NZ756853A - Winding mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A spooling support is described for use in spooling fencing wire or similar material. The spooling support has a number of splines arranged to rotate about an axis, providing a bobbin effect. The splines are arranged to move radially between an engaged position when being activated and a released position whereby the spool can be easily removed. sition whereby the spool can be easily removed.

Description

“WINDING MECHANISM” Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the winding of flexible material. It has been developed for use in the spooling of wire fencing or netting.

Background to the Invention In many agricultural applications it is necessary to collect and reuse fencing or netting material, which may be in long lengths. Typically, this is done manually, with an operator rolling the material by hand into a coil which can be moved or stored.

There exists a desire for a re-usable mechanical device which can achieve this function in a quicker and safer manner.

The present invention has been developed in an attempt to provide such a device.

Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a spooling support arranged to be mounted on a shaft, the spooling support having a flange and a plurality of reel elements extending away from the flange in a generally axial direction, the reel elements being radially spaced from an axis of the flange; the spooling support being moveable between an engaging configuration and a releasing configuration, whereby the radial distance from the flange axis to at least one reel element is greater in the engaging configuration than in the releasing configuration.

It is preferred that the radial distance from the flange axis to each of a plurality of reel elements is greater in the engaging configuration than in the releasing configuration.

Each reel element may be a tubular member.

It is preferred that the flange includes a tube-receiving aperture associated with each reel element. The tube-receiving apertures may extend in a radial direction, allowing radial movement of the reel elements between the engaging configuration and the releasing configuration.

An activating mechanism may be associated with the reel elements.

The activating mechanism may be a cam member arranged for rotational movement relative to the flange, the cam member including at least one reel element engaging portion arranged to move a reel element in a radial direction in response to rotation of the cam member relative to the flange.

It is preferred that the flange and the cam member are both discs mounted on an axial shaft.

The cam member may have a rotation limiting means. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cam member has a controlling disc fixed thereto, the controlling disc including at least one cut-out portion. The flange has at least one protruding pin arranged to engage with the cut-out portion, such that engagement of the pin with an outer edge of the cut-out portion prevents further relative rotation of the cam member and flange.

It is preferred that movement of the spooling support from the releasing configuration to the engaging configuration is achieved by rotation of the shaft in a first angular direction, and movement of the spooling support from the engaging configuration to the releasing configuration is achieved by rotation of the shaft in a second angular direction, opposite to the first angular direction.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a single shaft may have more than one spooling support mounted thereon.

Brief Description of the Drawings It will be convenient to further describe the invention with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention. Other embodiments are possible, and consequently the particularity of the following discussion is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective of a spooling support in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the spooling support of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of the spooling support of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of a shaft upon which is mounted two spooling supports in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5 is an end view of a controlling disc from within the spooling support of Figure 1; Figure 6 is an end view of a cam member from within the spooling support of Figure 1; and Figure 7 is an end view of a flange from within the spooling support of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Referring to the Figures, there can be seen a hollow shaft 10 onto which a flange, being a supporting disc 12, is mounted. The shaft 10 is arranged to be fitted over an auxiliary shaft 8 being driven by a motor such as on a tractor (not shown).

The supporting disc 12, shown in Figure 7, has a central circular aperture 14 sized to allow for the supporting disc 12 to locate loosely about the shaft 10. The supporting disc 12 has four tube-receiving apertures 16 spaced at 90° intervals around the supporting disc 12.

Each tube-receiving aperture 16 is obround, with a straight side length similar to a diameter of the round ends. The arrangement is such that the straight side lengths are parallel to a radius of the supporting disc 12 which passes through the centre of the respective tube-receiving aperture 16.

The supporting disc 12 is arranged to receive four reel elements, being cylindrical tubes 18. Each tube 18 has a diameter slightly less than that of a receiving aperture 16, such that the tube 18 can locate within a receiving aperture 16 and can slide in a radial direction within the receiving aperture 16.

When thus located the tubes 18 extend in an axial direction from an inner face of the supporting disc 12.

A cam member being a cam disc 22 is fixed to the shaft 10 adjacent the inner face 20 of the supporting disc 12. The cam disc 22 has four nodes 24, one associated with each receiving aperture 16. The arrangement is such that when the cam disc 22 rotates about its central axis relative to the supporting disc 12, each node 24 acts against a corresponding tube 18.

Counter-clockwise rotation of the cam disc 22 as seen in Figure 6 causes the nodes 24 to push the tubes 18 radially outwardly.

A controlling disc 26 is mounted on the shaft 10 and fixed to the cam disc 22. The controlling disc 26 has two diametrically opposed arcuate cut-out portions 28 on its circumference.

The supporting disc 12 has two fixed pins 40 which extend away from the supporting disc 12 in the axial direction. The fixed pins 40 are located at the same radial distance from the central axis as are the cut-out portions 28 of the controlling disc 26. The arrangement is such that the fixed pins 40 locate, in use, within the cut-out portions 28.

In use, rotation of the shaft 10 in a counter-clockwise direction causes the controlling disc 26 and the cam disc 22 to rotate relative to the supporting disc 12. This acts to push the tubes 18 outwardly in a radial direction, putting the arrangement into an engaging configuration.

The relative rotation of the cam disc 22 and supporting disc 12 is limited by the action of the fixed pins 40 within the cut-out portions 28. When the fixed pins 40 reach the edge of the cut-out portions 28, they act to impart drive onto the supporting disc 12.

In this way the supporting disc 12 and associated tubes 18 will rotate in the counter-clockwise direction. Fencing wire thus can be spooled about the tubes 18.

At the conclusion of the spooling operation, the shaft 10 can be briefly put into reverse. This has the effect of disengaging the fixed pins 40 from the edge of the cut-out portions 28, and permitting rotation of the cam disc 22 in a clockwise direction relative to the supporting disc 12. The nodes 24 of the cam disc 22 cease to bear against the tubes 18, allowing for the tubes 18 to be moved radially inwardly within the receiving apertures 16.

The spool of fencing wire can be easily removed for storage or transport at this point.

It will be appreciated that multiple supporting discs 12 and associated mechanisms may be located along a single shaft, as shown in Figure 4.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (11)

Claims 1.

1. A spooling support arranged to be mounted on a shaft, the spooling support having a flange and a plurality of reel elements extending away from the flange in a generally axial direction, the reel elements being radially spaced from an axis of the flange; the spooling support being moveable between an engaging configuration and a releasing configuration, whereby the radial distance from the flange axis to at least one reel element is greater in the engaging configuration than in the releasing configuration.

2. A spooling support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radial distance from the flange axis to each of a plurality of reel elements is greater in the engaging configuration than in the releasing configuration.

3. A spooling support as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each reel element is a tubular member.

4. A spooling support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the flange includes a tube-receiving aperture associated with each reel element.

5. A spooling support as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tube-receiving apertures extend in a radial direction, allowing radial movement of the reel elements between the engaging configuration and the releasing configuration.

6. A spooling support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an activating mechanism is associated with the reel elements, the activating mechanism may be a cam member arranged for rotational movement relative to the flange, the cam member including at least one reel element engaging portion arranged to move a reel element in a radial direction in response to rotation of the cam member relative to the flange.

7. A spooling support as claimed in claim 6, wherein the flange and the cam member are both discs mounted on an axial shaft.

8. A spooling support as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the cam member has a rotation limiting means.

9. A spooling support as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cam member has a controlling disc fixed thereto, the controlling disc including at least one cut- out portion, and the flange has at least one protruding pin arranged to engage with the cut-out portion, such that engagement of the pin with an outer edge of the cut-out portion prevents further relative rotation of the cam member and flange.

10. A spooling support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein movement of the spooling support from the releasing configuration to the engaging configuration is achieved by rotation of the shaft in a first angular direction, and movement of the spooling support from the engaging configuration to the releasing configuration is achieved by rotation of the shaft in a second angular direction, opposite to the first angular direction.

11. A spooling mechanism mounted on a shaft, the shaft having mounted thereon more than one spooling support as claimed in any preceding claim. BELLEKOM, SIMON LEONARDUS By his Patent Attorneys ARMOUR IP