Decoiler with lockable control post swivel junction

Abstract

A decoiler for spooled strip and wire materials includes a motorized platform for supporting a coiled spool of material on a base. An upstanding control post has a guide which feeds material from the spool to a metal forming machine under predetermined tension. A horizontal support arm mounted on the base has an outer end supporting the control post. A lockable swivel joint pivotally connects the support arm with the base to shift the same between a wide variety of different feed positions, and includes a lock that retains the control post in a selected feed position.

1 . A decoiler for spooled strip and wire materials, comprising:
 a base shaped for support on a floor surface adjacent at least one associated metal forming machine;   a platform rotatably connected with said base and shaped to support thereon a spool of coiled material disposed in a normally generally horizontal orientation;   a motor mounted on said base, operably connected with said platform and selectively rotating said platform in a normally generally horizontal plane to pay the coiled material off of the spool;   a material control post disposed in a generally upstanding orientation along side of said platform, and including a material guide shaped to pass uncoiled material from the spool thereover and apply a preselected tension to the material to facilitate smoothly feeding the material to the associated metal forming machine;   a control operably connected with said motor and said material control post to selectively actuate said motor and uncoil the coiled material from the spool in response to tension applied to the material;   a control post support arm extending outwardly from said base, and having an inner end thereof and an outer end thereof supporting said material control post thereon a preselected laterally spaced apart distance from said platform;   a lockable swivel junction pivotally connecting said inner end of said control post support arm with said base to shift said control post support arm and said material control post with said material guide thereon along a generally horizontal plane between a wide variety of different feed positions about said base to facilitate effective presentation of the material to the associated metal forming machine, and including:   a guide portion fixed relative to said base, disposed in a generally horizontal orientation, and including a vertically extending arcuate slot therethrough;   an attachment portion operably connected with said control post support arm and having an inner end thereof pivotally connected with said guide portion;   a pin supported on an outer end of said attachment portion and closely received in said slot of said guide portion to facilitate rotation of said arm between said feed positions; and   a releasable lock which securely retains said control post support arm in a selected feed position.   
     
     
         2 . A decoiler as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said guide portion comprises a guide plate fixedly supported on said base;   said attachment portion comprises an attachment bracket; and   said pin comprises a guide pin.   
     
     
         3 . A decoiler as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said guide pin includes a threaded shank portion extending through said slot in said guide plate, and a threaded nut portion mounted on said shank portion which abuts said guide plate when said nut portion is tightened to define at least a portion of said releasable lock which securely retains said control post support arm in the selected position.   
     
     
         4 . A decoiler as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said attachment bracket comprises a hollow sleeve into which said inner end of said control post support arm is telescopingly received.   
     
     
         5 . A decoiler as set forth in  claim 4 , including:
 a releasable retainer mounted on said sleeve and selectively engaging said control post support arm to securely retain the same in a selected longitudinal position relative to said sleeve.   
     
     
         6 . A decoiler as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said releasable retainer comprises at least one lock bolt.   
     
     
         7 . A decoiler as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein:
 said arcuate slot has a generally semi-circular top plan shape for pivotally shifting said control post support arm around 180 degrees between selected feed positions.   
     
     
         8 . A decoiler as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said arcuate slot is continuous for pivotally shifting said control post support arm in infinitesimally small increments.   
     
     
         9 . A decoiler as set forth in  claim 8 , including:
 a threaded fastener pivotally connecting said inner end of said attachment bracket with said guide plate and defining at least a portion of said releasable lock for releasably, yet securely, retaining said control post support arm in a selected feed position.   
     
     
         10 . A decoiler as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein:
 said sleeve has a generally rectangular lateral cross-sectional shape; and   said control post support arm extends generally horizontally from said base and has a hollow tubular construction with a generally rectangular lateral cross-sectional shape similar to said lateral cross-sectional shape of said sleeve for close telescoping reception therein.   
     
     
         11 . A decoiler as set forth in  claim 10 , including:
 an intermediate reinforcing plate fixedly connected with an upper surface of said attachment bracket.   
     
     
         12 . A decoiler as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said attachment bracket comprises a hollow sleeve into which said inner end of said control post support arm is telescopingly received.   
     
     
         13 . A decoiler as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said arcuate slot has a generally semi-circular top plan shape for pivotally shifting said control post support arm around 180 degrees between selected feed positions in infinitesimally small increments.   
     
     
         14 . A decoiler for spooled strip and wire materials, comprising:
 a base shaped for support adjacent at least one associated metal forming machine;   a powered platform rotatably connected with said base and shaped to support thereon a spool of coiled material disposed in a normally generally horizontal orientation;   a material control post disposed in a generally upstanding orientation along side of said platform, and including a material guide shaped to pass uncoiled material from the spool thereover and apply a preselected tension to the material to facilitate smoothly feeding the material to the associated metal forming machine;   a control operably connected with said platform and said material control post to selectively uncoil the coiled material from the spool in response to tension applied to the material;   a control post support arm extending outwardly from said base, and supporting said material control post a preselected laterally spaced apart distance from said platform;   a lockable swivel junction pivotally connecting said control post support arm with said base to shift said control post support arm and said material control post with said material guide thereon along a generally horizontal plane between a wide variety of different feed positions about said base to facilitate effective presentation of the material to the associated metal forming machine; and wherein   said swivel junction includes:   a guide plate fixedly supported on said base in a generally horizontal orientation, and including a vertically extending arcuate slot therethrough;   an attachment bracket operably connected with said control post support arm and having an inner end thereof pivotally connected with said guide plate; and   a guide pin supported on an outer end of said attachment bracket and closely received in said slot of said guide plate to facilitate rotation of said arm between said feed positions.   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A decoiler as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein:
 said guide pin includes a threaded shank portion extending through said slot in said guide plate, and a threaded nut portion mounted on said shank portion which abuts said guide plate when said nut portion is tightened to define at least a portion of said releasable lock which securely retains said control post support arm in the selected position.   
     
     
         17 . A decoiler as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein:
 said attachment bracket comprises a hollow sleeve into which an inner end of said control post support arm is telescopingly received.   
     
     
         18 . A decoiler as set forth in  claim 17 , including:
 a releasable retainer mounted on said sleeve and selectively engaging said control post support arm to securely retain the same in a selected longitudinal position relative to said sleeve.