The present invention relates to an arrangement for handling freight in the form of rolls, usually rolls of paper in a vertical position, which are surrounded by a water vapour barrier which is secured on the roll by means of a pair of plugs, which are arranged at opposite ends of a hollow core portion of the roll, and are lifted by means of lifting equipment, which is introduced into the hollow vertically disposed core portion of the roll.

Present invention is especially directed towards a solution which is to be used in the transport of paper rolls by ship or other transportation equipment, where the paper rolls are stored in a vertical position and are handled from place to place in a vertical position. Lifting equipment, which to a large extent is employed for handling paper rolls, consists of so-called core probes, or core slings. The said core probes are introduced in the form of expandable tension means in the hollow core portion of the paper roll, in which they ex¬ pand in order to secure the paper roll, while the said core slings in the form of lifting straps are led through the hollow core portion of the paper roll.

The problem with employing known lifting equipment, which is introduced into or through the core portion of the paper roll, is that the paper roll is sensitive to moisture and that the water vapour barrier, which sur¬ rounds the paper roll, is destroyed by the lifting equip-

ment. The plug employed hitherto, which is of wood, plastic or steel, is not designed so that the lifting equipment can be introduced into the core of the paper roll without the plug being removed, and on removing the plug the water vapour barrier is destroyed. Usually the water vapour barrier is formed of polyester film or paper packing, which is impregnated with wax or a similar im¬ pregnating agent, in order to block the moisture.

The object of the present invention is to provide a solution, where paper rolls or similar freight in the form of rolls can be lifted with equipment which is introduced into the hollow core portion of the roll or through this in a known manner, without the water vapour barrier being destroyed. The arrangement according to the invention is characterised in that the plug is in the form of a hollow sleeve having a cylindrical sleeve portion, which inter¬ nally has a through opening, in which the lifting equip¬ ment can be introduced, and which externally has a cylindrical support surface for thrusting against the inner surface of the core portion via an intermediate water vapour barrier.

According to the invention it is possible to employ expanding core lifting equipment or lifting straps, which are introduced into or are led through the core portion of the roll without the plug having to be removed and thereby without destroying the water vapour barrier.

Further features of the present invention will be evident from the following description, having regard to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows in perspective a paper roll having an associated pair of plugs inserted in opposite ends of the hollow core portion of the paper roll.

Fig. 2 shows in perspective on an enlarged scale a pair of plugs for reception in the hollow core portion of the paper roll, according to a first embodiment in accor¬ dance with the invention.

Fig. 3 shows in a representation corresponding to Fig. 2 a second embodiment according to the invention.

Fig. 4 shows in a representation corresponding to Fig. 2 a third embodiment according to the invention. Fig. 5-7 show schematically and in part a cross- section of paper roll and plug and intermediate water vapour barrier according to one of the said three em¬ bodiments respectively.

Fig. 8-10 show three further modifications illu- strated in representations correspondingly as shown in Fig, 5-7.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a typical paper roll 10 having a pipe-shaped core portion 11, in which a plug 12 is mounted in the illustrated upper end 11a of the core portion and a corresponding plug 12 in the illustrated lower end lib of the core portion. In the illustrated embodiment the paper roll 10 is itself surrounded with a water vapour barrier in the form of a polyester film 13, which is fixed to and sealed off relative to the core portion 11 by means of the associated plugs 12 at opposite ends 11a and lib of the core portion 11.

Fig. 2 shows a pair of plugs 12, according to a first embodiment, which comprise a cylindrical sleeve portion 12a which is provided at the one, outer end with a flange 12b directed radially outwards and which at the other, inner sleeve portion end forms the inner termi¬ nating edge of the plug.

In Fig. 3 there are shown two plugs 12', according to a second embodiment, in which a cylindrical sleeve portion 12a' is provided at the one, outer end with a flange 12b directed radially outwards and at the opposite end is provided with a conically tapered end portion 12c. In Fig. 4 there are shown plugs 12", according to a third embodiment, in which the plug is illustrated solely in the form of a cylindrical sleeve portion 12a", where end edges of the sleeve portion 12a" form end edges of the plug.

Fig. 5 shows a plug 12, according to the construc¬ tion of Fig. 1, mounted in place in a paper roll 10. By means of stopper-forming flange 12b of the plug 12 the plug 12 can on mounting be readily localised in the in- tended correct position relative to core portion 11 of the roll 10. In addition an edge protection of the water vapour barrier 13 can be ensured just at an end opening 14 in the core portion 11 for introducing lifting equipment into the core portion 11. Simultaneously with the plug 12 clamping the water vapour barrier 13 in the core portion 11 and thereby forming a sealing off about the paper roll 10 by means of the plug 12 and the water vapour barrier 13 together with central core portion 11 of the roll, an effective edge protection of the water vapour barrier is obtained at its fastening to the core portion 11.

Fig. 6 shows correspondingly as in Fig. 5 a ready localising of the plug and edge protection of the water vapour barrier, the plug 12' only forming an abutment against cylindrical inner surface lie of the core portion 11 via the water vapour barrier 13 at the outer cylindri¬ cal sleeve portion 12a' and with the flange portion 12b against outer end lid of the core portion 11, while the conical inner portion 12c is without support in the core portion 11. The inner portion 12c can internally form a centering guide surface for lifting equipment parts which are introduced into the core portion 11.

In Fig. 7 an especially simple plug 12' is shown having a cylindrical sleeve portion 12a", which solely forms a fastening for the water vapour barrier and thereby support for the same against cylindrical inner surface lie of the core portion 11.

In Fig. 8 a modification of the construction of Fig. 7 is shown, in which a cylindrical sleeve portion 12' is provided at the inner end with a conical inner portion 12c.

In Fig. 9 a modification of the construction of Fig. 1 is shown, in which a cylindrical sleeve portion 12' is

provided at the outer end with an annular bead 12b' direc¬ ted radially outwards.

In Fig. 10 a modification of the construction of Fig. 8 is shown, in which a cylindrical sleeve portion 12' is provided at the outer end with an annular bead 12b' directed radially outwards.