US Patent:
20130015287, Jan 17, 2013
Inventors:
J. Daniel Bryant - Murrysville PA, US
Mark D. Crowley - Pittsburgh PA, US
Daniel Bergstrom - Sarver PA, US
Stephen J. Makosey - Export PA, US
Glenn W. Jarvis - Allison Park PA, US
International Classification:
B65H 75/10
B65H 75/18
Abstract:
A spool has a spirally-wound, elongated channel having a C-shaped cross-section with a pair of arms extending from a central web. The channel is oriented with the pair of arms parallel to the axis of the spool and with the central web extending radially, relative to the axis of the spool. The channel has a plurality of adjacent windings, a first and second of the arms of spirally-wound channel cumulatively forming the inner and outer surfaces of the spool. The arms are spaced apart a distance approximating the width of the central web, such that the central web of the windings of the channel is received between the arms of adjacent windings and is retained therein to establish an overlap of windings in the axial direction. Other embodiments feature S, B and E-shaped channels to form the spool, some embodiments having inner and outer layers of channel. The spool is suitable for holding wound, thin metal stock, such as aluminum for making beverage cans, having a smooth outer surface which preserves the smoothness of the wound stock.