Device for storing, transporting and installing electrical wires and cables, and method for assembling such a device

Abstract

A device (10) for storing, transporting and installing electrical wires and cables comprises a central portion (12) that is made of cardboard and suitable for receiving a winding of electrical wire or cable, and two cardboard flanges (14) respectively attached to each end of the central portion (12), each of the two flanges (14) being glued to the central portion (12). Both flanges (14) are fitted onto the central portion (12) such that each of the two flanges (14) has a bead (16) of adhesive at the periphery of the respective ends of the central portion (12).

Description

[0001] DEVICE FOR STORING, TRANSPORTING AND INSTALLING ELECTRICAL WIRES AND CABLES AND ASSOCIATED ASSEMBLY METHOD

[0002] The present invention relates to a device for storing, transporting and installing electrical wires and cables and to an associated assembly method.

[0003] The invention belongs to the field of equipment for electrical wires and electrical cables in various sectors, such as building or industry.

[0004] Some cardboard reels commonly used for packaging electrical wires and cables consist of a central section with flanges glued to both ends.

[0005] Because of the simple juxtaposition of the flanges and the central section, the flange-central section connection is not robust, so that in the event of an impact perpendicular to the axis of the central section, the flanges can partially or even completely detach from the central section.

[0006] The usual response to this problem is to increase the thickness of the central section, in order to increase the lateral surface on which the flanges and the central section are glued, which minimizes stresses in the glue.

[0007] However, this solution has the disadvantage of consuming more cardboard for the central section and more glue, thus degrading the environmental performance of the reel.

[0008] The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

[0009] To this end, the present invention proposes a device for storing, transporting, and installing electrical wires and cables, comprising a central cardboard section adapted to receive a winding of electrical wire or cable and two cardboard end caps attached respectively to each end of said central section, at least one of said end caps being glued to said central section. According to the invention, at least one end cap is arranged around said central section, such that one end of the central section extends through an opening in said end cap, a bead of glue thus being present at the periphery of the end of the central section inserted into the opening of said end cap. Thus, because the end cap is fixed to the central section by an assembly (and for example, a push-fit) combined with gluing, the resulting bead of glue performs a function known as a "polymer circlip," notably preventing any ejection of said end cap in the event of an impact.

[0010] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the inserted end of the central section has an axial end face extending substantially in the same plane as an axial end face of said flange.

[0011] In a particular embodiment, the cardboard of at least one of the central section and of the two flanges is made up of several layers.

[0012] This helps to improve the robustness of the device conforming to the invention.

[0013] In a particular embodiment, the cardboard of at least one of the central section and of the two flanges comprises a core made of recycled fibers and an outer coating made of non-recycled fibers.

[0014] The presence of recycled fibers helps to reduce the environmental impact of the device conforming to the invention.

[0015] In a particular embodiment, the central section has a thickness between 1 and 2 times the thickness of at least one of the flanges.

[0016] This results in superior strength compared to existing designs, ensured by efficient force transmission and distribution between the components. Furthermore, it guarantees optimal industrial feasibility.

[0017] In a particular embodiment, there is a gap between the central section and at least one of the two flanges, this gap being between 0.06 and 0.6 times the thickness of the flange considered.

[0018] This allows the predisposition to buttress in one direction while ensuring the role of shock absorber, by deformation of the polymer of the glue, in the perpendicular direction.

[0019] In a particular embodiment, the dimensions of at least one of the central section and of the two flanges are chosen so that the central section with the winding of wire or electrical cable can be grasped with one hand.

[0020] This ensures optimal ergonomics of the device.

[0021] In a particular embodiment, the glue has an open time of between 1 and 30 seconds. This maximizes the absorption of the glue by the cardboard, while allowing positioning without degrading the mechanical properties of the glue and ensuring good industrial productivity.

[0022] Optionally, the glue bead is in contact with at least one textured area of ​​the central section and / or at least one of the two flanges.

[0023] For the same purpose as indicated above, the present invention also proposes a method for assembling a device such as the one briefly described above, remarkable in that it comprises steps consisting successively of:

[0024] (a) apply glue to the periphery of at least one end of the central section;

[0025] (b) mount at least one of the flanges on the central section.

[0026] Since the advantages of the process are the same as those of the device, they are not repeated here.

[0027] In a particular embodiment, the method further comprises a step consisting, at the end of step (b) assembly, of carrying out a rotary back-and-forth movement of at least one of the two flanges relative to the central section.

[0028] This allows the glue to be distributed evenly between each flange and the central section.

[0029] Alternatively, the process involves successive steps consisting of:

[0030] (c) mounting at least one of the two flanges on the central section;

[0031] (d) apply glue to the periphery of at least one of the associated ends of the central section.

[0032] In this variant, the process may further include a step consisting, after step (d) of glue deposition, of carrying out a rotary back-and-forth movement of at least one of the two flanges relative to the central section.

[0033] This also allows the glue to be distributed evenly between each flange and the central section.

[0034] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the reading of the detailed description below of particular embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: - figure 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a device according to the present invention, in a particular embodiment;

[0035] - Figure 2 is a flowchart of a method for assembling a device according to the present invention, in a first particular embodiment;

[0036] - Figure 3 is a flowchart of a method for assembling a device according to the present invention, in a second particular embodiment.

[0037] As shown in Figure 1, in a particular embodiment, a device 10 for storing, transporting, and installing electrical wires and cables comprises a central section 12 and two flanges 14 fixed respectively to each end of the central section 12, that is, to its base and its top. The central section 12 is adapted to receive a winding of electrical wire or cable.

[0038] The central section 12 extends longitudinally along an X axis.

[0039] The central section 12 can be of any shape deemed appropriate. For example, the central section 12 can be shaped into a solid of revolution, or a solid of revolution about the X-axis. The central section 12 can be hollow or solid.

[0040] The central section 12, for example, is shaped into a cylinder. Therefore, the central section 12 is referred to hereafter as cylinder 12.

[0041] The flanges 14 can be of any suitable geometric shape. The flanges 14 can be identical or different from each other.

[0042] For example, the flanges 14 are shaped into discs.

[0043] When the flanges 14 are fixed to the cylinder 12, the flanges 14 and the cylinder 12 together form a cylinder of revolution. The flanges 14 extend, in particular, coaxially to the cylinder 12 and / or to the X-axis.

[0044] Each flange 14 has an opening that passes completely through the associated flange. The opening can be of any shape deemed appropriate and may, for example, be circular. Preferably, the opening has a cross-section of the same shape as the outer periphery of the cylinder 12. Furthermore, the opening is arranged so as to extend coaxially to the X-axis and / or the cylinder 12. The flanges 14 extend, for example, radially at each end of the cylinder 12.

[0045] Cylinder 12 and the two flanges 14 are made of cardboard.

[0046] First option selected cardboard box

[0047] The selected cardboard may consist of one or more layers, for example, several layers, at least two of which are made of different cardboard materials. For example, the selected cardboard has two layers: a core made of one cardboard material and an outer facing made of a second cardboard material. At least one of the layers (such as the outer facing) is preferably made of cardboard consisting of at least one corrugated sheet and at least one flat sheet, and is preferably a so-called "double-sided" layer (i.e., consisting of a fluted sheet bonded between two flat sheets). For example, the aforementioned fluted sheet is a type B flute.

[0048] The selected cardboard must be composed at least partially of recycled fibers. This cardboard may advantageously comprise at least one core made of recycled cardboard fibers and at least one outer layer made of virgin, i.e., non-recycled fibers. This outer layer may be the aforementioned double-sided coating.

[0049] The selected cardboard (i.e., the cardboard as a whole, including all layers) has, for example, a basis weight between 1000 and 2500 grams per square meter (g / m²). 2 ) and for example between 1500 and 2000 g / m 2 and for example between 1600 and 1900 g / m 2 and for example between 1600 and 1900 g / m 2 If the selected cardboard has several layers, the core may have a lower grammage than the outer coating.

[0050] The selected cardboard may have at least one textured area, so that the component formed from such cardboard (flange and / or cylinder) has at least one corresponding textured area. For example, at least one area of ​​the external surface may be textured. For example, the entire external surface may be textured.

[0051] Such cardboard can, for example, be used to form at least one of the flanges 14, and preferably both flanges. Second possible cardboard selection

[0052] The selected cardboard may consist of one or more layers, and for example, a single layer. At least one of the layers is preferably made of cardboard consisting of at least one corrugated sheet and at least one flat sheet, and is preferably a so-called "double-sided" layer (i.e., consisting of a corrugated sheet glued between two flat sheets).

[0053] The selected cardboard must be composed at least partly of recycled fibers.

[0054] The selected cardboard, for example, has a weight between 1000 and 2500 grams per square meter (g / m²). 2 ) and for example between 1500 and 2000 g / m 2 and for example between 1600 and 1900 g / m 2 .

[0055] The selected cardboard may have at least one textured area, so that the component formed from such cardboard (flange and / or cylinder) has at least one corresponding textured area. For example, at least one area of ​​the external surface may be textured. For example, the entire external surface may be textured.

[0056] Such a piece of cardboard can, for example, be used to form at least cylinder 12.

[0057] Regardless of the cardboard selected, the cylinder may have a thickness between 1 and 3 times the thickness of at least one of the two flanges 14 (and preferably both flanges), and for example, between 1 and 2 times the thickness of at least one of the two flanges 14 (and preferably both flanges). Preferably, the cylinder may have a thickness strictly greater than that of at least one of the two flanges 14 (and preferably both flanges).

[0058] Each of the two flanges 14 can be bonded to the cylinder 12 using an adhesive substance, which, by way of non-limiting example, may be a polymer adhesive. Preferably, the adhesive substance is deposited on the aforementioned textured area. This improves the spreading of the adhesive substance and / or controls its spreading (and / or its impregnation into the cardboard) and / or maximizes the generation of liquid bridges through surface tension phenomena and / or guides the propagation of the adhesive and / or optimizes the impregnation of the adhesive into the cardboard.

[0059] Furthermore, each of the two flanges 14 is mounted on the cylinder 12. More precisely, at least one of the flanges 14 is mounted on the cylinder 12 such that the cylinder 12 extends through the opening of said flange. Preferably, the cylinder 12 extends into the opening of the associated flange such that an axial end face of said cylinder 12 extends substantially (within ±10 millimeters, preferably within ±5 millimeters, preferably within ±3 millimeters, and preferably within ±1 millimeter) in the same plane as an axial end face of the relevant flange 14 (i.e., the main face of the flange opposite the one facing the other flange 14).

[0060] Furthermore, due to the combination of gluing and assembly (possibly fitting), each of the two flanges 14 has a bead of glue 16 around the periphery of each end of the cylinder 12. The two beads of glue 16, located respectively at the base and top of the cylinder 12, are annular in shape due to the shape of the openings of the flanges 14 and the cylinder 12. Of course, the beads 16 can be of different shapes if one of the flanges and / or the central section 12 are of different shapes.

[0061] Advantageously, there is a clearance here between the cylinder 12 and each of the two flanges 14. For example, this clearance being between 0.06 and 0.6 times the thickness of at least one of the two flanges 14.

[0062] Advantageously, the dimensions of the cylinder 12 and the two flanges 14 are chosen here so that the cylinder 12, once the wire or electrical cable is wound around it, can be grasped with one hand.

[0063] Advantageously, the adhesive used to bond the two flanges 14 to the cylinder 12 has an open time, also called open time or open assembly time, of between 1 and 30 seconds. This is the period between application and setting of the adhesive.

[0064] The flowchart in Figure 2 illustrates the main steps of a first particular embodiment of a method, according to the present invention, for assembling the device 10. In this first embodiment, a first step (a) consists of depositing glue on the periphery of each end of the cylinder 12, that is to say on the periphery of the base and the top of the cylinder 12, in the form of a bead of glue.

[0065] Then a step (b) consists of fitting, that is to say fitting, each of the two flanges 14 onto the cylinder 12. For this purpose, the flange 14 can be inserted onto the cylinder 12 and / or the cylinder 12 can be inserted into the flange 14.

[0066] Optionally, the process may further include a step, after step (b) of fitting, of performing a relative reciprocating rotary movement between each of the two flanges 12 and the cylinder 12 in order to distribute the glue homogeneously between the flanges 14 and the cylinder 12. This step is performed before the glue's open time expires. For example, the rotary movement is between 20 and 150 degrees, or for example between 50 and 120 degrees, or for example between 80 and 100 degrees, and is, for example, a quarter turn (to the nearest ±3 degrees and, for example, to the nearest ±1 degree).

[0067] The flowchart in Figure 3 illustrates the main steps of a second particular embodiment of a method, according to the present invention, for assembling device 10.

[0068] In this second embodiment, the gluing and fitting steps are carried out in the reverse order compared to the first embodiment.

[0069] Thus, in this second embodiment, a first step (c) consists of fitting each of the two flanges 14 onto the cylinder 12. For this purpose, the flange 14 can be inserted onto the cylinder 12 and / or the cylinder 12 can be inserted into the flange 14.

[0070] Then a step (d) consists of depositing glue around the periphery of each end of the cylinder 12, that is to say around the periphery of the base and the top of the cylinder 12, in the form of a bead of glue.

[0071] Optionally, in this second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the process may further include a step consisting, after the gluing step (d), of performing a relative back-and-forth rotary movement of the two flanges 12 and the cylinder 12, in order to distribute the glue homogeneously between the flanges 14 and the cylinder 12. This step is performed before the glue's open time expires. For example, the rotary movement is between 20 and 150 degrees, for example between 50 and 120 degrees, and for example between 80 and 100 degrees, and is, for example, a quarter turn (to the nearest ±3 degrees and, for example, to the nearest ±1 degree).

[0072] In the two embodiments described above, the combination of gluing and fitting has the effect of expelling the glue and thus forming the glue bead 16 which consolidates the device 10. In the first embodiment, part of the glue is expelled inwards during fitting, so that the glue bead 16 is mostly located inside the device 10 while in the second embodiment, part of the glue is expelled outwards, so that the glue bead 16 is mostly located outside the device 10.

[0073] The assembly and cutting machines are chosen to minimize deformation and delamination of the cardboard layers, in order to guarantee good integrity of device 10. In addition, the outer coating can be cleverly reversed compared to the usual known practice, to obtain better capillarity.

[0074] The assembly technique of the device 10 according to the present invention thus makes it possible not only to achieve good environmental performance thanks to components mostly from recycling, but also to offer a mechanical strength twice as high as known assembly techniques, for the same quantity of material.

[0075] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described but encompasses any variant falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0076] In particular, although here the two flanges are fixed by press-fitting and gluing, at least one of the flanges may be fixed by another method, for example, solely by gluing. Thus, at least one end of the central section may be glued only to the associated flange. In this case, said end may not pass through the associated flange (which may therefore not have an opening). In this case, said end may be glued to a main face of the flange that is the one facing the other flange.

[0077] The cardboard used for the central section and / or at least one of the flanges may be at least partially recycled. For example, the central section and / or at least one of the flanges may be at least 30%, 50%, or 70% recycled cardboard.

[0078] Although here the flanges have a circular outer contour, at least one of the flanges may have an outer contour of another shape and for example have at least one flat at the level of its circular outer contour, or the outer contour may be directly polygonal and for example square (in order to limit rolling of the storage, transport and installation device on the ground).

[0079] Although the glue is applied to the central section here, it can be applied (either as a replacement or in addition) to one of the flanges. Although the cardboard used for the flanges and the central section is different here, it can be the same for the central section and at least one of the flanges. Furthermore, although the cardboard used is the same for both flanges here, it can be different for each individual flange.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Device (10) for storing, transporting and installing electrical wires and cables, comprising a central section (12) of cardboard adapted to receive a winding of electrical wire or cable and two cardboard flanges (14) fixed respectively to each end of said central section (12), at least one of said flanges (14) being glued to said central section (12), said device (10) being characterized in that said at least one flange (14) is arranged around said central section (12), so that one end of the central section (12) extends through an opening of said flange (14), a bead (16) of glue being thus present at the periphery of the end of the central section (12) inserted into the opening of said flange (14).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the inserted end of the central section (12) has an axial end face extending substantially in the same plane as an axial end face of said flange (14).

3. Device (10) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the cardboard of at least one of said central section (12) and of said two flanges (14) is made up of several layers.

4. Device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the cardboard of at least one of said central section (12) and of said two flanges (14) comprises a core composed of recycled fibers and an outer coating composed of non-recycled fibers.

5. Device (10) according to claim 1, 2 or 3 or 4, characterized in that the thickness of said central section (12) is between 1 and 3 times that of at least one of said two flanges (14).

6. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a clearance is present between said central section (12) and at least one of said two flanges (14), said clearance being between 0.06 and 0.6 times the thickness of the flange considered (14).

7. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dimensions of at least one of said central section (12) and of said two flanges (14) are chosen so that said central section (12) with said winding of wire or electrical cable is graspable with one hand.

8. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said glue has an open time of between 1 and 30 seconds.

9. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the glue bead (16) is in contact with at least one textured area of ​​the central section (12) and / or of at least one of the two flanges (14).

10. A method for assembling a device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises steps consisting successively of: (a) deposit glue on the periphery of at least one of the ends of said central section (12); (b) mount at least one of the two flanges (14) on said central section (12). 1 1. Assembly method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it further comprises a step consisting, at the end of step (b) mounting, of carrying out a relative back-and-forth rotary movement between at least one flange (14) and said central section (12).

12. A method for assembling a device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises steps consisting successively of: (c) mount at least one of the two said flanges (14) on the said central section (12); (d) deposit glue on the periphery at the associated end of said central section (12).

13. Method for assembling a device (10) according to claim previous, characterized in that it further comprises a step consisting, at the end of the glue deposition step (d), of carrying out a relative back-and-forth rotary movement between at least one of said two flanges (14) and the central section (12).

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