WO1998023518A1

WO1998023518A1 - Sheet dispenser and method of using same

Info

Publication number: WO1998023518A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/005527
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cassandra V. Collins; Walter P. Youngblood; Allen L. Larson
Original assignee: Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company
Priority date: 1996-11-26
Filing date: 1997-04-04
Publication date: 1998-06-04
Also published as: AU2558197A

Abstract

A sheet dispenser (10) is disclosed comprising an open hollow tubular polygon with an open slit (18) along its length (L) through which a rolled sheet (30) can be dispensed. The slit (18) is formed by an overlap portion (16) and an underlap portion (14) of the hollow tubular polygon which allows the dispenser (10) to expand for loading the rolled sheet material (R, 30), and further to confine the rolled sheet (R, 30), such that the sheet (30) can be unwound through the slit (18) only when force of a manual amount is exerted to dispense the sheet (30) through the slit (18). The sheet may be an adhesive backed film (32) with a liner (34). The liner (34) is separated from the film (32) when the sheet (30) passes through the slit (18).

Description

SHEET DISPENSER AND METHOD OF USING SAME

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a sheet dispenser and a method for using same.

Background of the Invention

The dispensing of large rolled sheets has a problem which involves alignment of the sheet onto a flat surface. Anyone who has undertaken a job of applying wallpaper to a wall recognizes the difficulty of proper alignment and ease of dispensing. From wallpaper to billboards, application of a rolled sheet has considerable difficulty. Some methods to minimize the difficulty of application include the use of Controltac™ brand adhesive films marketed by the Commercial Graphics Division of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, wherein those adhesives allow a preliminary placement followed by a secure placement of the sheet goods on the flat surface. Representative examples of patents describing such materials include U.S. Patent Nos. 5,296,277 and 5,362,516 (both Wilson et al.) and 5,141,790 (Calhoun et al.).

Summary of the Invention What is needed in the art is a sheet dispenser that not only protects the rolled sheet material prior to dispensing but also facilitates convenient dispensing and alignment of the rolled sheet material at the time of application to a flat surface.

One aspect of the present invention is a sheet dispenser comprising a hollow polygon having a major length and a minor width with an open slit along the major length, through which a rolled sheet can be dispensed, wherein the polygon is constructed of a composition to expand for loading of the rolled sheet and otherwise confine the rolled sheet therein, such that the rolled sheet can be unwound through the slit only when force of a manual amount is exerted to dispense the sheet through the slit.

Another aspect of the present invention is a sheet dispenser comprising an open tube having an underlap portion, an overlap portion , and a dispenser slit, through which a sheet may pass in a manner which allows separation of a film portion of the sheet from a liner portion of the sheet with the liner portion being dispensed in the direction of the pull of natural gravity.

Another aspect of the invention is a sheet dispenser constructed from bent or crimped metal, wherein the metallic hollow polygon has a solid-rectangular shaped sides with a major length, two overlap portions extending from the major length, and a dispenser slit created by the two overlap portions and parallel to an axis of the dispenser along the major length but distal from the axis of the dispenser, through which slit, sheeting may pass in a manner which allows separation of a film portion of the sheet from a liner portion of the sheet with the liner portion being dispensed in the direction of the pull of natural gravity.

Another aspect of the invention is the method of using a sheet dispenser of the present invention, comprising placement of a rolled sheet in a spiral relationship within the sheet dispenser and separating a liner portion from a film portion with adhesion of the film portion to a flat surface and removal of the liner portion from the film portion in the direction of natural gravity.

One feature of the present invention is the versatility of the sheet dispenser to be used on either horizontal or vertical surfaces.

Another feature of the present invention is the use of either preloaded or refillable spiral rolls from the sheet dispenser. Another feature of the present invention is the various uses of spiral rolled sheets with the dispenser of the present invention. Nonlimiting examples of such uses range from linered films used for billboard decoration, wall murals, architectural signage, fleet graphics, large window/glass walls, or films for restricting light or viewing; wrapping paper; wallpaper; paint film; and any other usage requiring dispensing of very long or very wide appliques requiring alignment of multiple sections, including striping. An advantage of the present invention is the dispenser takes advantage of natural gravity to provide tension to facilitate even dispensing of the sheet from the dispenser in a direction parallel to the natural pull of gravity.

Another advantage of the present invention is the use of either conductive or nonconductive materials in the construction of the dispenser of the present invention, in order to address durability or safety issues during storage and usage.

Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to align adjacent or adjoining sheets with little difficulty. Yet another advantage of the present invention is the ability to restrict the unwind of the rolled sheet in the hollow polygon so that the sheet remains stationary until force of a manual amount is exerted in the direction of gravity.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is the ability to cause the aligned dispensing of the rolled sheet by grasping the liner portion at mid- width of the separating sheet and in mid-length of the dispenser to cause, in a single location, the proper and aligned dispensing of the sheet from the dispenser.

Other features and advantages with respect to embodiments of the invention are explained in relation to the following drawings.

A Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sheet dispenser of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an end view of the method of using the sheet dispenser of

FIG. 1 to dispense a sheet in the direction of natural gravity.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sheet dispenser of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the dispenser shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is an end view of the method of using the sheet dispenser of

FIG. 4 to dispense a sheet in the direction of natural gravity. FIG. 7 is one embodiment of support hardware for a sheet dispenser of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a second embodiment of support hardware. FIG. 9 is a third embodiment of support hardware.

Embodiments of the Invention

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hollow polygon as a sheet dispenser 10 having an open end 12 and a major length L which can range from about the width of any desired flat surface to which the sheet dispenser is to be applied to about the width of a section of sheet to be dispensed on a billboard. Desirably, length L ranges from about 3 cm to about 2 meters. Preferably, length L ranges from about 0.5 m to about 1.5 meters.

FIG. 2 shows an end view of sheet dispenser 10 and at one open end 12 and illustrates the construction of the dispenser 10 to provide an underlap portion 14, an overlap portion 16, and forming a dispenser slit 18. Diameter D determines the size of the open area from which material may be dispensed. Overlap O indicates the size and dimension of overlap portion 16 over underlap portion 14 creating dispenser slit 18. Sheet dispenser 10 can be made from any material that is capable of creating underlap portion 14 and overlap portion 16 from a natural property of the material. For example, sheet dispenser 10 can be made from a polymeric tube which has elasticity. After expanding the overlap O to provide an opening through which the rolled sheet can be loaded, the tube 10 can contract to its original position re-creating the overlap O for proper dispensing. Nonlimiting examples of materials from which to construct dispenser 10 include a polymer such as polycarbonate or a metal such as aluminum without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Dispenser slit 18 can be provided with a variety of optional edging to improve the cutting or separation of material being dispensed from the dispenser 10. For example, a low energy surface (such as a polymer such as polytetrofluoroethylene (PTFE)), applicator sponge, brush, or squeegee can be applied to the surfaces of underlap portion 14 and overlap portion 16 to create a dispenser slit 18 having low energy for appropriate separation of the sheet material portions. On the other hand, a knife, serated, or other sharp edged accessory can be provided in the region of dispenser slit 18 and overlap O in order to create a sharp edge against which sheet material can be sliced and separated after appropriate dispensing.

FIG. 3 shows a use of the dispenser 10 of the present invention i in the application to substrate 20 of a sheet 30 comprising an adhesive-backed fifillmm 3 -2 and a release liner 34. As seen in FIG. 3, sheet 30 is partially rolled in a spiral within dispenser 10 and partially separated with adhesive-backed film 32 adhering to substrate 20 and release liner 34 being separated from sheet 30 but not adhered to substrate 20.

Usage of the dispenser 10 of the present invention begins with either preloaded or refilled dispenser 10 with sheet material 30 in a fully laminated condition, but a portion thereof extending through dispenser slit 18 at overlap O between underlap portion 14 and overlap portion 16. In a preferred embodiment, the length of overlap O is about 2 cm in length and the diameter D of sheet dispenser 10 is about 7 cm, permitting a roll of sheet material 30 of approximately 0.2 meters by length L meters in volume to be contained in a spiral within dispenser 10.

Preferably, film 32 contains or displays an image on the surface opposite substrate 20. In rare instances, images may appear on the surface contacting substrate 20 in those instances where substrate 20 is translucent or transparent. In even rarer circumstances, it is possible for different images or the same image to be exposed on opposing surfaces of film 32.

Initial alignment of sheet 30 commences the dispensing of sheet 30 from dispenser 10 and the separation of liner 34 from film 32. As adhesive-backed film 32 adheres to substrate 20, pressure may be applied to adhere film 32 by using a squeegee, roller, or other pressure tool known to those skilled in the art. After a suitable amount of film is manually dispensed and separated from liner 34, appropriate pressure is applied for adhesion of film 32 to substrate 20. In order to support the mass of dispenser 10, unrolled sheet 30, and separated liner 34, the dispensing method of the present invention commences. With appropriate length of separated liner 34 extending through dispenser slit 18 and falling in the direction of gravity G, the application continues with a pulling of liner 34 in the direction of P as seen in FIG. 3 which causes further separation of liner 34 and further adhesion of film 32 to substrate 20. Use of a squeegee, roller or other pressure device permits concurrent firm adhesion of film 32 and dispensing of sheet 30 from dispenser 10 as liner 34 is pulled in the directions of P and G.

The roll R within dispenser 10 of roll R's sheet material 30 unspirals until the entire area of film 32 is adhered to surface 20 with the entire separation of liner 34 from sheet 30. At any stage during dispensing, the portion 32 that is adhered to substrate 20 may be severed from the portion R of sheet material remaining within dispenser 10. Any desired severance of sheet material 30 can occur at that portion S of film 32 which is not yet adhered during the act of dispensing caused by separation of liner 34 from film 32. The distance of separation S of film 32 from substrate 20 has been found to equal one-half of the diameter D of dispenser 10. This separation S facilitates the additional and concurrent pressure application of film 32 to surface 20, by reducing preadhesion, as liner 34 is separated with a pulling action in the direction of P, most preferably also in the direction of natural gravity G. As described above, once initial alignment of film 32 is made on substrate 20, adjoining sections of film 32 may be continuously aligned for facile application of significant areas of film 32 on to substrate 20 rapidly and accurately.

In a preferred method of the present invention, it has been found unexpectedly that a single pulling action at the mid-length M of liner 34 from dispenser 10 permits balanced application of separation pressure and adhesion opportunity for film 32 on to substrate 20. With sufficient initial adhesion of film 32 to substrate 20, the entire dispenser 10 spiral roll R of sheet material 30 and used liner 34 can be fully supported despite the natural pull in direction G. Thus, a person applying film 32 to substrate 20 can literally leave the dispenser 10 suspended on substrate 20 without losing one's place during application or loss of alignment during interruption of dispensing, or when additional tasks must be completed before dispensing is completed.

Unexpectedly, an uncomplicated geometric configuration of dispenser 10 solves many problems of dispensing large areas of sheet material 30 on to a substrate 20. With exhaustion of the supply of sheet material within spiral roll R within dispenser 10, additional sheet material can be refilled by inserting a spiral roll R of sheet material 30' into dispenser 10 to continue the dispensing process of separation of liner 34' from film 32'.

FIGS. 4-6 disclose a second embodiment of the invention where a sheet dispenser 40 is constructed from bent or crimped metal such as aluminum. In this embodiment, the hollow polygon has a solid-rectangular shaped sides with a major length L and open ends 42. The overlap portions 44 and 46 allow an opening to extend from the major length L and create a dispenser slit 48 parallel to the axis of the dispenser 40 along length L but distal from dispenser. All other aspects of the usage of the dispenser 40 and the method of dispensing sheet 30 by separating liner 34 from film 32 follow the procedures identified above with respect to dispenser 10.

A variety of accessories can be used with sheet dispensers of the present invention. FIG. 7 illustrates a spiked angle 50 having a spike 52 formed from a contact plate 54 contacting the surface to be contacted by film 32 and also having a supporting plate 56 for resting the dispenser 10 or 40 before or during use. FIG. 8 illustrates a curved angle 60 having a field of pressure sensitive adhesive 62 on a contact plate 64 and also having a curved supporting plate 66 for resting the dispenser 10 or 40 before or during use. FIG. 9 illustrates a cradle 70 having a ladder hooking ledge 72 on a bracket 74 and also having a curved supporting plate While embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, the invention is not so limited. For example, end caps may be employed to cover open ends 12 or 42 to minimize telescoping of the spiral rolled sheet 30 in the interior of the dispenser 10 or 40. Dispensers 10 or 40 can be pre-loaded or refilled as circumstances warrant.

Dispenser slits 18 and 48 can be contoured or otherwise rounded to minimize damage to the rolled sheet 30 at the point of greatest force during separation. The interior of the hollow polygon can also be contoured to facilitate dispensing, storage, loading, or some combination of them.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The claims follow.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A sheet dispenser, comprising: a hollow polygon having a major length and a minor width with an open slit along the major length, through which a rolled sheet can be dispensed, wherein the polygon is constructed of a composition to expand for loading of the rolled sheet and otherwise confine the rolled sheet therein, such that the rolled sheet can be unwound through the slit only when force of a manual amount is exerted to dispense the sheet through the slit.

2. The sheet dispenser of Claim 1, wherein the dispenser is an open tube having an underlap portion, an overlap portion , and a dispenser slit, through which a sheet may pass in a manner which causes separation of a film portion of the sheet from a liner portion of the sheet with the liner portion being dispensed in the direction of the pull of natural gravity.

3. The sheet dispenser of Claims 1 or 2, wherein the dispenser is constructed from bent or crimped metal, wherein the metallic hollow polygon has solid-rectangular shaped sides with a major length, two overlap portions extending from the major length, and a dispenser slit created by the two overlap portions and parallel to an axis of the dispenser along the major length but distal from the axis of the dispenser, through which slit, the sheet may pass in a manner which causes separation of a film portion of the sheet from a liner portion of the sheet with the liner portion being dispensed in the direction of the pull of natural gravity.

4. A method of using the sheet dispenser of Claim 1, comprising placement of a rolled sheet in a spiral relationship within the sheet dispenser and separating a liner portion from a film portion with adhesion of a film portion to a flat surface and separation of the liner portion from the film portion in the direction of natural gravity.

5. The method according to Claim 4, wherein the sheet dispenser is an open tube of Claim 2.

6. The method according to Claim 4, wherein the sheet dispenser is a metallic hollow polygon of Claim 3.