WO2006087511A1

WO2006087511A1 - Method and apparatus for dispensing packaging; method and apparatus for guarding machinery

Info

Publication number: WO2006087511A1
Application number: PCT/GB2006/000098
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Kempster; Theo Thomas
Original assignee: Easypack Limited
Priority date: 2005-02-18
Filing date: 2006-01-11
Publication date: 2006-08-24
Also published as: EP1848314B1; EP1848314A1

Abstract

A roll of paper (18) is stored in a container (16). Paper is drawn from the internal wrapping of the roll (18) out through an opening (20) to form a loose spiral (22) having overlaps of three thicknesses of paper. The paper is pulled by an operator. When the desired length has been pulled the paper is pulled down to cause a lever (24) to be pulled down to expose a serrated knife (26) which then cuts off the paper.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING PACKAGING ; METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GUARDING MACHINERY

The present invention relates to a packaging dispenser arrangement, a method of dispensing packaging, a machinery guard arrangement and a method of guarding machinery. The present invention is particularly although not exclusively applicable to such arrangements for use in producing paper packaging.

Various prior dispensers of paper or paper like material are known but none of these relate specifically to packaging. For instance, US 5,762,286 discloses a toilet roll dispenser, US 2003132237A discloses a wet wipe dispenser, US 5,715,971 discloses a paper towel dispenser, US 5,577,634 also discloses a paper towel dispenser, US 5,273,184 discloses a roll product dispenser, US 5,246,137 discloses a sheet dispenser, US 5,219,126 discloses a sheet dispenser, US 5,211,308 discloses a paper dispenser, US 5,346,064 discloses a paper towel dispenser, CA 1,284,786 discloses a sheet dispenser, SE 7809911 discloses a paper roll dispenser and US 2,864,495 also discloses a paper product dispenser. However, none of these dispensers relates to packaging. Furthermore, a single sheet only is removed from the store or roll.

According to one aspect of the present invention a packaging dispenser arrangement includes a roll of packaging wound around an axis, the packaging being arranged to be withdrawn from the roll in the direction of extent of the axis.

The axis may be horizontal or vertical or anywhere between. According to another feature of the present invention a method of dispensing packaging comprises withdrawing packaging from a roll of packaging wound around an axis by withdrawing the packaging in the direction of extent of the axis.

According to another aspect of the present invention a machinery guard arrangement includes a supply of material, a guard that, in normal use, at least partially conceals a device arranged to have an effect on the material, the material being arranged to pass the guard in a first position of normal use, the supply of material being manually movable from a normal direction to an angle to that normal direction such that the material causes the guard to move relative to the device to a second position to reveal the device with the revealed device then being arranged to have an effect on the material.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a method of guarding machinery comprises causing a supply of material to pass a guard that conceals a device arranged to have an effect on the material when not guarded and altering the direction of the material manually such that the guard is moved clear of the device with the device then having an effect on the material.

Further features are defined in the claims appended hereto .

When withdrawn from the container, the end edge of the roll may be at an angle of less than 45° with respect to the axis of the roll and may be less than 30° or 35° or 30° or 25° or more than 5° or 10° or 20°. The axially facing edge of the roll, when in the roll, may be at an angle to the axis of the roll of more than 45° or 55° or 65° or 70° or less than 85° or 80°.

The present invention can be put into practice in various ways but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a packaging device 10;

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a rear view of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a front view of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a side view of a paper cutter 12 in an inoperative position;

Figure 7 is a view of the cutter 12 in an operative position;

Figure 8 is a right side view of a drive mechanism 14 that can be used to draw paper out of a container 16;

Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 are respectively, a section on ix-ix, left side view, front view and plan view; Figure 13 is a side view of a second embodiment of a packaging device showing a side view of a power feed;

Figure 14 is a scrap view showing in detail the path of the paper in the power feed;

Figures 15 and 16 are, respectively, sectional views along the lines XV-XV and XVl-XVl, and

Figure 17 is a front view of the power feed.

As shown in Figure 1, a roll of paper 18, which may be without a core, is stored in the container 16. Paper is drawn from the internal wrapping of the roll 18, out through an opening 20 to form a loose spiral 22 having overlaps of three thicknesses of paper. The overlap is assisted as a result of the friction occurring between adjacent surfaces of layers in the roll. The paper is pulled by an operator. When the desired length has been pulled the operator pulls the paper down to expose a serrated knife 26 which then cuts off the paper.

A lever 24 then springs back into the position shown leaving a length of spiral between the knife and the opening for the operator to pull and cut off when next the packaging is required.

The paper can be supplied as a roll which, when replacement is required, can be slid in from the rear end of the container. Alternatively, the container can be supplied in a box 28, which as shown in Figure 2, can be dropped onto the base 30 with the front of the container abutting a wall 32 having the opening 20 and with the rear base of the container abutting a lip 34. The top of the wall 32 has a ledge 36 which prevents the front of the container from rising up. Side walls 38 prevent transverse movement of the container. Thus the container is securely held and may be easily replaced. The container may have an open front wall or an opening in the front wall to correspond with the opening 20. The front wall or opening in the container may be made by an operator detaching part of the container. The container may be made of cardboard. The front wall 32 may have a cone extending towards the cutter and tapering inwardly towards the cutter.

In use, the container will be fastened to a work bench. This is effected by a shaft 40 extending down the base 30. As shown in Figure 5, the shaft 40 has a plate 42 slidably mounted thereon with the plate 42 including a pair of clamps 44 which can hold the device in place at the desired elevation above the work surface of the base by holding a work surface between the clamps 44 and an upper facing surface 46 of the plate. Thus, in one arrangement the device could be clamped to the rear of a work surface with the container projecting forwardly over and spaced from the work surface. Accordingly the space on the work surface beneath the container remains free to use.

Whilst the container is shown with its elongate axis being horizontal, this angle can be altered. The base 30 is connected to the shaft 40 by a pivot bolt 48. A quick release and lock lever 50 is provided to allow angular adjustment such that the axis can extend at 10°, 20° or 30° or any desired angle to the horizontal. A further quick release lock lever 51 allows the container to be swivelled on the shaft 40.

In the embodiment shown, the outlet of the opening 20 is approximately one third of the outside diameter of a new roll. The outside diameter of a new roll may be 150 mm and the roll may have a length of 375 mm. In another arrangement, the roll has a diameter of 220 mm with the opening 20 being 127 mm in diameter. The opening 20 may be 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 or 70 mm in diameter.

A shelf 52 extends from the front of the container to the cutter 12 at a lower elevation than the cutter. Opposing sides 54 of the shelf extend upwardly and support the cutter at their free end.

When paper is being drawn out of the container the spiral passes over the shelf 52 and over the top of a guard 56. The guard 56 extends to a greater height than the knife 26 and to the front and rear of the knife along the complete length of the knife by an upwardly extending slot 58 of the guard substantially enclosing the knife.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the lever 24 can be urged downwardly by the paper being pulled downwardly out of the device to expose the knife and cut the paper.

The lever 24 is mounted on a pivot 60. The guard 56 is mounted on a pivot 62. The guard and lever are connected at both sides by an operating plate 64 which is itself mounted about a pivot 66. A pin or roller 68 fast with the plate extends through a slot 70 in the lever 24 and another pin or roller 72 fast with the plate 64 extends through an arcuate slot 74 in the guard 56.

Downwards movement of the lever in an anticlockwise direction pulls the plate 64 down in a clockwise direction with the pin 68 travelling along the slot 70 from the right to the left hand side. Clockwise movement of the plate 64 pulls the guard down in an anticlockwise direction with the pin 72 travelling from the right to the left hand side of the slot 74. Thus the blade is exposed as shown in Figure 7. Movement in the opposite direction returns the lever and guard to the position shown in Figure 6. The plate 64, and thus the guard and lever, is biased to the position shown in Figure 6 by a pair of torsion springs 76 mounted on either side about the pivot 66.

In a modified embodiment the spiral can be pulled out of the container by a pair of driven members upstream of the knife, as shown in Figures 8 to 12.

A motor 78 drives a lower shaft 80. The shaft 80 extends across the machine to drive an upper shaft 82 via meshing gears 84 connected to both shafts. The motor can be stopped and started by an operator.

At the centre of each shaft a pair of members 86 rotate to cause a spiral between them to be pulled out of the container and to drive the spiral from the members 86. The members 86 may have resilient outer surfaces which may trap a spiral between them and may be compressed at their adjacent region. Alternatively or additionally the members may have uneven external surfaces, such as a cog, which may each pass within the area swept the other member during rotation in order to bunch up the spiral or help connect the spiral or help the spiral maintain the relationship between the layers in the spiral or any combination thereof.

Although the axis of the roll is shown as being horizontal in another embodiment the axis could be vertical with packaging being drawn downwards and the device may be adjustable such that it can be moved to the axis being vertical, for instance from a previous position shown in which it is horizontal.

Like parts in Figures 13 to 17 will be given the same number prefixed by the number 1.

As shown in Figure 13, the container or box 128 is fastened to a bench 200 as previously described in relation to Figures 1 to 12. In the embodiment the box 128 is mounted, with the winding axis of the roll vertical, on a bar 202. Paper is packed in the box as previously described and the outlet of the box is in the form of an inwardly and upwardly converging cone 204. The paper spiral 122 is fed vertically upwards from the box and around a free running roller 206 having a centrally located circumferentially extending rib 208. The paper leaves the roller 206 in a horizontal direction and passes between a lower driven roller 210 and an upper idler roller 212 before passing out of a housing 213.

The rib 208 on the roller 206 serves to maintain the spiral in an expanded form. If the rib 208 were not present then there may be a tendency for the spiral to collapse flat around the roller thereby decreasing the volume and reducing the effectiveness of the packing. At the sides of the roller the packing may be guided to maintain the packaging in the central region. Alternatively or additionally, the packaging may not need guides or may be guided centrally by the rib on the roller.

The driven roller 210 is powered by a motor 214 which drives a first small gear 216 and a second, spaced large gear 218 via a chain 220. The gear 218 is mounted on the same shaft as a large cog 222 which meshes with a small cog 224. The small cog 224 is mounted on the same shaft as the driven roller 210. Thus powering the motor causes the chain to drive the gear 218 and the cog 222 which in turn causes the cog 224 and roller 210 to rotate.

In the position of the cogs shown the feed rate of paper from the housing will be in the region of 76 m/min. If the cogs 222 and 224 are reversed from the position shown then the feed rate will increase to around 92 m/min for a constant rate of rotation of the gear 218. Thus the same motor at the same speed can be used to drive the paper at different speeds.

The idler roller 212 is mounted at the free end of a swinging arm 226. The arm 226 is pivotally mounted on an opposed end and is biased by a spring 228 such that the roller 212 is biased towards the driven roller to trap the paper between the rollers 210 and 212.

The housing 213 is pivotally mounted on the bar 202 and can move through approximately 30° to direct the feed from the horizontal position shown in Figure 13 at an angle down towards the work bench 200. The adjustment is effected by relaxing bolts 230 that hold the housing on an arcuate mount 234 at the top of the bar 202 and rotating the housing in a clockwise direction with the bolts moving through arcuate slots 232 in the mount 234 and then tightening the bolts 230 again when the desired angle is reached. That angle may have the bolts located at the ends of the slots or at a position between the ends.

The paper is loaded into the machine, at the start of a new roll of packaging, by pivoting a cover 236 upwardly about a pivot 234. The paper is then fed around the ribbed roller and then passed to the driven and idler roller. Handles 238 on either side of the housing can then be rotated manually to manually rotate the driven roller and thus feed the paper through the rollers.

Paper may be arranged to be fed at a length determined by an operator. For instance an operator may actuate a foot switch that causes paper feed with release of the foot causing the feed to stop. Alternatively or additionally, the feed may be in predetermined lengths (which predetermined lengths may be able to be altered) by an operator activating a switch.

Detachment of the fed paper from the housing may be effected automatically, such as a blade (not shown) sweeping across the outlet of the housing. Alternatively or additionally, detachment may be effected by an operator actuating a switch or by the operator pulling the paper sideways relative to the outlet as described in relation to Figures 1 to 12. After a length of packaging has been detached the drive may be arranged to automatically withdraw another length of the packaging such that the operator does not have to initiate a further withdrawal procedure after having used the previously detached length of packaging. In this way packaging time is reduced.

Any features of Figures 1 to 12 and the associated description may be combined with any features of Figures 1 to 16 and the associated description and vice versa.

The paper withdrawn from may be recycled paper. The spiral of paper, which may be in tube form, may be used to fill voids in containers to cushion items in the containers. When the spiral is rolled into a coil the material may be able to support heavy objects, for instance up to 100 kg in weight.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one- example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s) . The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A packaging dispenser arrangement including a roll of packaging wound around an axis, packaging being arranged to be withdrawn from the roll in the direction of extent of the axis.

2. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 in which the packaging is arranged to be withdrawn with at least one winding of packaging overlapping at least one adjacent winding of packaging over at least part of its extent.

3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 2 in which the packaging is arranged to be withdrawn with at least one winding of packaging overlapping at least two other windings of packaging over at least part of its extent.

4. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 2 or 3 in which the packaging, when withdrawn and out of the dispenser is arranged to have at least one winding of packaging overlapping at least one adjacent winding of packaging.

5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which a side of the roll that faces coaxially when in the roll also faces at least partially in the axial extent when withdrawn from the roll.

6. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 5 in which the side of the roll that faces axially when in the roll faces the axial extent at an angle of more than 45° to the axial extent when withdrawn from the roller.

7. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the end edge of the roll that is withdrawn from the dispenser is arranged to face at least partially in the radial direction with respect to the axis of the roll when withdrawn from the roll .

8. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 7 in which the end edge is at an angle of less than 45° to the axial extent when withdrawn from the roll.

9. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the ratio of the area of the end of the packaging, transverse to the axis is less than 120:1 or 100:1 or 90:1 or 80:1 or 70:1 or 60:1 or 50:1 or 40:1 or 30:1 or 20:1 or 15:1 or in the region of 10:1.

10. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the ratio of the length of the packaging to the outside diameter of the packaging is less than 4:1 or less than 3:1 or less than 2:1 or in the region of 1.7:1.

11. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the packaging is arranged to be withdrawn from the roll from an inner winding of the packaging.

12. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the roll is held in a container and the packaging is arranged to be withdrawn from the roll in the container.

13. A device as claimed in Claim 12 in which the container is arranged to be detachably mounted on a support.

14. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the device is arranged to be detachably mounted on a support.

15. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 14 in which the device is adjustable whereby the angle ^' of inclination of the axis is arranged to be adjustable when the device is mounted on a support of, for instance, more than 10° or less than 50° or more than 20° or less than 40°.

16. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 14 or 15 in which the height of the packaging is arranged to be adjustable when the device is mounted on a support.

17. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 14 to 16 in which the axis of the packaging is arranged to be adjustable when the device is mounted on a support about an axis transverse to the axis of the packaging.

18. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim including a separator arranged to detach packaging when the desired length of packaging has been withdrawn.

19. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 18 in which the separator is located downstream of the roll.

20. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 18 or 19 including a guard for the separator.

21. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 20 in which the guard is movable relative to the separator in order to expose the separator.

22. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 21 in which the relative movement is arranged to be effected by a force exerted by the packaging.

23. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 22 in which the force exerted by the packaging is also arranged to effect the separation.

24. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 15 to 23 in which the guard is movable relative to the separator to a distance where the guard is spaced from the separator.

25. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 21 to 24 in which the relative movement between the guard and separator is effected by an operating lever that is arranged to be moved as a result of a force exerted by the packaging.

26. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 25 in which the lever is connected to the guard by a link whereby movement of the lever causes movement of the guard.

27. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 26 in which the guard and link are both pivotally mounted and the link is pivotally connected to both the guard and link.

28. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 27 in which the pivot mounting of the link to at least one, and preferably both of the guard or lever is movable relative to the pivot mounting of the guard or lever.

29. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the packaging is arranged to be withdrawn from the roll manually.

30. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim including drive means arranged, in use, to pull the packaging from the roll .

31. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 30 in which the drive means is located downstream from the packaging and is spaced from the packaging.

32. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 30 or 31 in which the rate of feed of the withdrawn packaging is adjustable.

33. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 32 in which the rate of feed of the withdrawn packaging is adjustable by reversing the orientation of different sized cooperating drive parts.

34. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 30 to 33 in which the amount of packaging withdrawn during a withdrawing operation is the same for successive operations or determined by an operator or both.

35. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 30 to 34 in which, after detachment of a length of withdrawn packaging the drive means are arranged to automatically withdraw more packaging.

36. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the withdrawn packaging is arranged to pass partially around a rotatable member having at least one projection from the radially extending peripheral surface.

37. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 36 in which the at least one projection comprises a radially extending rib.

38. A packaging dispenser arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown^' in any of the accompanying drawings .

39. A method of dispensing packaging comprising withdrawing packaging from a roll of packaging wound around an axis by withdrawing the packaging in the direction of extent of the axis.

40. A method as claimed in Claim 39 comprising withdrawing the packaging with at least one winding from the roll overlapping another winding from the roll.

41. A method as claimed in Claim 40 comprising withdrawing the packaging with at least three windings from the roll overlapping each other along at least one extent of the roll.

42. A method as claimed in Claim 39 or 40 comprising the layers overlapping each other as a result at least in part of the friction occurring between one winding and an adjacent winding.

43. A method as claimed in any of Claims 40 to 42 comprising withdrawing packaging from an inner winding of the roll.

44. A method as claimed in any of Claims 39 to 43 comprising withdrawing the packaging through a guide of decreasing cross-sectional area.

45. A method as claimed in any of Claims 40 to 44 comprising separating a length of packaging by pulling a length of the packaging against a separator.

46. A method as claimed in Claim 45 comprising pulling a length of the packaging to cause a guard to move relative to the separator to expose the guard.

47. A method as claimed in Claim 46 comprising causing the guard to move a distance away from the separator.

48. A method of dispensing packaging substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in any of the accompanying drawings .

49. A method of dispensing packaging as claimed in any of Claims 39 to 48 comprising a packaging dispensing arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 38.

50. A machinery guard arrangement including a supply of material, a guard that, in normal use, at least partially conceals a device arranged to have an effect on the material, the material being arranged to pass the guard in a first condition of normal use, the supply of material being manually movable from a normal direction to an angle to that normal direction such that the material causes the guard to move relative to the device to a second condition to reveal the device with the revealed device then being arranged to have an effect on the material.

51. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 50 in which, in the second condition, the guard is arranged to be moved to be clear of the device.

52. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 50 or 51 in which the guard is pivotally movable from the first to the second condition.

53. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 50 to 52 including an operating lever arranged to be engaged with an operating lever when moving the guard from the first to the second position.

54. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 53 in which the lever is spaced from the guide.

55. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 54 in which the lever is pivotally mounted and is connected to the guide.

56. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 55 in which the lever is connected to the guide via a link.

57. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 56 in which the link is pivotally mounted.

58. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 56 or 57 in which the link is pivotally connected to the guide and the lever.

59. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 58 in which the pivotal connection of the guide to the arrangement and the pivotal connection of the lever to the arrangement are offset from each other.

60. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 58 or 59 in which the link is pivotally connected to the guide.

61. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 59 or 60 in which the link is pivotally connected to the lever.

62. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 60 or 61 in which the pivotal connection of the link to the guide or the lever or both is movable relative to the guide or lever.

63. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 62 in which the or each movable connection is movable between at least one and preferably two limit positions .

64. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 50 to 63 in which the guide is biased to the first position.

65. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 50 to 64 in which the device is arranged to separate the material.

66. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 65 in which the device comprises a blade.

67. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 50 to 66 in which the material comprises paper.

68. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 38 to 55 when used in an arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 38 or when used in a method as claimed in any of Claims 39 to 49.

69. A method of guarding machinery comprising causing a supply of material to pass a guard that conceals a device arranged to have an effect on the material when not guarded and altering the direction of the material manually such that the guard is wound clear of the device with the device then having an effect on the material.

70. A method as claimed in Claim 69 comprising causing the guard to move to a position in which the guard is spaced from the device.