US-20260125237-A1 - COMPOSITE CYLINDER WITH METAL BEARING BAND

US20260125237A1US 20260125237 A1US20260125237 A1US 20260125237A1US-20260125237-A1

Abstract

A winding core that is a composite cylinder with a metal bearing band to prevent splitting and fraying of the cylinder when supported by a support wheel, and a method for manufacturing the same.

Inventors

Randolph A. Dunn
Jesse Martin

Assignees

SOUHEGAN WOOD PRODUCTS INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241104

Claims (20)

1 . A method for manufacturing a winding core with a metal bearing band, the method comprising: providing an extruded wood fiber cylinder to serve as at least a portion of a winding cylinder; and affixing at least one metal bearing band about an end of said winding cylinder.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: forming a winding cylinder through securing a plurality of staves to the outer surface of the extruded fiber cylinder.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein: the staves are wooden staves or plastic staves.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: prebending said metal bearing band prior to the affixing.
5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising: applying an adhesive agent prior to the affixing.
6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein: the adhesive agent is a foaming adhesive.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the affixing comprises: securing a first end of the metal bearing band to one end the winding cylinder using at least one first screw; causing a second end of the metal bearing band to overlap the first end of the metal bearing band by a screwing margin; and securing the second end of the metal bearing band to the one end of the winding cylinder using at least one second screw, wherein: the at least one second screw passes through the first end of the metal bearing band and is screwed into the winding cylinder.
8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the affixing further comprises: securing at least one non-end portion of the metal bearing band to the winding cylinder using at least one third screw.
9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein: the extruded wood fiber cylinder is a hollow extruded wood fiber cylinder having a hollow core that, in a cross section that is perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of said extruded wood fiber cylinder, has a regular polygonal shape having a plurality of sides of substantially equal length and substantially equal interior angles; and the at least one first screw, the at least one second screw, and the at least one third screw are each screwed into the winding cylinder from the outside of winding cylinder at cross-sectional locations corresponding to radial projections from an axis of the extruded wood fiber cylinder through substantially middles of sides of the polygonal shape.
10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the affixing further comprises: causing a second end of the metal bearing band to overlap a first end of the metal bearing band by a welding margin; securing the second end of the metal bearing band to the first end of the metal bearing band through spot welding; and fitting the welded metal bearing band onto an end of the winding cylinder.
11 . A winding core with a metal bearing band, comprising: a cylindrical extruded wood fiber cylinder that serves as at least part of a winding cylinder; and at least one metal bearing band affixed about an end of said winding cylinder.
12 . The winding core of claim 11 , wherein: the winding cylinder further comprises a plurality of staves secured to the outer surface of the extruded wood fiber cylinder.
13 . The winding core of claim 12 , wherein: the staves are wooden staves or plastic staves.
14 . The winding core of claim 11 , further comprising: an adhesive agent interposed between the winding cylinder and the at least one metal bearing band.
15 . The winding core of claim 14 , wherein: the adhesive agent is a foaming adhesive.
16 . The winding core of claim 11 , wherein: a first end of the metal bearing band is affixed to one end the winding cylinder using at least one first screw; a second end of the metal bearing band overlaps the first end of the metal bearing band by a screwing margin; and the second end of the metal bearing band is affixed to the one end of the winding cylinder using at least one second screw, wherein: the at least one second screw passes through the first end of the metal bearing band and is screwed into the winding cylinder.
17 . The winding core of claim 16 , wherein: at least one non-end portion of the metal bearing band is secured to the winding cylinder using at least one third screw.
18 . The winding core of claim 17 , wherein: the extruded wood fiber cylinder is a hollow extruded wood fiber cylinder having a hollow core that, in a cross section that is perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of said extruded wood fiber cylinder, has a regular polygonal shape having a plurality of sides of substantially equal length and substantially equal interior angles; and the at least one first screw, the at least one second screw, and the at least one third screw are each screwed into the winding cylinder from the outside of the winding cylinder at cross-sectional locations corresponding to radial projections from an axis of the wood fiber cylinder through substantially middle of sides of the polygonal shape.
19 . The winding core of claim 11 , wherein: a second end of the metal bearing band overlaps a first end of the metal bearing band by a welding margin; the second end of the metal bearing band is secured to the first end of the metal bearing band through spot welding; and the welded metal bearing band is fitted onto an end of the winding cylinder.
20 . The winding core of claim 11 , wherein: the metal bearing band is made from galvanized steel plate.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a winding core, and more particularly, to an extruded wood fiber core with metal bearing bands provided on the ends thereof to prevent fraying of the core when supported on support wheels or rollers by the ends thereof. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Wood fiber cores have been used in applications utilized for winding or spooling industrial products. Extruded wood fiber cores, such as those manufactured by the assignee since the mid 1960's, have been suitable for applications where low cost is valued, and where durability is not essential. Wood fiber cores have excellent compressive strength in the axial direction, but only moderate or poor tensile strength in the transverse direction. Such fiber cores may be extruded or molded. Cores used in winding or spooling industrial products are often supported on the ends thereof when winding a sheet-like product thereon, or feeding a sheet-like product therefrom. While in some use scenarios the ends of the cores may be supported by mandrels or chucks, in other use scenarios the ends of the cores are supported on wheel-shaped rollers. When the weight of the product on the core is great, the concentration of forces at the points of support by the wheel-shaped rollers may cause the wood fiber core to fray or split, preventing the cylindrical wood fiber core from rolling smoothly on the support rollers, preventing smooth winding or feeding of the product to or from the core. Solid wood cores are manufactured using labor intensive machining of lumber, gluing, clamping and various steps. While more expensive than extruded core, the solid wood provides improved structural integrity for heavier materials or multiple use applications, offering improved resistance to fraying and splitting. Nevertheless, despite the additional expense, solid wood cores offer only a partial solution to fraying and splitting when the ends of a heavily loaded core are supported on wheel-shaped support rollers or wheels. Similarly, steel cores are highly durable, but require expensive fabrication and welding, are heavy, and are expensive to ship. What is needed, therefore, are techniques for providing durable, reusable winding cores, manufacturable with low labor, able to withstand use when borne on wheel-shaped support rollers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One embodiment provides a method for manufacturing a winding core with a metal bearing band, the method comprising providing an extruded wood fiber cylinder to serve as at least a portion of a winding cylinder; and affixing at least one metal bearing band about an end of said winding cylinder. Another embodiment provides such a method, further comprising forming a winding cylinder through securing a plurality of staves to the outer surface of the extruded fiber cylinder. A further embodiment provides such a method, wherein: the staves are wooden staves or plastic staves. Yet another embodiment provides such a method, further comprising prebending said metal bearing band prior to the affixing. Yet another embodiment provides such a method, further comprising: applying an adhesive agent prior to the affixing. Still another embodiment provides such a method, wherein: the adhesive agent is a foaming adhesive. Still another embodiment provides such a method, wherein the affixing comprises: securing a first end of the metal bearing band to one end the winding cylinder using at least one first screw; causing a second end of the metal bearing band to overlap the first end of the metal bearing band by a screwing margin; and securing the second end of the metal bearing band to the one end of the winding cylinder using at least one second screw, wherein: the at least one second screw passes through the first end of the metal bearing band and is screwed into the winding cylinder. Even another embodiment provides such a method, wherein the affixing further comprises securing at least one non-end portion of the metal bearing band to the winding cylinder using at least one third screw. An even further embodiment provides such a method, wherein the extruded wood fiber cylinder is a hollow extruded wood fiber cylinder having a hollow core that, in a cross section that is perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of said extruded wood fiber cylinder, has a regular polygonal shape having a plurality of sides of substantially equal length and substantially equal interior angles; and the at least one first screw, the at least one second screw, and the at least one third screw are each screwed into the winding cylinder from the outside of winding cylinder at cross-sectional locations corresponding to radial projections from an axis of the extruded wood fiber cylinder through substantially middles of sides of the polygonal shape. A still even another embodiment provides such a method, wherein the affixing further comprises: causing a second end of the metal bearing band to overlap a first end of the metal bearing band by a we