# US 2014/0193235 A1 · Reel handling device and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193235 A1 - Document ID: US20140193235A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/149,996 - Filed: 2014-01-08 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08 - Assignees: Cerro Wire LLC - Applicants: Cerro Wire LLC - Inventors: William Kennedy; John Hardiman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193235A1 ## CPC - B66F 9/187: {Drum lifting devices} - B65H 49/38: Skips, cages, racks, or containers, adapted solely for the transport or storage of bobbins, cops, or the like - B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00) - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract A device for handling reels includes a telescoping assembly with a first fork sleeve and a second fork sleeve attached to the telescoping assembly so that a position of the first fork sleeve may be adjusted with respect to a position of the second fork sleeve. A first reel lifter fitting and a second reel lifter fitting are attached to the telescoping assembly so that a position of the first reel lifter fitting may be adjusted with respect to a position of the second reel lifter fitting. A first reel lifter arm having a first hook portion and a second reel lifter arm having a second hook portion are slidingly received within the first and second reel lifter fittings. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for handling reels comprising: a) a telescoping assembly; b) a first fork sleeve and a second fork sleeve attached to the telescoping assembly so that a position of the first fork sleeve may be adjusted with respect to a position of the second fork sleeve; c) a first reel lifter fitting and a second reel lifter fitting attached to the telescoping assembly so that a position of the first reel lifter fitting may be adjusted with respect to a position of the second reel lifter fitting; and d) a first reel lifter arm having a first hook portion and a second reel lifter arm having a second hook portion, said first reel lifter arm slidingly received within the first reel lifter fitting and said second reel lifter arm slidingly received within the second reel lifter fitting. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device for handling reels of claim 1 further comprising openings in the first and second reel lifter fittings and a plurality of locator holes formed in the first and second reel lifter arms, a first pin sized to engage the opening of the first reel lifter fitting and the plurality of locator holes in the first reel lifter arm and a second pin sized to engage the opening of the first reel lifter fitting and the plurality of locator holes in the first reel lifter arm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device for handling reels of claim 2 wherein the first and second pins are ball-lock pins. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device for handling reels of claim 3 wherein the first and second ball-lock pins include pull rings. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device for handling reels of claim 1 wherein the first and second fork sleeves include threaded openings and further comprising a first locking hand screw engaging the threaded opening of the first fork sleeve and a second locking hand screw engaging the threaded opening of the second fork sleeve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device for handling reels of claim 5 wherein each locking hand screw includes a threaded shaft and a handle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The device for handling reels of claim 5 further comprising first and second bosses positioned on the first and second fork sleeves having threaded bores and wherein the threaded openings are the threaded bores of first and second bosses. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device for handling reels of claim 1 wherein the telescoping assembly includes an inner slider bar attached to the first fork sleeve and the first reel lifter fitting and an outer slider bar attached to the second fork sleeve and the second reel lifter fitting, wherein the inner slider bar is slidingly received within the outer slider bar. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device for handling reels of claim 8 wherein the inner slider bar includes an elongated slot and the outer slider bar includes a slider pin that engages the inner elongated slot. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 further comprising a stand featuring a base, a main vertical support having a first and second end and a cradle, where the first end of the main vertical support is attached to said base and said cradle is attached to the second end of the main vertical support. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device for handling reels of claim 10 wherein the cradle include a U-shaped channel. ### Claim 12 A method for handling reels having an arbor hole using a forklift having forks comprising the steps of: a. providing a device for handling reels that includes a telescoping assembly, a first fork sleeve and a second fork sleeve attached to the telescoping assembly, a first reel lifter fitting and a second reel lifter fitting attached to the telescoping assembly and a first reel lifter arm having a first hook portion and a second reel lifter arm having a second hook portion, said first reel lifter arm slidingly received within the first reel lifter fitting and said second reel lifter arm slidingly received within the second reel lifter fitting; b. providing a special shaft; c. positioning the special shaft within the arbor hole of the reel so that shaft end portions are exposed on opposite sides of the reel; d. attaching the fork sleeves to the forks of the forklift; e. adjusting a horizontal spacing between the fork sleeves so that the first and second hook portions of the first and second reel lifter arms may engage the exposed end portions of the special shaft; f. adjusting positions of the first and second hook portions with respect to the first and second reel lifter fittings to accommodate a diameter of the reel; and g. lifting the reel by raising the forks of the forklift ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the special shaft includes a pair of square end plates positioned on opposite ends of the special shaft and further comprising the steps of: h. providing a rack with a pair of generally parallel reel supports, each featuring a generally J-shaped cross section; and i. lowering the reel with the forklift so that the square end plates of the special shaft engage the reel supports of the rack. ### Claim 14 A system for handling a reel having an arbor hole comprising: a. a reel handing device including: A device for handling reels comprising: i) a telescoping assembly; ii) a first fork sleeve and a second fork sleeve attached to the telescoping assembly so that a position of the first fork sleeve may be adjusted with respect to a position of the second fork sleeve; iii) a first reel lifter fitting and a second reel lifter fitting attached to the telescoping assembly so that a position of the first reel lifter fitting may be adjusted with respect to a position of the second reel lifter fitting; iv) a first reel lifter arm having a first hook portion and a second reel lifter arm having a second hook portion, said first reel lifter arm slidingly received within the first reel lifter fitting and said second reel lifter arm slidingly received within the second reel lifter fitting; b. a stand including a base, a main vertical support having a first and second end and a cradle, where the first end of the main vertical support is attached to said base and said cradle is attached to the second end of the main vertical support; c. a special shaft adapted to be positioned through the arbor hole of the reel and having a first end and a second end; and d. a rack including a pair of generally parallel reel supports adapted to support the first and second ends of the special shaft. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14 wherein the first end of the special shaft includes a first square end plat and the second end of the special shaft includes a second square end plate and wherein each of the reels supports of the rack features a generally J-shaped cross section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14 wherein the cradle include a U-shaped channel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14 wherein the reel handing device further comprises openings in the first and second reel lifter fittings and a plurality of locator holes formed in the first and second reel lifter arms, a first pin sized to engage the opening of the first reel lifter fitting and the plurality of locator holes in the first reel lifter arm and a second pin sized to engage the opening of the first reel lifter fitting and the plurality of locator holes in the first reel lifter arm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14 wherein the first and second fork sleeves of the reel handling device include threaded openings and further comprising a first locking hand screw engaging the threaded opening of the first fork sleeve and a second locking hand screw engaging the threaded opening of the second fork sleeve. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14 wherein the telescoping assembly of the reel handing device includes an inner slider bar attached to the first fork sleeve and the first reel lifter fitting and an outer slider bar attached to the second fork sleeve and the second reel lifter fitting, wherein the inner slider bar is slidingly received within the outer slider bar. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein the inner slider bar includes an elongated slot and the outer slider bar includes a slider pin that engages the inner elongated slot