GB2286178A

GB2286178A - Facsimile equipment:roll of recording paper

Info

Publication number: GB2286178A
Application number: GB9401880A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Milford
Original assignee: INFOTEC UK Ltd
Current assignee: INFOTEC UK Ltd
Priority date: 1994-02-01
Filing date: 1994-02-01
Publication date: 1995-08-09
Also published as: GB9401880D0

Abstract

A recording medium kit for facsimile equipment comprising a roll 1 of thermally-sensitive recording paper of nominal width 210 millimetres wherein a respective adapter 2 is provided for releasable attachment to each side of the roll 1 to make the effective width of the roll 1 for mounting purposes a nominal 216 millimetres, the actual widths being within + 1 and - 2 millimetres of the aforesaid nominal widths. <IMAGE>

Description

Recording Medium for Facsimile Equipment This invention relates to recording medium for facsimile equipment.

In recent years, there has been an enormous increase in the private and business use of facsimile equipment connected to the public telephone network, that is, equipment of the type commonly called a "FAX machine".

There are, of course, very many different makes and types of FAX machine in use and several different types of recording medium. Some machines use thermally-sensitive paper, some use plain paper and a roll of thermal transfer material, some use plain paper and a xerographic type cartridge, and some use plain paper and an inkjet type cartridge. There are also many variations within each type of recording medium.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simplification relating to recording medium for facsimile equipment.

The present invention provides a recording medium kit for facsimile equipment comprising a roll of thermally-sensitive recording paper of nominal width 210 millimetres characterized in that a respective adapter is provided for releasable attachment to each side of the roll to make the effective width of the roll for mounting purposes a nominal 216 millimetres, the actual widths being within + 1 and - 2 millimetres of the aforesaid nominal widths. Such a kit has the advantage that it can be used with the modern compact FAX machines of both U.S.

and European type even though the U.S.A. and Europe have different standard sizes of paper. Thus, retailers do not have to hold stocks of both sizes, and customers cannot order the wrong size by mistake. The invention is based on the realization that when an adapter is placed on each side of the roll and the increase in width provided by the adapters is only small, paper of a narrower width can, without any significant disadvantage, be used in a machine nominally taking paper of a greater width, the paper continuing to run substantially centrally and the marginal areas generally not being utilized to their extreme edges in any event.

Preferably, the roll is on a tubular core member of circular cross-section and the adapters each comprise a shank portion, so dimensioned as to fit in an end of the core member, and a flange portion at one end of the shank portion to abut a side of the roll. Such adapters are easy and cheap to manufacture and simple to use.

Preferably, the core member has a diameter of 12 millimetres. Core members of 12 millimetres and 25 millimetres diameter are standard sizes but the choice of the smaller standard size is based on the realization that it could be used in machines taking rolls on core members of either size, Preferably, the shank portion of each adapter is in the form of a tube of circular cross-section and the flange portion is an annular disk. Such shapes are easy and cheap to manufacture and effective and simple in use.

The outer side of the disk provides a convenient place in which to provide a trade name.

Advantageously, the circumference of the annular disk is provided with a strengthening bead on the side to face the roll. The bead provides greater strength without wastage of material and does not interfere with any parts of the machine in which the roll is used.

The adapters may each be integrally-formed from a plastics material.

Advantageously, the thermally-sensitive recording paper is of medium sensitivity. That choice is based on the realization that it is not strictly necessary to match the sensitivity of the paper to modern compact FAX machines and that paper of medium sensitivity will work satisfactorily with essentially all such machines. Thus, it is not necessary for retailers to stock different sensitivities and customers cannot make the mistake of ordering the wrong sensitivity.

The length of the roll of thermally-sensitive recording paper may be selected from the group consisting of 15 metres, 30 metres, 50 metres and 100 metres.

Preferably, the length of the roll of thermallysensitive recording paper is 15 metres. That choice is based on the realization that a roll of length of 15 metres can be used even in machines taking much longer rolls. Thus, it becomes practicable for a retailer to stock rolls of only one length.

Advantageously, two substantially identical rolls of thermally-sensitive recording paper are packaged with just two adapters. Such packaging reduces the number of individual items to be held in stock by a retailer, provides the user with a spare roll and economizes on the use of the adapters.

Preferably, the rolls and adapters are packaged within a box defining a first compartment to hold the roll(s) and a second compartment to hold the adapters.

Such packaging helps to draw the adapters to the attention of the purchaser to avoid mistakes in fitting the rolls in the machine.

Preferably, the box is assembled from a single blank of cardboard material. That is a convenient and inexpensive form of construction.

Advantageously, instructions are included instructing the user to insert an adapter into each end of the roll for use in facsimile equipment requiring rolls of 216 millimetre width.

The instructions may instruct the user to retain the adapters for use with the second roll.

A recording medium kit constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through a roll of thermally-sensitive paper and two adapters used in the kit; and Figure 2 is a plan view of the blank for making a box used in the kit.

Referring to the accompanying drawings (which show only one roll), a recording medium kit for facsimile equipment comprises two rolls 1 of thermally-sensitive recording paper of a first width, W1, equal to 210 millimetres, two identical adapters 2 for releasable attachment to each side of a roll 1 by simple insertion (the adapters are shown inserted) to make the effective width of the roll for mounting purposes a second width, W2, equal to 216 millimetres, a cardboard box made from a blank 3 to hold the rolls and adapters, and an instruction leaflet (not shown) provided in the box.

Each roll 1 is wound on a respective tubular core member 4 of circular cross-section and made of plastics material. The adapters 2 each comprise a shank portion 5, so dimensioned as to be loose fit in an end of the core member 4, and a flange portion 6 at one end of the shank portion abutting a side of the roll 1. The core member 4 has a diameter of 12 millimetres.

The shank portion 5 of each adapter 2 is in the form of a tube of circular cross-section and the flange portion is an annular disk, the circumference of the annular disk being provided with a strengthening bead 7 on the side to face the roll 1. The adapters 2 are each integrally-formed from a plastics material.

The dimensions of the adapters 2 are as follows: outside diameter of flange 6 equals 30 millimetres, overall thickness of flange 6 at the bead 7 equals 3 millimetres, projection of shank portion 5 beyond the flange 6 equals 15 millimetres, outside diameter of shank portion 5 equals 11 millimetres, and bore of the adapter 2 (or inner diameter of the shank portion 5) equals 5 millimetres.

The thermally-sensitive recording paper, illustrated diagrammatically at 8 by crossed lines representing the winding of the paper, is of medium sensitivity. The length of paper 8 on each roll 1 of thermally-sensitive recording paper is 15 metres.

The box, assembled from the single blank 3 of cardboard material defines a first compartment to hold the roll 1 and a second compartment to hold the adapters 2.

The instruction leaflet included within the box instructs the user to insert an adapter 2 into each end of a roll 1 for use in facsimile equipment requiring rolls of 216 millimetre width and to retain the adapters for use with the second roll.

The parts of the blank 3 that make up the box are identified in Figure 2 as follows: 20 - base of the box, 21 - back wall of the box, 22 - front of the double front wall of the box, 23 - rear of the double front wall of the box, 24 - outer part of the double left side wall of the box, 25 - inner part of the double left side wall of the box, 26 - spacer member to lie on the floor of the box, 27 - divider to stand up from the floor of the box and divide it into two compartments, 28 - outer part of the double right side wall of the box, 29 - inner part of the double right side wall of the box, 30 - ;tabs to engage slots 31, 32 - tabs to engage slots 33, 34 - tabs to engage in the double side walls, 35 - lid of the box, 36, 37, 38 and 39 closure flaps for the lid, and 40 - fold-out tab with slot 41 for hanging the box on display.

For users requiring longer rolls, the kit can be made up with two rolls each of 30 metres, 50 metres or 100 metres length. When rolls of 50 metres or 100 metres length are used, a core member of diameter 25 millimetres instead of 12 millimetres may be used in combination with adapters of appropriately-increased size.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A recording medium kit for facsimile equipment comprising a roll of thermally-sensitive recording paper of nominal width 210 millimetres characterized in that a respective adapter is provided for releasable attachment to each side of the roll to make the effective width of the roll for mounting purposes a nominal 216 millimetres, the actual widths being within + 1 and - 2 millimetres of the aforesaid nominal widths.

2. A kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roll is on a tubular core member of circular cross-section and the adapters each comprise a shank portion, so dimensioned as to fit in an end of the core member, and a flange portion at one end of the shank portion to abut a side of the roll.

3. A kit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the core member has a diameter of 12 millimetres.

4. A kit as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the shank portion of each adapter is in the form of a tube of circular cross-section and the flange portion is an annular disk.

5. A kit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the circumference of the annular disk is provided with a strengthening bead on the side to face the roll.

6. A kit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the adapters are each integrally-formed from a plastics material.

7. A kit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the thermally-sensitive recording paper is of medium sensitivity.

8. A kit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the length of the roll of thermally-sensitive recording paper is selected from the group consisting of 15 metres, 30 metres, 50 metres and 100 metres.

9. A kit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the length of the roll of thermally-sensitive recording paper is 15 metres.

10. A kit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein two substantially identical rolls of thermallysensitive recording paper are packaged with just two adapters.

11. A kit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rolls and adapters are packaged within a box defining a first compartment to hold the roll(s) and a second compartment to hold the adapters.

12. A kit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the box is assembled from a single blank of cardboard material.

13. A kit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein instructions are included instructing the user to insert an adapter into each end of the roll for use in facsimile equipment requiring rolls of 216 millimetre width.

14. A kit as claimed in claim 13 when dependent on claim 10, wherein the instructions instruct the user to retain the adapters for use with the second roll.

15. A recording medium kit for facsimile equipment, the kit being substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.