`0110808
`United States Patent
`jo,
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`{11] Patent Number:
`5,775,515
`Chadwick
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`(45) Date of Patent:
`Jul. 7, 1998
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`{54} METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
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`4/1991 Domblaser et al. wu.cececssseees 53/136.2
`5,003,753
`WRAPPING COILS, AND THE WRAPPED
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`9/1991 Norkoski et ab. oo..ceccsssesscseecs 53/136.2
`5,046,298
`PRODUCT
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`12/1992 Lemaire ....sccssssssssecscessecsesssces 206/397
`5,167,322
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`5,282,347—Y/9D4 Cheine ooseccecsccsescsccessssestesecsneesece 53/204
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`Inventor: Dennis P. Chadwick. Napanee, Canada
`[75]
`5,346,067
`9/1994 Haufe et al.
`- 206/410
`.......
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`5,353,933 10/1994 Takahashi et al.
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`(73] Assignee: Chadwick Engineering Limited,
`5,400,567
`3/1995 Lindstrand ................. 53/399
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`*
`3,390,476
`2/1995 Morantz ........
`rece 33/556
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`Kingston, Canada
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`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`[21]
`Appl.
`No.: 643,75
`0329764
`2/1991
`Japan ceeccssscssssssseceeeoeoce 206/397
`750
`Appi. No.:
`1}
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`3187877
`S/L9GL
`Tapa,
`coocceesssccssssessesssscsscseosesses 206/397
`May6, 1996
`[22] Filed:
`
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`6
`Primary Examiner~Daniel Moon
`TST Wt, Ce neceesessscsseccseecenscansveessenses B6SD 85/66
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`Assistant Examiner—Ed Tolan
`[52] US. CD. oeeeccccesssssmeeseenn 206/416; 206/410; 206/414
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`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Richard J. Hicks
`[58] Field of Search ou...cscs 206/397, 398,
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`206/401, 410, 413, 415. 416, 407, 414:
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`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`53/409, 136.2, 204, 441,442
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`andthelike toprotectagainstatmosphericcorrosion.andthe
`References Cited
`A method and apparatus for wrapping coils of metallic strip
`.
`
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`wrapped product are described. A plastic film sleeve is
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`inserted through the open cylindrical center and held in
`place by flanged collars at each end, The sleeve is turned
`Peewee
`QING6B Smyder .....csscecsssessscscscenccscersers 206/410
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`.
`669,255
`6/1972 Raynus..
`“
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`back over the collars and the ends are loosely stuffed into the
`3,670,877
`6/1972 Reed ....
`open cylindrical center. The entire coil
`is then cocoon
`3,726,396
`4/1973 Birkner .
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`wrapped using relatively wide stretch-wrap film. The
`3/1976 Stone ....
`3,942,638
`cocoon wrapping is then sealed to the turned-oversleeve in
`8/1979 Soubeyrat
`4,164,110
`.
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`the vicinity of the end collars so as to seal the coil within a
`6/1985 Kataoka ....
`4,523,421
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`continuousplastic film. The excess cocoon wrapping and
`6/1985 Yagi
`4,524,562
`seseesnaneee
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`sleeve material overlying the cylindrical center can be
`4,578,925
`4/1986 Matsunami ....
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`trimmed away to leave an open center to receive coil
`4/1989 Bertolotti
`4,819,408
`......
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`
`uipment
`handlin
`5/1989 Bricmont
`4,829,753
`..
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`8 equipment.
`7/1989 Fujii
`4,845,919
`......
`4,924,654
`5/1990 Langen ...
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`16 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`5/1990 Bertolotti
`4,928,454
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`Why
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`y
`ae~\
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`44y4yyy
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`10
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`A ere
`0 —————————
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`Page 1 of 8
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`PPC Exhibit 1012
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`Page 1 of 8
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`PPC Exhibit 1012
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 7, 1998
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`Sheet 1 of 4
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`5,775,515
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`il
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`5
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`ise
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`i" 7 FPILILILELEDIEBE
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`4
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`18 |y
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`10
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`FIG. 2
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`US. Patent
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`Sheet 2 of 4
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`5,775,515
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`Page 3 of 8
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`US. Patent
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`Jul. 7, 1998
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`Sheet 3 of 4
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`5,775,515
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`FIG. 6
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`Page 4 of 8
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`US. Patent
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`5,775,515
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`Page 5 of 8
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`Page 5 of 8
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`5,775,515
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`
`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
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`WRAPPING COILS, AND THE WRAPPED
`PRODUCT
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`FIELD OF INVENTION
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`This invention relates to a method and apparatus for
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`enveloping a coil of a continuous flexible material, such as
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`cable, line, wire, wire cable, metal strip, hosing, chain and
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`the like in a flexible film material to form a parcel for
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`delivery to a user of the material so as to protect the material
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`against corrosion and other damage during transportation
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`and storage.
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`In some instances (such as wire and cables) the material
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`may be coiled onto an axially open cylindrical sleeve. in
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`others (such as strip metal) the material may be coiled onto
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`a mandrel which is subsequently removed before envelop-
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`ment. This invention also relates to a wrapped product
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`having an open hollow cylindrical centre.
`BACKGROUNDOF INVENTION
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`While this invention will be described principally with
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`reference to wrapping steel and aluminumstrip coils. it will
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`be appreciated that many other types of annular products.
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`such as wire, paper and cable can also be wrapped according
`to the invention
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`In order to protect strip metal coils it is conventional
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`practice to wrap the coils in a substantially water
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`impermeable, pliable, flexible wrapping medium such as a
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`stretch wrap thermoplastics film, such as polyvinyl chloride
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`or polyethylene, which is chemically inert. proof against
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`water and other liquids, vapours and gases and which tends
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`to cling to itself. The film is stretched prior to or during
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`application and due to its property of “memory”, it then
`seeks to return to its unstretched state. Such film materials
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`are generally applied in either sheet form. wherein the entire
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`article to be wrapped is simply enveloped in the sheet and
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`any side seams may be heatsealed. or in strip form in which
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`a strip of film is wound continuously around the article,
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`which is rotated about an axis perpendicular to the axis of
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`wrap application during wrapping so that eventually the
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`entire peripheral surface of the article is covered (“cocoon
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`wrapping”).
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`In a recent variation of film strip wrapping (see for
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`example, U.S. Pat. No. 5.282.347 to Cleine et al, 1 Feb.
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`1994), the coil to be wrapped is placed, coaxially on a pair
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`of rotating rolls, for axial rotation and an endless track is
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`arranged to pass through the axial bore ofthe coil. A shuttle
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`carrying a coil of relatively narrow width film material is
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`passed around the track as the coil
`is axially rotated,
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`dispensing film as it does so until the entire coil is wrapped.
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`The endless track is then opened and the wrapped coil is
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`removed, This is known in the art as “through-the-eye”
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`wrapping. Cocoon wrappingis relatively quick to effect as
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`wide film material can be employed and the equipment
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`required is relatively inexpensive, but the finished wrapped
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`product is difficult to handle as the central axial bore is
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`completely swathed in wrapping material so that the coil
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`must be placed on a pallet or the like, with its axis vertical,
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`for transportation. “Through-the-eye” wrapped coils are
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`relatively easier to handle as the central axial bore is
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`unimpeded and the wrapped coil can be handled, axis
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`horizontal. with a fork lift truck or the like equipped with a
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`horizontal “finger” or horn or by coil grabs fitted to an
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`overhead crane. Also, having the eye of the coil open is
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`necessary for restraining axis-horizontal coils during ship-
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`ping Through-the-eye wrapping is, however, time consum-
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`ing as at least twice as manyrotations of the film dispenser
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`are needed and space limitations for passing the track and
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`film dispenser through the axial bore necessitate the use of
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`relatively narrower film strip. Furthermore, through-the-eye
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`wrapping equipmentis relatively more expensive to wrap
`similar sized coils.
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`There is a need, therefore, for an improved wrapping
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`method and apparatus which will provide complete.
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`hermetic, protection for a wrapped coil product, which
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`combines the advantages of speed and less expensive equip-
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`ment associated with cocoon wrapping with the open-eye
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`advantages.
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`OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
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`therefore, an object of the present
`It is.
`invention to
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`provide an improved method of cocoon wrapping a coil
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`product, while leaving the cylindrical axial centre of the coil
`open.
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`Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus
`for use in the aforesaid method.
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`Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel
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`substantially hermetically sealed. wrapped coil product hav-
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`ing an open axial bore.
`BRIEF STATEMENT OF INVENTION
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`By one aspect of the present invention there is provided
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`a method for wrapping an object having a substantially
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`cylindrical peripheral surface, two end surfaces and a hollow
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`cylindrical central space. with a flexible protective film
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`material. comprising: inserting a cylindrical sleeve of said
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`film material, having a length and diameter greater than the
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`length and respective diameter of said central space into said
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`central space so that the ends thereofproject from respective
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`ends of said central space; inserting flanged collar means
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`into each respective projecting end of said cylindrical sleeve
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`so as to arrangea portion of each said projecting end thereof
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`in overlying relationship with a respective one of said end
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`surfaces; folding each said projecting end of said cylindrical
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`sleeve to overlie a respective one of said collar means;
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`wrapping a continuous strip of said film material around said
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`peripheral surface, said two end surfaces of the object and
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`said overlain flanged collar means; and continuously sealing
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`said continuous strip of film material to each said projecting
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`end of said sleeve adjacent each said flanged collar means.
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`By another aspect of the present invention there is pro-
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`vided an apparatus for wrapping and sealing an object
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`having a substantially cylindrical peripheral surface. two
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`end surfaces and a hollow cylindrical central space, with a
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`flexible protective film material comprising: means for
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`inserting a cylindrical sleeve of said film material. having a
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`length and diameter greater than the length and diameter
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`respectively of said central space, into said central space so
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`that respective ends thereof project from respective ends of
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`said central space; meansto insert flanged collar means into
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`each respective projecting end of said cylindrical sleeve so
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`as to arrange a portion of each said projecting end thereof in
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`overlying relationship with a respective one of said end
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`surfaces; means for folding each said projecting end of said
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`cylindrical sleeve to overlie a respective one of said collar
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`means; means for wrapping a continuous strip of said film
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`material around said peripheral surface, said two end sur-
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`faces and said overlain flanged collar means; and means for
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`sealing said continuous strip of film material continuously
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`around each said projecting end of said cylindrical sleeve,
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`adjacent each said flanged collar means.
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`By yet another aspect of the present invention there is
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`provided a product comprising an object having a substan-
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`3
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`tially cylindrical peripheral surface, two end surfaces and a
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`hollow cylindrical central space substantially sealed within
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`a flexible protective film envelope. said product including a
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`cylindrical sleeve of said protective film. having a length and
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`diameter greater than the length and diameter respectively of
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`said central space, inserted in said central space such that
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`respective ends thereof project from respective ends thereof;
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`flanged collar means inserted into each projecting end of
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`said sleeve so as to arrange a portion of each said projecting
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`end in overlying radially outward relationship with a respec-
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`tive one of said end surfaces and a further portion thereof
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`folded in an overlying radially inward relationship to said
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`collar means; and a continuousstrip of said flexible protec-
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`tive film enveloping said cylindrical peripheral surface. said
`two end surfaces and both said overlain collar means, and
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`wherein said continuous strip of protective film is sealed
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`continuously around each respective end of said sleeve
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`adjacent each said collar means so as to substantially her-
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`metically seal said object within said envelope.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
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`FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a coil to be wrapped according
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`to the present invention;
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`FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part of the coil of FIG. 1,
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`FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a cocoon wrapping
`machine;
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`FIG. 4 is a top view of the machine of FIG. 3;
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`FIG.5 is an end view of a heat seal/trim station according
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`to the present invention;
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`FIG.6 is an end view of a wrapped coil according to the
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`present invention;
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`FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of part of FIG. 1 showing an
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`alternative locking device; and
`FIG. 8 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a
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`wrapping/sealing machine.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
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`EMBODIMENTS
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`In FIG. 1 there is shown a cross section of a metal coil 1
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`having an axial cylindrical bore 2 with a flanged collar 3,
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`preferably a thermoplastic. inserted at each end thereof. As
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`seen more clearly in FIG. 2, a flexible thermoplastic thin film
`45
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`sleeve 4, preferably a VCI impregnated polyvinyl or poly-
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`ethylene material, having a diameter somewhat greater than
`the diameter of axial bore 2 is inserted in bore 2 and extends
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`longitudinally from each end thereof. Preferably. but not
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`essentially, the sleeve 4 is held in place against the inner turn
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`of coil 1 by meansof a protector cylindrical sleeve 5, such
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`as paperboard, having a length less than the width of coil 1
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`and a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of bore 2.
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`Each end of sleeve 4 is extended radially outwardly against
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`the end surfaces 1a of coil 1, flanged collars 3 are inserted
`into each end of sleeve 4 and the free ends of sleeve 4 are
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`folded back over their respective collars and tucked loosely
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`into bore 2. Coil 1 is now loaded onto a coil car 6 (FIG. 3)
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`and transferred into a cocoon wrapping station 7. Coil 1 is
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`supported on horizontal rollers 8 which are rotated as a
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`stretch wrap film dispensing head 9 is rotated about a
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`vertical axis around coil 1 so as to cocoon wrap coil 1 with
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`a plastic film 10. When wrapping is complete. an impulse
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`weld head 14, or other sealing device (FIG. 5), is moved
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`arcuately from a rest position 15 to an operative position 17
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`in which a heated ring sealer 16 having a diameter somewhat
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`greater than the diameter of bore 2 forms a heat seal 18
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`between cocoon wrap film 1@ and sleeve 4, as seen more
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`10
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`25
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`35
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`65
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`Page 7 of 8
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`5.775.515
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`4
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`clearly in FIG. 2. Alternatively. the wrapped coil 11 could be
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`transported on a coil car 12 to a separate sealing station 13.
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`Optionally, but not essentially, ring sealer 16 also heatseals
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`the now welded films 10 and 4 to the plastic collar 3. Ring
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`sealer 16 may also incorporate a circular trim element (not
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`shown) having a diameter approximately equal to the diam-
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`eter of bore 2 to sever the excess and unnecessary material
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`of films 16 and 4 adjacent the central bore 2 as shown in
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`FIG. 6. The severed material may then be removed to
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`provide a free and open bore 2 to receive a horn lifting
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`device as described hereinabove. It is emphasized that the
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`trim elementis an optional feature only, and if desired the
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`surplus film material may simply be left in place and the
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`cocoon wrap film 10 simply punctured when the horn is
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`axially pushed through the bore. Hermetic sealing of the
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`wrapped coiled product is not compromised in any way by
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`so doing.It will be appreciated that while a heat sealing ring
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`17 has been illustrated, many other sealing devices are
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`equally operative. For example, adhesive may be applied to
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`the mating surfaces to effect sealing. and mechanical lock
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`means could also be employed using specially grooved
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`collars 3 in cooperation with a snap-in lock ring 20 or the
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`like (FIG.7).
`In FIG. 8, there is shown an alternative and somewhat
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`simpler wrapping and sealing machine according to the
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`present invention. A coil 1, of selected diameter (FIG. 8
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`shows, in phantom. the maximum and minimum diameters)
`is loaded onto a car 13, with its axis horizontal at a
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`load/unload station 14. Car 13 moves along track 15 to a
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`wrap station 16, where coil 1 is rotated about its axis on
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`rollers 17,18 as a film 1@ is dispensed from a dispenser 19
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`whichis rotatably mounted on arm 20 for rotation around the
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`coil 1. When wrapping is complete. film 10 is severed and
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`car 13 moves back along track 15 to a sealing station,
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`preferably but not essentially a heat sealing station 21, where
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`a heat sealer 22 or the like. mounted for sliding movement
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`on parallel rails 23,24 is positioned adjacent the collar 3 to
`seal the film 10 to the sleeve 4, as described hereinabove.
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`After sealing, car 13 moves back along track 15 to the
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`loading/unloading station 14.
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`In yet another, less preferred. embodiment of the inven-
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`tion the wrapped coil is not completely hermetically sealed
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`within a plastic film element. but merely cocoon wrappedto
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`provide surface protection. This may be effected simply by
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`omitting the sleeve 4 and securing the plastic film 10 directly
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`to collars 3 by heat sealing, adhesive or mechanical means
`as described hereinabove.
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`I claim:
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`1. A product comprising an object having a substantially
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`cylindrical peripheral surface, two end surfaces and a hollow
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`cylindrical central space substantially sealed within a flex-
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`ible protective film envelope, said product
`including a
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`cylindrical sleeve of said protective film, having a length and
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`diameter greater than the length and diameter respectively of
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`said central space, inserted in said central space such that
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`respective ends of said cylindrical sleeve project from
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`respective ends of said central space; flanged collar means
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`inserted into said central space to position a projecting end
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`portion of said cylindrical sleeve against each said end
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`surface; an end of said projecting end portion of said
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`cylindrical sleeve folded to overlay each said flanged collar;
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`and a continuousstrip of said flexible protective film envel-
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`oping said cylindrical peripheral surface. said two end
`surfaces and both said overlain collar means, and wherein
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`said protective film is sealed around each respective end of
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`said sleeve adjacent each said collar meansso as to seal said
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`object within said envelope.
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`Page 7 of 8
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`

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`6
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`12. A product as claimed in claim 1 wherein said protec-
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`tive film is a continuous strip.
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`13. A product as claimed in claim 3 wherein said film
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`hermetically seals said object within said envelope.
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`14. A product as claimed in claim 9 wherein said film is
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`also adhesively secured to said collar means.
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`15. A product comprising an object having a substantially
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`cylindrical peripheral surface, two end surfaces and a hollow
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`cylindrical central space, said product including two flanged
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`collar means each having a central collar portion inserted
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`into a respective end of said hollow cylindrical central space
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`and a radially extending flange portion having inner and
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`outer planar faces overlying a respective end surface; and
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`flexible stretch wrap protective film under tension envelop-
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`ing said cylindrical peripheral surface, said two end surfaces
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`and both flange portions of said collar means, and wherein
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`said stretch wrap protective film is heat sealed continuously
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`around said outer planar face of each said flange portion of
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`said collar meansso as to secure said stretch wrap protective
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`film and said collar means to said object.
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`16. A product as claimed in claim 15 wherein said
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`protective film is a continuousstrip.
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`5,775,515
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`5
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`2. A product as claimed in claim 1 wherein said objectis
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`selected from the group consisting of aluminum and steel
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`strip coils.
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`3. A product as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible
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`protective film is a stretch wrap thermoplastic film.
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`4. A product as claimed in claim 3 wherein said thermo-
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`plastic film is selected from polyvinyl chloride and polyeth-
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`ylene.
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`5. A product as claimed in claim 1 including cylindrical
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`protector means having a diameter equal to the diameter of
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`said central space inserted in said central space.
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`6. A product as claimed in claim 5 wherein said protector
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`means comprises a paperboard tube.
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`7. A product as claimed in claim 1 wherein said continu-
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`ous strip of protective film is heat sealed to said sleeve.
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`8. A product as claimed in claim 7 wherein said continu-
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`ous strip of protective film is heat sealed to said sleeve and
`to said collar means.
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`9. A product as claimed in claim 1 wherein said continu-
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`ous strip of protective film is adhesively sealed to said
`sleeve.
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`10. A product as claimed in claim 1 wherein said con-
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`tinuous strip of protective film is mechanically secured to
`said sleeve and said collar means.
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`11. A product as claimed in claim 10 wherein said collar
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`meansincludes groove means adapted to receive a sealing
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`ring means.
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`Page 8 of 8
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`Page 8 of 8
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