An aspect of the disclosure relates to a dispenser assembly. Such a dispenser assembly finds a particular, though non-exclusive, application in dispensing tissue paper roll of the type including two overlapping webs formed into a single roll.
Tissue paper rolls of the type including two overlapping webs formed into a single roll are known in the art. The document U.S. Pat. No. 400,913 describes a roll of sheet material including sheet material formed from two webs, each web having lines of weakness positioned transversely across the web which allows the web to be separated into a plurality of sheets, the lines of weakness of one web being offset from those of the other.
The document WO 2007/068883 describes a roll adapted to be dispensed in a dispenser having rollers which form a nip therebetween. The roll includes material formed from two webs. Each web is configured to have lines of weakness positioned transversely across the web which allows the web to be separated into a plurality of sheets. The lines of weakness of one web are offset from those of the other. The lines of weakness are formed near each edge of the web such that when the roll is dispensed through a dispenser, the lines of weakness positioned near each edge separate first to facilitate sheets being dispensed singly from alternate webs as they are withdrawn from the dispenser. However, this is not satisfactory because the structure of the means for separating a sheet from the roll (flexible fingers), and also the means for adapting the sheets distribution (nip controller) to the weight of the roll that is reducing as a result of sheets distribution are complex.
It is desired to propose a dispenser assembly that overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks, and in particular a dispenser assembly of simple construction enabling tangentially dispensing in a reliable manner tissue paper roll of the type including two overlapping webs formed into a single roll.
According to one aspect, there is provided a dispenser assembly for tangentially dispensing a sheet from a roll of sheet material, the roll of sheet material including sheet material formed from two webs, each web having lines of weakness positioned transversely across the web which allows the web to be separated into a plurality of sheets, the lines of weakness of one web being offset from those of the other web, the dispenser assembly including:
The roll of sheet material may be further supported by the first roller.
The first roller may be chosen among the group of rollers including a smooth roller, an embossing roller, a roller made of hard material, a roller made of steel, a roller made of a plastic material, a roller made of a flexible material, a roller made of elastomer, and a roller made of rubber.
The counter roller means may be chosen among the group of counter roller means including a smooth flat wall, smooth curved wall, a smooth roller, an embossing roller, a roller made of hard material, a roller made of steel, a roller made of a plastic material, a roller made of a flexible material, a roller made of elastomer, a roller made of rubber, and a combination of at least two deported rollers.
The cradle may have a shape arranged to match the cylindrical shape of the roll of sheet material.
The cradle may be formed as a single part or as multiple parts.
The cradle may have a bottom part positioned below a top part of the first roller.
The cradle may be further arranged to position the roll of sheet material against the first roller.
The dispenser assembly may further include at least one decoupling roller positioned upstream the first roller, the free decoupling roller being arranged to decouple a rotation of the roll of sheet material from a rotation of the first roller whatever a clockwise or counterclockwise unwinding direction of the roll of sheet material.
The dispenser may include a cover coupled to the base, the first roller being associated with the base, the counter roller means being associated with the cover.
The dispenser may include a cover coupled to the base, the first roller and the counter roller means being associated with the base.
The dispenser may further include mechanical braking means acting on the at least one of the first roller and the counter roller means for generating a resistance against the free rotation of the at least one of the first roller and the counter roller means.
The dispenser may further include magnetic braking means generating a magnetic field acting on the at least one of the first roller and the counter roller means for generating a resistance against the free rotation of the at least one of the first roller and the counter roller means.
The roll of sheet material may be a tissue paper roll.
According to another aspect, there is provided a roll of sheet material arranged to be dispensed by a dispenser assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. The roll of sheet material may include sheet material formed from two webs, each web having lines of weakness positioned transversely across the web which allows the web to be separated into a plurality of sheets, the lines of weakness of one web being offset from those of the other.
Embodiments of the invention enable dispensing tissue paper roll of the type including two overlapping webs formed into a single roll. Embodiments of the invention greatly reduce the risk of over-spinning of the roll of sheet material and even jamming of the dispenser assembly when a user pulls the free end of the sheet too vigorously. Embodiments of the invention further greatly reduce the risk of breaking the sheet within the dispenser assembly.
Embodiments of the invention enable easy and quick authorized loading operations. This is particularly advantageous during maintenance of dispenser assembly used in a commercial application context.
Further, embodiments of the invention prevent unauthorized stuffing action of the dispenser assembly by an unauthorized provider or operator by requiring said specific roll of sheet material. It enables the client of such dispenser assembly to have a specific, qualitative and controlled service during the maintenance operations.
Other advantages will become apparent from the hereinafter description of the invention.
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of examples and not limited to the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements:
In the following description, the terminology “a roll of sheet material” has a large meaning encompassing, as examples, the rolls of paper towels, toilet tissues, plastic sheets or the like, metal sheets (e.g. aluminum) sheets or the like, food preservation bags, wraps, etc. . . . . The sheet material may be rolled as a continuous pre-perforated sheet. Further, the terminology “roll of sheet material” also covers either roll of sheet material having a core, or roll of sheet material being coreless. In particular, during the manufacturing process of the roll of sheet material, either the sheet material is wound into a cylinder onto a core (as an example a hollow cylinder made of cardboard, or a plastic mandrel, or a metallic axle, etc. . . . ), or the sheet material is wound into a cylinder on itself such as to define a central hollow cavity of substantially cylindrical shape and of variable size extending longitudinally.
The dispenser assembly may be used for residential or commercial applications for dispensing multiple of the hereinbefore mentioned sheets of material from a roll of sheet material.
The dispenser assembly may dispense the sheets of material from the roll of sheet material manually, i.e. a user may pull the sheet of material with a hand.
The dispenser assembly 1 includes a base 4, a first roller 6 and a counter roller means 7, 9, a dispensing outlet 8, and a cradle 5.
The base 4 is arranged to hold the tissue paper roll 3. It further couples the dispenser assembly 1 with an environment structure 10. For example, it may be connected to a wall by various screws (not shown).
The sheet paper towel 2 is movable between the first roller 6 and the counter roller means 7, 9 towards the dispensing outlet 8.
The cradle 5 is arranged to support the tissue paper roll 3 and to unwind the sheet material towards the first roller 6 whatever a consumption level of the roll of sheet material. It enables adapting the frictional force exerted onto the tissue paper roll 3 that decreases with the level of consumption of the tissue paper roll (because the mass and also the inertia of the tissue paper roll decreases with said consumption level). The cradle enables always correctly positioning the tissue paper roll with respect to the first roller 6.
The cradle 5 has a shape arranged to match the cylindrical shape of the roll of sheet material 3. It may be a curved line or a complex shape combining multiple straight lines or curved lines (in cross-section).
In the embodiments of
In the embodiment of
As an alternative (not depicted), the free decoupling roller 11 may be replaced by a braked decoupling roller 11. This enables avoiding over rolling of the roll of sheet material 3 within the dispenser assembly that would result in jamming the dispenser assembly.
The first roller 6 and the counter roller means 7, 9 are positioned relatively to each other spaced according to a fixed nip therebetween. This is used to generate a braking force on the sheet material sufficient to break the line of weakness of the web at the dispensing outlet 8 or downstream the dispensing outlet 8. This enables always having a piece of sheet material available for grasping outside the dispensing outlet 8. This further prevents breaking the line of weakness of the web upstream the dispensing outlet 8. This would result in preventing further dispensing of the sheet material or otherwise requires opening the dispenser in order to correctly position the sheet material between the first roller 6 and the counter roller means 7, 9.
In the embodiments of
In the embodiment of
The dispenser may further include a cover 14 coupled to the base 4. The first roller 6 may be secured to the base 4. The counter roller means 7, 9 may be secured to the cover 14. The cover 14 may be secured to the base 4 through appropriate locking means. Further, a spring means (not shown) may be provided between the cover 14 and the base 4 enabling applying the first roller 6 against the counter roller means 7, 9, and also easing opening the cover 14.
In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
When filling the dispenser 1, an operator opens the cover 14 that is coupled to the base 4 through a hinge arrangement 15. The roll of sheet material 3 is laid down onto the cradle 5 and contacts the first roller 6. A few first sheets 2 are pulled from the roll of sheet material 3 without breaking the web and laid down onto the first roller 6. The cover 14 is closed so as to apply the counter roller means 7 associated to the cover 14 onto the sheets 2 and the first roller 6, and define the fixed nip between the first roller 6 and the counter roller means 7. When closed, the cover 14 rests onto the base 4 by its own weight. Alternatively, the cover 14 may be further secured to the base 4 through appropriate locking means 17. The few first sheets 2 protrude out of the opening 8. Due to the sheet material formed from two webs 101, 102 (as depicted in details in
In this embodiment, the first roller 6 and the counter roller means 7 are secured to the base 4. The cover (not shown) may be omitted. The roll of sheet material 3 is merely put onto the cradle 5 and contacts the first roller 6. The dispenser further includes a magnetic braking means 20 for generating a magnetic field acting on the at least one of the first roller 6 and/or the counter roller means 7. This magnetic field generates a resistance against the free rotation of the at least one of the first roller 6 and/or the counter roller means 7. For example, the magnetic braking means 20 includes a first magnet positioned in the first roller and another magnet closely positioned in/on the base. In the depicted embodiment, the magnetic braking means 20 is positioned close to the first roller 6 so as to generate a magnetic field braking the rotation of the first roller 6. Alternatively, the magnetic braking means 20 may be replaced by a mechanical braking means (not shown).
According to this embodiment, when user pulls the free end of the sheet 2, said sheet drives the first roller 6 and the counter roller 7, the first roller 6 driving in rotation of the roll of sheet material 3. Thus, the roll of sheet material 3 only rotates on demand, greatly reducing the risk of over-spinning and jamming. Further, due to the presence of the free decoupling roller 12, the roll of sheet material 3 is not braked by its own weight. This in combination with the fact that the roll is also supported by the first roller greatly reduces the risk of breaking the line of weakness of the web upstream the nip between the first roller 6 and the counter roller 7, and also upstream the dispensing outlet 8.
This embodiment is particularly adapted to dispense sheet material from a roll of important size. As an example, the roll has a width around 210 mm, a diameter around 195 mm and a core diameter around 40 mm. Such rolls of sheet material may be typically used in professional/commercial applications.
The drawings and their descriptions hereinbefore illustrate embodiments of, rather than limit, the invention.
The depicted embodiments of dispensers in
Further, though the figures illustrate a roll of sheet material freely supported by the cradle, the roll of sheet material may alternatively be further held by its core through an axis or plug(s) which displacement is controlled within the dispenser assembly in dependence on the consumption level of the roll of sheet material. For example, the axis or plug ends may be supported by a lateral groove disposed in the cover or base. The plug associated with one side face of the roll of sheet material may further cooperate with an appropriate slot associated with the base of the dispenser assembly forming a foolproof means that helps the user to correctly position the roll of sheet material in the dispenser assembly.
Any reference sign in a claim should not be construed as limiting the claim. The word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements than those listed in a claim. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such element.
This application is a §371 National Stage Application of PCT International Application No. PCT/IB2013/000455 filed Mar. 22, 2013, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/IB2013/000455 | 3/22/2013 | WO | 00 |