Reel with a support surface arranged on a flexible element and a method of regulating the diameter

Abstract

A reel ( 1 ) for winding or unwinding reelable, strip-shaped objects such as steel strips, comprising a support surface ( 2 ) that extends in the main as a cylinder, a hub ( 8 ) arranged to rotate about an axis ( 4 ) in order to allow rotation of the support surface ( 2 ) about said axis ( 4 ), an adjusting device ( 60 ) arranged to cooperate with the support surface ( 2 ) in order thereby to vary the diameter (D 1 ) of the support surface wherein the support surface ( 2 ) is arranged at a flexible element consisting of a continuous circumferential piece and that the adjusting device ( 60 ) is arranged to affect said support surface ( 2 ) to alter its shape, whereby the diameter (D) of the support surface can be varied.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . A reel for winding or unwinding reelable, strip-shaped objects comprising: 
 a support surface comprising a continuous sheet having a substantially cylindrical shape, first and second ends of the continuous sheet defining an opening constructed and arranged such that as the diameter of the support surface is varied a width of the opening varies, the continuous sheet having a sufficient thickness to function as a load carrier;    a hub arranged to rotate about an axis in order to allow rotation of the support surface about said axis;    a first engagement means for connecting the first end of the continuous sheet to the hub; and    an adjusting device connected to the first end of the continuous sheet by the first engagement means and connected to the second end of the continuous sheet by a second engagement means for connecting the adjusting device to the second end of the continuous sheet, the adjusting device being constructed and arranged vary the distance between the first and second ends to thereby vary the diameter of the support surface.    
   
   
       14 . A reel according to  claim 13 , wherein said support surface all together constitutes at least 270° of the circumferential extension of said support surface.  
   
   
       15 . A reel according to  claim 13 , wherein the first and second ends of the continuous sheet define an axial through opening.  
   
   
       16 . A reel according to  claim 14 , wherein the first and second ends of the continuous sheet define an axial through opening.  
   
   
       17 . A reel according to  claim 15 , wherein said opening has an extension along the circumference of said support surface that is proportional to a diameter variation (D 1 -D 2 ) of the reel, so that b=π(D 1 -D 2 ).  
   
   
       18 . A reel according to  claim 15 , wherein said opening has an extension along the circumference of said support surface that is proportional to a diameter variation (D 1 -D 2 ) of the reel, so that b=π(D 1 -D 2 ).  
   
   
       19 . A reel according to  claim 13 , wherein said adjusting device comprises a force exerting device that is arranged to affect the support surface with a force, the component force of which being a chord in an imaginary circle the surface of which coincides with said support surface.  
   
   
       20 . A reel according to  claim 14 , wherein said adjusting device comprises a force exerting device that is arranged to affect the support surface with a force, the component force of which being a chord in an imaginary circle the surface of which coincides with said support surface.  
   
   
       21 . A reel according to  claim 17 , wherein said adjusting device comprises a force exerting device that is arranged to affect the support surface with a force, the component force of which being a chord in an imaginary circle the surface of which coincides with said support surface.  
   
   
       22 . A reel according to  claim 21 , wherein the force exerting device cooperates with said engagement means by at least one pivotal attachment.  
   
   
       23 . A reel according to  claim 13 , wherein the strip shaped objects are steel strips.