Manipulation and transport device for rolled materials

A manipulation and transport device for rolled materials having a central core, said manipulation and transport device comprising:

• a U-shaped transportable base comprising two elongate legs and an elongate main support member, the two legs mounted on the main support member to extend substantially horizontally therefrom, the legs substantially parallel to each other to straddle a shipping pallet on two sides, one or more swivel wheels mounted on the main support member, and wheels mounted on the two legs;
• two or more vertical support members mounted on and extending upwardly from the main support member, opposing channels formed in the two or more vertical support members to form substantially parallel, substantially vertical guides;
• a horizontal support member comprising a first plate having front and back sides, a second plate having front and back sides, and bearings, the first plate movably mounted to the two or more vertical support members, the bearings mounted on the back side of the first plate to travel in the guides of the vertical support members, and the back side of the second plate movably mounted to the front side of the first plate to move thereon in a horizontal direction;
• an elongate mandrel having first and second ends and a long axis, said mandrel pivotally mounted at the first end to the front side of the second plate to selectively pivot between a substantially vertical, to a substantially horizontal position, said mandrel further including a plurality of expandable jaws disposed on the mandrel between the first and second ends to selectively radiate outwardly from the long axis of the mandrel to frictionally and releasably engage the central roll core of the rolled materials;
• expansion means disposed within the mandrel substantially along its long axis to selectively exert outward pressure on the jaws;
• means for causing the horizontal support member to selectively move vertically;
• means for causing the second plate of the horizontal support member to selectively move in a horizontal direction;
• and
• means for causing the mandrel to selectively pivot.