SPOOL FLIPPER AND PAYOUT MACHINE

Abstract

A device to easily and safely rotate a spool of wire from a vertical position that it is typically stored and transported in, to a horizontal position for unwinding. The device includes a platform and a rotating holder that can rotate between a vertical and horizontal orientation. The rotating platform includes two sides with a spool holder extending from one side. The spool holder includes a first support and a second support. Each support includes a clamp for engaging or disengaging from the spool.

Claims

1. A spool flipper and payout machine comprising a platform; and a rotating holder coupled to the platform, wherein the rotating holder includes a first side and a second side and is capable of rotating between a first position where the first side is perpendicular to the platform and the second side is parallel to the platform and a second position where first side is parallel to the platform and the second side is perpendicular to the platform, wherein the first side includes a spool holder extending therefrom that is capable of holding a spool of wire therewithin, wherein the spool of wire is placed in the spool holder when the rotating holder is in the first position so that the spool is in a vertical position, and wherein when wire is to be removed from the spool the rotating holder is rotated to the second position so the spool is in the a horizontal position for unwinding.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the spool holder includes a first support extending from a first end of the first side and a second support extending from a second end of the first side.

3. The machine of claim 2, wherein the first support is to secure a first end of the spool and the second support is to secure a second end of the spool.

4. The machine of claim 3, wherein the spool holder includes a first clamp on the first support and a second clamp on the second support, wherein the first clamp is to be received in a hole in the first end of the spool and the second clamp is to be received in a hole in the second end of the spool.

5. The machine of claim 4, wherein the first clamp includes a retractable pin and the second clamp includes a retractable pin.

6. The machine of claim 5, wherein the retractable pin of the first clamp and the retractable pin of the second clamp are retracted to enable the spool to be received and are extended to secure the spool.

7. The machine of claim 2, wherein the first support and the second support are triangularly shaped and include first and second arms extending from opposite ends of the first side and meeting at a point.

8. The machine of claim 1, wherein the rotating member is manually rotated.

9. The machine of claim 1, wherein the rotating member is rotated by a mechanical mechanism.

10. The machine of claim 9, wherein the mechanical mechanism is hydraulic.

11. The machine of claim 9, wherein the mechanical mechanism is activated by a user.

12. The machine of claim 4, wherein the rotating holder is only able to rotate when the first and the second clamps are activated to ensure that the spool is securely held in place.

13. The machine of claim 12, wherein the first and the second clamps are released to allow removal of the spool.

14. The machine of claim 1, further comprising a brake that stops or prevents the spool from rotating while in the horizontal position to prevent wire from inadvertently unraveling therefrom.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the brake may be released to enable unwinding and then reactivated to prevent inadvertent unwinding when the process is complete.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the first side and the second side include rounded exteriors to allow for rotation within the platform.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the first side and the second side includes openings to enable the spool to be visible.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the first side and the second side include a plurality of first frame members to engage the platform and a plurality of second frame members to support the plurality of first frame members.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the plurality of first frame members are rounded to allow for rotation within the platform.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The features and advantages of the various embodiments will become apparent from the following detailed description in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates an example spool of wire positioned in a vertical position (sides facing up and down so spool lays flat on a surface).

[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates an example turntable that includes a rotating platform for which a spool is placed to enable the spool to rotate to allow the wire to be removed therefrom.

[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates an example winder machine used to wind wire being unwound from a main spool onto a smaller spool.

[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates an example device for holding a spool of wire in a horizontal position.

[0013] FIG. 5A-F illustrate various views of an example device to easily and safely rotate a spool of wire from a vertical position for storage and transport to a horizontal position for unwinding, according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] A device is proposed that can easily and safely rotate the spool from a vertical position that it is typically stored and transported in, to a horizontal position for unwinding. The device is to receive a spool in a vertical direction and clamp the spool in place. The device can then rotate the spool to the horizontal direction. The device can enable the wire to be unraveled from the spool (act as a payout machine). The device may include a brake that prevents the spool from spinning. The brake may be released to enable unwinding and then reactivated to prevent inadvertent unwinding when the process is complete. The device can then rotate the spool back to the vertical direction and release the clamps to allow removal and return to storage location.

[0015] FIG. 5A-F illustrate various views of an example device 500 to easily and safely rotate a spool of wire from a vertical position for storage and transport to a horizontal position for unwinding. The device 500 includes a platform 510 and a rotating holder 520. The rotating holder 520 includes a first side 530 and a second side 540 perpendicular to the first side 530. The rotating holder 520 can rotate within the platform 510 between a first position where the first side 530 is aligned with the platform 510 and a second position where the second side 540 is aligned with the platform 510. The first side 530 and the second side 540 are symmetrical, or substantially symmetrical.

[0016] The first side 530 and the second side 540 of example device 500 may include first frame members 532, 542 and second frame members 534, 544 that run perpendicular to the first frame members 532, 542. The first frame members 532, 542 may engage the platform 510 while the second frame members 534, 544 may be connected to the first frame members 532, 542. As illustrated, there are three first frame members 532, 542 and three second frame members 534, 544 but the device 500 is in no way intended to be limited thereby. The first frame members 532, 542 include a rounded exterior for enabling the rotation. The use of frame members 532, 542, 534, 544 as opposed to a solid piece provides visibility and access.

[0017] The first side 530 includes a spool holder 550 extending therefrom. The spool holder 550 includes a first support 560 and a second support 570 extending from opposite ends thereof. As illustrated, the supports 560, 570 are triangularly shaped and include first arms 562, 572 and second arms 564, 574 that met at the point of the triangle (the end of each support 560, 570). The supports 560, 570 are in no way limited to being triangularly shaped. For example, the supports could be a single arm that extends straight out from opposite ends of the first side 530. The spool holder 500 may further include a base 580 mounted to the first side 530 that the supports 560, 570 are connected to and extend from. As illustrated, the base 580 includes braces 582, 584 between the supports 560, 570 and braces 586, 588 between the arms 562, 564 and 572, 574 of the supports 560, 570.

[0018] A clamping device 566, 576 is located at the end of each support 560, 570. The clamping devices 566, 576 are used to securely hold the spool once the spool is placed therein. The clamping devices 566, 576 may include a pin, rod or the like (simply referred to as pin for simplicity) 568, 578 that can be moved in and out to allow for securing and removal of the spool. The clamping devices 566, 576 may, for example, hydraulically operated.

[0019] FIG. 5A illustrates a perspective view of the device 500 in a position to receive the spool in a vertical position (the way the spool is stored). As illustrated, the second side 540 is aligned with the platform 510 and the first side 530 is perpendicular thereto. As such, the first frame members 532 run from top to bottom of the first side 530 and the second frame members 534 run between the first frame members 532 from front to back of the first side 530. The first frame members 542 run from side to side of the second side 540 and the second frame members 534 run between the first frame members 542 from front to back of the second side 540. The supports 560, 570 extend from the first side 530 so as to be parallel with the base 510. The clamping devices 566, 576 are configured so the pins 568, 578 point up and down.

[0020] FIG. 5B illustrates a perspective view of the device 500 after the rotating holder 520 has been rotated so that the spool is held in a horizontal position (unwinding without torque). As illustrated, the first side 530 is aligned with the platform 510 and the second side 540 is perpendicular thereto. The supports 560, 570 extend from the first side 530 so as to be perpendicular to the platform 510. The clamping devices 566, 576 are configured so the pins 568, 578 point inward from the sides. In this configuration, the wire can be taken from the spool by a winding machine without creating tension.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the rotating holder 520 may be a manually rotated from the vertical position (FIG. 5A) to the horizontal position (FIG. 5B). According to one embodiment, the rotation may be provided by a mechanical mechanism (e.g., hydraulic) that is activated by a user. The rotation may only occur if the clamp is activated to ensure that the spool is securely held in place. According to one embodiment, the device 500 may include a brake that stops or prevents the spool from rotating while in the horizontal position to prevent the wire from inadvertently unraveling therefrom.

[0022] FIG. 5C illustrates a back side of the device 500 configured to receive the spool in a vertical position and FIG. 5D illustrates a back side of the device 500 after the rotating holder 520 has been rotated so that the spool is held in a horizontal position for unwinding. It should be noted that the second frame members 534, 544 making up the first and the second sides 530, 540 are not visible in FIGS. 5C-D.

[0023] FIG. 5E illustrates a side view from the first side 530 of the device 500 in a position to receive the spool in a vertical position. FIG. 5F illustrates a top view of the device 500 in a position to receive the spool in a vertical position.

[0024] Although the invention has been illustrated by reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent that the invention is not limited thereto as various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope. Reference to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described therein is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrase in one embodiment or in an embodiment appearing in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

[0025] The various embodiments are intended to be protected broadly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.