WO2003068616A1

WO2003068616A1 - Reel-transporting platform

Info

Publication number: WO2003068616A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/000716
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mathew Payne; Keith Daniels
Original assignee: Torros Limited
Priority date: 2002-02-14
Filing date: 2003-02-14
Publication date: 2003-08-21
Also published as: GB0203533D0; AU2003207330A1

Abstract

The pallet on which can be stored large reels of material when stored on their sides as opposed to their ends with folding panels which when “folded up” act to hold the reels in place and when “folded down” allow a reel to be rolled away from the center of the pallet to the edge, one at a time. After a reel has been removed in this way, the folding panels are raised again to secure the remaining reel(s). Further, in other applications, a truck (also forming part of the invention) can be locked onto the side of the pallet so that when folded down the extendable parts form a seamless link to the truck and a reel can be safety rolled off the pallet straight onto the truck for transport.

Description

Reel-Transporting Platforms

The invention relates to transportable platforms such as pallets and trolleys for supporting and transporting reels of material with the axes of the reels horizontal.

It is common for heavy reels to be transported on pallets. Such reels may weigh 50kgs and so-called Jumbo reels of material may weigh between 200kgs and lOOOkgs. They are conveniently stored and transported on their sides i.e. with their axes horizontal (as opposed to their ends) on pallets. Often they are of sufficient axial length that there is room for just two, or in some cases only one, per pallet. To stop them rolling off, it is normal to chock them up each side, for example by means of a thick strip of wood which is nailed to the pallet.

It is also normal to unwind this sort of reel on a machine (for example a packaging machine or a printing machine) by placing it on a shaft which is supported at both ends (as opposed to a cantilevered shaft) . It follows that since the shaft is supported at both ends, it must be loaded onto the unwind machine with the reel already on it, i.e. the shaft must be inserted through the reel centre and then the shaft complete with reel be lifted and positioned onto the unwind station of the machine.

There are generally three ways that Jumbo reels are handled at present and all are unsatisfactory:

1. Sometimes the chocks on the pallet are removed and the reels pushed off the side of the pallet and then rolled over the floor to the unwind machine where the unwind shaft is inserted through the reel centre and the two protruding ends of the shaft are used to lift the reel. This is dangerous because the reels are dropped off the side of the pallet in an uncontrolled manner. Expensive damage can be caused to a reel either when it hits the floor or when it is rolled over it. For this reason some outermost layers of material often have to be discarded. Further, the wooden chocks when detached from the pallet cannot reliably secure the reels remaining on the pallet, thereby giving rise to danger due to their weight .

2. To avoid these problems, some operators wheel a standard pallet truck up to the pallet, pump it up to the level of the pallet surface, roll a reel on to the truck and then wheel the truck to the unwind machine . This is dangerous both because the truck may move relative to the pallet while the reel is being rolled and because even if the truck is fitted with a brake it may not be sufficiently stable to prevent a reel falling between the pallet and the truck. Further, conventional pallet trucks lack any means for securing a reel during movement of the truck - the reel can easily roll off the front of the truck.

3. In other cases , the shaft that the reel runs on in the unwind machine station is brought over to the pallet and inserted through the core and then a lifting mechanism (either overhead or as part of a hoist on wheels) is used to pick up the reel by the two ends of the shaft that are projecting from the two ends of the core. However, when there is more than one reel on a pallet, they are normally so close together that it is impossible to insert the shaft through the core of one reel without it entering the core of the neighbouring reel . In this case it is necessary to roll one reel towards the edge of the pallet until its core is proud of the outer perimeter of the neighbouring reel . Again this is dangerous. Sometimes the reels are of such large diameter that one reel is not clear of the other until it has been rolled right up to the edge of the pallet or even off the pallet .

According to the invention there is provided transportable platform for transporting at least one reel with the axis of the reel horizontal, with chocks arranged on each side of a seating position for the reel or reels, wherein at least one of the chocks is collapsible from an erect state to form a substantially horizontal support surface over which the reel or reels may be rolled.

Preferably, the collapsible chock is formed by a first panel hinged to the platform at a first edge of the first panel and a second panel hinged at a first edge to the second edge of the first panel and releasable means for retaining the second edge of the second panel in contact with the surface of the platform in the erect state of the chock.

In one means for transporting the reel off the pallet and to the unwind machine (so that the shaft does not need to be used to lift the reel off the pallet) , the outer end of the outermost panel is so profiled as to lock with a push truck with matching profiled end when moved down into the extended position. In this way the truck and the pallet form a continuous flat surface while being securely locked together so that a reel can be rolled off the pallet and onto the truck. The truck preferably has a shallow recess in its top surface into which a reel can roll into and sit in but not roll out of. Alternatively, the platform of the truck may include a collapsible chock in accordance with the invention.

Where more than one reel is to be supported on the pallet, there may be a corresponding number of separate chocks on each side of the pallet, each being approximately the axial length of a reel so that only one reel needs to be un-chocked at a time. This is for safety reasons.

Once the reel is on the truck, the shaft can easily be inserted into the reel and thereafter be loaded onto the unwind machine's cradle. The invention will now be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -

Fig. 1 is a perspective view from one end of a reel- transporting pallet during the process of unloading reels from the pallet,

Figs. 2a to 2c show three different positions of the movable panels of a reel-transporting pallet of the kind shown in Fig. 1, created by mounting the assembly of panels on an existing pallet,

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 which is adjustable for different sizes of reels,

Fig. 4 shows an alternative ^' arrangement in end elevation for unloading a reel from a pallet and for transporting it,

Figs. 5a to 5c show the operation of a modified form of the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 in three different positions with the reels omitted for simplicity,

Fig. 6 shows a modification particularly suitable for use with extra large reels, and

Figs. 7 and 8 show, in end view, two further alternative forms of collapsible chock.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a pallet 1 which is of largely conventional construction in that it has spaces or openings for receiving the forks of a fork-lift truck or the limbs of a pallet truck. The top surface 2 of the pallet is formed with a shallow central trough 3 forming a location or seating for reels 4 to be transported on the pallet .

To provide further security against lateral displacement of the reels 4 during transit, a collapsible chock 5 is formed in the top surface 2, being spaced from the central trough 3 by flat portions 6 of the top surface 2. In the position shown in Fig. 1, the left-hand chock 5 is in its erected state, while the right-hand chock 5 is in the collapsed state. Each chock 5 is formed by a first panel 7 which is hinged along one edge 8 to the adjacent surface portion 6 and at its other edge is hinged to a second panel 9 along one edge of the latter.

To retain a chock 5 in its erected condition, a third panel 10 is hinged to the pallet 1 along an edge 11 so that it can be swung between an inwardly directed position as shown in the left-hand side in Fig. 1, to an outwardly directed position as shown at the right-hand side in Fig. 1, where its surface lies flush with the surfaces of the panels 7 and 9 and the fixed surface portion 6.

Thus, to unload a reel 4a from the pallet, the right- hand chock 5 is collapsed by swinging the third panel 10 to the position shown at the right in Fig. 1. The reel 4a can then be rolled out of the trough 3 until its central opening 12 lies beyond the perimeter of the remaining reel or reels 4 seated in the trough 3. A rod or shaft 13 can then be inserted through the central opening 12 of the reel 4a, the length of the rod 13 being greater than the axial length of an individual reel 4 so that its ends protrude at either side of the reel. The reel 4a can then be lifted off the pallet by means, for example, of a fork-lift truck engaging the two protruding ends of the rod or shaft 13. To prevent the reel 4a from accidentally rolling off the edge of the pallet, the latter is preferably formed with an upstanding lip 14. To assist manual operation of the panels, they may be provided with flexible T-shaped handles 15.

Fig. 2 shows on an enlarged scale the construction and operation of the chock corresponding to the right-hand chock in Fig. 1 as constructed on a pre-existing pallet. A fixed member 21 is secured to the top surface 22 of the pallet by suitable fixings 23. The member 21 has a flat top surface forming the surface 6 and an inclined surface forming part of the trough 3. The first panel 27 is connected to the member 21 by hinges at the edges of the upper surfaces (Fig. 2c) .

The second panel 29 is connected to the first panel 27 by a hinge 30 at the adjacent edges of their lower surfaces as seen in Fig. 2c. The third panel 31 is hinged to the top surface 22 of the pallet for movement about an axis 32 formed, for example, by a pivot shaft mounted in lugs (not shown) .

The chock is shown in its erected position in Fig. 2a. To collapse the chock to the position shown in Fig. 2c, the panel 31 is swung around the axis 32 as shown in Fig. 2b to allow the chock to be collapsed to the position shown in Fig. 2c in which the elements 21, 27, 29 and 31 form an effectively continuous surface over which a reel may be rolled.

If the central opening 12 of a reel is still not clear of the perimeter of an adjacent reel when the reel 4a meets the lip 14, the other chock 5 may be collapsed and the adjacent reel can then be rolled in the opposite direction until the necessary clearance is achieved.

Where the diameters of the reels to be transported on the pallet are not constant, the positions of the member 21 and pivotal axis 32 may be made adjustable. As shown in Fig. 3, the fastening elements 23' may be located in slots 33 in the member 21' and the pivotal shaft 32 may be mounted in a slot 34 in lugs 35 upstanding from the pallet. After adjustment, the elements 21 and 32 will be clamped in their adjusted positions.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative arrangement for unloading a reel from the pallet and for transporting it away, in this case on a hand-propelled truck 41. The truck has front wheels 42 and rear wheels 43 and the height of its platform 44 can be raised or lowered by appropriate operation of its handle 45 in conventional manner.

A rear chock 46 is of solid construction but its position may be adjusted along the platform if required for different sizes of reel, after which it is secured in its adjusted position by a clamping bolt 47. Near the front of the truck, a collapsible chock 48 is formed by a first panel 49 hinged at 50 to the platform and a second panel 51 hinged at 52 to the first panel 49. To retain the chock 48 in its erected position, the free edge of the second panel 51 is engaged in a recess 53.

At its front end, the truck 41 has a projection 54 with an upstanding projection 55. With this arrangement, the truck 41 is first lowered, brought up to engage the side of the pallet and then raised to bring its top surface level with that of the pallet, while at the same time causing the projection 55 to engage a seating in the underside of the pallet, thereby locking the truck to the pallet. When the reel 4a has been loaded onto the truck, the chock 48 is erected, the truck 41 lowered and then wheeled away to the unwind machine .

Figs. 5a to 5c show a modified form of the arrangement shown in Fig. 4. Here, the truck 61 has a forwardly extending projection 62 which engages in a recess 63 in the pallet when the top surfaces of the pallet and the truck are at the same level with the collapsible chocks collapsed.

To lock the truck to the pallet for unloading, the truck has an upstanding projection 64 and the third panel 65 of the pallet has a corresponding aperture 66 which engages with the projection 64 when the chock on the pallet is collapsed, as shown in Fig. 5c, so that the reel can be safely rolled across on to the truck after which the collapsible chock 48 can be erected as shown in Fig. 5c. Figs. 6a and 6b show a modified form of the third panel of a collapsible chock for a pallet. The third panel 71 is pivotally mounted at 72 as before but the external lip such as 14 in Figs . 1 to 3 has been omitted and the pivotal axis 72 is nearer the edge of the pallet, so that when the third panel 71 is swung outwards it extends beyond the edge of the pallet so that a reel such as 4a, can be rolled somewhat further than in the construction shown in Fig. 1. To prevent the reel from accidentally rolling over the edge of this extension, the third panel 71 carries an upstanding lip 73 which when the chock is erected in the position shown in Fig. 6a, sits in a recess 74 in the pallet. To enable the third panel to carry the weight of a reel when in the position shown in Fig. 6b, the third panel carries a leg 75 to engage the surface on which the pallet is supported.

Fig. 7 shows an alternative construction of collapsible chock formed by only two panels. The first panel 81 is hinged at its outer edge at 82 to the pallet. The second, narrower panel 83 is hinged at 84 to the inner edge of the first panel 81. In the erected position of the chock, the second panel 83 bears against an abutment formed by a sunken rib 85 on the pallet below the surface of the pallet, the first panel having a recess 86 to fit over the rib 85 when in the collapsed position. A further rib 87 may be provided inboard of the rib 85 to prevent the second panel 83 from moving inwards to a position in which the chock is accidentally collapsed in transit. The second panel 83 would then have a recess 88 to fit over the rib 87.

Fig. 8 shows a modification of Fig. 7. Here, the first panel 91 is hinged at its inner edge at 92 to the pallet. The second panel 93 is wider than the first panel 91 and is hinged at its inner edge at 94 to the outer edge of the first panel 91. To retain the chock in its erected state as shown in Fig.8, the outer edge 95 of the second panel 93 bears against the top of the pallet body and against an abutment formed by a sunken rib 96.

To collapse the chock shown in Fig.8, the outer edge 95 of the second panel is prised up over the rib 96 so that the two panels can be folded down flat onto the pallet body with the second panel lying beyond the first. For this purpose, the underside of the second panel has a recess 97 to accommodate the rib 96.

Claims

1. A transportable platform for transporting at least one reel with the axis of the reel horizontal, with chocks arranged on each side of a seating position for the reel or reels, wherein at least one of the chocks is collapsible from an erect state to form a substantially horizontal support surface over which the reel or reels may be rolled.

2. A transportable platform according to claim 1, wherein the collapsible chock is formed by a first panel hinged to the platform at a first edge of the first panel and a second panel hinged at a first edge to the second edge of the first panel and releasable means for retaining the second edge of the second panel in contact with the surface of the platform in the erect state of the chock.

3. A transportable platform according to claim 2, wherein the releasable means comprises a third panel pivotally mounted at a first edge to the platform between a first position, in which it rests on the platform and extends towards the seating position to abut the second edge of the second panel in the erect position of the chock, and a second position in which it rests on the ^' platform and extends away from the seating position.

4. A transportable platform according to claim 3 wherein, in the second position, the third panel extends beyond the edge of the platform.

5. A transportable platform according to claim 4, wherein the third panel carries a leg to engage, in the second position of the third panel, a supporting surface for the platform.

6. A transportable platform according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the third panel has means for engaging a locking element on a truck or trolley.

7. A platform according to claim 2 , wherein the said releasable means comprises an abutment to retain the second edge of the second panel .

8. A platform according to claim 7, wherein the abutment is formed by a sidewall of a recess in the platform.

9. A transportable platform according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the platform is in the form of a pallet.

10. A transportable platform according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the platform is a wheeled truck or trolley.

11. In combination a platform according to any of claims 1 to 5, in the form of a pallet, and a wheeled truck having lifting means for raising and lowering a support for a reel carried on the truck, wherein the body of the pallet and the support on the truck have interfitting means which engage each other to lock the truck to the pallet when the support is raised to the level of the pallet.

12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the truck forms a platform according to any of claims 1 to 3.