US 6,598,378 B1Granted

Quick release system for mounted rollers

AssigneeITW Mima Systems, SA

InventorBenoit Pottier

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Abstract

A quick release mechanism for a roller (6, 7) wherein the roller (6, 7) is mounted in a frame and rotationally driven (for example, a roller (6, 7) carrying a roll of stretch wrapping film (4) in a stretch wrapping head (1)). The quick release mechanism includes a pair of stub axles (22, 43) which support either end of the roller (6, 7) in the frame. One of the stub axles (22) are fixed within the frame and driven by a motor (8). The connection between this driven stub axle (22) and the roller (6, 7) ensures that no relative rotational movement occurs. The other stub axle (43) is “lockable” in a hole in the frame but is removable therefrom. The connection between the removable stub axle (43) and the roller (6, 7) allows free relative rotational movement. Withdrawal of the removable stub axle (43) from the frame allows the roller (6, 7) to be disconnected from its connection with the driven stub axle (22) and removed from the frame. Refitting of the roller (6, 7) is simply a reversal of this process.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A quick release mechanism for a roller comprising:

frame means in which the roller is adapted to be mounted in use;
apertures in either end of the roller, the apertures aligned with the axis of rotation of the roller;
and
stub axle means which connect either end of the roller to the frame means by passing through respective holes aligned in the frame means and into the respective roller apertures, the connection between the roller and each stub axle means allowing substantially free angular rotation of the roller relative to the frame means;
wherein one of the stub axle means is axially fixed in the frame means and driven rotationally and provided at or near its end with a non-circular cross-section, the cross-section of the roller aperture into which the driven stub axle means fits having a corresponding shape to allow the roller to be rotated by the driven stub axle means;
and
wherein the other stub axle means is releasable from its connection with the roller aperture and its connection with the frame means solely by movement along the axis of rotation of the roller, away from the roller, the removable stub axle means having a cylindrical shaft which is adapted at one end to pass through the hole in the frame means and to fit within the aperture in the roller and provided at its opposite end with a knob to facilitate removal of the removable stub axle means from the roller aperture and frame means, the cylindrical shaft including at least two axially separated detents to allow the removable stub axle to be selectively positioned either engaged with the roller and frame means or disengaged from the roller but still engaged with the frame means to facilitate removal of the roller from the frame means.

4 more elements

A quick release system for mounted rollers, comprising:

a roller having axially opposite driven and non-driven ends each having an aperture formed therein;
a frame in which the roller is adapted to be mounted in use;
driven and non-driven stub axles connecting the driven and non-driven ends of the roller, respectively, to the frame by passing through holes aligned in the frame and into the respective apertures;
and
a locking mechanism provided between the non-driven stub axle and the respective hole of the frame for releasably locking the non-driven stub axle at first and second locking positions while allowing axially slidable movement of the non-driven stub axle therebetween;
wherein
the driven stub axle is captively retained in the aperture at the driven end in a manner that prevents relative rotational movement between the driven stub axle and the roller;
when the non-driven stub axle is locked at the first locking position, the non-driven stub axle is rotatably retained in the aperture at the non-driven end in a manner that allows relative rotational movement between the non-driven stub axle and the roller;
and
when the non-driven stub axle is locked at the second locking position, the non-driven stub axle is completely removed from the aperture of the non-driven end, thereby facilitating quick removal or replacement of the roller.

7 more elements

A stretch wrapping machine, comprising:

a frame;
a supply roll of a wrapping film supported by the frame;
a roller assembly for pre-stretching the wrapping film before feeding, said roller assembly comprising:
at least one roller having axially opposite driven and non-driven ends each having an aperture formed therein;
driven and non-driven stub axles connecting the driven and non-driven ends of the roller, respectively, to the frame by passing through holes aligned in the frame and into the respective apertures;
and
a locking mechanism provided between the non-driven stub axle and the respective hole of the frame for releasably locking the non-driven stub axle at first and second locking positions while allowing axially slidable movement of the non-driven stub axle therebetween;
wherein
the driven stub axle is captively retained in the aperture at the driven end in a manner that prevents relative rotational movement between the driven stub axle and the roller;
when the non-driven stub axle is locked at the first locking position, the non-driven stub axle is rotatably retained in the aperture at the non-driven end in a manner that allows relative rotational movement between the non-driven stub axle and the roller;
and
when the non-driven stub axle is locked at the second locking position, the non-driven stub axle is completely removed from the aperture of the non-driven end, thereby facilitating quick removal or replacement of the roller;
a driving mechanism for driving the roller assembly to stretch the wrapping film;
and
a transmission mechanism engaged with the driving mechanism and the driven stub axle of the roller assembly for transmitting driving forces from the driving mechanism to the roller assembly.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.