Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES
  • A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
  • A47K10/24—Towel dispensers; Toilet paper dispensers
  • A47K10/32—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet paper
  • A47K10/34—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means
  • A47K10/38—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means the web being rolled-up
  • A47K10/40—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means the web being rolled-up with extensible or collapsible roll supports or roll spindles

Definitions

• the invention relates to the dispensing of flexible web material such as toilet paper.
• the dispenser and dispensing method of the invention involves the handling of multiple rolls of flexible web material wound on axially aligned core sections defining an intact roll core within each roll of material as long as web material remains wound on these core sections.
• the intact core made up of the core sections forms an internal supporting means for the web of flexible web material wound thereon.
• This internal supporting means extends outwardly beyond the ends of the roll, these outward extensions forming spindles which serve as roll core supports for each roll in handling multiple rolls within the dispenser.
• Jespersen patent 3,437,388 exemplifies a prior art dispenser for rolls of toilet paper having internal supporting means forming the roll core within each roll of flexible web material.
• the core for each roll is formed by a plurality of axially aligned core sections with each section providing a roll core support spindle projec ⁇ ting from an end of the roll of material.
• Jespersen patent 3,572,600 may also be noted as disclosing a dispenser for rolls wound on a one piece tubular core.
• the dispensing concept of these patents is that the split core defined by the axially aligned sections or one piece core is to drop out of the dispenser when the web of material is substantially exhausted. Thereafter, the upper or reserve roll within the dispenser . which has been moving down on its roll core support spindles received in the opposed tracks, while resting on the lower roll, follows the lower roll into the dispensing position.
• the dispenser and dispensing method of the instant invention overcome the above mentioned problems found to be present in prior art dispensers for toilet paper rolls having cores made up of axially aligned sections.
• this invention web material dispensing from multiple rolls provided with transversely split cores is achieved. Assurance that the core sections will effectively discharge from the dispenser and then only after all toilet paper has been unwound from the core sections results.
• the method invention of dispensing flexible web material from rolls of web material wound on axially aligned core sections which together define an intact core while web material remains wound on these sections contemplates the capability of handling multiple rolls such that all web material is used or exhausted from the roll in the dispensing position before a reserve roll drops or moves to this dispensing position. Also the method contem ⁇ plates that the empty core sections which made up the intact roll core will always drop out automatically whether or not a reserve roll is present elsewhere within the dispenser.
• the dispensing method involves retaining separate rolls of material in roll dispensing and reserve roll positions, respectively, while the presence of an intact roll core within the roll retained at the roll dispensing position is sensed.
• This sensing of the intact roll core is employed to continue retention of a second roll in a reserve roll position, at least retaining the two rolls out of contact with each other as the roll at the dispensing position nears exhaustion of its material.
• the core sections of this roll at the roll dispensing position undergo a buckling action. This action is utilized to effect disengagement of the core sections from the roll dispensing position and also to effect release of the second roll from its retention in the reserve roll position, allowing the second roll to move into the roll dispensing position.
• the dispenser apparatus employs a spring loaded pivoted lever that performs two functions.
• the lever holds the reserve roll away from the roll in dispensing position, at least when the core sections of this latter roll approach becoming empty.
• the lever applies a slight pressure against the top edge of one of the roll core sections in a direction that tends to lift this roll core off of its support such as to eliminate friction between the roll core section and its support point.
• This also imparts a force to the end of the roll core section that effectively twists and promotes the buckling action between the core sections to effect their disengagement from retention with the dispenser guide tracks.
• a preferred embodiment of the dispenser of this invention comprises a housing providing opposed parallel track means extending between roll dispensing and reserve roll positions within the housing, these tracks guidingly receiving roll core supports projecting from oppo ⁇ site ends of the rolls from which material is to be dispensed.
• OMPI first roll is retained in the track means in a roll dispensing position and a lever means pivotally mounted on the housing provides a lower sensing end to sense an intact roll core in this dispensing position and an upper support end to retain a second roll in the reserve roll position.
• This lever means serves to retain the second roll on the lever support end in the reserve position as long as an intact core is sensed to be present in the dispensing position.
• This sensing end of the lever tends to buckle the core sections as it presses against the end of the roll core upon exhaustion of web material from the intact roll core so that the core sections disengage from the track means of the dispenser allowing the lever means to shift such that the support end frees the second roll from retention in the reserve position for it to move down into the roll dispensing position.
• a pivotally mounted control lever maintains first and second rolls within the dispenser out of contact with each other with this lever releasing the second or reserve roll for movement into dispensing position when the lever senses exhaustion of web material from the axially aligned core sections making up the intact core for the first roll.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for multiple rolls of flexible sheet material wound on transversely split cores wherein a control lever applies a buckling force to the core end to promote separation of the sections.
• a further object of the invention in a dispenser in accordance with the above object is the inclusion of a biasing force to promote separation of the core sections and directing this force against the core end in a direction that tends to lift the core in conjuntion with the buckling action of the core sections.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a web material dispenser for split core rolls wherein the roll retained by its roll core supports projecting from opposite ends of this roll in the roll dispensing position is blocked against removal from this position until all web material is exhausted from the split core thereby obviating pilferage of full or partly used rolls from the dispenser.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser in accordance with the invention with the conventional cabinet cover removed.
• Figure 2 is a partial sectional view taken through the guide track channels that guidingly receive the roll core supports showing a fragment of a roll moving toward the roll dispensing position at the bottom of these channels.
• Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2, but showing a first roll in the roll dispensing position and a second roll retained in the reserve roll position.
• Figure 4 is a sectional view comparable to Figure 3, but showing the intact core of the first roll exhausted of web material and in broken lines the buckling action occurring between the core sections.
• Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 4 showing the second roll having moved from the reserve position in Figure 4 into the roll dispensing position.
• core section be construed to include a tubular or cylindrical portion, usually made of paper board, on which the flexible material in the form of toilet paper is conventionally wound together with its end cap which may be molded of plastic and inserted into the tubular portion to provide the roll core support spindle projecting outwardly from the end of the roll.
• core section is to be interpreted as contem ⁇ plating a core within a roll of web material where the roll core supports projecting from opposite ends of the roll are provided other than by inserted end caps.
• aligned core sections making up an intact core while web material remains wound thereon are preferably separate and discrete sections so that they are free to separate or fall apart when the material is totally unwound from the aligned core setions
• the aligned core sections might be retained in the form of an intact roll core by the maintenance of a partial or minor connection between adjoining aligned core sections.
• the junction or joint between the aligned core sections might be a weakened junction formed such as by perforations or other means which would facilitate the buckling action between the core sections desired to take place in accordance with this invention upon exhaustion of web material from the intact roll core that is made up of these aligned core sections.
• an end of the toilet paper web may be glued to one of the core sections at the start of winding the roll. Then in using paper from the roll when the end of the roll is reached the act of withdrawing the last bit of paper from the roll will physically pull the core section out of dispenser 10.
• the housing 12 provides a first side wall 14, a second side wall 16 and a back wall 18. It will be understood that in use of dispenser 10 the housing 12 forming the chassis for the working components of the dispenser will be appropriately mounted on a wall at the desired loca ⁇ tion for dispenser use. Thus, the back 18 of housing 12 will be pro ⁇ vided with appropriate openings (not shown) to accommodate the fasteners employed in affixing dispenser 10 to the desired wall loca ⁇ tion.
• Side wall 14 of housing 12 is provided with an inwardly facing channel 22.
• the second and opposite side wall 16 is provided with an inwardly facing channel 24.
• this pair of inwardly facing channels 22 and 24 serve to guidingly receive the spindles which form part of the roll core sections and serve as the roll core supports where they project from opposite ends of the rolls when the rolls are loaded into the dispenser 10.
• the channels 22 and 24 are of different widths to accommodate different diameter spindles forming the roll core supports for the rolls that are loaded into the dispenser.
• These different channel widths to mate with different diameter roll core support spin ⁇ dles ensures the proper unwinding direction or orientation in loading the rolls into dispenser 10.
• the par ⁇ ticular direction of winding or unwinding of the rolls used in the dispenser is not totally critical to dispenser operation.
• Each of the guide track channels 22 and 24 in the side walls 14 and 16 of housing 12 is provided at its lower end with a saddle member, this member being numbered 26 at the bottom of channel 22 and 28 at the lower end of channel 24. It may be noted that the bottom of housing 12 is open at 30 such that the roll D retained in the roll dispensing position at the bottom of dispenser 10 projects downwardly through open bottom 30 as shown on Figure 3 for the web material on roll D to be accessible from dispenser 10 to the intending user.
• roll D may be described as exemplifying the type of rolls of flexible web material contemplated for dispensing in the dispenser 10 of this invention.
• roll D has the flexible web material wound on axially aligned core sections A and B which together define an intact roll core C with a junction J at the separating line between the core sections A and B.
• the roll core supports for core C are provided by an end cap E inserted in the outer end of the tubular portion to complete core section A and an end cap F inserted in the tubular portion to complete core section B. It will be seen from Figure 3 how the core support spindle of end cap E engages in the saddle member 26 at the bottom of channel 22 and the core support spindle of end cap F engages in the saddle member 28 at the bottom of channel 24 to support roll D in the roll dispensing position within the housing 12 of dispenser 10. As so supported, the toilet paper material on roll D projects down through the open bottom 30 of housing 12.
• the open bottom 30 is defined within the side walls 14 and 16 and back wall 18 of housing 12, these walls extending down beneath saddle members 26 and 28.
• the cover in association with housing 12 might take the configuration shown in the above discussed Jespersen patent 3,437,388. With such a configuration the toilet paper material on roll D is exposed through the open bottom 30 of dispenser 10.
• control lever 40 The operating control for the dispenser 10 as between the two rolls D and R loaded into the housing 12 is provided by a control lever 40.
• This lever is pivotally mounted in channel 22 of side wall 14 on pivot pin 42. This pivotal mounting enables pin 42 to simply pass through the sides of channel 22 to effect the desired mounting of control lever 40.
• Lever 40 has a lower sensing end 44 which serves to sense an intact roll core such as that of roll D as shown on Figure 3 when this first roll is retained at the roll dispensing position within housing 12.
• An upper support end 46 on pivotally mounted lever 40 serves to retain a second roll in the reserve roll position within housing 12 such as roll R shown on Figure 3.
• a leaf spring 48 which may be riveted at 50 to the outer wall of channel 22 serves to bias control lever 40 toward the position as shown on Figure 2. This biasing force of spring 48 thus urges the sensing end 44 of lever 40 toward the roll dispensing position within housing 12 and consequently urge support end 46 of lever 40 away from the reserve roll position within housing 12.
• control lever 40 is contoured and inclined so as to apply a buckling force to the end of the roll core C in a direction tending to lift this intact core, particularly under the biasing force provided by leaf spring 48 acting on lever 40.
• terminal portion 52 of the lower sensing end 44 on lever 40 is shaped to be off center from the longitudinal center line of lever 40. This shaping of the terminal portion 52 tends to apply the buckling force that is to operate on the core sections in promoting the buckling action at a point laterally spaced from a vertical plane which includes the rotational axis of the first roll or roll D when it is retained in the roll dispensing position within housing 12 of dispenser 10.
• the shaping of the terminal portion 52 disposes the point on such portion 52 that engages with the end of core C of roll D to be in line with the edge of one side of the opposite channel 24, having in mind that channel 24 is of a lesser width than that of channel 22 in which lever 40 is pivotally mounted.
• This edge of track 24 on the opposite side 16 of housing 12 is the edge on the channel 24 side which is closest to the back wall 18 of housing 12, as these parts are shown on Figure 1.
• Locating the point on terminal portion 52 which is to engage the core end opposite the edge of channel 24 that is closest to the back wall 18 insures that core C is held at only two points, these points being directly opposite each other.
• This two point retention of core C on roll D provides retention of the core in an unstable condition such that when web material is exhausted from the core, the two point support at the opposite core ends promotes the buckling action between the core sections A and B, thereby further insuring their disengagement from the track channels 22 and 24 and the saddle members 26 and 28 of these channels.
• the edge of the side of channel 24 that is furthest from the back wall 18 may have a slightly depressed area 54 ( Figure 1).
• the depressed area 54 is at the point where the core end adjacent channel 24 would otherwise touch this channel side edge located furthest from back wall 18 when the roll core is pushed endwise by the biasing force exerted by lever 40 through its lower sensing end 44.
• the depressed area 54 assures that the roll core is held at only two points to establish the above described unstable condition which promotes the buckling action when the web material is exhausted from the aligned roll core sections A and B of roll D.
• control lever 40 is formed with a reverse bend in the embodiment shown such as to provide a surface 56 which is inwardly inclined relative to the plane of the first side wall 14 of housing 12. This inclined surface 56 physically engages with the roll core support spindle such as shown in Figures 3 and 4 with reference to roll R retained in the reserve roll position within housing 12 of dispenser 10.
• the second side wall 16 of housing 12 is provided with a spring biased latch 60 which may be riveted at 62 to the outer wall of channel 24 for this latch 60 to lie within channel 24.
• the spring biased latch 60 has its lower end 64 spaced above saddle member 28 at the bottom of channel 24. Thus, it is spaced sufficiently above such saddle member that the spindle of end cap F on core section B may freely rest on saddle member 28 beneath the end 64 of latch 60 as shown on Figures 3 and 4.
• the second side wall 16 of housing 12 is also provided with a brake spring 70.
• This spring may have its upper end suitably riveted at 72 to side wall 16.
• Spring 70 is positioned adjacent the roll dispensing position within housing 12 to project inwardly and apply frictional resistance to one end of the first roll which is retained in the roll dispensing position.
• the function of brake spring 70 is to retard rotation of roll D or the roll disposed in the dispensing position so that it does not freely revolve or spin as the web material, such as toilet paper, is withdrawn from dispenser 10 by the intending user.
• FIG. 1 the dispenser housing 12 is shown in its empty or unloaded condition.
• the sectional view of Figure 2 shows the intial or first roll D as it is being loaded with its core support spindles (not shown) guidingly engaging with the track channels 22 and 24 as the roll passes down into the dispensing position at the lower end of housing 12.
• roll D is shown with its support spindles on the core sections A and B resting on the saddle members 26 and 28 of channels 22 and 24, respectively. In this position, roll D has the material thereof exposed through the open bottom 30 of housing 12 for ready access to the intending user. Further in Figure 3 the second or reserve roll R has been loaded into the housing 12 by its spindles being entered into the upper ends of channels 22 and 24, respectively.
• the diameter of rolls R and D in relation to the length of lever 40, where such lever extends above its pivot pin 42, is such as to maintain these full rolls R and D out of contact with each other.
• rolls R and D will be con ⁇ tinuously maintained out of contact with each other as web material is being withdrawn from roll D.
• the continuing retention of roll R in the reserve roll position could include a situation where a full reserve roll R initially rests on top of a full roll D when the latter roll is retained in the roll dispensing position. This might occur by reason of differ ⁇ ent initial full roll diameters and/or a different length of pivoted lever 40.
• the continuing retention of roll R in the reserve roll position while resting on roll D will, in effect, be caused by the roll R itself sensing that roll D has an intact roll core. This sensing would occur even though the left spindle of roll R has not yet come into engagement with the stop formed by the upper support end 46 of lever 40 disposed within channel 22.
• roll R will move down with its spindles in guide track channels 22 and 24 until the spindle in channel 22 comes into engagement with and thereafter rests upon the upper support end 46 of lever 40. Thereafter, withdrawal of material from roll D, causing continued reduction in the diameter of roll D, leaves roll R continuing to be retained in the reserve roll position, but now sensing of the intact core of roll D is done by pivoted lever 40.
• the sensing of the intact core C of roll D is employed to continue retention of roll R in the reserve roll position with the two rolls out of contact with each other at least when the core sections of roll D approach becoming empty so that in this latter stage of exhausting roll D there is no friction between the reserve roll R and roll D.
• the important concept is that sensing of the intact core of roll D be utilized to continue retention of roll R in the reserve roll position and at least retain the two rolls out of contact with each other during the stage when roll D nears exhaustion of its web mate ⁇ rial.
• the force applied by the sensing end A not only applies a buckling force to the core end, but by reason of the contour and shaping of sensing end 44 at 52 it directs this buckling force against the core end in a direction tending to lift the core off of the saddle member 26, thereby freeing it from the friction which previously existed between the roll core support spindle and saddle member 26 during normal use of web mate ⁇ rial from roll D.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Replacement Of Web Rolls (AREA)
• Unwinding Webs (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=24229607

Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (38)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 1983
  • 1983-12-06 US US06/558,454 patent/US4522346A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1984
  • 1984-11-24 DE DE8484114228T patent/DE3466755D1/de not_active Expired
  • 1984-11-24 EP EP84114228A patent/EP0146793B1/en not_active Expired
  • 1984-12-04 CA CA000469263A patent/CA1224759A/en not_active Expired
  • 1984-12-05 KR KR1019850700154A patent/KR900003657B1/ko not_active Expired
  • 1984-12-05 WO PCT/US1984/001910 patent/WO1985002527A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1984-12-05 IE IE3121/84A patent/IE55859B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1984-12-05 JP JP59504290A patent/JPS61500592A/ja active Granted
  • 1984-12-05 BR BR8407207A patent/BR8407207A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1985
  • 1985-07-29 DK DK343785A patent/DK163707C/da not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1990
  • 1990-10-09 SG SG819/90A patent/SG81990G/en unknown
  • 1990-12-18 HK HK1076/90A patent/HK107690A/en not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (5)

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