DEVICE FOR HOLDING AND PULLING OFF A WEB

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for holding and pulling a film from a roll, comprising a cylindrical element with supports, between which the roll surrounds the cylindrical element, which is connected to a handle at least in one of its free end regions via a rotary joint having an axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical element.

[0002] In order to adjust the tension of a film being peeled off in a stretch wrapper according to US 2013 / 0227913 A1, spring-loaded brake elements are provided. Conical end sections are connected to a telescopically extendable core that accommodates a roll. A similar design can be found in US 2016 / 0347574 A1.

[0003] Stretch wrappers are used to secure goods, such as goods arranged on pallets for transport, by wrapping them with stretch film.

[0004] In a stretch wrapper according to GB 2 121 001 A, a tube is connected to a base plate, as if welded, from which extends an L-shaped arm, to the end of which a first handle is attached. A second handle is located at the end of the tube opposite the base plate and is connected to a braking device, by means of which a film roll pushed onto the tube can be adjusted with respect to the tension occurring during film removal. Therefore, depending on whether a left- or right-handed person is using the device, a different position must be assumed with respect to the goods to be wrapped.

[0005] A stretch wrapper according to DE 20 2014 102 068 U1 has an L-shaped handle which extends from a base from which, in addition to a shaft rod which holds a film roll, two rollers extend between which the film is guided in order to be able to adjust the tension when pulling off the film.

[0006] A generic device for removing film is described in US 2012 / 0153063 A1. At the ends of a cylindrical element that holds a roll of film, handle loops are provided, which extend along the outside of a hand when the device is in use. The handle loop can be pivoted about an axis that runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical element.

[0007] The subject of US 6,926,225 B1 is a film removal device which has a housing which partially surrounds a roll and from which a handle extends.

[0008] An arc-shaped handle extending from the ends of a carrier body holding a film roll can be seen in US 2012 / 0031045 A1.

[0009] Devices for peeling off films can also be found in US 10,023,342 B1 and US 2011 / 0041458 A1.

[0010] Corresponding stretch wrappers are often designed for a single film width, such as 430 mm or 500 mm, so that different devices are used for different roll core lengths.

[0011] The present invention is based on the object of developing a device of the type mentioned above in such a way that it can be used easily by both right- and left-handed people. Regardless of this, it should be easy to handle.

[0012] One aspect should also be able to handle rolls of different widths.

[0013] To solve one or more aspects, the invention essentially provides that the handle is a grip that is rotatable both about the rotational axis and about its longitudinal axis. However, the invention is not deviated from if each section is connected to a handle via a pivot joint in its free end region.

[0014] In this case, a first joint section of the joint should be connected to the section, preferably in its extension, and the second joint section should merge into the handle or be designed as such.

[0015] In particular, the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical element is designed to directly intersect the rotation axis. This allows for easy gripping of the handles, which are designed to rotate around their own longitudinal axis. The user can adjust the optimal angle of inclination of the device relative to the material to be wrapped. It can be used by both right-handed and left-handed users without any problems.

[0016] The positioning of the handles directly at the end of the cylindrical element that holds the film roll also allows for easy 180° rotation without the need for repositioning. Nevertheless, the adhesive surface of the film can still face the product being wrapped.

[0017] In a further development of the invention, magnets are integrated into the handles so that the device can be attached to metal shelves, forklifts, pallet trucks, for example, so that the usual lying around on a floor is avoided, so that a source of danger is excluded.

[0018] The invention is also characterized in that the cylindrical element has the supports for the roller in its end regions for adjusting the tension of the film to be peeled off, wherein the cylindrical element has a first section and a second section which is adjustable axially relative to this section and at least one of the supports has a geometry which is at least partially conical for interacting with the roller, and wherein at least one of the supports which at least partially have the conical geometry is adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical element and to the section from which the support originates, and that one of the supports is firmly connected to the cylindrical element.

[0019] According to the invention, a manually operated device for peeling off a film is proposed, which can be easily adjusted to film widths of different lengths, since the cylindrical element receiving the film roll is telescopic.

[0020] In order to easily adjust the tension of the film to be peeled off, one of the supports, which interacts with one of the end areas of the roll, is adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the telescopic element, so that the pressure acting on the roll between the supports and thus the tension can be adjusted accordingly.

[0021] The further support preferably also has a conical or truncated cone-shaped geometry on the roller side, at least in some areas, so that easy centering of the roller between the supports is possible.

[0022] The conical shape also offers the advantage of allowing the use of rollers of different diameters. The conical supports can be referred to as centering cones.

[0023] In other words, the supports serve a dual function: firstly, centering the film roll and secondly, adjusting the film tension. Film rolls with and without cores can be used, an advantage provided by the centering cones.

[0024] The centering cones also offer the possibility of clamping rolls with different core diameters, such as 38 mm, 50 mm, 76 mm as common diameters.

[0025] In particular, the adjustable sections of the cylindrical element are axially adjustable relative to each other in a detent-like manner. Fine adjustment to the width of the roll is achieved by the axially adjustable support, allowing the tension to be specified by further adjustment.

[0026] Alternatively, it is possible to continuously change the distance between the axially adjustable sections, e.g. by means of threads.

[0027] The single figure shows a schematic diagram of a device 10 by means of which a stretch film is pulled from a roll in order to wrap and thus secure goods, in particular those which are to be transported on pallets.

[0028] The device 10 comprises a cylindrical element 12 that accommodates the roll. The element consists of sections 14, 16 that are longitudinally adjustable relative to one another, i.e., telescopically adjustable relative to one another, and which have supports 18, 20 in their end regions, between which the roll 20 to be removed is fixed and simultaneously centered. For this purpose, the supports 18, 20 are at least partially frustoconical, as the conical outer surfaces 22, 24 illustrate.

[0029] The support 18 - like the support 20 - can be called a centering cone.

[0030] In the exemplary embodiment, the support 20 is fixedly connected to the section 16, and the support 18 is adjustably connected to the section 14. For this purpose, the section 14 has an external thread 26 that interacts with an internal thread (not shown) of the support 18.

[0031] Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, a handle 30, 32 extends from each of the sections 14, 16 via a joint arrangement 26, 28, which is pivotable about an axis 34 or 36, respectively, which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 38 of the cylindrical element 12 and is preferably directly intersected by it. Of course, the invention also includes the possibility of the rotational axis 34, 36 being slightly offset from the longitudinal axis 38, as shown in the drawing.

[0032] In particular, the invention is not departed from even if a joint arrangement originates from only one of the sections.

[0033] The joint arrangement 26, 28 consists of a section 40, 42 connected to the section 14 or 16 of the base body 12 of the device 10, and the section 44, 46 having the handle 30, 32. Furthermore, the handle 30, 32 is itself rotatable about its longitudinal axis.

[0034] Furthermore, a magnet 48, 50 should be provided, such as embedded, at least in the end region of the handle 30, 32 in order to attach the device 10, for example, to a frame, a pallet truck, a forklift truck or the like, so that it is avoided from lying around on a floor.

[0035] The pivotability of the handles 30, 32 about the axes 34, 36 is illustrated by the dashed line in the figure.

[0036] In order to peel off a film, a film roll is pushed onto the cylindrical body 12 on the cylindrical base body 12, which consists of the sections 14, 16, after removing one of the handles 30, 32 or one of the joint assemblies 26, 28 and the adjacent centering cone 18 or 20, in order to then connect the previously removed handle 30, 32 or the joint assembly 26, 28 with the centering cone to the device 10.

[0037] Before sliding the roll on, sections 14 and 16 are adjusted to the roll width as required. This can be done by locking the sections 14 and 16 or by screwing them together.

[0038] Then, in the exemplary embodiment, the centering cone 18 is adjusted along the thread 26 toward the roll to such an extent that not only the desired centering of the roll is achieved, but also pressure is exerted on it, so that the required tension is maintained when the film is removed, thus achieving the desired stretch of the film when wrapping a product. In other words, the stretch value can be adjusted using the centering cone 18.

[0039] Because at least one of the handles 30, 32 is pivotably mounted in the immediate end region of the cylindrical element 12 that holds the roll, the angle of inclination of the device 10 can be optimally adjusted for peeling off the stretch film and wrapping the goods. This allows for trouble-free use by both right- and left-handed users.

[0040] A simple rotation of 180° around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 38 is possible without having to move the hands.

[0041] The device 10 can be made of metal, plastic, in particular fiber-reinforced plastic, carbon material or a composite.

[0042] Plastic or carbon offers the advantage of a significant weight reduction compared to known stretch wrappers. While prior art hand-held stretch wrappers weigh in the range of 2 kg, the device 10 according to the invention can weigh between 0.7 kg and 0.8 kg.

[0043] A further advantage of the stretch film unwinder 10 according to the invention is that the roll to be unwound can be coreless, since centering is achieved by means of the centering cones 18, 20, i.e., the supports. The centering cones 18, 20 also offer the possibility of accommodating rolls of different diameters.

[0044] Due to the telescopic nature of the sections 14, 16, the device 10 can be used for film rolls of different widths.

[0045] The axial adjustability of the centering cone 18 offers the possibility of easy adjustment of the tension of the film to be peeled off and thus its stretching when wrapping goods.

Claims

1. A device for peeling a film off a roll, comprising a cylindrical element (10) with supports (18, 20) between which the roll surrounds the cylindrical element, which is connected in at least one of its free end areas to a handle (30, 32) via a swivel joint (26, 28) having a rotation axis, wherein the rotation axis runs vertical to the longitudinal axis (38) of the cylindrical element (12), characterized in that the handle is a handgrip (30, 32) designed rotatable about both the rotation axis and its longitudinal axis.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a first joint section (40, 42) of the swivel joint (26, 28) respectively is connected to the cylindrical element (12) and preferably runs inside its extension, and that a second joint section (44, 46) merges into the handgrip (30, 32) respectively or is a handgrip.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the longitudinal axis (38) of the cylindrical element (12) directly or almost directly intersects the rotation axis (34, 36).

4. The device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cylindrical element (12) holding the roll has in its front areas, the supports (18, 20) for the roll to adjust the tension of the film to be peeled off, wherein the cylindrical element (12) has a first section (14) and a second section (16) axially movable thereto, and at least one of the supports (18) has a geometry conical at least in some areas for interacting with the roll, and wherein at least one of the supports (18) having a conical geometry at least in some areas is movable along the longitudinal axis (38) of the cylindrical element (12) and relative to the section (14) from which the support extends, and that one of the supports (20) is preferably permanently connected to the cylindrical element (10).

5. The device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handle, such as the handgrip (30, 32), has a magnet.

6. The device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a coreless roll is fixed between the supports (18, 20).

7. The device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) or parts thereof, in particular the tubular element (12), consists of or contains at least one material from the group metal, such as aluminum, plastic, such as glass fiber or carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, carbon or composite.

8. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one of the sections (14) has an external thread (26) in which an internal thread of the support (18) having a conical geometry engages.

9. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the sections (14, 16) are axially movable to one another in steps or steplessly.

10. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that both a roll is fixable between the supports (18, 20), and the tension of the film to be peeled off is adjustable by means of the support (18) having a conical geometry at least in some sections.