GB2192611A

GB2192611A - A device for dispensing a material

Info

Publication number: GB2192611A
Application number: GB08716775A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Geoffrey Can Vaulkhard
Original assignee: WRAPGUARD Ltd
Current assignee: WRAPGUARD Ltd
Priority date: 1986-07-16
Filing date: 1987-07-16
Publication date: 1988-01-20
Also published as: GB8716775D0; GB2192611B; GB8617288D0

Abstract

A packaging film dispensing device 1 has means for controlling the rate of dispensing of the film. In the embodiment disclosed this is achieved by providing a spring loop 4 on the end of a support member 3 on which the roll 6 of film 5 is placed, the outside diameter of the spring loop 4 being greater than the internal diameter of the roll 6, the resilient spring thus acting as a brake. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for dispensing a material This invention relates to a device for dispensing a sheet material.

Specifically, this invention relates to a device for dispensing a plastic sheet material from a roll in which means is provided to restrict and control the rate at which the sheet material is dispensed and wherein said means may serve to hold the roll in place.

Devices for dispensing plastic film and the like, from a roll, typically comprise support means onto which the roll is placed and handles by which the devices are held by the operator. The end of the plastic film may be withdrawn from the roll, and the film wrapped around the article or articles to be packaged.

To provide satisfactory packing it is necessary that the plastic film around the articles is taut.

In order to adjust the tension in the film the rate at which the plastic film is dispensed must be restricted and controlled.

Restricting and controlling the rate at which the plastic film is dispensed is usually effected by the operator of the device who holds the roll of film with his hand and controls the rate by tightening or loosening his grip accordingly.

In addition, the operator frequently has to hold the roll in place with his hand to prevent the roll sliding off the device when the device is in operation.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved device for dispensing a plastic sheet material.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a device for dispensing a material from a roll, comprising support means for supporting the roll, and control means for controlling the rate at which material can be dispensed from the roll.

This invention is particularly suited for use with rolls of material which comprise sheet material, such as plastic sheet material. The plastic sheet material dispensed from the device may be used to unitise loads on pallets.

The sheet material is usually reeled onto a central core in the form of a central cylinder of circular cross-section. The central cylinder is usually made of cardboard and typically has a diameter of 1.5 inches. The roll comprises the material and the core.

It is usual for one end of the central cylinder to remain uncovered by the plastic sheet material and to extend above the material reeled onto the central cylinder.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the roll of material is supported by the device such that the end uncovered by the material is disposed at the top.

Advantageously the control means comprises a resiliently deformable member adapted to be disposed within the roll.

Preferably the resiliently deformable member is adapted to press against the roll when disposed therein, thereby creating said tension in the dispensed material.

Desirably the support means comprises a support member adapted to be inserted at least partially within the roll, and a handle.

The handle may be provided on a first end of the support member, and the tensioning means may be provided on an opposite end of the support member.

The support member is preferably a tube which is desirably made from a rigid material, for example, steel or a suitable plastics material. The tube may be of circular cross-section and preferably has a diameter less that the central cylinder of the roll of material.

In a preferred embodiment, one end of the central cylinder is passed over the control means such that it contacts the inside wall of the central cylinder. The control means may control the tension in the material by friction.

The tensioning means is preferably a spring, which is advantageously provided in the form of a loop.

In the preferred embodiment, the spring loop is of circular configuration. This configuration has been found to give best results, because other types of control means have been found to damage the central cylinder.

The loop may be formed by attaching opposite ends of the spring to the support member. Securing means, preferably a pin, may be provided to attach the spring to the support member.

Desirably the maximum lateral dimension of the loop is selected to be greater than the dimension of the part of the roll within which the loop can be inserted, whereby the loop can positively engage the roll.

This can be achieved by making the inner diameter of the core of the roll less than the maximum material dimension of the spring.

Preferably the control means creates a friction force between itself and the roll, thereby controlling the rate at which material can be dispensed from the roll.

Desirably the control means also serves to hold the roll in position on the device.

The support member and the handle are preferably integral and may be made from a rigid material, for example, steel or a suitable plastics material.

A handgrip may be provided on the end of the handle opposite to the end secured to the support member.

The hand-grip is advantageously adapted to allow the device to be held comfortably in one hand. The hand-grip may be made of a material which will permit the device to be held firmly. The hand-grip may be made from a material such as rubber or plastic. Preferably, the hand-grip is a rubber hand-grip.

A holding member may be provided to further hold the roll of material in place when said roll is engaged by the engaging means.

The holding member is preferably adapted to engage the end of the central cylinder which is uncovered by the material.

The holding member may be in the form of a cap suitable to be held in the hand which may fit over the uncovered end of the central cylinder. The cap is preferably a plastic cap.

The plastic cap may be employed to engage frictionally the reel to further control the rate at which the plastic sheet material is dispensed by further tensioning the sheet material.

It is an advantage of this invention that it provides a device for dispensing a material such that the rate at which the material is dispensed may be restricted and thus controlled.

It is a further advantage of this invention that it provides a device for dispensing a material such that the tension of the material being dispensed may be adjusted.

It is another advantage of this invention that it provides a device for dispensing a material from a roll where said device comprises means to hold the roll in place to allow the material to be dispensed.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a device for dispensing material from a roll, comprising support means for supporting the roll, and tensioning means adapted to create tension in the material during dispensing of material from the roll.

The device may be provided with any of the features of the device described above. In particular, the tensioning means may be the same as the control means described above.

The provision of tensioning in the material can be used to control the rate at which material can be dispensed.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a device in accordance with one embodiment of this invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a roll of material for use with the device in accordance with one embodiment of this invention; and Figure 3 is a plan view indicating the device in operation in accordance with one embodiment of this invention.

In Fig. 1, the device 1 comprises support means in the form of a handle 16 and a support member comprising a tube 3. A handgrip 2 is provided on the handle 16.

Control means in the form of a spring loop 4, which has a maximum lateral dimension a is provided on the free end of the tube 3. The device 1 is used to dispense a plastics sheet material 5 from a roll 6 shown in Fig. 2.

A securing means in the form of a pin 15 is used to secure the spring loop 4 to the tube 3.

The plastics film 5 is reeled onto a central core in the form of a central cylinder 7 open at ends 8 and 9. A portion 10 of the central cylinder 7 at end 9 remains uncovered by the plastics film 5.

Referring to Fig. 3, in order to operate the device, the roll 6 is placed over the spring loop 4 such that the spring loop 4 passes through the open end 8 of the central cylinder 7 and engages the inside wall thereof by friction.

The maximum lateral dimension a (see Fig.

1) of the spring loop 4 is greater than the diameter b of the tube 3. In addition, the maximum lateral dimension a of the spring loop 4 is slightly larger than the inside diameter c of the central cylinder 7.

In order for the roll 6 to be loaded onto the device, the central cylinder 7 is placed over the spring loop 4 such that the spring loop 4 is compressed when the roll 6 is slid into place.

On compressing the spring loop 4 sides 12 and 13 of the spring loop 4 are deformed inwards and the top 14 deformed upwards.

The maximum lateral dimension a is changed to the altered lateral dimension a'.

The altered lateral dimension a' is the same as the inside diameter c of the central cylinder7.

Hence, outward forces against the inside wall of the central cylinder 7 are created which hold the roll 6 in place allowing it to rotate about an axis X-Y on withdrawing the plastic film 5 from the roll 6.

The outward forces against the inside wall of the central cylinder 7 serve to restrict by friction the rotation about the axis X-Y of the roll 6. Therefore, the rate at which the plastic film 5 is dispensed may be controlled and the plastic film kept taut.

A holding member in the form of a plastic cap 11 may be provided. The plastic cap 11 is placed over the uncovered portion 10 of the end 9 of the central cylinder 7. Said plastic cap 11 may be used to hold the roll 6 of plastic film 5 in place and may act as a brake to further restrict the rate at which the plastic film 5 is dispensed.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing material from a roll, comprising support means for supporting the roll, and control means for controlling the rate at which material can be dispensed from the roll.

2. A device accordirig to Claim 1, wherein the control means comprises a resiliently deformable member adapted to be disposed within the roll.

3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein the resiliently deformable member is adapted to press against the roll when disposed therein, thereby creating tension in the dispensed material.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the support means comprises a support member adapted to be inserted at least partially within the roll, and a handle.

5. A device according to Claim 4, wherein the handle is provided on a first end of the support member.

6. A device according to Claim 5, wherein the tensioning means is provided on an opposite end of the support member.

7. A device according to Claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein said handle and support member are integral.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said control means comprises a spring.

9. A device according to Claim 8, wherein said spring is provided in the form of a loop.

10. A device according to Claim 9, wherein said loop has a substantially circular configuration.

11. A device according to Claim 9 or 10, when dependent upon any of Claims 4 to 7, wherein said spring is arranged on the support member in the form of said loop with both ends of the spring secured to the support member.

12. A device according to Claim 11, wherein the maximum lateral dimension of the loop is selected to be greater than the dimension of the part of the roll within which the loop can be inserted, whereby the loop can positively engage the roll.

13. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the control means creates a friction force between itself and the roll, thereby controlling the rate at which material can be dispensed from the roll.

14. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the control means also serves to hold the roll in position on the device.

15. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the control means is provided on the support means.

16. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the control means is not rotatable relative to the support means.

17. A device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.