EP2483172B1 - Dispensing assembly - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a distributor of the self-adhesive label dispenser type and a dispensing assembly comprising a plurality of such dispensers.

A dispenser of the self-adhesive label dispenser type is known which comprises a cardboard case in which is introduced a generally paper roll where the self-adhesive labels are glued. The cardboard case has a cut-out window that allows the exit of the free end of the roll and thus the taking of a self-adhesive label.

Also known is a dispensing assembly which comprises a plastic box with a lid and in which are arranged next to each other ten such dispensers. Between the lid and the box, a slot is provided to let the free ends of the rollers.

Such a distribution set does not leave a user free choice of the number of distributors he wants to group. Indeed, if the number of distributors is greater than the number of distributors that can be contained in the plastic box, it is then necessary to have a second distribution set. If the number of distributors is less than the number of distributors can be contained in the plastic box, then the dispensers are not properly held and they can fall into the bottom of the plastic box.

The documents EP-A-447 737 , JP-A-2004 010075 , US-2005/279744 and GB-A-2,093,436 disclose dispensers containing an item to be dispensed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser in the form of a casing intended to contain an element to be dispensed, and comprising, on the one hand, horizontal securing means intended to cooperate with complementary horizontal securing means d another distributor in a horizontal grouping direction, and, secondly, vertical securing means for cooperating with complementary vertical securing means of another distributor of higher rank, and / or vertical securing means complementary to another distributor of lower rank in a vertical grouping direction, said housing being made by assembling two shells, each having a shaft, said distributor being characterized in that the two shafts come face to face to support a roll.

Advantageously, the two shells are identical.

The invention also proposes a distribution assembly in the form of an assembly of a plurality of distributors according to one of the preceding variants, in the horizontal grouping direction, and / or in the vertical grouping direction.

Advantageously, the faces vis-à-vis two neighboring distributors are contiguous.

Advantageously, the horizontal securing means are disposed on said faces vis-à-vis each distributor.

Advantageously, the horizontal securing means comprise at least one horizontal securing stud and at least one horizontal securing housing, the or each horizontal securing pad of said distributor being intended to be housed in a horizontal securing housing of said adjacent distributor, and the or each horizontal securing housing of said distributor being intended to receive a horizontal bonding pad of said neighboring distributor.

Advantageously, the vertical fastening means comprise first vertical fastening means arranged on the upper face of the dispenser, and second vertical fastening means disposed on the underside of the dispenser.

Advantageously, the first vertical fastening means comprise at least one mortise and the second vertical fastening means comprise at least one tenon.

Advantageously, the distribution assembly comprises at least two fixing devices, each comprising, on the one hand, a base intended to cooperate with the vertical securing means of one of the distributors, and, on the other hand, a wing which extends from said base parallel to one of the faces of the distributor considered.

• la Fig. 1 est une vue de côté d'un distributeur selon l'invention,
• la Fig. 2 est une vue de face du distributeur de la Fig. 1,
• la Fig. 3 montre un dispositif de fixation, et
• la Fig. 4 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne IV-IV de la Fig. 1.

The characteristics of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being given in relation to the attached drawings, among which:

• the Fig. 1 is a side view of a dispenser according to the invention,
• the Fig. 2 is a front view of the distributor of the Fig. 1 ,
• the Fig. 3 shows a fixture, and
• the Fig. 4 is a sectional view along line IV-IV of the Fig. 1 .

The Fig. 1 shows a dispensing assembly having a plurality of dispensers 100, 100a and 100b which are identical. Each distributor 100, 100a, 100b is here of the type adhesive label dispenser and they are stacked on top of each other. Compared to the dispenser 100, the dispenser 100b is of higher rank and the dispenser 100a is of lower rank.

The dispenser 100 takes the form of a housing 102, preferably made of plastic, inside which is disposed an element to be dispensed, and in particular a roll 104 on which adhesive labels are glued.

The Fig. 2 shows the dispenser 100 in front view.

To allow the exit of the free end of the roll 104, the housing 102 includes a window 204 which is formed on the vertical edge of the housing 102.

To facilitate the introduction of the roller 104, the housing 102 is in the form of an assembly of two shells 202a and 202b which are preferably identical. Each shell 202a, 202b has coupling means which are complementary to those of the other shell 202b, 202a and which are provided for allow a coupling of the two shells 202a and 202b to form said housing 102.

The hull 202a is called the left hull and the hull 202b is called the right hull.

To ensure the maintenance and guidance of the roll 104 during its unwinding, a shaft 106 is formed in the bottom of each of the shells 202a and 202b. The two shafts 106 thus formed come face to face and the roller 104 is fitted onto the shafts 106.

The Fig. 4 shows a particular embodiment of the coupling means 112, 404, 114 of the two shells 202a and 202b. In this embodiment, the left hull 202a has a coupling stud 112 which extends towards the right hull 202b, and the right hull 202b has a coupling housing 404 delimited by a cylindrical wall 114 and intended to receiving said coupling pad 112.

The dimensions of the coupling housing 404 and the coupling pad 112 are chosen so as to ensure a locking of the coupling pad 112 in the coupling housing 404 while preferably allowing deblocking to separate the two shells 202a and 202b.

Each shell 202a, 20b has at least one coupling housing 404 and a coupling pad 112.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs., Each shell 202a, 202b has two coupling housings 404 and two coupling pads 112.

It is possible to provide other types of coupling means, such as clips.

It is also possible to provide polarizers to facilitate the coupling of the two shells 202a and 202b.

To allow a grouping of at least two distributors 100 in a grouping direction that is parallel to the axis of the roll 104 and which is said horizontal grouping direction 206, each distributor 100 comprises horizontal fastening means 108 and 110 for cooperate with complementary horizontal fastening means 110 and 108 of a neighbor distributor 100 in the horizontal grouping direction 206.

The horizontal securing means 108 and 110 are disposed on the lateral faces of the distributor 100, that is to say the faces of the housing 102 which are perpendicular to the horizontal grouping direction 206.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS., Each shell 202a, 202b of a distributor 100 comprises first horizontal fastening means 110, and second horizontal fastening means 108 which are intended to cooperate respectively with the second horizontal securing means 108 and the first horizontal fastening means 110 of a shell 202b, 202a of a neighboring distributor 100.

In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the first horizontal fastening means comprise at least one horizontal bonding pad 108 oriented towards the outside of the distributor 100 and the second horizontal fastening means comprise at least one horizontal fastening housing. 110.

Each horizontal connection housing 110 of a distributor 100 is intended to receive by interlocking a horizontal bonding pad 108 of a neighboring distributor 100.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS., Each shell 202a, 202b has two horizontal securing pads 108 and two horizontal securing housings 110.

Thus, each horizontal securing pad 108 of a left hull 202a of a distributor 100 is housed in a horizontal securing housing 110 of the right hull 202b of the neighboring distributor 100, and each horizontal securing housing 110 of the left hull 202a of said distributor 100 receives a horizontal bonding pad 108 of the right hull 202b of said neighboring distributor 100.

Thus, it is possible to secure any number of distributors 100 in the horizontal grouping direction 206 from a first distributor 100 and this on both sides of the first distributor 100.

Of course, the first horizontal fastening means 110 and the second horizontal fastening means 108 may take other forms but they are provided to allow a connection of two distributors 100 together while preferably allowing a separation of these two distributors 100.

In the embodiment of the invention as shown in Figs., To ensure the connection between the two neighboring distributors 100 while allowing their separation, each horizontal bonding pad 108 comprises at least one tar, and preferably three divided angularly 120 °, which protrude from the cylinder surface of said horizontal bonding pad 108. Thus, it is possible to remove a distributor 100 of the assembly to replace it with a new distributor 100.

To avoid the problems of deposition of contaminating elements between two neighboring distributors 100, the faces opposite two adjacent distributors 100 are contiguous. The dimensions of the horizontal securing means 108 and 110 are thus defined to ensure that bringing the two faces into contact with one another vis-à-vis, that is to say, here the lateral faces.

In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the horizontal fastening studs 108 and the horizontal fastening housings 110 are concentric with the coupling housings 404 and the coupling studs 112. In particular, the horizontal fastening housings 110 are made by recess of the coupling studs 112.

To increase the flexibility of the dispensing assembly according to the invention, each distributor 100 comprises vertical securing means 118 and 120 intended to cooperate with vertical securing means 120 and 118 complementary to the distributor 100b of higher rank, and / or vertical securing means 120 and 118 complementary to the distributor 100a of lower rank in another grouping direction which is said vertical grouping direction 116 and which is perpendicular to the horizontal grouping direction 206. The vertical grouping direction 116 here corresponds to a vertical stacking direction.

Thus, it is possible to group at least two identical distributors 100, 100a, 100b according to the vertical grouping direction 116.

More specifically, each distributor 100 comprises first vertical fastening means 118, and second vertical fastening means 120 which are intended to cooperate respectively with the second vertical fastening means 120 of a distributor 100b of higher rank, and with the first vertical securing means 118 of a distributor 100a of lower rank.

Here, the first vertical fastening means 118 are arranged on the upper face of the dispenser 100, and the second vertical fastening means 120 are arranged on the lower face of the dispenser 100. The lower face corresponds to the lower horizontal edge of the casing 102 and the upper face corresponds to the upper horizontal slice of the housing 102, that is to say the slices which are perpendicular to the edge where the window 204 is made.

In the embodiment of the invention presented here the connection between the first vertical fastening means 118 and the second vertical fastening means 120 takes the form of a dovetail assembly. The first vertical fastening means comprise at least one mortise 118, and the second vertical fastening means comprise at least one pin 120.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs., Each distributor 100 has two mortises 118 and two pins 120.

Thus, each pin 120 of a distributor 100 is housed in a mortise 118 of a distributor 100a of lower rank, and each mortise 118 of said distributor 100 receives a pin 120 of a distributor 100b of higher rank.

Thus, it is possible to join any number of distributors 100 in the vertical grouping direction 116 from a first distributor 100 and above or below this first distributor 100.

Of course, the first vertical fastening means 118 and the second vertical fastening means 120 may take other forms.

The particular design of the distributors 100 thus allows a free grouping of several of them according to one of the two grouping directions 206 and 116. A user is no longer limited by the capacity of a plastic case as in the case of the state of the art.

The Fig. 3 shows a fixing device 300 which comprises a base 302 and a flange 304 integral with the base 302.

The base 302 is here in the form of a tenon and is intended to be inserted in the first vertical fastening means 118, that is to say the mortise 118 of a distributor 100.

The wing 304 extends downwardly from the base 302 when it is placed in the mortise 118 of a housing 102 and thus extends substantially parallel to one of the faces of the housing 102 considered . It is then possible to hang the distributor 100 on a rail by inserting it between the face of the housing 102 and the flange 304.

In the case of a distribution assembly, it is possible to distribute at least two of these fastening devices 300 on distributors 100 having no next-higher neighbor, that is to say having mortices 118 free . Thus, it is possible to hang the distribution assembly on a support by insertion of this support between the faces of the housings 202 carrying a fixing device 300 and the wings 304 of these fixing devices 300.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the examples and embodiments described and shown, but it is capable of numerous variants accessible to those skilled in the art.

For example, it is possible to provide that the positions of the mortises and tenons are reversed.

For example, the invention has been more particularly described in the case of adhesive label dispensers, but it may be an adhesive tape dispenser.

Claims (9)

1. A distributor (100) taking the form of a casing (102) intended to contain an element to be distributed and comprising, on the one hand, means of rigid horizontal connection (108, 110) intended to interact with complementary means of rigid horizontal connection (110, 108) of another distributor (100) in a horizontal direction of amalgamation (206) and, on the other hand, means of rigid vertical connection (118, 120) intended to interact with complementary means of rigid vertical connection (120, 118) of another, higher distributor (100b) and/or complementary means of rigid vertical connection (120, 118) of another, lower distributor (100a) in a vertical direction of amalgamation (116), said casing (102) being produced by assembling two shells (202a, 202b), each having a shaft (106), said distributor (100) being characterised in that the two shafts (106) are brought opposite one another in order to support a roller (104).
2. The distributor (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that the two shells (202a, 202b) are identical.
3. A distribution set taking the form of an assembly of a plurality of distributors (100) according to one of claims 1 or 2 in the horizontal direction of amalgamation (206), and/or in the vertical direction of amalgamation (116).
4. The distribution set according to claim 3, characterised in that the opposite faces of two adjacent distributors (100) are bracketed together.
5. The distribution set according to claim 4, characterised in that the means of rigid horizontal connection (110, 108) are positioned on said opposite faces of each distributor (100).
6. The distribution set according to claim 5, characterised in that the means of rigid horizontal connection comprise at least one rigid horizontal connection stud (108) and at least one rigid horizontal connection recess (110), the or each rigid horizontal connection stud (108) of said distributor (100) being intended to be housed in a rigid horizontal connection recess (110) of said adjacent distributor (100) and the or each rigid horizontal connection recess (110) of said distributor (100) being intended to accept a rigid horizontal connection stud (108) of said adjacent distributor (100).
7. The distribution set according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the means of rigid vertical connection (120, 118) comprise first means of rigid vertical connection (118) positioned on the upper face of the distributor (100) and second means of rigid vertical connection (120) positioned on the lower face of the distributor (100).
8. The distribution set according to claim 7, characterised in that the first means of rigid vertical connection comprise at least one mortise (118) and in that the second means of rigid vertical connection comprise at least one tenon (120).
9. The distribution set according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterised in that it comprises at least two fixing devices (300), each comprising, on the one hand, a mounting plate (302) intended to interact with the means of rigid vertical connection (120, 118) of one of the distributors (100) and, on the other hand, a flange (304) extending from said mounting plate (302) parallel to one of the faces of the distributor (100) in question.

Images