Patent ID: 6543713
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: B65H,E04H

Abstract:
A wire fence roller apparatus, comprising:(a) a framework adapted for mounting on a movable carrier, said framework including a pivotal end portion, a stationary end portion and a support structure having opposite ends, said pivotal end portion being pivotally swingably mounted to one of said opposite ends of said support structure, said stationary end portion being stationarily mounted to the other of said opposite ends of said support structure and spaced laterally and opposite from said pivotal end portion; (b) an elongated drum having a pair of opposite ends, a longitudinal central axis extending between said opposite ends and an outer surface surrounding and spaced radially outwardly from said longitudinal central axis and extending between said opposite ends, said drum at one of said opposite ends of said drum being securely and rotatably mounted to said pivotal end portion of said framework and at the other of said opposite ends of said drum being releasably and rotatably latched to said stationary end portion of said framework such that said drum is pivotally swingable with said pivotal end portion of said framework relative to said support structure of said framework and toward and away from said stationary end portion and support structure of said framework so as to dispose said drum in an operative position wherein said drum extends between said pivotal and stationary end portions of said framework and said other of said opposite ends of said drum is rotatably latched to said stationary end portion of said framework to permit rotation of said drum and winding or unwinding of the wire fence about or from said drum and in an inoperative position wherein said other of said opposite ends of said drum is released from said stationary end portion of said framework and with said pivotal end portion of said framework is pivoted and angularly displaced away from said stationary end portion and said support structure of said framework to permit loading and unloading of the wire fence onto and from said drum; (c) means for causing rotation of said drum about said longitudinal central axis thereof for winding or unwinding wire fence about or from said outer surface of said drum; (d) means for causing pivotal movement of said drum with said pivotal end portion of said framework relative to said stationary end portion and said support structure of said framework for disposing said drum in said respective operative and inoperative positions; and (e) a wire guiding arrangement including (i) a support bracket having forward and rearward members and opposite end members extending between and rigidly interconnecting said forward and rearward members, said rearward member of said support bracket being rotatably mounted to said framework rearwardly of said drum such that said opposite end members of said support bracket extend above and forwardly of said drum to said forward member of said support bracket and said support bracket is movable between a raised inoperative position and a lowered operative position, (ii) a plurality of vertical rollers mounted upon said forward member of said support bracket and laterally spaced apart from one another so as to define spaces therebetween through which individual strands of barbed wire fence are guided to said drum for winding or unwinding the barbed wire fence about or from said outer surface of said drum when said drum is in said operative position and said support bracket is at said lowered operative position; and (iii) an actuator connected between and to said framework and said rearward member of said support bracket and being extendible and retractable for moving said support bracket between said raised inoperative position and said lowered operative position.