The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for dispensing absorbent sheet material from a roll, wherein the apparatus comprising a roll holder for rotatably supporting said roll, and a roll fill level indicator arrangement. The present disclosure relates to dispensing apparatus with automatic, semi-automatic or manual dispensing, and sheet material includes paper hand wipes, general-purpose paper wipes, toilet paper and similar wipes. The roll is preferably a hard wound roll towel (HWRT), and the apparatus is preferably configured to be mounted on a wall, readily accessible to a user.
Apparatus for dispensing absorbent sheet material from a roll, also referred to as absorbent sheet material dispensers, are well-known in the prior art. The absorbent sheet roll of the dispenser is regularly replaced upon depletion, and various solutions for easily allowing service personnel to check the current fill level of the roll, i.e. the amount of absorbent sheet material that is still available for consumption of the roll, exists.
One solution for the service personnel to check roll fill level is to simply open the outer cover of the dispenser to determine current fill level. This procedure however is time consuming and results in high wear of the cover opening and locking mechanism. Another solution is to provide the outer cover of the dispenser with a window that allows the service personnel to see the roll from the outside of the dispenser, and thus to determine the roll fill level without opening the outer cover. This procedure allows more swift check of the roll fill level but may be unattractive from a dispenser design perspective. Yet another solution, which is known from EP0933054, involves providing a roll diameter sensor and an indicator for providing an indication to a service personal when the roll has reached a predetermined diameter. A disadvantage with this solution is the complexity of the sensor and indication mechanism, the additional work required by the service personal to handle the sensor and indication mechanism during replacement of the roll, and the that fact that the roll may be replaced with a relatively large amount of absorbent sheet material still available on the roll merely because the indicator has been actuated.
There is thus a need for an improved apparatus for dispensing absorbent sheet material from a roll that removes the above mentioned disadvantages.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide an inventive apparatus for dispensing absorbent sheet material from a roll, where the previously mentioned problems are partly avoided. This object is achieved by the features of the characterising portion of claim 1.
In the subsequent text, the term “housing” is defined as a collective term for all components forming the outer shell of a dispenser or of an enclosed portion thereof. Hence, an outer housing may be considered to comprise component parts such as a chassis or rear wall, which may comprise means for mounting the dispenser on a wall and be used for attaching internal components, and one or more outer walls, such as a front wall, side walls and a pivoted or removable cover allowing re-filling of the dispenser. One or more outer walls may be a part of the chassis or be mounted separately as one or more units. Alternatively, the cover may make up a major part of the front wall or the front wall and side walls. The front wall may be defined as including the front and upper portions of the dispenser housing. In addition, an outer housing may comprise an inner housing in the form of a casing or cassette enclosing at least part of a feeding mechanism for the material to be dispensed, which casing or cassette can be mounted to the chassis separate from the outer walls. An inner housing may comprise component parts, such as a front wall, side walls, etc.
The apparatus for dispensing absorbent sheet material from a roll according to the present disclosure comprises a roll holder for rotatably supporting said roll, and a roll fill level indicator arrangement. The roll fill level indicator arrangement comprising a pivoting arm, and a moveable first indicator device. The pivoting arm comprises a roll engagement means for engagement with an outer peripheral surface of the roll, and a position of the first indicator device is continuously responsive to an angular position of the pivoting arm, such that the roll fill level indicator arrangement is able to provide a gradual roll fill level indication.
The dispenser according to the present disclosure allows swift and easy determination of the current roll fill level from the outside of the dispenser, and the service personnel consequently does not open the dispenser for checking roll fill level. The gradual roll fill level indication provided by the present disclosure results in a more accurate fill level determination than provided by the prior art solution described above, where only a single discrete fill level indication is provided, i.e. an indication when the roll size has been reduced to a predetermined diameter. Thereby, the service personal can more optimally select the timing for replacing the roll, depending on the specific circumstances for each dispenser.
Further advantages are achieved by implementing one or several of the features of the dependent claims.
For example, the roll fill level indicator arrangement may further comprise a second indicator device, which is stationary with respect to said apparatus, wherein said gradual roll fill level indication is realised by an internal relative position of said first and second indicator devices. This configuration has the advantage of allowing a swift and easy reading of the current roll fill level.
Further, the first indicator device may be a separate part that is movable connected to said pivoting arm. This configuration, in which the motion of the first indicator part is not limited to the strict pivoting motion of the pivoting arm, has the advantage of allowing more freedom of motion of the first indicator device, such as a linear sliding motion, or the like.
Still further, the first indicator device may be configured to be slidingly arranged in a stationary part of said apparatus, which stationary part partly constrains the sliding motion of said first indicator device. This configuration has the advantage of making the first indicator device more readable by a user or service personnel from outside the dispenser. Moreover, the partly constrained sliding motion results in a well-defined sliding motion, high reliability and robustness of the roll fill level indicator arrangement, as well as high aesthetical appearance.
Further, the first indicator device may be pivotally connected to said pivoting arm, such that pivotal motion of said pivoting arm results in sliding motion of said first indicator device. This configuration has the advantage of providing a reliable and robust design of the roll fill level indicator arrangement.
Further, the first indicator device may be configured to move along a curved or straight sliding path. This configuration has the advantage of providing easy and accurate reading of the fill level indicator arrangement.
Further, the first indicator device may be configured to move along linear or slightly curved path that extends in a plane perpendicular to an axial direction of said roll holder. This configuration has the advantage of a less complex motion transfer mechanism between the roll engagement means of the pivoting arm and the first indicator mechanism, because the roll engagement means will also move in said plane perpendicular to an axial direction of said roll holder.
Further, the first indicator device may be an integral part of said pivoting arm. This configuration has the advantage of providing a robust and reliable fill level indicator arrangement with a minimal of separate parts, and which therefore also involves a more cost-effective manufacturing.
Further, the second indicator device may be formed by a window in a stationary wall of said apparatus, wherein an indicator surface of said first indicator device is configured to overlap with said window at least during a certain fill level of said roll, such that said indicator surface is visible through said window. This configuration has the advantage of providing a cost-effective and aesthetically attractive solution for an accurate and easily readable fill level indicator arrangement. The ratio of visibility of the first indicator device to the total area of the window inherently offers an easy understandable indication of the current roll fill level.
Further, the pivoting arm may be pivotable between a first position and a second position about a pivoting axis, and said indicator surface of said first indicator device may be configured to completely overlap with said window when said pivoting arm is in said first position, and said indicator surface of said first indicator device may be configured to be completely offset said window when said pivoting arm is in said second position. This configuration has the advantage of maximising the range of said ratio of visibility of the first indicator device to the total area of the window, such that more accurate reading of the current roll fill level may be accomplished.
Moreover, the roll fill level indicator arrangement may further comprise a background indicator device arranged rear of said first indicator device, and an indicator surface of said background indicator device may be configured to be visible in said window when said indicator surface of said first indicator device does not completely overlap with said window. This configuration has the advantage of always providing an indicator surface readily viewable in the window, irrespective of the current position of the first indicator device, such that the current fill level status may always be swiftly and accurately determined merely be viewing said indicator surfaces. Preferably, the indicator surfaces of both said background indicator device and said first indicator device are provided with individual markings and/or colourings to even further allowing a clear distinction between said surfaces.
Further, the background indicator device may form said stationary part. This configuration has the advantage of providing cost-effective manufacturing of the dispenser, as well as improved serviceability, because the indicator arrangement may be designed more compact and with less mechanical interaction with other parts of the dispenser.
Further, the background indicator device may be a separate part of said roll fill level indicator arrangement. This configuration, similar to above, has the advantage of providing cost-effective manufacturing of the dispenser, as well as improved serviceability, because the indicator arrangement may be designed more compact and with less mechanical interaction with other parts of the dispenser.
Further, the a ratio of the amount of visible indicator surface of said first indicator device to the amount of visible indicator surface of said background indicator device may be configured to correspond to current roll fill level. This configuration has the advantage of providing an inherent and easily understandable visualisation of the current roll fill level.
Further, the indicator surface of said first indicator device may extend longer than said window in a motion direction of said first indicator device, and said indicator surface of said first indicator device may have roll fill level marking that is configured to correspond to a predetermined roll fill level range, such that the marking currently visible in said window indicates the current roll fill level. This configuration has the advantage of always providing an indicator surface visible in the complete area of the window, thereby increasing readability of the indicator arrangement. There is also no need for a background indicator device, such that a less complex design with fewer parts is provided.
Further, the stationary wall may be any of a front wall, a side wall, a top wall, or an inner wall that is visible to a user from an outside of said apparatus. This configuration has the advantage of improving readability of the fill level indicator arrangement. A front wall is preferred because then readability of the indicator arrangement is independent of the mounting of the dispenser next to other objects.
Moreover, one of said first and second indicator devices may comprise a roll fill level marking that is configured to correspond to a predetermined roll fill level range, and the other of said first and second indicator devices may comprise an indicator member that is configured to indicate the current roll fill level by interaction with said roll fill level marking. This configuration has the advantage of not requiring a window as second indicator device, and instead allowing other designs for indicating the roll fill level.
Further, the roll engagement means may be formed by a rotatable wheel that is arranged at an end region of said pivoting arm, which wheel is configured to apply a rotational braking force to said roll for preventing absorbent sheet material from being uncontrollably unwound from said roll. This configuration has the advantage of engaging the outer surface of the roll without risk for damages thereof, as well as allowing a certain level of frictional braking torque to be applied to the roll after completed removal by a user. The braking torque is preferably accomplished by controlling rotation of the wheel by means of a band, or the like, such that the forced rotation of the wheel corresponds to the withdrawal of sheet material. The roll is thus largely prevented from continued rotation due to roll rotational inertia after completed sheet removal.
Further, the roll fill level indicator arrangement may be arranged on one side of said roll holder in an axial direction of said roll holder, such that said first indicator device is configured to be offset from said absorbent sheet material in an axial direction of said roll holder. This configuration has the advantage of providing a simplified and less complex motion transfer mechanics of the indicator arrangement because the location of the indicator arrangement is not in the path of the sheet material.
Further, the roll engagement means may be arranged to engage the roll mainly on a rear side of said roll as seen from a front of the apparatus. This configuration has the advantage of simplifying replacement of the roll upon depletion, since the roll is often replaced by the service personnel standing in front of the dispenser.
The present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the figures, wherein:
Various aspects of embodiments of the apparatus will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings to illustrate and not to limit the present disclosure, wherein like designations denote like elements, and variations of the inventive aspects are not restricted to the specifically shown embodiments, but are applicable on other variations of the embodiments.
The terms “upper”, “lower” etc used herein will be defined by means of a Cartesian coordinate system having axis, Y and Z as shown in
In this example the inner, second housing 20 is a cassette which at least partially encloses the feeding means for safety purpose, such that service personnel is prevented from injuries during replacement of the roll 12. The cassette 20 comprises at least a front wall 21, a rear wall 22, left side wall 23, and a right side wall 24. The feeding means comprises at least a drive roller 25, a pressure roller 26 and a cutting device (not shown). In this case, the drive roller 25 is a rotary drum provided with a cutting device in the form of a rotary cutter located in an axial slot in the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum 25. Cutters of this type are commonly known and will not be described in further detail. The web is arranged to be fed from the roll 12 and into the feeding means as indicated by the arrows 4, for subsequent dispensing out of the dispensing opening 16.
The roll fill level indicator arrangement 30 is partly visible in
The indicator arrangement 30 further comprises a moveable first indicator device 32. The position of said first indicator device 32 is continuously responsive to the angular position of said pivoting arm 31, such that said roll fill level indicator arrangement 30 provides a gradual roll fill level indication. A wall, such as the front wall 21 of the cassette 20, is provided with a window 35 that forms a second indicator device. The window 35 is simply a through hole in the wall, and may have any shape, but a rectangular shape is preferred. The first indicator device 32 is arranged inside of said wall 21, and an indicator surface 33 of the first indicator device 32 is visible through said window 35 at least during certain angular positions of the pivoting arm 31, corresponding to certain fill levels of said roll 12. The walls 21, 22, 23, 24 of the cassette 20 are stationary during normal use of the apparatus 11, and a ratio of the indicator surface 33 of the first indictor device 32 that is visible in the window to the total area of the window provides an easily readable and accurate gradual indication of the current roll fill level. According to the first embodiment, an indicator surface 36 of a background indicator device 37 is also visible in the window 35 during certain angular positions of the pivoting arm 31. The background indicator device 37 is stationary with respect to the cassette 20, and is more or less visible to a user or service personal from an outside of the apparatus 10, depending on the position of the first indicator device 32. In the embodiment shown in
The background indicator device 37 provides the indicator arrangement 30 with a better readability because the window 35 is always completely filled with an indicator surface 33, 36. However, the background indicator device 37 could alternatively be omitted, and the gradual roll fill level indication would then be realised by the internal relative position of the first indicator device 32 and the window 35 as such.
Different views of the indicator arrangement 30 of
The pivotal arm 31 is pivotally connected to the cassette 20, and thus the first housing 11. The pivotal connection is realised by pins 39 that are slidingly arranged in sliding grooves (not shown) of the second housing 20, such that a pivoting axis 40 is defined. A hole 49 is arranged centrally in the pivoting arm 31 for allowing a stationary mounting of the background indicator device 37 on a shaft (not shown) of the apparatus. The first indicator device 32 is a separate part that is movable connected to said pivoting arm 31 by means of a pivotal connection 7. The pivotal connection 7 is realised by fitting a lower pin 38 of the first indicator device 32 within a yoke 39 of the pivoting arm 31, as seen in
The background indicator device 37 comprises a generally flat rear part 45 with a circular hole 46 for stationary attachment to the cassette 20, or other stationary parts of the apparatus 10, and an indicator surface 36 at a front part, which indicator surface 36 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the rear part 45.
The first indicator device 32 further comprises a generally flat rear part 47, which is arranged to be parallel with the rear part 45 of the background indicator device 37. An indicator surface 33 is provided at a front part of the first indicator device 32, and said indicator surface 33 is arranged to be substantially parallel with the indicator surface 36 of the background indicator device 37. The indicator surfaces 33, 36 of the first indicator device 32 and background indicator device 37 respectively are arranged to be positioned close to each other and slidingly overlapping.
The visible area 50, i.e. the area of the said indicator surfaces 33, 36 that is visible through the window 35 is fictively indicated with a dotted line in
In
The ratio of the amount of visible indicator surface 33 of the first indicator device 32 to the amount of visible indicator surface 36 of said background indicator device 37 thus corresponds to current roll fill level. Other colour combinations, or markings, and/or text, than given as example above may of course alternatively be used to visualise and inform the user of the current roll fill level status.
In the disclosed embodiment of
The first indicator device 32 may, according to a non-showed embodiment of the apparatus 10, alternatively be an integral part of the pivoting arm 31. This arrangement would result in an even less complex design, because no pivotal connection between the pivoting arm 31 and first indicator device 32 would be necessary. Moreover, since and the first indicator device 32 would move along a pivotal, arc-shaped path, and supported only by the pivoting arm 31, the sliding tracks 42, 43 and pins 38, 41 would also not be required since no sliding guidance would be required.
In the embodiment shown in
The rotatable wheel 34 the forms the roll engagement means is secured to the pivoting arm 31 at an end region thereof. The use of a wheel 34 as engagement means results in low engagement friction. Moreover, the wheel 34 may be configured to apply a rotational braking force to said roll 12 for preventing absorbent sheet material from being uncontrollably unwound from said roll 12. Such an arrangement may be realised by a non-showed drive belt that rotatably connects the wheel 34 with the rotary drum 25, such that the wheel 34 is controlled to rotate only during feeding of absorbent sheet material. Upon ending of sheet material feeding, the wheel 34 stops rotation, and the friction between the outer surface of the roll 12 and wheel 34 quickly stops any further rotation of the roll 12 due to roll inertia from the feeding sequence.
As clearly visible in
The indicator arrangement 30 according to the first embodiment includes a window 35, a first indicator device 32, and a background indicator device 37, as described above. This arrangement is also disclosed in
Alternatively, the background indicator device 37 may be an integral part of the wall 21. According to yet an alternative embodiment, the background indicator device 37 may be eliminated, and only the relative position of the first indicator device 32 and window 35 is used to determine current roll fill level.
Still a further alternative solution is shown in
Still a further variant of the embodiment of
Still a further alternative embodiment is disclosed in 9a, in which the indicator surface 33 of the moveable first indicator device 32 comprises a roll fill level marking that is configured to correspond to a predetermined roll fill level range. For example, a lower area 51 of the indicator surface 33 may be coloured mainly with a first colour, such as green, and an upper area 52 of the indicator surface 33 may be coloured with a second colour, such as red. A ratio of said first colour to said second colour may then gradually change from an upper area to a lower area of the indicator surface 33, for example by means of a diagonal division 55 of the marking on the indicator surface 33. The stationary second indicator device comprises an indicator member that is formed by a fixed bar 53 or similar indicator means for indication of current roll fill level status. A corresponding solution is subsequently shown in
The term stationary used herein should be considered relative to the main parts of the apparatus as such, e.g. the first or second housing and their walls.
Reference signs mentioned in the claims should not be seen as limiting the extent of the matter protected by the claims, and their sole function is to make claims easier to understand.
As will be realised, the apparatus for the present disclosure is capable of modification in various obvious respects, all without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the drawings and the description thereto are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not restrictive.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/SE2012/050521 | 5/15/2012 | WO | 00 | 11/12/2014 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2013/172752 | 11/21/2013 | WO | A |
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Entry |
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International Search Report (PCT/ISA/210) mailed on Jan. 11, 2013, by the Swedish Patent Office as the International Searching Authority for International Application No. PCT/SE2012/050521. |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20150097068 A1 | Apr 2015 | US |