Coil chuck and methods

Abstract

Embodiments of a dispensing apparatus capable of dispensing flexible material coiled on a roll or winding flexible material onto a roll include a rotatable spindle having an attached end and an opposite free end, a first roll guide proximate the attached end of the spindle, a second roll guide positionable proximate the free end of the spindle and at least one selectively actuated clutch arm operatively coupled to the spindle and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. The spindle is configured to extend through an axial hole of the roll and the second roll guide is removable to allow installation or removal of the roll from the spindle. When in the locked position, at least a portion of the clutch arm extends through a side surface of the spindle and is engageable with the roll to reduce rotation of the roll relative to the spindle.

1 . An apparatus capable of dispensing flexible material from or winding flexible material into a coiled roll, comprising: 
 a rotatable spindle having an attached end and an opposite free end, the spindle configured to extend through an axial hole of the roll;    a first roll guide proximate the attached end of the spindle;    a second roll guide positionable proximate the free end of the spindle and removable to allow installation or removal of the roll from the spindle; and    at least one selectively actuated clutch arm operatively coupled to the spindle and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, and wherein in the locked position, at least a portion of the clutch arm extends through a side surface of the spindle and is engageable with the roll to reduce rotation of the roll relative to the spindle.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one selectively activated clutch arm is configured to hold the second roll guide in place proximate the free end of the spindle when the clutch arm is in the locked position.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one selectively activated clutch arm comprises at least a first portion extendible through a first opening in the side surface and a second portion extendible through a second opening in the side surface when the clutch arm is in the locked position, the first portion being capable of bearing against an inside surface of the roll to reduce rotation of the roll relative to the spindle, and the second portion being shaped to restrict axial movement of the roll and to maintain the second roll guide in position.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the roll guides each comprise a side member, each side member having an anti-binding feature configured to urge the side member axially toward a center of the roll as material from the roll is uncoiled or material is wound on the roll to reduce binding.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the side members apply a compressive force to the ends of the roll.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein actuation of the clutch arm with the roll and first and second roll guides positioned on the spindle engages the anti-binding feature of the first roll guide and of the second roll guide.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the anti-binding feature includes at least one spring positioned to urge the respective side member axially toward the center of the roll.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least two first roll guide springs coupled to an outer surface of the first roll guide proximate an outer surface of the spindle and at least two second roll guide springs coupled to an outer surface of the second roll guide proximate an outer surface of the spindle, the springs configured to urge the first and second roll guides towards each other to reduce binding of as material is uncoiled for dispensing.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a brake mechanism coupled to the spindle and actuatable to selectively slow or stop rotation of the spindle.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spindle includes at least one alignment groove shaped to receive a roll support member supporting a roll such that the support member can be positioned to extend into the alignment groove with the supported roll passing over the free end of the spindle and onto the side surface of the spindle.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spindle includes at least one alignment feature, further comprising an associated transporter for use in transferring the roll to or from the apparatus, the transporter having a support member on which the roll can be positioned, wherein the support member includes an alignment portion engageable with the alignment feature on the spindle to align the transporter with the spindle for transfer of the roll.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the support member is coupled to a vertical lifting device for raising and lowering the support member and any supported roll.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the transporter is mounted to a wheeled frame to facilitate movement of the transporter.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the transporter includes an upright member and support member is movably cantilevered from the upright member.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first roll guide is fixed to the spindle near the attached end.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the clutch arm comprises a third portion extending through a third opening in the spindle between the first and second spindle openings when the clutch arm is in the locked position.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a surface of the second portion is angled to urge the roll toward the first roll guide as the clutch arm moves from the unlocked to the locked position.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one selectively actuated clutch arm comprises at least first, second and third clutch arms, the first, second and third clutch arms being generally equally spaced about the spindle.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , comprising at least a first arm retention spring having a first end coupled to the first clutch arm and a second end coupled to the second clutch arm, a second arm retention spring having a first end coupled to the second clutch arm and a second end coupled to the third clutch arm, a third arm retention spring having a first end coupled to the third clutch arm and a second end couple to the first clutch arm, the first, second and third arm retention springs forming a generally triangular-shaped configuration.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator capable of actuating the at least one selectively actuated clutch arm, the actuator comprising an expandable airbag and a piston, wherein the piston causes the clutch arm to move into the locked position when the airbag is expanded.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material comprises strapping material.  
   
   
       22 . A method of loading a coil of flexible material comprising: 
 providing a rotatable spindle having an attached end and an opposite free end, the spindle configured to extend through an axial hole of the roll;    providing a first roll guide proximate the attached end of the spindle and a second roll guide positionable proximate the free end of the spindle;    providing an at least one selectively actuated clutch arm movably coupled to the spindle and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position;    loading a roll of flexible material onto the spindle; and    locking the clutch arm to prevent the roll from rotating relative to the spindle by moving the clutch arm such that at least a portion of the clutch arm extends through a side surface of the spindle and engages the roll.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the spindle comprises at least one alignment groove and the roll to be loaded is supported on a support member, the method further comprising engaging a portion of the support member with the at least one alignment groove to align the roll with the spindle.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein loading a roll includes adjusting the height of the roll with a lifting device.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising urging the first and second roll guides towards each other to reduce binding as material is uncoiled for dispensing or coiled for winding.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least a portion of the clutch arm comprises at least one pressure inducing tab configured to prevent the roll from rotating relative to the spindle and a retention tab configured to restrict axially outward movement of the roll and maintain the roll on the spindle, wherein locking comprises selectively moving the clutch arm such that the pressure inducing tab extends through a first opening in the side surface of the spindle and the retention tab extends though a second opening in the side surface of the spindle.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein locking further comprises moving the clutch arm such that the retention tab maintains the second roll guide in position such that the first roll guide abuts a first end of the roll proximate the attached end of the spindle and the second roll guide abuts a second end of the roll proximate the free end of the spindle.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein a surface of the retention tab is angled, and wherein locking further comprises utilizing the angled surface of the retention tab to urge the roll toward the first roll guide as the clutch arm moves from the locked to the unlocked position.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing an actuator having a piston, the actuator being coupled to the spindle, and wherein locking comprises activating the actuator such that the actuator piston moves the clutch arm into the locked position.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising winding flexible material onto the roll.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising dispensing material from the roll.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising unloading the coil of flexible material by unlocking the clutch arm and removing the coil of flexible material from the spindle.