GB2302681A

GB2302681A - Dispensing roll adapter

Info

Publication number: GB2302681A
Application number: GB9513050A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ping-Fan Yuen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-06-27
Filing date: 1995-06-27
Publication date: 1997-01-29
Also published as: GB9513050D0

Abstract

An adapter for a fax pager roll dispenser which fits into each end of the roll has a hole 10, that is arranged to fit lateral roll supports, and outer perimeter 11 that fits snugly inside the end of a roll core. The provision of such adapters enables the core size of rolls to be "standardised" or fixed and adaptable to fit smaller than "standard" roll supports. The adaptor may have a flange 12 and ribs 13 which engage with the inside of the roll core. The adapter is preferably of nylon.

Description

FILAMENT ROLL DISPERSING The invention relates to filament roll dispersing.

The invention relates more particularly but not exclusively to paper roll dispersing for fax machines. At present there are two commonly available rolls for fax machines having the same width but mounted on different diameter cores. This is for fax machines having different respectively sized spindles for supporting or at least laterally locating the rolls during dispersing. This leads to the disadvantage that customers must order the correct rolls for their machines and the suppliers and manufacturers must stock and manufacture at least two core sizes to satisfy their market.

It is an object of the invention to overcome or at least reduce this problem.

According to the invention there is provided an adapter for a filament roll dispenser having an inner central hole for receiving roll support guides and an outer perimeter for fitting snugly inside a roll core.

A flange may be included extending beyond the outer perimeter to press against an end surface of the roll core in use.

The adapter may include a number of dispersed ridges which are proud of the outer surface that indent in the inside of the core so that the adapter grips and rotates with the core in use.

The adapter is preferably integrally formed of plastics material, such as nylon.

The adapter may have inner and outer surfaces provided on two thin concentric annuli having radial supports distributed around the centre of the adapter for holding and separating the two annuli.

An adapter for fax paper dispersing will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of the adapter; Figure 2 is a view of one side of the adapter; Figure 3 is a view of an opposite side of the adapter; and Figure 4 is an isometric view of part of a paper roll.

Referring to the drawings, the adapter has an inner central hole 10 and an outer perimeter 11 with a flange 12 extending radially beyond the perimeter 11. The perimeter 11 has four evenly dispersed ridges 13 which stand slightly proud of the surface of the perimeter 11. The adapter is integrally formed of plastics material, preferably nylon, and has two thin annuli 14 and 15 separated and reinforced by radial supports 16.

Figure 4 shows the adapter fitted to one end of a roll 17 having an inner compressed cardboard core (not shown) with an inside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the perimeter 11. In use, the adapter fits snugly inside the core and the ridges 13 indent and grip the inside surface of the end of the core. The core is of a somewhat shorter length than the roll 17 of fax paper and the flange is the same diameter as an outer diameter of the core. As a result the flange 12 fits snugly against the core and its outer surface is preferably flush or just within the outer surface the end of the roll 17, as shown in Figure 4.

The adapters of the invention enable dispersing rolls of paper or other filamentary material to be all made with the same inner cores, in fact the larger or largest of the cores provided for any machines, for example c fax machine. The adapters are then used, when any machines having smaller roll holders, to "convert" the "large" core to fit smaller holders. If there are more than one smaller sizes of holders, adapters with the same outer diameter but with suitably different inner diameters are easily provided. Such adapters are readily removable from the rolls so, if preferred, the machine users need only have one pair of adapters per machine and fit that pair to each new roll before it is placed in the machine.

Preferably, the adapters are made of self lubricating material and arranged to rotate with rolls in use.

However, the adapters may be arranged or formed so as to rotate relative to the cores. In a fax machine, the holders provided for the rolls may not support the weight of the rolls, however the described adapters are still useful for receiving any lateral guide supports of smaller diameter than the "larger" diameter core and fit at and just inside each end of the core. The "smaller" lateral guides then fit inside the adapters.

In any event, the provision of adapters according to the invention enables the inner diameter, and even the outer diameter, of the cores to be fixed or standardised. To fit smaller than corresponding "standardised" lateral roll supports or guides, the adapters can be readily available and easily fitted to accommodate any smaller than "standard" supports and guides. As such, the users, suppliers and manufacturers of filament rolls can conveniently order, store and produce "standard" rolls and know that they are suitable or adaptable, by using the described adapters, for any machine.

There is some preference of using larger diameter cores because the end of roll sheets have a larger diameter making the end of the roll more readily usable with less susceptibility to machine feeding difficulties. Thus, machines originally designed for smaller diameter rolls require to be modified and adapters according to the invention provide the necessary conversion to preferred larger diameter rolls.

Claims

1. An adapter for a filament roll dispenser having an inner central hole for receiving roll support guides and an outer perimeter for fitting snugly inside a roll core.

2. An adapter according to claim 1, including a flange extending beyond the outer perimeter to press against an end surface of the roll core in use.

3. An adapter according to claim 1 or 2, including a number of dispersed ridges which are proud of the outer surface that indent in the inside of the core so that the adapter grips and rotates with the core in use.

4. An adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is integrally formed of plastics material.

5 An adapter according to claim 4, formed of nylon.

6. An adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the inner and outer surfaces are provided on two thin concentric annuli having radial supports distributed around the centre of the adapter for holding and separating the two annuli.

7. Adapters for a fax machine paper roll substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.