A core plug for supporting a roll of sheet product with respect to a sheet product dispenser is provided. The core plug may include a shell and a support. The shell may be positioned about a longitudinal axis of the core plug and configured to be at least partially inserted into a central opening of the roll of sheet product. The support may be movably attached to the shell and configured to engage a support feature of the sheet product dispenser such that the roll of sheet product is rotatably supported with respect to the sheet product dispenser. The support may be positioned at least partially within the shell, and at least a portion of the support may be configured to translate relative to the shell in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the core plug.

The invention describes, and illustrates, a label roll having a roll core and having a label tape, which is wound up onto the roll core. In order that the amount of time and effort required for changing over the label rolls can be reduced without a disproportionately large amount of space having to be provided for the label compartment, provision is made for the roll core to have a plurality of rollers distributed over its circumference, around which the label tape is wound.

There is disclosed a driver including an elongate shaft and at least one drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a housing which has an orifice for receiving the elongate shaft, and a drive wheel which is located at least partially within the housing. The drive wheel has a bore with a cross-section shaped so that the internal surface of the bore contacts the circumference of elongate shaft when the elongate shaft is inserted into the bore. The bore has at least two fulcrum surfaces so that the drive wheel is pivotable about the elongate shaft. The housing is slideable relative to the elongate shaft.

In one example, a holder for a media roll includes a first support to support a first end of the roll, a second support to support a second end of the roll, and a shifter to change the distance between the first support and the first end of the roll without changing the distance between the second support and the second end of the roll.

A web roll handling and loading system and methods employ hubs positioned on opposing sides of a roll of web material wound on a hollow tubular core. Hub faces have an annular shape configured to be seated in respective ends of the hollow tubular core. The hubs are pivotably supported for pivoting between an operational position and a deflected position. The roll of web material is loaded on the hubs by lifting it from beneath the hubs to deflect the hub faces arcuately upward, then lowering the roll to allow the hub faces to pivot downward and become seated in the ends of the hollow tubular core. Alternatively, the roll is loaded into a pick-up tool by lowering the pick-up tool downward to the roll so the hubs deflect arcuately upward, then raising the tool so the hubs pivot downward and become seated in the hollow tubular core.

A sheet dispenser system having a roll of sheet material and a housing to receive the roll. The roll of sheet material comprises a first end portion incorporating a key, and the housing comprises a mounting portion arranged to support the first end portion of the roll and a support portion arranged to support a second end of the roll. The mounting portion comprises a tilting member pivotally coupled to the housing to define an operative position, in which the mounting portion and the support portion are aligned to support the roll in the housing, and a loading position, in which the mounting portion and the support portion are unaligned to inhibit support of the roll in the housing. The mounting portion comprises a block arrangement which is movable between a blocked condition, in which movement of the tilting member from the loading position to the operative position is inhibited, and an unblocked condition, in which movement of the tilting member from the loading position to the operative position is permitted. The mounting portion is arranged such that the roll is movable between an engaged condition, in which the key engages the mounting portion, and a disengaged condition, in which the key is disengaged from the mounting portion, such that, when the roll is moved from the disengaged to the engaged condition, the first end portion of the roll moves the block arrangement into the unblocked condition, thereby permitting movement of the tilting member from the loading position to the operative position.

A sheet dispenser system having a roll of sheet material and a housing to receive the roll. The roll of sheet material comprises a first end portion incorporating a key, and the housing comprises a mounting portion arranged to support the first end portion of the roll. The mounting portion comprises a lock arrangement which is movable between a locked condition and a free condition. The lock arrangement comprises a rotatable element configured for rotation about an axis, and a locking element configured for engagement with the rotatable element to inhibit rotation of the rotatable element, such that, when the locking element and the rotatable element are engaged, the lock arrangement occupies the locked condition, and when the locking element and the rotatable element are disengaged, the lock arrangement occupies the free condition. The mounting portion is arranged such that the roll is movable between an engaged condition, in which the key engages the mounting portion, and a disengaged condition, in which the key is disengaged from the mounting portion, such that, when the roll is moved from the disengaged to the engaged condition, the first end portion of the roll moves the lock arrangement into the free condition, thereby permitting rotation of the rotatable element. The locking element and the rotatable element are configured for engagement by relative movement of the locking element and the rotatable element towards each other in a direction along the axis of rotation of the rotatable element.

An unpowered, manually operable apparatus for dispensing cushioning wrap material drawn concurrently from a roll of separator material and a self-contained cartridge that includes a roll of expandable sheet material. The rolls are supported on a stand for rotation about respective parallel, spaced-apart axes. In addition to the roll, the cartridge includes a tensioning assembly and support panels that abut respective ends of the roll. The tensioning assembly and the support panels cooperate with the stand to control rotational resistance of the roll. The rotational resistance causes the expandable sheet material to expand in length and thickness as it is manually pulled from the stand with the separator material, and support surfaces on the stand hold the cartridge and the separator roll in position. When the cartridge containing the expandable sheet material is depleted, the cartridge is readily removed and replaced.

A web roll handling and loading system and methods employ hubs positioned on opposing sides of a roll of web material wound on a hollow tubular core. Hub faces have an annular shape configured to be seated in respective ends of the hollow tubular core. The hubs are pivotably supported for pivoting between an operational position and a deflected position. The roll of web material is loaded on the hubs by lifting it from beneath the hubs to deflect the hub faces arcuately upward, then lowering the roll to allow the hub faces to pivot downward and become seated in the ends of the hollow tubular core. Alternatively, the roll is loaded into a pick-up tool by lowering the pick-up tool downward to the roll so the hubs deflect arcuately upward, then raising the tool so the hubs pivot downward and become seated in the hollow tubular core.

A web roll handling and loading system and methods employ hubs positioned on opposing sides of a roll of web material wound on a hollow tubular core. Hub faces have an annular shape configured to be seated in respective ends of the hollow tubular core. The hubs are pivotably supported for pivoting between an operational position and a deflected position. The roll of web material is loaded on the hubs by lifting it from beneath the hubs to deflect the hub faces arcuately upward, then lowering the roll to allow the hub faces to pivot downward and become seated in the ends of the hollow tubular core. Alternatively, the roll is loaded into a pick-up tool by lowering the pick-up tool downward to the roll so the hubs deflect arcuately upward, then raising the tool so the hubs pivot downward and become seated in the hollow tubular core.