WO2000017084A1

WO2000017084A1 - Packaging of sheet metal coils

Info

Publication number: WO2000017084A1
Application number: PCT/GB1999/003145
Authority: WO
Inventors: Neil O'halloran; Nigel Thomas Packer
Original assignee: Via Ison Limited
Priority date: 1998-09-21
Filing date: 1999-09-21
Publication date: 2000-03-30
Also published as: AU6103599A

Abstract

A packaged sheet metal coil assembly including a sheet metal coil (1), the coil having a mass greater than two tonnes, being of generally annular cross-section and including a central cylindrical passageway (2), and packaging including a pair of reusable end pieces (3a, 3b) at opposite ends of the coil and fastening means (4) releasably securing together the end pieces. The end pieces (3a, 3b) and the fastening means (4) are removable from the coil (1) after release of the fastening means without unwinding the coil. The fastening means extends along the axis of the coil, is spaced from the inside of the coil and is in tension so that the end pieces are pressed against the opposite ends of the coil.

Description

Packaging of Sheet Metal Coils

This invention relates to the packaging of large, heavy, sheet metal coils. For example, the invention is of particular application to containing high value sheet metal, for example tinplate, aluminium, stainless steel, special coated metals etc., in the form of sheet material wound into coils, the coils having a mass greater than two tonnes, the heavier coils having a mass of about 25 tonnes. A single sheet of strip metal once wound into a coil is commonly stored at the place of manufacture and then transported. Generally coils are transported to a place for further processing, for example a press shop or canning factory etc., where they are again stored. The sheet metal wound into a coil generally has a thickness in the range of .15mm to 10mm. In such coils, it is usual for each layer of the metal sheet to be in direct contact with the adjacent layers. The overall density of the coil (excluding the volume of the central bore) is similar to that of the metal that forms the coil.

In the sometimes lengthy time between manufacture and being processed further (usually at a location remote from the place of manufacture) the metal may suffer damage including both physical and chemical damage. Physical damage can arise when coils of sheet metal are knocked during transportation. After production of the coil, the coil is generally moved by suitable load handling equipment, into temporary storage. The load handling equipment usually lifts a coil by engaging the interior surface of the coil with one or two arms, the arms extending into the central bore of the coil. The width of the strip may be as great as 1.8m and the coil may have a diameter of up to about 2.0m. It is therefore common for damage to occur to a coil of sheet metal especially on the sides of the coil adjacent to the inner and outer extremities thereof.

Chemical damage can arise through corrosion, thereby causing undesirable deterioration in the surface of the sheet metal. It is common when storing or transporting sheet metal, especially high value sheet metal to wrap the coil in a protective layer to reduce the amount of moisture in contact with the surface of the metal and therefore mitigate corrosion and deterioration of the metal. Wrapping a coil of sheet metal in such a manner is difficult and time consuming due to the amount of protection required not only to protect the sheet metal but also to protect the layers that are used for corrosion protection against possible physical damage. There may be many components used to provide protection to a sheet metal coil including pallets, cores, inner bore protectors, core tubes side protectors and covers etc., made out of various materials such as paper, plastics, steel, cardboard, film, galvanised sheet etc., all of which require replacement after one use. In some cases where components may be reusable they are restricted to only a few uses.

In the specification of International Patent Application No. PCT/GB98/00765 (WO 98/40177), the whole contents of which specification are incorporated herein by reference, we describe with reference to the drawings in that specification a container for a sheet metal coil that overcomes or mitigates many of the disadvantages referred to above. In certain illustrated examples of that specification sheet metal is wound onto a core member and end pieces are then secured to the core member to protect the sides of the coil. A cover is also provided to protect a peripheral part of the coil. The core member and the end pieces, with or without the cover act as a container for the coil and serve to protect the coil from damage. The end pieces are usually fitted shortly after manufacture of the coil and are usually removed shortly before the coil is to be unwound. In those illustrated examples, the core member is present throughout the entire time, including winding and unwinding of the coil.

Those exemplary packaging systems of WO 98/40177 are able to provide very good protection for the coil and are reusable, but they suffer from the potential disadvantage that at least the core member has to remain within the coil until the entire coil has been unwound. In some applications that may be desirable but, in other cases, we believe that a user may wish to remove all the packaging and have it available for re-use at an earlier stage and the inability to remove at least the core member from the coil may be disadvantageous.

Accordingly the present invention seeks to modify and develop the various examples of packaging described in International Patent Application No. PCT/GB98/00765 to provide a packaged sheet metal coil assembly and a method of packaging a sheet metal coil that overcomes or mitigates the disadvantages that can arise in some circumstances when using the particular examples of packaging of PCT/GB98/00765. According to the present invention, there is provided a packaged sheet metal coil assembly including a sheet metal coil, the coil having a mass greater than two tonnes, being of generally annular cross-section and including a central cylindrical passageway, and packaging including a pair of reusable end pieces at opposite ends of the coil and fastening means releasably securing together the end pieces, the end pieces and the fastening means being removable from the coil after release of the fastening means without unwinding the coil.

The fastening means is preferably reusable. Because both the end pieces and the fastening means can be removed from the coil without unwinding the coil, it is possible for a user to choose at what stage to remove the packaging from the coil thereby making at least the end pieces of the packaging available for reuse but leaving the coil vulnerable to damage. Similarly the end pieces and the fastening means are preferably securable to the coil after winding of the coil so that a user also has freedom of choice as to the stage at which to put on the packaging to protect the coil. In this way it becomes possible for each user to make the most efficient use of the reusable end pieces. At least the end pieces of the packaging are preferably reusable a multiplicity of times.

The fastening means may extend between the end pieces at positions on or near the periphery of each end piece. For example, the fastening means may comprise a plurality of ties extending between the peripheries of the end pieces. However, it is preferred that the fastening means extends through the central cylindrical passageway. Thus the invention also provides a packaged sheet metal coil assembly including a sheet metal coil, the coil having a mass greater than two tonnes, being of generally annular cross-section and including a central cylindrical passageway, and reusable packaging including a pair of end pieces at opposite ends of the coil and core fastening means extending through the central cylindrical passageway and releasably securing together the end pieces, the end pieces and the core fastening means being removable from the coil after release of the fastening means without unwinding the coil. Preferably the fastening means extends along the axis of the coil and preferably the fastening means is spaced from the inside of the coil.

Preferably the fastening means is in tension so that the end pieces are pressed against the opposite ends of the coil. Such pressing of the end pieces against the ends of the coil serves to retain the end pieces securely in the correct position on the coil.

The end pieces and the coil are preferably so shaped that the assembly cannot be placed on a flat surface in such a way that the coil contacts the surface. The coil is thereby protected fully by the end pieces. The coil is preferably suspended from the end pieces. The coil may be held well clear of the ground. The end pieces are advantageously load bearing. Advantageously, the end pieces are able to sustain a compression force of at least lOkN (preferably at least 40kN and more preferably at least 500kN) applied across the region between the central section of the end piece to the region of the end piece in contact with the ground. Advantageously, the end pieces are able to sustain a tensile force of at least lOkN (preferably at least 40kN and more preferably at least 500kN) applied across the region between the central section of the end piece to the upper region of the end piece.

Preferably the packaging includes portions extending inwardly from each of the end pieces through the central cylindrical passageway. Whilst, in most applications it is preferred that both end pieces have such portions, in some applications it may only be necessary for one of the end pieces to have a portion extending inwardly therefrom and through the central cylindrical passageway. The inwardly extending portions effectively provide a core member for the packaging assembly. The inwardly extending portions are preferably cylindrical. The inwardly extending portions are preferably a close fit within the central cylindrical passageway.

The packaging may further include one or more collars, which may be secured over the inwardly extending portions to increase the effective diameter of the inwardly extending portions. The provision of a collar makes it easy to adapt the packaging to suit coils of different internal diameters. The inwardly extending portions may be formed separately from the end pieces but are preferably integral parts of the end pieces; for example the inwardly extending portions may be integrated by welding them to the end pieces or by casting them with the end pieces. The fastening means preferably includes a length adjustment means to enable the distance between the positions at which the end pieces are secured on the fastening means to be adjusted. The packaging may therefore be reused with coils of different core lengths. The length adjustment means may comprise two members arranged along the length of the fastening means, the members being movable relative to one another along the length of the fastening means and being releasably fixable with respect to one another. For example, the two members may be fixable together by a pin that can be passed through respective apertures, recesses or the like, of the members. The length adjustment means may have a multiplicity of discrete positions; each position may correspond to a different core length of coil. The fastening means preferably includes a screw- threaded fastening. The screw-threaded fastening is preferably provided for securing the end pieces to the coil assembly. Although not a feature of the embodiments described below with reference to the drawings, the screw- threaded fastening may also form at least a part of the length adjustment means.

Preferably the assembly further includes a cover. Such a cover can provide additional protection for the coil. The cover is preferably made of flexible material and more preferably is formed from a length of flexible material in tubular form. Such a tubular cover can be pulled over a complete coil, while the coil is supported by suitable handling equipment engaging in its cylindrical passageway. Preferably the cover extends around the periphery of the coil and is sandwiched between the end pieces and the ends of the coil. In that case, the cover protects the end faces of the coil and can also be secured by the sandwiching between the end pieces and the coil.

Preferably portions of the cover extend inwardly into the central cylindrical passageway of the coil. In that way the inside of the coil can also be protected by the cover, the cover can be especially well retained and the interior of the coil substantially sealed from the environment.

At least one of the end pieces is preferably reinforced, to enable a weight of 40kN to be supported safely by the end piece in the case of a relatively light coil weighing for example two tonnes or as much as 500kN in the case of a heavy coil weighing for example 25 tonnes.

Each end piece preferably includes a substantially plate-like part and a plurality of reinforcing beams. Each end piece preferably includes a plurality of load supporting members that extend substantially vertically when the axis of the coil is horizontal and the load supporting members are placed with their bottom ends on a flat horizontal surface. Such an arrangement strengthens the end pieces especially in terms of their ability to withstand vertical forces. The assembly preferably further includes a circumferential load supporting member extending substantially circumferentially around the end piece. The reinforcing and/or load supporting members are preferably of tubular form. The assembly preferably further includes first stacking means for enabling the assembly to be stacked on top of another, like, assembly with the axes of the coils horizontal. The assembly preferably further includes second stacking means for enabling the assembly to be stacked on top of another, like, assembly with the axes of the coils vertical. It w ll be appreciated that either the first stacking means or the second stacking means can be provided alone, or both stacking means can be provided. The or each stacking means may comprise a projection positioned on a first part of the assembly and a recess positioned on a second opposite part of the assembly.

Advantageously the assembly further includes a plurality of mounting blocks for releasably fastening the assembly to a separately provided apparatus, each mounting block being located on the assembly in a position such that the mass of the assembly may be supported by the mounting blocks. The separately provided apparatus may be a load handling means or transporting means. The mounting blocks may be so positioned that load handling equipment is able to lift the coil by engaging the blocks, the assembly being suspended from the engaged blocks. Preferably, however the mounting blocks are so positioned that load handling equipment is able to lift the coil by engaging the blocks, the assembly being supported from underneath by the engaged blocks. The separately provided apparatus may be a further packaged sheet metal coil assembly according to the invention, the mounting blocks on each assembly facilitating the stacking of the containers (i.e. the mounting blocks on one assembly being fastened to the mounting blocks of the other assembly) . Additional means may be required to releasably fasten the mounting blocks of one assembly to the mounting blocks of a further assembly.

The mounting blocks may conveniently be of the same type that is used on standard freight containers. A mounting block is preferably provided at each end of each of the vertically extending load supporting members. The stacking means referred to above preferably comprises a plurality of mounting blocks. In some applications, it may be possible for the coil to be handled and supported so that one end piece need not support and bear any substantial mass. For example, the coil assembly may be handled and transported with the axis of the coil always being substantially vertical. It is then only necessary to have one load bearing end piece, and the other end piece may therefore be of lighter construction. The load-bearing end piece may include any of the features of the end pieces of the assembly according to the above-described invention that relate to strength of the end pieces. Preferably the lighter end piece does not include those features (the features relating to the strength of the end pieces as described above) . The load bearing end piece may be in the form of a pallet. The pallet may be of the conventional wooden type or may be of the conventional metal type.

The load bearing end piece is advantageously made from two different types of material, each type of material forming a substantial part of the end piece, one of the types of material being metal and the other being a non- metal. Whilst the load bearing end piece, when in the form of a pallet, can be substantially entirely wooden, such an end piece would only be able to be reused about four times. The end pieces of the present invention are advantageously reusable more than ten times at the very least. Providing a load bearing end piece that is partly made of metal increases the reusability of the pallet. Furthermore, the load bearing end piece may be so arranged that individual non-metal parts can easily be replaced when necessary. Whilst the load bearing end piece, when in the form of a pallet, can be substantially entirely metal, such an end piece has the disadvantage that the packaged assembly has a tendency to slip, for example, when conveyed by metal rollers or, for example, when carried on a metal bed of a trailer for transporting the coil, especially where the method of securing the end piece to the trailer is solely by means of passing ties around the packaged assembly and then securing the ties to the trailer bed (a method that is commonly used to secure conventional pallets to trailers). The metal part of the load bearing end piece may be steel. The non-metal part may be wood or may be plastic or may even be a combination of wood and plastic. The load bearing end piece may include metal beams for supporting the weight of the coil. The load bearing end piece may include wooden pieces. The non-metal type of material may provide a surface (or surfaces) on which the coil rests. The non-metal type of material may provide a surface (or surfaces) which contacts the ground or other surface on which the end piece rests. For example, the non-metal material may provide a surface (or surfaces) that contacts metal rollers on which the packaged assembly is conveyed or that contacts the bed of a trailer used to transport the packaged coil assembly. The non-metal that provides such surfaces of contact preferably has properties that increase the degree of friction between the end piece and the surface (s) with which it is in contact compared to the degree of friction that would result if the end piece were made entirely of steel. For example, if the load bearing end piece includes wooden planks or beams on its top surface, slippage between the end piece and metal rollers on which it is conveyed is reduced. The non-metal that provides surfaces that contact the coil preferably also has properties that aid the protection of the coil. The lighter end piece is preferably generally disc shaped. The sides of the end pieces that face the coil preferably include material that reduces damage to the coil, for example, a plastics material. The lighter end piece need not necessarily cover the whole of the end of the coil to which it is adjacent.

The invention further provides a packing kit suitable for producing a packaged sheet metal coil assembly according to any aspect of the above-described invention. The packing kit advantageously comprises reusable packaging including a pair of end pieces suitable for positioning at opposite ends of a sheet metal coil (the coil having a mass greater than two tonnes), at least one end piece supporting the weight of the coil, and fastening means suitable for releasably securing together the end pieces, such that the end pieces and the fastening means are removable from the coil after release of the fastening means without unwinding the coil. The packing kit may of course also include any of the features described herein (either separately or in combination) with reference to other aspects of the invention, if appropriate. For example, the end pieces may each have an integrally formed portion for positioning within the central cylindrical passageway of a coil for the purpose of supporting the mass of the coil. The packing kit may for example include a load bearing end piece m the form of a pallet and a lighter end piece.

The invention further provides a method of packaging a sheet metal coil having a mass greater than two tonnes, the method comprising the following steps: winding sheet metal into a coil; placing a pair of end pieces at respective ends of the coil; and fastening the end pieces together with a fastening means extending through the coil to form a packaged sheet metal coil assembly.

The packaged sheet metal coil assembly produced by the method of the invention may be in any of the forms defined above. For example, the method may further include the step of placing a tubular, flexible, cover over the wound coil before the end pieces are placed at respective ends of the coil.

The method may further include the step of removing the end pieces from the ends of the coil while the coil is still wound.

The method may further include the step of transporting the packaged sheet metal co l assembly. The assembly may be transported by transport provided with fastening means of the type that is able to receive and releasably fasten a standard freight container provided with mounting blocks. In such a case, the method preferably further includes fastening an adapter means to the fastening means of the transport and fastening the assembly to the adapter means. The present invention thus provides an adapter means including mounting means for releasably fastening the adapter means to the fastening means of a transport and fastening means shaped and configured to be able to receive and fasten a packaged sheet metal coil assembly.

The provision of such an adapter means may allow coil assemblies of the present invention to be handled and transported with apparatus and equipment designed only for use with a particular size of standard freight container. A typical freight container, when loaded, is larger and heavier than a typical coil assembly and therefore equipment designed for use with such freight containers, if suitably adapted, is generally suitable for use with a coil assembly according to the present invention. Once so adapted with an adapter means according to the present invention such apparatus and equipment provide a convenient means of handling and transporting the coil assemblies of the present invention.

The adapter means advantageously includes a plurality of mounting blocks for releasably fastening the adapter means to the fastening means of the transport. The fastening means of the adapter means may comprise a plurality of fasteners. Each fastener may be a twist lock. When the mounting blocks are of the type provided on conventional freight containers (those mounting blocks being known as corner fittings), the twist locks may be of the type that are used and known, per se, in relation to securing and moving conventional freight containers. The fastening means may be adjustable so that packaged sheet metal coil assemblies of different sizes can be fastened to the adapter means. The adapter means is preferably suitable for use in the method described above.

The present invention also provides a packaged sheet metal coil assembly fastened to an adapter means as described above.

The present invention also provides transport suitable for transporting a conventional freight container, in which an adapter means as described above is fastened to the transport. A packaged sheet metal coil as described above may be fastened to the adapter means fastened to the transport . The present invention also provides transport suitable for transporting a sheet metal coil, the coil having a mass greater than two tonnes, the transport including a pair of end pieces which are able to engage opposite ends of such a coil. The end pieces of the transport may be releasably fastened to the transport. Advantageously the end pieces of the transport are load bearing end pieces and are each able to support a mass of one tonne. A coil having a central cylindrical passageway may be supported by the end pieces of the transport, the end pieces being releasably secured together by a fastening means. The transport may be a trailer for use in transporting goods by road.

Various different aspects of the present invention have been described above. It will be appreciated that features of one aspect of the invention may, if appropriate, be incorporated into another aspect of the above-described invention.

By way of example certain illustrative embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a front, partly sectional, view of a packaged sheet metal coil assembly,

Fig. 2 is an end view of the assembly of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a front, partly sectional, view of two of the assemblies of Figs. 1 and 2 stacked in a first stacking mode,

Fig. 4 is a front, partly sectional, view of two of the assemblies of Figs. 1 and 2 stacked in a second stacking mode, Fig. 5A is a front view of a modified form of coil assembly with the axis of the coil horizontal , Fig. 5B is an end view of the coil assembly of Fig. 5A,

Fig. 5C is a half plan view in the direction of the arrows C-C shown in Fig. 5B, Fig. 5D is a side and front view of a collar for use in the modified form of coil assembly,

Fig. 5E is a front view (in the direction of the arrow F marked in Fig. 5G) of the modified form of coil assembly with the axis of the coil vertical,

Fig. 5F is a rear view (in the direction of the arrow G marked in Fig. 5H) of the modified form of coil assembly with the axis of the coil vertical, Fig. 5G is a plan view (on the lines D-D of Fig 5E) of the modified form of coil assembly with the axis of the coil vertical,

Fig. 5H is a plan view (on the lines E-E of Fig. 5F) of the modified form of coil assembly with the axis of the coil vertical,

Fig. 6A is an end view of a second modified form of coil assembly with the axis of the coil horizontal,

Fig. 6B is a schematic, partly sectional, front view (on the lines H-H and J-J of Fig. 6A) of the coil assembly of Fig. 6A,

Fig. 6C is a plan and sectional view of two attachments to assist lifting of the assembly of Fig. 6A, Fig. 7A is a partly sectional end view of a third modified form of coil assembly with the axis of the coil horizontal, Fig. 7B is a partly sectional front view of the assembly of Fig. 7A,

Fig. 7C is a partly sectional plan view (on the lines Y-Y of Fig. 7A) of the assembly of Fig. 7A, Fig. 7D is a partly sectional view along the axis of the coil (on the lines Z-Z of Fig. 7C) of Fig. 7A,

Fig. 7E is a schematic sectional view (on the lines X-X) of part of the assembly of Fig. 7A, Fig. 8 is a plan view of a frame that allows a coil assembly to be carried on transport designed to carry only standard freight containers,

Fig. 9A is a plan view of an end piece of a fourth modified form of coil assembly suitable for the packaging of a coil having its axis vertical,

Fig. 9B is a schematic sectional side view (on the lines K-K) of the end piece of Fig. 9A,

Fig. 9C is schematic view from below showing parts of the end piece of Fig. 9A,

Fig. 9D is schematic cross-section (on the plane L-L) of the end piece of Fig. 9A, and

Fig. 9E is schematic cross-section (on the plane L-L) of a component of the end piece of Fig. 9A. Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the packaged sheet metal coil assembly generally comprises a wound sheet metal coil 1, shown in dotted outline, two end pieces 3a, 3b and a fastening means 4. The sheet metal coil 1 has a length of about 1.6 m and a diameter of about 1.8 m. The end pieces 3a, 3b have a diameter of about 2.0 m and are made of steel. The coil has a central cylindrical passageway 2 having an internal diameter of about 400 mm. Each of the end pieces 3a, 3b is of similar construction so that only the construction of the end piece 3a will be described in detail. The end piece 3a generally comprises a panel part 5a extending over one end face of the coil 1 and a core part 6a which is of generally circular cylindrical shape and projects inwardly from the panel part 5a as a reasonably close fit in the passageway 2 of the coil. The inner end of the core part 6a is formed with an end wall 7a which has an aperture 8a in its centre for receiving a part of the fastening means 4 as will be described further below.

The panel part 5a generally comprises plates 9a, a pair of upright tubular members 10a, 11a and a circumferential tubular member 12a. The plates 9a and tubular members 10a, 11a and 12a are welded together and the circumferential tubular member 12a is welded to the upright members 10a, 11a. The core part 6a is welded to plates 9a.

At the top of each upright tubular member 10a, 11a a hollow part 13a is provided and at the bottom of each upright member 10a, 11a a projection 14a is provided, the projection 14a being dimensioned to fit within the hollow part 13a. As will be described later the parts 13a and projections 14a are used when stacking coil assemblies on top of one another with the axes of the coils horizontal.

The end piece 3b has the same features as those described above in respect of the end piece 3a and the corresponding parts of the end piece 3b are referenced by the same reference numerals as are used for the end piece 3a but followed by the suffix "b".

The end piece 3b is provided with four outwardly projecting hollow parts 15 and the end piece 3a is provided with four outwardly projection projections 16 which are each dimensioned to fit within a respective hollow part 15. As will be described later the hollow parts 15 and projections 16 are used when stacking coil assemblies on top of one another with the axes of the coils vertical. The hollow parts 15 and projections 16, which are optional, are shown in Fig. 1 but are omitted in Fig. 2.

The fastening means 4 simply comprises a nut 18 and bolt 17. Preferably the shaft of the bolt 17 is of square cross-section and the apertures 8a and 8b in the end pieces 3a, 3b are also of square cross-section so that the bolt is unable to rotate and the end pieces 3a, 3b are automatically maintained in alignment. The end pieces 3a, 3b can thus be drawn towards each other and fastened simply by turning the nut 18 on the bolt 17. When sheet metal is manufactured in coils, it is standard practice for the coil to be removed from a mandrel on which it has been wound and to be stored temporarily on a factory floor. In this state the coil is of annular form having a central passageway of circular cross-section (the passageway 2 in the drawings) . At any time subsequent to manufacture the packaging can be applied to form a coil assembly as shown m Figs. 1 and 2. The coil is rested well clear of the ground on a suitable support and the core parts 6a and 6b of each of the end pieces 3a, 3b fitted into the passageway 2 of the coil. The core parts 6a and 6b are a reasonably tight fit in the passageway 2. After the core parts 6a and 6b have been inserted into the passageway 2, the panel parts 5a, 5b are rotated as necessary to bring them into alignment and the bolt 17 is then inserted through the apertures 8a, 8b. The nut 18 can then be screwed onto the end of the bolt. Fastening of the nut serves initially to draw the end pieces 3a and 3b together until they are each in contact with the ends of the coil 1. Further tightening introduces tension in the bolt 17 and therefore causes the panel parts 5a, 5b of the end pieces to press against the end faces of the coil. In that way the end pieces are held securely in a fixed position relative to the coil. The packaged coil assembly can then be transported to a desired location and stored as required. At any chosen time, the packaging can be removed without unwinding the coil simply by placing the periphery of the coil on a suitable elevated support and reversing the steps described above.

If desired, a cover (not shown) may also be provided to give additional protection for the coil. The cover may for example be in the form of a tube of polyethylene and can be positioned over the coil before the coil is placed on a support for addition of the other packaging. The ends of the tube can then be pushed into the passageway 2 of the coil and thereafter the core parts 6a, 6b inserted. In that way the polyethylene cover is retained securely over the coil, all of the exterior of the coil is protected by the polyethylene and the interior of the coil is substantially sealed from the exterior.

Fig. 3 shows how two coil assemblies can be stacked vertically one on top of another with the axes of each coil horizontal. In Fig. 3, the hollow parts 13a are shown spaced slightly below the projections 14a, but it will be appreciated that in the stack assembly the projections 14a are received within the hollow parts 13a. Fig. 4 is a similar drawing to Fig. 3 but showing the stacking of two coil assemblies with the axes of the coils vertical. As in Fig. 3, the hollow parts 15 of the lower coil are shown spaced slightly below the projections 16 of the upper coil but it will be understood that when the coils are in their stacked position the projections 16 are received in the hollow parts 15. Figs. 5A to 5H show a modified form of coil assembly, which adopts many of the same principles as the assembly shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The same numerals are used in Figs. 5A to 5H to designate corresponding parts. Fig. 5A is a split sectional view, the left of Fig. 5A being a sectional view on lines B-B (see Fig. 5B) and the right of Fig. 5A being a sectional view on lines A-A (see Fig. 5B) . The assembly has certain extra features, however, which will now be referred to. Firstly, referring mainly to Figs. 5A and 5B, the structure of the end pieces is somewhat different and each end piece is provided with top (25a, 25b) and bottom (26a, 26b) horizontal members and central members (27a, 27b) . Each bottom horizontal member carries on its bottom face a bearing pad of plastics material (for example, comprising PVC or nylon) . Each of the end pieces is provided with a disc (28a, 28b) of plastics material (for example, comprising PVC or nylon - see Fig. 5C) which is arranged to be positioned between the panel parts of the end pieces and the end face of the coil, thereby reducing the possibility of damage to the end face of the coil. The strengthening members are generally of square tubular cross-section and have openings 3c where appropriate sized and spaced to suit the forks of a fork-lift truck. Furthermore, as can be seen from Figs. 5E to 5H, the form of the end pieces is particularly suitable for housing coils arranged with their axes vertical and again there are openings 3c provided for engagement by the forks of a fork-lift truck.

A further feature of the embodiment of Figs. 5A to 5H is illustrated in Fig. 5D. A collar 29, which in the example illustrated has an internal diameter of 400 mm and an external diameter of 600 mm can be fitted over the core part 6a or 6b of an end piece in order to enlarge the diameter of the core part from 400 mm to 600 mm. In that way the end piece can be arranged to fit snugly in a coil whose internal diameter is 610 mm. Further collars of different external diameters can be provided for different internal diameters of coil. As shown, the collar may include tabs 30 having holes 31 by which the innermost part of the collar may be secured to the end wall 7a or 7b of the core part 6a or 6b.

Figs. 6A to 6C and Figs. 7A to 7E show second and third modified forms of coil assemblies, respectively. The coil assemblies are similar in principle to the assemblies shown in Figs. 1 to 5H and the same numerals are used in Figs. 6A to 7E to designate corresponding parts. The assemblies have certain extra features, however, which will now be referred to. The assembly illustrated by Figures 6A to 6C is very similar in appearance to the assembly illustrated by Figures 5A to 5H, the major differences being that the end pieces of the assembly of Figs. 6A to 6C do not have a central vertical member between the two vertical members 10a, 11a and that the end pieces each have eight cleats.

Figure 6A shows eight cleats 32a on the end piece 3a, four on each vertical member 10a, 11a. The end piece 3a on the right of Fig. 6B is shown in section along the lines J-J (see Fig. 6A) and the end piece 3b on the left of Fig. 6B is shown in section along the lines H-H (see Fig. 6A) .

Fig. 6C shows a plan view and a sectional side view of two fork lift attachments 34. Each fork-lift attachment has a generally rectangular tubular cross-section and has four cleats 34. Each fork lift attachment may be removably fixed to one of the uprights 10a, 11a of the end piece. The fork-lift attachment 34 is positioned against the appropriate upright so that the holes in the cleats 32a of the end piece are aligned with the holes in the cleats 33 of the attachment and each pair of cleats receive a screw- threaded bolt (not shown) that is secured with a nut. When the coil assembly is positioned with the axis of the coil being vertical a fork-lift truck may then be used to lift and move the assembly. The fork-lift attachments may be fixed to one or both end pieces of the coil assembly.

The assembly of Figures 7A to 7E is provided with eight corner blocks 38 (only four of which can be seen in either of Figures 7A and 7B) . Corner blocks 38 are provided at each end of each of the vertically extending members 10, 11. The four lower corner blocks thus support the mass of the assembly. The corner blocks 38 are of the standard type used on freight containers. Such blocks, (also known as corner fittings or corner castings) on freight containers have a standard shape according to a standard set by the International Organisation for

Standardisation under the number ISO 1161-1984 and as described under British Standard No. 3951 (1985, Part 1, Section 1.2 - Specifications for corner fittings for series 1 freight containers) published by the British Standards Institution. The corner blocks are shaped to receive twist locks (used with corner fittings on freight containers). A part of the twist lock is inserted into the corner block and then rotated to lock the corner block in position in relation to the twist lock. Thus the corner blocks 38 can be used to assist safe handling and transporting of the coil assembly. Furthermore a coil assembly can be stacked on top of another coil assembly by means of the corner blocks 38. Four locking devices (not shown) are required to stack two coil assemblies, each locking device being able to releasably fasten two corner blocks 38 together, rather like two combined twist locks.

Figures 7A to 7E also show a different type of fastening means 4. The fastening means 4 includes a length adjusting portion 39 that allows the assembly to be used to package coils of different core lengths. The fastening means 4 comprises two toothed members 41, 42 that pass through a frame 43. The frame 43 (see Fig. 7D) comprises two side walls 45 connected to each other by four horizontally extending members 46 (three at the top and one at the bottom) and one pin 44. The pin 44 passes between the teeth of each toothed member and because the teeth of each respective member are inclined in opposing directions the pin is capable of holding the members 41, 42 in position, relative to each other, when the fastening means 4 is in axial tension.

The members 41, 42 may be released from a position in which the members are held in position by the pin 44 (as shown in Figs. 7A to 7E) , for example in order to allow adjustment of the length of the fastening means 4, by moving the members together. The frame is a relatively open structure to facilitate cleaning of the length altering device 39.

The packaging is assembled in much the same way as has been described with reference to the assemblies of the other embodiments described herein. There is provided a nut 18 and bolt 17 (at the left hand end piece 3a) on the fastening means 4 for securing the respective end pieces to the assembly. With reference to the right hand end piece 3b of Fig. 7B a square washer plate 56, held in fixed relation to the toothed member 42 to which it is attached, abuts against an interior wall 55 of the end piece 3b. The nut 18 and the bolt 17 at the end piece 3b are also welded in fixed relation to the square washer 56 so that only the nut of the left hand end piece 3a need be tightened when assembling the packaging. With reference to Fig. 7E, which shows a sectional view of the end piece 3b in the region of the bolt 17, the washer plate 56 (and therefore also the fastening means 4) is prevented from rotating by means of four L-shaped plates 57 welded to the interior wall 55 of the end piece 3b. The interior wall 55 of the end piece 3b has an aperture 54 formed therein, the aperture being so shaped that the fastening means 4 can be passed therethrough.

Rather than there being discs of protective material on the sides of the end pieces that face the coils, in the embodiment of Figs. 7A to 7E the end pieces are each provided with two rectangular strips of material 47a, 47b. The strips, made of plastics material such as nylon, are positioned on the vertically extending members 10, 11 of each end piece. Each strip is of a length comparable with the diameter of the maximum size of coil that the assembly can accommodate. The circumferential members 48 of the end pieces of the assembly shown in Figs. 7A to 7E is also of a slightly different construction from the previously described embodiments. With reference to the end piece 3a illustrated by Fig 7A, each section of the circumferential member 48 is formed from two parallel rolled flat bars 35a with pairs of panels 36a extending therebetween, thereby forming a partially open tubular member. Each of the panels 36a includes an aperture 37a to reduce the total mass of the assembly.

Fig. 8 illustrates schematically in plan view an adapter frame 49 that allows a coil assembly fitted with suitable mounting blocks (for example a coil assembly according to the embodiment illustrated by Figs. 7A to 7E) to be transported or handled by transport, load handling equipment or the like, specifically designed for use with standard freight containers. Freight containers are generally built m standard sizes and have standard ISO corner fittings attached. It is therefore common for apparatus for moving such containers to be designed to be used with only one width and only certain lengths of standard freight container. Road trailers for carrying freight containers commonly have twist locks fixed in suitable positions for fastening to the corner fittings of a standard freight container. For example, one standard length of freight container requires twist locks to be positioned at the corners of a notional rectangle measuring 3.048m by 2.286m.

The adapter frame 49 comprises two horizontal (as seen in the view of Fig.8) beams 53 that extend between two vertical (as seen in the view of Fig.8) beams 55. At the four corners of the frame 49, on the ends of the vertical beams 55, are four standard ISO corner fittings (of the type found on a standard freight container) . The corner fittings 52 facilitate the fastening of the frame 49 to, for example, a truck designed to carry a particular size of freight container. Each of the horizontal beams 53 has at its right-hand end (as seen in the view of Fig.8) a fixed twist lock 50. Each of the horizontal beams 53 also has a twist lock 51 slidably mounted thereon. The two slidably mounted twist locks are connected to each other by a bar

51, so that the separation between the twist locks on each horizontal bar 53 is the same. The horizontal beams 53 are separated by a distance such that each pair of twist locks 50 and 51 are separated by a distance equal to that of the separation of the corner blocks fitted to the end pieces of the type of coil assembly to be fastened to the adapter frame 49. The twist locks 50, 51 facilitate the fastening of a coil assembly to the frame 49. The frame is able to carry coil assemblies having a variety of core lengths. Figures 9A to 9E show an end piece 103 of a fourth modified form of coil assembly. The coil (not shown in Figs. 9A to 9E) is supported by the end piece 103 with its axis being arranged vertically. The end piece 103 is in the form of a pallet. The end piece 103 includes a base frame 160 (see Fig. 9C) comprising three parallel and spaced apart steel runners 161 and two sets of four steel flat bars 162 running perpendicular to the runners 161, each set of flat bars connecting a respective pair of adjacent runners 161. The runners 161 are tubular, being square in cross-section. The ends 164 of each flat bar 162 extend perpendicularly to the middle of the flat bar and each end 164 is welded to the side 165 of a respective runner 161. Wooden beams 163 run along the length of and underneath the runners 161. The end piece 103 has a panel 105 on which a coil (not shown) can be supported. The panel 105 is made up of a plurality of panel pieces 109. The panel pieces 109 are connected to and extend perpendicular to the runners 161. The panel pieces 109 include steel box sections 158 and timber slats 159. Each panel piece 109, except the middle panel piece 167, is connected to the runners 161 by three bolts 166, each bolt passing from the panel through a respective runner 161 to a respective wooden beam 163. The ends of the bolts 166 are recessed within the wooden beams 163 and the panel pieces 109. The middle panel piece 167 is made of steel and has welded thereto in its centre a square annular metal pocket 168. The middle panel piece 167 is connected to the base frame by two bolts, one at each end, in a similar manner to that of the other panel pieces 109. A core part 106 (not shown in Fig. 9A) is removably mounted within the pocket 168. The core part 106 has a conically shaped head 170, which facilitates the guiding of a coil onto the core part 106. The core part 106 is secured to the pocket by means of a nut and bolt 169.

When a coil is to be packaged, the coil is placed on top of the end piece 103, the inner core of the coil receiving the conical head 170 of the core part 106 of the end piece. A tie (not shown) is then connected at one end to the core part 106. To enable the tie to be quickly and easily connected to the core part 106, the end of the tie may be T-shaped and the core part may have an elongate aperture leading to a hollow interior, the T-shaped end of the tie being passed through the aperture into the interior of the core part 106 and then being rotated through 90 degrees to prevent the tie from being withdrawn (and thereby effectively securing the tie to the core part 106) . The tie is arranged to extend along the centre of the core of the coil and is then secured to a disc shaped end piece (not shown) at the opposite end of the tie. The assembly is then tightened so that the disc shaped end piece and the load bearing end piece are urged together to hold the coil securely in place. The means of securing the tie to the disc shaped end piece is conveniently a nut and bolt arrangement. At least the underside (the side that, in the packaged coil assembly, contacts the coil) of the disc shaped end piece is preferably plastic. The disc shaped end piece is advantageously much less massive than the load bearing end piece 103.

The load bearing end piece 103 can be reused many times. If and when any of the panel pieces 109 and the timber beams 163 are damaged they may simply and quickly be replaced by unbolting the damaged component (s) and replacing it/them with new components. The timber beams 163 underneath the end piece 103 facilitate the conveying of the packaged coil assembly by driven metal rollers. It has been recognised that conveying conventionally packaged coils where the parts of the assembly in contact with such rollers are metal is inefficient because of insufficient frictional engagement between the metal contact surfaces. Furthermore the wooden beams 163 reduce the chance of the packaged coil assembly slipping when being transported on a bed a conventional trailer. The provision of wooden slats 159 in the panel 105 (as opposed to the panel consisting entirely of metal pieces) helps protect the end of the coil .

Of course, various modifications can be made to the fourth modified form of coil assembly, some of which will now be described. The tie bars 162 of the base frame 160 may be dispensed with. The panel pieces 109 of the base frame 160 may comprise panel pieces of a plastics material (preferably recyclable plastic such as, for example, polypropylene) . The timber slats 159 of the panel pieces may be dispensed with (one plastics panel piece replacing each set of three wooden slats 159 as shown in Fig. 9A) . The panel pieces 109 need not all be positioned immediately adjacent to each other. There may be gaps between adjacent panel pieces. The base frame 160 can therefore be formed of less panel pieces 109 than that shown in Fig. 9A.

It will be seen that in at least some of the embodiments described above with reference to the drawings, the packaging, when secured together and to a coil, becomes a bobbin carrying the coil. For example in the first embodiment, the panel parts 5a, 5b define the sides of the bobbin whilst the case parts 6a, 6b and the fastening means 4 provide a central part around which the wound coil is carried. Also, the coil may be contained entirely within the three dimensional space defined inside the end pieces of the packaging and thus, with or without the polyethylene cover referred to above, the packaging may represent a container for the coil.

It will be appreciated that various modifications and variations can be made to the designs described above. In particular, it should be understood that features described with respect to one embodiment may be incorporated in another embodiment and that the various constructions described in WO 98/40177 can be adopted in the present design where applicable.

Claims

Claims :

1. A packaged sheet metal coil assembly including a sheet metal coil, the coil having a mass greater than two tonnes, being of generally annular cross-section and including a central cylindrical passageway, and packaging including a pair of reusable end pieces at opposite ends of the coil and fastening means releasably securing together the end pieces, the end pieces and the fastening means being removable from the coil after release of the fastening means without unwinding the coil.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the fastening means extends through the central cylindrical passageway .

3. An assembly according to claim 2, in which the fastening means extends along the axis of the coil.

4. An assembly according to claims 2 or 3, in which the fastening means is spaced from the inside of the coil.

5. An assembly according to any preceding claim in which the fastening means is in tension so that the end pieces are pressed against the opposite ends of the coil.

6. An assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the end pieces and the coil are so shaped that the assembly cannot be placed on a flat surface in such a way that the coil contacts the surface.

7. An assembly according to any preceding claim in which the packaging includes portions extending inwardly from each of the end pieces through the central cylindrical passageway.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, in which the inwardly extending portions are a close fit within the central cylindrical passageway.

9. An assembly according to claims 7 or 8, in which the inwardly extending portions are integral parts of the end pieces .

10. An assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the fastening means includes a length adjustment means to enable the distance between the positions at which the end pieces are secured on the fastening means to be adjusted.

11. An assembly according to claim 10, in which the length adjustment means comprises two members arranged along the length of the fastening means, the members being movable relative to one another along the length of the fastening means and being releasably fixable with respect to one another .

12. An assembly according to claim 10 or claim 11, in which the length adjustment means has a multiplicity of discrete positions.

13. An assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the fastening means includes a screw-threaded fastening.

14. An assembly according to any of claims 11 to 13, preceding claim, further including a cover.

15. An assembly according to claim 14, in which the cover is made of flexible material.

16. An assembly according to claim 15, in which the cover is formed from a length of flexible material in tubular form.

17. An assembly according to any of claims 14 to 16, the cover extending around the periphery of the coil and sandwiched between the end pieces and the ends of the coil.

18. An assembly according to claim 17, in which portions of the cover extend inwardly into the central cylindrical passageway of the coil.

19. An assembly according to claim 18 when dependent upon claim 7, in which the cover is located between the inwardly extending portions of the end pieces and the inside of the coil .

20. An assembly according to any preceding claim, in which at least one of the end pieces is reinforced.

21. An assembly according to any preceding claim wherein at least one of the end pieces includes a plurality of reinforcing beams and/or load supporting members, the reinforcing beams and/or load supporting members being of tubular form.

22. An assembly according to any preceding claim, further including first stacking means for enabling the assembly to be stacked on top of another, like, assembly with the axes of the coils horizontal.

23. An assembly according to any preceding claim, including second stacking means for enabling the assembly to be stacked on top of another, like, assembly with the axes of the coils vertical.

24. An assembly according to claim 22 or 23, in which the or each stacking means comprises a projection positioned on a first part of the assembly and a recess positioned on a second opposite part of the assembly.

25. An assembly according to any preceding claim, further including a plurality of mounting blocks for releasably fastening the assembly to a separately provided apparatus, each mounting block being located on the assembly in a position such that the mass of the assembly may be supported by the mounting blocks.

26. An assembly according to claim 25, in which the mounting blocks are of the same type that are used on standard freight containers.

27. An assembly according to claim 25 or claim 26, when dependent on claims 22 or 23, in which the stacking means comprises a plurality of mounting blocks.

28. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein one end piece is a load bearing end piece and the other end piece is lighter than the load bearing end piece.

29. An assembly according to claim 28, wherein the load bearing end piece is in the form of a pallet.

30. An assembly according to claim 28 or claim 29, wherein the load bearing end piece is made from two different types of material, each type of material forming a substantial part of the end piece, one of the types of material being metal and the other being a non-metal.

31. An assembly according to any of claims 28 to 30, wherein the lighter end piece is in the form of a disc.

32. An assembly according to any of claims 28 to 31, wherein the lighter end piece covers less than the whole of the end of the coil to which it is adjacent.

33. A method of packaging a sheet metal coil having a mass greater than two tonnes, the method comprising the following steps: winding sheet metal into a coil; placing a pair of end pieces at respective ends of the coil; and fastening the end pieces together with a fastening means to form a packaged sheet metal coil assembly.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the packaged sheet metal coil assembly is as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 32.

35. A method according to claims 33 or 34 further including the step of placing a tubular, flexible, cover over the wound coil before the end pieces are placed at respective ends of the coil.

36. A method according to any one of claims 33 to 35, further including the step of removing the end pieces from the ends of the coil while the coil is still wound.

37. A method according to any one of claims 33 to 36 further including the step of transporting the packaged sheet metal coil assembly.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the assembly is transported by transport provided with fastening means of the type that is able to receive and releasably fasten a standard freight container provided with mounting blocks, the method further including fastening an adapter means to the fastening means of the transport and fastening the assembly to the adapter means.

39. A kit of parts including a pair of reusable end pieces and fastening means, the kit of parts being suitable for use in a method according to claim 34 or any of claims 35 to 38 when dependent on claim 34.

40. Adapter means including mounting means for releasably fastening the adapter means to the fastening means of a transport and fastening means shaped and configured to be able to receive and fasten a packaged sheet metal coil assembly.

41. An adapter according to claim 40, wherein the mounting means includes a plurality of mounting blocks for releasably fastening the adapter means to the fastening means of the transport.

42. An adapter means according to claim 40 or 41, in which the fastening means of the adapter means comprises a plurality of fasteners.

43. An adapter means according to any of claims 40 to 42, in which the fastening means of the adapter means is adjustable so that packaged sheet metal coil assemblies of different sizes can be fastened to the adapter means. 44. An adapter means according to any one of claims 40 to 43 that is suitable for use in the method of claim 38.

45. An adapter means according to any of claims 40 to 44, in which a packaged sheet metal coil assembly is fastened to the adapter means. 46. Transport suitable for transporting a conventional freight container, in which an adapter means according to any of claims 40 to 45 is fastened to the transport.

47. Transport suitable for transporting a sheet metal coil, the coil having a mass greater than two tonnes, the transport including a pair of end pieces that are releasably fastened to the transport and are able to engage opposite ends of such a coil.

48. Transport according to claim 47, in which the end pieces are load bearing end pieces and are each able to support a mass of one tonne.

49. Transport according to claims 47 or 48, in which a sheet metal coil having a central cylindrical passageway is supported by the end pieces, the end pieces being releasably secured together by a fastening means. 50. Use of transport according to any of claims 46 to 49 in transporting a sheet metal coil having a mass of greater than two tonnes. - 35 -

releasably fastening the adapter means to the fastening means of the transport.

43. An adapter means according to any of claims 40 to 42, in which the fastening means of the adapter means is adjustable so that packaged sheet metal coil assemblies of different sizes can be fastened to the adapter means.

44. An adapter means according to any one of claims 40 to 43 that is suitable for use in the method of claim 38.

45. An adapter means according to any of claims 40 to 44, in which a packaged sheet metal coil assembly is fastened to the adapter means .

46. Transport suitable for transporting a conventional freight container, in which an adapter means according to any of claims 40 to 45 is fastened to the transport.

49. Transport according to claims 47 or 48, in which a sheet metal coil having a central cylindrical passageway is supported by the end pieces, the end pieces being releasably secured together by a fastening means.

50. Use of transport according to any of claims 46 to 49 in transporting a sheet metal coil having a mass of greater than two tonnes.