IES81970B2 - Roll handler - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention concerns a roll handler for roll products. The innovative aspect of this creation is that the expanding mandrel on the roll handler can handle rolls with a core diameter of 70<>76mm. Rolls with other core diameters can be handled by mounting an adapter on the expanding mandrel. When lifting rolls, these may be secured against telescoping by means of an adjustable holder lever with a clamp. For easy mounting and dismounting of rolls from the machine, a mechanism for lateral adjustment of the stacker may be mounted between the handler tower and the stacker. An adjustable load measuring device connected to the electrical system of the stacker ensures that loads - even relatively light rolls - are not accidentally released.

Description

Roll handler.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This creation is a roll handler for internal transport of roll products (e.g., plastics, paper, etc.) and is intended for industries which manufacture, process or consume roll products.

BACKGROUND ART Roll products (e.g., plastics, paper, etc.) which are often very heavy, are manufactured, processed and consumed vertically, whereas they are shipped and stored horizontally on a pallet, often with several rolls stacked on top of each other.

In addition to the transport to and from the processing area, the processing of the rolls also involves the turning and lifting of the rolls.

Furthermore, the cores around which the rolls are wound do not have a standardised internal diameter as this measure depends on the subsequent consumer's machinery.

Various equipment exist to carry out the above-mentioned handling (i.e. transport, lifting and turning), and a roll handler has been on the market for a number of years. The roll handler in question, which is electrically/hydraulically operated, can grab the rolls, turn them 90 degrees, and raise/lower them by means of an expanding mandrel. The known roll handler is, however, somewhat inappropriate in some respects: a) The expanding mandrel which is fixed on the roll handler does not allow the roll core's internal diameter to vary from the expanding mandrel's diameter as the pressure thus exercised by the expanding mandrel on the inside of the core is reduced considerably. This also reduces the gripping effect. The known roll handler can therefore only handle rolls with a known core diameter. b) Stacking and taking down rolls from stacks requires a relatively large amount of space between the stacks as the holder lever, which is to secure the rolls against telescoping when lifted, is not adjustable. c) The load measuring devices (safety component) used so far, e.g., a pressure control used to register whether a roll is raised and in this case prevent inadvertent release of the load, i.e. contraction of the expanding mandrel, are not very accurate in their lower measuring area and therefore require relatively heavy loads to ensure reliable operation. d) The mounting/dismounting of a roll from a machine's shaft requires some roll handler manoeuvring to hit the hole in the roll core.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The objective of the invention is therefore to create an improved roll handler for the above-mentioned field of application where: 1. the expanding mandrel holding the roll has a larger expansion area and thus covers more core diameters; 2. an adapter for covering further core diameters can easily and quickly be mounted on the above mandrel; 3. the roll to be lifted is secured against telescoping by means of an adjustable holder lever with clamp; 4. even a modest load on the above-mentioned load measuring device (= safety component) (see item c above) prevents inadvertent release of the load; . lateral adjustment of the stacker enables the expanding mandrel (and a machine's shaft) to hit the hole in the roll core more easily.

By using the above technology, the claimed benefits of the new creation are achieved. The individual components are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a complete outline of the roll handler.

Figure 2 is a detail drawing of an expanding mandrel with and without adapter.

Figure 3 shows a stacker with an adjustable holder lever in various designs.

Figure 4 shows a new load measuring device, according to the present invention. Figure 5 shows a mechanism for lateral adjustment of the stacker.

List of Parts The numbers used on the figures refers to the following terms: Figure 1: Pos. 1 Handler tower Pos. 2 Stacker Pos. 3 Holder lever with clamp Pos. 4 Expanding mandrel Pos. 5 Adapter Pos. 6 Load measuring device (not visible in figure) Pos. 7 Lateral adjustment of stacker Figure 2: Pos. A Hydraulic cylinder Pos. B Expanding mandrel Pos. C Adapter Pos. 1 Small rubber ring Pos. 2 Small jaws Pos. 3 Pos. 4 Pos. 5 Pos. 6 Pos. 7 Pos. 8 Figure 3: Pos. 1 Pos. 2 Pos. 3 Pos. 4 Pos. 5 Pos. 6 pos. 5 Figure 4: Pos. 1 Pos. 2 Pos. 3 Pos. 4 Figure. 5 Pos. 1 Pos. 2 Pos. 3 Pos. 4 Screw (for fixing of pos. 4) Tapered pilot ring Large jaws Large rubber ring Release button Expansion cone Holder lever with holding-down clamp Guide pins Centre bolt for fixation Adjustment unit Alternative design of pos. 4 Release device for adjustment in connection with Chain pin Spring holder Disc spring Stop washer Handler tower Intermediate piece Crank wheel Spindle DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig- 1 shows the complete outline of the roll handler. In order to give a comprehensive overview, all new creations are shown in the figure, even though the adapter and the lateral adjustment unit are optional extras.

Fig. 2 shows a detail drawing of the new, hydraulic expanding mandrel, with and without adapter. This new hydraulic mandrel is characterised in that the hydraulic cylinder (pos. A), the expansion cone (pos. 8) and the expanding mandrel itself (pos. B) are integrated in one unit via a screw joint (thread). This makes the hydraulic mandrel appear as an integrated, extremely compact and highly serviceable unit.

As can be seen in the figure, the cylinder expansion cone has a tapered design, and when the piston bottoms out, the inclination dimension will give the jaws a reach which will enable the expanding mandrel - without the adapter - to cover the two core sizes most frequently used (70 + 76mm).

The adapter (pos. C) is mounted by removing the small rubber ring (pos. 1) and removing the small jaws from their guides. The adapter is mounted by inserting it on top of the mandrel (without the tapered pilot ring mounted) and turning it clockwise until the release button engages. The large jaws (pos. 5 in Fig. 2) are placed in their guides and the large rubber ring (pos. 6 in Fig. 2) is mounted.

Fig. 3 shows how the holder lever is made adjustable, enabling it to move approximately +/- 45 degrees further than is possible with the known technology. This adjustment can either be continuous as shown or incremental (outlined as an alternative solution).

The centre bolt is loosened to turn the holder lever (pos. 3). The holder lever is then moved to the desired position and the centre bolt is retightened. In connection with the alternative solution, it is the intention to replace the centre bolt by a releasing mechanism.

Fig. 4 shows a detail drawing of the new load measuring device. The spring holder of the load measuring device is mounted on the roll handler. One of the lifting chains is mounted in the top hole of the chain pin. Below the chain pin, a micro switch is mounted, which cuts off the part of the electrical system connected to the expanding mandrel.

When a roll is lifted, the lifting chain is tightened, the chain pin moves to the top of the spring holder, and the chain pin will - if correctly adjusted - “release” the micro switch, cutting off the part of the electrical system connected to the expanding mandrel, thereby preventing the mandrel from releasing the load.

The load required to make the chain pin “release” the micro switch can be adjusted by varying the amount of disc springs and the torque used to clamp the load measuring device.

Fig. 5 shows the intermediate piece, which is mounted, between the handler tower and the stacker to ensure lateral adjustment of the stacker by the crank wheel mounted on the intermediate piece.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS 5 1. A roll handler for roll products wherein the hydraulic cylinder, the expansion cone and the expanding mandrel have been fitted together to form an integrated, extremely compact and serviceable unit.
2. 2. The roll handler for roll products as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cone (Fig. 10 2, pos. 8) in the expanding mandrel adapted to be quickly and easily mounted on an adapter (Fig. 2, pos. C) for the handling of rolls with varying diameters and preferably has a tapered design with an inclination which enables the expanding mandrel in its basic design to handle rolls with a core diameter of 70 to 76mm. 15
3. 3. The roll handler for roll products as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2 further comprising a holder lever (Fig. 3) which can be adjusted +/- 45 degrees to its normal position.
4. 4. The roll handler for roll products as claimed in any preceding claim further 20 comprising a load measuring device (Fig. 4) of sensitivity such that it responds to even the slightest load changes in its lower measuring area.
5. 5. A roll handler for roll products substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/ or as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5.