WO2014058362A1

WO2014058362A1 - Dispenser for a belt for use with an absorbent product and method for separating a belt from a roll

Info

Publication number: WO2014058362A1
Application number: PCT/SE2012/051085
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kent Hermansson; Charlotte Johansson
Original assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
Current assignee: Essity Hygiene and Health AB
Priority date: 2012-10-10
Filing date: 2012-10-10
Publication date: 2014-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-10

Description

Dispenser for a belt for use with an absorbent product and method for separating a belt from a roll.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a dispenser for a belt. The present invention further

5 relates to a method of separating a belt from continuous web material.

BACKGROUND

A dispenser for e.g. toilet paper or household paper may be provided with a cutting

edge, against which edge a user may pull a tail of the relevant paper to separate a sheet

10 of paper for use from a web of paper in the dispenser.

To the knowledge of the applicant, dispensers for on-demand dispensing of a belt

material are not publicly known.

15 In a dispenser for on-demand dispensing of a belt for use with an absorbent product,

there exists a need for separating belt components from a continuous web material.

SUMMARY

An object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser for on-demand dispensing of

20 a belt for use with an absorbent product, wherein a belt component is separated from a

continuous web material.

According to an aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a dispenser for on- demand dispensing a belt for use with an absorbent product. The dispenser comprises a

25 separating device for separating a belt component from a roll or a stack of continuous

web material. Part of the continuous web material is arranged to extend in a plane inside the dispenser. The separating device comprises a cutting edge. The cutting edge is

movable in relation to the plane on a first side of the plane. The cutting edge is arranged to intersect with the plane at an acute angle to the plane as the cutting edge is moved

30 through the plane. The acute angle is formed in an interspace between the cutting edge

and the plane on the first side of the plane. Since the cutting edge is movably arranged and positioned to intersect with the plane, the cutting edge will cut continuous web material in the dispenser. The acute angle ensures a reliable cutting of the continuous web material. As a result, the above mentioned object is achieved.

The dispenser may be a stand-alone unit or it may be a wall mounted unit. The dispenser may be used at home, in a hospital, or other care institution. The absorbent product may be a product used for incontinence care. The continuous web material, herein also referred to as web material, may be a belt material, i.e. a material adapted to form a belt to be attached e.g. around the waist of a user, or an attachment material, a material adapted for attaching the two end portions of a belt to each other. The belt material may for instance comprise a nonwoven material. The attachment material may for instance be a hook material of a hook and loop fastening system, or an adhesive tape. Accordingly, the belt component may be a length of belt material separated by the separating device from a roll or stack of belt material, or an attachment material patch separated by the separating device from a roll or stack of continuous attachment material. Herein, the terms - hook material, and hook surface structure - are to be interpreted to encompass the hook part of a hook and loop fastening system, e.g. known as a VELC O ® system. As such the "hooks" may have many different shapes which are adapted to engage with a loop part of the hook and loop fastening system. Purely as an example J-shape, mushroom shape, and palm tree shape may be mentioned.

A length of belt material may be separately dispensed from the dispenser. Accordingly, the dispenser may be adapted to dispense one length of belt material at a time. In this manner the dispenser may be adapted for dispensing a length of belt material just prior to its use as a belt by an end user of the belt and a related absorbent product. An attachment material patch may be separately dispensed from the dispenser. That is, the length of belt material and the attachment material patch may be dispensed separately from each other from the dispenser. In this manner a user may dispense e.g. a length of belt material, which together with a hook material patch previously used with another belt may form a belt for an absorbent product. Accordingly, the dispenser may be adapted to dispense any one of: a length of belt material, an attachment material patch, and a belt comprising a length of belt material and a thereto attached attachment material patch. The dispenser may be adapted to dispense one length of belt material at a time. A length of belt material dispensed through a dispensing outlet of the dispenser may have a belt width corresponding to a width of one belt. The dispenser may comprise one separating device for belt material and one separating device for attachment material. According to embodiments, a point of intersection between the cutting edge and the plane may travel along the cutting edge as the cutting edge is moved through the plane. In this manner it may be ensured that a clean cut of the web material is produced.

According to embodiments, the dispenser may comprise a supporting surface for the continuous web material, along which supporting surface the plane extends. In this manner a clean cut of the web material may be produced. The supporting surface may form a dolly during cutting of the web material.

According to embodiments, the dispenser may comprise a tensioning arrangement for applying tension to the continuous web material in an area of the plane. In this manner a clean cut of the web material may be produced.

According to embodiments, the separating device may comprise a blade and the cutting edge may form an edge of the blade.

The cutting edge is a sharp edge, which is adapted to cut the web material, as opposed to simply tear apart the web material. Fibres of the web material may be cut by the cutting edge. According to embodiments the cutting edge may intersect the plane in a single point of intersection during cutting of the web material. According to further embodiments, during cutting of the web material, the cutting edge may intersect with the plane in two points of intersection only.

According to embodiments, the cutting edge may form a straight edge of the blade. According to embodiments the cutting edge may form a curved edge of the blade. In embodiments with a curved edge, the acute angel is formed between a tangent of the cutting edge in a position of intersection with the plane. The acute angle is formed in an interspace between the tangent and the plane on the first side of the plane. According to embodiments, the blade may be substantially circular.

According to embodiments, the blade may comprise a pointed portion and the cutting edge may extend on both sides of the pointed portion. In this manner the web material may be punctured by the pointed portion, which for some kinds of web material may be advantageous for initiating a cut therein.

According to embodiments, the pointed portion may form part of the cutting edge. According to embodiments, the cutting edge may extend at a first acute angle to the plane in the pointed portion and at a second acute angle to the plane in an outer portion of the cutting edge. The first acute angle may be less acute than the second acute angle. According to embodiments, the continuous web material to be separated may be a belt material arranged to form a belt extending around a waist of a wearer.

The belt material may have a loop surface structure. In this manner, in use of a dispensed belt around a waist of a user of a related absorbent product, a hook material patch may interconnect directly with the dispensed belt. Herein, the term - loop surface structure - is to be understood to encompass a surface structure to which a hook material of a hook and loop fastening system is attachable. Accordingly, a loop surface structure may comprise fibres or threads extending from a surface and back into the surface to define genuine loops, as well as a surface structure comprising fibres or threads extending out from a surface and having loose ends, which fibres or threads entangle with each other.

According to embodiments, the dispenser may comprise a first holder for a roll or a stack of the belt material, and a dispensing outlet for the belt material.

The first holder may be adapted to hold a roll or a stack of belt material having a width corresponding to the belt width. According to embodiments, the continuous web material to be separated may be a hook material forming part of a hook and loop fastening system.

According to embodiments, the hook material has two sides, each of the two sides may be provided with a hook surface structure. In this manner a first side of the a hook material patch may engage with a length of belt material when being deposited thereon, to thereby form a belt. A dispensed belt may thereafter be attached around a waist of a user of a related absorbent product by means of the second side of the hook material patch interconnecting with the dispensed belt.

According to embodiments, the dispenser may comprise a second holder for a roll or a stack of a hook material. The term; stack of continuous web of hook material, is to be interpreted encompassing either a single piece of continuous web of hook material folded up to form a stack, or several pieces of continuous web of hook material stacked upon each other. In the both cases, the single piece as well as each of the several pieces has a length corresponding to the length of at least two hook material patches.

According to embodiments, the dispenser may comprise a depositing arrangement arranged for depositing a hook material patch onto a length of belt material for on- demand dispensing of a belt for use with an absorbent product. In this manner a belt ready for use with a related absorbent product may be provided directly from the dispenser. Separating of a length of belt material from a roll or stack of belt material may take place before, or after, depositing the hook material patch onto the length of belt material.

According to embodiments, the dispenser may comprise a first compartment comprising the first holder, and a second compartment comprising the second holder. The first compartment and the second compartment may be separately openable for replenishing of the dispenser with belt material and hook material. In this manner the belt material and hook material may be separately replenished. According to embodiments, the first holder may form a portion of the first compartment, or the first holder may form substantially the entire first compartment. According to embodiments, the second holder may form a portion of the second compartment, or the second holder may form substantially the entire second compartment. It is a further object of the present invention is to provide a way of dispensing a belt component in a dispenser for on-demand dispensing of a belt for use with an absorbent product. According to an aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a method of separating a belt component from a roll or stack of continuous web material in a dispenser for on- demand dispensing a belt for use with an absorbent product. Part of the continuous web material is arranged to extend in a plane inside the dispenser. The dispenser comprises a separating device for separating a belt component from the roll or the stack of continuous web material. The separating device comprises a cutting edge, which cutting edge is movable in relation to the plane on a first side of the plane. The method comprises:

moving the cutting edge at an acute angle through the plane, the acute angle being formed in an interspace between the cutting edge and the plane on the first side of the plane.

According to embodiments, the method may comprise:

moving a point of intersection between the cutting edge and the plane along the cutting edge as the cutting edge is moved through the plane.

Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following detailed description. Those skilled in the art will realize that different features of the present invention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a cross section through a dispenser according to embodiments, Figs. 2a and 2b illustrate a separating device according to embodiments, Figs. 3a - 3d illustrate various embodiments of blades comprising cutting edges of separating devices,

Fig. 4 illustrates a partial cross section through a dispenser according to embodiments, Fig. 5 illustrates a belt according to embodiments adapted for use with an absorbent product, and

Fig. 6 illustrates a method of separating a belt component from a roll or stack of continuous web material in a dispenser for on-demand dispensing a belt for use with an absorbent product. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the

accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. However, this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

Disclosed features of example embodiments may be combined as readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Well-known functions or constructions will not necessarily be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

Fig. 1 illustrates a cross section through a dispenser 2 according to embodiments. The dispenser 2 is adapted for on-demand dispensing of a belt for use with an absorbent product. The dispenser 2 comprises a first holder 4 for a roll 6 of continuous web material in the form of a belt material, a dispensing outlet 8 for the belt material, a first separating device 10 for separating a length of belt material 12 from the roll 6 of belt material, and a second holder 14 for a roll 16 of continuous web material in the form of an attachment material. A depositing arrangement 18 is arranged for depositing an attachment material patch onto the length of belt material 12, to thereby form the belt. The dispenser 2 is adapted to dispense one belt at a time, the belt having a belt width. The first holder 4 is adapted to hold a roll 6 of belt material having a width corresponding to a width of the belts being dispensed from the dispensing outlet 8.

The first separating device 10 comprises a blade 30, which comprises a cutting edge 20 connected to a first Iever 22. The cutting edge 20 forms an edge of the blade 30. The first Iever 22 is pivotably attached to the dispenser 2. A user operates a handle end 24 of the first lever 22 to pivot the first lever 22 and to displace the cutting edge 20 to intersect with a plane, in which plane part of the belt material extends. The cutting edge 20 is arranged to intersect with the plane at an acute angle to the plane as the cutting edge is moved through the plane, as elaborated in more detail be!ow with reference to Figs. 2a - 3d. The plane extends along a supporting surface 26 provided by a contact plate 28. The belt material abuts against the contact plate 28 and the length of belt material 12 is separated from the belt material as it is sheared between the contact plate 28 and the cutting edge 20 as the cutting edge intersects with the plane. The depositing arrangement 18 comprises a second separating device 10' comprising a blade 30, which comprises a cutting edge 20 for separating an attachment material patch from the roll 16 of attachment material. The cutting edge 20 forms an edge of the blade 30. Part of the attachment material extends in a plane along the contact plate 28 on a side thereof opposite to the belt material. The attachment material abuts against the contact plate 28 on the side opposite to the belt material, which side forms a support surface 26' for the attachment material. The blade 30 is connected to a lever arrangement 32. A user operates a handle portion 34 of the lever arrangement 32 to pivot the lever arrangement 32 and to displace the blade 30 and its cutting edge 20 to intersect with the plane. The cutting edge 20 is arranged to intersect with the plane at an acute angle to the plane as the cutting edge is moved through the plane, as elaborated in more detail below with reference to Figs. 2a - 3d. As the cutting edge 20 passes an edge portion 36 of the contact plate 28, an attachment material patch is separated from the attachment material. The cutting element 30 and the edge 36 are located downstream of the cutting edge 20. Thus, the attachment material patch is deposited onto the length of belt material 12 at a short distance from an end of the length of belt material 12. Put differently, the length of belt material 12 has a first end portion 33 and a second end portion, and the attachment material patch is deposited onto the length of belt material 12 in the first end portion 33. The attachment material may be a hook material provided with a hook surface structure on both of its sides and the belt material may have a loop surface structure. Hooks on a first side of an attachment material patch, closest to the belt material, may thus engage with the length of belt material 12. A separation sheet 37, made from e.g. paper, may be provided between the coils in the roll 16 of attachment material to prevent the hooks of the two sides of the attachment material from engaging with each other. An attachment material patch provided with a hook surface structure may be referred to as a hook material patch. Accordingly, the depositing arrangement 18 may be arranged for depositing a hook material patch onto a length of belt material 12 for on-demand dispensing of a belt for use with an absorbent product.

The dispenser 2 comprises a feeding arrangement 38 for feeding the attachment material in a direction from the second holder 14 towards the cutting element 30. The feeding arrangement 38 forms part of the lever arrangement 32 and may comprise a return spring 40 and an abutment part 42 having a resilient end 44. After a user has pulled on the handle portion 34 to separate the attachment material patch by means of the cutting element 30 from the attachment material, the lever arrangement 32 may be returned to its initial position by means of the return spring 40. Alternatively, the return spring 40 may be omitted and the lever arrangement 32 may be manually returned to its initial position by a user of the dispenser 2. Upon returning to its initial position, the resilient end 44 of the abutment part engages with the attachment material and slides it along the contact plate 28, such that a portion of the attachment material extends outside the edge 36. Thus, a new attachment material patch is ready to be separated from the attachment material by the cutting element 30 when a new belt is to be dispensed. The dispenser 2 may be provided with a holding arrangement (not shown) for holding the attachment material in place against the contact plate 28 as a user pulls on the handle portion 34.

The dispenser 2 comprises a first compartment 46 comprising the first holder 4 and a second compartment 48 comprising the second holder 14. The first compartment 46 may be opened independently of the second compartment 48. The second compartment 48 may be opened independently of the first compartment 46. The dispenser 2 may thus be separately replenished with rolls 6, 16 of belt material and attachment material, e.g. a hook material. Access to the second compartment 48 may be provided by means of a lid 50 being pivotably attached at a top end of the dispenser 2 by means of a hinge 52.

Access to the first compartment 46 may be provided by means of an upper portion of the dispenser 2 being pivotably attached to a wall section of the dispenser 2 by means of a hinge 54. With the dispenser 2 according to these embodiments, it is possible to dispense only a length of belt materia! 12, or only an attachment material patch.

Figs. 2a and 2b illustrate a separating device 10 according to embodiments. The separating device 10 may be utilized in a dispenser 2 for on-demand dispensing a belt for use with an absorbent product. The separating device 10 is arranged for separating a belt component 100 from a roll or a stack of continuous web material 102. As previously discussed, the continuous web material 102 may be a belt material or an attachment material. Accordingly, the belt component 100 may be a length of belt material or an attachment material patch. Part of the continuous web material 102 is arranged to extend in a plane 104, indicated by dash-double-dotted lines, inside the dispenser. The separating device 10 comprises a cutting edge 20. The cutting edge 20 is movable in relation to the plane 104 on a first side 106 of the plane 104, as indicated by arrow 108. The cutting edge 20 is arranged to intersect with the plane 104 at an acute angle a to the plane 104 as the cutting edge 20 is moved through the plane 104. The cutting edge 20 will intersect with the plane 104 and the web material 102 along a line indicated with a dash-dotted line 110 in Fig. 2b. The acute angle a is formed in an interspace between the cutting edge 20 and the plane 104 on the first side 106 of the plane 104, as indicated by the angle a between the dash-dotted line 110 and the cutting edge 20 in Fig. 2b.

The separating device 10 comprises a blade 30 and the cutting edge 20 forms an edge of the blade 30. The blade 30 comprises a pointed portion 112 and the cutting edge 20 extends on both sides of the pointed portion 112. Moreover, in these embodiments, the pointed portion 112 forms part of the cutting edge 20. Due to the pointed portion 112, the cutting edge 20 extends at a first acute angle to the plane 104 in the pointed portion and at a second acute angle to the plane 104 in an outer portion of the cutting edge. The first acute angle is less acute than the second acute angle. However, both angles are acute to the plane 104 and thus, in both the pointed portion 112 and in the outer portion of the cutting edge 20, the cutting edge 20 is arranged to intersect with the plane 104 at an acute angle (a) to the plane 104 as the cutting edge 20 is moved through the plane 104.

A tensioning arrangement 114 for applying tension to the continuous web material in an area of the plane 104 is provided in the dispenser. The tension arrangement 1 14 may comprise first and second clamps 116, 1 18, between which the continuous web material 102 is clamped. Since the web material 102 is held under tension in the tensioning arrangement 1 14, the cutting edge 20 may cut the web material 102 to separate the belt component 100 from the remainder of the web material 102. As can be understood from Figs. 2a and 2b a point of intersection between the cutting edge 20 and the plane 104 travels along the cutting edge 20 as the cutting edge 20 is moved through the plane 104. Put differently, as the blade 30 with the cutting edge 20 cuts through the web material 102 along the dash-dotted line 1 10, one point of intersection 124 between the cutting edge 20 and the plane 104, on each side of a centre line of the blade 30, moves from a middle portion of the dash-dotted line 1 10 outwardly to the two edges of the web material 102 until the belt component 100 has been separated from the remainder of the web material 102.

Figs. 3a - 3d illustrate various embodiments of blades 30 comprising cutting edges 20 of separating devices of dispensers for on-demand dispensing of a belt for use with an absorbent product. A belt component is separated from a continuous web material 102, such as a belt material or an attachment material. A plane, which is to be intersected by a relevant cutting edge 20 when the belt component is separated from the web material 102, extends along part of the web material 102 in an area adjacent the cutting edge 20, A dash-dotted line 1 10 indicates the intersection between the cutting edge 20 and the plane.

In the embodiments of Figs. 3a and 3b the cutting edges 20 form curved edges of the blades 30. In the embodiments of Fig. 3a the cutting edge 20 is convex and in the embodiments of Fig. 3b the cutting edge 20 is concave. Moreover, in the Fig. 3b embodiments the blade 30 is substantially circular. In the embodiments according to Figs. 3a and 3b, the acute angle a is formed between a tangent 120 of the cutting edge 20 in a position of intersection with the plane. In Fig. 3a the tangent 120 of the cutting edge 20, at its first point of intersection with the plane, is illustrated. The blade 30 comprises a pointed portion 1 12 and the cutting edge 20 extends on both sides of the pointed portion 1 12. Again, due to the pointed portion 1 12, the cutting edge 20 extends at a first acute angle to the plane in the pointed portion and at a second acute angle to the plane in an outer portion of the cutting edge. The first acute angle is less acute than the second acute angle.

In Fig. 3b the blade 30 may rotate and be moved sideways along the plane and the dash-dotted line 110 for separating a belt component from the web material 102.

In the embodiments of Figs 3c and 3d the cutting edge 20 forms a straight edge of the blade 30. In the Fig. 3c embodiments the blade 30 is moved linearly and in the Fig. 3d embodiments the blade is pivoted about a pivot point 122.

Again, a point of intersection 124 between the cutting edge 20 and the plane travels along the cutting edge 20 as the cutting edge 20 is moved through the plane, i.e. through the dash-dotted line 110, as indicated by the dashed arrows 126. Fig. 4 illustrates a partial cross section through a dispenser 2 according to embodiments. The dispenser 2 is adapted for on-demand dispensing of a belt for use with an absorbent product. The dispenser 2 comprises a first holder 4 for a stack 56 of continuous web material in the form of folded belt material, a dispensing outlet 8 for the belt material, and a separating device 10 for separating a length of belt material 12 from the stack 56 of belt material. The separating device 10 comprises a blade 30, which comprises a cutting edge 20. The cutting edge 20 forms an edge of the blade 30. A user may move the blade 30, e.g. b y means of an non-shown level, to displace the cutting edge 20 to intersect with a plane, in which plane part of the belt material extends. The cutting edge 20 is arranged to intersect with the plane at an acute angle to the plane as the cutting edge is moved through the plane, as elaborated in more detail above with reference to Figs. 2a - 3d. Thus, a length of belt material 12 may be separated from the belt material.

The dispenser 2 further comprises a second holder 14 for a stack of attachment material patches in the form of pre-cut hook material patches, and a hook material patch providing device 70 comprising a depositing arrangement 18 arranged for depositing hook material patches 57, one at a time, onto the length of belt material 12, to thereby form the belt. The dispenser 2 is adapted to dispense one belt at a time. The depositing arrangement 18 comprises a feeding member 58 arranged to feed the hook material patches 57 from the stack of pre-cut hook material patches in the second holder 14 onto the length of belt material 12. The second holder 14 comprises a feeding tube 60 inside which the pre-cut hook material patches of the stack of pre-cut hook material patches are supported. At a lower end of the feeding tube 60 there is provided a feeding slot 64, through which the feeding member 58 is arranged to eject a hook material patch 57 from the second holder 14, to deposit the hook material patch 57 onto the length of belt material 12. The depositing arrangement 18 further comprises a gluing arrangement 62. A droplet or bead of glue is ejected from the gluing arrangement 62 to fasten a hook material patch 57 on the length of belt material 12.

A user may activate the gluing arrangement 62 prior to operating the feeding member 58 to deposit the hook material patch 57 onto the length of belt material 12. Thereafter, the user may initiate the separating device 10 to separate the length of belt material 12 from the stack 56 of belt material, to thereby form the belt.

The dispenser 2 comprises a measuring device 66, in the form of a ruler, arranged for measuring the length of belt material 12.

Fig. 5 illustrates a belt 68 according to embodiments adapted for use with an absorbent product. The belt 68 comprises a length of belt material 12 and a hook material patch 57. For illustration purposes the hook material patch 57 is illustrated only partially attached to the length of belt material 12. The length of belt material 12 and the hook material patch 57 may have been dispensed from a dispenser 2 according to embodiments disclosed herein and may have been separated from respective continuous web materials by separating devices 10 comprising cutting edges 20 according to

embodiments disclosed herein. Both sides of the length of belt material 12 have a loop surface structure adapted to engage with a hook structure of the hook material patch 57. The belt material may for instance be a textile, a textile-like material, a woven material, or a nonwoven material. The hook materia! of the hook material patch 57 has two sides. Each of the two sides is provided with a hook surface structure. The hook surface structures of the two sides may have different properties. For instance, the hook surface structure of the side engaging with the belt in the illustrated open position of the belt 68 may have stronger engaging properties than the side facing away from the belt 68. In this manner it may be ensured that the hook material patch 57 remains attached to the belt 68 in the same position of the length of belt material 12 also after the belt 68 has been closed an opened one or more times. Fig. 6 illustrates a method of separating a belt component from a roll or stack of continuous web material in a dispenser for on-demand dispensing a belt for use with an absorbent product. Part of the continuous web material is arranged to extend in a plane inside the dispenser. The dispenser comprises a separating device for separating a belt component from the roll or the stack of continuous web material. The separating device comprises a cutting edge, which cutting edge is movable in relation to the plane on a first side of the plane. The dispenser may for instance be a dispenser 2 in accordance with any embodiments illustrated and described in connection with Figs. 1 and 4.

The method comprises:

moving 200 the cutting edge at an acute angle through the plane, the acute angle being formed in an interspace between the cutting edge and the plane on the first side of the plane.

The method may further comprise:

moving 202 a point of intersection between the cutting edge and the plane along the cutting edge as the cutting edge is moved through the plane.

The belt 68 illustrated in Fig. 5 may be dispensed utilizing the method of separating discussed in connection with Fig. 6. Example embodiments described above may be combined as understood by a person skilled in the art. For instance, the dispenser 2 according to embodiments disclosed in Figs. 1 may comprise a hook material patch providing device comprising a depositing arrangement for pre-cut hook material patches according to the embodiments disclosed in Fig. 3 instead of a depositing arrangement comprising a cutting element. Conversely, the dispenser 2 according to embodiments disclosed in Fig. 3 may comprise a hook material patch providing device comprising a depositing arrangement comprising a cutting element according to the embodiments disclosed in Fig. 1 instead of a depositing arrangement for pre-cut hook material patches. Similarly, the hook materia! patches of the Fig. 1 embodiments may be glued to the length of belt material in the depositing and the hook material patches of the Fig. 3 embodiments may be attached to the length of belt materia! by a hook and loop engagement in the depositing. It is also understood by those skilled in the art that one or more of the individual operations/steps required for dispensing a belt from the dispenser 2 may be performed manually, for example by means of Severs which require manual power to be operated (as disclosed in connection with Fig. 1), or one or more of the individual operations/steps required for dispensing a belt from the dispenser 2 may be electrically powered, in which case electric motors and /or actuators may be utilized. In both cases, using either manual or electric power, it is a user who dispenses a belt on-demand.

Although the invention has been described with reference to example embodiments, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art. For instance instead of the first lever 22 and/or the lever arrangement 32 a respective knob or wheel for a user to grasp may be provided. Furthermore, only one manual actuator, such as a lever, knob, or wheel, may be provided in the dispenser for actuating both the separating device and the hook material patch providing device. The hook material patch may be attached to the length of belt material by other means than the described hook and loop mechanical fastening or gluing. For instance, the hook material patch may be welded or heat bonded to the length of belt material. Heat may be provided by an electrically heated element or an ultrasonic welding/bonding

arrangement.

Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of various example embodiments and that the invention is defined only the appended claims.

As used herein, the term "comprising" or "comprises" is open-ended, and includes one or more stated features, elements, steps, components or functions but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, steps, components, functions or groups thereof.

Claims

1. A dispenser (2) for on-demand dispensing a belt for use with an absorbent product, characterized in that

the dispenser (2) comprises a separating device (10) for separating a belt component (100) from a roll (6, 16) or a stack (56) of continuous web material (102), wherein part of the continuous web material (102) is arranged to extend in a plane (104) inside the dispenser (2), and wherein the separating device (10) comprises a cutting edge (20), which cutting edge (20) is movable in relation to the plane (104) on a first side (106) of the plane (104), and which cutting edge (20) is arranged to intersect with the plane (104) at an acute angle (a) to the plane (104) as the cutting edge (20) is moved through the plane (104), the acute angle (a) being formed in an interspace between the cutting edge (20) and the plane (104) on the first side (106) of the plane (104).

2. The dispenser (2) according to claim 1 , wherein a point of intersection (124) between the cutting edge (20) and the plane (104) travels along the cutting edge (20) as the cutting edge (20) is moved through the plane (104).

3. The dispenser (2) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a supporting surface (26, 26') for the continuous web material (102), along which supporting surface (26, 26') the plane (104) extends.

4. The dispenser (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a tensioning arrangement (114) for applying tension to the continuous web material (102) in an area of the plane (104).

5. The dispenser (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the separating device (10) comprises a blade (30) and the cutting edge (20) forms an edge of the blade.

6. The dispenser (2) according to claim 5, wherein the cutting edge (20) forms a straight edge of the blade (30).

7. The dispenser (2) according to claim 5, wherein the cutting edge (20) forms a curved edge of the blade (30).

8. The dispenser (2) according to claim 7, wherein the blade (30) is substantially circular.

9. The dispenser (2) according to any one of claims 5 - 7, wherein the blade (30) comprises a pointed portion (112) and the cutting edge (20) extends on both sides of the pointed portion (1 12).

10. The dispenser (2) according to claim 9, wherein the pointed portion (112) forms part of the cutting edge (20).

11. The dispenser (2) according to claim 10, wherein the cutting edge (20) extends at a first acute angle to the plane (104) in the pointed portion (112) and at a second acute angle to the plane (104) in an outer portion of the cutting edge (20), and wherein the first acute angle is less acute than the second acute angle.

12. The dispenser (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the continuous web material (102) to be separated is a belt material arranged to form a belt (68) extending around a waist of a wearer.

13. The dispenser (2) according to claim 12, comprising a first holder (4) for a roll (6, 16) or a stack (56) of the belt material, and a dispensing outlet (8) for the belt material.

14. The dispenser (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the continuous web material (102) to be separated is a hook material forming part of a hook and loop fastening system.

15. The dispenser (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a second holder (14) for a roll (6, 16) or a stack of a hook material.

16. The dispenser (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a depositing arrangement (18) arranged for depositing a hook material patch (57) onto a length of belt material (12) for on-demand dispensing of a belt for use with an absorbent product.

17. The dispenser (2) according to any one of the preceding claims including claims 13 and 15, wherein the dispenser (2) comprises a first compartment (46) comprising the first holder (4), and a second compartment (48) comprising the second holder (14), and wherein the first compartment (46) and the second compartment (48) are separately openable for replenishing of the dispenser (2) with belt material and hook material.

18. A method of separating a belt component (100) from a roll (6, 16) or stack (56) of continuous web material (102) in a dispenser (2) for on-demand dispensing a belt for use with an absorbent product, part of the continuous web material (102) being arranged to extend in a plane (104) inside the dispenser (2), wherein the dispenser (2) comprises a separating device (10) for separating a belt component (100) from the roll (6, 16) or the stack (56) of continuous web material (102), the separating device (10) comprising a cutting edge (20), which cutting edge (20) is movable in relation to the plane (104) on a first side (106) of the plane (104), and wherein the method comprises:

moving (200) the cutting edge (20) at an acute angle (a) through the plane (104), the acute angle (a) being formed in an interspace between the cutting edge (20) and the plane (104) on the first side (106) of the plane (104).

19. The method according to claim 18, comprising:

moving (202) a point of intersection (124) between the cutting edge (20) and the plane (104) along the cutting edge (20) as the cutting edge (20) is moved through the plane (104).