus for mounting a plurality of reels comprising a plurality of reel supports mounted by mounting means, each reel support being arranged to support at least one reel and each reel support being spaced from or relatively spaceable from the or each adjacent reel support.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is arranged to support reels in side-by-side relation.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least alternate ones of the reel supports are pivotally mounted with respect to the or each adjacent reel support such that the reel supports are relatively spaceable.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein all of the reel supports are pivotally mounted.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the reel supports which are pivotally mounted are arranged to pivot about a common pivot axis

6 Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the pivotally mounted reel supports are pivotally mounted on an axle.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the axle is about 2.5cm in diameter.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein each pivotally mounted reel support is connected to a pivotal member having a bore therein through which the axle extends to pivotally mount the reel support.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pivotal member comprises a cylindrical tube.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each reel support comprises a spindle.

11, Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein each spindle Includes e atop at each end.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the length of the spindle is fixed.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the length of the spindle is adjustable.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the length of the spindle is adjustable telescopically.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the spindle is secured at a certain length by a detent formed by a resiliently biased projection on the inner telescopic part arranged to engage means defining an aperture in the outer telescopic part.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each spindle is connected to the mounting means by a connector the length of which is adjustable.

17, Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the length of the connector is adjustable.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the length of the connector is adjustable telescopically.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the connector is securable at a certain length by a detent formed by a resiliently biased projection on the inner telescopic part arranged to engage means defining an aperture in the outer telescopic part.

20. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 16 to 19, wherein the connector extends from a central region of the spindle.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, when dependant on claim 13, wherein the length of the spindle is adjustable on both sides of the connector.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 or claim 21, wherein, where the length of the connector is adjustable telescopically and the length of the spindle is adjustable telescopically, the outer telescopic part of the connector member is connected to the outer telescopic part of the spindle.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the outer telescopic part of the connector member is integral with the outer telescopic part of the spindle.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or in any of claims 7 to 23 when dependent on claim 6, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of similar units, each unit including a reel support and the units being arranged to be mounted on the axle.

25. A unit for use in apparatus as claimed in claim 24.

26. The combination of two or more apparatus as claimed in claim 5, or as claimed in any claim dependent thereon wherein the pivot axis is the same for each apparatus and the reel supports of each apparatus are spaced from the reel supports of the or each other apparatus in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the pivot axis.

27. The combination as claimed in claim 26, wherein the apparatus are arranged to support reels at different distances from the axis.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 27, wherein the combination includes spacers to prevent the reel supports of one apparatus from interfering with apparatus in which the reel supports are provided further from the pivot axis.

29. The combination as claimed in claim 28, wherein, where pivotal members are provided, the pivotal members constitute the spacers.

30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or in any claim dependent thereon or the combination as claimed in any Of claims 26 to 29, wherein means is provided at either axial end of the apparatus or combination for mounting thereof for use.

31. Apparatus or the combination as claimed in claim 30, wherein the said means comprises a mounting bracket.

32. Apparatus for mounting a--plurality-or-inasls substantially as described wherein with reference to Fig 1 or Fig 2 of the accompanying drawings.

33. The combination of the apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to Fig 1 or Fig 2 of the accompanying drawings.

34. A unit substantially as described herein with reference to Fig I or Fig 2 of the accompanying drawings.