GB2081670A

GB2081670A - Apparatus for handling rolls of material

Info

Publication number: GB2081670A
Application number: GB8117456A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: GREENBANK ENGINEERING GROUP LT
Current assignee: GREENBANK ENGINEERING GROUP LT
Priority date: 1980-08-06
Filing date: 1981-06-08
Publication date: 1982-02-24
Also published as: GB2081670B

Abstract

A boom mountable on the carriage of a fork-lift truck for use in handling carpets with a central core tube comprises a main body and a tip resiliently connected to the main body so as to take up an axial disposition relative to the core tube if the boom is inserted therein non-axially thus avoiding carpet damage. The tip, inter alia, may be connected to the main body by a resilient elastomeric bush. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for handling rolls of material This invention relates to apparatus for handling rolls of material, and is concerned particularly with a boom as used in such apparatus.

By "material" we mean herein and in the claims, inter alia, carpet, vinyl and other floor coverings and textiles but for convenience we refer hereinafter simply to "carpet".

When the carpet is manufactured it is collected and stored by being wound around an inner core tube, usually of cardboard or similar, to produce a very substantial roll of carpet which cannot be manhandled.

It is therefore customary in the manufacturers' premises, or in wholesale premises where lengths may be cut from the carpet roll, to handle the roll by moving it where and when necessary by a forklift truck to the carriage of which is connected a rigid boom for insertion into the core tube. The operators are generally very skilful in inserting the boom, which is of considerable length, into the core tube even when the carpet rolls are stored a significant height above the operator. However, there are times when a boom does not enter a core tube truly axially and as a result pierces the core tube and almost inevitably damages the carpet. This, it will be manifest, is highly undesirable having regard to the high cost of carpeting and it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the risk of such damage occurring.

According to the present invention there is provided a boom for use in handling rolls of carpet, the boom comprising a main body adapted for attachment to the carriage of a fork-lift truck, and a tip connected to the main body for movement relative thereto.

As a result of the present invention, if the boom enters the core tube in a not truly axial approach then the tip flexes to an axial disposition on contacting the core tube thereby avoiding piercing the latter and consequently damage to the carpet.

The tip is preferably resiliently connected to the main body.

The resilient connection may be by way of a flexible elastomeric bearing or bush disposed between the tip and main body of the boom.

Alternatively, the resilient connection may be by way of a coil spring arrangement between the tip and main body of the boom.

Another alternative is to connect the tip to the main body by a flexible rod extending through a ball joint whereby the tip is universally movable relative to the main body of the boom but is held resiliently aligned therewith by the flexible rod.

Still, two further alternatives for the resilient connection between the tip and the main body of the boom is an arrangement of Belville washers, or a gas spring.

Also according to the present invention there is provided apparatus for handling rolls of carpet comprising, in combination, a fork-lift truck and a boom in accordance with the invention as hereinbefore defined.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing which is a part-sectional side view of a carpethandling boom.

Two embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in this Figure, one above line A-A and one below line A-A.

The boom comprises a main body 5 and a tip 6 which is in the form of a nose cone.

The boom is carried by a support plate 7 to which are secured clamping blocks 8 (usually four in number) for securing the support plate 7 to the vertically-movable carriage (not shown) of a forklift truck.

The main body 5 is secured in position in a clamping bush 9 welded to the support plate 7 by means of a split collet 10 and a retaining plate 11.

The main body 5 is internally recessed and at its tip-adjacent end is externally screw-threaded as indicated at 12.

The tip 6 has at its end adjacent the main body 5 an internally screw-threaded socket 1 3.

Considering the embodiment above line A-A, a shoulder screw 14 is freely accommodated in the recess of the main body 5 and screw-engages in the socket 13 of the tip as indicated at 1 5.

There is disposed around toe shoulder screw 14 a silentbloc bush 1 6 retained in position by a cap 1 7 screw-engaging the main body 5 at 1 2. The silentbloc bush 1 6 provides a resilient connection between the main body 5 and tip 6 of the boom to give the required relative flexing.

In an alternative arrangement (not shown), the resilient bush 1 6 is secured in the internal recess of the main body 5 by three radially disposed grub screws and two corrugated "tolerance" rings instead of by the cap 1 7. Moreover, the shoulder screw 14 is integral with the resilient bush 16, the shoulder screw 14 being moulded in the latter during manufacture of the latter. Finaily, in this arrangement the resilient bush 1 6 is not only bonded to the shoulder screw 14 but it has also bonded thereto an outer metai shell thus providing a stronger resilient connection.

In the embodiment below line A-A, a coil spring 18 is accommodated in the recess of the main body and bears at one end against a thrust disc 1 9 retained in position in the recess of the main body 5 by the cap 1 7. A socket-headed cap screw 20 also bears against the thrust disc 19 and screw-engages in the tip socket 1 3. The coil spring 18, of course, provides the resilient connection between the main body 5 and tip 6 of the boom.

The adjustable and removable retaining cap 1 7 may be replaced by a fixed retention shoulder or other convenient means.

With a boom according to the invention the risk of carpet damage is substantially mitigated or even obviated.

1. A boom for use in handling rolls of carpet,

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

Claims

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

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for handling rolls of material This invention relates to apparatus for handling rolls of material, and is concerned particularly with a boom as used in such apparatus.

By "material" we mean herein and in the claims, inter alia, carpet, vinyl and other floor coverings and textiles but for convenience we refer hereinafter simply to "carpet".

When the carpet is manufactured it is collected and stored by being wound around an inner core tube, usually of cardboard or similar, to produce a very substantial roll of carpet which cannot be manhandled.

It is therefore customary in the manufacturers' premises, or in wholesale premises where lengths may be cut from the carpet roll, to handle the roll by moving it where and when necessary by a forklift truck to the carriage of which is connected a rigid boom for insertion into the core tube. The operators are generally very skilful in inserting the boom, which is of considerable length, into the core tube even when the carpet rolls are stored a significant height above the operator. However, there are times when a boom does not enter a core tube truly axially and as a result pierces the core tube and almost inevitably damages the carpet. This, it will be manifest, is highly undesirable having regard to the high cost of carpeting and it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the risk of such damage occurring.

According to the present invention there is provided a boom for use in handling rolls of carpet, the boom comprising a main body adapted for attachment to the carriage of a fork-lift truck, and a tip connected to the main body for movement relative thereto.

As a result of the present invention, if the boom enters the core tube in a not truly axial approach then the tip flexes to an axial disposition on contacting the core tube thereby avoiding piercing the latter and consequently damage to the carpet.

The tip is preferably resiliently connected to the main body.

The resilient connection may be by way of a flexible elastomeric bearing or bush disposed between the tip and main body of the boom.

Alternatively, the resilient connection may be by way of a coil spring arrangement between the tip and main body of the boom.

Another alternative is to connect the tip to the main body by a flexible rod extending through a ball joint whereby the tip is universally movable relative to the main body of the boom but is held resiliently aligned therewith by the flexible rod.

Still, two further alternatives for the resilient connection between the tip and the main body of the boom is an arrangement of Belville washers, or a gas spring.

Also according to the present invention there is provided apparatus for handling rolls of carpet comprising, in combination, a fork-lift truck and a boom in accordance with the invention as hereinbefore defined.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing which is a part-sectional side view of a carpethandling boom.

Two embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in this Figure, one above line A-A and one below line A-A.

The boom comprises a main body 5 and a tip 6 which is in the form of a nose cone.

The boom is carried by a support plate 7 to which are secured clamping blocks 8 (usually four in number) for securing the support plate 7 to the vertically-movable carriage (not shown) of a forklift truck.

The main body 5 is secured in position in a clamping bush 9 welded to the support plate 7 by means of a split collet 10 and a retaining plate 11.

The main body 5 is internally recessed and at its tip-adjacent end is externally screw-threaded as indicated at 12.

The tip 6 has at its end adjacent the main body 5 an internally screw-threaded socket 1 3.

Considering the embodiment above line A-A, a shoulder screw 14 is freely accommodated in the recess of the main body 5 and screw-engages in the socket 13 of the tip as indicated at 1 5.

There is disposed around toe shoulder screw 14 a silentbloc bush 1 6 retained in position by a cap 1 7 screw-engaging the main body 5 at 1 2. The silentbloc bush 1 6 provides a resilient connection between the main body 5 and tip 6 of the boom to give the required relative flexing.

In an alternative arrangement (not shown), the resilient bush 1 6 is secured in the internal recess of the main body 5 by three radially disposed grub screws and two corrugated "tolerance" rings instead of by the cap 1 7. Moreover, the shoulder screw 14 is integral with the resilient bush 16, the shoulder screw 14 being moulded in the latter during manufacture of the latter. Finaily, in this arrangement the resilient bush 1 6 is not only bonded to the shoulder screw 14 but it has also bonded thereto an outer metai shell thus providing a stronger resilient connection.

In the embodiment below line A-A, a coil spring 18 is accommodated in the recess of the main body and bears at one end against a thrust disc 1 9 retained in position in the recess of the main body 5 by the cap 1 7. A socket-headed cap screw 20 also bears against the thrust disc 19 and screw-engages in the tip socket 1 3. The coil spring 18, of course, provides the resilient connection between the main body 5 and tip 6 of the boom.

The adjustable and removable retaining cap 1 7 may be replaced by a fixed retention shoulder or other convenient means.

With a boom according to the invention the risk of carpet damage is substantially mitigated or even obviated.

1. A boom for use in handling rolls of carpet, the boom comprising a main body adapted to attachment to the carriage of a fork-lift truck, and a tip connected to the main body for movement relative thereto.

2. A boom according to claim 1 in which the tip is resiliently connected to the main body.

3. A boom as claimed in claim 2, in which the resilient connection is a flexible elastomeric bearing or bush disposed between the tip and main body of the boom.

4. A boom as claimed in claim 2, in which the resilient connection is a coil spring arrangement between the tip and main body of the boom.

5. A boom as claimed in claim 2 in which the tip is connected to the main body by a flexible rod extending through a ball joint whereby the tip is universally moveable relative to the main body of the boom but is heid resiliently aligned therewith by the flexible rod.

6. A boom as claimed in claim 2 in which the resilient connection is an arrangement of Belville springs.

7. A boom as claimed in claim 2 in which the resilient connection is a gas spring.

8. A boom as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 comprising a support plate at its tip-remote end for securement to a fork-lift carriage by clamping blocks.

9. A boom as claimed in claim 8 in which the main body is secured in position in a clamping bush welded to the support plate by means of a split collet and retaining plate.

10. A boom for use in handling rolls of carpet, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

11. Apparatus for handling rolls of carpet comprising, in combination, a fork-lift truck and a boom as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10.

New claims of amendments to claim filed on 9.10.81.

Superseded claims 1.

New or amended claims:

1. A boom for use in handling rolls of carpet, the boom comprising a main body adapted for attachment to the carriage of a fork-lift truck, and a tip connected to the main body for movement relative thereto, characterised in that the tip is resiliently connected to the main body.