US2909338A - Mandrel arrangement - Google Patents

Description

' Oct. 20, 1959 e. cozzo MANDREL ARRANGEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1955 HIM,

o 5 R2 WY m Na 7R C 0 v T N T l A E M p Oct.20, 1959 G. c zzo I MANDREL ARRANGEMENT Oct. 20, 1959 G. cozzo MANDREL ARRANGEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 1, 1955 INVENTOR 5 (02120 United States Patent MANDREL ARRANGEMENT Giuseppe Cozzo, Yonkers, N.Y., assignor to Erwin Loewy, New York, N.Y.

Application April 1, 1955, Serial No. 498,543

9 Claims. (Cl. 242-438) This invention relates generally to mandrels, drums and the like for supporting coiled material to be operated upon by a rolling mill or other processing apparatus, and more particularly is directed to an improved expansible mandrel and an arrangement for manipulating the latter during the mounting of coiled material thereon.

In the'rolling of material, such as foil or thin sheet material, the material normally is delivered to the mill in coil form, and it is desirable to wind the material into a coil after it has been operated upon by the mill. When the material is thin, as in the common varieties of metal foil, care must be taken not to damage the coiled material during the positioning thereof at the uncoiling station of the rolling mill or during the removal of the processed coil from the recoiling station of the mill. However, the thin coiled material is cumbersome and diflicult to handle unless it is positioned on a support, such as a mandrel, spool or drum, so that it is desirable to mount the coiled material to be processed upon a mandrel or the like which can be conveniently moved to the uncoiling station of a rolling mill, and to remove the processed coil, with its supporting mandrel in place, from the recoiling station of the mill.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved expansible mandrel or the like upon which a coil of thin material can be conveniently mounted to facilitate the safe handling of the coil, for example, during the movement of the coil to the uncoiling station of a rolling mill.

Another object is to provide an arrangement for supporting the expansible mandrel during the mounting thereon of the coiled material and then for actuating the mandrel so that it expands and securely holds the coiled material thereon to permit safe handling of the coiled material with the supporting mandrel.

In one aspect of the invention, a mandrel or the like is employed having a plurality of cylindrical segments movable radially between retracted and expanded positions. The cylindrical segments are yieldably urged to their retracted positions and an axially reciprocable rod extends through the mandrel and operates wedge members controlling the radial movements of the cylindrical segments. At its opposite ends, the mandrel is provided with flanges which are adapted to be engaged by the spindles of the uncoiler when the mandrel, with a coil thereon, is positioned at the uncoiling station of a rolling mill.

In order to facilitate the mounting of a coil of thin material on the mandrel, a stand is provided with an arrangement for gripping the flange at one end of the mandlrel so that the latter then extends horizontally from the stand. Further, the stand includes a pressure fluid operated device adapted to grip the reciproca-ble rod of the mandrel at the supported end of the latter and operative to axially move the rod in the directions for expanding and contracting the cylindrical segments of the mandrel. After the mandrel has been mounted on the stand and retracted by the pressure fluid operated'device of the latter, a coil is transported to the location of the stand by a hook suspended from a crane or the like, the hook having a portion extending axially into the coil and being dimensioned to fit between the confronting edges of adjacent segments of the mandrel so that the coil, supported by the hook, can be telescoped axially over the free end of the mandrel on the stand. Then the mandrel is expanded by the pressure fluid operated device of the stand. to firmly hold the coil on the mandrel and, thereafter, the gripping arrangement of the stand is released to permit the transport by the hook of the coil, with the mandrel therein, to the uncoiling station of the rolling mill.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a mandrel and a stand therefor embodying the present invention, the stand viewed in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational view of the stand of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal, sectional view taken along the line -6--6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a hook for transporting coiled material.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, thereof, it will be seen that a mandrel, generally identified by the numeral 10, in one form of this invention includes a hollow, generally cylindrical body 11 formed with a conical flange 12 at one end having a radially outward directed rim 13 at the periphery thereof (Fig. 2). Secured to the other end of the body 11 is a conical flange member 14. Mounted on the body 11 between the flanges 1'2 and 14 are a plurality of cylindrical segments, for example, four cylindrical segments 15 as in the illustrated embodiment, which are radially movable between the expanded posi tions shown in the drawings and radially inward, retracted positions.

In order to mount the segments 15 on the body 111 in a manner to permit radial expansion and contraction of the segments, the body 11 is formed with a series of radially extending, cylindrical bushings 16 arranged along the length of the body for each of the cylindricalsegments, and the latter have cylindrical plungers 17 extending radially inward therefrom at locations corresponding to the spacing between the corresponding series of bushings 16, so that the plungers 17 of each segment 15 are slidably received inthe related bushings 16 (Figs. 2 and 3).

The cylindrical segments 15 are urged radially inward to their contracted positions by sets of helical tension springs 18 which, at one end, are attached to pins 19 extending through radial webs 20* formed on body 11 between the bushings 16, and, at the other end, are attached to pins 21 carried by the related cylindrical segment in the regions of openings 22'formed in the latter.

body 11 and is slidably supported adjacent its opposite m ends by a bushing-24, mounted within the flange 12,- and' a bushing 25, mounted within the flange member 14. Keyed on the rod 23 are a series of wedge members 26, each having four flat surfaces which incline toward the axis of the actuating rod in the direction toward the flange member 14. The wedge members 26 are spaced longitudinally apart on the rod 23 by spacer sleeves 27, and the assembly of wedge members and spacer sleeves is longitudinally positioned on the actuating rod by a collar '28 which fits into an annular recess of the rod. 23 and engages one of the end wedge members 26, and by a locking ring 29 which is threaded on the actuating rod to engage against the other end wedge member. As seen in Fig. 2, the radially inner ends of the plungers 17 are inclined at the same angle as the corresponding surfaces of the wedge members 26 so that, as the latter are moved axially within the body 11 by displacement of the rod 23 toward the left, the plungers 17 and the related cylindrical segments 15 are moved radially outward, against the action of the springs 18, to the expanded positions of Fig. 2. However, when the rod '23 is moved toward the right from the location shown on Fig. 2, the wedge members 26 and the cooperating inclined inner end surfaces of the plungers 17 permit the springs 18 to move the related segments 15 radially inward to the retracted positions of the latter.

The extent of the radial movement of the cylindrical segments 15 between their retracted and expanded positions is such that, when the segments are in their retracted positions, a coil of sheet material, for example, metal foil, can easily telescope over the cylindrical segments with adequate clearance between the innermost turn of the coil and the outer surfaces of the segments, and when the segments are moved to their expanded positions, they firmly engage a coil on the mandrel to prevent removal of the coil from the latter.

In order to facilitate the mounting of a coil on the mandrel 10, a stand 30 is provided in accordance with the invention and supports the mandrel 10 at one end with the axis of the mandrel extending horizontally. The stand 30 includes a base 31 (Fig. 1) having a'pedestal 32 extending upwardly from one end thereof. At the top of the pedestal 32, on the side of the latter facing toward the other end of base 31, is a fixed, flange gripping member 33 (Figs. 1, 2 and which defines a downwardly opening, arcuate groove adapted to receive the top portion of the rim 13 on the periphery of flange 12. At the same side of the pedestal 32 as the fixed gripping member 33 is a generally vertically movable flange gripping member 34 having an arcuate recess 35 opening upwardly and toward the pedestal to receive a lower portion of the rim 13. Parallel arms 36 extend from the opposite ends of gripping member 34 and are pivotally mounted, as at 37, on the pedestal 32 (Figs. 1 and 6) for swinging relative to the latter about a horizontal axis. Angular movement of the arms 36, for raising and lowering the gripping member 34, is effected by cams 38 which engage the under sides of arms 36 and are mounted on a shaft 39 journalled in the sides of the pedestal 32 and having a crank-handle 40 secured to one end. Thus, by manipulating the handle 40, the gripping member 34 can be moved from a lowered, inoperative position, shown in broken lines on Fig. 2, in which position the vertical distance between the fixed member 33 and the movable member 34 is greater than the outer diameter of the rim 13 so that the mandrel can be moved axially against the pedestal 32 and then raised slightly to engage the top of rim 13 in the groove of fixed member 33, to an operative raised position, shown in full lines on Figs. 1, 2 and 5, wherein the lower portion of the rim 13 is locked in the recess 35 of the movable gripping member.

In order to laterally locate the rim' 13 offlange' 12 during the securing of that rim in the gripping members 33 and 34, an angle member 41 (Figs. 5 and 6) extends forwardly from the pedestal 32 at one side of the latter between the levels of the gripping members 33 and 34, and the member 41 is disposed so that, when a side portion of the rim 13 tangentially engages the projecting leg of the angle member, the rim will be properly disposed for engagement in the groove of gripping member 33 and the recess 35 of gripping member 34.

When the rim 13 of the mandrel It) is secured by the gripping members 33 and 34, it is apparent that the mandrel will be firmly mounted at one end on the stand 30 and will project horizontally from the pedestal 32 over the base 31, whereby the base provides a stable support and prevents toppling of the stand due to the weight of the mandrel or the combined weight of the mandrel and a coil on the latter.

The stand 30 further includes an actuating assembly, generally identified by the reference numeral 42, for reciprocating the rod 23 of a mandrel while the latter is supported on the stand. The actuating assembly 42 is' made up of a double-acting, pressure fluid operated cylinder 43 which is secured to the rear side of the pedestal 32 in axial alignment with the rod 23 of a mandrel mounted on the stand. The plunger 44 of the cylinder 43 extends through an opening 45 (Figs. 1 and 6) in the rear side of the pedestal and is threaded at its free end to there engage in a tapped bore 46 of a head 47 movable by the plunger within the pedestal. The head 47 has vertically spaced apart ears 48 extending forwardly therefrom, and a pair of laterally spaced apart pivot pins 49 extend between such ears and pivotally support grip ping fingers 50, for swinging of the latter about vertical faces 52, and with laterally opening, vertical recesses 53 which are spaced from, but adjacent to, the converging faces 52. The gripping fingers 50 are formed, adjacent their free ends with recesses 54 opening laterally toward each other (Fig. 6) and conforming to the shape of the portion of rod 23 between the recesses 53'and the adjacent end, while the lugs 55 which result at the free ends of the fingers are adapted to engage in the recesses 53 of the rod A helical tension spring 56 extends between pins 57 depending from the fingers 59 to urge the latter towards each other (Figs. 5 and 6), and a non-circular, preferably elliptical releasing member 58 is interposed between the fingers 50 and depends from a vertical shaft 59 (Fig. 1) which is journalled in the top of pedestal 32. A handle 60 extends from the upper end of shaft 59 and permits manipulation of the latter to position the releasing member 58 with its major axis extending either parallel to the fingers 50, as in Fig. 6, so that the fingers can be moved relatively close together to engage the lugs 55' in the recesses 53 of rod 23, or at right angles to the fingers 50 so that the latter are thereby spread apait to release the lugs 55 from engagement with the recesses 53.

In using the stand 30 to facilitate the mounting of coiled material on a mandrel 10, the handle 40 is initially posi-' which is relatively light in weight, is then transported to the stand, for example, by an overhead or other crane or hoist having a hook 61 (shown in broken lines on Fig.

4) depending therefrom. The hook 61 preferably has a' straight portion which is wider than the gap between adjacent cylindrical segments, and which extends axially through a'notch 62 (Figs. 2 and 4), provided for that purpose in the flange member 14, to engage under the edge portions of the segments 15 at the top of the mandrel.

thereby secure the rim 13 to the stand 30. With the inandrel mounted on the stand, the hook 61 is withdrawn and the rod 23 of the mandrel is then moved axially in the direction for contracting the cylindrical segments 15. In the case of a mandrel of small dimensions, such axial movement of rod 23 can be effected by a hammer blow against the end of rod 23 projecting through the flange member 14 and, after the movement of the rod 23 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, the springs 18 are then free to radially retract the related cylindrical segments.

In the case of large mandrels, the actuating device 42 is employed to effect the movement of rod 23 for retracting the segments 15. Assuming that the plunger 44 of the cylinder 43 is extended, or moved to the left from the position shown in Fig. 6, at the time when mandrel 10 is mounted on stand 30, it is apparent that the fingers 50 will then project relatively far through opening 51 at the front of the pedestal. Thus, as the mandrel is moved against the front side of the pedestal 32, the converging end faces 52 of rod 23 will engage between the lugs 55 of the fingers and spread the latterapart until the lugs 55 engage in the recesses 53 and are held in the latter by the action of spring 56 on the fingers 50. With the fingers 50 engaging the rod 23 in the above manner when the mandrel is mounted on the stand, it is apparent that stroking of the plunger 44 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 6, by admitting a fluid under pressure to the appropriate end of double-acting cylinder 43, will cause corresponding movement of the rod 23 so that the springs 18 can then retract the segments 15.

With the segments retracted, the mandrel 10 on the stand 30 is in condition to receive a coil, for example, of metal foil, which is telescoped axially over the free or unsupported end of the mandrel. As seen in Fig. 1, the stand 30 further preferably includes spring members 62A extending upwardly from the top of pedestal 32 and inclined so that the upper ends of the spring members project beyond the front side of the pedestal and are engageable with the end of a coil 63, shown in broken lines, to limit the extent to which the coil may be moved axially onto the mandrel 10, and thereby to axially position the coil 63 with respect to the mandrel.

In order to avoid damage to the thin, fragile material of the coil 63 while the latter is being telescoped onto the retracted mandrel, it is desirable that the axis of the coil be maintained horizontal during its movement to and onto the mandrel by a crane or hoist. In accordance with the present invention, the above objective is achieved by a hoisting hook, generally identified by the reference numeral 64 and illustrated in Fig. 7, which permits balancing of the coil supported thereon for coils of diiferent lengths or axial dimensions.

The book 64 includes a beam 65 having an apertured lug 66 intermediate its ends to which the hoist cable can be secured. Members 67 depend from one end of the beam 65 and, at their lower ends, are secured to a member 68 which extends parallel to the beam. A counterbalance weight 69 is provided on the end of the beam 65 remote from the members 67 and balances the assembly about the lug 66. An adjustable stop 70 is' slidable along the beam 65 between the lug 66 and members 67 and, at its lower end, the stop 70 cooperates with a scale 71 extending along the member 68. The beam 65 is provided with a series of spaced apart, tapped bores 72, and the stop 70 carries a bolt 73 engageable in a selected one of the bores 72 to hold the stop in a corresponding adjusted position.

It is apparent that, when the member 68 of hook 64 is moved axially into the central bore of a coil 63, the stop 70, in engaging the end of the coil, will establish the position of the center of gravity of the coil with respect to the lug 66 by which the hook is suspended. Accordingly, the scale 71 is calibrated so that, with the stop 70 aligned with the indication on the scale corresponding to the axial dimension of a coil to be lifted, the stop will engage the end of the coil when the center of gravity of the coil is positioned directly below the lug 66. The hook 64 also preferably includes a crossmember 74 at the lower ends of the members 67 forming a handle by which the balanced coil carried by the hook can be easily manipulated to ensure perfect alignment of the central bore of the coil with mandrel 10 as the coil is fitted onto the retracted mandrel.

In order to permit the axial movement of the coil 63 onto the mandrel while the coil is supported by the hook 64, the member 68 of the hook passes axially through the notch 62 of flange 14 and has a width which is less than that of the gap between the confronting edges of the segments 15 at the top of the mandrel.

After the coil 63 has been positioned on the mandrel 10 supported by the stand 30, the actuating device 42 of the latter is operated to efiect radial expansion of the cylindrical segments 15 of the mandrel into secure contact with the inner turn of the coil. Such expansion of the segments 15 is effected by admitting fluid under pressure to the end of cylinder 43 where it will cause movement of plunger 44, and hence of fingers 50 and rod 23 to which the latter are coupled, toward the left, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 6, so that the wedge members 26 will urge the cooperating plungers 17 radially outward against the action of the springs 18 on the related cylindrical segments.

With the coil 63 firmly gripped on the mandrel 10, handle 60 is manipulated to cause the releasing member 58 to spread apart the fingers 50 which are thereby released from the rod 23, and the handle 40 is manipulated to again permit the gripping member 34 to drop and release the rim 13 of the mandrel. When the mandrel 10 is released from the stand 30 in the above manner, the weight of the coil 63 is again taken-up by the hoist hook 64 so that the coil, with the mandrel 10 disposed therein, can be transported, for example, to the uncoiler of a rolling mill.

At the uncoiler (not shown), the conical flanges 12 and 14 of the mandrel are engageable by the usual cones on the spindles or shafts forming part of the uncoiler, while the flange 12 is formed with peripheral notches or keyways 75 (Fig. 2) and a notched cap 76 (Figs. 2 and 4) is fitted over the end of rod 23 within the flange 14 for engagement by keys on the related uncoiler shafts which are connected, in known manner, to an electrical generator providing a braking effect on the uncoiling of the coil 63 as the material of the latter is fed through a related rolling mill or the like.

Although a particular system for supplying fluid under pressure to the double-acting cylinder 43 of the device 42, as well as a particular rolling mill and the associated uncoiler and recoiler, have been neither described nor illustrated herein, such pressure fluid systems and rolling mills are well known in the art and do not form part of the present invention.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that an improved mandrel and associated devices for handling coiled material have been described, but it is to be understood that the details of construction, as well as the uses of the invention, may be varied without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a mandrel for supporting a coil of sheet material and including a body having annular flanges at the opposite ends by which the mandrel may be rotatably supported during the uncoiling of a coil thereon, a plurality of cylindrical segments extending around said body between said flanges on the latter 7 and being mounted for radial movement between retracted and expanded positions, an actuating rod slidable axially within said body and projecting from the latter through at least one of said flanges, and means controlled by axial movement of said rod in opposed directions for expanding and retracting said segments; a stand for supporting said mandrel during the placement of a coil on, and the removal of a coil from, said mandrel, said stand comprising an upstanding pedestal, means on said pedestal operative to removably grip said one flange of the mandrel so that the latter is supported at the related end with its axis extending horizontally, gripping means for releasably engaging the end of said rod projecting through said one flange, and pressure fluid operated means connected to said gripping means to reciprocably displace the latter along a path aligned with the axis of said rod, whereby the segments of a mandrel on the stand can be retracted and then expanded to permit the placement of a coil on the mandrel and then to hold the coil on the mandrel.

2. In combination with a mandrel for supporting a coil of sheet material and including a body having annular flanges at the opposite ends by which the mandrel may be rotatably supported during the uncoiling of a coil thereon, a plurality of cylindrical segments extending around said body between said flanges on the latter and being mounted for radial movement between retracted and expanded positions, an actuating rod slidable axially within said body and projecting from the latter through at least one of said flanges, and means controlled by axial movement of said rod in opposed directions for expanding and retracting said segments; a stand for supporting said mandrel during the placement of a coil on, and the removal of a coil from, said mandrel, said stand comprising an upstanding pedestal, means on said pedestal operative to removably grip said one flange of the mandrel so that the latter is supported at the related end with its axis extending horizontally, pressure fluid operated means on said pedestal releasably gripping the end of said rod projecting through said one flange and capable of displacing said rod in the opposed axial directions for retracting and expanding said segments of the mandrel, and locating means on said pedestal for engaging an end face of a coil on a mandrel supported by the stand, so that, after retraction of said segments, a coil can be telescoped over the free end of the mandrel and longitudinally positioned on the latter by said locating means, and subsequent expansion of said segment serves to grip the coil on the mandrel.

3. In combination with a mandrel for supporting a coil of sheet material and including a body having annular flanges at the opposite ends by which the mandrel may be rotatably supported during the uncoiling of a coil thereon, a plurality of cylindrical segments extending around said body between said flanges on the latter and being mounted for radial movement between retracted and expanded positions, an actuating rod slidable axially within said body and projecting from the latter through at least one of said flanges, and means controlled by axial movement of said rod in opposed directions for expanding and retracting said segments; a stand for supporting said mandrel during the placement of a coil on, and the removal of a coil from, said mandrel, said stand comprising an upstanding pedestal, means on said pedestal operative to releasably grip said one flange of the mandrel so that the latter is thereby supported at its related end with the axis of the mandrel extending horizontally, a pair of gripping jaws movable along a path aligned with the axis of a mandrel supported on said pedestal and releasably engageable with the end of said rod extending through said one flange of the mandrel, spring means urging said gripping jaws to an operative condition where they are engageable with the rod end, means carried by said pedestal for releasing said jaws from the rod end, and pressure fluid operated means for reciprocating said 0 pair of gripping jaws along said path so that, when said jawsengage the rod end, reciprocation of said jaws eflects retraction and expansion of said cylindrical segments.

4. In combination with a mandrel for supporting a coil of sheet material and including a body having annular flanges at the opposite ends by which the mandrel may be rotatably supported during the uncoiling of a coil thereon, a plurality of cylindrical segments extending around said body between said flanges on the latter and being mounted for radial movement between retracted and expanded positions, an actuating rod slidable axially within said body and projecting from the latter through at least one of said flanges, and means controlled by axial movement of said rod in opposed directions for expanding and retracting said segments; a stand for supporting said mandrel during the placement of a coil on, and the removal of a coil from, said mandrel, said stand comprising an upstanding pedestal, means on said pedestal operative to releasably grip said one flange of the mandrel so that the latter is thereby supported at its related end with the axis of the mandrel extending horizontally, a double-acting pressure fluid operated cylinder on said pedestal having a plunger reciprocable in axial alignment with said rod of a mandrel on the pedestal, a pair of gripping jaws pivotally mounted on said plunger for swinging toward and away from each other, spring means urging said jaws together for gripping engagement with the adjacent end of said rod so that reciprocation of said plunger will effect retraction and expansion of the segments of said mandrel, and means on said pedestal for spreading apart said jaws to release the latter from said rod.

5 In combination with a mandrel for supporting a coil of sheet material and including a body having annular flanges at the opposite ends by which the mandrel may be rotatably supported during the uncoiling of a coil thereon, a plurality of cylindrical segments extending around said body between said flanges on the latter and being mounted for radial movement between retracted and expanded positions, an actuating rod slidable axially within said body and projecting from the latter through at least one of said flanges, and means controlled by axial movement of said rod in opposed directions for expanding and retracting said segments; a stand for supporting said mandrel during the placement of a coil on, and the removal of a coil from, said mandrel, said stand comprising an upstanding pedestal having a fixed gripping member at one side formed with a downwardly opening groove to receive the upper portion of said one flange of the mandrel, a movable gripping member at said one side of the pedestal having an upwardly opening recess for receiving the lower portion of said one flange of the mandrel, means for moving said movable gripping member between a raised, operative position, wherein said one flange is held between said fixed and movable gripping members with the axis of the mandrel extending horizontally, and a lowered, flange releasing position, and pressure fluid operated means on said pedestal releasably gripping the adjacent end of said rod to displace the latter in opposed axial directions for retracting and expanding the cylindrical segments of the mandrel supported on said stand.

6. In combination with a mandrel for supporting a coil of sheet material and including a body having annular flanges at the opposite ends by which the mandrel may be rotatably supported during the uncoiling of a coil thereon, a plurality of cylindrical segments extending around said body between said flanges on the latter and being mounted for radial movement between retracted andexpanded positions, an actuating rod slidable axially within said body and projecting from the latter through at least one of said flanges, and means controlled by axial'movement of said rod in opposed directions for expanding and retracting said segments; a stand for supporting said mandrel during the placement of a coil on, and the removal of a coil from, said mandrel, said stand comprising an upstanding pedestal having a fixed gripping member at one side formed with a downwardly opening groove to receive the upper portion of said one flange of the mandrel, a movable gripping member at said one side of the pedestal having an upwardly opening recess for receiving the lower portion of said one flange of the mandrel, means for moving said movable gripping member between a raised, operative position, wherein said one flange is held between said fixed and movable gripping members with the axis of the mandrel extending horizontally, and a lowered, flange releasing position, a double-acting pressure fluid operated cylinder on said pedestal having a plunger reciprocable in axial alignment with said rod of a mandrel on the pedestal, a pair of gripping jaws pivotally mounted on said plunger for swinging toward and away from each other, spring means urging said jaws together for gripping engagement with the adjacent end of said rod so that the latter will be reciprocated with said plunger to expand and retract said segments of the mandrel, and means on said pedestal for spreading apart said jaws to release the latter from said rod.

7. In combination with a mandrel for supporting a coil of sheet material and including a body having annular flanges at the oposite ends by which the mandrel may be rotatably supported during the uncoiling of a coil thereon, a plurality of cylindrical segments extending around said body between said flanges on the latter and being mounted for radial movement between retracted and expanded positions, an actuating rod slidable axially within said body and projecting from the latter through at least one of said flanges, and means controlled by axial movement of said rod in opposed directions for expanding and retracting said segments; a stand for supporting said mandrel during the placement of a coil on, and the removal of a coil from, said mandrel, said stand comprising an upstanding pedestal, means on said pedestal operative to removably grip said one flange of the mandrel so that the latter is supported at the related end with its axis extending horizontally, and means on said pedestal releasably gripping the adjacent end of said rod of a mandrel supported by said stand and operative to reciprocate said rod for retracting and expanding said segments of the mandrel; the other flange of said mandrel having a radially opening notch therein aligned with a gap between the confronting edges of segments of the mandrel at the top of the latter; and a hoist hook having a cantilever member for extending axially through said notch into said gap so that said hook can support a coil during the telescoping of the latter over said mandrel on the stand and then can support the coil with said mandrel within the latter upon the release of the mandrel from said stand.

8. In combination, a mandrel for supporting a coil of sheet material, an annular flange on one end of the mandrel, a rod projecting through the flange on said mandrel, and a stand for supporting said mandrel during the placement of a coil on, and the removal of a coil from said mandrel, said stand comprising an upstanding pedestal, first gripping means on said pedestal operative to removably grip said annular flange on said one end of the mandrel so that the latter is supported at said one end with its axis extending horizontally, second gripping means for releasably engaging the end of said rod projecting through said flange on said mandrel, and pressure operated means connected to said second gripping means to reciprocably displace the latter along a path aligned with the axis of said rod.

9. In combination, a mandrel for'supporting a coil of sheet material, an annular flange on one end of the mandrel, a rod projecting through the flange on said mandrel, and a stand for supporting said mandrel during the placement of a coil on, and the removal of a coil from said mandrel, said stand comprising an upstanding pedestal having a fixed first gripping member at one side formed with a downwardly opening groove to receive the upper portion of said annular flange on said one end of said mandrel, a movable second gripping member at said one side of the pedestal having an upwardly opening recess for receiving the lower portion of said flange at said one end of the mandrel, means for moving said movable second gripping member between a raised, operative position, wherein said flange is held between said fixed first and movable second gripping members With the axis of the mandrel extending horizontally, and a lowered, flange releasing position, a double-acting pressure fluid operated cylinder on said pedestal having a plunger reciprocable in axial alignment with said rod in said mandrel and slidable relative thereto, a pair of gripping jaws pivotally mounted on said plunger for swinging toward and away from each other, spring means urging said jaws together for gripping engagement with the adjacent end of said rod so that the latter will be reciprocated with the plunger, and means on said pedestal for spreading apart said jaws to release the latter from said rod.

References Cited in the file of this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,192,063 Hoberg July 25, 1916 1,818,720 Lanatsch Aug. 11, 1931 2,514,307 Boyd July 4, 1950 2,578,953 Tyrrell Dec. 18, 1951 2,630,278 Herman Mar. 3, 1953 2,663,512 Erhardt Dec. 22, 1953 2,680,644 Marconi June 8, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 650,183 Great Britain Feb. 14, 1 951

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