BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1A and 1B are views of the unexpanded core tool of the present invention and a damaged core, correctable with the core tool of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top view of one embodiment of the expanded core tool of the present invention; and
FIG. 3 illustrates the expanded core tool correcting the shape of the damaged core of FIG. 1B, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention provides for a core tool for expanding or contracting deformed or collapsed annular cores holding coiled material, to result in a core having a circular shape of correct diameter. FIG. 1A illustrates such a core tool 10, and FIG. 1B illustrates a deformed annular core 12. In FIG. 1A, the core tool 10 comprises a pair of partial circles 14. The partial circles 14 are preferably made from suitable material, such as cold rolled steel.
Continuing with FIGS. 1A and 1B, a corresponding adjusting means 16 is provided to adjust the two partial circles relative to each other, as well as in response to the deformation of the annular core 12. Since the damaged core is not separable from the coil of material, the core must either be repaired, or the coil of material wasted.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the damaged core is repairable using the adjusting means 16. The adjusting means 16 comprises two threaded screws 18 with a center nut 20, wherein one of the threads is a left hand thread, and the other is a right hand thread. A reversible ratchet or wrench 22 can be used to open the circle portions 14, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, or close the circle portions 14, as illustrated in FIG. 1A. Alternatively, the adjusting means 16 could be an air or hydraulic system capable of opening and closing the circles portions 14.
FIG. 2 illustrates an expanded, or open, core tool 10, while FIG. 3 illustrates the expanded core tool 10 being applied to correct the deformed core 12. Each pair of partial circles 14 forms a circular diameter that will fit inside a core 12, which core can be any of multiple core sizes. The core tool 10, formed of the pair of half circles 14 and the tightening and expanding means 16, is insertable into a damaged core 12, as illustrated in FIG. 3, to reshape the core 12 into its intended circular dimension.
In accordance with the present invention, a core expander 16, in an embodiment such as that illustrated in the drawings herein, is inserted inside the damaged core 12, and expanded by the ratchet 22 until the core 12 is round. Once the core has realized its intended circular diameter, a mandrel can be properly fitted on the core. In the industry, a mandrel is usually inserted into the annular core to install the material on the machine to run the material. Hence, before a roll or coil of material, associated with the damaged core, can be used in its intended manner, the core must be restored to annular shape to receive the mandrel and allow the coil of material associated with the core to be mounted on a machine.
Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that other modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080011039
