Core tool

Abstract

A core tool comprises a pair of partial circles made from suitable material, such as cold rolled steel, with corresponding adjusting means. The adjusting means may be two threaded screws with a center nut, wherein one of the threads is a left hand thread, and the other is a right hand thread. A reversible ratchet or wrench can be used to open and close the circles. Alternatively, the adjusting means could be an air or hydraulic system capable of opening and closing the circle portions. Each pair of partial circles forms a circular diameter that will fit inside a standard core, or multiple core sizes. The core tool, formed of the pair of half circles and the tightening and expanding means, is insertable into a damaged core to reshape the core into its intended circular dimension.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to core tools and, more particularly, to tool means for expanding or correcting deformities in collapsed or deformed annular cores.

Metal stock, metal foil, paper, and the like are often rolled in coils on hollow cores for storage and handling. When manufacturing facilities or printing facilities receive the material, the core is typically one of a finite number of sizes, and specifically chosen to fit on a machine to run the material. A mandrel is usually inserted into the core to install the material on the machine to run the material. The rolls of material are heavy and can be difficult to handle and to ship. Mishandling may result in partially collapsed cores, or deformed cores, so that the mandrel does not properly fit the core.

Another problem that occurs is that the metal or paper is loose where it is attached to the core. Then, although the mandrel fits the core, as the material is run off the core, it has a tendency to vibrate off the core before the material is completely run.

Before the roll can be used in its intended manner, the roll and core must be restored to annular shape, and the material must fit tightly to the core. However, if the core is misshapen, somewhat crushed, or otherwise damaged in such a manner that the mandrel is not insertable into the core, the entire core of material has to be returned. Also, if the size of the core varies even a few millimeters from its expected or intended size, it might not fit properly on the machine that runs the material, again resulting in a waste of the entire roll of material. If the material is not fit to the core to an appropriate tightness, the material will shift off the core, even if the mandrel fits the core. All of these problems slow production, cause inefficiencies, and are costly to business.

It is known in the art that core restoration means should be accomplished in a manner which does not damage the core or the material rolled thereon, and which requires a minimum cost in manpower and machine down-time. Many devices have been proposed to accomplish such restoration, but all have been subject to some limitations or drawbacks. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,242, to Peterson, proposes a tool for insertion into a core. The core tool touches only the outer edge of the core. However, when damage is to both sides of the core, the core tool of the '242 patent would have to be inserted on both sides, but would not ever correct the middle portion of the core.

Principle shortcomings of proposed core restoration means have been the inability to continuously apply force to a crushed core as it is expanded back into shape; the rather limited expanding force that can be applied by tools of manageable size, thereby limiting the ability of a core to be expanded to tightly hold the material; the inability to expand an undamaged annular core; and the lack of adaptability of some core tools to multiple size cores.

It is seen then that there exists a need for a core tool which can be used to expand a collapsed or damaged core to its original annular shape, as well as to expand an undamaged core of even slightly incorrect size or improper fit to its material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This need is met by the coil core expander according to the present invention, wherein a material core can be shaped to allow insertion of a mandrel in the coil. A size appropriate expander for each different core size is proposed, to promote a correction of the core to a round dimension, rather than an oval dimension. By putting equal pressure on all sides of the core or both ends of the core, the core shape corrects to its intended round circular shape, at both ends as well as at the middle section.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a core tool comprises a pair of partial circles made from suitable material, such as cold rolled steel, with corresponding adjusting means. The adjusting means may be two threaded screws with a center nut, wherein one of the threads is a left hand thread, and the other is a right hand thread. A reversible ratchet or wrench can be used to open and close the circles. Alternatively, the adjusting means could be an air or hydraulic system capable of opening and closing the circles. Each pair of partial circles forms a circular diameter that will fit inside a standard core, or multiple core sizes. The core tool, formed of the pair of half circles and the tightening and expanding means, is insertable into a damaged core to reshape the core into its intended circular dimension.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a core tool for expanding deformed or collapsed annular cores holding coiled material. It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a core tool which can tighten a loose core to its intended dimension. It is a further object to provide such a core tool wherein equal pressure is applied to all sides and/or both ends of the core, as needed, to result in a core having a circular shape of correct diameter.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are views of the unexpanded core tool of the present invention and a damaged core, correctable with the core tool of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of one embodiment of the expanded core tool of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates the expanded core tool correcting the shape of the damaged core of FIG. 1B, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides for a core tool for expanding or contracting deformed or collapsed annular cores holding coiled material, to result in a core having a circular shape of correct diameter. FIG. 1A illustrates such a core tool 10, and FIG. 1B illustrates a deformed annular core 12. In FIG. 1A, the core tool 10 comprises a pair of partial circles 14. The partial circles 14 are preferably made from suitable material, such as cold rolled steel.

Continuing with FIGS. 1A and 1B, a corresponding adjusting means 16 is provided to adjust the two partial circles relative to each other, as well as in response to the deformation of the annular core 12. Since the damaged core is not separable from the coil of material, the core must either be repaired, or the coil of material wasted.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the damaged core is repairable using the adjusting means 16. The adjusting means 16 comprises two threaded screws 18 with a center nut 20, wherein one of the threads is a left hand thread, and the other is a right hand thread. A reversible ratchet or wrench 22 can be used to open the circle portions 14, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, or close the circle portions 14, as illustrated in FIG. 1A. Alternatively, the adjusting means 16 could be an air or hydraulic system capable of opening and closing the circles portions 14.

FIG. 2 illustrates an expanded, or open, core tool 10, while FIG. 3 illustrates the expanded core tool 10 being applied to correct the deformed core 12. Each pair of partial circles 14 forms a circular diameter that will fit inside a core 12, which core can be any of multiple core sizes. The core tool 10, formed of the pair of half circles 14 and the tightening and expanding means 16, is insertable into a damaged core 12, as illustrated in FIG. 3, to reshape the core 12 into its intended circular dimension.

In accordance with the present invention, a core expander 16, in an embodiment such as that illustrated in the drawings herein, is inserted inside the damaged core 12, and expanded by the ratchet 22 until the core 12 is round. Once the core has realized its intended circular diameter, a mandrel can be properly fitted on the core. In the industry, a mandrel is usually inserted into the annular core to install the material on the machine to run the material. Hence, before a roll or coil of material, associated with the damaged core, can be used in its intended manner, the core must be restored to annular shape to receive the mandrel and allow the coil of material associated with the core to be mounted on a machine.

Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that other modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A coil core tool comprising:

a pair of partial circular members made from a strength possessing material; and

an adjusting means for expanding or contracting the pair of partial circular members, whereby the pair of partial circular members is insertable into a coil core for forming the coil core into an expanded or contracted circular shape.

2. A coil core tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adjusting means comprises a left hand threaded screw having a center nut, and a right hand threaded screw having a center nut.

3. A coil core tool as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a reversible ratchet to open and close the pair of partial circular members.

4. A coil core tool as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a wrench to open and close the pair of partial circular members.

5. A coil core tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adjusting means comprises an air or hydraulic system capable of opening and closing the partial circular members.

6. A coil core tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pair of partial circular members forms a circular diameter that will fit inside a standard core.

7. A coil core tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pair of partial circular members forms a circular diameter that will fit inside multiple core sizes.

8. A coil core tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pair of partial circular members comprises a first half circle member and a second half circle member.

9. A coil core tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the core tool, formed of the pair of partial circular members and the adjusting means, is insertable into a damaged or improperly sized core to reshape the core into its intended circular dimension.

10. A method for reshaping a core into its intended circular dimension, comprising the steps of:

providing a pair of partial circular members made from a strength possessing material; and

using an adjusting means for expanding or contracting the pair of partial circular members, whereby the pair of partial circular members is insertable into a coil core for forming the coil core into an expanded or contracted circular shape.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the step of using an adjusting means comprises the steps of:

providing a left hand threaded screw having a center nut; and

providing a right hand threaded screw having a center nut.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising the step of providing a reversible ratchet to open and close the pair of partial circular members.

13. A method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising the step of providing a wrench to open and close the pair of partial circular members.

14. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the step of using an adjusting means further comprises the step of using an air or hydraulic means to open and close the partial circular members.

15. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the pair of partial circular members forms a circular diameter that will fit inside a standard core.

16. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the pair of partial circular members forms a circular diameter that will fit inside multiple core sizes.

17. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the pair of partial circular members comprises a first half circle member and a second half circle member.