EP0600770A1 - Unwinding device for flexible tube - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an unwinding device (1) for a flexible tube (6) comprising a fixed support on which a reel (2) is mounted so as to swivel. The fixed support consists of a self-supporting chassis (7). Its lateral parts (7a, 7b) are capable of receiving the ends (11a, 11b) of a shaft (11) passing through the reel (2) and of conferring stability on the whole assembly. It includes at least one bar (34, 35) arranged transversely between the two lateral parts (7a, 7b) of the chassis (7), close to a lower zone of the reel (2) once in place, so as to constitute a device stopping unexpected unwinding of the free end of the tube (6) after an amount of tube has been taken off, and to facilitate unreeling of the reel (2), at the time a further amount is taken off, by reducing friction. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a flexible sheath unwinder, more particularly of large diameter, for example, smoke evacuation ducts emanating from heating appliances.

In this particular application, the sheath is constituted by a metal strip undergoing a spiral and embossed winding, having both mechanical resistance qualities and aptitudes for conformation by its relative flexibility.

In the case of ventilation ducts, a plastic coating surrounds a spiral metal wire defining the diameter of the duct to be obtained.

It can also be a flexible sheath with a smaller diameter, and which is more particularly intended for embedding electrical installations in the walls of a room to be equipped.

In general, the invention relates to the packaging of a sheath, the degree of flexibility required in normal use is less than that necessary, for example, for its winding on a distributor coil, or quite simply on it. even, according to a smaller diameter for easy storage.

Indeed, the radius of curvature of such flexible sheaths, when they are reeled for storage, is generally less than the radii to which they are shaped during their implementation. This causes a natural redeployment of the turns formed by the sheath, as soon as the retention of its end is released, for example, by cutting a hoop.

From this moment, the flexible sheath, which is freed from any constraint, will tend to naturally resume a generally elongated shape, difficult to control and hampering easy removal from the reel according to a desired length, or quite simply its handling.

It is easy to understand that the problems mentioned above, relating to flexible ducts in general, are even more sensitive in the field of distribution, where the space allocated to each product is often limited and where disorder is actively combated, not only for obvious security reasons, but also for the store's brand image.

The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned problems and relates to an unwinder allowing good unwinding of the flexible sheath, whatever the desired length, while perfectly controlling this unwinding and allowing a good presentation of the product to the public.

To this end, the invention relates to a flexible sheath unwinder of the type comprising a fixed support, on which is journalled a coil formed by a cylindrical core provided at its ends with two flanges of larger diameter, so as to contain a plurality coiled sheets of sheath capable of unwinding under the effect of a traction.

The fixed support is constituted by a self-supporting frame comprising two lateral parts connected transversely to each other to form a rigid frame.

The lateral parts can be constituted, on the one hand, by two lateral support arms directed upwards and whose free ends are capable of receiving the ends of an axis passing through the coil, and on the other hand, by two longitudinal members horizontal extending said support arms at their lower part by forming an angle such as to give the whole its stability, when the spool is in place with a view to unwinding.

According to the invention, at least one bar is arranged transversely between the two lateral parts of the chassis, near a lower zone of the coil once in place, so as to constitute a stop at unwanted unwinding of the free end of the sheath after a sample, and to facilitate the unwinding of the coil, during a new sample, by reducing friction.

Such an embodiment not only offers a functional unwinder, but also an optimum display. In addition, we greatly contribute to the improvement of the working conditions of the staff because, thanks to this self-supporting chassis, the handling of the coils by a sort of hand truck is greatly facilitated.

The present invention also relates to the characteristics below, considered in isolation or in all their technically possible combinations.

The height of the support arms is greater than the radius of the coil, so that after loading it on the chassis, it is no longer in contact with the ground and can rotate freely around its axis depending on the flexible sheath unwinding needs, carried out by traction. The loading and unloading of the reel is carried out by tilting the chassis in one direction or the other, around a point of support on the ground, located in the angle formed by the support arms relative to to the corresponding side members, then acting in the manner of lever arms.

Furthermore, two lateral rollers are arranged on either side of the front of the chassis to constitute the support points on the ground during the tilting of said chassis, for loading or unloading of the reel, and to facilitate moving it from one point to another.

The free ends of the support arms comprise means for gripping the ends of the axis of the coil. These means consist of two bearings open in the manner of a fork, so as to allow reception of the axis by engagement in a direction perpendicular to it. latest.

More specifically, the gripping forks form asymmetrical branches, of which those directed towards the outside of the chassis are extended relatively with respect to those directed towards the inside, so as to constitute sliding ramps of the spool axis, during gripping it, and during its loading on the chassis.

Also, the frame rails have two free ends connected together by a vertical facade element constituting a front part of the frame, secured to two telescopic arms capable of sliding in the frame members for adjusting the length of said frame.

The front element of the chassis comprises, on the one hand, a flexible support forming a clamp, into which the free end of the sheath can be clipped in order to maintain it between two samples, or during a cutting operation. during a sampling, and on the other hand, a transverse roller disposed in the immediate vicinity of the clamp to facilitate unwinding.

Furthermore, the flanges of the coil comprise at least one stop plate produced on their respective periphery and capable of constituting a means for immobilizing the coil in rotation, when it is waiting on the ground, for its gripping by the chassis.

In addition, at least one of the flanges of the coil has a plurality of studs arranged in relief on its external face and regularly distributed equidistant from the center, so as to facilitate, on the one hand, its removal from a stack by the forks of an elevating machine and bring it close to the self-supporting chassis and, on the other hand, to ensure its balance on the ground before being tilted horizontally to be taken up by the support arms of said chassis via the forks.

Finally, on each of the turns formed by the sheath wound in a sheet on the reel, a film of stretchable plastic material is continuously arranged forming a strip of width such as to allow it to overlap, and consequently to ensure the retention of the sheath turns. unreeled remaining in tablecloth compared to those unwound having returned to their natural slender shape.

• la Figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un dérouleur de gaine flexible selon l'invention ;
• les Figures 2, 3 et 4 sont des vues schématiques d'un dérouleur avant, pendant et après la préhension d'une bobine de gaine flexible ;
• la Figure 5 est une vue en coupe longitudinale, selon la ligne VV de la Figure 4, d'un dérouleur chargé d'une bobine en cours de déroulement de la gaine en vue d'un prélèvement.

The invention will be further illustrated, without being in any way limited, by the following description, given with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flexible sheath unwinder according to the invention;
• Figures 2, 3 and 4 are schematic views of an unwinder before, during and after the gripping of a flexible sheath coil;
• Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view, along the line VV of Figure 4, of an unwinder loaded with a reel during the course of the sheath for sampling.

The unwinder, designated 1 as a whole in the Figures, is generally constituted by a self-supporting chassis 7, on which a spool 2 is mounted in a swiveling manner formed by a cylindrical core 3 provided at its ends with two flanges 4, 5 of larger diameter, so as to be able to contain a plurality of superimposed layers of coiled sheath 6 able to unwind under the effect of manual voluntary traction.

According to the invention, the chassis 7 forms a rigid frame comprising two lateral parts 7a, 7b which are mutually parallel and perpendicular to the ground 8, on which it is intended to rest.

The lateral parts 7a, 7b of the chassis 7 are constituted by lateral support arms 9, 10 directed upwards, and the free ends 9a and 10a of which are suitable for receiving the ends 11a, 11b of an axis 11 passing right through the coil 2 and emerging from the flanges 4, 5 of the coil 2.

The lateral parts 7a, 7b also consist of two horizontal beams 12, 13 extending said support arms 9, 10 at their lower part opposite the ends 9a, 10a. The connection of said arms and side members is effected by a curvature of an initially straight tube to form an angle α, such as to give the assembly its stability, when the coil 2 is in place.

In this case, the angle α chosen is equal to 70 °.

The consolidation of this angle is obtained by having struts 14, 15 interposed respectively between the arm 9 and the spar 12, and the arm 10 and the spar 13.

The parts 7a, 7b thus produced are fixedly joined together by a first spacer 16 arranged between the arms 9 and 10 substantially at their lower part and perpendicularly, and by a second spacer 17 arranged identically between the struts 14 and 15.

Furthermore, the longitudinal members 12, 13 of the chassis 7 have two free ends 12a, 13a connected together by a vertical facade element 18 constituting a front part of the chassis 7, integral with two telescopic arms 19, 20 capable of sliding in the longitudinal members for adjusting the length of said chassis 7.

The front element 18 of the chassis 7 comprises, on the one hand, a flexible support forming a clamp 21, into which the free end 6a of the sheath 6 can be clipped in order to maintain it between two samples, or during 'A cutting operation during a sampling and, on the other hand, a transverse roller 22 disposed in the immediate vicinity of the clamp 21 to facilitate unwinding.

It should be noted that the distance separating the clamp 21 from the coil is such as to give the unwound coil a length sufficient to avoid angular distortions with respect to said coil.

It will also be noted that the front element 18, of rectangular conformation, is arranged transversely to the side members 12 and 13 of the chassis, and that it can be the subject of an advertising medium 23.

In addition, its lateral uprights 18a and 18b comprise sleeves 24, 25 or 26, 27, arranged in pairs, along the same axis, respectively on said uprights and making it possible to receive, on one side or the other, a foot 28 carrying the clamp 21.

Finally, the front element 18 comprises a handle 29 facilitating the movement of the unwinder 1 before, during or after loading the reel 2.

This movement is also made easier by the presence of two lateral rollers 30 and 31, which are arranged on either side of the front of the chassis 7, in the region of the angle α formed by the arms and side members 9 , 12 or 10, 13. In the dispensing position, when the unwinder 1 is supported on the feet of the front element 18, the unwinder 1 is, at the rear, supported on its side members 12 and 13. It is thus very stable. During its movement, the front element 18 is raised and the unwinder 1 rests, in its rear part, on the rollers 30, 31. It is thus easily mobile.

As can be seen, more particularly in FIG. 2, the height h2 of the support arms 9, 10, and therefore of the axis 11 passing through the coil, is greater than the radius r1 of the coil 2, so that after loading of the latter on the chassis 7, it is no longer in contact with the ground 8 and can rotate freely around its axis 11 as a function of the flexible sheath unwinding needs, effected by traction. The loading and unloading of the reel is carried out by tilting the chassis in one direction F1, or in the other direction F2, around a fulcrum A on the ground 8, located in the angle α formed by the support arms 9, 10 relative to the corresponding side members 12, 13 , then acting like a lever arm.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the free ends 9a, 10a of the support arms 9, 10 comprise means for gripping the ends 11a, 11b of the axis 11 of the coil 2, which means consist of two open bearings in the manner of a fork 32, 33, so as to allow the reception of the axis 11 by engagement in a direction perpendicular to the latter.

The gripping forks 32, 33 form asymmetrical branches, of which those 32a, 33a directed towards the outside of the chassis 7 are extended relatively with respect to those 32b, 33b directed towards the inside, so as to constitute sliding ramps of the spindle axis 2 of coil 2, when it is gripped, and during its loading onto the chassis 7.

According to another essential characteristic of the invention, two front rollers 34 and rear 35 are arranged transversely, respectively between the front parts of the struts 14 and 15, and between the rear lower parts of the support arms 9 and 10. For the either of the rollers 34 and 35, these are arranged near a lower peripheral zone of the coil 2, once in place.

In this way, the front bar 34 constitutes a stop to the unwanted unwinding of the free end 6a of the sheath 6 after removal, the rear bar 35 constituting an additional stop.

The flexible sheath can be wound on the reel 1 in tight turns but, when its end is relaxed because of its very flexibility, it tends to return to a rectilinear shape or, at least the turns tend to deform, so as to take a configuration in which they have the largest possible diameter, greater than that which they have when they are joined.

When the reel 2 is in place on the unwinder 1, the turns, during the deformation indicated above, come to bear against the bars 34 and 35 which stop their deformation.

Stopping this deformation of the first turn, that starting from the free end, limits the stresses applied to the other turns, in particular those which are closer to the core, and prevents their deformation. Thus, the coil 2, loaded with the sheath 6, retains its original appearance.

In order to facilitate the unwinding of the reel 2, when the outer coil is in contact with the bars 34 and 35, these advantageously consist of a roller movable in rotation about its axis.

Preferably, the bars or rollers 34, 35 are approximately symmetrical with respect to the vertical plane passing through the axis of the coil.

In addition, the presence of bars or rollers 34, 35, and also 22 located on the front element 18, has the advantage of facilitating the unwinding of the coil 2 during a new withdrawal, by reducing the friction of the sheath. 6.

As mentioned above, the clamp 21 also contributes to preventing the unwanted unwinding of the sheath 6 by pinching its end 6a.

An additional means is provided for the same purpose and consists in that, on each of the turns formed by the sheath 6 wound in a web on the coil 2, is continuously arranged a film of stretchable plastic material forming a strip 36 of width such as allow it to overlap, and consequently ensure the holding in place of the turns of sheath 6 not unwound remaining in sheet compared to those unwound having resumed their natural slender shape.

Of course, it can also be a shrink film, requiring heat to be applied when the product is used.

In one case as in the other, it is advantageous, during the rewinding of the sheath, to definitively condition the reel by carrying out a few final additional turns for its storage or shipment.

Similarly, in order to facilitate the handling of such a coil, the flanges 4, 5 of the coil 2 comprise at least one stop plate 40 produced on their respective periphery and capable of constituting a means of immobilization in rotation of the reel 2, when it is waiting on the ground, for its gripping by the chassis 7.

Also, at least one of the flanges 4, 5 of the coil 2 has a plurality of studs 41 arranged in relief on its external face and regularly distributed equidistant from the center O, so as to facilitate, on the one hand, its removal in a stack by the forks of an elevating machine and bring it close to the self-supporting chassis 7 and, on the other hand, to ensure its balance on the ground before being tilted horizontally to be taken by the support arms 9 , 10 of said chassis 7 via the forks 32, 33.

The reference signs inserted after the technical characteristics mentioned in the claims, have the sole purpose of facilitating the understanding of the latter, and in no way limit their scope.

Claims (12)

Flexible sheath unwinder comprising a fixed support, on which is journalled a coil (2) formed by a cylindrical core (3) provided at its ends with two flanges (4, 5) of larger diameter, so as to contain a plurality of rolled sheath plies (6) capable of being unwound under the effect of a traction, the fixed support being constituted by a self-supporting frame (7) comprising two lateral parts (7a, 7b) connected transversely to form a frame rigid, the lateral parts (7a, 7b) being able to receive the ends (11a, 11b) of an axis (11) passing through the coil (2), and to give the assembly its stability when the coil (2 ) is in place for reeling,
characterized in that it comprises at least one bar (34, 35) arranged transversely between the two lateral parts (7a, 7b) of the chassis (7), near a lower region of the coil (2) once in place, so as to constitute a stop to the unwanted unwinding of the free end (6a) of the sheath (6) after a sample, and to facilitate the unwinding of the reel, during a new sample, by reducing friction. Flexible sheath unwinder according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two bars (34, 35) arranged transversely between the two lateral parts (7a, 7b) of the frame (7), near a lower region of the coil (2), once in place, these two bars being approximately symmetrical with respect to the vertical plane passing through the axis (11) passing through the coil. Uncoiler according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the lateral parts (7a, 7b) consist, on the one hand, of two lateral support arms (9, 10) directed upwards and whose ends free (9a, 10a) are able to receive the ends (11a, 11b) an axis (11) passing through the coil (2) and, on the other hand, by two horizontal beams (12, 13) extending said support arms (9, 10) at their lower part by forming an angle α, such to give the whole its stability. Unwinder according to claim 1, characterized in that the height (h2) of the axis (11) passing through the reel is greater than the radius (r1) of the reel (2), so that after loading it on the chassis (7), it is no longer in contact with the ground (8) and can rotate freely around its axis (11) as a function of the requirements for unwinding flexible sheath, effected by traction, loading and the unloading of the coil being effected by tilting the chassis in one direction (F1), or in the other (F2), around a support point (A) on the ground (8), located in the angle α formed by the support arms (9, 10) relative to the corresponding longitudinal members (12, 13), then acting in the manner of lever arms. Uncoiler according to claim 2, characterized in that two lateral rollers (30, 31) are arranged on either side of the front of the chassis (7) to constitute the support points (A) on the ground (8 ) during the tilting of said frame (7), for loading or unloading of the coil (2), and to facilitate the movement of the latter from one point to another. Unwinder according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the free ends (9a, 10a) of the support arms (9, 10) comprise means for gripping the ends (11a, 11b) of the axis (11 ) of the coil (2), which means consist of two bearings open in the manner of a fork (32, 33), so as to allow the reception of the axis (11) by engagement in a direction perpendicular to it latest. Uncoiler according to claim 4, characterized in that the gripping forks (32, 33) form asymmetrical branches, of which those (32a, 33a) are directed towards the outside of the frame (7) are extended relatively with respect to those (32b, 33b) directed towards the inside, so as to constitute sliding ramps for the axis (11) of the reel (2), when gripping it, and during its loading on the chassis (7). Uncoiler according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal members (12, 13) of the chassis (7) have two free ends (12a, 13a) connected together by a vertical facade element (18) constituting a front part of the chassis ( 7), integral with two telescopic arms (19, 20) capable of sliding in the side members for adjusting the length of said chassis (7). Uncoiler according to claim 6, characterized in that the front element (18) of the frame (7) comprises, on the one hand, a flexible support forming a clamp (21), into which the free end (6a) can be clipped ) of the sheath (6) in order to maintain it between two samples, or during a cutting operation during a sample, and on the other hand, a transverse roller (22) disposed in the immediate vicinity of the clamp (21) to facilitate unwinding. Uncoiler according to claim 1, characterized in that the flanges (4, 5) of the coil (2) comprise at least one stop plate (40) produced on their respective periphery and capable of constituting a means of immobilization in rotation of the coil (2), when it is waiting on the ground, for its gripping by the frame (7). Unwinder according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the flanges (4, 5) of the coil (2) comprises a plurality of studs (41) arranged in relief on its external face and regularly distributed equidistant from the center (O), so as to facilitate, on the one hand, its removal from a stack by the forks of an elevating machine and bring it near the self-supporting chassis (7) and, on the other hand, to ensure its balance on the ground (8) before being tilted horizontally to be taken up by the support arms (9, 10) of said chassis (7) via the forks (32, 33). Uncoiler according to claim 1, characterized in that, on each of the turns formed by the sheath (6) wound in a web on the reel (2), there is continuously arranged a film of stretchable plastic material forming a strip (36) of width such as to allow it to overlap, and consequently to ensure the retention in place of the non-unwound sheath turns (6) remaining in sheet with respect to those unwound having resumed their natural slender shape.

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