Abstract:
An improved coil handling assembly and method of manufacture comprising a cylindrical support member having end covers and one or more stabilizing members. The assembly is capable of accepting a fork lift fork whereby a material coil or roll may be lifted or moved. The assembly further comprises adjustable front and rear coil stabilizers which are moveable and removable whereby a plurality of coil or roll sizes may be contained, stored, transported, or utilized on a processing line. Unlike prior art coil handling equipment, the present art provides a quick, convenient, and safe apparatus and method for working with or utilizing coiled materials.

Description:
This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/650,370, filed Feb. 4, 2005, entitled Improved Coil Handling Assembly. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The art of the present invention relates to coil handling assemblies for securing rolls or coils of sheet material in a cradle-like manner. More particularly, the present art cradles sheet material coils such that once a coil is secured to the assembly, the assembly and the attached coil can simply be transported to a processing line and the sheet material unwound from the assembly for processing. This type of coil handling assembly is typically used for processing sheet metal in the HVAC industry although the present invention can conceivably be utilized in other industries employing coiled material, either metallic or non-metallic. 
     Coiled sheet metal as typically utilized in the metal processing industry consists of a continuous coiled roll or ‘coil,’ which during an earlier processing step was initially wound around a mandrel until the desired quantity or lineal feet of sheet metal was obtained. Subsequently, the coil was removed from the mandrel leaving a center opening in the coil which extends completely through the wound coil from a front edge of the coil to a back edge of the coil. The diameter of the center opening corresponds with the diameter of the mandrel from which it was removed and the length or depth of the center opening corresponds with the width of the sheet metal itself. The standard center opening of coiled sheet metal with a material thickness typically used in the HVAC industry has a diameter of approximately 20 (twenty) to 24 (twenty-four) inches. This center opening in the coil is commonly referred to as the inner diameter (or ID) of the coil. The center opening or coil ID is used whenever the coil is subsequently handled, either for transport and/or for further processing. 
     The improved coil handling assembly of the present invention first comprises a cylindrical support member capable of supporting the coiled material across the entire width of the coil. The cylindrical support member has a front end, a back end, and a shaft extending from both the front end and the back end. Preferably a front bearing/support assembly is attached to or with a front end extension of the shaft and a back bearing/support assembly is attached to or with a back end extension of the shaft. The cylindrical support member further has a moveable front and back coil stabilizer. Preferably, the front and back coil stabilizers each have a retainer plate with a center aperture capable of receiving the cylindrical support member and a clamping member having a circumferential band and a fastening means or a clamping member having a circumferential band in combination with a fastening means. The clamping member is preferably at least partially attached to the retainer plate such that the clamping member is capable of receiving the cylindrical support member and the fastening means is capable of tightening and/or loosening the clamping member with respect to the cylindrical support member such that both the front and back coil stabilizers can be removably attached and secured to the cylindrical support member. 
     With the commercially manufactured prior art, the wound coil is not supported along its entire width but is merely supported along the coil&#39;s front edge and the coil&#39;s back edge with a front hub/front bearing assembly and a back hub/back bearing assembly intermediately connected with a shaft passing through the coil&#39;s ID. 
     With all of the prior art coil handling devices, at least one of the hub/bearing assemblies must be disconnected from the shaft and removed in order to load another coil into the coil handling device. With applicant&#39;s improved coil handling assembly, the only part or portion requiring removal for reloading another coil, is one of the coil stabilizers, each of which easily slide off of the cylindrical support member. Applicant&#39;s cylindrical support member also has a diameter less than the diameter of the center opening of the wound coil (e.g. ID less than twenty inches) which assures that the coil center of gravity is below the shaft centerline. Since the shaft/bearing assemblies of applicant&#39;s improved coil handling assembly are integral to the cylindrical support member unit which easily slides through the coil&#39;s ID, said assemblies do not require removal to load or unload a coil. Less modification or changeover to the coil handling equipment results in significant time savings and greater manufacturing efficiencies in the processing line. It is estimated that applicant&#39;s improved coil handling assembly reduces coil loading time by approximately 83% over the existing prior art coil handling devices. 
     The improved coil handling assembly of the present invention also allows for the handling of coils with irregular or egg-shaped ID&#39;s. The cylindrical support member of applicant&#39;s improved coil handling assembly is capable of supporting the coiled material across the entire width of the coil even though the diameter of the cylindrical support member is less than the diameter of the coil ID. The smaller diameter of the cylindrical support member allows the cylindrical support member to be easily received within irregular shaped center openings (ID) of a wound coil. Prior art alternatives which support the coil only on the edges of the coil&#39;s ID require a substantially symmetrical coil ID of a uniform diameter. 
     Also, the improved coil handling assembly of applicant&#39;s invention can be used with any coil width, such as smaller slit coil multiples. Since the coil stabilizers are slidable along the cylindrical support member until completely flush with one another, the present art allows for infinite width accommodation up to the length of the cylindrical support member. The hub/bearing assemblies of the prior art alternatives have significant depth to the hub/bearing assemblies themselves such that said prior art are not fully adjustable. That is, unlike the present art, the prior art assemblies cannot be adjusted flush with one another and therefore have a minimum coil width restriction in addition to a maximum coil width restriction. 
     Furthermore, the present art improved coil handling assembly minimizes unintentional unwinding or free spooling of the coil when the coil is attached to the improved coil handling assembly. That is, since the unique cylindrical support member actually lowers the coil&#39;s center of gravity while supporting the coil&#39;s weight, the coils ability to free spool is minimized. 
     Still further, the present invention provides an improved coil handling assembly capable of being edge guided, center guided, and/or multiple position guided for essentially unlimited guide positions and therefore maximum flexibility on various processing lines. Additionally, the improved coil handling assembly provides for the coil to be over wound or under wound during processing. 
     The preferred embodiment of the improved coil handling assembly of the present invention comprises a cylindrical support member capable of being at least partially received within the coil&#39;s ID and extending through the coil&#39;s ID from the coil&#39;s front edge to the coil&#39;s back edge such that the cylindrical support member is capable of providing support to the coiled material across the entire width of the coil itself. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved coil handling assembly and method of manufacture which provides a coil support along the entire coil width and not simply the coil ID edges. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved coil handling assembly and method of manufacture which minimizes the labor and time requirements for loading and unloading coils. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved coil handling assembly and method of manufacture which handles coils having an irregular shaped ID. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved coil handling assembly and method of manufacture which is adaptable to most any width coil. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide an improved coil handling assembly and method of manufacture which minimizes coil free spooling and provides maximum flexibility on various processing lines. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The art of the present invention comprises a new and improved coil handling assembly having unique sizing, adjustability, construction, and utilization attributes which allow for quick and easy handling of coiled sheet metal. The improved coil handling assembly of the present invention comprises a cylindrical support member capable of supporting the coiled material across the entire width of the coil. The cylindrical support member has a front end, a back end, and preferably a shaft extending from both the front end and the back end with preferably a front bearing/support assembly attached to a front end extension of the shaft and a back bearing/support assembly attached to a back end extension of the shaft. 
     Two coil stabilizers, a front and a back coil stabilizer, are utilized in the preferred embodiment to hold the coiled material. Preferably, the front and back coil stabilizers each have a retainer plate with an aperture in the center capable of receiving the cylindrical support member and a clamping member having a circumferential band and a fastening means or a clamping member having a circumferential band in combination with a fastening means. The clamping member is preferably at least partially attached to the retainer plate such that the clamping member is capable of receiving the cylindrical support member and the fastening means is capable of tightening and/or loosening the clamping member with respect to the cylindrical support member such that both the front and back coil stabilizers can be removably attached and secured to the cylindrical support member. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical support member has a front end, a back end opposite the front end, a middle portion intermediate the front end and the back end, a center circular opening extending completely through the cylindrical support member from the front end to the back end, the middle portion further having an outer surface and an inner surface adjacent the center circular opening. The cylindrical support member also comprises a front end cover having a center aperture, the front end cover attached to the front end of the cylindrical support member, and a back end cover having a center aperture, the back end cover attached to the back end of the cylindrical support member. In the preferred embodiment, the shaft extending from the front end and the back end of the cylindrical support member has one or more drive shafts comprising a square or other cross section for connection with a processing line motor assembly. 
     The improved coil handling assembly is typically manufactured from tubular, plate, and bar stock carbon steel but may be manufactured from a plurality of other materials including but not limited to stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, composites, ceramics, and polymers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the invention should now become apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side plan view of the preferred embodiment of the improved coil handling assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a back end plan view of the preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a front end plan view of the preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a side plan view of the preferred embodiment shown without the front coil stabilizer. 
         FIG. 5  is another front plan view of the preferred embodiment shown supporting a coil and further illustrating the lowered center of gravity of the coil when supported by the improved coil handling assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is side plan view of the preferred embodiment shown with the improved coil handling assembly lifted by a conventional forklift and illustrating the improved coil handling assembly with the front coil stabilizer removed or alternatively,  FIG. 6  could also be described as showing an alternate embodiment of the improved coil handling assembly lifted by a conventional forklift and illustrating an embodiment utilizing only one coil stabilizer. 
         FIG. 7  is a side plan view of the preferred embodiment illustrating the movability and clamping member of the front coil stabilizer as shown in phantom. 
         FIG. 8  is a back end plan view of the preferred embodiment illustrating the clamping member of the back coil stabilizer, one or more openings of the back end cover, all without the back bearing support assembly. 
         FIG. 9  is a front end plan view of the preferred embodiment illustrating the clamping member of the front coil stabilizer, one or more openings of the back end cover, all without the back bearing support assembly. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 8  of the preferred embodiment of the improved coil handling assembly further illustrating the stabilizer member attached to the inner surface of the cylindrical support member, all without the bearing support assemblies. 
         FIG. 11  is a back end perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the improved coil handling assembly without the front coil stabilizer attached further showing a square cross section drive shaft. 
         FIG. 12  is a front end perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the improved coil handling assembly without the front coil stabilizer attached. 
         FIG. 13  a front end perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the improved coil handling assembly without the front coil stabilizer attached further illustrating the stabilizer member attached to the inner surface of the cylindrical support member. 
         FIG. 14  is a back end perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the improved coil handling assembly with the front coil stabilizer attached further showing a square cross section drive shaft. 
         FIG. 15  is a front end perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the improved coil handling assembly with the front coil stabilizer attached also illustrating the stabilizer member attached to the inner surface of the cylindrical support member. 
         FIG. 16  is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the improved coil handling assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-16  a preferred embodiment of the improved coil handling assembly  10  and method of manufacture which is especially suited for transport, storage, and processing of coiled material. The improved coil handling assembly comprises a cylindrical support member  12  having one or more shafts  42  held via a front and back end cover  26 ,  32  with one or more openings  28 ,  34  for ease of handling. When fully assembled, the improved coil handling assembly  10  further comprises a front and back coil stabilizer  62 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the present art improved coil handling assembly  10  comprises a cylindrical support member  12  capable of supporting the coiled material across the entire width of the coil. The cylindrical support member  12  has a front end  14 , a back end  16 , and a shaft  42  extending from both the front end  14  and the back end  16 . A front bearing/support assembly  48  is attached to a front end extension  46  of the shaft  42  and a back bearing/support assembly  56  attached to a back end extension  54  of the shaft  42 . A front coil stabilizer  62  and a back coil stabilizer  86 , each having a retainer plate  64 ,  88  with a center aperture  72 ,  94  capable of receiving the cylindrical support member  12 , are mounted upon said cylindrical support member  12 . A clamping member  80 ,  102  having a circumferential band  82 ,  104  and a fastening means  84  or a clamping member  80 ,  102  having a circumferential band  82 ,  104  in combination with a fastening means  106  is at least partially attached to the retainer plate  64 . The clamping member  80 ,  102  is thereby capable of receiving the cylindrical support member  12  and the fastening means  84 ,  106  is further capable of tightening and/or loosening with respect to the cylindrical support member  12  such that both the front  62  and back  86  coil stabilizers are removably attached and secured to the cylindrical support member  12 . 
     The cylindrical support member  12  has a front end  14 , a back end  16  opposite the front end  14 , a middle portion  18  intermediate the front end  14  and the back end  16 , and a center circular opening  24  extending completely through the cylindrical support member  12  from the front end  14  to the back end  16 . The middle portion  18  further has an outer surface  20  and an inner surface  22  adjacent the center circular opening  24 . The cylindrical support member  12  also comprises a front end cover  26  having a center aperture  30 , the front end cover  26  attached to the front end  14  of the cylindrical support member  12 , and a back end cover  32  having a center aperture  36 , the back end cover  32  attached to the back end  16  of the cylindrical support member  12 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the front end cover  26  has at least one or more openings  28  and the back end cover  32  has at least one or more openings  34 . At least one of the one or more openings  28  of the front end cover  26  and at least one of the one or more openings  34  of the back end cover  32  are shaped to receive an auxiliary lifting device such as the forks of a conventional forklift. In the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical support member  12  further comprises a stabilizing member  38  attached to the inner surface  22  of the cylindrical support member  12  approximately equidistant from the front end  14  and the back end  16  of the cylindrical support member  12  such that a first surface  39  of the stabilizing member  38  is in substantial alignment with a lifting surface at least one of the one or more openings  28 ,  34  which are shaped to receive an auxiliary lifting device such as the forks of a conventional forklift. At least one of the one or more openings  28  of the front end cover  26  and/or at least one of the one or more openings  34  of the back end cover  32  in combination with the stabilizing member  38  allows the improved coil handling or lifting device  10  to remain substantially stable and essentially level when lifted by the forks of a conventional forklift. In the preferred embodiment, the stabilizing member  38  has a semicircular cross section  40  to simplify attachment to the inner surface of the cylindrical support member  12 . Additional openings of the one or more openings  28 ,  34  of the front  26  and back  32  end covers are for weight reduction purposes such that the front end cover  26  and the back end cover  32  can be further described as having a spoke-like appearance. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical support member  12  is initially fabricated as a pipe or tube with end covers  26 ,  32  thereby creating a drum-like member or a coil drum assembly. One embodiment of the preferred embodiment, as shown in the Figures, utilizes quarter inch thick steel welded into an eighteen inch outside diameter (OD) pipe or tube having a length of approximately sixty six inches. Another envisioned embodiment utilizes a pipe or tube having a length of approximately seventy eight inches. In other embodiments the aforesaid dimensions will vary. The front end cover  26  and the back end cover  32  are preferably welded to the front end  14  and back end  16 , respectively, of the cylindrical support member  12  or pipe or tube yet may be attached using a plurality of methods including but not limited to bolts, screws, rivets, frictional press fits, and crimps. 
     The improved coil handling assembly  10  further comprises a shaft  42  having a front end  44 , a back end  52  opposite the front end  44  and a middle portion  60  intermediate the front end  44  and the back end  52 . The shaft  42  is capable of being at least partially received within the center opening  24  of the cylindrical support member  12  and extending completely through said opening  24  from the front end  14  to the back end  16  of the cylindrical support member  12 . The shaft  42  also preferably extends completely through the center aperture  30  of the front end cover  26  and the center aperture  36  of the back end cover  32  such that when received, both the front end  44  and the back end  52  of the shaft  42  extend out of the opening of the cylindrical support member  12 . That is, the shaft  42  extends from the respective center openings or apertures  30 ,  36  of both the front end cover  26  and the back end cover  32  such that said middle portion  60  of the shaft  42  has a front end extension  46  and a back end extension  54  extending from said cylindrical support member  12 . The shaft  42  is also preferably attached to both the front end cover  26  and the back end cover  32  of the cylindrical support member  12  such that when the shaft  42  rotates, the cylindrical support member  12  also rotates. In one embodiment of the preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 8 ,  11 , &amp;  14 , the shaft  42  is cylindrical, approximately eighty inches long with a diameter of approximately three inches which approximately corresponds to the diameter of the center apertures  30 ,  36  of both the front end cover  26  and the back end cover  32 . The shaft  42  is preferably welded to both the front end cover  26  and the back end cover  32 . Alternative embodiments may utilize more than one shaft  42  or a split shaft  42  attached at the covers  26 ,  32  with or without the middle portion  60 . 
     The improved coil handling assembly  10  also comprises a front bearing/support assembly  48  attached to the front end extension  46  of the shaft  42  and a back bearing/support assembly  56  attached to the back end extension  54  of the shaft  42 . The back bearing/support assembly  56  and/or the front bearing/support assembly  48 , and/or preferably the shaft front end extension  46  and/or shaft back end extension  54 , further have a drive shaft  58  capable of being connected to a motor assembly in a processing line. Preferably, the drive shaft  58  having a square cross section 
     The improved coil handling assembly  10  further comprises a front coil stabilizer  62  and a back coil stabilizer  86 . The front coil stabilizer  62  comprises a retainer plate  64  with a front inner surface  66 , a front outer surface  68 , and a center aperture  72  extending from the front inner surface  66  to the front outer surface  68 . The center aperture  72  is capable of receiving the cylindrical support member  12 . The front coil stabilizer  62  further comprises an outer edge  74 , an inner edge  76  adjacent the center aperture  72 , and a front clamping member  80  having an angled circumferential band  82  and front fastening means  84 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the clamping member  80  of the front coil stabilizer  62  is a split angled circumferential band  82  at least partially attached to the front outer surface  68  of the retainer plate  64  adjacent the inner edge  76  such that the clamping member  80  is essentially perpendicular to the front outer surface  68  of the retainer plate  64  and capable of receiving the cylindrical support member  12 . The split angled circumferential band  82  is also at least partially attached to the front outer surface  68  of the retainer plate  64  such that the fastening means  84  is capable of tightening and/or loosening said band  82  in order that the front coil stabilizer  62  can be removably attached and secured to the cylindrical support member  12 . 
     In the aforesaid preferred embodiment, the retainer plate  64  further has one or more stops or retainers  70  attached to the front outer surface  68  adjacent the clamping member  80  such that the stops  70  effectively prevent the unattached portion of the split angled circumferential band  82  from springing loose when the fastening means  84  are loosened. Preferably, the fastening means  84  is a threaded nut and bolt combination attached to the angled circumferential band  82  adjacent to the split but may comprise a plurality of fasteners including but not limited to clamps, rivets, screws, and dowels. 
     As shown in the Figures, the center aperture  72  of the preferred embodiment of the front coil stabilizer&#39;s  62  retainer plate  64  is approximately eighteen inches in diameter which approximately corresponds with the diameter of the cylindrical support member  12 . Preferably, the front coil stabilizer&#39;s  62  retainer plate  64  is circular and also has one or more observation openings  78  extending from the front inner surface  66  to the front outer surface  68  such that it is possible to observe the remaining amount of material still wound in the coil. Preferably, the clamping member  80  of the front coil stabilizer  62  is partially attached or welded to the outer surface  68  of the front coil stabilizer&#39;s  62  retainer plate  64  such that the split angled circumferential band  82  is still capable of at least partial movement whereby the fastening means  84  can tighten and/or loosen the clamping member  80  with respect to the cylindrical support member  12  such that the front coil stabilizer  62  can be removably attached and secured to or with the cylindrical support member  12 . 
     The back coil stabilizer  86  comprises a retainer plate  88  with a back inner surface  90 , a back outer surface  92 , and a center aperture  94  extending from the back inner surface  90  to the back outer surface  92 . The center aperture  94  is capable of receiving the cylindrical support member  12 . The back coil stabilizer  86  further comprises an outer edge  96 , an inner edge  98  adjacent the center aperture  94 , and a back clamping member  102  comprising an angled circumferential band  104  in combination with separate back fastening means  106 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the clamping member  102  of the back coil stabilizer  86  is an angled circumferential band  104  attached to the back outer surface  92  of the retainer plate  88  adjacent the inner edge  98  such that the clamping member  102  is essentially perpendicular to the back outer surface  92  of the retainer plate and capable of receiving the cylindrical support member  12 . The angled circumferential band  104  is also attached to the back outer surface  92  of the retainer plate  88  such that the back fastening means  106  is capable of tightening and/or loosening the clamping member  102  with respect to the cylindrical support member  12  in order that the back coil stabilizer  86  can be removably attached and secured to or with the cylindrical support member  12 . 
     In this preferred embodiment, the back fastening means  106  comprises one or more substantially L-shaped members  108  having a threaded aperture  110  in combination with a threaded member  112  such as a bolt. The one or more substantially L-shaped members  108  are attached to the outer surface  20  of the middle portion  18  of the cylindrical support member  12  adjacent the back end  16 . A portion of the one or more L-shaped members  108  functions as a stop which effectively serves as an alignment point for the back coil stabilizer  86  and adds strength and stability to the clamping member  102 . As such, in this preferred embodiment the back coil stabilizer  86 , while moveable and therefore adjustable, is not removable from the back end  16  of the cylindrical support member  12  but rather can only be removed from the front end  14  of the cylindrical support member  12 . 
     Also in the aforesaid preferred embodiment, the center aperture  94  of the retainer plate  88  of the back coil stabilizer  86  is also approximately eighteen inches in diameter which approximately corresponds with the diameter of the cylindrical support member  12 . Preferably, the back coil stabilizer&#39;s  86  retainer plate  88  is circular and also has one or more observation openings  100  extending from the back inner surface  90  to the back outer surface  92  such that it is possible to observe the remaining amount of material still wound in the coil. 
     The angled circumferential band  104  of the back coil stabilizer  86  is preferably attached via welding to the outer surface  92  of the back coil stabilizer&#39;s  86  retainer plate  88  in order that the threaded member  112  of the fastening means  106  is capable of contacting the angled circumferential band  104  such that when the fastening means  106  is tightened, the threaded member  112  can apply sufficient pressure or force to prevent substantial movement of the back coil stabilizer  86 . The angled circumferential band  104  in combination with the fastening means  106  is capable of tightening and/or loosening the clamping member  102  such that the back coil stabilizer  86  can be removably attached and secured to or with the cylindrical support member  12 . Said fastening means  106  may further comprise a plurality of fasteners or retainers including but not limited to pins, dowels, frictional fits, clamps, or stops. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the one or more substantially L-shaped members  108  are removed from the outer surface  20  of the cylindrical support member  12 . In this alternate embodiment, two front coil stabilizers  62  are utilized instead of the preferred embodiment of the back coil stabilizer  86 . In this alternate embodiment, one of the front coil stabilizers  62  is merely flipped around and attached near the back end  16  of the cylindrical support member  12  and positioned where the back coil stabilizer  86  would have been positioned in the preferred embodiment. 
     In yet another alternate embodiment, only one coil stabilizer  86 ,  62  is utilized. As such, either the preferred embodiment of the front coil stabilizer  62  or the preferred embodiment of the back coil stabilizer  86  could be provided and utilized as the one coil stabilizer. 
     In operation or use, the fastening means  84 ,  106  can be loosened thereby loosening the clamping member  80 ,  102  such that the coil stabilizers  62 ,  86  can be removed. It is typically necessary to remove only the front coil stabilizer  62  when loading a coil for use on an edge guided processing line. If the coil is processed on a center guided processing line and the width of the processed coil changes, the back coil stabilizer  86  must be at least loosened whereby the coil can be centered on the cylindrical support member  12  and subsequently secured. 
     For example, with the preferred embodiment, the clamping member  80  of the front coil stabilizer  62  is quickly loosened and simply removed from the front end  14  of the cylindrical support member  12 . A conventional fork lift inserts a set of closed forks into the at least one or more openings  34  of the back end cover  32  and lifts the entire improved coil handling assembly  10  (absent the removed front coil stabilizer). Since the assembly  10  remains essentially level when lifted, the forklift simply inserts the improved coil handling assembly  10  into the ID of a coif, from either the front edge side of the coil or the back edge side of the coil. The front coil stabilizer  62  can then be reattached to provide additional stability. The fork lift is now capable of lifting the improved coil handling assembly  10  such that the cylindrical support member  12  now supports the coils weight across the entire width of the coil. The improved coil handling assembly  10  and coil combination can now be transported for placement such that both the front bearing/support assembly  48  and the back bearing/support assembly  56  support the improved coil handling assembly  10  and coil combination in order that the coil can be rotated to wind/unwind the coiled material. 
     From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art will appreciate that an improved coil handling assembly  10  and method of manufacture has been shown and described. The art represents a quick, easy, safe, and cost effective way to transport, store, and utilize coiled material without the complexities and inconveniences of the prior art. 
     Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that all the objects of the present invention are realized and that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its spirit. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.