GB1586539A - Core support - Google Patents

Description

(54) CORE SUPPORT (71) We, PLEVIN & WALKER LIMITED, a British company, of 100A Market Street, Hyde, Cheshire, SK14 1HL, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a core support, that is a device which can be used to mount a tubular core, as of cardboard or plastics material, for rotation whilst a web is wound onto or off the core.

An object of the invention is to provide a core support which can grip a core firmly to prevent slipping during winding, but which can rapidly be released from the core after winding.

Accordingly the invention provides a core support comprising an annular body, an annular connecting member movable so as to be capable of being disposed in different orientations relative to the body and a plurality of gripping elements similarly movable relative to the body, the gripping elements being engaged with the connecting member to move therewith and being positively cammingly engaged with the body such that upon circumferential movement under influence of the connecting member they are constrained to move in unison towards or away from a position outwards of the body by said positive camming engagement with the body.

Preferably the connecting member is composed of three 1200 segments, each having a central pin engaging in a central radial slot of an associated one of three gripping elements each also in the form of a 1200 segment.

The body advantageously has a radially outwardly open C-section receiving the segments of the connecting member and the segments constituting the gripping elements.

Pins passing from one to the other flange of the body can pass through curved slots in' the segments, the slots in the segments of the connecting member being co-axial with the body, and the slots in the gripping elements being curved differently so that upon movement of the gripping elements, entrained by the connecting member, the slots in the gripping elements engage the pins and cause the gripping elements to move outwardly or in wardly of the body.

The outer surfaces of the segments can be ribbed or knurled for greater friction.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is an elevation, part broken-away, of a preferred core-support of the invention, with its gripping elements retracted; Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1, but with the gripping elements extended; Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

A preferred embodiment of core-support 10 of the invention is suitable for mounting in pairs on a receiving or re-wind roller of a web treatment machine to mount a core onto which a web is to be wound.

The support 10 comprises an annular body 11 which is of outwardly open C-section, six pins 12 (for a purpose to be later described) extending between flanges 13 of the body.

Accommodated side by side in the body 11 are a connecting member 14 in the form of three 1200 segments 15, each having a central axial pin 16, and three gripping elements 17, each also a 1200 segment. Each element 17 has a central radial slot 18 engaged by a respective pin 16. The slot 18 and pin 16 constituting entrainment means. Each segment 15 has a pair of axis-central curved slots 19 and each element 17 has a pair of curved slots 20 which extends over a generally spiral path relative to the support axis. A respective one of pins 12 extends through each slot 19 and 20.

In use, a core is engaged over the support and twisted in an anti-clockwise direction in Figs. l and 4. Thus, by frictional engagement one or more of the gripping elements 17 are caused to turn, the connecting member 14 ensuring positive turning of all the elements 17 and the maintenance of equal spacing between them. Movement causes the elements 17 to move outwardly of the body and into gripping engagement with the core. Rotation in the other direction causes the gripping ele ments 17 to retract positively and allow the core to be removed after a web has been wound thereon or therefrom.

The body and the segments can be of metal. Alternatively they can be injection moulded from plastics material.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A core support comprising an annular body, an annular connecting member movable so as to be capable of being disposed in different orientations relative to the body and a plurality of gripping elements similarly movable relative to the body, the gripping elements being engaged with the connecting member to move therewith and being positively cammingly engaged with the body such that upon circumferential movement under influence of the connecting member they are constrained to move in unison towards or away from a position outwards of the body by said positive camming engagement with the body.

2. A support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting member is a ring composed of segments, each segment being entrained with one gripping element.

3. A support as claimed in claim 2 wherein each gripping element is also a segment.

4. A support as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein each segment of the connecting member has a pin engaging a radial slot in the adjacent gripping element.

5. A support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body is of outwardly open C-section.

6. A support as claimed in claim 5, wherein pins extending between the flanges of the body pass through circumferential slots in the connecting member and registered outwardly extending slots in the gripping elements, the slots in the gripping elements and the pins causing the gripping elements to be in camming engagement with the body.

7. - A core support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. ments 17 to retract positively and allow the core to be removed after a web has been wound thereon or therefrom. The body and the segments can be of metal. Alternatively they can be injection moulded from plastics material. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A core support comprising an annular body, an annular connecting member movable so as to be capable of being disposed in different orientations relative to the body and a plurality of gripping elements similarly movable relative to the body, the gripping elements being engaged with the connecting member to move therewith and being positively cammingly engaged with the body such that upon circumferential movement under influence of the connecting member they are constrained to move in unison towards or away from a position outwards of the body by said positive camming engagement with the body.

2. A support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting member is a ring composed of segments, each segment being entrained with one gripping element.

3. A support as claimed in claim 2 wherein each gripping element is also a segment.

4. A support as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein each segment of the connecting member has a pin engaging a radial slot in the adjacent gripping element.

5. A support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body is of outwardly open C-section.

6. A support as claimed in claim 5, wherein pins extending between the flanges of the body pass through circumferential slots in the connecting member and registered outwardly extending slots in the gripping elements, the slots in the gripping elements and the pins causing the gripping elements to be in camming engagement with the body.

7. - A core support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.