The present invention relates to protection devices for materials in coil form, in particular for metal sheets in coil form. An example of such protection devices is known from US-5 236 087.

Metal sheets in the form of rolls - or "coils" as they are usually referred to - are normally moved by means of gantry cranes provided with "jaw" or "hook-like" parts which grip a coil, penetrating into the hollow part of the said coil.

During the moving operation, the jaws may score or in any case damage the part of the metal sheet with which they make contact.

The object of the present invention is to provide a protection device for materials in coil form, in particular for metal sheets in coil form, which prevents damage thereto, is simple to manufacture, is easy to fit and has a relatively low cost.

The present invention achieves the abovementioned objects by means of a protection device having the characteristic features which are mentioned specifically in the claims which follow.

Further characteristic features and advantages of the present invention will become clear during the course of the detailed description which follows, provided purely by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Fig. 1 shows the protection device according to the present invention in an open or disengaged arrangement;
• Fig. 2 shows a pair of protection devices according to the present invention, arranged on a coil, for example of sheet metal;
• Fig. 3 is a partial side view of a protection device according to the present invention, mounted on a coil and in contact with a raising jaw;
• Fig. 4 shows a rear view of the top part of the device, in the direction of the arrow IV of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 5 shows a front view of the bottom part of the device according to Fig. 1;
• Fig. 6 shows a middle section along the line VI-VI of Fig. 5; and
• Fig. 7 is a view sectioned along the line VII-VII of Figure 2.

With reference to the Figures, 2 denotes in its entirety a protection device for materials in coil form according to the present invention.

As can be seen in Figure 2, two devices 2 are required for effective protection of a coil (CO), but the description which follows refers to only one of these devices 2 which are identical to each other.

The device 2 comprises a first and second plate 4 and 6 which have a respective longitudinal edge zone 8, 10 of smaller thickness (Figures 2, 4, 5 and 7).

The plates 4 and 6 each have a respective plurality of retaining and guiding formations 12 which are intended to be slidingly engaged by the corresponding edge zone 10, 8 of the other plate, as can be seen in particular in Figure 7.

Arched transversely folded flanges 16 and 18 are formed at the opposite ends of the first plate 4 and second plate 6, respectively. Respective longitudinal corrugated bands with transverse knurlings Z are formed on the back of the first plate 4 and on the front of the second plate 6.

During use, the two plates 4, 6 of a device 2 are coupled together and the device is arranged on one edge of a roil or coil CO radially, in the direction of the thickness, as is shown in Fig. 2. The two plates 4 and 6 are then slid, towards each other, until their folded flanges 16 and 18 come into contact with the outer curved surface and inner curved surface of the roll or coil CO, respectively, forming a kind of C-shaped clamp which embraces the roll in the direction of its thickness.

In the same way, a second device 2 is arranged and clamped on the opposite edge of the roll or coil CO, in a position longitudinally aligned with that of the first device.

In the event of movement of the roll or coil CO, the gripping and raising jaws G rest against the devices 2, as is shown in Figure 3, where a jaw is shown in broken lines, preventing damage or deterioration of the said coil.

The advantages of the protection device according to the invention clearly emerge from the above description.

This device may be conveniently made of plastic and be able to be adapted to rolls or coils of varying dimensions (thicknesses) and offers an excellent protection against scratching and damage in general.

Obviously, without modifying the principle of the invention, significant modifications may be made to that described and illustrated, without however departing from the scope of protection of the said invention as defined in the accompanying claims.