Abstract:
A coil handler device is configured for grasping, lifting and transporting a coil of material that is coiled in such a manner as to have an outer periphery and an inner periphery and to define a longitudinal axis. The handler device includes a frame and a grasping and lifting assembly. The grasping and lifting assembly includes at least one clamping clement having first and second clamping surfaces for engaging and securing the coil along a radial line at the inner and outer peripheries of the coil. The clamping element includes a first clamp leg elongated in a direction along the radial line and a second clamp leg fixedly connected to the first clamp leg transverse to the first clamp leg at a first end. The second clamp leg has a second end operably connected to a lifting assembly for raising and lowering the coil when it is secured by the clamping element. The grasping and lifting assembly includes first and second clamp arms positioned along the first clamp leg for securing the coil at the inner and outer peripheries. The first clamp arm is spaced from the second clamp leg and the second clamp arm is intermediate the first clamp arm and the second clamp leg.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention pertains to a coil handler device. More particularly, the invention pertains to a coil manipulating and transporting device for grasping, lifting and moving coiled materials. 
   Many materials are supplied in coiled form. For example, strapping material, such as plastic or steel strap is often supplied in coiled form on, for example, a spool or spindle. 
   In handling coiled strapping material, most strapping machines require that the coils be positioned on a strapping dispenser with the longitudinal axis of the coil in either a horizontal orientation or a vertical orientation. That is, the coil is mounted to the dispenser so that the material feeds from a top or bottom of the coil and so that the coiled material can rotate around a spindle or axis positioned in a horizontal orientation. Alternately, the coil can be mounted so that the material is fed from a side of the coil with the coil axis in a vertical orientation. 
   Coiled strapping material is often quite heavy and can be bulky, vis-a-vis storage and handling. Many such coils can weigh as much as one hundred pounds or more. As such, it is often difficult to grasp, manipulate and transport the coil to position it in either the horizontal or vertical orientation. Typically, the coil must be manipulated manually to position it on the machine. Moreover, when the coils arc stacked on one another this difficulty in grasping and manipulating the coil is exacerbated. 
   Coil grasping and manipulating devices are known; however, these devices are large, motorized equipment items akin to a vehicle. Moreover, because of the overall sizes of such devices, their respective costs are likewise high, thus limiting the ability of the “small” volume user to justify purchase and use of such a handling device. 
   Accordingly, there exists a need for a coil handler that permits grasping, manipulating and transporting coiled material. Desirably, such a device is configured so that it can “straddle” a coil or stack of coils, grasp a coils and remove it from the coil stack. More desirably, such a handler grasps the coil at a plurality of radially spaced locations, but can hold the coil securely with only one location grasped and secured. Most desirably, such a device can be used to grasp a coil with the coil axis in either a horizontal orientation or a vertical orientation, transport the coil and load the coil onto a machine in the orientation for use. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A coil handler device is configured to grasp, lift and transport a coil of material that is coiled in such a manner as to have an outer periphery and an inner periphery and to define a longitudinal axis. 
   The handler includes a frame and a grasping and lifting assembly. The grasping and lifting assembly includes at least one clamping element having first and second clamping surfaces for engaging and securing the coil along a radial line at the inner and outer peripheries of the coil. In a preferred embodiment, the handler includes three clamping elements. 
   Each clamping element includes a first clamp leg elongated in a direction along the radial line (of the coil) and a second clamp leg fixedly connected to the first clamp leg. The second clamp leg is mounted transverse to the first clamp leg at a first end. The second clamp leg has a second end that is operably connected to a lifting assembly for raising and lowering a coil secured by the clamping element. In a present embodiment, the clamping elements are mounted to a plate that is in turn mounted to a cable forming a part of the lifting assembly. The clamping elements are mounted to the plate equally spaced from one another. 
   The clamping elements each including first and second clamp arms positioned along the first clamp leg for securing the coil at the inner and outer peripheries. The first clamp arm is spaced from the second clamp leg and the second clamp arm is between the first clamp arm and the second clamp leg. 
   Preferably, the clamping elements are operably connected to the plate by a link to permit movement of the clamping element relative to the plate. The plate facilitates preventing the clamping elements from tangling with each other. 
   In a preferred clamping element the second clamp arm is fixed on the first clamp leg and the first clamp arm is moveable toward and away from the second clamp arm to permit positioning the clamping element over the coil and locking the clamping element onto the coil. 
   The lifting assembly cable is operably connected to the clamping elements for raising and lower the clamping element. The lifting assembly can be a manually operated assembly, e.g., crank operated, or it can be an assisted movement. 
   The frame includes a carriage for moving the handler device. In a present embodiment, the carriage includes a plurality of wheels mounted thereto for moving the handler with the coils suspended or supported therefrom. 
   To facilitate positioning the handler over a coil or stack of coils, the frame includes a base having an open end and an open central region and defining a generally U-shaped base. The clamping elements are suspended vertically above and about centrally of the open central region of the base. The frame can be configured having a boom to suspend or position the clamping elements over the open central region. 
   In an alternate handler, the grasping and lifting assembly includes a hook element having first and second legs, in which the second leg is configured to engage and secure the coil thereto along a longitudinal line at the inner periphery of the coil. The boom is disposed so as to support the hook therefrom vertically above and about centrally of the open central region. In a present embodiment, the hook is suspended from the plate from which the clamping elements have been removed. The hook can include a detent or stop block to more effectively secure the coil on the hook. 
   These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a coil handler in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the handler being illustrated with a coil being grasped and lifted from a stack of coils; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1  showing the lifting assembly and a portion of the handler frame, and showing the position of the clamping elements as they are engaged with the coil; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a clamping element, the element being showing in the clamping or engaged condition in solid lines and in the disengaged condition in phantom lines; 
       FIG. 3A  is a force diagram of the clamping element engaged with a section of the coil, showing the various forces, including the force exerted by the clamp and the force exerted on the clamping element by the weight of the coil; 
       FIG. 4  is an alternate grasping assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the handler having the grasping assembly of  FIG. 5  with a coil loaded onto the assembly; and 
       FIG. 6  is an alternate embodiment of the coil handler grasping assembly illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described presently preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description Of The Invention”, relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein. 
   Referring now to the figures and in particular to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a coil handler  10  embodying the principles of the present invention. The handler  10  includes, generally, a frame  12  having a carriage  14 , and a grasping assembly and lifting assembly  16 . The present handler  10  permits grasping, manipulating and transporting coiled material C. The coils C 1 -C 7 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , can be positioned with the coil axis A C  in a vertical orientation. Alternately, as will be discussed in more detail below, the handler can be configured to grasp, manipulate and transport a coil C 8  having its axis A C8  in a horizontal orientation (FIG.  4 ). 
   As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, materials are generally coiled in a mill wound or a ribbon wound manner. In the mill wind, the material is coiled onto itself or onto a spool in a random manner, without a subsequent wind necessarily overlying a previous wind. In the ribbon wind, the material is positioned to fully overlap or overly a previous layer so that the coil has the same width as the material. The present handler is configured to grasp, manipulate and transport coiled material in either the mill wound or ribbon wound condition. 
   The frame  12  includes the carriage  14 , a mid-support portion  18 , a vertical upright  20  and an angled boom  22 . Preferably, the carriage  14  includes a plurality of wheels or casters  24  to permit moving the handler  10  without the use of any other transport means, e.g., a wheeled dolly or truck. In a present handler  10 , the carriage  14  is formed from tubular material (e.g., steel) having an overall squared-ended U-shape as indicated generally at  26 . The wheels  24  are mounted to the carriage  14  at the upper-most ends  28  of the U-legs, at the squared off corners at the juncture of the legs and the base  30 , and centrally along the base  32 . In the present embodiment, the carriage  14  shape, with the open “top”  34  of the U-shape  26  permits readily positioning the handler  10  over the stack S of coils C 1 -C 7 . The number and position of the wheels  24  can, of course, be varied, as can the shape of the carriage  12 , to provide a wide variety of carriage shapes and wheel configurations to permit use in essentially any facility environment. 
   The mid-support  18  can be formed as an integral structure with the carriage  14  and extends upwardly from about the top of the U-legs  28 , and rearwardly, essentially following the same shape as the carriage  14 . In this manner, the carriage  14  and mid-support  18  structural members arc essentially vertically aligned with one another (i.e., the carriage legs  34  and mid-support legs  36  are aligned with each other as are the carriage base  38  and mid-support base  40 ) to facilitate positioning the handler  10  over the coil stack S. 
   The vertical upright  20  extends upwardly from about the center of the carriage base  38 . In that the carriage base  38  and mid-support base  40  are aligned with one another, the vertical upright  20 , in its upward extension also extends adjacent the mid-support base  40 . The vertical upright  20  is secured to the carriage and mid-support bases  38 ,  40  by, for example, welding or other metal-to-metal joining methods. The vertical upright  20  extends upwardly a distance beyond the mid-support base  40  to a juncture with the boom  22 . 
   The boom  22  extends upwardly and inwardly relative to the vertical upright  20 . In a present embodiment, the boom  22  extends inwardly to a point about centrally positioned above the carriage  14  and mid-support  18 , within the U-shaped structures. In a current embodiment, the boom  22  is affixed or connected to the vertical upright  20  in a fixed manner, e.g., by welding. However, it is contemplated that the boom  22  can be mounted to the upright  20  by a securable joint so that the boom  22  can be folded down to, for example, store the handler when it is not in use. As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a handle  42  extends rearwardly from the upright  20  to facilitate moving the handler  10 . 
   The grasping and lifting assembly  16  includes a grasping assembly  46  and a lifting assembly  48 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the grasping assembly  46  includes a plurality of angled toggle clamps or clamping elements  50  that operate or function independent of each other. In one embodiment, each clamp  50  is mounted to a central spacing element or plate  52  by a link  54 . 
   In a present embodiment, the grasping assembly  46  includes three equally circumferentially spaced (i.e., 120 degrees spaced) clamps  50 . The links  54  are positioned through openings  56  near the periphery of the plate  52  for securing the clamps  50  to the plate  52 . 
   The clamps  50  include a toggle clamp body  58  having a first clamp leg  60  that is elongated in the direction of force F C  that is applied to the coil C. A second, transverse leg  62  is connected to the elongated leg  60  and includes a free-connecting member  64  for engaging the link  54  to connect to the plate  52 . In this manner, as will be discussed below, the locus of engagement indicated generally at  66  of the clamp  50  with the coil C is spaced, both in the direction of force F C , as well as transverse to the direction of force F X , that is applied by the clamp  50  to secure the clamp  50  to the coil C. 
   As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the clamp  50  includes a fixed arm  68  having a resilient clamping pad  70  and movable arm  72  also having a resilient clamping pad  74 . The movable arm  72  is movable (to move the pad  74 ) between a first or open position (shown in dotted or phantom lines in  FIG. 3 ) in which the clamp  50  is readily positioned on the coil C and a second or closed position (shown in solid lines in FIG.  3 ), in which the arm  72  engages the coil C. An adjusting element  76 , such as the exemplary adjusting bolt, can be positioned on the clamp  50  to provide a desired grasp (i.e., compression) on the coil C to secure the coil C in the clamp  50 . In a current embodiment, the adjusting bolt  76  is positioned on the movable arm  72  to provide adjustable movement of the pad  74 . The clamp  50  includes camming links  78  that pivotally connect a handle  80  with the movable arm  72  to move or actuate the movable arm  72  to engage the movable arm pad  74  with the coil C. A release lever  82  permits readily releasing the clamp  50  (i.e., moving the clamp  50  to the open position) to disengage the coil C. 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lifting assembly  48  includes a hand-operated crank  86  that is connected to a take-up spool  88  by a gear assembly  90 , a cable  92 , a pulley or roller  94  located at the upper end of the boom  22 , and a pulley or roller  96  mounted to the plate  52 . By operating, e.g., rotating the crank  86 , the plate  52  (and thus the coil C, if attached), can be raised or lowered as desired. A lock (not shown) can be positioned on the lifting assembly  48  to prevent inadvertently “dropping” the coil C if the crank  86  is let go. Other gearing and roller/pulley configurations can be used to provide a desired “effort” that is required to operate the manual system, which other gearing and pulley configurations arc within the scope and spirit of the present-invention. Moreover, although a manual crank  86  assembly is illustrated, it is anticipated that an assisted, e.g., motorized, electrically operated or the like, actuator can also be used for raising and lowering the coil C. All such operators, whether manual or assisted are also within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
   In use, the handler  10  is positioned over the coil C or coil stack S. The grasping assembly  46  is lowered onto the coil C, or the top coil C 1  of a stack S of coils. The clamps  50  are positioned on the coil C with one of the arm pads  70  on an inner periphery P 1  of the coil C and the other arm pad  74  positioned radially opposingly, on an outer periphery P O  of the coil C. As set forth above, the clamps  50  are positioned equally circumferentially spaced from one another, so with a grasping assembly having three clamps  50 , the clamps  50  are positioned  120  degrees spaced from one another. The clamp handles  80  are urged toward their respective first legs  60  to close and secure the clamps onto the coil C. 
   Once the clamps  50  are positioned around the coil C and secured to the coil C, the coil C can be lifted using the lifting assembly  48 . When the coil C is raised to a desired level or height, the lifting assembly  48  is locked (to prevent the coil C from inadvertently “falling”) and the handler  10  can be moved to position the coil C at a desired location to, for example, load the coil C onto a strapping machine (not shown). 
   Advantageously, it has been found that even though the present handler  10  is configured with a plurality of clamping elements  50  (three as shown), the handler  10  will support a coil C of material in a generally vertical (axis A C ) orientation, even with only a single clamping element  50  securing the coil C. That is, even if only a single clamp  50  is locked onto the coil C, the coil C will remain secured by the clamp  50  and will remain in a substantially vertical (axis A C ) orientation, that is, the coil C will remain in substantially the orientation as illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
   Particular, exemplary design considerations that enhance the ability of the handler  10  to secure the coil C with a single clamp  50  and maintain the coil axis Ac substantially vertical are the position of the clamp  50  and clamp pads  70 ,  74  relative to the inner and outer peripheral surfaces P 1 , P O  of the coil C, the transverse clamp leg  62  and the freely moving connection of the clamp  50  to the plate  52 . 
   As to the clamp  50  configuration, referring to  FIG. 3A , it can be seen that the force F D  applied to the bulk of the coil C is radially into the coil C. As the weight of the coil C “pulls” the coil C down (from about the center of gravity G C  of the coil C), a portion of that downward force is translated into compressive force F C  to urge the coil C against the pad  74 , vis-a-vis the position of the pad  74  as it engages the coil C; rather than a downward force that urges or pulls the coil C out of the clamp  50 . Essentially, even with only a single clamp  50  holding the coil C, the forces are such that a portion of the force of gravity (exerted at the center of gravity G C ) is translated into a force F C  that urges against the pad  74  and secures the coil C in the clamp  50 . 
   With respect to the transverse clamp leg  62  and the freely moving connection  64 / 54 , because the coil C will tend to come to rest with its center of gravity G C  vertically below the first free connection  64  (e.g., the connection between the clamp  50  and the plate  52 ), the coil C will tend to “balance”, that is come to rest at some orientation close to the vertical (axis A C ) orientation, rather than to shift so that the coil C rests at a horizontal (axis) orientation. The rigid nature of the connection between the elongated first leg  60  and the transverse leg  62  thus shifts the point or orientation at which the coil C will come to rest. The movable nature of the link  54  connecting the clamp  50  and the plate  52 , however, provides the desired flexibility or maneuverability of the clamp  50  relative to the coil C so as to permit readily securing the clamp  50  to the coil C. 
   An alternate embodiment of the grasping assembly  146  is illustrated in FIG.  6 . In this embodiment, the clamps  50 , rather than connecting to a plate  52 , are hung from a common link  152  that is secured to the lifting assembly cable  92 . The clamping elements  50  are, however, the same as those elements of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In this embodiment the coil C will, similar to the first embodiment, tend to “balance” with the coil C resting substantially vertically (that is the axis A C  resting vertically), rather than shift so that the coil C comes to rest horizontally. 
   Still another enhancement to the handler  210  is illustrated in  FIGS. 4-5 . In this embodiment, the handler  210  includes a grasping assembly  246  that permits grasping and lifting coils C 8  that are oriented vertically, and reorienting the coils so that they are horizontally oriented. Such an orientation may be required for example, to load coils C 8  onto certain strapping machines. 
   This embodiment of the grasping assembly  246  includes a hook element  250  that is freely connected to the plate  252 . The hook  250  includes a depending leg  260  and a transverse leg  262  extending from the depending leg  260 . The transverse leg  262  can include a step or stop block  270  to more positively engage and hold the coil C on the leg  262 . A head portion  274  of the transverse leg  262  can be tapered to permit more readily engaging the head  274  with the edge of the coil inner periphery P 1 . 
   In a present embodiment, the hook  250  is connected to a closed link or eye portion  276  that is fastened to an under-side of the plate  252 . In this manner, the same grasping assembly plate  252  and cable  92  connection  96  can be used for either the clamping elements  50  or the hook element  250 . 
   All patents referred to herein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure. 
   In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
   From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.