Transport device and method for transporting a coil

Abstract

A transport device (2, 50, 56, 88) for transporting a coil (4), comprising a coil transport cart (6) having a chassis (8) and having a coil support (10), which is height-adjustable relative to the chassis (8). In order to enable secure transport of the coil (4), the transport device (2, 50, 56, 88) has a movable fastening device (12) having a clamping unit (22) for pressing the coil (4) to be transported against the coil support (10). The clamping unit (22) being height-adjustable relative to the coil support (10) and being able to be at least partly inserted into a coil eye (42) of the coil (4). The fastening device (12) being fastened to the coil support (10) or to the chassis (8) of the coil transport cart (6). The coil support (10) having a cut-out (40), into which the clamping unit (22) can be at least partly lowered. Further disclosed is a use of such a transport device (2, 50, 56, 88), to a coil-processing system (70, 118) having such a transport device (2, 50, 56, 88), and to a method for transporting a coil (4).

Claims

1. A coil supporting device for supporting a coil, the coil being wound defining a coil eye which is open longitudinally across the coil, the device comprising: a coil supporting base having a chassis and having a coil support that has a top side and is configured to be height-adjustable relative to the chassis; the coil supporting base including a movable fastening device comprising a clamping unit having a top side and configured for pressing the coil that is to be transported against the coil support, the clamping unit being height-adjustable relative to the coil support; the clamping unit being configured to be able to be at least partially inserted into the coil eye of the coil; the fastening device being fastened to the coil support or to the chassis of the coil supporting base; and the coil support defining a space, into which the clamping unit can be at least partly lowered such that the top side of the clamping unit is flush with the top side of the coil support.

2. The coil supporting device as claimed in claim 1, configured to be: the clamping unit comprising a friction reducing unit located and configured to reduce frictional resistance between the coil and the clamping unit during winding and/or unwinding of the coil when the clamping unit is at least partially inserted into the coil eye.

3. The coil supporting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the friction reducing unit comprises one or more rollers configured to function as friction reducing means.

4. The coil supporting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping unit includes a rounded pressing surface curved around the coil eye, and the surface is configured and located for pressing against the coil, while the clamping unit is at least partially in the coil eye.

5. The coil supporting device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: the coil support comprises bearing tines, on which and located where the coil can be placed; and the bearing tines are beveled toward the longitudinal center plane of the coil support.

6. A coil processing system comprising a first coil processing station and a second coil processing station; and a coil supporting base at each coil processing station; at least one transport device according to claim 1 configured and operable for transporting a coil from one of the first and second coil processing stations to the other of the first and second coil processing stations.

7. The coil processing system as claimed in claim 6, wherein: the coil processing system is a coil sampling system, wherein one of the coil processing stations is configured and operable as a sampling station including a severing device configured and operable for severing the coil; and the other of the two coil processing stations is configured and operable as at least one of: a delivery station for a coil, a pick-up point for a coil; a weighing station for a coil; and a band removal station for removing a band from a coil; or a strapping station for strapping a coil.

8. The coil processing system of claim 6, wherein the coil supporting base includes a transport device for transporting the coil supporting base and a coil thereon between the first and the second coil processing stations.

9. A method for operating a coil supporting device as claimed in claim 1, comprising: transporting a coil in a coil processing system from a first coil processing station of the coil processing system to a second coil processing station of the coil processing system by the coil transport device.

10. The method for operating according to claim 9, during the transport of the coil: laying the coil on a coil support of the transport device; introducing the clamping unit of the transport device into the coil eye of the coil; and pressing the coil with aid of the clamping unit against the coil support.

11. The transport device of claim 1, wherein the space defined by the coil support comprises a cut-out in the coil support configured to receive the clamping unit lowered into the cut-out.

12. The coil supporting device of claim 1, wherein the space into which the clamping unit can be at least partly lowered is so sized, shaped and located that the space cannot receive the lowering clamping unit while the clamping unit is at least partially into the coil eye.

13. A method for transporting a coil comprising: transporting a coil, from a first coil processing station to a second coil processing station of a coil processing system, with the aid of a coil supporting device for supporting the coil, the coil being wound defining a coil eye which is open longitudinally across the coil, the coil supporting device including a coil supporting base having a chassis and having a coil support, configured to be height-adjustable relative to the chassis, the coil supporting base including a movable fastening device comprising a clamping unit configured for pressing the coil that is to be transported against the coil support, the clamping unit being height-adjustable relative to the coil support, the clamping unit being configured to be able to be at least partially inserted into the coil eye of the coil, the fastening device being fastened to the coil support or to the chassis of the coil supporting base, and the coil support defining a space, into which the clamping unit can be at least partly lowered; driving a coil transport cart of the coil supporting device up to the coil that is then situated in/at the first coil processing station and introducing the clamping unit of the transport device into the coil eye of the coil; lowering the clamping unit that was introduced into the coil eye, the lowering being until the clamping unit presses against the coil; raising a coil support of the coil supporting device until the coil lies against the raised coil support; synchronously raising the coil support and the clamping unit when the coil is lying against the coil support and the clamping unit presses against the coil; with the coil lying against the coil support, transporting by the coil transport cart to the second coil processing station while the coil is pressed by the clamping unit against the coil support; and when the coil has reached the second coil processing station, lowering the coil support and the clamping unit synchronously until the coil lies against a coil receiver of the second coil processing station; then further lowering the coil support, and during the lowering of the coil support, pressing the coil by the clamping unit against the coil receiver of the second coil processing station, or while the coil is located in/at the first coil processing station, removing a hold-down device of the first coil processing station which hold-down device had been pressing against the coil from the coil when the clamping unit presses against the coil, or when the coil has reached the second coil processing station, lifting the clamping unit from the coil when a hold-down device of the second coil processing station presses against the coil.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side view of a first variant embodiment of a transport device and of a coil lying against the transport device, in a condition in which a coil support of the transport device is lowered;

(2) FIG. 2 is a side view of the transport device of FIG. 1 and of a coil lying against the transport device, in a condition in which the coil support is raised;

(3) FIG. 3 is a front view of the transport device of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

(4) FIG. 4 is a front view of a second variant embodiment of a transport device for transporting a coil;

(5) FIG. 5 is a side view of the transport device of FIG. 4;

(6) FIG. 6 is a side view of a third variant embodiment of a transport device and of a coil lying against the transport device, in a condition in which a clamping unit of the transport device is lowered in its coil support;

(7) FIG. 7 is a top view of the transport device of FIG. 6 and of a coil resting against the transport device;

(8) FIG. 8 is a 3D view of one possible variant embodiment of a coil support and of a clamping unit for a transport device for transporting a coil;

(9) FIG. 9 is a 3D view of one possible variant embodiment of a chassis for a transport device for transporting a coil;

(10) FIG. 10 is a top view of a coil processing system;

(11) FIG. 11 is a side view of a band removal station of the coil processing system of FIG. 10;

(12) FIG. 12 is a side view of a sampling station of the coil processing system of FIG. 10;

(13) FIG. 13 is a side view of a circumference strapping station of the coil processing system of FIG. 10;

(14) FIG. 14 is a top view of another coil processing system.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(15) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a first variant embodiment of a transport device 2 for transporting a coil. A coil 4 to be transported with the aid of the transport device 2 is likewise represented in FIG. 1.

(16) The transport device 2 comprises a coil transport cart 6 with a chassis 8 and a coil support 10. Furthermore, the transport device 2 comprises a fastening device 12.

(17) The coil transport cart 6 comprises four rotatably mounted wheels 14, which are mounted on the chassis 8 of the coil transport cart 6. By means of these wheels 14, the coil transport cart 6 can travel on a rail track.

(18) The aforementioned coil support 10 is outfitted with a plurality of bearing tines 16. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the coil 4 to be transported lies against the coil support 10, more precisely against its bearing tines 16. The coil 4 lays against the coil support 10 in such a way that its coil axis 18 is oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction 20 of the coil support 10.

(19) The fastening device 12 comprises a clamping unit for pressing the coil to be transported 4 against the coil support 10. The clamping unit 22 has a clamping section 24, which is oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction 20 of the coil support 10. The clamping unit 22 has a base section 26 joined to the clamping section 24 and has a sliding section 28 joined to the clamping section 24. Both the base section 26 and the sliding section 28 are oriented perpendicular to the clamping section 24 of the clamping unit 22.

(20) The coil support 10 is height-adjustable with respect to the chassis 8. In other words, the height position of the coil support 10 can be moved relative to the chassis 8.

(21) Moreover, the coil transport cart 6 comprises a drive unit 30 for raising and lowering the coil support 10. In the present exemplary embodiment, this drive unit 30 is designed as a hydraulic lift cylinder, having a lifting rod 32 (see FIG. 2). In order to raise the coil support 10 relative to the chassis 8, the lifting rod 32 of the drive unit 30 is extended. In order to lower the coil support 10 relative to the chassis 8, the lifting rod 32 of the drive unit 30 is retracted.

(22) Furthermore, the clamping unit 22 is height-adjustable with respect to the coil support 10, so that, the height position of the clamping unit 22 can be moved relative to the coil support 10.

(23) The fastening device 12 comprises a drive unit 34 for raising and lowering the clamping unit 22. The drive unit 34 comprises a hydraulic lift cylinder with a lifting rod 36. Moreover, the drive unit 34 of the fastening device 12, more precisely its lifting rod 36, is integrated in the base section 26 of the clamping unit 22. In order to raise the clamping unit 22 relative to the coil support 10, the lifting rod 36 of the drive unit 34 of the fastening device 12 is extended. On the other hand, in order to lower the clamping unit 22 relative to the coil support 10, the lifting rod 36 of this drive unit 34 is retracted.

(24) In the present embodiment, the fastening device 12, and more precisely its drive unit 34, is fastened to the coil support 10. Moreover, the coil support 10 has a sliding guide 38, by which the aforementioned sliding section 28 of the clamping unit 22 is guided and by means of which the clamping unit 22 is mounted in a linearly displaceable manner.

(25) Furthermore, the coil support 10 comprises a cut-out 40, into which the clamping section 24 of the clamping unit 22 can be lowered if pressing of the coil 4 against the coil support 10 is not required.

(26) In FIG. 1, the coil support 10 is in its lowest position with respect to the chassis 8. In this state, the lifting rod 32 of the drive unit 30 of the coil transport cart 6 is retracted as much as possible. Moreover, the clamping section 24 of the clamping unit 22 is introduced into a coil eye 42 of the coil to be transported 4 and the clamping section there presses the coil 4 against the coil support 10.

(27) FIG. 2 shows a further side view of the transport device 2 of FIG. 1.

(28) In this Figure also, a coil to be transported 4 lies against the coil support 10 of the transport device 2. Furthermore, the clamping unit 22 is introduced longitudinally/axially into a coil eye 42 of the coil to be transported 4 and presses the coil against the coil support 10 of the transport device 2.

(29) In comparison to the state of the transport device 2 shown in FIG. 1, the coil support 10 is raised in FIG. 2. Thus, the coil support 10 is situated in a higher position relative to the chassis 8 than in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the aforementioned drive unit 30 of the coil transport cart 6, more precisely its lifting rod 32, is extended further than in FIG. 1.

(30) FIG. 3 shows a front view of the transport device 2 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

(31) FIG. 3 shows that the clamping unit 22 has a rounded pressing surface 44, by which the clamping unit 22 can be pressed against a coil eye of a coil to be transported. The rounded pressing surface 44 is located on the bottom side 46 of the clamping section 24 of the clamping unit 22. The surface has a curvature that generally follows the curvature of the coil eye.

(32) FIG. 3 shows that the bearing tines 16 are beveled toward the longitudinal center plane 48 of the coil support 10. In this way, the bearing tines 16 stabilize the coil to be transported on the coil support 10 transversely to its longitudinal direction 20.

(33) The descriptions of the following exemplary embodiments are confined primarily to the differences from the preceding exemplary embodiment, making reference to this in regard to the features and functions which are the same. Basically identical and/or corresponding elements are denoted with the same reference numbers so far as is practicable and features not mentioned have been adopted in the following exemplary embodiments without be described again.

(34) FIG. 4 shows a front view of a second variant embodiment of a transport device 50 for transporting a coil.

(35) The clamping unit 22 of this transport device 50 is outfitted with a friction reducing unit 52. The friction reducing unit 52 reduces a frictional resistance between a coil to be transported and the clamping unit 22 if the coil is supposed to be rotated while resting against the coil support 10 and the clamping unit 22 presses against the coil. A rotating of a coil resting on the coil support 10 can be done for example during the winding and unwinding of the coil, especially in the course of a sampling of the coil.

(36) In the present embodiment, the friction reducing unit 52 comprises a plurality of rotatably mounted rollers 54 serving as the friction reducing means. These rollers 54 are arranged on the bottom side 46 of the clamping section 24 of the clamping unit 22.

(37) FIG. 5 shows a side view of the transport device 50 of FIG. 4. FIG. 5 shows that the rollers 54 of the friction reducing unit 52 are situated at the end of the clamping section 24 at a distance from the base section 26 of the clamping unit 22.

(38) FIG. 6 shows a side view of a third variant embodiment of a transport device 56 for transporting a coil. In this transport device 56, the fastening device 12, and especially its drive unit 34, is mounted not on the coil support 10, but rather on the chassis 8 of the coil transport cart 6. Moreover, the coil support 10 has no sliding guide for the clamping unit 22. Instead, the chassis 8 has a sliding guide 58 for the clamping unit 22.

(39) The base section 26 of the clamping unit 22 is led by the sliding guide 58 of the chassis 8 and mounted in a linearly displaceable longitudinal direction manner with the aid of the sliding guide 58. In the transport device 56 of FIG. 6, the base section 26 in which the drive unit 34 of the fastening device 12 is integrated thus at the same time performs the function of the sliding section 28 of the clamping unit 22 of previous exemplary embodiments. Therefore, no separate sliding section is provided in the present exemplary embodiment for the clamping unit 22. Moreover, the transport device 56 from FIG. 6 comprises a synchronization device (not depicted) for synchronizing the movements of the clamping unit 22 and the coil support 10.

(40) In the illustrated state of the transport device 56 shown in FIG. 6, the clamping unit 22 is not introduced into a coil eye 42 of a coil to be transported 4. Instead, the clamping unit 22, or more precisely its clamping section 24, is lowered into the cut-out 40 of the coil support 10, especially in such a way that the top side 60 of the clamping section 24 is flush with the top side 62 of the coil support 10. The coil to be transported 4 lies in this case against the coil support 10 as well as the top side 60 of the clamping section 24.

(41) Moreover, the width 64 of the coil to be transported 4 extends in the present exemplary embodiment substantially across the entire length of the coil support 10.

(42) FIG. 7 shows a top view of the transport device 56 of FIG. 6 as well as the coil 4 resting on its coil support 10.

(43) FIG. 8 shows a ¾ or oblique view in 3D of one possible variant embodiment of a coil support 10 as well as a clamping unit 22 for a transport device for transporting a coil.

(44) The coil support 10 has a sliding section 66, which can be installed in a sliding guide of a chassis.

(45) Furthermore, the coil support 10 has a sliding guide 38. The clamping unit 22, or more precisely its base section 26, is led through this sliding guide 38, and mounted in a linearly displaceable manner by means of the sliding guide 38.

(46) In the clamping unit 22 of FIG. 8, the base section 26 at the same time performs the function of the sliding section 28 of the clamping unit 22 of previous exemplary embodiments. Therefore, no separate sliding section is provided in the present exemplary embodiment for the clamping unit 22.

(47) Moreover, there can be seen in FIG. 8 a cut-out 40 of the coil support 10, in which the clamping unit 22, or more precisely its clamping section 24, can be lowered.

(48) FIG. 9 shows a ¾ view in 3D of one possible variant embodiment of a chassis 8 for a transport device for transporting a coil.

(49) The chassis 8 comprises a sliding guide 68 for the guiding of a coil support. This sliding guide 68 is designed in particular to receive a sliding section of a coil support, such as the sliding section 66 of the coil support 10 of FIG. 8.

(50) Furthermore, four rotatably mounted wheels 14 are mounted on the chassis 8, by means of which the chassis 8 can travel on a rail track. In FIG. 9, however, only three of these four wheels 14 can be seen (at least partly).

(51) FIG. 10 shows a top view of a coil processing system 70, which in the present exemplary embodiment is a coil sampling system.

(52) This coil processing system 70 comprises eight coil processing stations 72-86. Basically, embodiments of the coil processing system 70 are also possible in which the coil processing system 70 has a different number of coil processing stations. In the present exemplary embodiment, the coil processing stations 72-86 are a first delivery station 72, a second delivery station 74, a band removal station 76, a sampling station 78, a circumference strapping station 80, a weighing station 82, an eye strapping station 84 and a pick-up point 86. The individual coil processing stations 72-86 need not necessarily be arranged in the sequence shown in FIG. 10.

(53) Furthermore, the coil processing system 70 comprises a transport device 88 (not shown in FIG. 10), which can travel on a rail track 90 (see FIG. 12) of the coil processing system 70 and corresponds in terms of its design to one of the previously described transport devices 2, 50, 56.

(54) In FIG. 10, each of the coil processing stations 72-86 is shown occupied, for example by a coil 4. It is possible for only some of the coil processing stations 72-86 to be occupied by a coil 4 at the same time.

(55) The following describes in exemplary fashion for an individual coil 4 how this coil 4 is processed in the coil processing system 70. It shall be assumed that this coil 4 is closed by a circumferential strapping, i.e., by a binding strap extending around the outer circumference of the coil 4.

(56) The coil 4 is transported with the aid of a transport system (not depicted), such as a crane, to the coil processing system 70 and set down at the first or second delivery station 72, 74.

(57) By means of the previously mentioned transport device 88 of the coil processing system 70, the coil 4 is transported in the following described manner from the first or second delivery station 72, 74 to the band removal station 76.

(58) First, the height position of the clamping unit 22 of the transport device 88 is adjusted such that the clamping unit 22 can be introduced, during a horizontal displacement of the coil transport cart 6, into a coil eye 42 of the coil 4.

(59) The coil transport cart 6 of the transport device 88 is driven up to the coil 4 located in the first or second delivery station 72, 74 and the clamping unit 22 of the transport device 88 is introduced into the coil eye 42 of the coil 4.

(60) The clamping unit 22 introduced into the coil eye 42 is lowered until the clamping unit 22 presses against the coil 4. The coil support 10 of the transport device 88 is then raised until the coil 4 lies against the coil support 10. The height position of the clamping unit 22 does not change in this process. Next, the coil support 10 and the clamping unit 22 are raised synchronously.

(61) The coil 4 lying against the coil support 10 is then transported by the coil transport cart 6 to the band removal station 76, where the coil 4 is pressed during the transport by the clamping unit 22 against the coil support 10.

(62) In FIG. 11, when the coil 4 has reached the band removal station 76, the coil support 10 and the clamping unit 22 are lowered synchronously until the coil 4 lies against a coil receiver 92 of the band removal station 76 (as seen in FIG. 11). The coil support 10 is then lowered, while the coil 4 during the lowering of the coil support 10 is pressed by the clamping unit 22 against the coil receiver 92 of the band removal station 76. In the band removal station 76, the circumferential strapping of the coil 4 is removed.

(63) Then the coil 4 is transported by the transport device 88 from the band removal station 76 to the sampling station 78. In the sampling station 78, a sample is taken from the coil 4.

(64) The coil 4 is then transported by the transport device 88 from the sampling station 78 to the circumference strapping station 80. Here, the coil 4 receives a circumferential strapping.

(65) After this, the coil 4 is transported from the circumference strapping station 80 to the weighing station 82, where the coil 4 is weighed.

(66) After being weighed, the coil 4 is transported by the transport device 88 from the weighing station 82 to the eye strapping station 84, where the coil 4 receives a strapping through its coil eye 42.

(67) Then the coil 4 is transported by the transport device 88 from the eye strapping station 84 to the pick-up point 86. Here, the coil 4 is transported with the aid of a transport system (not depicted), such as a crane, away from the coil processing system 70.

(68) The transport of the coil 4 from one of the coil processing stations 72-86 to the respective next coil processing station 72-86 is done in the same way as described above during the transport from the first or second delivery station 72, 74 to the band removal station 76.

(69) FIG. 11 shows a side view of the band removal station 76 of the coil processing system 70 of FIG. 10.

(70) The band removal station 76 comprises a band removal device 94 configured for removing a strapping band from the coil 4. Furthermore, the band removal station 76 in the present example comprises a hold-down device 96, having a swivel arm 98 with a hold-down roller 100 fastened to the swivel arm 98.

(71) In FIG. 11, the coil 4 to be processed has been set down on the coil receiver 92 of the band removal station 76. Furthermore, the coil support 10 of the transport device 88 has been lowered, so that the coil support 10 is at a distance from the coil 4.

(72) Moreover, in FIG. 11 the coil 4 is pressed by the clamping unit 22, which is introduced into the coil eye 42 of the coil 4, against the coil receiver 92. This makes possible a danger-free removal of the circumferential strapping of the coil 4, since with the aid of the clamping unit 22, bouncing of the coil 4 upon removal of the circumferential strapping is prevented. Therefore, the aforementioned hold-down device 96 of the band removal station 76 can basically be omitted, as long as the transport device 88 is not being used during the removal of the circumferential strapping for the transport of another coil 4.

(73) FIG. 12 shows a side view of the sampling station 78 of the coil processing system 70 of FIG. 10.

(74) The sampling station 78 comprises a first hold-down device 102 and a second hold-down device 104, each having a swivel arm 98 and a hold-down roller 100 fastened to the swivel arm 98. Furthermore, the sampling station 78 comprises a third hold-down device 106, which is outfitted with a linearly displaceable hold-down roller 100.

(75) The sampling station 78 comprises a movable severing device 108 for the separation of a sample from a coil 4. In the present exemplary embodiment, the severing device 108 is a plasma torch.

(76) Moreover, FIG. 12 shows the aforementioned rail track 90, on which the transport device 88 can travel.

(77) In FIG. 12, the coil 4 has been set down on a coil receiver 110 of the sampling station 78, having two bottom rollers 112. For the unwinding of the coil 4 and its winding up once more for its sampling, the coil 4 can be rotated on the bottom rollers 112 of the coil receiver 110.

(78) The coil support 10 of the transport device 88 is lowered in FIG. 12, so that the coil support 10 is at a distance from the coil 4. Moreover, the coil 4 is pressed by the first hold-down device 102 against the bottom rollers 112. Alternatively or additionally, the coil 4 can be pressed by at least one of the other two hold-down devices 104, 106 against the bottom rollers 112.

(79) Moreover, the clamping unit 22 of the transport device 88 in FIG. 12 is lowered in the coil support 10. Alternatively or additionally to the hold-down devices 102, 104, 106, the clamping unit 22 may be used to press the coil 4 against the bottom rollers 112.

(80) FIG. 13 shows a side view of the circumference strapping station 80 of the coil processing system 70 of FIG. 10. The circumference strapping station 80 comprises a strapping device 114 for the strapping of a coil 4 at its outer circumference. Furthermore, the circumference strapping station 80 comprises a coil receiver 116.

(81) In FIG. 13, the coil 4 has been set down on the coil receiver 116 of the circumference strapping station 80. Moreover, the coil 4 is pressed by the clamping unit 22 of the transport device 88, which is introduced into the coil eye 42 of the coil 4, against the coil receiver 116. The coil support 10 of the transport device 88 is lowered, so that it is at a distance from the coil 4.

(82) If pressing of a coil to be transported against the coil support 10 of the transport device 88 is not required, the clamping unit 22 can be lowered (or remain lowered) in the coil support 10 and the coil is transported, in the lowered state of the clamping unit 22 resting on the coil support 10, from one of the coil processing stations 72-86 to one of the other coil processing stations 72-86.

(83) If a coil that has been set down at the first or second delivery station 72, 74 is not going to be sampled in the coil processing system 70, but is to be merely strapped and possibly also weighed, the coil may be transported from the first or second delivery station 72, 74 by the transport device 88 directly to the circumference strapping station 80 or the eye strapping station 84.

(84) Further, a coil which is not closed by one or more strapping bands may be introduced into the coil processing system 70 in order to be sampled. In this case, the coil can be transported from the first or second delivery station 72, 74 by the transport device 88 directly to the sampling station 78, i.e., without stopping on the way at the band removal station 76.

(85) Moreover, it is possible for the coil processing system 70 to comprise a plurality of transport devices of the above described kind. These may be employed in different areas of the coil processing system 70. For example, the transport device 88 may be used for transport of a coil from the first delivery station 72 to the sampling station 78, while an additional transport device may be used for transport of the same coil from the sampling station 78 to the pick-up point 86.

(86) FIG. 14 shows a top view of another coil processing system 118, likewise being a coil sampling system.

(87) This coil processing system 118 comprises four coil processing stations 72, 76, 78, 80. In the present exemplary embodiment, the coil processing stations 72, 76, 78, 80 are a delivery station 72, a band removal station 76, a circumference strapping station 80, and a sampling station 78. The individual coil processing stations 72, 76, 78, 80 need not be arranged in the sequence shown in FIG. 14. For example, the band removal station 76 and the circumference strapping station 80 may be interchanged.

(88) Furthermore, the coil processing system 118 comprises a transport device (not shown in FIG. 14), which corresponds in its design to one of the previously described transport devices 2, 50, 56.

(89) With the aid of a transport system (not shown), such as a crane, a coil 4 to be processed in the coil processing system 118 is transported to the delivery station 72 and set down there.

(90) By means of the transport device of the coil processing system 118, the coil 4 is transported according to the manner described above in connection with FIG. 10 from the delivery station 72 in the direction of the sampling station 78, and while optionally en route to the sampling station 78 a strapping band closing the coil 4 is removed in the band removal station 76.

(91) After being sampled in the sampling station 78, the coil 4 is transported by the transport device of the coil processing system 118 in the reverse direction from the sampling station 78 to the strapping station 80, where the coil 4 is strapped.

(92) From the strapping station 80, the coil 4 is transported by the transport device of the coil processing system 118 to the delivery station 72. There, the coil 4 is transported by the transport system out from the coil processing system 118. The delivery station 72 thus serves at the same time as the pick-up point of the coil processing system 118.

(93) In principle, the sampling station 78 can be outfitted with its own band removal device. In such a case, the band removal station 76 of the coil processing system 118 could be basically omitted.

(94) Although the invention has been illustrated and described more closely in detail by the preferred exemplary embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations may be derived from them without leaving the scope of protection of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(95) 2 Transport device 4 Coil 6 Coil transport cart 8 Chassis 10 Coil support 12 Fastening device 14 Wheel 16 Bearing tines 18 Coil axis 20 Longitudinal direction 22 Clamping unit 24 Clamping section 26 Base section 28 Sliding section 30 Drive unit 32 Lifting rod 34 Drive unit 36 Lifting rod 38 Sliding guide 40 Cut-out 42 Coil eye 44 Pressing surface 46 Bottom side 48 Longitudinal center plane 50 Transport device 52 Friction reducing unit 54 Roller 56 Transport device 58 Sliding guide 60 Top side 62 Top side 64 Width 66 Sliding section 68 Sliding guide 70 Coil processing system 72 Delivery station 74 Delivery station 76 Band removal station 78 Sampling station 80 Circumference strapping station 82 Weighing station 84 Eye strapping station 86 Pick-up point 88 Transport device 90 Rail track 92 Coil receiver 94 Band removal device 96 Hold-down device 98 Swivel arm 100 Hold-down roller 102 Hold-down device 104 Hold-down device 106 Hold-down device 108 Severing device 110 Coil receiver 112 Bottom roller 114 Strapping device 116 Coil receiver 118 Coil processing system