Jack-Lift Spool Pallet for Stable Unwinding and Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an apparatus that can support windable materials, such as spools, in an elevated position during transport and storage, allowing for the unwinding of materials while maintaining stability and facilitating easy rotation and storage.
Innovation Solution
A spool-supporting pallet with an elongated frame and a jack assembly that allows the spool to be lifted and rotated, enabling it to be positioned horizontally and supported above the floor, with the option to approach from either end or side, and allowing for stacking with similar pallets for storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spool is placed directly on the floor for support, then it is simple and stable, but it cannot be easily lifted or rotated during material unwinding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pallet as an intermediary device between the floor and the spool. The pallet includes a frame with a support surface for cradling the spool and a jack assembly that acts as a mediator to lift the spool off the support surface, enabling rotation during material unwinding without requiring direct manual handling of the heavy spool
Solution Approach 2:
The support apparatus is segmented into distinct functional components: a frame structure for support, a support surface for cradling, and a jack assembly for lifting. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, making the overall system more manageable and easier to operate than a monolithic design
2Ease of operation
If a spool is supported in an elevated position during material unwinding, then rotation is facilitated, but stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The jack assembly is positioned and prepared in advance on the pallet frame, ready to lift the spool to the appropriate elevation before material unwinding begins. This preliminary positioning ensures the spool is at the optimal height for rotation while maintaining system stability throughout the operation
3Strength
If the pallet structure is made robust to support heavy spools, then load-bearing capacity is sufficient, but the pallet becomes difficult to move and stack
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet design incorporates dynamic considerations by using a modular frame structure that provides sufficient strength for heavy spools while maintaining a compact footprint. The elongated frame with strategically placed support surfaces allows the pallet to be moved and stacked efficiently despite its load-bearing capacity
Data Source
AI summary
A pallet and method for supporting a spool for transport or use includes an elongated frame having two opposite ends and two opposite sides which extend between the two opposite ends. The frame includes a support surface within which a spool can be cradled so that the spool rests across the support surface and the barrel of the item is oriented substantially horizontally and normal to the longitudinal axis of the frame. A pair of cooperating members are arranged adjacent the sides of the frame and are cooperable with the spool barrel for placing a spool in condition to be lifted from the support surface. Jack assemblies are interposed between the cooperating members and the frame for lifting the spool from the support surface by way of the jack assemblies.