100% cardboard winding / unwinding reel

Abstract

The invention relates to a winding / unwinding reel comprising a core (3) made from an outer tube (4) of solid board, and two flanges (2) made of corrugated board. Each flange (2) has central cutouts (5) forming tabs (7) folded over on the inner face of each flange (2) and inserted into one end of the outer tube (4) so ​​as to create an opening for the passage of two inner tubes (8). The two inner tubes (8) are each inserted into one end of the outer tube (4) to pinch the tabs (7) and secure the flanges (2) against the core (3). According to the invention, the reel (1) includes a gap between an inner surface of the outer tube (4) and an outer surface of the inner tubes (8) with a dimension less than or equal to 0.75 times the thickness of the flanges (2). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 4

Description

Title of the invention: 100% cardboard winding / unwinding reel Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of reels for winding and unwinding elongated products, for example wired, presented in strips or bands, such as textile ribbons, cable, etc. Prior art

[0002] Known from the prior art, in particular from document GB2329889, is a winding / unwinding reel comprising a mandrel made from an external tube of compact cardboard, and two circular flanges made from corrugated cardboard, with each flange having central cutouts forming tabs folded on the side of the internal face of each flange.

[0003] The tabs of each flange are inserted into one side of the outer tube so as to release an opening for the passage of two rings, each on one side of the outer tube, in order to sandwich the tabs and ensure the blocking of the flanges against the mandrel.

[0004] In this document, the coil is initially integrated into a box in order to facilitate its storage and, after cutting the box along pre-cutting lines, the coil is obtained.

[0005] This document is particularly suitable for producing small-sized reels, the dimensions of the box being, for example, between 150 mm and 250 mm (diameter of the identical flanges) with a mandrel length of between 40 mm and 100 mm.

[0006] In this document, the external tube which constitutes the mandrel, and the internal rings can be fixed to the box, that is to say to each of the flanges, by gluing or by any other adhesive, and it is provided that, in certain cases, in particular for boxes of relatively small dimensions, the use of an adhesive is not necessarily necessary.

[0007] The disadvantage of the coil disclosed in this document is that it applies mainly to small coils, the dimensions of which are mentioned above, and that it requires, most of the time, the use of glue or adhesive to ensure that the various elements making up the coil are held in position correctly.

[0008] Furthermore, the disclosure of document GB2329189 also applies to small-sized mandrels, namely those with a length between 40 mm and 100 mm, and is difficult to apply to mandrels of greater length, without affecting their rigidity. Statement of the invention

[0009] One of the aims of the invention is therefore to provide a coil made entirely of cardboard, preferably recycled cardboard, whose mechanical strength between the different elements of the reel is optimal, regardless of the dimensions of the flanges and the core.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide such a coil which can be fully and easily recycled.

[0011] Another objective is to produce such a coil with a low weight in order to reduce its environmental impact.

[0012] For this purpose, a winding / unwinding reel has been developed comprising a mandrel made from an external tube of compact cardboard, and two preferably circular flanges, made of corrugated cardboard. Of course, the flanges can have other shapes, such as square, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0013] Each flange has central cutouts forming tabs folded on the side of an internal face of each flange, and inserted into one end of the external tube so as to free an opening for the passage of an internal tube. Each internal tube is inserted into one end of the external tube to pinch the tabs and ensure the blocking of the flanges against the mandrel.

[0014] According to the invention, the coil comprises a clearance between an internal surface of the external tube and an external surface of the internal tubes of a dimension less than or equal to 0.75 times the thickness of the flanges. To further guarantee the mechanical strength of the coil, the clearance between the internal surface of the external tube and the external surface of the internal tubes is preferably less than or equal to 0.5 times or less than or equal to 0.33 times the thickness of the flanges, for example equal to 0.125 times the thickness.

[0015] In this way, the invention makes it possible to provide a reel made entirely of cardboard, and whose mechanical strength between the different elements of said reel is optimal, whatever the size of the reel. The invention then makes it possible to do without any addition of glue or adhesive, which would impair the recycling possibilities. The controlled clearance between the internal and external tubes makes it possible, in addition to sandwiching the tabs as in the prior art, and to achieve a pinching effect, to achieve a crushing effect ensuring tight and optimal mechanical strength.

[0016] In other words, the reel according to the invention can be made entirely of cardboard and is easily recyclable, while having optimized mechanical strength compared to that of the reels of the prior art. Furthermore, the reel according to the invention has an advantageous application in the field of electronics, when it comes to winding cables while avoiding static electricity phenomena.

[0017] In order to ensure the rigidity and hold of the cardboard core, the internal tubes extend into the external tube so as to come into contact with each other end to end. Thus, the mandrel has a double thickness of cardboard tubes along its entire length. This makes it possible to produce mandrels with a length greater than 100 mm, while reducing the thickness of the tubes and while guaranteeing the rigidity and the holding of the mandrel.

[0018] Furthermore, the cutouts forming the tabs are made from the center of the flanges and extend radially towards the periphery of each flange so as to form tabs of triangular shape, in order to increase the crushing surface of said tabs and therefore to promote the mechanical holding of the flanges against the mandrel. Of course, depending on the length of the mandrel (width of the reel), the tips of the tabs can be cut so that they have a substantially trapezoidal shape, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0019] Preferably, the base of each tab has an arcuate fold line, so that the fold lines of all the tabs form between them a circle corresponding substantially to the external diameter of the internal tubes.

[0020] In particular, the cutting of the tabs is carried out with a punch making a circular imprint at the base of the tabs corresponding to the folding lines, which facilitates the subsequent operation of folding the tabs so as to create a circular opening for the proper reception of the internal tubes.

[0021] In order to have a compact and rigid mandrel, the inner and outer tubes are preferably spirally wound cardboard tubes, which demonstrate high rigidity and resistance to crushing and other stresses related to transport and handling. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of the cardboard reel according to the invention.

[0023] [Fig.2] illustrates, seen from the front, a flange of the coil according to a first form of sheave lization.

[0024] [Fig.3] illustrates, seen from the front, a flange of the coil according to a second form of sheave lization.

[0025] [Fig.4] illustrates, in longitudinal section, the cardboard reel assembled according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0026] With reference to [Fig.l], the invention relates to a winding / unwinding reel (1) comprising, in a conventional manner, two flanges (2), for example circular and connected to each other by a mandrel (3). The reel (1) allows the winding and unwinding of any wire product, in strip or band form around the mandrel (3), between the two flanges (2).

[0027] The reel (1) according to the invention is advantageous in that it is made entirely of cardboard and the various elements which make up the reel (1) are assembled together mechanically, without the addition of glue or adhesive. In addition, the various cardboard elements which make up said reel (1) are made from recycled cardboard. The reel (1) according to the invention is therefore made from recycled materials and is 100% recyclable.

[0028] The core (3) of the reel (1) is made from an external tube (4) made of compact cardboard, preferably spiral-wound cardboard to ensure optimum rigidity and crush resistance. The flanges (2) are made of corrugated cardboard and can optionally be printed and personalized.

[0029] With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the flanges (2) have central cutouts (5), preferably made with a punch which allows, in addition to making said cutouts, the making of a circular folding line (6). The cutouts (5) are made from the center of the flanges (2) and extend radially towards the periphery of each flange (2) so as to form tabs (7) of triangular shape, the bases of which have an arcuate folding line (6) due to the imprint of the punch, allowing the tabs (7) to be folded for example towards an internal face of the flanges (2).

[0030] For example, for an external tube (4) with an internal diameter of 76 mm, between 10 and 12 tabs are made on the flanges. For an external tube (4) with an internal diameter of 26 mm, 8 tabs are made on the flanges.

[0031] Advantageously, one of the flanges (2) of the reel (1) may have suspension means (9), such as a hook, a European hole or any other suitable means. These suspension means (9) are advantageously foldable or tearable so as not to hinder subsequent winding or unwinding operations.

[0032] With reference to [Fig.3], the tips of the tabs (7) can be cut according to the length of the mandrel (3), to prevent the tabs (7) of one flange (2) from coming into contact with the tabs (7) of the opposite flange (2).

[0033] Indeed, to assemble the coil (1) according to the invention, the tabs (7) of each flange (2) are positioned in front of the opening of the outer tube (4), each flange (2) on one side of said outer tube (4). Then, inner tubes (8) are pushed through the central cutouts (5) of the flanges (2) and inserted into the outer tube (4) to fold the tabs (7) inside the outer tube (4) and pinch the tabs (7) to ensure the blocking of the flanges (2) against the mandrel (3).

[0034] In order to promote the mechanical strength of the flanges (2) against the mandrel (3), there is a clearance less than or equal to 0.75 times, and preferably less than or equal to 0.5 times or 0.33 times, for example 0.125 times the thickness of the flanges (2) between an internal surface of the external tube (4) and an external surface of the internal tubes (8).

[0035] According to an exemplary embodiment, the flanges have a thickness of 4 mm, the clearance between an internal surface of the external tube (4) and an external surface of the internal tubes (8) is equal to 0.5 mm.

[0036] In this way, the tabs (7) are not only pinched between the internal (8) and external (4) tubes, but they are crushed to ensure the good mechanical hold of the flanges (2) against the mandrel (3).

[0037] This crushing is made possible in particular by the production of the flanges in corrugated cardboard, for example in double fluting, which provides a lot of rigidity to the flanges while having a very low cardboard weight compared to plastic. The weight of the material is reduced which is important for the environmental impact.

[0038] Due to the increased resistance, the flange(s) (2) may have an orifice (10) allowing the engagement of an element driving the rotation of the coil.

[0039] This is clearly shown in [Fig.4], which illustrates the assembly. In this figure, it can be clearly seen that the tabs (7) folded inside the outer tube (4) are crushed between the outer tube (4) and the inner tubes (8). In addition, in order to guarantee the rigidity of the mandrel (3), the inner tubes (8) extend until they come into contact with each other end to end. In this way, the mandrel (3) of the reel (1) according to the invention is made up not only of an outer tube (4), but of an outer tube (4) and inner tubes (8) over the entire length of said mandrel (3), thus promoting its rigidity and making it possible to produce mandrels (3) of greater length.

[0040] The positioning of the internal tubes (8) may be aided by a tubular pusher element, which comprises a pointed end for pushing and passing through the center of the tabs, around which the internal tube is mounted until it abuts against a shoulder.

[0041] Pushing the pusher element allows the tabs to be spread apart and the inner tube (8) to be pushed inside the outer tube (4), until the tabs (7) are crushed.

[0042] It is clear from the above that the invention makes it possible to provide a reel (1) made entirely of cardboard, preferably recycled cardboard, while having optimal mechanical strength between the various elements which make up said reel (1), so that it can be rotated without the risk of disassembly of the reel (1). Of course, disassembly of the reel is possible, for example for recycling, so that it has a reduced size for its prior storage. The reel (1) according to the invention is therefore entirely recyclable, easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and can be produced in any size, both in terms of thickness and diameter of the flanges (2), or length of the mandrel (3).

Claims

Claims

1. Winding / unwinding reel (1) comprising a mandrel (3) made from an outer tube (4) of compact cardboard, and two flanges (2) made of corrugated cardboard, each flange (2) has central cutouts (5) forming tabs (7) folded on the side of an internal face of each flange (2) and inserted into one end of the outer tube (4) so as to free an opening for the passage of two internal tubes (8), the two internal tubes (8) each being inserted into one end of the outer tube (4) to pinch the tabs (7) and ensure the blocking of the flanges (2) against the mandrel (3), characterized in that it comprises a clearance between an internal surface of the outer tube (4) and an external surface of the internal tubes (8) of a dimension less than or equal to 0.75 times the thickness of the flanges (2).

2. Coil (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the clearance is less than or equal to 0.5 times or less than or equal to 0.33 times the thickness of the flanges (2), for example 0.125 times.

3. Coil (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal tubes (8) are in contact with each other end to end.

4. Coil (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutouts forming the tabs (7) are made from the center of the flanges (2) and extend radially towards the periphery of each flange (2) so as to form tabs (7) of triangular shape.

5. Coil (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the base of each tab has an arcuate folding line (6), so that the folding lines (6) of all the tabs (7) form between them a circle corresponding substantially to the external diameter of the internal tubes (8).

6. Coil (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner (8) and outer (4) tubes are spirally wound cardboard tubes.