Roll lifting assemblies, systems, and methods
View Patent ↗The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to roll lifting assemblies, systems, and methods for lifting, handling, and/or maneuvering rolled material. According to some embodiments, a roll lifting system may be configured to move a single roll and/or to concurrently move two or more rolls. For example, a roll lifting system may comprise a translocation apparatus and/or a lift assembly.
1. A roll lifting system comprising:
a translocation apparatus comprising:
a fixed beam having a longitudinal axis; and
an arm having a longitudinal axis and operable to move relative to the beam in a plane defined by the longitudinal axes of the beam and the arm; and
a lift assembly mounted to the translocation apparatus at a first end of the arm, the lift assembly comprising:
a generally elongated frame having an upper end and a lower end and side by side first and second portions;
a first probe moveably connected at the upper end of the first portion of the frame;
a first pivot point moveably connected at the lower end of the first portion of the frame;
a first foot moveably connected at the first pivot point;
a first guide moveably connected at a first portion of the frame between its upper end and its lower end;
a second probe moveably connected at the upper end of the second portion of the frame;
a second pivot point moveably connected at the lower end of the second portion of the frame;
a second foot moveably connected at the second pivot point; and
a second guide moveably connected at a second portion of the frame between its upper end and its lower end;
wherein the first probe, foot, and guide are configured to contact a first roll and the first foot is configured to bear more than half of the weight of the first roll, and
wherein the second probe, foot, and guide are configured to contact a second roll and the second foot is configured to bear more than half the weight of the second roll.
2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the first foot is configured to bear substantially all of the weight of the first roll and the second foot is configured to bear substantially all of the weight of the second roll.
3. A system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first roll has a hollow core,
the first probe is configured for insertion into at least a portion of the hollow core of the first roll,
the second roll has a hollow core, and
the second probe is configured for insertion into at least a portion of the hollow core of the second roll.
4. A system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first roll has an upper end and a lower end,
the first foot is configured to reversibly slide under a portion of the lower end of the first roll,
the second roll has an upper end and a lower end, and
the second foot is configured to reversibly slide under a portion of the lower end of the second roll.
5. A system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first guide is configured to contact the lower third of the first roll, and
the second guide is configured to contact the lower third of the second roll.
6. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the lift assembly is configured to receive each of the first roll and the second roll in a substantially vertical position.
7. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the lift assembly is configured to maintain each of the first roll and the second roll in a substantially vertical position throughout translocation.
8. A method for moving vertically standing rolls with a lift system comprising:
a translocation apparatus comprising:
a fixed beam having a longitudinal axis; and
an arm having a longitudinal axis and operable to move relative to the beam in a plane defined by the longitudinal axes of the beam and the arm; and
a lift assembly mounted to the translocation apparatus at a first end of the arm, the lift assembly comprising:
a generally elongated frame having an upper end and a lower end and side by side first and second portions;
a first probe moveably connected at the upper end of the first portion of the frame;
a first pivot point moveably connected at the lower end of the first portion of the frame;
a first foot moveably connected at the first pivot point;
a first guide moveably connected at a first portion of the frame between its upper end and its lower end;
a second probe moveably connected at the upper end of the second portion of the frame;
a second pivot point moveably connected at the lower end of the second portion of the frame;
a second foot moveably connected at the second pivot point; and
a second guide moveably connected at a second portion of the frame between its upper end and its lower end;
wherein the first probe, foot, and guide are configured to contact a first roll having a first end, a second end, and a hollow core, and the first foot is configured to bear more than half of the weight of the first roll, and
wherein the second probe, foot, and guide are configured to contact a second roll having a first end, a second end, and a hollow core, and the second foot is configured to bear more than half the weight of the second roll,
the method comprising:
contacting at least a portion of the first probe with at least a portion of the hollow core nearest the upper end of the first roll;
contacting at least a portion of the second probe with at least a portion of the hollow core nearest the upper end of the second roll;
contacting at least a portion of the first foot with at least a portion of the lower end of the first roll;
contacting at least a portion of the second foot with at least a portion of the lower end of the second roll;
ambulating the lift assembly from a first position to a second position via the translocation apparatus;
contacting at least a portion of the first guide with at least a portion of the first roll;
contacting at least a portion of the second guide with at least a portion of the second roll;
disengaging the first foot from the lower end of the first roll;
disengaging the second foot from the lower end of the second roll;
disengaging the first probe from the upper end of the first roll; and
disengaging the second probe from the upper end of the second roll.
9. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the first roll and the second roll are continuously or substantially continuously maintained in a generally vertical position.
10. A method according to claim 8 , wherein disengaging the first probe from the upper end of the first roll further comprises partially disengaging the first probe from the upper end of the first roll, confirming the first roll is at rest in a generally vertical position, and completing disengagement of the first probe from the upper end of the first roll.
11. A method according to claim 8 , wherein disengaging the second probe from the upper end of the second roll further comprises partially disengaging the second probe from the upper end of the second roll, confirming the second roll is at rest in a generally vertical position, and completing disengagement of the second probe from the upper end of the second roll.
12. A method according to claim 8 , wherein ambulating the lift assembly from a first position to a second position via the translocation apparatus further comprises suspending the first roll and the second roll no more than about one inch above the second position.
13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the first roll moves downward no more than about one inch upon disengaging the first foot and the second roll moves downward no more than about one inch upon disengaging the second foot.
14. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the first roll remains in substantially the same condition in the second position as it had in the first position and the second roll remains in substantially the same condition in the second position as it had in the first position.
15. A roll lifting assembly comprising:
a generally elongated frame having an upper end and a lower end and side by side first and second portions;
a first probe moveably connected at the upper end of the first portion of the frame;
a first pivot point moveably connected at the lower end of the first portion of the frame;
a first foot moveably connected at the first pivot point;
a first guide moveably connected at a first portion of the frame between its upper end and its lower end;
a second probe moveably connected at the upper end of the second portion of the frame;
a second pivot point moveably connected at the lower end of the second portion of the frame;
a second foot moveably connected at the second pivot point; and
a second guide moveably connected at a second portion of the frame between its upper end and its lower end;
wherein the first probe, foot, and guide are configured to contact a first roll and the first foot is configured to bear more than half of the weight of the first roll, and
wherein the second probe, foot, and guide are configured to contact a second roll and the second foot is configured to bear more than half the weight of the second roll.
16. An assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the first foot is configured to bear substantially all of the weight of the first roll and the second foot is configured to bear substantially all of the weight of the second roll.
17. An assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
the first roll has a hollow core,
the first probe is configured for insertion into at least a portion of the hollow core of the first roll,
the second roll has a hollow core, and
the second probe is configured for insertion into at least a portion of the hollow core of the second roll.
18. An assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
the first roll has an upper end and a lower end,
the first foot is configured to reversibly slide under a portion of the lower end of the first roll,
the second roll has an upper end and a lower end, and
the second foot is configured to reversibly slide under a portion of the lower end of the second roll.
19. An assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
the first guide is configured to contact the lower third of the first roll, and
the second guide is configured to contact the lower third of the second roll.
20. An assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the assembly is configured to receive and maintain each of the first roll and the second roll in a substantially vertical position throughout translocation.