Abstract:
A device for handling reels includes a telescoping assembly with a first fork sleeve and a second fork sleeve attached to the telescoping assembly so that a position of the first fork sleeve may be adjusted with respect to a position of the second fork sleeve. A first reel lifter fitting and a second reel lifter fitting are attached to the telescoping assembly so that a position of the first reel lifter fitting may be adjusted with respect to a position of the second reel lifter fitting. A first reel lifter arm having a first hook portion and a second reel lifter arm having a second hook portion are slidingly received within the first and second reel lifter fittings.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a U.S. Non-provisional Application, which claims priority from Patent Application No. 61/750,134 filed Jan. 8, 2013. The entirety of the above-listed application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to reel or spool handling equipment and, in particular, to a reel handling device and method. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Many industries require use of large spools or reels for storing elongated products such as cables, wire, tubing, rope and the like. More specifically, cable (for example) is wound about the reel several times for space efficient storage and ease of use. The reels are quite heavy, especially when loaded with cable, and thus require equipment, such as a forklift truck, for handling. As a result, equipment has been developed to facilitate the carrying of reels by forklift trucks and the like. 
         [0004]    Prior art devices used for carrying reels on forklift trucks typically feature two components that must be attached one each to the forks of a forklift truck. As a result, they suffer from a number of drawbacks. More specifically, (1) it is time consuming and cumbersome to attach the two pieces of the device to the forks of a forklift Furthermore, (2) the two pieces must be picked up and fitted onto the forks by hand. Since the two pieces are handled manually, they are subject to abuse and damage. In addition, (3) the two pieces of the device must be manually positioned on the forks so that they are aligned with each other. Also, tools must be used to adjust the prior art devices. More specifically, (4) an allen wrench is typically needed to fix the devices onto each fork of a forklift and (5) in order to change the length of the lifting hooks, a pair of pliers is typically required to remove cotter pins on each lifting hook in order to reposition them for a different size reel. Finally, (6) the prior art devices require more than one different model to pick up the full range of reel sizes. 
         [0005]    A need therefore exists for a reel handling device and method that addresses at least some of the above issues. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the reel handing device of the present invention supported on a stand; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the reel handling device of  FIG. 1  being lifted by a forklift; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the reel handling device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  being carried by a forklift; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the reel handling device of  FIGS. 1-3  carrying a reel towards a reel storage rack; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the reel handling device of  FIGS. 1-4  placing the reel on the reel storage rack; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of a ball-lock pin of the type used on the embodiment of the reel handling device of  FIGS. 1-5 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view illustrating one of the forklift fittings and corresponding locking hand screw. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    An embodiment of the reel handling device of the present invention is indicated in general at  10  in  FIG. 1 . The device is shown resting on a stand, indicated in general at  12 . 
         [0014]    As indicated in  FIG. 1 , the reel handing device includes a pair of fork sleeves  14   a  and  14   b  that are each tubular with a generally rectangular cross-section. Of course the fork sleeves, which are preferably constructed from steel, may have a shape other than rectangular. 
         [0015]    The fork sleeves are secured to the underside and near the opposite ends of a telescoping assembly, indicated in general at  16 . The telescoping assembly includes an inner slider bar  18  that is received within a hollow outer slider bar  22  in a telescoping fashion. The top of the inner slider bar is provided with an elongated slot  24 . The outer slider bar is provided with a sliding pin  26  that protrudes inward so as to be received within the elongated slot  24  of the inner slider bar. The sliding pin  26  traverses the elongated slot as the inner slider bar  18  is moved into and out of the outer slider bar as the telescoping assembly is adjusted as described below. The pin  26  engages the ends of the elongated slot  24  to limit the travel of the inner slider bar within the outer slider bar. 
         [0016]    A pair of reel lifter arms  28   a  and  28   b  are received within corresponding slotted reel lifter fittings  32   a  and  32   b  in a sliding fashion. Reel lifter arms  28   a  and  28   b  are each provided with bottom hook portions  34   a  and  34   b  and a number of locator holes  36   a  and  36   b.  Reel lifter fitting  32   a  is rigidly secured to the distal end of inner slider bar  18  via collar  40 , while reel lifter fitting  32   b  is rigidly secured to the distal end of outer slider bar  22 . 
         [0017]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the sturdy telescoping assembly  16  of the reel handling device keeps the reel lifter arms  28   a  and  28   b  properly aligned while being attached to the forks  42   a  and  42   b  of a forklift truck. 
         [0018]    The telescoping assembly also allows the device to be stored on the fixed stand  12  which holds the device in a position to be easily mounted on the forklift forks without the driver having to get off the forklift, except to tighten locking hand screws without a tool (as explained below). The stand  12  includes a base  44 , a main vertical support  46  and a cradle  48  positioned at the top of the support. The cradle preferably is U-shaped so as to support the device via the inner and outer slider bars of the telescoping assembly with the hook portions of the reel lifters elevated above the floor or other surface supporting the base  44  of the stand. 
         [0019]    All of the components of the stand, the telescoping assembly, the reel lifters and the reel lifter fittings are preferably constructed of steel. 
         [0020]    The heavy duty hook portions  34   a  and  34   b  and locator holes  36   a  and  36   b  of the reel lifter arms  28   a  and  28   b  can be positioned to accommodate various sizes of reels. The reel lifter arms are each locked into the proper position using a ball-lock pin, indicated at  52  in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  6 . Such ball-lock pins are well known in the art. Each ball-lock pin requires no tools to remove or reposition as it may simply be pulled out of the corresponding opening in the side of the reel lifter fitting via pull ring  54  and pushed back into position where the stem  56  ( FIG. 6 ) passes through reel lifter fitting opening and the selected locator hole ( 36   a,    36   b  of  FIG. 1 ). Spring-loaded retractable locking balls,  58  of  FIG. 6 , secure the ball-lock pin  52  in place. 
         [0021]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 7 , the inward-facing wall of fork sleeve  14   a  is provided with a boss  62  that includes a threaded bore that extends into the interior of the fork sleeve. A locking hand screw, indicated in general at  64  in  FIG. 7 , features a threaded shaft  66  that engages the threaded bore of the boss  62 . The locking hand screw also features a knob  68  attached to the distal end of the threaded shaft  66 . Fork sleeve  14   b  is provided with a similar boss and locking hand screw arrangement. With reference to  FIG. 2 , after the forks  42   a  and  42   b  of the forklift are inserted into the corresponding fork sleeves  14   a  and  14   b,  the locking hand screws are turned so that the proximal ends of the threaded shafts ( 66  of  FIG. 7 ) engage the forks to secure the device to the forklift. 
         [0022]    With the reel handing device  10  attached to the forks  42   a  and  42   b  of the forklift and the reel lifter arms  28   a  and  28   b  adjusted to the right length, the forklift operator lifts the device off of the stand  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0023]    The driver next drives the forklift up to a reel to be lifted. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a special arbor or shaft, indicated in general at  72 , is already positioned in the reel arbor hole  74  and protrudes from both sides of the reel, indicated in general at  76 . This may be achieved, for example, by providing the special shaft  72  with a two-piece construction where the inner ends of each piece of the special shaft are joined after passing one each through the arbor hole openings of the reel with a fastening arrangement such as a threaded bore on one inner end and a corresponding threaded end on the other inner end. Of course alternative fastening arrangements may be used, or the special shaft may be constructed as a single piece that is slid through both arbor hole openings and through the entire width of the reel. In the example illustrated, the reel is loaded or wound with cable  78 . The ends of the special shaft are provided with square end plates  80   a  and  80   b  ( FIG. 5 ). Alternative shapes and sizes may be used for the end plates. 
         [0024]    The distance between the reel lifter arms  28   a  and  28   b  are adjusted in close to the flanges  82   a  and  82   b  of the reel using the fork adjustment feature of the forklift and the telescoping assembly  16  of the reel handing device. The forklift advances toward the reel so that the hook portions  34   a  and  34   b  of the reel lifter arms hook under the shaft, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The reel can now be lifted safely and transported to a reel rack, indicated in general at  90  in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , designed to receive the special shafts. More specifically, with reference to  FIG. 5 , the reel rack includes a pair of reel supports  92   a  and  92   b  that feature a J-shaped cross section so that each includes a channel adapted to receive the square end plates  80   a  and  80   b  of the special shaft supporting the reel  76 . 
         [0025]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the special shaft, and thus the reel, is placed into position in the rack  90 . With the special shaft securely in place in the rack, the forks  42   a  and  42   b  and reel lifter arms  28   a  and  28   b  can be lowered and disengaged from the special shaft and the forklift backed away from the rack. The process is reversed to remove an empty reel from the rack or to move a partially full reel. 
         [0026]    The embodiment of the reel handling device of the present invention described above thus is a one piece design that easily adjusts to the width of the reel to be lifted. The device sits on a stand when not in use so that a forklift truck can drive to the stand and insert its forks into the device without the driver having to lift anything manually or get off of the forklift The driver can easily lock the device onto the forks without tools using the locking hand screws. When the forklift operator is finished using the device, he loosens the locking hand screws and sets the device on its stand. The reel lifter arms of the device are always aligned with each other since they are attached by the telescoping assembly and the forklift driver has only to drive straight into the stand to have the lifting hooks properly aligned with each other. Furthermore, only one ball-lock pin per side is used to secure the hook portions of the reel lifter arms in the correct positions. No hand tools are required to remove or insert the ball-lock pins. The device will also pick up the full range of reel sizes from X to X1. 
         [0027]    While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.