GB2064480A - Multiple wound roll dispenser and cutter mechanism for use therein - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material has a dispenser housing 10 to receive the rolls to be dispensed having means for supporting a roll B therein in a position for sheet material dispensing, a feed roller 62 rotatably mounted within the dispenser housing 10, and a pressure roller 84 rotatably engaging the feed roller 62 for the sheet material W to pass between the nip of the rollers 62, 84. The pressure roller 84 has at least one resiliently deformable segment 94 disposed eccentric to the axis of the pressure roller 84 to pick up the leading free end of sheet material on the outer surface of a roll R engaging the pressure roller 84 to carry this free end into the nip. The segment 94 may be formed by generally radiating resilient fingers 96 projecting radially outwardly. <IMAGE>

Description

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GB 2 064 480 A 1

SPECIFICATION

Multiple wound roll dispenser and cutter mechanism for use therein

This invention relates to dispensers for wound 5 rolls of flexible sheet material and particularly to dispensers for rolls of paper towels, tissue paper, and the like, wherein each roll has supporting spindles projecting outwardly from the ends of the core of the roll. More specifically, the dispensers to 10 which the instant invention relates, are concerned with dispensing a web of flexible sheet material from wound rolls wherein multiple rolls can be retained for dispensing from each roll in succession with precision in unwinding the 15 material from each roll and assurance that the leading free end on the exterior of each wound roll will feed into the dispensing mechanism with reliability so that the user will have accessibility to the sheet material exterior of the dispenser 20 housing.

Numerous web dispensing constructions are known in the prior art and employed in commercial use where a paper towel dispenser, for example, is mounted on a wall in a location 25 where towel availability is desired. Considering the large number of such dispensers employed in many commercial installations such as factories, office buildings, institutions, etc., more and more attention has been devoted to consideration of the 30 substantial expense in time and labour required in replenishing the exhausted wound rolls in such dispensers, particularly^where a single roll is the limit of capability to be fioused within each dispenser unit.

35 Accordingly, many structures have been developed to accommodate multiple rolls of wound sheet material so that the individual dispenser need only be replenished when the entire complement of rolls within the dispenser has been 40 exhausted, namely, where a first roll has been used up and a reserve roll is available within the dispenser to move into the dispensing position and feed out the sheet material from such reserve roll. Obviously, this reduces the time and expense 45 required in replenishing rolls in the multitude of dispensers in a commercial establishment so that the labour cost is correspondingly reduced.

Whereas the single roll dispenser can be easily loaded with a roll by an attendant and the free * 50 leading web end on the roll threaded in and through the dispensing mechanism to be available to a user externally of the dispenser housing, the advent of dispensers accommodating multiple rolls gave rise to particular problems in providing a 55 construction which effectively enables the leading free web end on the exterior of a reserve roll to be picked up by the dispensing mechanism in the dispenser and reliably fed out of the dispenser once an initial roll has been exhausted. The 60 problem is to assure that this pick up and feeding from the reserve roll is effectively and accurately carried out automatically in the absence of an attendant having to return to the dispenser to start the leading free end of the reserve roll out through the feeding mechanism. Of course, this would defeat the purpose of multiple roll dispensers.

The prior art has proposed numerous ideas, constructions and mechanisms to carry out this pick up of the leading free end on a reserve roll. Each hopefully aims at getting automatic and accurate feeding of the end of the new roll into the feeding mechanism so that the multiple roll dispenser can continue operating and supply its web of sheet material to the prospective users of the dispenser. Whereas attempts in development of multiple roll dispensers have sought to achieve the ultimate, there have been numerous defects and failings in achieving assurance that the web of paper on the reserve roll is properly picked up, properly fed to the dispensing mechanism and properly available to the prospective users exteriorally of the dispenser housing.

These problems call for structures that are simple and yet effective if the dispenser is to be readily understood and adaptable to easy loading by attendants who could become confused with structures involving complicated dispensing mechanisms where threading of even the lead end of the initial wound roll may be overly complicated. With complex dispensers, proper loading and assurance that the lead end on a reserve roll will be picked up may be beyond the comprehension of attendants who are assigned the task of loading numerous multiple roll dispensers in commercial establishments that employ a great number or even small number of multiple roll dispensers.

According to the present invention there is provided a dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material comprising; a dispenser housing to receive the rolls to be dispensed having means for supporting a roll therein in a position for sheet material dispensing, a feed roller rotatably mounted within said dispenser housing, and a pressure roller rotatably engaging the feed roller for the sheet material to pass between the nip of the rollers; characterized by the pressure roller having resiliently deformable means disposed eccentric to the axis of the pressure roller to pick up the leading free end of sheet material on the outer surface of a roll engaging the pressure roller to carry this free end into the nip.

The invention also includes a dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material comprising: a housing, means mounted within the housing for rotatably supporting a roll therein, a feed roller rotatably mounted within the housing, a pressure roller rotatably mounted within the housing and engaging the feed roller, the feed and pressure rollers defining a nip therebetween through which the sheet material passes, a knife operably mounted within the feed roller and having an outer cutting edge for severing the sheet material as the material passes in proximity to the nip, the feed roller having an opening therein for the projection of the cutting edge therethrough, and operating means associated with the knife for projecting the cutting edge outwardly of the feed roller through the opening and severing the sheet material;

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characterized by the pressure roller including a plurality of axially spaced elements rotatably engaging the feed roller, said operating means projecting the cutting edge outwardly of the feed 5 roller through the opening in timed relationship to the rotation of the feed and pressure rollers so that a cylinder of revolution defined by the cutting edge about the rotational axis of the feed roller when the cutting edge is fully projected outwardly of the 10 feed roller through the opening intersects a cylinder of revolution defined by the pressure roller elements about the rotational axis of the pressure roller, and the shape of the cutting edge being related to the shape and axial positions of the 15 pressure roller elements to preclude the edge from contacting the elements during rotation of the feed and pressure rollers.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispenser for wound 20 rolls of flexible sheet material comprising: a housing, means mounted within the housing for rotatably supporting a roll therein, a feed roller rotatably mounted within the housing, and a pressure roller rotatably mounted within the 25 housing and engaging the feed roller, the feed and pressure rollers defining a nip therebetween through which the sheet material passes; characterized by the pressure roller including means for picking up the leading free end of the 30 sheet material on the outer surface of a full roll engaging the pressure roller to carry the free end into the nip.

Preferably the pre'ssure roller is formed with eccentrically disposed axially spaced resilient 35 segments that serve, upon rotation of the pressure roller, to pick up the leading free end of sheet material on the exterior of a full roll and feed it into the nip between the feed roller and pressure roller, thereby assuring that the web material from a roll 40 in the bottom position of the tracks resting on the feed roller is fed between the rollers and thence out of the dispenser for access by a user. The pressure roller also is provided with axially spaced cylindrical resilient conical portions that press 45 against the feed roller as the sheet material passes between the nip of the rollers.

The resiliently deformable segments on the pressure roller project eccentrically outwardly throughout a part of the periphery of the pressure 50 roller and are positioned so that a full roll at the bottom of the dispenser tracks will not only engage the feed roller but also engage the pressure roller. As the pressure roller rotates with the feed roller the deformable eccentric segments 55 will move against the leading free end of sheet material of the roll causing it to buckle downwardly into the nip between the two rollers. Also, the axially spaced resilient cylindrical portions on the feed roller promote driving of the 60 two rollers by each other as the sheet material is drawn between the nip. These resilient portions preferably are conical in configuration with each conical portion facing inwardly toward the midpoint of the pressure roller so as to promote 65 spreading out of the sheet material along the width of the nip between the rollers. The dispenser of the invention embodying the above described features also preferably is provided with a mechanism for stopping rotation of the feed roller and pressure roller and thus arresting movement of the sheet material so that an individual sheet of material which has been severed from the web of material unwound from the roll has its free end immediately accessible to a user.

Also, a cam actuated knife pivotally mounted within the feed roller is projected through an elongated opening in the feed roller wall as the feed roller is rotated with the sheet material overlying its surface. The cam action is constructed to positively project and retract the knife relative to the opening in the feed roller and the activating cams are stationarily mounted such that the knife, which has serrations therealong, initially projects outwardly immediately before the web of material reaches the nip of the feed roller and pressure roller. There serrations are spaced to enter between the eccentric segments and conical resilient portions carried by the pressure roller to start perforation of the web adjacent the nip of the rollers.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the wound roll dispenser for flexible sheet material of this invention with the front cover broken away to expose components within the interior of the dispenser housing.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2—2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view, partly in section, taken on line 3—3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a roll mounting spindle relative to one of the inwardly facing tracks which are located on the opposite side walls of the dispenser housing.

Figure 5 is a view taken on line 5—5 of Figure 1 with the cover side wall of the dispenser housing removed to expose the mechanism for feeding flexible sheet material.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the dispenser mechanism in a position where web material dispensing is in progress. *

Figure 7 is a sectional view through the front cover, back and bottom of the dispenser housing showing positions of wound rolls relative to a feed • roller, cam activated cutting knife and pressure roller disposed within the housing.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the feed roller, pressure roller, material cutting knife and one stationary cam for actuating the knife from within the feed roller.

Figure 9 is an end view, with portions shown in phantom, illustrating the action of camming the material cutting knife from within the feed roller shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a partial end view showing the relationship of the feed roller and pressure roller to a full wound roll of material as the pressure roller approaches picking up the leading free web end of

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a full roll.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 but showing the pressure roller buckling the free end of the web material on a full roll to be fed between 5 the nip of the feed roller and the pressure roller.

Figure 12 is a view also similar to the showing in Figure 10 showing the lead end of the full roll being fed downwardly between the nip of the feed and pressure rollers.

10 Figure 13 is a perspective view showing a resiliently deformable segment which is eccentric to the pressure roll axis to pick up the leading edge of sheet material on a full roll.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of an alternative 15 embodiment for a resiliently deformable eccentric segment to that shown in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a sectional view of the front portion of the dispenser showing the cutting mechanism within the chassis in relation to a roll of flexible 20 sheet material.

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken on line

16—16 of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is an elevational view taken on line

17—17 of Figure 16.

25 Figure 18 is a perspective view of the cutting knife that is mounted in the feed roller shown in Figures 15 and 16.

Figure 19 is a view partly in section showing the over-center means for driving the feed roller 30 through a portion of each rotation, and

Figure 20 is an elevational view showing the over-center means and anti-reversing pawl engaging notches spaced around the periphery of the feed wheel.

35 The complete wound roll dispenser is shown in Figure 1 as a multiple roll dispenser provided with a housing 10 made up of a cover 12, the lower portion being removed to expose the inner workings of the dispenser, a chassis 14 which 40 provides inner side walls 16 and 18 and a back wall 20: the chassis 14 suitably being adapted for connection to a wall. A bottom wall 22 is also provided by chassis 14 as part of the dispenser housing 10, as best seen in Figure 7. An elongated 45 opening 24 across a major portion of the width of the dispenser housing is provided at the forward end of the bottom wall 22 of chassis 14 to provide means for leading the dispensed sheet material to access to a user.

50 In the embodiment shown, each of the opposite inner side walls 16 and 18 is provided with a vertical track 26, these being shown in section on Figure 2 and one track, shown in perspective on Figure 4, as carried by side wall 18. Side wall 55 tracks 26 face inwardly to receive therein the spindles projecting outwardly from the core C of wound roll R of flexible sheet material.

A forward portion 28 of the back wall of each track 26 is inclined inwardly toward the interior of 60 the dispenser housing 10. These inwardly inclined portions 28 of the tracks 26 engage the ends of the spindle extending outwardly from the ends of the core C of roll R adjacent the forward periphery of each spindle end as seen in Figure 2. Thus, as a 65 roll R moves down within tracks 26, engagement of the forward end portions of the spindles by inclined portions 28 tends to rotate the roll R in the direction that the sheet material will eventually be unwound from the roll. However, in a cabinet where multiple rolls are positioned within the tracks the presence of the lowermost roll while being dispensed from the dispenser with the reserve roll resting thereon will prevent the rotation of an upper reserve roll from unwinding its sheet material prior to the lowermost roll being substantially exhausted and moving into discard pocket P for spent roll cores. Then the reserve roll moves down into position to have the free leading end of its web of sheet material fed outwardly from the dispenser to the user.

In the embodiment illustrated, as best shown in Figures 2,3 and 4, the core C of roll R carries a mandrel 30 frictionally held within the core C. Mandrel 30 has a flange 32 at one end thereof and fins 34 extending outwardly from the cylindrical surface of mandrel 30. These fins 34 mate with slots formed extending outwardly through the roll core C into the wound sheet material to key the mandrel 30 and roll R positively together. A large cylindrical spindle 36 is provided extending outwardly from core C on mandrel 30 at one end of the mandrel while the opposite end of the mandrel has a spindle 38. Spindle 38 is formed with a peripheral groove 40 inwardly of its outermost end. One channel 26 has flanges 42 extending along both inner edges thereof at the upper end of the channel. Flanges 42 overlie a portion of this track 26 with the flanges extending into the groove 40 of spindle 38 when the roll R is being loaded into the dispenser. The advantage of having groove 40 to permit spindle 38 to enter the channel passing through the track having flanges 42 is that proper loading of the roll within the dispenser is assured so that only one mandrel end, namely, the proper end of the roll, passes downwardly into this track 26. Spindle 36 without a groove 40, at the opposite end of the roll would not be able to enter the track 26 having flanges 42 and thus the roll must be inserted in loading the dispenser with spindle 38 only in the track 26 carried by wall 18. The keying by means of fins 34 in the slots formed in core C and roll R is important in operation of the dispenser so that the track driving action to rotate the roll is positively transmitted to the roll for dispensing in the manner as will be described.

The lower end section of each track 26 slants away from the longitudinal axis of the main length of the track as shown in Figures 3 and 4. These lower end sections of the two tracks are slanted rearwardly within the dispenser housing 10 and slant away from the axis of the feed roller described below such that the slanting section of each track lies on a line that is generally tangent to the periphery of the feed roller.

Each slanting section of a track 26 is formed by a stationary upper wall 44 and a pivotally mounted driving guide 46 pivotally mounted at 48 to the lower end of the track. Each driving guide 46 provides a friction surface 50 forming the

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lower track wall of the slanting section guide 46, as a whole, slanting away from the main track length. The upper end of friction surface 50 on each guide 46 has a projection 52 with an inclined 5 cam area 54 extending thereabove. Each guide 46 is biased inwardly toward the center of the track 26 by a spring 56 mounted on a suitable stationary stud 58. One end of spring 56 presses against a stationary wall of the part forming track 10 26 while the other end of spring 56 engages in and presses against the outer wall of guide 46 and is held in a retainer 60 on guide 46. The bottom end wall 45 below stationary wall 44 is inclined rearwardly at a steeper angle. This wall 45 allows 15 the spindle to pass between the feeder roller and wall 45 into discard pocket P at the rear of the dispenser housing once the roll is substantially exhausted of sheet material, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

20 The driving guide 46 is normally biased by spring 56 to pivot about pivot point 48 such that the guide is moved inwardly toward the center of the track 26. In this position, the inclined cam area 54 is disposed such that as the spindle moves 25 down within track 26 it will engage this cam area, camming the driving guide 46 forwardly and allowing the spindle to move over projection 52 and into the space between friction surface 50 and stationary upper wall 44. In this position the 30 spindle rides against the friction surface 50 so that it is encouraged to rotate in a direction to unwind the sheet material from the roll. To promote this rotation of the roll under the action of the perimeter of a spindle riding down along friction 35 surface 50, the surface may be provided with a coating providing a higher co-efficient of friction to more positively drive a roll spindle and roll carried thereby. Alternatively, a material having a high coefficient of friction may be used in making the 40 driving guide 46 to provide a higher co-efficient of friction for the surface 50.

The pivotally mounted driving guide 46 associated with each track 26 is preferably and advantageously pivoted on the side of the track 45 which is in the direction toward which the web of sheet material will be drawn off of the roll incident dispensing rotation of the feed roller mounted adjacent the lower ends of tracks 26. Where the lower sections of the tracks are slanted, as 50 illustrated and described on the preferred embodiment, the inclined friction surface 50, forming the lower side of the slanted track section, in and of itself, promotes the perimeter of the spindles to press firmly against this surface 50 and 55 rotate. The pressure of the spindles against the stationary slanted wall 44, which is the upper wall of the slanted track section is lessened in such construction.

The force of pulling the web of sheet material 60 off of a roll in the dispensing operation adds a further force drawing the spindles which carry the roll firmly against the inclined surface 50. Thus this force further also drives the roll and its spindles in moving down the inclined slanted 65 friction surface 50 to promote rotation of the roll.

Again, withdrawal of sheet material from the roll incident dispensing, while pressing the spindles more firmly against the surface of driving guides 46, lightens or even frees engagement of the spindle perimeter from the stationary wall 44.

Even where the track is straight throughout its length, without a slanted lower section, the action of a spring biased driving guide pivotally mounted in the track lower section adjacent the upper end * of the feed roller is advantageous. By reason of its locating such guide on the side of the track 26 which is in the direction in which the web of sheet material is to be withdrawn from the roll the web withdrawing force presses the spindle against the pivotally mounted biased driving guide at the lower section of the track. This lessens or relieves the force against the opposite wall of the track which is stationary. Again, the urging toward rotation of the spindles and the roll carried thereby in the direction in which the web is to be unwound from the roll during dispensing contributes to effective and easy dispensing of sheet material from the roll.

A feed roller 62 is rotatably mounted within the dispenser housing 10 adjacent the lower end thereof for a roll to engage and be driven by the feed roller in dispensing sheet material from the roll. As shown, roller 62 is mounted generally beneath the main length of tracks 26 and is made up of several axially spaced cylindrical sections including a center section 64 and two end sections 66, the latter having their outer ends closed by end caps 67. Each of the feed roller sections has a cavity therein to provide an interior space within and along the length of the feed roller 62 which accommodates a serrated cutting knife 68. Feed roller sections 64 and 66 are slotted to provide an elongated external opening 70 on the periphery of the feed roller 62. Shaft ends 72 project from the opposite end caps 67 of feed roller 62 to rotatably support the feed roller by each shaft end 72 engaging in a bore 74 provided in a stationarily mounted cam block 76. It is to be understood that a cam block 76 is stationarily mounted at each end of the feed roller 62, these cam blocks being affixed to and facing inwardly from the opposite inner side walls 16 and 18 of chassis 14 which form a part of the dispenser housing 10.

The cam block 76 provides a plate cam therein consisting of a cam pocket 78, opening, in the case of each cam block 76, toward the end of feed roller 62 with which it is associated. This pocket 78 has a parti-cylindrical portion with its center of curvature corresponding with the axis of bore 74 that receives shaft end 72 and also has an outwardly curved portion extending away from the axis of the feed roller 62. This latter portion is joined at its ends with the ends of the parti-cylindrical portion to form pocket 78 into an endless cam configuration.

The serrated cutting knife 68 is carried on a member 79 located within the interior space in feed roller 62, such member having cylindrical studs 80, one at each end of knife 68 and member

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79, providing a pivot axis which is displaced from the plane of the cutting knife 68. The stubs 80 are engaged in apertures provided in the opposite end caps 67 of the feed roller 62. The knife also has at 5 each end thereof, disposed in the plane of the cutting knife 68 a cam follower 82, one such cam follower extending through an opening in each end cap 67 of the feed roller 62. The cam follower at each end of roller 62 fits into the pocket 78 of a 10 stationary cam block 76 and thus is propelled to control extension and retraction of the cutting knife 68 out of and back into the feed roller 62 as the roller rotates in dispensing sheet material from a wound roll. Incident this rotation of roller 62, 15 knife 68 projects outwardly, piercing the web of sheet material and severing it for removal of a length of the material from the dispenser through opening 24.

More detailed description of the action of the 20 stationary cam block 76 in controlling, through cam followers 82, the projection and retraction of knife 68 will be given by referring to Figures 15—20. It should be mentioned at this point that the disposition of the cam pocket 78 25 and the stationary cam block 76 at each end of feed roller 64 is, in the instant invention, disposed to obtain a preferred action relative to other components of the structure which will now be described.

30 For ease in description of the specific structure illustrated in Figures 15—20 the reference numerals have been given from a 100 or 100' series.

Referring to Figure 15 the dispenser 110' has a 35 chassis 112', only a part of which is shown in Figure 15. The chassis has an opening 114' at its lower forward end through which the web W of flexible sheet material, such as paper toweling, passes to be available to the user. The web W is 40 taken from a roll R mounted in the dispenser on a suitable supporting shaft 116'. The web W as withdrawn from roll R passes over a rotatably mounted feed roller 118' and then down and out through opening 114'. A pinch roller 120' 45 mounted on a shaft 122' is spring biased into engagement with the exterior of feed roller 118' with the web W of flexible sheet material passing between the pinch roller and the feed roller.

The feed roller 118' is rotatably mounted 50 within the chassis 112' of the dispenser on stub shaft 124 and 126 with stub shaft 126 carrying at its outer end a feed wheel 128. The feed wheel is secured to rotate with the feed roller and function in a manner to be described in the dispersing and 55 cutting of a length of web W removed from the roll R.

The feed roller 118' has pivotally mounted there within a knife 130, the structure of the knife being shown in Figure 18. The knife is mounted to 60 swing about an axis which is laterally displaced from the plane of the cutting edge 134 of the knife. The feed roller 118' has an opening 132 formed in the periphery of the feed roller so that the cutting edge 134 of the knife can be projected 65 beyond the exterior of the feed roller 118' and retracted back into the feed roller. Broken line L on Figure 15 shows the path of the projection of this cutting edge 134 beyond the periphery of feed roller 118' as the roller rotates so that the web is effectively severed to enable removal of the flexible sheet material by the user.

Referring to the structure of knife 130 as best seen in Figure 18, the pivotal mounting is provided by stubs 136, one being disposed on each end of the knife 130 providing a pivot axis which is displaced from the plane of knife cutting edge 134. The knife also has at each end, disposed in the plane of the knife cutting edge, cam followers 138.

The pivot stubs 136 are mounted in the end walls 140 of the feed roller 118' to support the knife 130 so as to be swingable about an axis which is laterally displaced from the plane of the knife cutting edge 134. The control of movement of the knife to project from opening 132 and be retracted back into the feed roller 118' is achieved by the cam followers 138 engaging in stationary plate cams 142, one such cam being mounted within the chassis 112' adjacent each end of feed roller 118'.

The configuration of each plate cam 142 is shown in Figure 17. It has a pocket 144 of substantially uniform width throughout its length to receive one cam follower 138. In each case the pocket 144 opens toward the end of the feed roller 118' as shown in Figure 16. The pocket 144 in each plate cam 142 has a parti-cylindrical portion 146 with its center of curvature corresponding with the axis of the feed roller 118' provided with the stub shafts 124 and 126. The pocket 144 also has an outwardly curved portion 148 extending away from the axis of the feed roller 118'. This latter portion is joined at its ends with the ends of the parti-cylindrical portion 146 to form pocket 144 into an endless cam configuration to actuate one cam follower 138 upon rotation of feed roller 118'.

On Figure 15 broken line circle C shows the path of movement of the mounting stubs 136 of knife 130 as the feed roller 118' rotates. This figure also illustrates four successive positions for the axis of stubs 136 and movement of cam followers 138 within the pockets 144 of plate cams 142. As previously mentioned, the broken line L on Figure 15 shows the pattern of movement of the cutting edge 134 of knife 130 caused by the cam followers 138 being guided within the pockets 144 of the plate cams 142.

From this path of movement it will be seen that the cutting edge 134 starts to project beyond the periphery of feed roller 118' immediately beyond the point of engagement of pinch roller 120' with feeder roller 118'.

Referring to Figures 19 and 20, the feed wheel 128 is shown mounted on the outer end of stub shaft 126. The feed wheel is provided with notches 150 spaced around its perimeter and anti-reversing pawl 152 is mounted on the chassis 112' to be freely pivotal into engagement with notches 150 to prevent reverse rotation of the

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feed wheel 128 and likewise feed roller 118'.

The feed roller 118' is driven through a portion of each rotation by an over-center means including a spring 156 connected to the chassis 112' by fastener 158 and to the feed wheel 128 by screw 160, such screw 160 being off-center from the rotation axis of feed wheel 128 and feed roller 118'. It will be readily understood that during rotation of feed wheel 128 and feed roller 118' in the direction of arrow A on Figure 20, the spring 156 is initially tensioned as it approaches the position of link 162 shown on Figure 20.

When the screw 160 passes beyond alignment of link 162 with stub shaft 126 the over-center means is energized to its maximum, therefore, the spring uses its stored energy to assist further rotation of the feed wheel 128 and feed roller 118' to activate the knife so that the web is severed and additional flexible sheet material is fed into position for the next use of the dispenser.

It will be noted that the center section 64 of feed roller 62 is spaced at each of its ends from the inner ends of the two end sections 66 of such roller. These spaces, as shown more clearly on Figures 1 and 8, are provided for a purpose which will be made clear hereinafter.

Concerning the cylindrical sections 64 and 66, making up the feed roller 62, these sections may .. all have the peripheral surfaces thereof provided with a high friction surfacing material up to the outer ringed ends and end plates 67 of the end sections 66, as shown in Figures 1 and 8. For good driving characteristics in moving the wound roll within the dispenser and feeding the sheet material off of the roll to the dispenser outlet opening 24, the center section 64 may have a rubber surface. The exterior cylindrical surfaces of all feed roller sections may be made of rubber for good feeding characteristics of the sheet material.

In the instant invention, the cam pockets 78 in the stationary cam blocks 76, one at each end of the feed roller 62, preferably have their configuration disposed such that the action on cam followers 82 which drive the knife out and retract it back within the roller 62 function to project the knife 68 in the pattern of movements shown on Figure 7. Thus, in the instant invention, the knife 68 as it is initially cammed out through the opening 70 commences at a point immediately before the nip of feed roller 62 formed in conjunction with a pressure roller 84. As rotation of feed roller 62 proceeds relative to the stationary cam pockets 78 in cam blocks 76, the serrated knife edge projects further and further out of the interior space within roller 62 to progress through the several projected stages as shown in phantom lines on Figure 7. While the knife is quickly projected out through the opening 70 of roller 62 to effectively sever the web W of sheet material the knife is also rapidly withdrawn or retracted back into the roller 62 as it moves through the positions under the control of the configuration of cam pockets 78 within which the cam followers 82 follow.

The construction of the pressure roller 84 may best be seen in the perspective view of Figure 8. Roller 84 is rotatably mounted in bearing blocks 86, one such bearing block receiving an end of roller 84 at each of the roller ends. Each bearing block 86 is slideably mounted in a slot (not shown) provided in the side walls 16 and 18 of the chassis 14 forming a part of the dispenser housing 10. The slots in the side walls 16 and 18 are oriented generally radially relative to the rotation = axis of feed roller 62, such that the pressure roller 84 may move toward and away from the axis of roller 62 provided by the ends of shaft 72 ,

mounting such feed roller. The pressure roller 84 is spring biased toward the cylindrical surface of feed roller 62 by the bearing blocks 86 at each end of roller 84 being engaged by spring 88, one at each of the pressure rollers 84, as shown in Figure 8. One end of each spring 88 presses against a bearing block 86 to urge it and pressure roller 84 carried thereby toward the surface of feed roller 62. The opposite end of each spring 88 engages a stationary abutment 90, one carried by each of walls 16 and 18 while the mid-portion of each spring 88 is suitably supported on a stud 92, also carried by each wall 16 and 18 (see Figures 5 and 6).

Secured to pressure roller 84 are a pair of spaced resiliently deformable segments 94; although a single deformable segment may be sufficient. Each segment is eccentric and resiliently deformable relative to the roller 84 axis. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 and 13, the resilient segment is formed by a plurality of radiating resilient fingers 96. It will be seen that these elements, rotating with pressure roller 84, move with such roller so that the outwardly projecting resilient segments 94, which are eccentric with the axis of roller 84, may pass within the spaces provided between each end of section 64 and end sections 66 of the feed roller 62.

Whereas in Figures 7,8 and 10—13 the resiliently deformable segment 94 have been shown formed by the radiating resilient fingers 96, another embodiment which may be employed is shown in Figure 14. In this embodiment the resiliently deformable segment is formed by an outwardly projecting arcuate wall 98 which is -? bowed outwardly from the portion of the element secured to pressure roller 84 to form the eccentric resilient deformable segment. This arcuate wall 98* provides a surface to engage and pick up the leading free end of sheet material upon the exterior of an outer roll surface in the same manner as the resilient generally radiating fingers 96 function for the embodiment shown in Figure 13. This will be described in more detail with reference to the action shown being carried out in Figures 10, 11 and 12. As further shown on Figure 14, the outwardly projecting arcuate wall 98 may be reinforced by providing radial webs 100 extending outwardly from the axis of pressure roller 84 to the underside of arcuate wall 98.

It will be understood that the embodiments shown in Figure 13 and 14 may be appropriately

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made of any rubber like material which not only will give the desired frictional characteristics for the function of the eccentric segments in picking up the leading free end of sheet material from the 5 exterior of a roll, but also this will give the desired 70 resiliency and deformability for effective action in use of the dispenser in feeding sheet material from a wound roll.

The pressure roller 84 also has axially spaced 10 therealong, resilient conical portions 102. Each 75 conical portion 102 on a roller 84 provides a cylindrical perimeter which presses against the feed roller 62 surface to define a nip between these two rollers. As seen from Figure 8, the two 15 center conical portions 102 ride against the center 80 section 64 of the feed roller while the conical sections outwardly of the eccentric segments 94 ride on the end sections 66 of feed roller 62. An important feature of the location and positioning 20 of the conical portions 102 rotating with pressure 85 roller 84 is that each conical portion faces inwardly toward the mid-point of pressure roller 84. This performs a particular function in acting to spread out the sheet material along the length of 25 the nip between feed roller 62 and pressure roller 90 84. Under the action of springs 88 at each end of pressure roller 84 the conical portions 102 tend to be deflected at the nip between the rollers so that the cylindrical perimeter is bent somewhat 30 laterally away from the mid-point of roller 84. By 95 reason of the conical portions facing inwardly toward the mid-point of pressure roller 84 this deflection of the cylindrical perimeters of the portions 102 moves the perimeters axially 35 outwardly which acts on the sheet material 100

passing between the nip of the rollers to spread it outwardly toward the ends of pressure roller 84 thus encouraging the sheet material to pass between feed roller 62 and pressure roller 84 in a 40 fully spread out, taut position. 105

Before considering other structures employed in effectively leading the sheet material leaving the feed roller out of the dispenser housing to be accessible to a user, discussion may be provided 45 concerning the function of the eccentric segments 110 94 forming a part of pressure roller 84 as best shown on Figures 7,10,11 and 12.

► Referring to Figure 7, a substantially exhausted initial roll ER is shown within a discard pocket P at 50 the rear portion of the chassis 14 in front of rear 115 wall 20 and above bottom wall 22. This roll ER would have been the lowermost roll loaded into the dispenser with a reserve roll still located above the lowermost roll and resting on the lowermost 55 roll surface in readiness to move into position 120 once the lowermost roll has become substantially exhausted. Thus, roll ER, with a limited amount of sheet material still wound thereon, has moved down through the tracks 26 and, after becoming 60 substantially exhausted, its spindles have moved 125 beneath the inclined walls 45 at the lower ends of tracks 26 and over the surface of feed roller 62 to drop into the discard pocket P. The web of sheet material is still being fed over the top of feed roller 65 62 and between the nip of feed roller 62 and 130

pressure roller 84 with the web W exiting through the dispenser housing opening 24.

It will of course be understood that while the feed roller 62 continues its rotation under the action of withdrawing web W from the opening 24 of the dispenser housing 10, the camming action under the driving force of stationary cam pockets 78 on cam followers 82 will project and retract the knife 68 in accordance with the movements illustrated on Figure 7. The projecting action of knife 68 will serve to sever a length of web W for each rotation of feed roller 62 so that the cut off length of sheet material may be withdrawn from the dispenser cabinet by the intending user.

The structure of pressure roller 84,

incorporating spaced eccentric segments 94 and conical portions 102, also is advantageous in cooperating with the serrations of cutting knife 68. These knife serrations are spaced to accommodate therebetween not only the eccentric segments 94 but also the conical resilient portions 102. This may be seen from the phantom shown position of pressure roller 84 in Figure 1. By this relationship between the cutting knife serrations and the eccentric segments 94 and conical portions 102, it is possible to initiate camming of the knife through the opening 70 in feed roller 62 commencing at a point immediately before the nip of the feed and pressure rollers. This is of course advantageous in that when the web of sheet material is located between the two rollers, the conical portions 102 are acting to spread the sheet material along the length of the pair of rollers and the nip between the rollers holds the sheet material firmly in this spread condition. As shown in Figure 7, the projection of the knife through the opening 70 immediately before the nip of the rollers permits the outermost ends of the knife serrations to pass into the web of sheet material and initially perforate it along the length of the pair of rollers. At this time the rollers act to firmly hold the web of sheet material against displacement. As the sheet material passes on through the nip, the cam action on cam followers 82 continues to move the knife 68 outwardly. When it passes the nip between rollers 62 and 84 it is rapidly projected to complete severing of the web of sheet material for removal from the dispensing cabinet. As previously mentioned, the knife, under the control of the stationary cam pocket 78, is then rapidly retracted back into the feed roller 62 in readiness, on the next revolution of such roller, to perform a subsequent web cutting action.

At this point, shown in Figure 7, the roll that was disposed upwardly in the track as a reserve roll has moved down until in its full position its spindles are engaging with the friction surfaces 50 of the driving guides 46 on the opposite side walls 16 and 18 of the chassis 14. The diameter of this reserve roll, which is now in readiness for removal of sheet material therefrom and is thus in the dispensing position, is such that it not only rests and drivingly engages with the surface of feed roller 62 but it also is of a sufficient diameter

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that it will be engaged by the eccentric segments 94 on the pressure roller 84 as such roller rotates along with the feed roller 62. As the remaining sheet material continues to be withdrawn from the 5 substantially exhausted roll ER in the discard pocket P, it continues to rotate the rollers in passing through the nip therebetween, the withdrawing action occurring either under the pull of a prospective user externally of the dispenser or 10 manually operated by the manual hand wheel 104 as will be described subsequently.

The rotation of pressure roller 84 will carry the resiliently deformable segments 94 around ttf bring them into frictional contact with the exterior 15 of the fresh full roll in dispensing position which was formally disposed upwardly in the dispenser cabinet as a reserve roll. The surface engagement of this new full roll in the dispensing position with the feed roller 62 and with rotation encouraged by 20 its spindles frictionally engaging with the surfaces 50 on the driving guides 46 within the lower section of the tracks 26 causes rotation in a direction to feed the loose free end of the sheet material onto the resilient segments 94 of the 25 pressure roller 84.

Referring to Figures 10, 11 and 12, the action of the eccentric segments 94 on the pressure roller 84 will follow the action shown. The feed roller 62 is rotating counterclockwise while 30 pressure roller 84 is rotating clockwise with the web of sheet material passing between the nip of these two rollers. The clockwise rotation, as shown in Figures 10—12, has the effect as the eccentric segments 94 on the pressure roller 84 35 move into frictional engagement with the outer free layer of roll R of buckling this free end as rotation progresses between the three elements, as shown in Figure 11. The web W at this point is still being withdrawn from the substantially 40 exhausted roll ER in the discard pocket P so that withdrawl of the web by a user tends to assure continued rotation of the elements, as shown in Figures 10 and 11. The buckling action created by the eccentric segments 94, performing by use of 45 resilient fingers 96 in the embodiment shown in Figures 10 and 11, carries the buckling action to a point where the buckled sheet material web is drawn positively and firmly into the nip between feed roller 62 and pressure roller 84. As this action 50 proceeds, the outer free end on the new full roll is carried in double thickness between the rollers and fed out through opening 24 in the dispenser housing 10. If the first brush or frictional engagement of the eccentric segments 94 on 55 pressure roller 84 does not effectively pick up the leading free end of the fresh new full roll R, the elements will continue their rotation and successive brushes or frictional engagements between the segments 94 and the outer layer of 60 sheet material on roll R will be repeated as the remainder of sheet material is being withdrawn from the nearly exhausted roll ER in discard pocket P.

Once the leading free end of web sheet material 65 on the new roll in dispensing position is picked up.

several thicknesses of sheet material may be fed from the dispenser for a period of time until the web sheet material on roll ER is fully exhausted. Also there may be a period where the double 70 thickness coming from the buckled surface layer of sheet material off of full roll R as shown in Figure 12 may be fed out of the dispenser along with the remaining material on roll ER. However, the action of eccentric segments 94 will effectively 75 and positively pick up and feed sheet material into the nip between the feed roller and pressure roller from the new roll. Thus, this roll will be brought , into operation for dispensing from the unit. The dispenser functions in such a manner that, 80 at the end of each cycle the leading end of the sheet material extends outwardly of the dispenser cabinet, in order to be grasped by the user. The mechanism for dispensing sheet material has means for measuring the length of each segment 85 of such material that is dispensed and stopping the dispensing action at the end of this desired length. Also, manual feeding is provided. The manual feeding mechanism and associated components are best shown on Figures 5 and 6. 90 The mechanism includes a manual feed wheel 104 mounted on the end of feed roller 62 as shown more clearly in section on Figure 1. Thus, a screw 106 is threaded into the end of feed roller 62 to securely fasten the feed wheel 104 to rotate 95 with such roller. The periphery of feed wheel 104 is provided with alternating recesses 108 and projections 110 to facilitate its rotation by the fingers of a user. Rotation of the feed wheel 104 causes the feed roller 62 to rotate and cam the 100 knife 68 outwardly and inwardly as previously described. A link 112 is pivotally connected to a screw 114 threaded into the feed wheel 104 at a point radially offset and therefore eccentric to the axis of rotation of the wheel formed by securing 105 screw 106. A spring 116 is secured to the opposite end of link 112 while the upper end of spring 116 is fastened at 118 to the side wall 16 of the chassis 14.

An anti-reverse pawl 120 is pivotally mounted 110 on a screw 122 threaded into side wall 16 of the chassis 14. This pawl rides in the recesses 108 of feed wheel 104 and prevents the feed wheel from rotating clockwise as shown in Figure 5 and 6. * The spring 116, acting through link 112, 115 pivotally connected by screw 114 eccentrically of the rotation axis of feed wheel 104, provides a force assist to sever the sheet material so that the act of severing the material is accomplished without the need of a user increasing his pull upon 120 the sheet material coming from the dispenser.

During the first part of rotation of feed wheel 104, the spring 116 is tensioned as the wheel moves counterclockwise as shown in Figures 5 and 6. After the screw 114 passes the lowermost point, 125 opposite its position shown in Figure 5 or 180° from the position shown in Figure 5, the spring 116 pulls upwardly, thus helping to rotate manual feed wheel 104 with roller 62 and cam cutter 68 outwardly and then inwardly to perform the sheet 130 material severing operation.

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It should be mentioned that in our co-pending application No. 39454/78 there is described and claimed a dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material that have supporting spindles 5 projecting outwardly from the roll core ends 70

comprising; a dispenser housing to receive the rolls to be dispensed and having inwardly facing tracks on the opposite inner sidewalls of the housing for the rolls to move downwardly within 10 the tracks with the lower end section of each track slanting away from the longitudinal axis of the 75 main length of the track, and a feed roller rotatably mounted within the dispenser housing adjacent the lowermost ends of the tracks so that the 15 periphery of a roll having the spindle therefor engaged by the lowermost track ends will engage 80 and be driven by rotation of the feed roller;

characterized by roll driving guide means pivotally mounted adjacent the lower ends of each track 20 with means biasing the guide means inwardly of the track and each guide means providing a 85

friction surface along each slanting track section to engage the periphery of the roll spindle within the track and promote roll rotation during 25 downward movement of the roll.

Also in our co-pending application No. 90

80-29502 there is described and claimed a dispenser for rolls of flexible sheet material having a mechanism for cutting a web of the material, a 30 method for cutting the web comprising the steps of; passing the web of material over a feed roller, 95 projecting the edge of a cutting knife from within the feed roller beyond the periphery of the feed roller to cut the web passing over the feed roller; 35 characterized by positively camming the cutting knife to retract the knife edge back into the feed 100 roller incident rotation of the feed roller.

In our co-pending application No. 80-29503 there is described and claimed as an article of 40 manufacture a roll of flexible sheet material having an internal passageway therethrough; 105

characterized by a slot extending from the passageway into the roll at one end of the roll, and roll mounting means disposed in the passageway 45 and having a rib extending into the slot to rotatably lock the roll and the mounting means together, the 110 mounting means further having portions extending axially outwardly beyond the ends of the roll and adapted to be rotatably mounted in a 50 dispenser, one of the portions having a smaller minimum transverse cross-sectional dimension 115 than the other of the portions, whereby said one portion is adapted to be received in a similarly dimensioned dispenser supporting structure and 55 said other portion is too large to be received in said supporting structure so that said portions can 120 be mounted in the dispenser with the roll axially oriented in one direction only.

In our co-pending application No. 80-29504 60 there is described and claimed a dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material comprising: 125 a housing, means mounted within the housing for rotatably supporting a roll therein, a feed roller rotatably mounted within the housing, and a 65 pressure roller rotatably mounted within the housing and engaging the feed roller, the feed and pressure rollers defining a nip therebetween through which sheet material passes; characterized by the pressure roller including means for urging the sheet material axially outwardly of the feed roller to spread the material along the surface of the feed roller as the material passes through the nip.

Claims (14)

1. A dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material comprising: a dispenser housing to receive the rolls to be dispensed having means for supporting a roll therein in a position for sheet material dispensing, a feed roller rotatably mounted within said dispenser housing, and a pressure roller rotatably engaging the feed roller for the sheet material to pass between the nip of the rollers; characterized by the pressure roller having resiliently deformable means disposed eccentric to the axis of the pressure roller to pick up the leading free end of sheet material on the outer surface of a roll engaging the pressure roller to carry this free end into the nip.

2. A dispenser according to Claim 1 wherein the resiliently deformable means comprises at least one deformable segment secured to rotate with the pressure roller, the segment being resilient and projecting outwardly throughout a peripheral part of the pressure roller circumference.

3. A dispenser according to Claim 2 wherein the segment is formed by generally radiating resilient figures projecting generally radially outwardly of the axis of the pressure roller.

4. A dispenser according to Claim 2 wherein the segment is formed by an outwardly projecting arcuate resilient wall which is eccentric to the axis of the pressure roller and provides a curved wall surface to engage and pick up the leading free end of sheet material upon the outer roll surface.

5. A dispenser according to any one of claims 2, 3, or 4 wherein the pressure roller carries axially spaced resilient portions along the length thereof with each providing a cylindrical perimeter pressing against the feed roller surface to define the nip between the rollers.

6. A dispenser according to Claim 5 wherein the axially spaced resilient portions on the pressure roller are conical in configuration with each conical portion facing inwardly toward the mid-point of the pressure roller to promote spreading out the sheet material passing through the nip of the rollers.

7. A dispenser according to Cjaim 5 wherein the feed roller includes axially spaced cylindrical sections which engage with the pressure roller, at least two of the sections being spaced to accommodate passage therebetween of the resiliently deformable segment on the pressure roll incident rotation of the pressure roller.

8. A dispenser according to Claim 5 wherein the feed roller has a serrated cutting knife pivotally mounted therewithin, the feed roller has an elongated external opening for projection of the

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knife therethrough stationary cam means is mounted relative to the feed roller to cam the knife out through the opening incident rotation of the rollers to sever the sheet material, and the serrations on the knife are spaced to accommodate therebetween the resiliently deformable segment on the pressure roller.

9. A dispenser according to Claim 1 wherein the resiliently deformable means comprises resiliently deformable eccentric segments spaced along the pressure roller, axially spaced conical resilient portions are spaced along the length of the pressure roller disposed on either sides of the eccentric segments, each said conical portion facing inwardly toward the mid-point of the pressure roller, the feed roller has a serrated cutting knife pivotally mounted therewithin with an elongated external opening in the feed roller for projection of the knife therethrough, and stationary cam means is mounted relative to the feed roller to cam the knife out through the opening incident rotation of the rollers to sever the sheet material.

10. A dispenser according to Claim 9 wherein the stationary cam means is operatively positioned relative to the pivotally mounted knife to initiate camming of the knife out through the opening immediately before the nip of the rollers,. and the serrations on the knife are spaced to accommodate therebetween the eccentric segments and the conical resilient portions.

11. A dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material comprising: a housing, means mounted within the housing for rotatably supporting a roll therein, a feed roller rotatably mounted within the housing, a pressure roller rotatably mounted within the housing and engaging the feed roller, the feed and pressure rollers defining a nip therebetween through which the sheet material passes, a knife operably mounted within the feed roller and having an outer cutting edge for severing the sheet material as the material passes in proximity to the nip, the feed roller having an opening therein for the projection of the cutting edge therethrough and operating means associated with the knife for projecting the cutting edge outwardly of the feed roller through the opening and severing the sheet material; characterized by the pressure roller including a plurality of axially spaced elements rotatably engaging the feed roller, said operating means projecting the cutting edge outwardly of the feed roller through the opening in timed relationship to the rotation of the feed and pressure rollers so that a cylinder of revolution by the cutting edge about the rotational axis of the feed roller when the cutting edge is fully projected outwardly of the feed roller through the opening intersects a cylinder of revolution defined by the pressure roller elements about the rotational axis of the pressure roller, and the shape of the cutting edge being related to the shape and axial positions of the pressure roller elements to preclude the edge from contacting the elements during rotation of the feed and pressure rollers.

12. A dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material comprising: a housing, means mounted within the housing for rotatably supporting a roll therein, a feed roller rotatably mounted within the housing, and a pressure roller rotatably mounted within the housing and engaging the feed roller, the feed and pressure rollers defining a nip therebetween through which the sheet material passes; characterized by the pressure roller including means for picking up the leading free end of the sheet material on the outer surface of a full roll engaging the pressure roller to carry the free end into the nip.

13. A dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material according to Claim 12 further including means for urging the sheet material axially outwardly of the feed roller to spread the material along the surface of the feed roller as the material passes through the nip.

14. A dispenser according to Claim 13 wherein the urging means comprises a plurality of resilient, spaced, substantially conical portions positioned along the length of the pressure roller with the apex end of each of the portions oriented toward the axially central, transverse mid-plane of the pressure roller and the periphery of each of the portions engaging the periphery of the feed roller.

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Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1981. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.