Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
  • A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
  • A47K10/24—Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
  • A47K10/32—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
  • A47K10/34—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means
  • A47K10/38—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means the web being rolled up with or without tearing edge
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H19/00—Changing the web roll
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H16/00—Unwinding, paying-out webs
  • B65H16/02—Supporting web roll
  • B65H16/06—Supporting web roll both-ends type
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H75/00—Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
  • B65H75/02—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks
  • B65H75/18—Constructional details
  • B65H75/185—End caps, plugs or adapters
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
  • A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
  • A47K10/24—Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet-paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
  • A47K10/32—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper
  • A47K2010/3253—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper with one or more reserve rolls
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
  • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
  • B65H2301/41—Winding, unwinding
  • B65H2301/417—Handling or changing web rolls
  • B65H2301/4171—Handling web roll
  • B65H2301/4173—Handling web roll by central portion, e.g. gripping central portion
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2402/00—Constructional details of the handling apparatus
  • B65H2402/60—Coupling, adapter or locking means

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a dispensing system including a dispenser for dispensing sheet material from rolls, and a flexible sheet material roll with a keyed guiding system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a dispensing system, a dispenser, and flexible sheet material rolls, e.g., toilet tissue rolls, which assures proper orientation of the rolls in the dispenser, and provides an arrangement for coordinating the quality of the rolls being dispensed from specific dispensers.
• a dispensing system including a dispenser for dispensing sheet material from rolls, and a flexible sheet material roll with a keyed guiding system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a dispensing system, a dispenser, and flexible sheet material rolls, e.g., toilet tissue rolls, which assures proper orientation of the rolls in the dispenser, and provides an arrangement for coordinating the quality of the rolls being dispensed from specific dispensers.
• the present invention relates to flexible sheet material rolls, e.g., toilet tissue rolls, and the storage and dispensing of the rolled flexible sheet material.
• Institutional toilet tissue dispensers are frequently sized and adapted to hold and dispense multiple rolls of toilet tissue.
• Conventional dispensers of this type are typically designed so that rolls of toilet paper can be arranged inside the dispenser casing, whereby at least one roll is kept in an upper reserve position, while a lower roll is in a dispensing position.
• the tissue rolls have a hollow core with end caps located in both ends of the hollow core.
• the end caps include outwardly extending cylindrical projections which extend past the ends of the rolls.
• the dispenser includes spaced apart guide tracks in opposing lateral wall surfaces.
• the guide tracks each guide a projection from a respective end cap as the roll rotates about its center axis while it is being dispensed, and as the roll travels from the upper reserve position to the lower dispensing position when the lower roll is depleted and/or removed.
• a general problem associated with these dispensers is that custodians or other operators insert new toilet tissue rolls into the dispenser in the incorrect orientation, i.e., reversed 180°. This makes dispensing the roll more difficult and/or impossible because the leading edge of the sheet material does not extend from the front of the dispenser.
• prior art dispensers have used guide tracks of differing widths, and rolls having end caps with projections of differing diameters, which generally correspond to the differing guide track widths.
• the dispenser would include a narrow guide track, i.e., the right guide track, and a wide guide track, while the rolls would be provided with a smaller diameter projection, i.e., the right projection, and a larger diameter projection.
• Proper orientation of the roll into the dispenser by the custodian is enhanced as the larger or left end cap projection only fits easily into the larger or left guide track.
• drawbacks associated with this present arrangement.
• color coding and written instructions may be written on a toilet tissue roll wrapper to help the custodian determine the proper roll orientation.
• custodians who are in a rush or are inattentive can ignore these visual indicators as they are dependent on the lighting of the restroom area, or on the literacy of custodian to read instructions, which may also be in a different language.
• the invention relates to a dispenser and end cap system for flexible material rolls, and a flexible sheet material roll, which assure proper orientation of the rolls in the dispenser, and provides an arrangement for coordinating the quality of the rolls being dispensed from specific dispensers.
• a dispenser is intended for use to dispense flexible sheet material from rolls having projecting end portions, one of which has an annular groove therein.
• the dispenser includes first and second opposing lateral side walls, with each lateral side wall having a corresponding guide track for guiding a respective projecting end portion of the sheet material roll.
• the guide track of the first lateral side wall includes an elongated guide projection therein being sized and shaped to correspondingly fit within the annular groove of the one projecting end portion.
• the present invention is also directed to a dispenser system for dispensing flexible material from sheet material rolls.
• the system includes a rolled products dispenser and a sheet material roll.
• the dispenser includes first and second opposing lateral side walls, with each lateral side wall having a corresponding guide track.
• the guide track of the first lateral side wall includes an elongated guide projection therein.
• the sheet material roll includes flexible sheet material wound around a hollow core.
• the core has first and second ends, and roll guiding structure located partially within the hollow roll core and extending outwardly from both ends of the hollow roll core for guiding the roll of sheet material in the opposing guide tracks of the rolled product dispenser.
• the roll guiding structure includes a first outwardly projecting cylindrical portion extending outwardly past the first end of the hollow roll core and a second outwardly projecting cylindrical portion extending outwardly past the second end of the hollow roll core.
• the first outwardly projecting portion includes at least one annular groove located in its circumference.
• the present invention also provides a sheet material roll intended for use in a rolled product dispenser having opposing guide tracks and a guide projection in one of the guide tracks.
• the sheet material roll includes flexible sheet material wound around a hollow core having first and second ends and roll guiding structure.
• the roll guiding structure is located partially within the hollow roll core and extends outwardly from both the first and second ends of the hollow roll core for guiding the sheet material in the opposing guide tracks of the rolled product dispenser.
• the roll guiding means includes a first outwardly projecting cylindrical portion extending outwardly past the first end of the hollow roll core and a second outwardly projecting cylindrical portion extending outwardly past the second end of the hollow roll core.
• the first and second outwardly projecting portions permit the roll to be guided within the opposing guide tracks of the rolled products dispenser.
• the first outwardly projecting portion includes at least one annular groove located in its circumference cooperating with the guide projection.
• the invention also relates to a sheet material roll which is intended for use in a rolled product having opposing guide tracks and a guide projection in one of the guide tracks of the dispenser.
• the sheet material roll includes a first end cap, a second end cap, and a roll of flexible sheet material wound around a hollow center core having first and second ends.
• the first end cap is positioned in the first end of the hollow center core, and the second end cap is positioned in the second end of the hollow center core.
• Both end caps include an inwardly projecting portion located inside the hollow center core, and an outwardly projecting cylindrical portion extending outwardly past their respective end of the hollow center core. The outwardly projecting cylindrical portions permit the roll to be guided within opposing the guide tracks of the rolled products dispenser.
• the outwardly extending cylindrical portion of the first end cap includes at least one annular groove located within its circumference cooperating with the guide projection.
• a stop flange serves as an alignment device for aligning the annular groove with respect to the first end of the hollow roll core to align the groove with the elongated guide projection when the sheet material roll is inserted into a dispenser.
• the present invention provides a dispenser, a sheet material roll, and a dispensing system which alleviates the above-discussed problems of prior art dispensers, rolls, and dispensing systems.
• the dispenser and spindles on the sheet material rolls are keyed which minimizes the possibility of improperly oriented rolls from being inserted into the dispenser. Further, the keyed arrangement provides a system for coordinating the quality of the rolls dispensed from the dispensers.
• Figure 1 is a top-right isometric view of one end, e.g., the right end, of the dispenser and the toilet tissue roll of the present invention, showing the interface between the roll end cap and the dispenser guide track;
• Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the roll of toilet tissue paper with end caps shown in Figure 1, taken through the center of the roll, for use in the dispensing apparatus shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the keyed end cap of Figures 1 and 2 for use in the dispensing apparatus shown in Figure 1 ;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a dispenser housing with the conventional dispenser cover removed, incorporating the features illustrated in Figure 1 and correspondingly described hereinafter;
• Figure 5 is a sectional view of the dispenser shown in Figure 4 showing a roll entering the upper end of the housing with the parts at the dispensing position in readiness to receive the roll;
• Figure 6 is a sectional view of the dispenser shown in Figure 4 showing a roll in section in the dispensing position and a reserve roll retained in the reserve roll position, the rolls incorporating the features illustrated in Figures 1-3 and correspondingly described hereinafter;
• Figure 7 is a sectional view of the dispenser shown in Figure 4, similar to Figure 6, showing an empty hollow roll core in the dispensing position indicating the forces operating to effect physically deformed removal of the hollow core;
• Figure 8 is a sectional view of the dispenser shown in Figure 4 showing a full roll, having the features illustrated in Figures 1-3 and correspondingly described hereinafter, in the dispensing position;
• Figure 9 is a sectional view showing a modified form of readily deformable hollow core from that illustrated in Figure 7, and incorporating the features illustrated in Figures 1-3 and correspondingly described hereinafter;
• Figure 10 is a sectional view showing another modified form of readily deformable hollow core from that illustrated in Figure 7, and incorporating the features illustrated in Figures 1-3 and correspondingly described hereinafter.
• Figures 1-3 show the dispenser and end cap system of the present invention.
• the dispenser and end cap system includes a pair of guide tracks in a roll dispenser 5, only the right guide track 10 is shown in Figure 1, which accepts one or more rolls 12 of flexible sheet material, e.g., tissue paper.
• Guide tracks 10 are preferably located within opposing lateral wall surfaces 14 of dispenser 5 and preferably include spaced front and rear wall surfaces 10a and 10b defining the width of guide track 10, and an inwardly facing lateral wall surface 10c defining the length of guide track 10.
• guide tracks are generally vertically oriented permitting dispenser to house a lower paper roll in a lower dispensing position for immediate dispensing, and an upper roll of paper in a reserve position, and enabling dispenser to transfer the roll from the upper reserve position to the lower dispensing position.
• each roll 12 has a hollow core 16 with end caps 18, 19 located therein.
• Each end cap 18 and 19 includes a cylindrically shaped outwardly projecting portion 20 and 21, i.e., a spindle, extending past their respective side end 22 and 23 of roll 12.
• Spindles 20 and 21 interface with, and are guided within, a respective guide track 10 in the dispenser.
• hollow core 16 may be designed to be readily deformable, or otherwise breakable to assist in its removal from the dispenser.
• core 16 is preferably made of light weight paperboard such as shown in Figure 9, of a core construction as shown in section on Figure 6 wherein the core intermediate its ends is scored or otherwise weakened, or is made in the form of a split core.
• U.S. Patent No. 4,522,346 to Jespersen discloses the use of split cores
• U.S. Patent No. 4,671,466 to Jespersen et al. discloses the use of deformable scored or weakened cores.
• the '346 and '466 patent are both hereby incorporated by reference.
• opposing guide tracks preferably have different sized widths.
• end caps 18 and 19 of roll 12 also have spindles 20 and 21 with different sized diameters.
• spindle 20 of end cap 18 has a smaller diameter than spindle 21 of end cap 19.
• guide track 10 is narrower than its opposing guide slot, not shown in Figure 1.
• Guide slot 10 is also narrower than the diameter of spindle 21 such that spindle 21 cannot normally fit in guide slot 10.
• Paper roll 12 is delivered to the dispenser locale with the end caps placed in their proper core end. The custodian will usually insert roll 12 into the dispenser with the proper orientation, i.e., with narrow spindle 20 in narrow guide slot 10, as roll 12 will not fit into the dispenser oriented the opposite way, unless it is improperly forced.
• At least one of the guide tracks and one of the spindles are "keyed” .
• the keyed feature is partially provided by including a guide projection strip 24 on at least one the front and rear wall surfaces 10a and 10b of the guide tracks, e.g., guide track 10, and partially provided by a U-shaped annular groove 26 located in the circumference of its corresponding spindle, e.g., spindle 20.
• projection strip 24 is located in narrow guide track 10
• annular groove 26 is located in narrow spindle 20.
• Guide projection strip 24 is similarly shaped, and sized slightly smaller than, annular groove 26, i.e., they are substantially complementary to each other, to provide an arrangement where spindle 20 cooperates with guide track 10. It is recognized that while groove 26 is preferably U-shaped, groove 26 could take the form of one of many other desirable shapes, e.g., V-shaped. Further, depending on the design of the dispenser and user preferences, guide strip 24 may extend from the top of guide track 10 to the bottom of guide track 10, or may be just long enough to prevent the insertion of a roll with a non-keyed end cap.
• each end cap 18 and 19 includes a roll core insertion portion 28 and 29 for insertion into hollow core 16 of roll 12.
• Roll core insertion portions 28 and 29 of both end caps 18 and 19 are functionally identical, and thus, only insertion portion 28 is described herein.
• roll core insertion portion 28 preferably includes an annular leading edge 30, a conical centering portion 32, and an annular outer wall 34.
• Leading edge 30 and centering portion 32 facilitate the insertion of end cap 18 into core 16 by providing an inherent centering structure, wherein spatial tolerances are absorbed by the conical centering portion 32 bearing against the inner surface of hollow roll core 16.
• stop flange 36 which is located at the end of outer wall 34, abuts against end 22 of roll 12.
• outer wall 34 fits snugly within the inner wall of hollow core 16.
• Stop flange 36 guarantees proper tolerances between the groove 26 and the roll 12, and therefore also provides the desired tolerances between the spindle 20 and guide slot 10, in particular the mating of groove 26 to projection 24. Stop flange 36 thus functions as an alignment device that assures the proper predetermined spacing of groove 26 from the edge of the roll so that it aligns with projection 24.
• End cap 18 is preferably made from a plastic by any desirable forming technique.
• end cap 18 may be injection molded, and groove 26 may be formed in the molding process or in a secondary operation by any technique including a forming jaw actuated by a hydraulic cylinder.
• projection strip 24 is that it further restricts the width of guide track 10. This makes it more difficult for a custodian to insert an improperly oriented roll. Further, as a custodian would have increased difficulty inserting a roll with an "unkeyed" or an incorrectly keyed end cap, there is a higher probability that he will notice this difficulty and only install a roll in the proper orientation and with a correctly keyed end cap.
• these keyed features e.g., groove 26 and strip 24, help to inherently provide a visual indicator to reduce the possibility that a custodian will attempt to insert an improperly oriented roll.
• Groove 26 can be felt by the custodian, and therefore, also serves as a tactile indicator to minimize the possibility that the custodian will improperly insert a roll.
• Figures 2 and 3 depict only one projection strip 24 and groove 26 pair, more than one projection strip 24 and groove 26 pair could be used.
• varying the number of strip 24 and groove 26 pairs the spacing of the strip 24 and groove 26 pairs with respect to the roll 12 can be varied. This provides additional roll and dispenser keying combinations and enhances the feature of requiring that only properly "keyed” rolls are inserted into the keyed dispensers.
• toilet tissue could be manufactured in accordance with two separate degrees of softness, e.g., grades A and B, with A being the softer grade.
• a company could manufacture and ship the rolls with the properly "coded” or “keyed” end cap projecting portions 20 corresponding to their grade.
• the dispensers would also be correspondingly “coded” or “keyed” by the number and/or spacing of projection strips 24, so that they only accept rolls 12 of a predetermined of minimum softness level. Assume that it is desirous to have dispensers on a specific building floor only dispense paper from rolls having the top quality, i.e., grade A.
• Grade B paper would not fit in the dispenser because either the number or spacing of grooves 26 in end cap 18 would not match the keyed pattern of the strip or strips 24 in guide track 10. Similarly, this arrangement saves money by also assuring that a more expensive grade A paper is not used in a dispenser where it is determined that a grade B paper is sufficient.
• the keyed arrangement can provide a system in which dispensers are designed only to permit rolls which have a minimum predetermined grade.
• grade B paper could have an end cap with one groove
• grade A paper could include an end cap with two grooves.
• a dispenser for top quality paper would be designed with two guide projection strips 24, and would accept only rolls with an end cap keyed for grade A paper.
• a dispenser for a lesser quality paper, i.e., grade B or better would include only one guide projection strip 24, and accept rolls with an end cap keyed for either grade A or grade B paper, as the additional groove in the grade A paper end cap would not affect the dispensing of the roll in the dispenser. Therefore, this keyed feature minimizes the insertion of improperly oriented rolls, and assures that specific dispensers dispense only a minimum grade of paper.
• the keyed features provide a system which prevents the insertion of counterfeit or undesired rolls into a keyed dispenser. For example, if the user of an unkeyed dispenser is satisfied with the quality of sheet material rolls from a specific manufacturer, and only wants rolls from that manufacturer dispensed from his dispenser, then the user would have to constantly supervise the purchasing and installation of the rolls by maintenance personnel to assure that the rolls originated from the desired manufacturer. However, if the dispenser is keyed to have one or more projection strips, the specific keying can be coordinated with the desired manufacturer to provide rolls with spindles specifically keyed to fit the dispenser design. Any attempt by maintenance personnel to install unauthorized rolls, i.e. , improperly keyed rolls, from other manufacturers would be thwarted, as unauthorized rolls would be unable fit into the keyed dispenser.
• the keyed feature of present invention also permits end caps having the same sized projections to be used on opposing ends of the roll, and still achieve proper orientation by keying one end cap differently. This may have manufacturing advantages as it permits both end caps to be made from the same initial mold.
• the features as described in Figures 1-3 are preferably included in a dispenser design wherein the guide tracks are generally vertically oriented permitting the dispenser to house a lower paper roll in a lower dispensing position for immediate dispensing, and an upper roll of paper in a reserve position, and enabling the dispenser to transfer the roll from the upper position to the lower position.
• a dispenser design wherein the guide tracks are generally vertically oriented permitting the dispenser to house a lower paper roll in a lower dispensing position for immediate dispensing, and an upper roll of paper in a reserve position, and enabling the dispenser to transfer the roll from the upper position to the lower position.
• FIGs 4-9 illustrate a dispenser and end cap system for rolls of wound flexible web material incorporating features of the present invention as illustrated in Figures 1-3 and as described, supra.
• dispenser 100 As shown in the drawings, and particularly in Figure 4, it should be pointed out that to facilitate illustrating structural features of this embodiment, the dispenser cover that would conventionally be provided has not been shown on the drawings.
• U.S. Pat. No. 3,437,388 to Jespersen which is hereby incorporated by reference, for an exemplification of how a conventional cover completing the dispenser cabinet may be pivotally mounted in relation to the housing 102 forming the chassis for the working components of the dispenser.
• the housing 102 provides a first side wall 104, a second side wall 114 and a back wall 108. It will be understood that in use of dispenser 100, the housing 102 forming the chassis for the working components of the dispenser will be mounted on a wall at the desired location for dispenser use. Thus, the back wall 108 of housing 102 will be provided with appropriate openings, not shown, to accommodate the fasteners employed in affixing dispenser 100 to the desired wall location.
• Side walls 104 and 114 are provided with aligned holes 109 which serve as pivot points to mount the dispenser cover.
• Side wall 104 of housing 102 is provided with an inwardly facing channel or guide track 111.
• the opposite side wall 114 is provided with an inwardly facing channel or guide track 110.
• This pair of inwardly facing, opposing guide tracks 110 and 111 serves to guidingly receive the spindles which form part of the roll core and serve as the roll core supports where they project from the opposite ends of the rolls when the rolls are loaded into dispenser 100.
• the channels 111 and 110 are of different widths to accommodate different diameter spindles forming the roll core supports for the rolls that are loaded into dispenser 100. These different width channels mate with different diameter roll core support spindles to insure the proper unwinding direction and roll orientation in loading the rolls into dispenser 100.
• housing 102 is provided at its lower end with a saddle member, this member being numbered 146 at the bottom of channel 111, and 148 at the lower end of channel 110.
• the bottom of housing 102 is open at 150 such that the roll 112 retained in the roll dispensing position at the bottom of dispenser 100 projects downwardly through open bottom 150 as shown on Figures 6 and 8 for the web material on roll 112 to be accessible from dispenser 100 by the intended user.
• roll 112 may be described as exemplifying the type of rolls of flexible web material contemplated for dispensing in the dispenser 100 of this invention.
• roll 112 has the flexible web material wound on a tubular hollow roll core 116.
• the core 116 is rendered readily deformable by having a series of spaced circumferential score lines 130 formed intermediate the ends of the core. It will be understood that other weakening techniques may be employed to render the core readily deformable once the wound web material initially carried on the core has been exhausted.
• Core 116' is formed from a light weight material such that the forces applied to the core as described hereinafter to enable easy removal of the hollow core are sufficient to physically deform the core without the necessity for weakening scores 130, such as shown in the readily deformable core in Figures 6 and 7.
• core 116 is illustrated in the form of a split core 116" core. An exhausted core of this type is removed from the dispenser by the splitting action of the core.
• the roll core supports for either core 116, 116' or 116" are provided by an end cap 119 having a spindle 121 inserted in one outer end of the tubular hollow core and an end cap 118 having a spindle 120 inserted in the tubular hollow core at the opposite outer end.
• the core support spindle 121 of end cap 119 engages in the saddle member 146 at the bottom of channel 111 and the core support spindle 120 of end cap 118 engages in the saddle member 148 at the bottom of channel 110, supporting roll 112 in the roll dispensing position within the housing 102 of dispenser 100. As so supported, the toilet paper material on roll 112 projects down through the open bottom 150 of housing 102.
• At least one of the guide tracks and one of the spindles are "keyed".
• the keyed feature is partially provided by including a guide projection strip 124 on at least one of the guide tracks, e.g., guide track 110, and partially provided by a U-shaped annular groove 126 located in the circumference of its corresponding spindle 120.
• Guide tracks 110 include spaced front and rear wall surfaces 110a and 110b, defining the width of guide tracks 110, and an inwardly facing lateral wall surface 110c.
• projection strip 124 is located in narrow guide track 110 along either the front or rear wall surface 110a or 110b, and annular groove 126 is located in narrow spindle 120.
• Guide projection strip 124 is similarly shaped, and sized slightly smaller than, annular groove 126, to provide a complementary arrangement where spindle 120 cooperates with guide track 110. It is recognized that while groove 126 is U-shaped, groove 126 could be one of many other desirable shapes, e.g., V-shaped. Further, guide strip 124 is illustrated as extending from the top of guide track 110 to a position adjacent a roll in the reserve or storage position. However, it is recognized that guide strip 124 may extend further downward along guide track 110, or may be of a length just sufficient to prevent the insertion of a roll with a spindle which is not properly keyed.
• the open bottom 150 is defined within the side walls 104 and 114, and back wall 108 of housing 102, these walls extending down beneath saddle members 146 and 148.
• the cover in association with the housing 102 might take the configuration shown in the above discussed U.S. Patent No. 3,437,388. With such a configuration the toilet paper material on roll 112 is exposed through the open bottom 150 of dispenser 100.
• the roll 113 partially shown on Figures 6 and 7 as it is retained in a reserve roll position within housing 102 would have a similar composition to the composition that is hereinabove described with reference to roll 112.
• Lever 160 is pivotally mounted in channel 111 of side wall 104 on pivot pin 162. This pivotal mounting enables pin 162 to simply pass through the sides of channel 111 to effect the desired mounting of control lever 160.
• Lever 160 has a lower sensing end 164 which serves to sense the presence of a roll core 116. As will be explained with reference to Figure 7, this lower end also applies an axial force F L to the upper portion of the end of the hollow roll core 116. This sensing of a roll core such as that of roll 112 as shown on Figure 6 occurs when this first roll is retained at the roll dispensing position within housing 102.
• An upper support end 166 on pivotally mounted lever 160 serves to retain a second roll 113 in the reserve roll position within housing 102, such as roll 113 also shown on Figure 6.
• a leaf spring 168 which may be riveted at 170 to the outer wall of channel 111, serves to bias control lever 160 toward the position as shown in Figure 5.
• the biasing force of spring 168 thus urges the sensing end 164 of lever 160 toward the roll dispensing position within housing 102. It consequently urges support end 166 of lever 160 away from the reserve roll position within housing 102, and applies the force F L to the upper portion of one end of the hollow core 116.
• control lever 160 is formed with a reverse bend in the embodiment shown such as to provide a surface 176 which is inwardly inclined relative to the plane of the first side wall 104 of housing 102.
• This inclined surface 176 physically engages the roll core support spindle 121 such as shown in Figures 6 and 7 with reference to roll 113 retained in the reserve roll position within housing 102 of dispenser 100.
• the inward inclination of surface 176 on the upper support end 166 of lever 160 tends to utilize the weight of roll 113 acting down on the spindle resting on inclined surface 176 in a manner tending to urge lever 160 and its upper support end 166 outwardly from blocking track 111.
• the weight of roll 113 promotes the action of the lower end 164 of lever 160 in pressing inwardly against the upper portion of the end of core 116 thereby providing an added biasing force against core 116 tending to buckle the readily deformable core upon exhaustion of web material.
• the second side wall 114 of housing 102 is provided with a spring biased latch 180 which may be riveted at 182 to the outer wall of channel 110 for this latch 180 to lie within channel 110.
• the spring biased latch 180 has its lower end 184 spaced above saddle member 148 at the bottom of channel 110. Thus it is spaced sufficiently above such saddle member that the spindle 120 of end cap 118 on the hollow core 116 may freely rest on saddle member 148 beneath the end 184 of latch 180 as shown on Figures 6 and 7.
• the second side wall 114 of housing 102 is also provided with a biasing leaf spring 190.
• This spring may have its upper end suitably riveted at 192 to side wall 114.
• Spring 190 is positioned adjacent the roll dispensing position within housing 102 to project inwardly and perform two functions. Initially, with a full roll 112 such as shown in Figure 6, spring 190 applies a frictional resistance to one side end of the roll which is retained in the roll dispensing position. This function of the spring 190 acts to retard rotation of roll 112 or the roll disposed in the dispensing position so that it does not freely revolve or spin as web material, such as toilet paper, is withdrawn from dispenser 100 by the user.
• Leaf spring 190 applies an axial force against the upper portion of one end of the hollow roll core 116, this force being identified F R on Figure 7.
• FIG. 4 the dispenser housing 102 is shown in its empty or unloaded condition.
• the cover not shown, is opened, and a roll is dropped into dispenser 100, with opposing spindles 120 and 121 in alignment with respective opposing guide tracks 110 and 111. If roll 112 is properly oriented and properly keyed, i.e., a roll having a spindle 120 with a groove 126 which suitably matches guide strip projection 124 in guide slot 110, the keyed groove 126 and projection strip 124 on spindle 120 and guide track 110 will mate.
• Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between the keying features of the roll 12 and dispenser 5 just prior to the insertion of roll 12.
• the sectional view of Figure 5 shows the initial or first roll 112 shortly after it has been loaded, but prior to the roll reaching the dispensing position.
• roll 112 is shown after it has dropped into the dispensing position with its support spindles on the hollow core 116 resting on the saddle members 146 and 148 of channels 111 and 110, respectively. In this position, roll 112 has the material thereof exposed through the open bottom 150 of housing 102 for ready access to the user. Further in Figure 6, the properly oriented and properly keyed second or reserve roll 113 has been loaded into the housing by its spindles being inserted into the upper ends of channels 111 and 110, respectively.
• the diameter of rolls 113 and 112 in relation to the length of lever 160, where such lever extends above its pivot pin 162, is such as to maintain these full rolls 113 and 112 out of contact with each other.
• rolls 113 and 112 will be continuously maintained out of contact with each other as web material is being withdrawn from roll 112.
• the sensing of the hollow core 116 of roll 112 is thus employed to continue retention of roll 113 in the reserve roll position with the two rolls out of contact with each other at least when the core of roll 112 approaches becoming empty so that in this latter stage of exhausting roll 112 there is no friction between the reserve roll 113 and roll 112.
• the important concept is that sensing of the intact core of roll 112 be utilized to continue retention of roll 113 in the reserve roll position and at least retain the two rolls out of contact with each other during the stage when roll 112 nears exhaustion of its web material.
• the forces acting on the readily deformable hollow core 116 may best be described by reference to Figure 7 and the reference characters displayed thereon.
• the full roll 112 has the spindles 121 and 120 of its core end caps 119 and 118 supporting the roll wound on hollow core 116 resting in the saddles 146 and 148, respectively.
• the weight of core 116 and its end caps 119 and 118 is still resting on the saddles 146 and 148 as shown in Figure 7.
• lever 160 This frees lever 160, especially under the urging of leaf spring 168, to move to a position as shown in Figure 5.
• Such movement of the lever 160 shifts the sensing end 164 into the roll dispensing position area and likewise shifts the support end 166 of lever 160 away from the reserve roll position area thereby opening track guide channel 111 such that the spindles of roll 113 are now freed for this roll to move down into the dispensing position at the bottom of housing 102.
• the force applied by the sensing end 164 not only applies a buckling force to the core end, but by reason of the contour and shaping of sensing end 164 it directs this buckling force against the core end in a direction tending to lift the core off of the saddle member 146, thereby freeing it from the friction which previously existed between the roll core support spindle and saddle member 146 during normal use of web material from roll 112.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Unwinding Webs (AREA)
• Advancing Webs (AREA)
• Feeding Of Workpieces (AREA)
• Valve-Gear Or Valve Arrangements (AREA)
• Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
• Wire Bonding (AREA)
• Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
• Replacement Of Web Rolls (AREA)
• Preliminary Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)

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ID=27409495

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Cited By (1)

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Citations (3)

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• 1996
  • 1996-01-25 DE DE69621798T patent/DE69621798T2/de not_active Revoked
  • 1996-01-25 EP EP96904514A patent/EP0824494B1/de not_active Revoked
  • 1996-01-25 SI SI9620024A patent/SI9620024A/sl not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1996-01-25 AT AT96904514T patent/ATE219024T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1996-01-25 WO PCT/US1996/001167 patent/WO1996023719A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1996-01-25 DK DK96904514T patent/DK0824494T3/da active
  • 1996-01-29 IL IL11695196A patent/IL116951A/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1997
  • 1997-07-30 NO NO19973507A patent/NO310552B1/no not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-07-30 FI FI973153A patent/FI121230B/fi not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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