Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6499932
-
Patent Number
6,499,932
-
Date Filed
Friday, May 25, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 31, 200221 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Breh; Donald J.
- Croll; Mark W.
- Soltis; Lisa M.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 414 620
- 414 621
- 414 910
- 414 911
- 294 94
- 294 97
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A coil handling device for engaging a coil having a depth and an interior surface defining a diameter and defining a longitudinal axis, is configured to engage the coil with the longitudinal axis oriented vertically and reorient the coil to position the longitudinal axis horizontally. The handling device includes a transport assembly, a lift assembly and a manipulating assembly. The manipulating assembly is mounted to the lift assembly and includes a pair of spaced apart support arms and a pivoting carriage carried by the support arms. The carriage includes a locking arm for engaging the interior surface of the coil along the depth of the coil and a thrust lever including a bearing arm and a lever arm disposed at an obtuse angle to one another opposite the locking arm. The thrust lever is being pivotably mounted to the carriage between a first position wherein the locking arm and bearing arm readily insert into the coil and a second position wherein the bearing arm is urged against the interior surface of the coil to lock the coil between the locking arm and the bearing arm. The pivoting carriage is pivotable between a first position in which the coil longitudinal axis is vertical and a second position in which coil longitudinal axis is horizontal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to a coil handling device. More particularly, the invention pertains to a coil manipulating and transporting device for lifting and rotating coiled materials.
Many materials are supplied in coiled form. For example, strapping material, such as plastic or steel strap is often supplied in coiled form on, for example, a spool or spindle.
In handling coiled strapping material, most strapping machines require that the coils be positioned on the machine with the longitudinal axis of the coil in a horizontal orientation. That is, the coils are mounted to the machine so that the material feeds from a top or bottom of the coil and so that the coiled material can rotate around a spindle or axis positioned in a horizontal orientation.
Coiled strapping material is often quite heavy and can be bulky, vis-à-vis storage and handling. As such, it is desirable to package, store and ship the material in the same orientation in which it is placed on a strapping machine. This readily facilitates handling and transport of the spools from any shipping pallet or container to the strapping machine.
One drawback to shipping the coiled material in this fashion is that the coils can only be shipped or packaged in a single layer. That is, because the coils are resting on a periphery of the coil, only one layer of coils is practicable. That is, it is impracticable, if not impossible to stack coils one on top of another when the coils are resting on the coil periphery.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a coil handling device that permits shipping and storage of coils in a more efficient, e.g., stackable, manner. Desirably, such a device permits handling of a coil shipped with the longitudinal axis vertically oriented. Most desirably, such a device facilitates engaging an individual coil and manipulating that coil to position (the longitudinal axis) it from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation. Still more desirably, such a device readily separates stacked coils from one another, manipulates the coils to reorient the longitudinal axis and is used to transport the coils from one location to another to, for example, load a coil of strapping material onto a strapping machine.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A coil handling device engages a coil having a depth and an interior surface that define a diameter and a longitudinal axis, and is configured to lock the coil thereon with the longitudinal axis oriented vertically and reorient the coil to position the longitudinal axis horizontally. The device permits handling of coils that are shipped and stored in a stacked orientation and facilitates engaging an individual coil and manipulating that coil to position the longitudinal axis from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation for placement on a strapping machine.
The handling device includes a transport assembly including a base and a plurality of casters, a lift assembly mounted to the base that includes a drive and is configured to lift a load carried thereby, and a manipulating assembly.
The manipulating assembly is mounted to the lift assembly. The manipulating assembly includes a pair of spaced apart support arms and a pivoting carriage carried by the support arms. The carriage includes a locking arm for engaging the interior surface of the coil along the depth of the coil and a thrust lever positioned opposite the locking arm.
The thrust lever includes a bearing arm and a lever arm disposed at an obtuse angle to one another. The thrust lever is mounted to the carriage for pivotal movement between a first position in which the locking arm and bearing arm readily insert into the coil and a second position in which the bearing arm is urged against the interior surface of the coil to lock the coil between the locking arm and the bearing arm.
The carriage pivots between a first position in which the coil longitudinal axis is vertical and a second position in which coil longitudinal axis is horizontal.
In a current embodiment, the carriage includes a pair of transverse support members that have pivot members at ends thereof for pivoting the carriage. The carriage further includes first and second flange arms extending transverse to the transverse support members. The locking arm is mounted to the first flange arm and the thrust lever is mounted to the second the flange arm.
A positioning member can extend from the first flange arm, opposite the locking arm. The thrust lever can cooperate with the positioning member to lock the thrust arm when the bearing arm is urged against the interior surface of the coil to lock the coil between the locking arm and the bearing arm and to lock the thrust arm at a predetermined position for inserting the bearing arm and locking arm into the coil. The positioning member can be further configured having a lift lock configured to cooperate with a lock on the lift assembly to secure the coil to the handling device when the pivoting carriage is pivoted to position the coil longitudinal axis horizontal
To facilitate locking the coil to the carriage, a hook-like projection can extend from an end of the locking arm. The hook-like projection can be removably attached to the carriage for engage the coil at juncture of the coil interior surface and a bottom surface of the coil. The locking arm can be fabricated in various sizes to accommodate coils of different depths.
In one embodiment, the transport assembly base includes a pair of angled caster supports extending therefrom. The angled caster supports define an open region therebetween. In this arrangement, the manipulating assembly is readily disposed above a coil that is on a pallet having multiple layers of four coils per layer, for lifting any of the coils from the pallet.
Alternate embodiments of the carriage include a camming element and a lever arm operably connected thereto for moving the camming element. Preferably, the camming element is formed as a rotating camming drum, and the lever arm is formed as a handle for rotating the camming drum. The camming drum is movable by movement of the handle between a first position in which the locking arm and camming drum insert onto the coil and a second position in which the camming element is urged against the coil to lock the coil between the locking arm and the camming drum.
The locking arm can be configured to engage an interior surface of the coil and the camming element can bear against an inner surface of the coil opposite the locking arm. Alternately still, the locking arm can engage an outer surface of the coil and the camming element can engage an the interior surface of the coil radially inward of the locking arm. The locking arm can include an elongated upper support portion that extends along the upper surface of the coil to support the coil.
The coil the locking arm can further be configured for engaging the interior surface of the coil when the camming element engages the outer surface of the coil.
For lesser depth coils, the device can include a flange arm. The locking arm and the camming element can be mounted to the flange arm. A second locking arm can engage the interior surface of the coil when the camming element bears against an interior surface of the coil opposite of the locking arm, and when the second locking arm engages the outer surface of the coil opposite the camming element.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
is a side view of a coil handling device embodying the principles of the present invention, the device being illustrated atop a stack of four coils, and shown prior to engaging or locking the coils thereto;
FIG. 2
is a top view of the coil handling device of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of a coil manipulating assembly, the manipulating assembly being shown in a reversed perspective from that illustrate in
FIGS. 1-2
and the components shown in
FIGS. 4-7
, described below;
FIG. 4
is a side view of the carriage portion of the manipulating assembly of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is a top view of the carriage of
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 6
is a side view of the thrust lever of the manipulating assembly of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 7
is a top view of the thrust lever of
FIG. 6
;
FIG. 8
is a top view of an embodiment of the coil handling device having a transport assembly with angled caster supports, the device shown straddling the corner of a pallet having a single layer of coils thereon;
FIG. 9
is a top view of the coil handling device of
FIG. 8
shown straddling the corner of a pallet having four coils per layer of coils;
FIGS. 10
a-
10
g
are illustrations of the device in use; and
FIGS. 11
a,b-
14
a,b
illustrate alternate embodiments of the coil handling device locking assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described presently preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description Of The Invention”, relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein.
Referring now to the figures and in particular to
FIGS. 1-2
, there is shown a coil handling device
10
embodying the principles of the present invention. The coil handling device
10
includes generally a manipulating assembly
12
, a lifting assembly
14
and a transport assembly
16
. Although these assemblies
12
,
14
,
16
may be separate or may integrated with one another into a single device, for ease of discussion and clarity, they will be addressed separately, in seriatim.
The manipulating assembly
12
is configured to engage a coil C of material that is oriented with its longitudinal axis A
c
vertical, separate the coil C of material from a coil C
1
below it on which it may be stacked, secure the coil C to the device
10
and to rotate the coiled material C to position the longitudinal axis A
c
in a horizontal orientation. For purposes of the present disclosure, when reference is made to horizontal and vertical coils, it is to be understood that this reference is to a longitudinal axis A
c
of the coil C. Thus, a vertical coil or a vertically oriented coil is one in which the coil is laying flat on a side, and a horizontal or horizontally oriented coil is one in which the coil is resting on a periphery of the coil.
The lifting assembly
14
is configured to cooperate with the manipulating assembly
12
to lift the coiled C material from a coil C
1
on which it may be stacked and elevate the secured coil C. The transport assembly
16
likewise cooperates with the manipulating assembly
12
and lifting assembly
14
to transport the coiled C material (which may be in either the horizontal or vertical orientation) and to move that coil C of material from one location to another.
Referring now to
FIGS. 2-7
, the manipulating assembly
12
includes a support portion
18
having a pair of longitudinally extending support arms
20
. The arms
20
can be connected to one another at a central support member
22
.
A pivoting carriage
24
is carried by the support arms
20
. The carriage
24
includes at least one and preferably a pair of transverse members
26
that extend between the support arms
20
. In a current embodiment, the transverse support members
26
are steel tubes. Pivot plates
28
are attached to opposing ends of the transverse carriage members
26
and are connected to respective support arms
20
at pivot locations, as indicated at
30
. In a present embodiment, the pivot locations
30
are positioned below the transverse carriage members
26
(when the coil C is engaged or vertical) and each pivot plate
28
has a generally upside down triangular shape. The lower elevation of the pivot
30
facilitates pivoting the carriage
24
when a coil C is loaded thereon.
The carriage
24
further includes a locking assembly, indicated generally at
32
. The locking assembly
32
is configured to engage a coil C, move the coil C from a stacked arrangement S (
FIG. 1
) and lock the coil C to the manipulating assembly
12
. The locking assembly
32
includes first and second flange arms
34
,
36
, respectively, that are opposingly mounted to the transverse support members
26
. The flange arms
34
,
36
are configured such that they rest on the uppermost surface U of the coil C (when vertical), when the locking assembly
32
engages the coil C. In a current embodiment, the flange arms
34
,
36
are steel bars that are affixed to the tubular transverse members
26
by, for example, welding.
A depending locking arm
38
is mounted to a stub
40
and extends from the first flange arm
34
. The locking arm
38
includes an engaging surface
42
and a hook-like projection
44
extending transverse to the engaging surface
42
at the bottom of the arm
38
. The engaging surface
42
is configured for engaging in an inner surface I of the coil C. The hook-like projection
44
is configured to engage the bottom B of the coil C at the coil/inner surface juncture.
In a current embodiment, the locking arm
38
is removably mounted to the stub
40
by, for example, fasteners, such as the exemplary bolts
46
. The stub
40
is a steel bar that is mounted to the flange arm
34
by, for example, welding. To this end, locking arms
38
can be fabricated having differing lengths (as indicated at
138
) to accommodate coils C having differing depths D.
A thrust lever
48
is mounted to the second flange arm
36
and includes a
4
camming element, formed as a bearing arm
50
and a lever arm
52
mounted to one another. The bearing arm
50
and lever arm
52
are mounted to one another at an obtuse angle α. Preferably, the angle oa is about 100 degrees. The bearing arm
50
is mounted to the second flange arm
36
for pivoting movement about a pivot, indicated generally at
51
. The thrust lever
48
is pivotable between a first position wherein the bearing arm
50
is essentially vertical and a second position wherein the lever arm
52
is essentially horizontal. Thus, the thrust lever
48
is pivotable about 10 degrees. A handle
54
extends from an end of the lever arm
52
to provide a gripping region for an operator. In a current embodiment, the lever arm
52
is formed from a steel bar and the bearing arm
50
is formed from a pair of bars mounted to either side of the lever arm
52
in a sandwich arrangement. A stop
56
is mounted to an upper portion of the second flange arm
36
to limit the range that the lever arm
52
pivots from the horizontal.
The manipulating assembly
12
is configured and dimensioned for a specific size coil C. To this end, the manipulating assembly
12
is configured for use with a coil C having a specific inside diameter ID and a specific depth D. As such, the locking arm
38
has a length
138
to the locking projection or hook
44
that is about equal to the depth D of the coil C. In this manner, when the coil C is engaged with the locking arm
38
a bottom edge at the inside surface I of the coil C will rest against the locking arm
38
at the juncture of the engaging surface
42
and the projection
44
.
The thrust lever
48
is configured so that when it is in the non-engaging position (
FIG. 10
b
), that is with the bearing arm
50
in a vertical orientation, the distance between a bearing surface
58
of the arm
50
and the projection
44
is sufficient to allow the manipulating assembly
12
to be inserted into the coil C. The thrust lever
48
is further configured so that when the lever arm
52
is moved downwardly to the horizontal (as seen in
FIG. 10
c
, which moves the bearing arm
50
out of the vertical) the distance between the locking arm engaging surface
42
arm and the bearing arm bearing surface
58
, at its greatest, is about equal to the inside diameter ID of the coil C.
Referring again to
FIGS. 3-7
, a positioning member
60
extends upwardly from the first flange arm
34
at about an end thereof, opposite of the locking arm
38
. The positioning member
60
includes a plurality of openings
62
a,b,c
therein, some of which (
62
a,b
) are configured to cooperate with an opening
64
in the lever arm
52
. In a current embodiment, the positioning member
60
is formed from a pair of steel bars mounted on either side of the first flange arm
34
in a sandwich arrangement. The lever arm
52
is positioned to move between the bars the form the positioning member. The lever arm and positioning member openings
64
and
62
a,b
align with one another and are configured to receive a pin
66
to lock the thrust lever
48
in one of a plurality of desired positions.
The manipulating assembly
12
is mounted to the lifting assembly
14
. In the illustrated embodiment, the lifting assembly
14
includes a simple boom-type lifting arrangement. A lift carriage
68
rides along a vertically oriented boom
70
, and is moved up and down by a cable
72
that is fixedly mounted to the carriage
68
that is positioned around one or more pulleys
74
and operably connected to a drive (not shown) such as an electric motor, a hand operated winch or the like. Those skilled in the art will recognize the various types of drives that can be used for such a boom-type lifting device. The manipulating assembly
12
is mounted to the lifting assembly
14
to raise and lower the manipulating assembly
12
.
The transport assembly
16
is configured to carry the lifting assembly
14
and the manipulating assembly
12
. The transport assembly
16
includes a base
76
and a plurality of casters or wheels
78
mounted to the base
76
. In a present configuration, four wheels
78
a-d
are mounted to the base
76
for transporting the coil handling device
10
. Referring to
FIGS. 1-2
, the transport assembly
16
includes a pair of wheels
78
a,b
that are mounted at a rear end
80
of the assembly
16
. These wheels
78
a,b
are outside of the “envelope” of the manipulating assembly
12
and lifting assembly
14
. To this end, these wheels
78
a,b
are configured in a position to provide maximum support to the coil handling device
10
and maneuverability. The front wheels
78
c,d
are located under the manipulating assembly
12
when in use.
The transport assembly
16
can be configured having first and second longitudinally oriented support members
82
from which the wheels or casters
78
c,d
depend. The support members
82
are sufficiently spaced from one another so that a coil C that is positioned in a singular stack on a pallet P can be engaged by approaching any of the flat side of the pallet P as seen in
FIGS. 1-2
.
In an alternate embodiment of the transport assembly
116
, as seen in
FIGS. 8-9
, a pair of angled wheel or caster arms
182
extend from the base
176
. The caster arms
182
are configured to provide an angled region therebetween as indicated at
184
. To this end, the caster arms
182
each extend from the base
176
at about 45 degrees to an axis A
176
of the base
176
. As will be readily apparent from
FIG. 8
, the caster arms
182
are positioned at this angle so that access to a coil C can be made at an angle to, i.e., from a corner of, a pallet P on which the coil C is stacked. In this manner, there is no support structure of the transport assembly
116
that interferes with approaching the pallet P to engage and lock a coil C to the device
10
. Again, as will be apparent, this angled caster arm
182
arrangement permits use of the handling device
10
when the coils C are stacked singly on a pallet P (FIG.
8
), or as anticipated for certain types of coils C (and a shown in FIG.
9
), in an arrangement in which the coils C are stacked in multiples in a single layer or multiple layers on a pallet P.
Operation of the coil handling device
10
will now be described with reference to
FIGS. 10
a
through
10
g
. Referring to
FIG. 10
a
, the coil handling device
10
is moved into position immediately above a coil C that is positioned with its longitudinal axis Ac vertically oriented. The device
10
is positioned with the manipulating assembly
12
elevated over the center of the coil C.
As shown in
FIG. 10
b
, the manipulating device
12
is then lowered into the center of the coil C so that the first and second flange arms
34
,
36
rest on an upper surface U of the coil C. In this pre-engaged configuration, the bearing arm
50
is positioned vertically and the lever arm
52
is positioned at an angle to the horizontal. The pin
66
can be inserted through corresponding openings
64
,
62
b
in the lever arm
52
and positioning member
60
to lock the thrust lever
48
in this pre-engaged position. As set forth above, the distance d (
FIG. 10
a
) between the projection or hook
44
and the bearing arm
50
is sufficient to permit the manipulating assembly
12
to be “dropped” into the center of the coil C.
Referring now to
FIG. 10
c
, once the manipulating assembly
12
is properly positioned within the coil C, the pin
66
is removed and the lever arm
52
is urged downwardly, as indicated by the arrow at
92
. As the lever arm
52
is urged downwardly, the bearing arm
50
pushes against an inside surface I of the coil C. This moves the coil C off-center of the coil stack S (as indicated by the arrow at
94
), and so that the inside surface I of the coil C abuts the engaging surface
42
of the locking arm
38
and is positioned above the locking arm projection
44
. At the same time, the bearing arm
50
is urged against the inside surface I of the coil C, 180° from the engaging surface
42
, which “locks” the coil C between the bearing arm
50
and the locking arm
38
. When in this position, the lever arm
52
is in a horizontal orientation. The pin
66
is then inserted through the appropriate openings
64
,
62
a
in the positioning member
60
and the lever arm
52
to lock the manipulating assembly
12
in this engaged position.
As illustrated in
FIG. 10
d
, with the coil C fully engaged by and locked onto the manipulating assembly
12
, the lifting assembly
14
is actuated to elevate the coil C. Once the coil C is elevated, if necessary, it can be cleared from the remaining coils in the stack S. The coil C can then be lowered as seen in
FIG. 10
e
. Referring now to
FIG. 10
f
, the manipulating assembly
12
is pivoted or rotated at the carriage
24
, 90 degrees, as indicated by the arrow at
84
, to reorient the coil C such that the longitudinal axis Ac is horizontal. Once the coil C is reoriented to this horizontal orientation, the manipulating assembly
12
is then locked into this orientation, such as by inserting a pin
86
through a lift lock
88
and the opening
62
c
formed in the positioning member
60
. Alternately, a spring-action type lock, illustrated generally at
90
can be used to lock the lift lock
88
and positioning member
60
to one another. Such spring-action type locks
90
will be recognized by those skilled in the art. In this manner, the coil C is secured to the coil handling device
10
and can be transported.
As shown in
FIG. 10
g
, once in this position, the coil C can be raised or lowered as necessary for positioning the coil C onto a strapping machine. As set forth above, strapping machines generally require that the coil C be positioned on the machine with the longitudinal axis Ac horizontally oriented. This permits rotation of the coil C so that the strap can freely feed therefrom.
Alternate embodiments of the locking assembly are shown in
FIGS. 11
a,b
through
14
a,b
. Referring to
FIGS. 11
a,b
, the locking assembly
232
includes a locking arm
238
and a bearing assembly
240
that are mounted to a flange arm
234
. The bearing assembly
240
includes a rotating camming element that is formed as a bearing element
242
. The locking arm
238
engages the inner surface I of the coil C and the bearing element
242
bears against an inner surface I of the coil C opposite to the locking arm
238
. The bearing element
242
can be formed as a drum or other camming type arrangement. As illustrated, the camming arrangement includes a camming drum
244
and a lever arm that is formed as a handle
246
that is eccentrically positioned on or mounted to the drum
244
for rotation.
FIGS. 12
a,b
illustrate a locking assembly
332
in which the bearing assembly
340
is similar to that shown in
FIGS. 11
a,b
. In this embodiment, the locking arm
338
engages an outer surface O of the coil C, while the bearing assembly
340
engages the inner surface I of the coil C radially inward of the locking arm
338
. The locking arm
338
includes an elongated upper support portion
348
that extends along an upper surface U of the coil C for support. The locking arm
338
can include a clevis-type mount
350
for mounting to the lifting assembly
14
.
The embodiment
432
illustrated in
FIGS. 13
a,b
shares many of the features with the embodiment
332
of
FIGS. 12
a,b
. In this embodiment, however, the locking arm
438
is again configured for engaging the inner surface I of the coil C and the bearing assembly
440
is configured for engaging the outer surface O of the coil C.
For use with coils C
2
having a smaller depth D
2
, the embodiment
532
of
FIGS. 14
a,b
can be used. In this arrangement, the locking arm
538
and a bearing assembly
540
are again mounted to a flange arm
534
. A second locking arm
552
is positioned to engage the outer surface O of the coil C
2
opposite the bearing assembly
540
. In this embodiment, the bearing assembly
540
also includes a rotating bearing element
542
. The locking arm
538
engages the inner surface I of the coil C and the bearing element
542
bears against an inner surface I of the coil C opposite of the locking arm
538
. The second locking arm
552
engages the outer surface O of the coil C opposite the bearing element
542
.
Other alternate locking assemblies, as well as manipulating assemblies, lift assemblies and transport assemblies will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after a study of the present disclosure and the accompanying drawings. All such alternate embodiments are within the scope and spirit of the present invention.
In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular.
From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.
Claims
- 1. A coil manipulating device for engaging a coil having a depth and an interior surface defining a diameter, the coil defining a longitudinal axis, the coil handling device configured to engage the coil with the longitudinal axis oriented vertically and reorient the coil to position the longitudinal axis horizontally, the manipulating device comprising:a pair of spaced apart support arms; a pivoting carriage carried by the support arms and disposed therebetween, the carriage including a locking arm for engaging the interior surface of the coil along the depth of the coil, the carriage further including a thrust lever including a bearing arm and a lever arm disposed at an obtuse angle to one another, the thrust lever being pivotably mounted to the carriage about 180° from the locking arm and being pivotable between a first position wherein the locking arm and bearing arm readily insert into the coil and a second position wherein the bearing arm is urged against the interior surface of the coil to lock the coil between the locking arm and the bearing arm, the pivoting carriage being pivotable between a first position in which the coil longitudinal axis is vertical and a second position in which coil longitudinal axis is horizontal.
- 2. The coil manipulating device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the carriage includes a transverse support member having pivot members at ends thereof for pivoting the carriage, the carriage further including first and second flange arms extending transverse to the transverse support member, wherein the locking arm is mounted to the first flange arm and wherein the thrust lever is mounted to the second flange arm.
- 3. The coil manipulating device in accordance with claim 2 including a positioning member extending from the first flange arm, opposite of the locking arm, and wherein the thrust lever cooperates with the positioning member to lock the thrust arm when the bearing arm is urged against the interior surface of the coil to lock the coil between the locking arm and the bearing arm.
- 4. The coil manipulating device in accordance with claim 2 including a positioning member extending from the first flange arm, opposite of the locking arm, and wherein the thrust lever cooperates with the positioning member to lock the thrust arm at a predetermined position to insert the bearing arm and locking arm into the coil.
- 5. The coil manipulating device in accordance with claim 2 including a stub extending from the first flange arm for removably mounting the locking arm thereto, the locking arm including a hooked projection extending therefrom for engaging the coil at a juncture of the coil interior surface and a bottom surface of the coil.
- 6. The coil manipulating device in accordance with claim 2 wherein the carriage includes a pair of transverse support members, and wherein the pivot members are plates mounted to ends of the transverse support members.
- 7. The coil manipulating device in accordance with claim 6 wherein the pivot plates define pivot locations, and wherein the pivot locations are disposed below the transverse support members.
- 8. The coil manipulating device in accordance with claim 1 including a hooked projection extending from an end of the locking arm, the hooked projection configured to engage the coil at a juncture of the coil interior surface and a bottom surface of the coil.
- 9. The coil manipulating device in accordance with claim 1 including a lifting assembly, and wherein the spaced apart support arms are mounted to the lifting assembly.
- 10. A coil handling device for engaging a coil having a depth and an interior surface defining a diameter, the coil defining a longitudinal axis, the coil handling device configured to engage the coil with the longitudinal axis oriented vertically and reorient the coil to position the longitudinal axis horizontally, the handling device comprising:a transport assembly including a base and a plurality of casters; a lift assembly mounted to the base, the lift assembly including a drive and configured to lift a load carried thereby; and a manipulating assembly mounted to the lift assembly, the manipulating assembly including a pair of spaced apart support arms and a pivoting carriage carried by the support arms and disposed therebetween, the carriage including a locking arm for engaging the interior surface of the coil along the depth of the coil, the carriage further including a thrust lever including a bearing arm and a lever arm disposed at an obtuse angle to one another, the thrust lever being pivotably mounted to the carriage about 180° from the locking arm and being pivotable between a first position wherein the locking arm and bearing arm readily insert into the coil and a second position wherein the bearing arm is urged against the interior surface of the coil to lock the coil between the locking arm and the bearing arm, the pivoting carriage being pivotable between a first position in which the coil longitudinal axis is vertical and a second position in which coil longitudinal axis is horizontal.
- 11. The coil handling device in accordance with claim 10 wherein the carriage includes a transverse support member having pivot members at ends thereof for pivoting the carriage, the carriage further including first and second flange arms extending transverse to the transverse support member, wherein the locking arm is mounted to the first flange arm and wherein the thrust lever is mounted to the second flange arm.
- 12. The coil handling device in accordance with claim 11 including a positioning member extending from the first flange arm, opposite of the locking arm, and wherein the thrust lever cooperates with the positioning member to lock the thrust arm when the bearing arm is urged against the interior surface of the coil to lock the coil between the locking arm and the bearing arm.
- 13. The coil handling device in accordance with claim 11 including a positioning member extending from the first flange arm, opposite of the locking arm, and wherein the thrust lever cooperates with the positioning member to lock the thrust arm at a predetermined position to insert the bearing arm and locking arm into the coil.
- 14. The coil handling device in accordance with claim 11 including a stub extending from the first flange arm for removably mounting the locking arm thereto, the locking arm including a hooked projection extending therefrom for engaging the coil at a juncture of the coil interior surface and a bottom surface of the coil.
- 15. The coil handling device in accordance with claim 11 wherein the carriage includes a pair of transverse support members, and wherein the pivot members are plates mounted to ends of the transverse support members.
- 16. The coil handling device in accordance with claim 15 wherein the pivot plates define pivot locations, and wherein the pivot locations are disposed below the transverse support members.
- 17. The coil handling device in accordance with claim 11 including a positioning member extending from the first flange arm, opposite of the locking arm, the positioning member including a lift lock configured to cooperate with a lock on the lift assembly to secure the coil to the handling device when the pivoting carriage is pivoted to position the coil longitudinal axis horizontal.
- 18. The coil handling device in accordance with claim 11, wherein the transport assembly includes a base and a pair of angled caster supports extending from the base, the angled caster supports extending from the base to define an open region therebetween, wherein the manipulating assembly is disposed above the open region between the angled caster supports.
- 19. The coil handling device in accordance with claim 10 including a hooked projection extending from an end of the locking arm, the hooked projection configured to engage the coil at a juncture of the coil interior surface and a bottom surface of the coil.
- 20. A coil handling device for engaging a coil having a depth and an interior surface defining a diameter, the coil defining a longitudinal axis, the coil handling device configured to engage the coil with the longitudinal axis oriented vertically and reorient the coil to position the longitudinal axis horizontally, the coil handling device comprising:a transport assembly including a base and a plurality of casters; a lift assembly mounted to the base, the lift assembly including a drive and configured to lift a load carried thereby; and a manipulating assembly carried by the lift assembly, the manipulating assembly including a pair of spaced apart support arms operably connected to the lift assembly, the manipulating assembly including a pivoting carriage carried by the support arms, the carriage including a transverse support member having pivot members at ends thereof for pivoting the carriage, the carriage further including first and second flange arms extending transverse to the transverse support member, the carriage including a locking arm mounted to the first flange arm for engaging the interior surface of the coil along the depth of the coil, the locking arm having a hooked projection extending from an end thereof for engaging the coil at a juncture of the coil interior surface and a bottom surface of the coil, the carriage including a thrust lever mounted to the second flange arm, the thrust lever including a bearing arm and a lever arm disposed at an obtuse angle to one another, the thrust lever being pivotably mounted to the carriage about 180° from the locking arm and being pivotable between a first position wherein the locking arm and bean arm readily into the coil and a second position wherein the bearing arm is urged against the interior surface of the coil to lock the coil between the arm and the bearing arm, the pivoting carriage being pivotable between a first position in which the coil longitudinal axis is vertical and a second position in which coil longitudinal axis is horizontal, the carriage further including a positioning member extending from the first flange arm, opposite of the locking arm, the thrust lever configured to cooperate with the positioning member to lock the thrust arm when the bearing arm is urged against the interior surface of the coil to lock the coil between the locking arm and the bearing arm and to lock the thrust arm at a predetermined position to insert the bearing arm and locking arm into the coil.
- 21. The coil handling device in accordance with claim 20 wherein the positioning member includes a lift lock configured to cooperate with a lock on the lift assembly to secure the coil to the handling device when the pivoting carriage is pivoted to position the coil longitudinal axis horizontal.
- 22. The coil handling device in accordance with claim 20, wherein the transport assembly includes a base and a pair of angled caster supports extending from the base, the angled caster supports extending from the base to define an open region therebetween, wherein the manipulating assembly is disposed above the open region between the angled caster supports.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
9309054 |
May 1993 |
WO |