U.S. patent application number 10/378176 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-17 for reusable collapsible core.
Invention is credited to Place, James S..
Application Number | 20040113011 10/378176 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46123436 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040113011 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Place, James S. |
June 17, 2004 |
Reusable collapsible core
Abstract
A reusable core that is suitable for having paper or other sheet
material wound thereon. A multi-sectioned core is provided that is
easily assembled. Interlocking sections that provide a pivot are
held together by a sliding pin inserted therein. The pin is
preferable held into position by use of a snap ring or other
similar fastening arrangement. By removing one pin between adjacent
interlocking sections, the core collapses thereby permitting easy
removal from any remaining sheet material that must be discarded.
The sheet material is held onto the core by means of a strip of
double sided tape until the core is wound several times to keep the
sheet material firmly in place.
Inventors: |
Place, James S.; (Concord,
NH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
William B. Ritchie
43 Jackson Street
Concord
NH
03301
US
|
Family ID: |
46123436 |
Appl. No.: |
10/378176 |
Filed: |
March 3, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60433931 |
Dec 17, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
242/609.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2701/51342
20130101; B65H 75/22 20130101; B65H 2701/5136 20130101; B65H 75/10
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
242/609.1 |
International
Class: |
B65H 075/14 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A reusable collapsible core for winding sheet material thereon
so that said wound core can be placed in a press having at least
one mandrel with an outside radius and length, said core
comprising: at least two arcuate sections with each section having
a predetermined inside arc cross-section and a predetermined
length, both of which correspond to outside radius and length the
mandrel of said press; each arcuate section having a first and
second edge along the length of said section, each of said sections
further comprising an interlocking joint assembly along attached
along the edges of said arcuate sections such that the first
interlocking join assembly of one arcuate section may be releasably
attached to the second interlocking joint assembly of an adjacent
arcuate section wherein attaching said accurate sections to one
another provides said reusable collapsible core and wherein
releasing one said first interlocking joint assembly adjacently
attached to said second interlocking joint assembly enables said
reusable collapsible core to collapse such that said core can be
easily removed from the sheet material wound thereon.
2. The reusable collapsible core of claim 1 further comprising a
releasable pin assembly that is inserted within each said first and
second interlocking joint assemblies to lock said sections together
and such that one of said pin assemblies can be easily removed to
permit said core to collapse in order to remove said core from the
sheet material wound thereon.
3. The reusable collapsible core of claim 2 wherein each said
arcuate section has a thickness and an inside surface, wherein the
inside surface of each said arcuate section further comprises a
plurality of detents with each of said detents having a depth that
is a substantial portion of the thickness of each section of said
collapsible core.
4. The reusable collapsible core of claim 3 wherein each
interlocking joint assembly has a plurality of openings and each
pin assembly comprises a rod having a circumferential channel at
each end and pair of snap rings that are placed on each pin
assembly once said rod is inserted within the openings provided in
each first and second interlocking joint assemblies.
5. The reusable collapsible core of claim 4 wherein each section of
said core is substantial the same.
6. The reusable collapsible core of claim 5 wherein four sections
are joined together to form said core.
7. The reusable collapsible core of claim 1 wherein two sections of
said core are substantial the same and a third section is used as a
"key" which can be removed so that said core can be collapsed.
8. The reusable collapsible core of claim 7 wherein each section
has an outside surface and wherein each section further comprises a
plurality of detents on the outside surface.
9. The reusable collapsible core of claim 8 further comprising a
hand hold in at least one section so that said core can be more
easily pulled from the sheet material that is wound thereon.
10. The reusable collapsible core of claim 9 further comprising a
pair of recesses that can be engaged by prongs which will assist in
removing said core from the sheet material that is wound thereon.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to the field of winding cores, in
particular, winding cores for use with paper, paper board, or other
sheet material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Sheet material, such paper, fabric, plastic sheeting and the
like is typically wound onto paper cores. For example, in the
direct mail industry, paper mills wind their stock forms onto paper
board cores for shipment to a direct mail printing facility. The
forms come in various sizes; generally 25,000 forms or pages per
roll. The press department then punches pin feeds into the paper.
The press department then prints anything that may be consistent on
the form such as letter head or form numbers for any given
customer. During this process the form is unwound from the shipped
roll and then wound onto another paperboard core. The core that
came with the paper is customarily discarded when there is still
some paper left on it . . . any where from 1" to 3" thickness of
paper and then the core and paper is customarily discarded.
[0003] After the press punches pin feeds, prints letter head and
rewinds the sheet forms, the roll is transferred to the laser
printing department where the roll is unwound and rewound onto yet
another core during the personalization process. (Names, addresses,
phone numbers, letter information, etc.)
[0004] A direct mail facility that produces between 30 or 40
million names/addresses per month goes through between
approximately 2,500 to 3,500 cores that are thrown into bins for
recycling. Furthermore, there are more than 2,000 rolls with cores
on the production floor waiting to go through the process at any
given time.
[0005] Currently, winding cores are made of paper board and paper
products. Their reuse is limited to several times, recycling and/or
refurbishing the core so that it can be again used for winding
material thereon. Double-sided tape is wrapped around the core in a
"candy cane style" to adhere the sheet material to the core. Once
the paper is completely wound onto the core, wooden plugs are
pounded into the ends of the core to prevent it from collapsing
from the weight of the load that was would upon it if the rolled
material stays on the core for a considerable amount of time.
[0006] There is not found in the prior art a reusable core that
will eliminate the need to throw away these rolls and will also the
need to wrap double sided tape around the core to attached the
sheet material to the core for winding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an aspect of the invention to provide a reusable core
that is suitable for having paper or other sheet material wound
thereon. A multi-sectioned core is provided that is easily
assembled. Interlocking sections that provide a pivot are held
together by a sliding pin inserted therein. By removing one pin
between adjacent interlocking sections, the core collapse thereby
permitting easy removal. The sheet material is held onto the core
by means of a strip of double sided tape until the core is wound
several times to keep the sheet material firmly in place.
[0008] This aspect of the invention are not meant to be exclusive
and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present
invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in
the art when read in conjunction with the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of
the reusable collapsible core in accordance with the invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the core with one pin removed
showing how the core is able to be collapsed.
[0011] FIG. 3 is isometric bottom view of one section of the
core.
[0012] FIG. 4 is an end view of one section of the core.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a top view of the core.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the core along line BB
as shown in FIG. 5.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the core along line AA
as shown in FIG. 5.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the pin locking assembly.
[0017] FIG. 9 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the
invention.
[0018] FIG. 10 is an end view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
9.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a view of the invention without the key section
in place.
[0020] FIG. 12 is the two halves of the interlocking sections of
the core separated and apart from the key section.
[0021] FIG. 13 is an isometric view of the extractor mechanism.
[0022] FIG. 14 is a detailed top view of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 9.
[0023] FIG. 15 is a detailed view of the spring used in an
alternative embodiment for sheet material attachment.
[0024] FIG. 16 is an end view of the preferred embodiment of the
invention.
[0025] FIG. 17 is a detailed view of the sliding pin used to
activate the material attachment slat.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] The invention is a reusable collapsible core that is useful
for winding paper forms or other sheet material thereon. The core
is preferably made of plastic but metal or hard rubber could also
be used. The life span will be measured in years with little or no
maintenance required.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, invention 10 is assembled from four
substantial identical sections 11 to form a cylinder. Each section
can be manufactured from the same material or different materials.
As noted above, plastic is the preferred material which is either
injection molded or extruded. The hinge joint assembly 16 is
designed to fit loosely in order to allow for expansion and
contraction of the cylinder outside diameter for the purpose of
both allowing for the maximum cylinder circumference while winding
rolled sheet materials and to allow for collapsing the invention
for removal so that it can be used again. Four substantial pin
assemblies 14 lock each section 11 to another section 11
immediately adjacent to it as show. Once one of pin assemblies 14
is removed, the sections 11 are easily collapsed so that invention
10 can be removed from waste sheet material that is wound thereon
as shown in FIG. 2.
[0028] The interior of invention 10 is provided with a plurality of
detents 43 as shown in FIG. 2 which permit increase the structural
integrity of the core without adding additional mass or cost of
material. As shown, section 11 is provided with interlocking joint
assemblies 16 which mesh opposing joint assemblies 16 of an
immediately adjacent section 11.
[0029] When joined together, the four sections 11 form a
cylindrical tube. As shown in FIG. 4 each section 11 forms one of
four substantial equal arcs of a circle having an outer radius R1
and an inner radius R2. Radius R2 is selected to fit onto the
printing mandrel that is being used. The difference between R1 and
R2 is selected based on the strength that the core must provide in
to prevent it from collapsing until one of pin assemblies 16 is
removed from opening 17 so that invention 10 may be easily
withdrawn from the remaining sheet material wrapped around the
core. Then, the sheet material, usually paper, is discarded and
invention 10 may be used again.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 5, a top of invention 10 is shown with one
complete section 11 and the sections 11 immediately adjacent to it,
attached with pin assemblies 16 (shown in detail in FIG. 8).
[0031] As shown in FIG, 6, the cross-sectional view taken along
line BB noted in FIG. 5, shows the plurality of detents 43 which to
make each section 11 egg-crate shaped in appearance as viewed from
the inside. Each pin assembly 16 is inserted through openings 17 in
the respective sections 11 to hold each section 11 in place while
sheet material (not shown) is wound onto surface 19. FIG. 7 shows a
similar cross-sectional view taken along a different section line
AA in FIG. 5.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 8, a detail view of pin assembly 16 is
provided. Pin 23 is fed into openings 17 of interlocking sections
11 and then held firmly in place via a snap ring 25 which fits into
circumferential channel 29. Snap ring 25 is easily removed using
snap ring pliers (not shown) which are well known in the art.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 9, an alternative embodiment of invention
10 is shown. In this 20 embodiment, invention 10 is made up of
three sections. The two larger pieces 12, 14 of the cylinder are
formed to loosely lock into each other thus providing hinge 16
which runs the entire length of the cylinder. The key section 18
runs the entire length of the cylinder and is designed to slide out
of the cylinder in order to allow the remaining pieces to
collapse.
[0034] FIG. 10 shows an end view of the cylinder. Male interlocking
section 12 is provided with a locking bead 26 that fits into groove
28 of the female interlocking section 14. Bead 26 and groove 28 run
the entire length of the interlocking sections to ensure that the
two sections are locked together. As noted above, bead 26 and
groove 28 are designed to have space 34 (see FIG. 11) between them
so that it is easy to collapse these two sections toward one
another when it is desired to removed the invention from material
that has been wound thereon.
[0035] Key section 18 slides into male and female interlocking
sections and is held in position by keyways 32 with engages slots
30 to form the complete cylinder. The inner surface of the key
section 18 and interlocking sections 12, 14 are provided with a
liner 24 which is preferably a rubberized material. Liner 24 helps
hold invention 10 firmly onto a mandrel (not shown) when sheet
material is to be wound onto or off of the core.
[0036] Two lever arms 22 are fitted immediately adjacent to each
end of the cylinder preferably on interlocking section 14 as shown.
However, lever arms 22 could also be attached to interlocking
section 12 or even key section 18 if it is made sufficiently large
to accommodate this mechanism. Each lever arm 22 is spring actuated
(see FIG. 15) via spring 50 and is connected to a sheet material
attachment slat 38 (see FIG. 14) which is used to attach the sheet
material, usually paper, that is to be wound on the cylinder
core.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 11, once lever arms 22 are pulled away from
interlocking section, the end of the paper or other material that
is to be wound thereon is fed under attachment slat 38 and the
lever arms 22 are released so that material is held fast and ready
for winding. An indent for slat 38 (shown in FIG. 16) is provided
so that slat 38 is flush and so that material can be more easily
wound thereon.
[0038] FIG. 12 is the two halves of the interlocking sections 12,
14 of the core separated and apart from the key section 18.
Optionally, slots 42 are provided on provided on one or both of
sections 12, 14, either completely as shown or partially so that
sufficient room is provided to permit lever arms 22 and attachment
slat 38 to run the entire length of the cylinder core. The slots 42
decrease the surface area that is in contact with wound material
and thus facilitate removal of the key section. Also, slots 42 also
decrease the amount of plastic material that must be used to form
invention 10.
[0039] As shown, hand hold 20 is provided so that core can be
pulled from any remaining sheet material that is wound on the core.
If removal is difficult, then extractor 44 (shown in FIG. 13) is
inserted into the core and hooks 46 engage recesses 40 so that the
core can be pulled free from any material wound thereon by handle
48.
[0040] Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 17, another embodiment of
invention 10 is shown. This embodiment differs only in embodiment
shown in FIG. 9 in that the method for attaching the material that
is to be wound on the core. In this embodiment, slat 38 is held on
the core by the attachment mechanism shown in FIG. 17. Slot 56 in
sleeve 51 is threaded into immediately adjacent to one end of the
core. Another substantially identical sleeve 51 is threaded into
the other end. Into each sleeve 51, locking pin 52 is inserted.
Spring loaded ball bearing 54 is used to releasably hold locking
pin 52 into sleeve 51 via slot 56. D-shaped pull 53 is bent at
approximately 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of pin
52 and is used to attach to slat 38 using techniques well known in
the art. In this manner, slat 38 can be extended as shown in FIG.
16 so that the material that is to be wound on the core can be
inserted under slat 38 and then slat 38 can be slid back into place
to hold material until a sufficient number of windings is wound
thereon.
[0041] The illustrated embodiments of the invention are intended to
be illustrative only, recognizing that persons having ordinary
skill in the art may construct different forms of the invention
that fully fall within the scope of the subject matter disclosed
herein. Other features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the descriptions hereof.
* * * * *