DISPENSER AND METHOD OF REPLENISHING A DISPENSER

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a dispenser and a method of replenishing a dispenser with web material.

BACKGROUND

A sheet material for e.g. wiping purposes may be provided in the form of a stack. Different kinds of dispensers for holding such a stack of sheet material, and for dispensing separate sheets of sheet material from such a stack, are known. Generally, there may be distinguished between two kinds of dispensers for stacks of sheet material; a first kind of dispenser from which sheet material is dispensed from a bottom end of the stack, and second kind of dispenser from which sheet material is dispensed from a top end of the stack. The first kind of dispenser is easily replenished with sheet material by placing fresh sheet material on top of sheet material remaining in the dispenser. This kind of dispenser has the drawback that the weight of large stacks of sheet material tends to make the dispensing of sheet material from the bottom end difficult. In the second kind of dispenser, irrespective of the weight of the stack, sheet material is easily dispensed from the top end. On the other hand, replenishing a dispenser of the second kind may pose a problem because the stack often has to be replenished from the bottom end. It may be mentioned that in some types of dispensers, e.g. dispensers for napkins, the stack may be arranged in a horizontal direction. The stack may be biased towards a dispensing opening and napkins may be dispensed from a top of the stack from the dispensing opening. Replenishing the latter type of dispensers may pose its own particular problems.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,809,082, with reference to its FIG. 6, discloses a dispenser wherein paper is fed from a top of a stack. The stack is replenished from its bottom. How replenishing is to be performed in practice is not discussed.

WO2007/000153 discloses a double dispenser for dispensing of disposable paper. Each dispenser unit comprises: a stack magazine for accommodating a folded paper web; an advancing unit for conveying the paper web out of the stack magazine for further use; a detaching device for detaching the disposable paper towels from the paper web, and; a dispensing unit for dispensing the detached disposable paper towels from the dispenser. Paper web is replenished by placing new paper web beneath remaining web paper in the dispenser and gluing the new paper to the remaining web paper. Apparently, the remaining web paper has to be lifted and supported manually while the new paper web is placed in the stack magazine.

US 2011/0101020 discloses a dispenser comprising a housing with a back plate and a cover. A base of the cover is articulated on a connecting pin. A support-container holds a stack of pre-cut material which is in use and can hold a spare stack. A base of the support-container is articulated around the same axis of rotation and the cover internally has a horizontal plate which supports the stack in use after swiveling the cover and support-container to load the spare stack. The support-container fits inside and is dismountably attached to the housing after swiveling into the internal space of the housing, which causes downward displacement of the stack in use, allowing the spare stack to be inserted into the internal space. That is, the support-container is turned upside down to access a bottom of the stack in use for replenishing the dispenser with the spare stack. The stack in use and the spare stack are joined to each other after positioning the spare stack on the other stack.

There exists a need for an alternative arrangement for replenishing a dispenser with a package of folded web material from a bottom end of a stack of folded web material present in the dispenser.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a dispenser which is arranged for replenishing with a package of folded web material from a bottom end of a stack of folded web material present in the dispenser.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the object is achieved by a dispenser for dispensing a sheet of web material from a stack of folded web material. The dispenser comprises: a housing arranged to be positioned along a vertical direction, a dispensing arrangement including a dispensing opening for the web material in the housing, and a web material storage section inside the housing arranged to hold and support the stack of folded web material. The web material storage section comprises, seen along the vertical direction, an upper end portion and opposite thereto a lower end portion. The web material is arranged to be lead to the dispensing arrangement from the upper end portion and the stack of folded web material is arranged to be supported at the lower end portion. The web material storage section comprises a displaceable portion. The displaceable portion comprises the lower end portion, wherein the lower end portion, seen along the vertical direction, is arranged substantially underneath the upper end portion when the displaceable portion is arranged in a dispensing position. The displaceable portion is displaceable from the dispensing position to a tilted loading position, in which tilted loading position the lower end portion is positioned beside and below the upper end portion, seen along the vertical direction.

Since the displaceable portion is displaceable to the tilted loading position, replenishing the dispenser with a package of folded web material is easily performed by a user. Firstly, the package of folded web material is supported by the displaceable portion in the tilted loading position and secondly, the user has better access to the displaceable portion for replenishing when the displaceable portion is placed in a loading position than when the displaceable portion is in the dispensing position. As a result, the above mentioned object is achieved.

The dispenser may be a standalone unit or may be mounted to a structure such as a wall, a piece of furniture, or a door. The dispenser may be arranged for manual dispensing of web material through the dispensing opening by a user pulling on a tail of the web material. The dispenser may alternatively be arranged for automatic dispensing of web material through the dispensing opening. The automatic dispensing may comprise electrically powered feeding of web material or a mechanical feeding of web material. In both cases a user may actuate the feeding.

The web material may be provided as a continuous web material which is folded to form a stack of folded web material. Similarly, a package of folded web material for replenishing a stack of folded web material in a dispenser may comprises a continuous web material. Herein, the term “replenishing” not only relates to the replenishing of a dispenser which is partially filled with a stack of folded web material, but is understood to also encompass loading of an empty dispenser. From a tail of web material from the stack of folded web material sheets of web material are separated during dispensing. Dispensed sheets of web material from the dispenser may be used as towels, napkins, for general wiping, etc. The folded web material may be Z-folded in an accordion-like manner to form the stack of folded web material. The web material may comprise one or more web layers. In the case of more than one web layer, the layers are interfolded in the stack. One or more sheets of web material may be separated from the web material in the dispenser during dispensing from the dispenser. For this purpose the web material may be provided with lines of weakness, perforations. Alternatively, the web material may be non-perforated, in which case the dispenser may be provided with a cutting arrangement or tearing arrangement for separating a sheet from the tail of web material. One or more packages of folded web material are arranged to be placed in the web material storage section of the dispenser to form a stack of folded web material. The tail of the web material is arranged to extend from the upper end portion of the web material storage section to the dispensing opening of the dispenser. The tail of the web material may change direction one or more times inside the dispenser between the upper end portion of the web material storage section and the dispensing opening.

According to embodiments, at least in the dispensing position, the dispensing opening may be arranged above the lower end portion, seen along the vertical direction. In this manner at least part of a stack of folded web material arranged in the dispenser is arranged below the dispensing opening. A general extension of dispenser is thus established.

According to embodiments, the dispenser is arranged for dispensing from a top of the stack of folded web material.

According to embodiments, the displaceable portion may be upwardly pivotable in relation to the vertical direction.

According to embodiments, the displaceable portion in the tilted loading position may be pivoted to an angle of between 30-100 degrees, preferably approximately 90 degrees, from a downward direction along the vertical direction. In this manner the displaceable portion may be readily accessible to a user standing in front of the dispenser for replenishing the dispenser with one or more packages of folded web material. Also, a lower portion of the stack of folded web material in the dispenser may be securely supported in the displaceable portion in the tilted loading position during replenishing of the dispenser. Similarly, a package of folded web material placed is supported securely in the displaceable portion in the tilted loading position when placed in the displaceable portion for replenishing the stack of folded web material in the dispenser.

According to embodiments, the web material storage section may comprise a fixed portion above the displaceable portion, seen along the vertical direction. The displaceable portion may comprise a transitional portion forming a gradual transition from the displaceable portion to the fixed portion when the displaceable portion is positioned in the tilted loading position.

According to embodiments, the transitional portion may comprise a substantially smooth surface adapted to abut against the stack of folded web material. In this manner the stack of folded web material may slide along the substantially smooth surface when the stack is pushed upwardly in the web material storage section from the lower end portion. Access for replenishing from a bottom end of the stack may thus be provided without risk of the stack being stuck in the transitional portion during replenishing of the stack of folded web material.

According to embodiments, a flexible plate may comprise the smooth surface. The flexible plate may be supported by at least one element extending in a direction across the vertical direction. In this manner supporting of the stack of folded web material may also be provided in the transitional portion.

According to embodiments, the displaceable portion may be biased towards the tilted loading position. In this manner a user need not lift the displaceable portion to displace the same from the dispensing position to the tilted loading position.

According to embodiments, the dispenser may comprise a locking arrangement arranged to hold the displaceable portion in the dispensing position. In this manner accidental displacement of the displaceable portion from the dispensing position to the tilted loading position may be avoided.

According to embodiments, the locking arrangement may be arranged to be released to permit pivoting of the displaceable portion to the tilted loading position.

According to embodiments, the displaceable portion on its inside may be provided with a holding arrangement for holding a panel of the stack of folded web material against the stack of folded web material during replenishing of the dispenser with a package of folded web material and/or for holding a panel of the package of folded web material against the package of folded web material during replenishing of the dispenser with the package of folded web material. In this manner a correct abutment between a panel at a lower end portion of the stack of folded web material in the displaceable portion and a panel of a package of folded web material being placed in the displaceable portion may be provided.

According to embodiments, the displaceable portion may comprise a supporting arrangement for at least temporarily supporting at least a portion of the stack of folded web material. The supporting arrangement may support the stack of folded web material at a distance from the lower end portion. In this manner the stack of folded web material may be moved to a position, in which it is supported by the supporting arrangement when a package of folded web material is placed in the displaceable portion. Thus, an empty space may be provided for the package of folded web material without risking that the stack of folded web material slides downwardly and blocks the empty space. The supporting arrangement may support the stack of folded web material at the lower end portion. In this manner the supporting arrangement may support the stack of folded web material when the displaceable portion is in the dispensing position. In addition or alternatively, the supporting arrangement may have a function similar to that of the holding arrangement namely, holding a panel of the stack of folded web material against the stack of folded web material during replenishing of the dispenser with a package of folded web material.

According to embodiments, the supporting arrangement may be arranged to move between a support position and a release position. In the support position the supporting arrangement may extend into the displaceable portion for supporting at least a portion of the stack of folded web material and in the release position the supporting arrangement may be retracted out of the displaceable portion for releasing the stack of folded web material. In this manner the stack of folded web material may be released from the supporting arrangement, e.g. when the displaceable portion is moved from the tilted loading position to the dispensing position.

According to embodiments, the displaceable portion may comprise a loading opening for a package of folded web material in a region of the lower end portion. In this manner a package of folded web material may be placed below a stack of folded web material already present in the displaceable portion.

According to embodiments, the lower end portion may be provided with a recess for removing a packaging strip of a package of folded web material. In this manner a user may readily grasp and remove a packaging strip from a package of folded web material after the package has been place in the displaceable portion.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of replenishing a dispenser according to any one of the aspects and embodiments disclosed herein with a package of folded web material. The displaceable portion comprises a support surface extending substantially along the vertical direction when the displaceable portion is in the dispensing position. The method comprises:

- displacing the displaceable portion together with the support surface from the dispensing position to the tilted loading position, and
- placing a creased side of the package of folded web material to abut against the support surface such that the package of folded web material is supported in the vertical direction by the support surface.

The package of folded web material being supported in the vertical direction by the support surface encompasses the package being at least partially supported by the support surface as well as the package being entirely supported by the support surface. In both cases replenishing of the dispenser is facilitated.

According to embodiments, the method may comprise:

- displacing the displaceable portion from the tilted loading position to the dispensing position.

According to embodiments, the method may comprise:

- inserting the package of folded web material through a loading opening. The loading opening may be provided in a region of the lower end portion of the web material storage section.

According to embodiments, the package of folded web material may comprise a packaging strip extending around the folded web material of the package of folded web material. The method may comprise:

- removing the packaging strip from the package of folded web material after the package of folded web material has been placed to abut against the support surface.

According to embodiments, the method may comprise:

- pushing the package of folded web material from the loading opening along the dispensing portion after the removing the packaging strip from the package of folded web material.

According to embodiments, the method may comprise:

- supporting at least a portion of the package of folded web material by means of the supporting arrangement.

Further features of, and advantages with, the present disclosure 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 disclosure may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects of the present disclosure, 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 dispenser for dispensing at least one sheet of web material according to embodiments,

FIG. 2 illustrates the dispenser of FIG. 1 with a door in an open position,

FIGS. 3
a and 3b illustrate the dispenser of FIGS. 1 and 2 with a displaceable portion in a tilted loading position,

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of a displaceable portion of the dispenser illustrated in FIGS. 1-3b,

FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of a web material storage section of a dispenser according to embodiments,

FIG. 6 illustrates a dispenser for dispensing at least one sheet of web material according to embodiments,

FIG. 7
a illustrates schematically a cross section through a stack of folded web material according to embodiments,

FIG. 7
b illustrates a package of folded web material according to embodiments,

FIGS. 8
a-8e illustrate a method of replenishing a dispenser with a package of folded web material,

FIG. 8
a′ illustrates an alternative lower end portion of a dispenser according to embodiments and the replenishing of the dispenser with a package of folded web material, and

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of replenishing a dispenser according to embodiments disclosed herein with a package of folded web material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. However, the present disclosure 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 disclosure 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 dispenser 2 for dispensing at least one sheet of web material according to embodiments. The dispenser 2 comprises a housing 4. The housing 4 is arranged to be positioned along a vertical direction 12. Thus, the housing 4 has natural top and bottom ends when the dispenser 2 is installed at a site for dispensing sheets of web material therefrom. The housing 4 comprises a door 6. In the door 6, a dispensing opening 8 is provided for dispensing the sheet of web material. The door 6 is arranged to be opened and thus, to provide access to an interior of the dispenser 2, e.g. for the purpose of replenishing the dispenser 2 with packages of folded web material. The door 6 may be locked in a closed position by means of a locking arrangement 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates the dispenser 2 of FIG. 1 with the door 6 in an open position. The dispenser 2 is arranged for dispensing web material from a stack of folded web material which may be Z-folded in an accordion-like manner. The stack has been omitted in FIG. 2 for clarity reasons. The dispenser 2 comprises a dispensing arrangement 14 including the dispensing opening 8. A web material storage section 16 is provided inside the housing 4. The web material storage section 16 is arranged to hold and support the stack of folded web material.

The web material storage section 16 comprises, seen along the vertical direction 12, an upper end portion 18 and an opposite lower end portion 20. The web material is arranged to be lead to the dispensing arrangement 14 from the upper end portion 18 and the stack of folded web material is arranged to be supported at the lower end portion 20. For supporting the stack at the lower end portion 20, the web material storage section 16 comprises at least one bottom element 22. For supporting the stack along the vertical direction 12, the web material storage section 16 comprises side elements 24 on four sides thereof. Accordingly, the stack of web material is arranged to be substantially enclosed in the web material storage section 16. Some of the side elements 24 may be flexible. Some side elements 24 may be provided with openings for providing access to the interior of the web material storage section 16.

The web material storage section 16 comprises a displaceable portion 26. The displaceable portion 26 is displaceable from a dispensing position to a tilted loading position. In FIG. 2 the displaceable portion 26 is illustrated in the dispensing position and in FIGS. 3a and 3b the displaceable portion 26 is illustrated in the tilted loading position. The displaceable portion 26 comprises the lower end portion 20 of the web material storage section 16. When the displaceable portion 26 is arranged in the dispensing position, the lower end portion 20, seen along the vertical direction 12, is arranged substantially underneath the upper end portion 18. Accordingly, when the displaceable portion 26 is arranged in the dispensing position, the door 6 may be closed and users may dispense sheets of web material from the dispensing opening 8. At least in the dispensing position, the dispensing opening 8 is arranged above the lower end portion 20, seen along the vertical direction 12. Accordingly, at least part of a stack of web material arranged in the web material storage section 16 is arranged below the dispensing opening 8.

The dispenser 2 is arranged for dispensing from a top of the stack of folded web material. In use, a tail of the web material extends from the top of the stack of folded web material supported in the web material storage section 16 to the dispensing opening 8 in the closed door 6. When the dispenser 2 has been newly replenished with folded web material, the top of the stack of folded web material may be in a region of the upper end portion 18 of the material storage section 16. Accordingly, the tail of web material extends from the upper end portion 18 to the dispensing opening 8. On the other hand, when most of the web material in the dispenser 2 has been dispensed, the top of the stack of folded web material is in a region of the lower end portion 20 of the material storage section 16. In this case the tail of web material extends through the web material storage section 16, from its lower end portion 20 to its upper end portion 18 and therefrom to the dispensing opening 8.

In order to guide the tail of web material from the web material storage section 16 towards the dispensing opening 8, the dispenser 2 comprises a guiding arrangement 27 arranged above the upper end portion 18 of the web material storage section 16 and a separation unit 28. Thus, the tail of web material extends upwardly from the stack of folded web material in the web material storage section 16, through the guiding arrangement 27 and via the separation unit 28 to the dispensing opening 8. The guiding arrangement 27 comprises a nip arranged to frictionally engage with the tail of web material sufficient for preventing the tail of the web material from sliding downwards towards the stack of folded web material in the web material storage section 16.

In these embodiments, the dispensing arrangement 14 comprises the separation unit 28. The separation unit 28 is adapted for separating a sheet of web material from a perforated web material. Thus, the separation unit 28 comprises a first roller 30 and a second roller 32. A passage is formed between the first and second rollers 30, 32. The first and second rollers 30, 32 are provided with protrusion elements being spaced along the first and second rollers 30, 32. Outer portions of the protrusion elements of the respective rollers 30, 32 overlap with each other. Thus, an undulated passage is formed between the rollers 30, 32 and the undulated passage forms a friction nip, in which the first and second rollers 30, 32 engage frictionally with the web material passing there through. Due to the frictional engagement of the web material in the undulated passage, a sheet of web material may be separated from the tail of web material in the separation unit 28 along a perforation of the web material as a user pulls on the web material through the dispensing opening to dispense a sheet of web material.

FIGS. 3
a and 3b illustrate the dispenser 2 of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the displaceable portion 26 in the tilted loading position. In FIG. 3a the dispenser 2 is illustrated in a perspective view with the door 6 in the open position. FIG. 3b illustrates a cross section along the vertical direction 12 through the middle of the dispenser 2 (the door has been omitted). The stack of folded web material has been omitted in FIGS. 3a and 3b for clarity reasons. A rear side 50 of the dispenser 2 is arranged opposite to the door 6, seen along a horizontal direction 48 perpendicular to the vertical direction 12, when the door 6 is closed.

In the tilted loading position of the displaceable portion 26, the lower end portion 20 of the web material storage section 16 is positioned beside and below the upper end portion 18 of the web material storage section 16, seen along the vertical direction 12. Put differently, in the tilted loading position the lower end 20 is positioned farther away from the rear side 50 than in the dispensing position, seen along the horizontal direction 48. The displaceable portion 26 is upwardly pivotable in relation to the vertical direction 12. According to some embodiments, the displaceable portion 26 may be pivotable to an angle α of between 30-100 degrees from a downward direction along the vertical direction 12. In this manner the displaceable portion 26 is readily accessible to a user standing in front of the dispenser for replenishing the dispenser 2 with one or more packages of web material. In these embodiments the displaceable portion 26 is pivotable to an angle of approximately 90 degrees from the downward direction. When the displaceable portion 26 is arranged in the tilted loading position, the lower end portion 20 is easily reachable for replenishing the dispenser 2 with folded web material from a bottom end of a stack of folded web material present in the web material storage section 16.

The web material storage section 16 comprises a fixed portion 34 above the displaceable portion 26, seen along the vertical direction 12. The displaceable portion 26 comprises a transitional portion 36 forming a transition from the displaceable portion 26 to the fixed portion 34. When the displaceable portion 26 is positioned in the tilted loading position, the transitional portion 36 forms a gradual transition from the displaceable portion 26 to the fixed portion 34.

Also in the tilted loading position the side elements 24 on the four sides of the web material storage section 16 support the stack of folded web material. In the transitional portion 36, one side element comprising a flexible plate 37 comprises a substantially smooth surface 38 adapted to abut against the stack of folded web material. The flexible plate 37 is arranged towards the rear side 50 of the dispenser 2 and thus, the stack of folded web material may slide along the substantially smooth surface 38 when the stack is pushed upwardly in the web material storage section 16 as the stack is replenished from its bottom end. The flexible plate 37 is supported by at least one element 40 extending in a direction across the vertical direction 12. In the transitional portion 36, a number of side elements 24′, arranged substantially perpendicularly to the flexible plate 37, are pivotably linked to each other to permit upward pivoting of the displaceable portion 26. Accordingly, a pivot axis 39 of the displaceable portion 26, seen as a whole, is arranged at a distance from the displaceable portion 26.

The displaceable portion 26 is biased towards the tilted loading position. In these embodiments the dispenser 2 comprises two gas springs 42 arranged to bias the displaceable portion 26 towards the tilted loading position. Each gas spring 42 is pivotably attached to the housing 4 at a bottom end portion of the housing 4 and to the displaceable portion 26 at a distance above the bottom end of the housing 4, approximately at a middle portion of the displaceable portion 26. A housing pivot point 44 of each gas spring 42 is arranged at the bottom end portion of the housing 4 and fixed in relation to the housing 4. A displaceable portion pivot point 46 of each gas spring 42 is arranged at the middle portion of the displaceable portion 26 and is movable together with the displaceable portion 26 in relation to the housing 4.

When the displaceable portion 26 is positioned in the dispensing position (illustrated in FIG. 2), the displaceable portion pivot point 46 is arranged closer to the rear side 50 of the dispenser 2 than the housing pivot point 44, seen along the horizontal direction 48. Moreover, the gas springs 42 are compressed when the displaceable portion 26 is in the dispensing position. Thus, when the displaceable portion 26 is in the dispensing position, due to the arrangement of the housing pivot point 44 and the displaceable portion pivot point 46 in the horizontal direction 48, and the inherent property of the compressed gas springs 42 to extend, the displaceable portion 26 is held in the dispensing position. Thus, the gas springs 42 and the particular arrangement of their housing pivot points 44 and their displaceable portion pivot points 46 form a locking arrangement of the displaceable portion 26.

The locking arrangement is arranged to be released to permit pivoting of the displaceable portion 26 from the dispensing position to the tilted loading position. For this purpose the displaceable portion is provided with a lever mechanism 52. The lever mechanism 52 comprises a handle 54, and two lever arms 56 arranged to pivot about a lever pivot axis 58. Each lever arm 56 comprises an outer end portion 60. The outer end portion 60 is arranged opposite to the handle 54. When the displaceable portion 26 is positioned in the dispensing position (see FIG. 2), the handle 54 is arranged in an upwardly direction and the outer end portion 60 (not visible) points in a downwardly direction.

A user may operate the lever mechanism 52 to release the locking arrangement. In order to do so the user pulls the handle 54 downwardly. The outer end portion 60 is thus, brought to abut against the housing 4 and pushes the displaceable portion 26 outwardly from the rear side 50 of the dispenser 2. In doing so the locking arrangement is released by compressing the gas springs 42 slightly while the dispensing portion pivot point 46 of each gas spring 42 passes the housing pivot point 44, seen along the horizontal direction 48. As soon as the housing pivot point 44 is positioned closer to the rear side 50 than the dispensing portion pivot point 46, the gas springs 42 expand and pivot the displaceable portion 26 into the tilted loading position, illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b. When in the tilted loading position, the user may replenish the dispenser 2 with packages of folded web material via a loading opening 62 arranged in a region of the lower end portion 20. At least one of the side elements 24 of the displaceable portion 26 is provided with a support surface 61. The support surface 61 is tilted together with the displaceable portion 26 in the tilted loading position. Thus, a package of folded web material placed in the displaceable portion 26 is supported by the support surface 61 in the vertical direction 12 when the displaceable portion 26 is in the tilted loading position. The lower end portion 20 is provided with a recess 64 for removing a packaging strip of a package of folded web material. Finally, the user may pivot the displaceable portion 26 back into the dispensing position by pushing against the displaceable portion 26 at the lower end portion 20. The gas springs 42 are thus compressed and the displaceable portion 26 is again held in the dispensing position by positioning the dispensing portion pivot point 46 closer to the rear side 50 than the housing pivot point 44, seen along the horizontal direction 48.

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the displaceable portion 26 of the dispenser 2 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3b. The displaceable portion 26 on its inside is provided with a holding arrangement 66. The holding arrangement 66 is arranged for holding a panel of the stack of folded web material against the stack of folded web material during replenishing of the dispenser 2 with a package of folded web material and/or for holding a panel of the package of folded web material against the package of folded web material during replenishing of the dispenser with the package of folded web material. The holding arrangement 66 comprises a number of protrusion elements 68. The holding arrangement 66 comprises non-visible protrusion elements arranged opposite to the protrusion elements 68 visible in FIG. 4. Each protrusion element 68 is resiliently suspended in the displaceable portion 26. Thus, the stack of web material or a package of folded web material is able to push the protrusion elements 68 aside. However, since the protrusion elements 68 below the stack will protrude into the displaceable portion, a panel of web material at a lower end of the stack of folded web material will be prevented from losing contact with the remainder of the stack of folded web material. Similarly, the protrusion elements 68 above a package of folded web material, which is being pushed along the holding arrangement, will protrude into the displaceable portion. Thus, a panel of web material at an upper end of the package of folded web material will be prevented by the holding arrangement 66 from losing contact with the remainder of the package of folded web material.

The displaceable portion 26 comprises a supporting arrangement 70 for at least temporarily supporting at least a portion of the stack of folded web material at a distance from the lower end portion 20. The stack of folded web material may be moved to a position, in which it is supported by the supporting arrangement while a package of folded web material is placed in the displaceable portion 26 for replenishing the dispenser 2. In addition or alternatively, the supporting arrangement 70 may hold a panel of the stack of folded web material against the stack of folded web material during replenishing of the dispenser with a package of folded web material. The panel held against the stack thus, forms a portion of the stack supported by the supporting arrangement 70. The supporting arrangement 70 comprises two projection members 72, one on each side of the displaceable portion 26. The supporting arrangement 70 is arranged to move between a support position and a release position. The support position of the supporting arrangement 70 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The two projection members 72 of the supporting arrangement 70 extend into the displaceable portion 26 in the support position for supporting the stack of folded web material. In the release position the two projection members 72 of the supporting arrangement 70 are retracted out of the displaceable portion 26 for releasing the stack of folded web material.

The displaceable portion 26 comprises an inner portion 74 and an outer portion 76. The inner portion 74 and the outer portion 76 are moveable in relation to each other. Each of the two projection members 72 is pivotably connected to the outer portion 76 and extends through a slot 78 in the inner portion 74. The projection member 72 is biased towards the support position. As the inner portion 74 and the outer portion 76 are moved in relation to each other, the projection member 72 moves along the slot 78. At a lower end of the slot 78, the projection member 72 will abut against the inner portion 74 and pivot out of the slot 78, i.e. from the support position to the release position. The inner and outer portions 74, 76 are arranged to move in relation to each other as the displaceable portion 26 is moved between the dispensing position and the tilted loading position and vice versa. Thus, the supporting arrangement 70 is arranged in the support position at least when the displaceable portion 26 is arranged in the tilted loading position, and in the release position when the displaceable portion 26 is arranged in the dispensing position.

Alternatively, the supporting arrangement 70 may be manually movable from the support position to the release position. In such embodiments a user may move the supporting arrangement 70 to the release position prior to moving the displaceable portion 26 from the tilted loading position to the dispensing position. In a further alternative embodiment the supporting arrangement 70 may be moved from the supporting position to the release position by the full weight of the stack of folded web material. In such embodiments the supporting arrangement 70 may support the weight of a portion of the stack of folded web material and/or the entire stack of folded web material when the displaceable portion 26 is arranged in the tilted loading position. When the displaceable portion 26 is moved to the dispensing position, the full weight of the stack pushes the displaceable portion to the release position. Also the holding arrangement 66 may be arranged to be retracted from the displaceable portion 26 when the displaceable portion 26 is arranged in the dispensing position.

In alternative embodiments, the projection members 72 may be biased to the release position and a mechanical arrangement may bring the projection members 72 into the support position when the displaceable portion 26 is brought into the tilted loading position.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the projection members 72 of the supporting arrangement 70 are positioned in the slots 78 close to the holding arrangement 66 when the displaceable portion 26 is in the tilted loading position.

FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of a web material storage section 16 of a dispenser according to embodiments. The web material storage section 16 according to the embodiments of FIG. 5 may for instance be used in a dispenser 2 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3b, replacing the web material storage section 16 illustrated in FIGS. 2-3b. The web material storage section 16 comprises a displaceable portion 26. The main difference between the embodiments of FIGS. 2-3b and the embodiments of FIG. 5 lies in that the displaceable portion 26 in the latter embodiments is provided with a loading opening 62 arranged in the displaceable portion 26 such that a package of folded web material is inserted in a direction along a longitudinal extension of the displaceable portion 26 when the displaceable portion 26 is in the tilted loading position, and in that the stack of folded web material in the dispenser is supported by the supporting arrangement 70 when the displaceable portion 26 is in the dispensing position.

In embodiments where the displaceable portion 26, in the tilted loading position, is pivoted to an angle α of approximately 90 degrees from a downward direction along the vertical direction 12, the direction along the longitudinal direction of the displaceable portion 26 is substantially along a horizontal direction 48 perpendicular to the vertical direction 12.

The displaceable portion 26 is provided with a holding arrangement 66. The holding arrangement 66 is arranged for holding a panel of the stack of folded web material against the stack of folded web material during replenishing of the dispenser 2 with a package of folded web material and/or for holding a panel of the package of folded web material against the package of folded web material during replenishing of the dispenser with the package of folded web material. The holding arrangement 66 comprises a number of protrusion elements 68 in the form of resilient bristles. The holding arrangement 66 is pivotably suspended in the displaceable portion 26. Thus, the holding arrangement 66 may be pivoted such that the protrusion elements 68 extend into an inside of the displaceable portion 26 when the displaceable portion 26 is in the tilted loading position and such that the protrusion elements 68 are arranged retracted from the inside of the displaceable portion 26 when the displaceable portion 26 is in the dispensing position. In FIG. 5, for illustration purposes three sections of the holding arrangement 66 are illustrated with the protrusion elements 68 extending into the inside of the displaceable portion 26 and one section of the holding arrangement 66 is illustrated with the protrusion elements 68 retracted from the inside of the displaceable portion 26

Again, when the protrusion elements 68 extend into the inside of the displaceable portion the stack of web material or a package of folded web material is able to push the protrusion elements 68 aside. However, since the protrusion elements 68 below the stack will protrude into the displaceable portion, a panel of web material at a lower end of the stack of folded web material will be prevented from losing contact with the remainder of the stack of folded web material. Similarly, the protrusion elements 68 above a package of folded web material, which is being pushed along the holding arrangement, will protrude into the displaceable portion. Thus, a panel of web material at an upper end of the package of folded web material will be prevented, by the holding arrangement 66, from losing contact with the remainder of the package of folded web material.

The displaceable portion 26 comprises a supporting arrangement 70 for supporting the stack of folded web material at a lower end portion 20 of the web material storage section 16. The supporting arrangement 70 comprises two projection members 72, one on each side of the displaceable portion 26. The stack of folded web material in the web material storage section 16 is supported by the two projection members 72 at least when the displaceable portion 26 is in the dispensing position. The two projection members 72 may also support the stack of folded web material when the displaceable portion 26 is in the tilted loading position. Accordingly, also in these embodiments the supporting arrangement 70 may hold a panel of the stack of folded web material against the stack of folded web material during replenishing of the dispenser with a package of folded web material.

The supporting arrangement 70 is arranged to move between a support position and a release position. The support position of the supporting arrangement 70 is illustrated in FIG. 5. The two projection members 72 of the supporting arrangement 70 extend into the displaceable portion 26 in the support position for supporting the stack of folded web material. In the release position, the two projection members 72 of the supporting arrangement 70 are retracted out of the displaceable portion 26. Each of the two projection members 72 is pivotably connected to the displaceable portion 26 and may extend through a slot 78 into the displaceable portion 26. The projection members 72 are biased towards the support position. In these embodiments, the projection members 72 of the supporting arrangement 70 are moved to the release position by a package of folded web material being inserted through the loading opening 62 into the displaceable portion 26 for replenishing the relevant dispenser. Once the package of folded web material has been moved past the projection members 72, they return to the support position.

The web material storage section 16 comprises side elements 24 on four sides thereof for supporting the stack of folded web material. Accordingly, the stack of web material is arranged to be substantially enclosed in the web material storage section 16. Some of the side elements 24 may be flexible. Some side elements 24 may be provided with openings, or some side elements 24′ may only extend partially along one side of the web material storage section 26, for providing access to the interior of the web material storage section 16. At least one of the side elements 24 of the displaceable portion 26 is provided with a support surface 61. The support surface 61 is tilted together with the displaceable portion 26 in the tilted loading position. Thus, a package of folded web material inserted into the displaceable portion 26 is supported by the support surface 61 in the vertical direction 12 when the displaceable portion 26 is in the tilted loading position.

As mentioned above, the loading opening 62 is arranged in the displaceable portion 26 such that a package 96 of folded web material is inserted in a direction along a longitudinal extension of the displaceable portion 26. Via the loading opening 62, the package 96 is inserted in the displaceable portion 26 to abut against the support surface 61. The projection members 72 are moved to the release position by the package of folded web material and once the package has been pushed into the displaceable portion 26 beyond the supporting arrangement 70, the projection members 72 return to the support position to prevent the stack from sliding out through the loading opening 62. Put differently, the supporting arrangement 70 is to be moved into the release position by the package of folded web material being inserted through the loading opening 62 into the displaceable portion. The supporting arrangement (70) in the support position is arranged to support the stack (82) of folded web material when the displaceable portion (26) is in the dispensing position. Between two side elements 24′ of the displaceable portion 26 at the lower end portion 20 there is provided a recess 64 for grasping and/or removing the packaging strip from the package of folded web material which has been inserted into the displaceable portion 26.

FIG. 6 illustrates a dispenser 2 for dispensing at least one sheet of web material according to embodiments. The dispenser 2 comprises a housing 4. The housing 4 is arranged to be positioned along a vertical direction 12. The housing 4 comprises a door 6. A dispensing opening 8 is provided in the housing 4 for dispensing the at least one sheet of web material. The dispenser 2 is arranged for dispensing web material from a stack of folded web material. The stack has been omitted in FIG. 6 for clarity reasons. The door 6 is arranged to be opened inter alia for replenishing the dispenser 2 with packages of folded web material. The dispenser 2 comprises a dispensing arrangement 14 comprising the dispensing opening 8 and a serrated edge 80 for tearing off the at least one sheet from a tail of web material. The tail of web material extends from the stack of folded web material to the dispensing opening 8. A web material storage section 16 is provided inside the housing 4. The web material storage section 16 is arranged to hold and support the stack of folded web material.

Again, the web material storage section 16 comprises, seen along the vertical direction 12, an upper end portion 18 and an opposite lower end portion 20. The web material is arranged to be lead to the dispensing arrangement 14 from the upper end portion 18 and the stack of folded web material is arranged to be supported at the lower end portion 20. For supporting the stack at the lower end portion 20, the web material storage section 16 comprises a bottom element 22. Side elements 24 are provided to support the stack of folded web material along the vertical direction 12.

The web material storage section 16 comprises a displaceable portion 26. The displaceable portion 26 is displaceable from a dispensing position to a tilted loading position. In FIG. 6 the displaceable portion 26 is illustrated in the tilted loading position. The displaceable portion 26 comprises the lower end portion 20 of the web material storage section 16. When the displaceable portion 26 is arranged in the dispensing position, the lower end portion 20, seen along the vertical direction 12, is arranged substantially underneath the upper end portion 18. In the dispensing position, the dispensing opening 8 is arranged above the lower end portion 20, seen along the vertical direction 12. In the tilted loading position of the displaceable portion 26, the lower end portion 20 of the web material storage section 16 is positioned beside and below the upper end portion 18 of the web material storage section 16, seen along the vertical direction 12.

In order to guide the tail of web material from the web material storage section 16 towards the dispensing opening 8, the dispenser 2 may comprise a guiding arrangement arranged above the upper end portion 18. The guiding arrangement may be a guiding arrangement of the kind discussed in connection with FIG. 2.

The displaceable portion 26 is upwardly pivotable in relation to the vertical direction 12. According to some embodiments, the displaceable portion 26 may be pivotable to an angle α of between 30-75 degrees from a downward direction along the vertical direction 12. In this manner the displaceable portion is readily accessible to a user standing in front of the dispenser for replenishing the dispenser 2 with one or more packages of web material. At least one of the side elements 24 of the displaceable portion 26 is provided with a support surface 61. The support surface 61 is tilted together with the displaceable portion in the tilted loading position. Thus, a package of folded web material placed in the displaceable portion 26 is supported by the support surface 61 in the vertical direction 12 when the displaceable portion 26 is in the tilted loading position.

Also the stack of folded web material in the dispenser 2 is at least partially supported by the support surface 61 in the vertical direction 12. Thus, a user about to replenish the dispenser 2 with a package of folded web material may slide the stack of folded web material in the dispenser 2 upwardly along the support surface 61 and place the package of folded web material against the support surface 61 below the stack of folded web material.

The web material storage section 16 comprises a fixed portion 34 above the displaceable portion 26, seen along the vertical direction 12. A pivot axis 39 of the displaceable portion 26, is arranged at a lower end of the fixed portion 34.

FIG. 7
a illustrates schematically a cross section through a stack 82 of folded web material according to embodiments. The stack 82 is adapted for being positioned in a web material storage section of a dispenser 2 disclosed herein. A tail 84 of web material from the stack 82 is arranged to extend from the stack to a dispensing arrangement 14 of a relevant dispenser 2. The web material in the stack 82 of folded web material is a continuous web material which is Z-folded in an accordion-like manner. The web material comprise a first web layer 86 divided into sheet products defined between longitudinally separated lines of weakness 88 extending across the first web layer 86. The web material further comprise at least one second web layer 90 divided into sheet products defined between longitudinally separated lines of weakness 92 extending across the second web layer 90. The first and second web layers 86, 90 are interfolded so that the lines of weakness 88 of the first web layer 86 are offset from the lines of weakness 92 of the second web layer 90 in a longitudinal direction of the first web layer 86. Each folded section of first and second web layers 86, 90 forms a panel 93. At one end or at both ends of the stack 82, the stack 82 is provided with an adhesion arrangement 94 for interconnecting the folded web material of the stack 82 with that of a package of folded web material replenishing the stack 82 and the relevant dispenser 2.

Alternatively, the stack 82 of folded web material may only comprise the first web layer 86, which may be divided into sheet products defined between longitudinally separated lines of weakness extending across the first web layer 82. Further alternative stacks of folded web material may comprise one or more web layers which are not provided with lines of weaknesses, i.e. non-perforated web material. For such web material the dispenser 2 may suitably be provided with a dispensing arrangement 14, which is provided with a cutting or tearing arrangement.

FIG. 7
b illustrates a package 96 of folded web material according to embodiments, the package 96 of folded web material may also be referred to as a first package 96 of folded web material, or as a second package 96 of folded web material, or simply as a package 96. The package 96 is arranged to be placed in a dispenser 2 as disclosed herein. The package 96 is held together by a packaging strip 98. The packaging strip 98 may be removed by pulling on a release tab 99 of the packaging strip 98. The folded web material of the package 96 may be a folded web material as discussed in connection with the stack 82 illustrated in FIG. 7a. The package 96 comprises two creased sides, i.e. sides of the package 96 comprising folded edges of the web material, these are the creased side 100 and the opposite non-visible side of the package 96. On one or both panel end surfaces 102, 104 of package 96 the package 96 is provided with an adhesion arrangement 94′. By means of the adhesion arrangement 94′, the package 96 of folded web material may be attached to the bottom end of a stack 82 of folded web material in a dispenser 2 as disclosed herein. For instance, the adhesion arrangement 94′ may be connected to a corresponding adhesion arrangement 94 at a bottom end of the stack 82, see FIG. 7a.

The adhesion arrangement 94, 94′ illustrated in FIGS. 7a and 7b may e.g. comprise strips or patches of a mechanical fastening arrangement such as a hook and loop fastening arrangement or dabs or patches of glue. The adhesion arrangements 94, 94′ may be covered by a protective strip. In such case the protective strip is removed before a package 96 of folded web material is attached to a bottom end of a stack 82 of folded web material. The packaging strip 98 of these embodiments only extends around a middle portion of the package 96 of folded web material. In alternative embodiments, the packaging strip 98, extending around the package 96 of folded web material, may cover the entire width of the package 96 of folded web material as.

FIGS. 8
a-8e illustrate a method of replenishing a dispenser 2 with a package 96 of folded web material. The dispenser 2 may be a dispenser 2 as described in connection with FIGS. 1-4. Only the displaceable portion 26 of the dispenser 2 in the tilted loading position has been shown for clarity reasons. A package 96 of folded web material, which has been placed in the dispenser 2 to replenish the same, forms part of a stack of folded web material inside the dispenser 2.

FIG. 8
a illustrates a package 96 of folded web material held together by a packaging strip 98 ready to be place in the displaceable portion 26 via the loading opening 62 to abut against the support surface 61. The loading opening 62 is arranged in the displaceable portion 26 such that the package 96 of folded web material is inserted in a direction transverse to a longitudinal extension of the displaceable portion 26. FIG. 8b illustrates the package 96 of folded web material placed in the displaceable portion 26 abutting with a creased side of the package 96 against the support surface 61. The package 96 is thus supported by the support surface 61 in the vertical direction 12 by the support surface 61. FIGS. 8c-8d illustrate the packaging strip 98 being removed from the package 96. The packaging strip 98 is removed by pulling on the release tab 99. The packaging strip 98 is removed via the recess 64 in the lower end portion 20. FIG. 8e illustrates the package 96 being pushed upwardly in the displaceable portion 26. During pushing, the package 96 slides along the support surface 61. The projection members 72 of the supporting arrangement 70 may prevent the package 96, now part of a stack of folded web material in the dispenser 2, from sliding back towards the loading opening 62. The projection members 72 of the supporting arrangement 70 hold a panel of web material at a lower end of the package 96/stack against the remainder of the package 96/stack. A further package of folded web material may be placed in the dispenser 2 via the loading opening 62.

Panel end surfaces 102, 104 of the package 96 and the further package are provided with an adhesion arrangement 94 for attaching the web material of the two packages to each other. Thus, a continuous web material may be provided between the two packages, and thus also in in the stack in the dispenser 2.

FIG. 8
a′ illustrates an alternative lower end portion 20 of a dispenser 2 according to embodiments and the replenishing of the dispenser 2 with a package 96 of folded web material. The lower end portion 20 comprises two bottom elements 22. The bottom elements 22 are foldable into the displaceable portion 26. A loading opening 62 for the package 96 is thus formed. The loading opening 62 is arranged in the displaceable portion 26 such that a package 96 of folded web material is inserted in a direction along a longitudinal extension of the displaceable portion 26. Via the loading opening 62 the package 96 is placed in the displaceable portion 26 to abut against the support surface 61. Again, a supporting arrangement (not shown) is provided for holding a panel of the stack of folded web material against the stack of folded web material during replenishing of the dispenser 2 with at least one package 96 of folded web material. Also the supporting arrangement may at least temporarily support the stack of folded web material at a distance from the lower end portion 20.

Once the package 96 has been pushed into the displaceable portion 26 beyond the folded bottom elements 22, the bottom elements 22 return to their initial position. In the initial position, and when the displaceable portion is arranged in the dispensing position, the bottom elements 22 are arranged to support the stack of folded web material inside the dispenser 2 and thus, prevent the stack from sliding out through the loading opening 62. A side element 24 of the displaceable portion 26 at the lower end portion 20 is provided with the recess 64 for grasping and/or removing the packaging strip 98 from the package 96. The packaging strip 98 may alternatively be removed at the bottom elements 22, i.e. substantially in the direction along the longitudinal extension of the displaceable portion 26.

The packaging strip 98 may be held together e.g. by a glue or by welding. By pulling on the release tab 99 of the packaging strip 98 the seal provided by the glue may be broken, or the packaging strip 98 may rupture, e.g. along a perforation provided therein. A force required to pull the packaging strip 96 from the dispenser 2 in the direction along the longitudinal extension of the displaceable portion 26, e.g. via the recess 64, may be between 6-15 N.

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of replenishing a dispenser 2 according to embodiments disclosed herein with a package 96 of folded web material. The displaceable portion 26 comprises a support surface 61 extending substantially along the vertical direction 12 when the displaceable portion 26 is in the dispensing position. The method comprises:

- displacing 110 the displaceable portion 26 together with the support surface 61 from the dispensing position to the tilted loading position, and
- placing 112 a creased side of the package 96 of folded web material to abut against the support surface 61 such that the package 96 of folded web material is supported in the vertical direction 12 by the support surface 61.

The method may comprise:

- displacing 114 the displaceable portion 26 from the tilted loading position to the dispensing position. In this manner the replenished dispenser 2 may be arranged for dispensing of web material from the web material storage section 16.

The method may comprise:

- inserting 116 the package of folded web material through a loading opening 62. The loading opening 62 may be provided in a region of the lower end portion 20 of the web material storage section 16.

The package 96 of folded web material may comprise a packaging strip 98 extending around the folded web material of the package 96 of folded web material. The method may comprise:

- removing 118 the packaging strip 98 from the package 96 of folded web material after the package 96 of folded web material has been placed to abut against the support surface 61.

The method may comprise:

- pushing 120 the package 96 of folded web material from the loading opening 62 along the displaceable portion 26 after the removing the packaging strip 98 from the package 96 of folded web material. The package 96 may slide along the support surface 61 as it is being pushed along the displaceable portion 26.

The method may comprise:

- supporting 122 at least a portion of the package 96 of folded web material by means of the supporting arrangement 70.

The method may comprise:

- placing 124 a creased side of a second package 96 of folded web material to abut against the support surface 61 such that the second package 96 of folded web material is supported in the vertical direction 12 by the support surface 61, wherein the second package 96 of folded web material is provided with an adhesion arrangement 94′ for attaching the second package (96) of folded web material to the first package 96 of folded web material, and
- interconnecting 126 the second package 96 of folded web material and with the first package 96 of folded web material via the adhesion arrangement 94′.

The first package 96 of folded web material may be provided with a corresponding adhesion arrangement 94′ to engage with the adhesion arrangement 94′ of the second package 96 of folded web material. However, according to some embodiments the first package 96 of folded web material does not require any specific adhesion arrangement. For instance, if the adhesion arrangement 94′ of the second package 96 of folded web material comprises dabs or patches of glue, such dabs or patches of glue may engage directly with the web material of an outer panel of the first package 96 of web material.

The interconnecting 126 of the first and second packages 96 of folded web material via the adhesion arrangement 94′ is performed while the first and second packages 96 of folded web material are resting on their creased sides on the support surface 61.

The second package 96 of folded web material comprises a packaging strip 98 extending around the folded web material of the second package 96 of folded web material. The method may comprise:

- removing 128 the packaging strip 98 from the second package 96 of folded web material after the second package 96 of folded web material has been placed to abut against the support surface 61.

The removing 128 may be done before or after the interconnecting 126, depending on the width of the packaging strip and the arrangement of the adhesion arrangement 94′

The method may comprise:

- pushing 130 the second package 96 of folded web material along the displaceable portion 26 after the removing 128 the packaging strip 98 from the second package 96 of folded web material.

The method may comprise:

- supporting 132 at least a portion of the second package 96 of folded web material by means of the supporting arrangement 70.

Example embodiments described above may be combined as understood by a person skilled in the art. Other arrangements for biasing the displaceable portion 26 towards the tilted loading position than the gas springs 42 may be provided, e.g. a torsional spring or a helical spring. The locking arrangement may comprise other arrangements than parts of adapted to bias the displaceable portion 26 towards the tilted loading position, e.g. a displaceable hook may engage with the displaceable portion 26. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of various example embodiments.

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.

DISPENSER AND METHOD OF REPLENISHING A DISPENSER

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