Method and Apparatus for Dispensing and Expanding Expandable Slit Sheet Material

Abstract

A device for expanding and dispensing expandable slit sheet paper includes a pair of support members for a roll of expandable slit sheet paper. The roll of expandable slit sheet paper has an interior core member and a roll of expandable slit sheet paper wound on said interior core member. The interior core member has an axial length that is greater than the width of said slit sheet paper that is wound on said interior core member and has end regions that extend beyond the roll of expandable slit sheet paper. Pressure means is provided for pressing a first end region against its core support member and applying a frictional rotation resistance to the core member end region. The roll of expandable slit sheet paper is mounted on the device by positioning one end region under the pressure means and in a support relationship with its core support member while the roll of expandable slit sheet paper is inclined with respect to the device. The other end region is then moved into its supported position with its core support member. An adjustable downward pressure is exerted on the paper core end region and causing the paper core end region to be pressed against its support member as the paper is pulled. The downward pressure creates the friction required to enable the unexpanded slit sheet to be unwind and fed while simultaneously expanding.

Claims

1- A device for expanding and dispensing expandable slit sheet paper, comprising: a first core support member, a second core support member, a roll of expandable slit sheet paper, said roll of expandable slit sheet paper having: an interior core member, a roll of expandable slit sheet paper wound on said interior core member, said interior core member having an axial length that is greater than the width of said slit sheet paper that is wound on said interior core member and having at least a first interior core member end region that extends beyond said roll of expandable slit sheet paper, wherein said first end region of said interior core member is support by said first core support member, first means for pressing said first interior core member end region against said first core support member and applying a frictional rotation resistance to said first interior core member end region.

2- The device of claim 1, further comprising: said interior core member having a second end region that protrudes beyond said roll of expandable slit paper, and wherein said second end region is supported by said second support member.

3- The device of claim 2 wherein said first end region of said interior core member protrudes beyond said roll of expandable slit sheet paper and is mounted on said first core support member, and said second end region of said interior core member protrudes beyond said roll of expandable slit sheet paper and is mounted on said second support member.

4- The device of claim 2, wherein said first end region of said interior core member protrudes beyond said roll of expandable slit sheet paper and is mounted in said first core support member, and said second end region of said interior core member protrudes beyond said roll of expandable slit sheet paper and is mounted on said second support member.

5- The device of claim 2, further comprising said first interior core member being hollow and having a first end region that protrudes beyond said roll of expandable slit sheet paper, and wherein said first end region is positioned on said first core support member.

6- The device of claim 2, further comprising said first interior core member being hollow and having a first end region that protrudes beyond said roll of expandable slit sheet paper, and wherein said first core support member is positioned in said first end region.

7- The device of claim 1, wherein said first means for pressing said first interior core member end region against said first core support member and applying a frictional rotation resistance to said first interior core member end region comprises: a first wall member, said first core support member being fixed to said first wall member, an elongated member hingedly coupled to said first wall member and positioned to variably contact said first interior core member end region.

8- The device of claim 7, further comprising a spring means, said elongated member having a threaded insert, and a screw passing through said spring and being rotatable to vary the frictional resistance applied by said elongated member to said first end region of said interior core member.

9- The device of claim 1, further comprising said interior core member end region that extends beyond an end of said roll of expandable slit sheet paper, by an amount of at least one inch from said roll of slit sheet paper.

10- The device of claim 9, further comprising a second end region of said interior core member extending beyond the width of said roll of slit sheet paper, by an amount of at least one inch from said roll of slit sheet paper.

11- The device of claim 10, further comprising each end region of said interior core member extending beyond the width of said roll of slit sheet paper, an amount of at least about one and one half inches from said roll of slit sheet paper.

12- The device of claim 2, wherein said first end region of said interior core member is circular, protrudes beyond said roll of expandable slit sheet paper, and is mounted in said first core support member, said first core support member having an arcuate interior, said arcuate interior having a radius greater than the exterior radius of interior core member end region, said arcuate interior having an arc less than about 300? whereby said elongated member is in contact with said first end region of said interior core member.

13- The device of claim 12, wherein said arcuate interior has an arc less than about 240? and greater than 180? thereby enabling the tension rod to contact said first interior core member.

14- A method of mounting the roll of expandable slit sheet paper on the expanding and dispensing apparatus claim 2, comprising the steps of: bringing said first interior core member end region into contact with said first core support member, and partially supporting said first interior core member end region by said first core support member while said second interior core member end region that extends beyond said roll of expandable slit sheet paper is positioned above said second core support member, further supporting said first interior core member end region by said first core support member while bringing said second interior core member end region into contact with and resting upon said second core support member and fully mounting said first core support member on said first interior core member end region, drawing a length of said roll of expandable slit sheet paper from said roll of expandable slit sheet paper while applying a frictional rotation resistance to said first interior core member end region, and thereby expanding said slit sheet paper.

15- The method of claim 14, further comprising an elongated tension member hingedly coupled to said support member and a spring, said elongated member having a threaded insert and a screw passing through said spring and into said threaded insert thereby spring loading said elongated member, and further comprising the step of variably setting said frictional resistance to the rotation of said core member by rotating said spring loaded screw and thereby varying the frictional resistance applied by an elongated member to said first core member end region.

16- method of claim 14, wherein the step of partially mounting said first interior core member end region on said first core support member comprises partially inserting said first core support member into said first interior core member end region and the step of fully mounting said first core support member on said first interior core member end region comprises completing the insertion of said first core support member into said first interior core member end region.

17- method of claim 14, wherein the step of partially mounting said first interior core member end region on said first core support member comprises positioning said first interior core member end region under said elongated member and fully mounting said first core support member on said first interior core member end region comprises completing the insertion of said first core support member into said first interior core member end region while said second interior core member end region that extends beyond said roll of expandable slit sheet paper is moved to a position on said second core support member such that said paper roll is inclined relative to the horizon whereby said paper roll is tilted toward said first core support member.

18- method of claim 14, wherein the step of partially mounting said first interior core member end region on said first core support member comprises positioning said first interior core member end region under said elongated member and fully mounting said first core support member on said first interior core member end region comprises completing the insertion of said first core support member into said first interior core member end region while said second interior core member end region that extends beyond said roll of expandable slit sheet paper is moved to a position on said second core support member such that said paper roll is inclined relative to the horizon whereby said paper roll is tilted toward said first core support member and thereby biased toward said first core support member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described by a way of example, and not limitation, in relation to the accompanying Figures, in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispensing and expanding apparatus and the tensioning device.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispensing and expanding apparatus, the tensioning device, and the paper roll loaded on the dispensing and expanding apparatus.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a side view of the dispensing and expanding apparatus, the tensioning device, and the paper roll loaded on the dispensing and expanding apparatus.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tensioning device with the paper roll positioned at an angle with respect to the dispensing and expanding apparatus, for loading the paper roll on the dispensing and expanding apparatus.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the paper roll wound on a hollow core member.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the dispensing and expanding apparatus of FIG. 4.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end view of an elongated interior core member mounted in a core support member.

[0029] FIG. 8 is a side view of a dispensing and expanding apparatus with a paper roll having the ends of its elongated interior core member mounted in core support members.

[0030] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary end view of an alternate embodiment of an elongated interior core member mounted in a core support member.

DEFINITIONS RELATING TO THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] For the purposes of the present invention the term paper roll describes the slit sheet material wound around a paper core that is wider than the slit sheet material.

[0032] For the purposes of the present invention, the term hingedly coupled means a structure such as a piece of metal that is fastened to another structure such that its end opposite to its hinged end, is enabled to move between varying degrees of positions and is inclusive of a cantilevered member that is sufficiently flexible for its unsupported end to move between varying degrees of positions.

[0033] For the purposes of the present invention, the term yoke means a structure contoured or shaped to carry a load.

[0034] For the purposes of the present invention, the term rod means an a straight piece (as metal) that is longer than it is wide and is sufficiently rigid to span an opening such as in a yoke and function as a lever for applying a force against the outer surface of the exterior section of the interior core of a roll of expandable slit paper. The term rod is inclusive of a slender bar, a pole, rod, shaft, strut, and a beam.

[0035] For the purposes of the present invention, the term core support member means a structure that contacts the exterior end of a core member and bears the weight of a roll of paper that is wound around the core member by having the weight borne from below or interior of a hollow core member.

[0036] For the purposes of the present invention, the term paper core means the round paper tube around which the expandable slit sheet paper is wound.

[0037] For the purposes of the present invention, the term curvature means an essentially circular or arcuate configuration that is shaped or curved like an arc or bow.

[0038] For the purposes of the present invention, the term tensioning mechanism means a pressure assembly that applies pressure to an exterior end of a paper core to variably increase or decree friction.

[0039] For the purposes of the present invention, the term attached means securely fixing one part to another as in the art of assembling wood, wood composites, metals, or plastics in order to create a bolted, screwed, secured, fastened, or sealed assembly and is inclusive of permanent assemblies and configurations that can be disassembled.

[0040] For the purposes of the present invention, the term extend beyond the ends of the paper roll means the ends of an elongated core member that protrude beyond the ends of the paper roll.

[0041] For the purposes of the present invention, the term horizontal means parallel to the plane of the horizon.

[0042] For the purposes of the present invention, the term inclined means forming an angle with respect to a horizontal plane, due to its slope or tilt.

[0043] For the purposes of the present invention, the term biased means a steady weight factor applied to a roll of expandable slit paper to cause it to lean toward the tensioning mechanism first core member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0044] A purpose of the design of the present invention is to eliminate the loss of these parts due to their constant removal and the labor savings associated with their removal and reattachment

[0045] The tensioning device in its preferred embodiment is to be made from aluminum but, can be made from wood and steel. The tensioning device and specifically the tension rod, spring and thumbscrew are of the same design as found in nonprovisional patent Ser. No. 15/428,144, (publication, US 2018/0222665, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, as though recited in full). The new art utilizes a short bar on the tensioning side and a yoke on the opposite side. This combination enables the paper to be loaded without the need for removing the tensioning rod, thumbscrew, and spring.

[0046] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire tensioning assembly and dispensing structure 100 without the roll of expandable slit paper. The tensioning assembly is mounted on side fixture 101. The tensioning assembly includes a tension member 103, thumbscrew 104, and spring 105. The tension member 103 can be in the form of a rod or bar. The tensioning assembly applies tension, that is, rotational resistance, to the paper core, 204 (shown in FIG. 5) by pressing the core end region 203 (as shown inf FIGS. 3 and 4) against core support 102 that is in the form of a support bar that is fixed, that is, attached to fixture 101. The side fixture 106 provides support for the interior core end region

[0047] Tensioning assemblies 103,104 and 105 of FIG. 1 are of the same basic design as disclosed in U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 15/428,144 (Publication No. 2018-0222665). On the opposite side from side fixture 101, the bottom of the yoke area 107 supports the paper core end region 201, as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the paper core end region 201 rests in the yoke area 107 of the side fixture 106. After the paper is loaded, the paper core end region 201 can be held in place by a core positioning member 108 that holds back the paper roll 201 of FIG. 2, thus inhibiting the end core region 201 from sliding on the core support member 102.

[0048] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tensioning system loaded with paper roll 200. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, paper core 204 end region 201 is resting in the yoke region 107 and positioning member 208 is a bent metal member attached to side fixture 106.

[0049] FIG. 3 is the front view of the alternative angled design where paper roll 200 is at a slight angle as compared to a horizontal table surface as indicated by line 300. The orientation relationship is illustrated by means of the horizontal line 301 that is parallel to horizontal line 300. The space 303 between paper roll 200 and horizontal orientation line 301 is smaller than space 302. This relationship is achieved by having the bottom of the yoke area 107, of FIG. 1, higher than the bottom of the core end 203 as positioned on the support bar 102 of FIG. 1. Line 300 depicts the horizontal table top while support bar 102 of fixture 101 positions the paper core end 203 lower than the position of the core end 201 on the yoke 107. Arrow 304 depicts yoke 106 being higher than fixture 101 creating the angling of the paper roll 200 relative to the horizontal table top.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, the yoke 102 is in the form of a support bar positioned interior of the paper core end 203 and thus not shown in FIG. 3. The cylindrical paper core member 204 is suspended, that is supported, at its exterior end regions 201 and 203 from the yoke region 107 of frame 106 and the support bar 102, respectively.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 1, a thumbscrew 108 can be threaded upward in direction of paper core end region 201 to stop the lateral movement of paper core end region 203 away from the support bar 102 and fixture 101.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 3, in addition to, or as an alternative to the use of a thumbscrew to lock the paper in position is to have the yoke region 107 positioned upward relative to the core support 102, to provide a slightly angled paper roll and use gravity to keep the paper against the tension side of the device. The angling of the paper roll 200 biases the paper roll toward the tension member 103 and the fixture 101. Once the tensioning device is firmly in position and the paper is mounted, it will function in as described in nonprovisional Ser. No. 15/428,144. Once the paper roll is mounted a thumbscrew 310, located on the outer side of the yoke, can be screwed upward to avoid the paper from sliding outward and away from the tensioning side of the device.

[0053] FIG. 4 illustrates the method of mounting the paper roll 200 on the tensioning and dispensing system 100. The paper roll is positioned at an angle with respect to the dispensing and expanding apparatus, for loading the paper roll on the dispensing and expanding apparatus. The core support member 102 as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 6, is inserted into the hollow cylindrical core member 204, paper core end 203 and the paper core end region 201 is lowered into its position in the yoke region 107 of fixture 101 by rotating the roll 200 on the core support 102 as indicated by curve arrow 410.

[0054] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the paper roll 200 showing the hollow interior core member 204. The length of the interior core 204 is longer than the width of the paper roll 200 and thus has two exterior ends 201 and 203 that extend beyond the ends of the paper roll 200. The exterior end 203 provides a friction surface and, in combination with the tension member 103 functions to resist the drawing of slit paper from the paper roll 200. The core member 204 can be of any rigid material such as metal or plastic, but paper is highly preferred.

[0055] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the dispensing and expanding apparatus of FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3 the support bar 102 of fixture 101 positions the paper core end 203 lower than the position of the core end 201 on the yoke 107. The yoke of fixture 106 supports the core end 201 at a higher position than core support 102 supports the core member 204 thus creating the angling of the paper roll 200 relative to the horizontal table top.

[0056] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end view of an elongated interior core member 201 mounted in a core support member 400. The first core support member 400 has a radius greater than the radius of the first interior core member 203 and an arc that provides an open region that is sufficient for a friction means such as shown in FIG. 7 to contact the surface of the first interior core member end region 203. The radius of the first core support member is sufficiently greater than the radius of the first interior core member in order to enable the first interior core member to be inserted into the first core support member.

[0057] FIG. 8 is a side view of a dispensing and expanding apparatus with a paper roll having the ends of its elongated interior core member mounted in core support members. The arc of the core support member 400 is less than about 300? and preferably no greater than 240? in order to enable the tension rod 103 to contact the first interior core member 203's outer surface.

[0058] Preferably the second core support member 900 has a first surface in contact with the surface of the second interior core member end region 201 and has an arcuate configuration as shown in FIG. 9. Advantageously, the arcuate configuration has a curvature that cooperates with the curvature of the outer surface of the second interior core member end region. The second core support member 900 outer surface has a radius greater than the radius of the second interior core member and preferably an arc of less than 180?. Most preferably, the arcuate configuration has an arc of between 180? and 110?. In embodiments in which the second core support member 900 has an arcuate configuration of no greater than about 180?, the second interior core member 201 can be lifted off the second core support member 400 and the roll of expandable slit sheet paper rotated about the first core support member 900 and separated from the expanding and dispensing apparatus. Similarly, the paper roll can be positioned in the expander-dispenser inserting the first interior core member 203 in the support member. The roll of expandable slit sheet paper 200 is rotated about the first core support 400 and the second interior core member 203 is dropped onto the core support member 900. The paper roll 200 is then in a position to be drawn from the expanding and dispensing apparatus.

[0059] The use of individual numerical values is stated as approximations as though the values were preceded by the word about, substantially, or approximately. Similarly, the numerical values in the various ranges specified in this application, unless expressly indicated otherwise, are stated as approximations as though the minimum and maximum values within the stated ranges were both preceded by the word about, substantially, or approximately. In this manner, variations above and below the stated ranges can be used to achieve substantially the same results as values within the ranges. As used herein, the terms about, substantially, and approximately when referring to a numerical value shall have their plain and ordinary meanings to a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosed subject matter is most closely related or the art relevant to the range or element at issue. The amount of broadening from the strict numerical boundary depends upon many factors. For example, some of the factors which may be considered include the criticality of the element and/or the effect a given amount of variation will have on the performance of the claimed subject matter, as well as other considerations known to those of skill in the art. As used herein, the use of differing amounts of significant digits for different numerical values is not meant to limit how the use of the words about, substantially, or approximately will serve to broaden a particular numerical value or range. Thus, as a general matter, about, substantially, or approximately broaden the numerical value. Also, the disclosure of ranges is intended as a continuous range including every value between the minimum and maximum values plus the broadening of the range afforded by the use of the term about, substantially, or approximately. Thus, recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. To the extent that determining a given amount of variation of some the factors such as the criticality of the slit patterns, paper width differential pre- and post-expansion, paper weights and type, as well as other considerations known to those of skill in the art to which the disclosed subject matter is most closely related or the art relevant to the range or element at issue will have on the performance of the claimed subject matter, is not considered to be within the ability of one of ordinary skill in the art, or is not explicitly stated in the claims, then the terms about, substantially, and approximately should be understood to mean the numerical value, plus or minus 15%.

[0060] It is to be understood that any ranges, ratios and ranges of ratios that can be formed by, or derived from, any of the data disclosed herein represent further embodiments of the present disclosure and are included as part of the disclosure as though they were explicitly set forth. This includes ranges that can be formed that do or do not include a finite upper and/or lower boundary. Accordingly, a person of ordinary skill in the art most closely related to a particular range, ratio or range of ratios will appreciate that such values are unambiguously derivable from the data presented herein.