EP1808394A1 - Reel with rail - Google Patents

Abstract

The reel (1) has a lid (23) movable between a passage position in which the lid authorizes the placement of a domestic packaging film`s e.g. aluminum film, end portion to be cut in a cutting zone and a tensioning position in which the lid is adapted to hold the portion in the zone. A slide slides in a rail (11) that extends in the cutting zone. The slide has blades that cut the portion held in the zone during the displacement of the slide. The rail and the slide cut the portion to separate the end portion from the rest of a film roll (5) when the portion is in the zone. An independent claim is also included for an assembly comprising a reel and a film roll.

Description

The present invention relates to a reel for household packaging film. Such a reel can be used for the distribution of packaged household packaging film roll.

For example, the document US 2005/0166730 A1 discloses a dispensing device for roll-conditioned material, comprising a housing for the roll and a cover pivotally mounted on the housing. The lid has a metal blade which extends longitudinally between two wings and which can cooperate with a cutting channel provided on the housing. The blade has a dimension slightly greater than the width of the film. When the lid is closed after pulling the film above the cutting channel, the wings hold the film taut and the blade cooperates with the cutting channel to cut the film.

This device has several disadvantages. The blade has a large dimension. In addition, the two wings must be sufficiently spaced apart from each other to come into contact with the film on either side of the cutting channel and correctly tension the film above this channel. Thus, there is a risk that a user comes into contact with the blade and is injured. When the lid is closed to cut the film, the film is cut simultaneously over its entire width. Thus, the effort needed to cut the film is important. In addition, depending on the material of the film to be cut, it is sometimes necessary to provide attachment surfaces of suitable material on both sides of the cutting channel to ensure sufficient tension of the film.

The document US 2003/0140760 discloses a reel in which a cutting element can slide in a groove in the pivoting cover. When the lid is open, the cutting element is exposed and there is a risk of injury. To avoid this, it is necessary to provide a retractable cutting element, which complicates the manufacture.

The document US 3,142,217 describes a reel of the same type, and which therefore has the same disadvantages.

The invention aims to provide a reel for household packaging film that does not have at least some of the disadvantages of the aforementioned prior art.

For this, the invention provides a reel for household packaging film, comprising a housing defining a housing for a film roll, said housing having a longitudinal outlet opening allowing an end portion of said film to protrude out of said housing and a cutting zone extending along said outlet opening, said reel comprising a tension member movable between a passage position in which it allows the placement of a portion to be cut of said film in said cutting area and a tensioning position in which it is able to tension said portion to be cut in said cutting zone, and cutting means capable of cutting said portion to be cut so as to separate said end portion from the remainder of said roll of film when said portion to be cut is stretched in said cutting zone, characterized in that said cutting means comprises a slideway extending into said neck area and a slide slidable in said slide, said slider being provided with a cutting member adapted to cut said portion to cut stretched in said cutting area during movement of said slider.

Thanks to these characteristics, the cutting member can be of small dimensions and arranged in a manner that is not very accessible to the user. This limits the risks that a user comes into contact with the cutting member and is injured. The film is cut progressively during the movement of the slide. In addition, after the initiation of cutting, the cutting of the film is facilitated by the propagation of the cutting line. Thus, the effort required to cut the film is low. As a result, the necessary film tension is of reduced amplitude. It is therefore not necessary to provide attachment surfaces of suitable material, regardless of the type of film.

Preferably, the tensioning member comprises a movable plate capable of being positioned adjacent to an outer surface of the housing comprising the cutting zone, the plate comprising at least one rib situated on its internal face turned towards the housing in said position. Of voltage.

Preferably, the plate comprises two ribs located on its internal face facing the housing in said tensioning position, said ribs each extending from a respective side of the slide in said tensioning position.

Advantageously, in said tensioning position, the distance between a contact end of the ribs and the outer surface of the housing is equal to or less than the thickness of the film.

Thus, the film is clamped between the ribs and the outer surface of the casing, which ensures the tension of the film. In the case where this distance is slightly less than the thickness of the film, for example in the case where this distance is zero, the plate and / or the housing may be slightly elastically deformed in the tension position, which ensures a better tightening the film.

According to a particular embodiment, in the tensioning position, said at least two ribs extend along the slide along substantially the entire length of the cutting zone.

Thus, the film tension is ensured substantially uniformly over the entire width of the film.

Advantageously, the plate comprises a cutting opening situated between the ribs and of dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the slide so that at least a portion of the slide is able to protrude through said cutting opening on the side of the plate opposite to the outer surface of the housing when the plate is in said tension position.

Thanks to these features, the user can easily move the slide when the plate is in the tension position.

Preferably, said plate is able to close said outlet opening in said tensioning position of said plate.

Thus, the film arranged in the housing is protected against the external environment, for example in the event of a liquid spilling on the housing.

Advantageously, the tension member is connected by a hinge means to said housing.

According to a particular embodiment, said slider comprises a retaining portion located in said slider, a gripping portion located outside said slider, and a connecting portion connecting said retaining portion and said gripping portion, said slider having less a lateral flange cooperating with said retaining portion to retain it in said slide, said member cutting section extending between said connecting portion and the gripping portion.

Preferably, said slide has an abutment member, said retaining portion cooperating with said abutment member so that the distance between a surface of said gripping portion facing said at least one lateral flange and said lateral flange is less than average thickness of a finger.

Thanks to these characteristics, it is possible to size the reel so that the cutting member is not accessible by the user.

Advantageously, said cutting member comprises a blade having a cutting edge forming an angle with respect to the direction of movement of said slide between 20 ° and 40 °, preferably said angle is equal to 30 °.

According to a particular embodiment, said film comprises at least one metal layer.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe transversale d'un dévidoir selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, le couvercle étant dans sa position de passage ;
• la figure 2 est une vue analogue à la figure 1, le couvercle étant dans sa position de tension ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de dessus du dévidoir de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective du dévidoir de la figure 2, le couvercle étant dans sa position de tension ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective du dévidoir de la figure 1, le couvercle étant dans sa position de passage ;
• la figure 6 représente une vue en coupe transversale de la glissière et du coulisseau du dévidoir de la figure 1;
• la figure 7 représente une vue de face du coulisseau de la figure 6 ; et
• la figure 8 est une vue similaire à la figure 2, représentant un dévidoir selon un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given solely for illustrative purposes and not limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings. On these drawings:

• Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a reel according to one embodiment of the invention, the cover being in its passage position;
• Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, the cover being in its tension position;
• Figure 3 is a top view of the reel of Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of the reel of Figure 2, the cover being in its tension position;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of the reel of Figure 1, the cover being in its passage position;
• Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the slide and the slide of the reel of Figure 1;
• Figure 7 shows a front view of the slider of Figure 6; and
• Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing a reel according to another embodiment of the invention.

The reel 1 comprises a casing 2 of substantially parallelepiped shape, in which is housed a roll 5 of household packaging film 10.

The housing 2 is made in two parts, namely a container 3 delimiting the lower face and the four peripheral faces of the housing 2, and an upper wall 4 which delimits the upper face of the housing 2. The container 3 has an upper peripheral rim 6 and the wall 4 has a lower peripheral groove 7 which cooperates with the flange 6 to fix the wall 4 to the container 3, for example by force-clamping or snap-fastening. The wall 4 is removably attached to the container 3 to allow the replacement of the roller 5. Alternatively, the housing may have any other suitable shape and be made of more or less than two parts. In an embodiment not shown, the housing 2 has, on its underside, four plastic feet that allow to raise the housing relative to the work surface, which provides better hygiene, and give it a better grip on the work plan.

The roll 5 comprises a circular cylindrical core 40, of length corresponding to the length of the housing 2, and a film 10 wound around the core 40. The width of the film 10 is less than the length of the core 40 which therefore has two opposite ends. covered by movie 10.

The container 3 is generally elongate in a longitudinal direction corresponding to the axis of the roll 5, and has on each of its two transverse faces a shoulder 8 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) serving as a rotation bearing for the ends of the core 40 of the 5. In a not shown embodiment, a mechanism is provided to hold the ends of the core 40 on the shoulders 8. By for example, the shape of the shoulder is such that the ends of the core 40 are held by clipping. According to another example, the wall 4 has lugs projecting towards the inside of the casing 2, to cooperate with the ends of the core 40 and hold them on the shoulders 8.

The wall 4 has an outlet opening 9 of substantially rectangular shape and extending longitudinally. The length of the outlet opening 9 is slightly greater than the width of the film 10. The opening 9 makes it possible to exit an end portion of the film 10 outside the housing 2. A slideway 11 is fixed on the wall 4 in a longitudinal slot 32 parallel to the opening 9 and extends substantially the same length as the opening 9. The slide 11 is longer than the width of the film 10. A slide 13 is retained in the slide 11 and can slide in the slide 11. In an alternative embodiment, the slide 11 is made in one piece with the upper wall 4.

The slide 11 and the slide 13 are shown in greater detail in FIGS. 6 and 7. The slide has a bottom 14, two lateral faces 16 connected to the bottom 14 and two lateral flanges 17 folded inwards and extending one towards the other from the ends of the faces 16 opposite the bottom 14. The lateral flanges 17 present lugs 15 which extend towards the bottom 14. The slide 11 has two lugs 12 forming a hook, projecting from the bottom 14 on the opposite side to the flanges 17 and for fixing the slide 11 to the wall 4 by snapping into the longitudinal slot 32 of the wall 4.

The slider 13 has a gripping portion 18 located above the slider 11, a retaining portion 20 located in the slider 11 and a connecting portion 19 connecting the gripping portion 18 to the retaining portion 20 passing between the The retaining portion 20 has a transverse dimension greater than the distance between the two lugs 15 so that it is retained in the slide 11. The thickness of the portion 20 substantially corresponds to the distance between the bottom 14 and the end of the tabs 15. Thus, the slider 13 can not move substantially perpendicular to the bottom 14 and the distance between the lower face 21 of the gripping portion 18 and the upper faces 22 of the flanges 17 is limited. Preferably this distance d is less than the average thickness of a finger, for example this distance is less than 3 mm.

Two blades 30 are fixed to the slider 13, on either side of the connecting portion 19 in the direction of movement of the slider 13 represented by the double arrow F. Each blade 30 is arranged in a longitudinal plane and extends between the lower face 21 of the gripping portion 18 and the connecting portion 19. The cutting edge of the blade 30 forms an angle θ of 30 ° with the direction of movement of the slider 13.

Because of the small distance between the faces 21 and 22, it is impossible for a user to come into contact with the blades 30.

The reel 1 also comprises a cover 23. The cover 23 is connected to the upper wall 4 by a hinge 24, and can pivot between a tension position, shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, and a passage position, represented on the Figures 1 and 5. Any type of joint can be used for the hinge 24, for example the cover 23 and the upper wall 4 can be made in one piece and have a foldable thinned wall area forming the hinge 24. Alternatively , the lid 23 could be connected to the container 3 by a hinge or be removable, that is to say without being connected to the wall 4 or the container 3.

The cover 23 has a flat face 26 whose dimensions correspond to those of the wall 4, and an inner peripheral flange 25 facing the wall 4 and whose height corresponds substantially to that of the lateral faces 16 of the slide 11. The flat face 26 has an extension 29 opposite the hinge 24, which extends beyond the flange 25. A cutting aperture 27 of substantially rectangular shape is formed in the flat face 26 and has dimensions corresponding to those of the slide 11. contact ribs 28 arranged along the longitudinal edges of the cutting aperture 27 extend from the flat face 26 to the top wall 4. The height of the ribs 28 is equal to that of the flange 25. In another embodiment not shown, the height of the ribs 28 is greater than that of the flange 25 and grooves are formed in the wall 4 to receive the end of the ribs 28 and ensure clamping of the film 10 when the lid 23 is in the tension position. The grooves may have a depth less than the thickness of the wall 4 or through the wall 4.

The operation of the reel 1 is as follows. The user can position the cover 23 in its passage position, for example by manipulating it by the extension 29, and position the slide 13 at one end of the slide 11, as shown in FIG. 3. The user can then pulling on an end portion of the film 10 so as to unroll the film 10 of the roll 5 and to position a cutting portion of the film 10 above the slide 11, without the film 10 covers the slide 13.

Then, the user can position the lid 23 in its tension position. The gripping portion 18 of the slider 13 then passes through the cutting aperture 27 and is located above the flat face 26. The ribs 28 contact the film 10 so as to stretch it over the slider 11 by clamping it between a contact end of the ribs 28 and the wall 4. The user can then slide the slide 13 along the slide 11 by manipulating it by the gripping portion 18. During the movement of the slide 13 the blade 30 contacts the tensioned film 10 and cuts it. As the film 10 is stretched, it does not wrinkle or little. The user continues moving the slider 13 to the opposite end of the slider so as to separate an end portion of the film 10 from the remainder of the roll 5.

Thus, after repositioning the cover 23 in its passage position, the user can have a cut film sheet. The length of this sheet can be adjusted by pulling more or less on the film 10 during unrolling.

The reel 1 is suitable for any type of household packaging film, for example for films made of aluminum, plastic, paper, or for multi-layer films having layers of different materials, for example a two-layer film, one in aluminum, the other in plastic. The invention relates more particularly to food contact films, stretchable films.

If necessary, in another embodiment, the reel 1 further comprises film retaining means which prevents, after the cutting operation, the end portion of the film 10 still connected to the roller 5 does not fall inside the housing 2. For example, there can be provided an articulated plastic closure member adjacent to the cutting aperture 27, which, in a closed position, leaves only one small passage size for the film 10 which does not allow the film 10 to retract inside the housing 2.

Another example shown in Figure 8, in which the same references are used. The wall 4 has a rib 101 projecting outwardly of the housing 2, and located between the opening 9 and the slide 11. The cover 23 has a hinge 100, shown schematically and located, when the cover is in its position of tension, between the opening 27 and the rib 101. After a cutting operation, the end portion of the film 10 still connected to the roller 5 is held pinched between the rib 101 and the cover 23. To make a subsequent cut, it it suffices to raise the portion of the cover 23 which, in FIG. 8, is to the left of the hinge 100. It is thus possible to pull on the end of the film 10. The film 10 remains held by the rib 101 and the part of the lid 23 which, in Figure 8, is to the left of the hinge 100. The hinge 100 comprises for example a thinned area of the lid 23.

There is described a reel which has two continuous ribs 28. Alternatively, the ribs 28 could be discontinuous. The reel could have only one rib 28.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it is obvious that it is not limited thereto and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are within the scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

Dispenser (1) for a household packaging film (10), comprising a housing (2) defining a housing for a film roll (5), said housing having a longitudinal exit opening (9) for an end portion said film protruding from said housing and a cutting area extending along said outlet opening, said reel comprising a tension member (23) movable between a passage position in which it allows the placement of a portion cutting said film into said cutting zone and a tensioning position in which it is adapted to tension said portion to be cut in said cutting zone, and cutting means (11, 13) capable of cutting said portion to be cut so as to separating said end portion from the remainder of said roll of film when said portion to be cut is stretched in said cutting area, said cutting means comprising a slider (11) extending into said cutting area and a slider (13) slidable in said slideway, said slider being provided with a cutting member (30) adapted to cut said cutting portion stretched in said cutting area during movement of said slider, said tension member comprising a movable plate (23) adapted to be positioned adjacent to an outer surface (4) of said housing comprising said cutting zone, said plate comprising at least one rib (28) located on its inner face facing said housing in said tensioning position, characterized in that said slide is fixed with respect to said outer surface (4) of said housing comprising said cutting zone, said plate comprising a cutting aperture (27) adjacent to said at least one rib and of dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of said slide so that at least one portion (18) of said slider is adapted to protrude through said cutting opening on the side of said opposite plate at said outer surface of the housing when said plate is in said tensioning position. Dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that said plate comprises two ribs (28) located on its internal face facing said casing in said tensioning position, said ribs each extending on a respective side of said slide in said voltage position. Dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that in said tensioning position, the distance between a contact end of said ribs and said outer surface of the housing is equal to or less than the thickness of said film. Dispenser according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that , in said tensioning position, said at least two ribs extend along said slide along substantially the entire length of said cutting zone. Dispenser according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said cutting opening (27) is located between said ribs. Dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said plate is adapted to close said outlet opening in said tension position of said plate. Dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said tension member is connected by a hinge means (24) to said housing. Dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said slide comprises a retaining portion (20) located in said slide, a gripping portion (18) located outside said slide, and a connecting portion (19) connecting said retaining portion and said gripping portion, said slide having at least one lateral flange (15,17) cooperating with said retaining portion to retain it in said slide, said cutting member extending between said portion binding and said gripping portion. Dispenser according to claim 8, characterized in that said slide has an abutment member (15), said retaining portion cooperating with said abutment member so that the distance (d) between a surface (21) of said portion of gripping said at least one lateral flange (17) and said lateral flange is less than the average thickness of a finger. Dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said cutting member comprises a blade (30) having a cutting edge forming an angle (θ) with respect to the direction of movement of said slide between 20 ° and 40 °. Dispenser according to claim 10, characterized in that said angle (θ) is equal to 30 °. Assembly comprising a reel according to one of claims 1 to 11 and a film roll arranged in said housing, said film comprising at least one metal layer.

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