GB2267886A

GB2267886A - Reel handler.

Info

Publication number: GB2267886A
Application number: GB9312512A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Young
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-06-17
Filing date: 1993-06-17
Publication date: 1993-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-17
Also published as: GB9212882D0; GB9312512D0; GB2267886B

Abstract

A handling device for lifting and transporting articles, e.g. reels of material from a horizontal disposition on a pallet to a vertical disposition on a machine spindle. The device comprises a support frame connected to clamp fingers 16 by way of first and second linkages 9, 7, 8, 5 and 11, 12 respectively. In use the reel 1 is picked off the pallet in a horizontal disposition (see Fig 3) by operating an actuator 14 which moves a support frame (13) into a horizontal disposition, and by operating an actuator 10 to lower the support frame 13 until the clamp fingers 16 extend alongside the periphery of the reel 1. A screw mechanism 18 is operated to tighten the fingers 16 against the reel and the actuator 10 is operated to lift the reel (see fig 2). The actuator 14 is then operated such that the gripped reel is pivoted through 90 DEG into a vertical disposition for placing on e.g. machine spindle. <IMAGE>

Description

HANDLING DEVICE This invention relates to a handling device particularly for lifting and transporting reels of strip material.

My earlier patent application GB 2231026A describes a handling device which can be used to lift and transport relatively large, heavy reels of high density plastics strip material such as is used in the manufacture of blister packs. Typically such reels are supplied in upright disposition (i.e. with their axes generally horizontal) on pal lets, and the handling device is used to transfer individual reels from the pal lets to a storage frame and from there to the spindle of a machine, with the disposition of the reel being maintained upright throughout.

There is also a requirement to handle reels which are supplied in level disposition (i.e. with their axes generally vertical) on pallets, this being so in the case of smaller, lighter reels of metal foil strip material used in packaging pharmaceuticals, and where such reels are to be transferred to a horizontal machine spindle this necessitates turning of the reels through 90 .

An object of the present invention is to provide a handling device with which articles such as reels can be conveniently lifted and transported between e.g. a level disposition and an upright disposition.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a handling device for lifting and transporting articles between a first angular disposition and a second angular disposition, said device comprising a support structure, a gripping part for gripping an article, a first linkage connected between the gripping part and the support structure, and a first actuator operable on the first linkage to cause the gripping part to be moved up and down, characterised by the provision of a second linkage between the gripping part and the first linkage, and a second actuator operable on the second linkage to cause the gripping part to be moved between the said different angular dispositions.

With this arrangement an article can be conveniently lifted and transported between different angular dispositions. Preferably these dispositions are respectively level and upright.

The support structure may be a wheeled, ground engaging structure which can be pushed or driven for transport purposes, or it may be a frame mountable on a fork lift truck or the like.

The first linkage may comprise pivotally interconnected arms which may define a parallel linkage which acts to control movement of the gripping part linearly in a vertical or substantially vertical direction.

The first actuator may comprise an actuator interposed between elements of the first linkage, or between the first linkage and the support structure. This actuator may be a hydraulic actuator, or a manual actuator (such as a handle) or any other suitable device.

The gripping part may comprise any suitable apparatus depending on the nature of the article to be gripped. In the case of a reel or other cylindrical article, the gripping part may comprise fingers, wheels or plates which can be moved into engagement with the outer periphery of the reel using a tightening means such as a screw mechanism or other mechanical or power assisted means, e.g. hydraulic operation. It is also possible to use a chuck-type mechanism which fits within the core of the reel and can be expanded for gripping purposes, although this may not be preferred in so far as it occupies the core and thereby obstructs convenient mounting of the reel on a spindle.

The second linkage may comprise pivotal arms. Thus these may be a pair of arms pivotally connected at different positions on the gripping part and at different positions on the first linkage with the second actuator operable to move one such arm relative to the other.

The second actuator may be a hydraulic actuator or a manual mechanism or any other suitable device. The second actuator is preferably separate from the first actuator but if desired the two may be combined, or interconnected such that the second linkage is moved during movement of the first linkage.

The handling device is particularly suited to the lifting and transport of reels so that a reel can be transferred from horizontal disposition on a supply pallet to vertical disposition on a machine spindle. It is however to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to this application and the handling device may be used with any kind of articles for any suitable purpose.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figs. 1 to 4 are side views of one form of a handling device according to the invention in different operating positions; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device in an intermediate position.

The handling device shown in the drawings is for the purpose of lifting and transporting reels 1 from horizontal disposition on a pallet to vertical disposition on a machine spindle.

The device comprises a wheeled trolley 2 having a generally V-shaped main part 3 joined to a rearwardly projecting frame 4 with two upright posts 5 reinforced by struts 6.

At the upper region of the posts there is a top, centrally pivotally mounted main boom 7 and two lower, side pivotally mounted stabiliser arms 8 all of which project forwardly from the posts 5. The forward end of the main boom 7 is pivotally connected to the forward ends of the stabiliser arms 8 by a link 9. This link 9 together with the boom 7, the arms 8 and the upper region of the posts 5 define a parallel linkage.

A hydraulic actuator 10 is disposed between the boom 7 and the posts 5. Operation of this actuator 10 causes the parallel linkage to move so as to lift and lower the link 9 whilst maintaining its vertical alignment parallel to the posts 5.

To the forward ends of the arms 8 there are pivotally connected two short arms 11 which project forwardly. Two longer arms 12 are pivotally connected to the forward end of the boom 7 and these are cranked forwards and downwards so as to cross over the short arms 11. The forward ends of the arms 11, 12 are pivotally connected to a rigid clamp support frame 13. There is a hydraulic actuator 14 between the cranked arms 12 and the forward ends of the stabiliser arms 8.

This frame 13 has thereon two pairs of pivotally mounted plates 14, 15, each having two rubber-covered projecting clamp -fingers 16. For one such pair of plates 14, the pivot axes are fixed relative to each other on the support frame 13. For the other pair of plates 15, the pivot axes are disposed on intermediate pivotally mounted plates 17 with a screw device 18 therebetween with a manually operable wheel 19. Rotation of the wheel 19 shortens or lengthens the screw device 18 and therefore swings the pair of plates 15 and the associated fingers 16 towards and away from each other.

By operating the hydraulic actuator 14 the support frame 13 can be moved relative to the link 9 through 90 , between vertical and horizontal positions.

By operating the screw device 18, as described one of the pairs of plates 15 can be moved towards and away from each other.

Thus, a reel 1 can be picked up in horizontal disposition off a pallet or off the floor within the V-shaped part 3 of the trolley by swinging the plates 15 away from each other, operating the actuator 14 to move the support frame into horizontal disposition, and by operating the actuator 10 to lower the support frame 13 until the fingers 16 extend downwardly alongside the periphery of the reel 1. Then, the screw device 18 is operated to tighten the fingers 16 against the periphery of the reel 1, the actuator 10 is operated to lift the gripped reel 1, and the actuator 14 is operated to pivot the gripped reel through 90" to a vertical disposition. In this vertical disposition the fingers 16 on the plates 14 with fixed pivot axes are lowermost so that the weight of the reel 1 is rigidly supported.

The trolley can now be moved to a position at which the reel 1 can be conveniently presented to the machine spindle (not shown). The actuators 10, 14 can be operated as required to move the reel core on to the spindle and in this respect it will be appreciated that this is not obstructed by the fingers 16 which grip the outer periphery of the reel 1. The fingers can then be opened to allow separation from the reel.

With this arrangement the reel 1 can be moved between horizontal and vertical dispositions in a particularly simple and convenient manner. The structure of the handling device ensures secure, stable support at all stages of pick up and transport.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only. Thus for example, instead of using a screw arrangement which pulls the pivot members together for gripping purposes, it is possible to use a different arrangement in which intermediate pivot members are pushed outwardly to cause the fingers to swing in to gripping positions. Furthermore, as an alternative to clamp fingers 16, one or more clamping plates can be used to grip the inner or outer periphery of the reel. In this case, the clamping plates can be hydraulically operated or operated in any other manner as desired or as appropriate.

Claims

1. A handling device for lifting and transporting articles between a first angular disposition and a second angular disposition, said device comprising a support structure, a gripping part for gripping an article, a first linkage connected between the gripping part and the support structure, and a first actuator operable on the first linkage to cause the gripping part to be moved up and down characterised by the provision of a second linkage between the gripping part and the first linkage, and a second actuator operable on the second linkage to cause the gripping part to be moved between the said different angular dispositions.

2. A handling device according to claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises a wheeled, ground engaging structure which can be pushed or driven for transport purposes.

3. A handling device according to claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises a frame mountable on a forklift truck.

4. A handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said first linkage comprises pivotally interconnected arms which define a parallel linkage which acts to control movement of the gripping part linearly in a vertical or substantially vertical direction.

5. A handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 when the first actuator comprises an actuator interposed between elements of the first linkage.

6. A handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the first actuator comprises an actuator interposed between the first linkage and the support structure.

7. A handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said first actuator comprises a hydraulic actuator.

8. A handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the gripping part comprises fingers or wheels which are movable into engagement with the outer periphery of an article using a tightening means.

9. A handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the gripping part comprises clamping plates which are movable into engagement with the outer periphery of an article using a tightening means.

10. A handling device according to claim 8 wherein said tightening means comprises a screw mechanism.

11. A handling device according to any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein said tightening means is hydraulically operated.

12. A handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the second linkage comprises pivotal arms.

13. A handling device according to claim 12 wherein said pivotal arms comprise a pair of arms pivotally connected at different positions on the gripping part and at different positions on the first linkage with the second actuator operable to move one such arm relative to another.

14. A handling device according to any one of claims l to 13 wherein said first and second actuators are separate.

15. A handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein said first and second actuators are combined, or interconnected, such that the second linkage is moved during movement of the first linkage.

16. A handling device according to any preceding claim for use in lifting and transporting reels of material.

17. A handling device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.