UNWINDING MANDREL FOR CONNECTING TO AN UNWINDING APPARATUS FOR UNWINDING ELONGATE MATERIALS

Abstract

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an unwinding mandrel for connecting to an unwinding apparatus for unwinding elongate materials and/or an unwinding system. In one example embodiment, an unwinding mandrel is disclosed including: a main part positioned in the center of a bundle of elongated materials; a connecting portion detachably connecting the unwinding mandrel to the unwinding apparatus; and at least one movable body pivotably connected by at least one joint to the main part, transversely to a main extension axis of the main part.

Claims

1. Unwinding mandrel for connecting to an unwinding apparatus for unwinding elongate materials such as cables or pipes from a bundle, wherein the unwinding mandrel comprises: a main part configured to be arranged in the center of the bundle, a connecting portion configured and arranged to detachably connect the unwinding mandrel to the unwinding apparatus, and at least one movable body which is pivotably connected by at least one joint to the main part transversely to a main extension axis of the main part.

2. The unwinding mandrel of claim 1, characterized in that the body forms a support surface configured and arranged to support and carry the bundle.

3. (canceled)

4. The unwinding mandrel of claim 1, characterized in that the body is configured and arranged to be brought into a contact position in which it extends substantially along the main extension axis of the main part.

5. The unwinding mandrel of claim 4, characterized in that the body in the contact position rests at least partially against the main part.

6. (canceled)

7. The unwinding mandrel of claim 1, characterized in that the at least one body is pretensioned into at least one position.

8. The unwinding mandrel according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one body is configured and arranged to be pretensioned away from its contact position towards a receiving position, wherein in the receiving position the ends of the brackets opposite the at least one joint are further away from the main part than in the contact position.

9. The unwinding mandrel according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least one body is configured and arranged to be pretensioned from a transition point along its movement between the contact position and the receiving position in the direction of the receiving position.

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. The unwinding mandrel according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one body has a termination at its end opposite the at least one joint, which termination faces in the direction of the main extension axis in the contact position.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. The unwinding mandrel according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one body has a termination at its end opposite the at least one joint, and in that the termination is telescopic.

16. The unwinding mandrel according to claim 1, characterized in that the body has a support surface configured and arranged for supporting the bundle.

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. The unwinding mandrel according to claim 1, characterized in that the main part is of telescopic design.

20. The unwinding mandrel according to claim 19, characterized in that a telescopic body of the main part has a locking mechanism for fixing at least one position to the main part and the locking mechanism is preferably lockable by a snap lock after extraction from the main part.

21. (canceled)

22. The unwinding mandrel according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting portion has a snap connector configured and arranged for positive connection to the unwinding apparatus.

23. Unwinding system comprising: an unwinding apparatus for unwinding elongate materials such as cables or pipes from a bundle, having a base plate for standing on a base, and at least one unwinding mandrel according to claim 1.

24. The unwinding system according to claim 23, characterized in that the at least one unwinding mandrel is rotatably mounted relative to the base plate.

25. The unwinding system according to claim 23, further including a turntable mounted on the base plate, the turntable configured and arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation and to accommodate the bundle of elongate material.

26. The unwinding system according to claim 23, characterized in that the unwinding apparatus further includes a connector configured and arranged to releasably coupling to the connecting portion of the unwinding mandrel.

27. The unwinding system according to claim 25, characterized in that the turntable is rotationally connected to the base plate centrally.

28. The unwinding system according to claim 25, characterized in that the turntable is rotatably connected to the base plate.

29. (canceled)

30. The unwinding system according to claim 25, characterized in that the at least one body extends at least partially beyond the turntable in a receiving position.

Description

[0040] In the following, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiment variants shown in the figures, wherein:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an unwinding mandrel according to the invention in a side view in a contact position;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment in a receiving position;

[0043] FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment in a receiving position with the telescope body extended;

[0044] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the first embodiment;

[0045] FIG. 5 shows an unwinding system according to the invention in a second embodiment in a receiving position in a view from the side;

[0046] FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of an unwinding apparatus of the second embodiment.

[0047] In FIGS. 1 to 4, a first embodiment of an unwinding mandrel 1b is shown, which has an elongate, substantially circular main part 1c extending along a main extension axis 2. A connecting portion 11 is arranged at one end, which has a connecting surface normal to the main extension axis 2 and a receiving opening for connecting to an unwinding device 1b and receiving a pivot pin 3 of the unwinding device 1b. Thus, the pivot pin 3 also acts as a connector. When the pivot pin 3 is inserted, a positive connection is made by a snap connection which can be released by pressing the pushbutton 8 against a pretension of an elastic spring element.

[0048] In the region of the connecting section 11, a total of four bodies 18 are connected via one joint each, which are designed as integral brackets. All brackets are of the same design and are arranged radially symmetrically around the main extension axis 2. The joints allow pivoting about axes normal to the main extension axis 2. The respective opposite pivot axes of the joints are parallel.

[0049] Each body 18 is bent into shape from a single piece of steel rod and has a substantially constant round profile. At the end opposite the joint, each body 18 has a termination 15 which is triangular in shape and normal to its main extension.

[0050] The main part 1c is made of plastic and has a telescopic body 7 inserted in the end opposite the joint. This can be brought from a folded position as shown in FIG. 1 or 2 by pulling it out into an unfolded position (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4), in which a snap lock 9 fixes the position of the telescopic body 7 in relation to the rest of the main part 1c. This can be released by a further pushbutton as in the case of the snap connection.

[0051] The bodies 18 are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a contact position. Here, the bodies 18 lie parallel to the main extension axis 2 and against the main part 1c.

[0052] When the bodies 18 are pivoted, the terminations 15 move away from the main extension axis 2. The pivoting of the bodies 18 is preferably limited to a maximum angle starting from the contact position, particularly preferably a maximum of 180° and most preferably 90°.

[0053] In the receiving position shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the bodies 18 are disposed normally to the main extension axis 2 and thus form receiving surfaces on which a bundle can be received. The terminations 15 face upwards and can prevent slipping off the edge areas of the bundle.

[0054] FIG. 5 shows an unwinding apparatus 1a on which an unwinding mandrel 1b according to the invention is connected ready for operation. In this unwinding system, the bodies 18 project above a turntable 1 of the unwinding apparatus 1a. The bodies 18 are located on the turntable 1, and the main extension axis 1c is coaxial with the pivot pin 3 and the axis of rotation 3a which connects the turntable 1 to a base plate 4. In other embodiments, the turntable 1 and the base plate 4 can also be designed differently, for example not as continuous plates but only as strips or rod elements.

[0055] Turntable 1 and base plate 4 can be rotated against each other via the axis of rotation 3a and are also supported by bearings in the form of plastic rollers.

[0056] The base plate 4 has a receptacle 6 to which, for example, a length measuring device for measuring the length of the unrolled material can be passed.