US3032283A - Paper roll dispenser - Google Patents

Description

May 1, 1962 P. A. WOOSTER PAPER ROLL DISPENSER Filed July 29, 1959 w m m w.

PHILIP A. WOOSTER BY ATTORNEYS ,283 I APER O D E ER Philip A. Wooster, 102 I St., San Rafael, Calif. Filed July 29, I959, Ser- No. 830,247 3 Claims. (Cl. 24255.2)

This invention relates generally to devices for dispensing rolls of paper, such as towelling rolls, wrapping paper rolls orthe like. p

In winding paper rolls of theabove types, different mills wind the paper web on mandrels of different diameters, whereby the axial holes provided by the mandrels vary accordingly in size. Generally the rolls have a center core of cardboard or like material, but this may be omitted in some instances. Conventional dispensers for such paper rolls consist of means for engaging and supporting the ends of the roll for rotation about its axis. With rolls having different size axial openings, it is difiicult with such dispensers to maintain alignment between the axis of the roll, and the axis of the roll supporting means.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a roll dispenser in which the centering means is effective for rolls having axial openings of different diameters.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a paper roll dispenser which centers the roll on the desired axis of rotation without engaging the inner surfaces of the core.

Another object of the invention is to provide a paper roll dispenser which establishes a driving relationship between the supporting means and the roll, as well as to efiect automatic centering.

Another object of the invention is to provide a paper roll dispenser in which all of the paper can be removed from the roll without interfering with the desired centering action.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view illustrating a simple type of paper roll dispensing device, with a paper roll applied to the same.

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the paper roll, showing one arrangement of slots.

FIGURE 3 illustrates one of the devices for engaging and supporting the roll, looking towards that side of the device which faces the roll.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the same device as in FIGURE 3,

as viewed from the right hand side of this figure, a portion of an engaged paper roll being illustrated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 5 is a view like FIGURE 2 but showing another arrangement of slots.

FIGURE 6 is a view like FIGURE 3, but showing another embodiment adapted to cooperate with slots as shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a view like FIGURE 4, showing the embodiment of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a paper roll 10, which may be of the type commonly marketed for use as paper towelling. This roll is formed by a web 11 wrapped about the cardboard or fibreboard core 12. In some instances the core may be omitted. The simple type of dispensing device illustrated in FIGURE 1 consists of devices 14 and 15 which engage and support the ends of the roll and which in turn are rotatably carried by the panel 13.

At least one of the devices 14 and 15 (e.g. 15) is constructed as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. Thus in this instance the device consists of a fiat metal body 16 which is rotatably carried by a pin 17, on the supporting ates Patent 2 arm 13a. At least three 'finlike spurs 18 are carried by the body 1'6'and extend generally in planes parallel to the axis of rotation. In the particular construction illustrated, three fins 18 are provided, and the plane of each fin is coincident with the axis of the pin 17, as shown in FIGURE 3. Also the general angular spacing of the fins is'equ'al, although this is not essential.

The corresponding end of the paper roll 10 is shown in FIGURE 2 andjisprovided with a plurality of angularly spaced slots 19. These slots have the same angular spacing as the fins 18, but they have a depth and radial extent considerably greater than the width and radial an inherent centering action which makes it necessary for the axis of the roll to coincide with the axis of rotation of the device 15 before the fins 18 may be accommodated within the slots.

The inherent centering action described above is a distinct feature of the present invention. By virtue of this automatic centering action, which is independent of engagement wtih the inner surfaces of the core 12, rolls having axial holes of different diameters can be applied without changing the device 15. Furthermore because the fins 18 do not bear upon the outer ends of the slots 19 for centering, the arrangement is independent of the removal of paper, and all of the paper can be removed without affecting the centering action.

As indicated above, either one or both of the devices 14 and 15 may be constructed to cooperate with the roll in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 2-4. However, if desired, one of these devices may be of simple construction following conventional design, with portions adapted to project into the corresponding end of the core 12.

It will be apparent that the device 15 described above not only has self-centering action but also establishes driving relation with the roll. Therefore such device 15 can be connected with a mechanism such as is commonly used in paper roll dispensers for limiting or controlling the length of webbing being withdrawn. Also it may be employed in conjunction with ratchet or like means, to prevent back rotation of the roll. In FIGURE 4 I have shown a spring washer 20 interjoined between the body 16 and arm 13a. This washer may have struck-out spring tongues that are normally compressed to thereby provide some friction or drag tending to resist rotation.

FIGURES 5-7 illustrate another embodiment of the invention in which four fins or spurs are employed instead of three. Thus in this instance one end of the roll is provided with slots 21 that are offset from the axis of the roll. The device 15a can consist of a body 22 provided with three projecting finlike spurs 23. These fins have a positioning and angular spacing corresponding to that of the slots 21. The pivot pin 24 is shown for rotatably supporting the device 15 upon the arm 13a.

FIGURE 7 illustrates how the device of FIGURE 6 engages within the slots 21. Here again it will be noted, that the fins do not bear upon either the bottoms or the ends of the slots.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for dispensing web material in the form of a roll having an axial opening, a device for engaging and supporting one end of the roll, means for supsioning of the spurs in the direction of'said axis being a minor fraction of the radial distance from the outer ends of the spurs to said axis, a roll of web material having at least three slots of like angular spacing in said one end of the roll, said fin like spurs being accommodated within said slots and engaging the side surfaces of the slots to align the roll with the axis of said device, said device comprising a substantially flat body to which said spurs are secured, the edges of the spurs facing said roll lying in a plane substantially at right angles to said axis of rotation.

2. A device as in claim 1 in which the inner ends of said spurs are spaced outwardly from the axis of rotation.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said device includes four angularly spaced fin like spurs forming two pairs of spurs, the spurs of each pair being parallel and offset on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of rotation of said device, and wherein said roll of web material has four angularly spaced slots on one end of said roll for accommodating the four spurs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,146,038 West Feb. 7, 1939 2,380,644 Grondona July 31, 1945 2,726,823 Jespersen Dec. 13, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 45,644 Switzerland Sept. 29, 1 908

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