Dispenser

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing at least one web from a stack of web material is disclosed. The dispenser includes a housing arranged to hold a stack of web material. A web path extends in an interior of the housing in a first direction in a first portion of the housing and in a second direction in a second portion of the housing. The housing includes an access opening providing access to the interior of the housing. The web path is accessible along a third direction, in both the first and second portions of the housing, via the access opening.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing at least one web from a stack of web material, the dispenser comprising: a housing arranged to hold a stack of web material, wherein a web path extends in an interior of the housing from a stack position to a dispensing opening of the dispenser, the web path extending in a first direction in a first portion of the housing and in a second direction in a second portion of the housing, the first and second directions being directed in substantially opposite directions, and wherein the housing comprises: an access opening in a first side portion of the housing, the access opening providing access to the interior of the housing, wherein the web path is accessible along a third direction, in both the first and second portions of the housing, via the access opening.

2. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the third direction is substantially perpendicular to at least one of the first and second directions.

3. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the web path is accessible at a level defined between a first support element for the web material and a second support element for the web material, in both the first and second portions of the housing, via the access opening.

4. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a door arranged to open and close the access opening.

5. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the housing, seen in a direction from the access opening, is arranged after the second portion of the housing.

6. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the housing is arranged adjacent to a first wall of the housing, the first wall being arranged opposite to the access opening.

7. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the housing is arranged adjacent to the access opening.

8. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser comprises a stack of web material arranged in the stack position inside the dispenser.

9. The dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the first direction extends from the stack position to the first support element, and the second direction extends from the first support element to the second support element.

10. The dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the web path extends over the first support element.

11. The dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the second support element comprises a separation unit adapted for separating a sheet of web from a tail of a web material coming from a stack of web material.

12. The dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the first support element comprises a third roller pivotably suspended inside the housing.

13. The dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the dispensing opening is arranged in the door.

14. The dispenser according to claim 6, wherein a guiding element is pivotably arranged inside the housing and arranged to pivot towards the first support element.

15. The dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the guiding element extends substantially from the first wall of the dispenser to the first support element.

16. The dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the separation unit comprises a first roller having a first rotation axis and a second roller having a second rotation axis, the first and second rotation axes extending in parallel with each other.

17. The dispenser according to claim 16, wherein each of the first and second rollers is provided with protrusion elements being spaced along the first and second rotation axes, and wherein outer portions of the protrusion elements on the first roller overlap partially with outer portions of the protrusion elements on the second roller with a radial overlap length forming an undulated passage for a web material between the first and second rollers.

18. The dispenser according to claim 17, wherein the radial overlap length is between 2-40 mm.

19. The dispenser according to claim 17, wherein each protrusion element has a widest width in parallel with the first and second axes within the overlap length, and a sum of the widest width of all protrusion elements on one of the first roller or the second roller is between 5-30% of a web width of that roller.

20. The dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the web material comprises a first web layer divided into sheet products defined between longitudinally separated lines of weakness extending across the first web layer.

21. The dispenser according to claim 20, wherein the web material comprises at least a second web layer divided into sheet products defined between longitudinally separated lines of weakness extending across the second web layer, and wherein the first and second web layers are interfolded so that the lines of weakness of the first web layer are offset from the lines of weakness of the second web layer in a longitudinal direction of the first web layer.

22. A dispenser for dispensing at least one web from a stack of web material, the dispenser comprising: a housing arranged to hold a stack of web material, wherein a web path extends in an interior of the housing from a stack position to a dispensing opening of the dispenser, the web path extending in a first direction in a first portion of the housing and in a second direction in a second portion of the housing, the first and second directions being directed in substantially opposite directions, and wherein the housing comprises: an access opening in a first side portion of the housing, the access opening providing access to the interior of the housing, wherein the web path is accessible at a level defined between a first support element for the web material and a second support element for the web material, in both the first and second portions of the housing, via the access opening.

23. The dispenser according to claim 22, wherein the first direction extends from the stack position to the first support element, and the second direction extends from the first support element to the second support element.

24. The dispenser according to claim 22, wherein the housing comprises a door arranged to open and close the access opening.

25. The dispenser according to claim 22, wherein the first portion of the housing, seen in a direction from the access opening, is arranged after the second portion of the housing.

26. The dispenser according to claim 22, wherein the first portion of the housing is arranged adjacent to a first wall of the housing, the first wall being arranged opposite to the access opening.

27. The dispenser according to claim 22, wherein the second portion of the housing is arranged adjacent to the access opening.

28. The dispenser according to claim 22, wherein the web path extends over the first support element.

29. The dispenser according to claim 22, wherein the second support element comprises a separation unit adapted for separating a sheet of web from a tail of a web material coming from a stack of web material.

30. The dispenser according to claim 22, wherein the first support element comprises a third roller pivotably suspended inside the housing.

31. The dispenser according to claim 22, wherein the dispenser comprises a stack of web material arranged in the stack position inside the dispenser.

32. The dispenser according to claim 24, wherein the dispensing opening is arranged in the door.

33. The dispenser according to claim 26, wherein a guiding element is pivotably arranged inside the housing and arranged to pivot towards the first support element.

34. The dispenser according to claim 33, wherein the guiding element extends substantially from the first wall of the dispenser to the first support element.

35. The dispenser according to claim 29, wherein the separation unit comprises a first roller having a first rotation axis and a second roller having a second rotation axis, the first and second rotation axes extending in parallel with each other.

36. The dispenser according to claim 35, wherein each of the first and second rollers is provided with protrusion elements being spaced along the first and second rotation axes, and wherein outer portions of the protrusion elements on the first roller overlap partially with outer portions of the protrusion elements on the second roller with a radial overlap length forming an undulated passage for a web material between the first and second rollers.

37. The dispenser according to claim 36, wherein the radial overlap length is between 2-40 mm.

38. The dispenser according to claim 36, wherein each protrusion element has a widest width in parallel with the first and second axes within the overlap length, and a sum of the widest width of all protrusion elements on one of the first roller or the second roller is between 5-30% of a web width of that roller.

39. The dispenser according to claim 31, wherein the web material comprises a first web layer divided into sheet products defined between longitudinally separated lines of weakness extending across the first web layer.

40. The dispenser according to claim 39, wherein the web material comprises at least a second web layer divided into sheet products defined between longitudinally separated lines of weakness extending across the second web layer, and wherein the first and second web layers are interfolded so that the lines of weakness of the first web layer are offset from the lines of weakness of the second web layer in a longitudinal direction of the first web layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a dispenser according to embodiments,

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a dispenser for dispensing web according to embodiments,

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates the dispenser of FIG. 2 with a door in an open position, and

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a cross section through a stack of web material according to embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. However, this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

(7) Disclosed features of example embodiments may be combined as readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention 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.

(8) FIG. 1 illustrates a dispenser 2 according to embodiments. The dispenser 2 comprises a housing 4, which housing 4 comprises a door 6. The door 6 is illustrated in an open position to reveal an interior of the housing 4. The dispenser 2 is arranged for dispensing web from a stack 8 of web material. Accordingly, the housing 4 is arranged to hold the stack 8 of web material. The stack 8 comprises continuous web material which is Z-folded in an accordion-like manner. The web material comprise a first web layer, which may be divided into sheet products defined between longitudinally separated lines of weakness extending across the first web layer.

(9) In an interior of the housing 4, a web path extends from a stack position 10 to a dispensing opening 12 of the dispenser 2. The stack position 10 in the housing 4 is a portion of the housing 4 adapted to hold the stack 8 of web material. Accordingly, the stack position 10 extends over the portion adapted to hold the stack 8, from the top of the stack 8 when the dispenser 2 has been newly replenished with web material, as illustrated in FIG. 1, to a stack supporting lower surface inside the housing 4 when nearly all the web material has been dispensed from the stack 8. The dispensing opening 12 is arranged in the door 6 of the housing 4.

(10) The web path extends in a first direction 14 in a first portion 16 of the housing 4 and in a second direction 18 in a second portion 20 of the housing 4. The first direction 14 is directed substantially opposite to the second direction 18. The web path has been illustrated with broad arrows, and a tail 21 of the web material extending along the web path has been illustrated with broken lines, in FIG. 1.

(11) The housing 4 comprises an access opening 22 in a first side portion 24 of the housing 4. The access opening 22 provides access to the interior of the housing 4. The door 6 is arranged to open and close the access opening 22. The web path is accessible along a third direction 26, in both the first and second portions 16, 20 of the housing 4, via the access opening 22. Thus, an attendant may open the door 6 to access the access opening 22 and the interior of the housing 4, e.g. for replenishing the dispenser 2 with a stack 8 of web material and/or for threading the tail 21 of web material from the stack position 10 along the web path to the dispensing opening 12. The third direction 26 is substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions 14, 18.

(12) Seen in a direction from the access opening 22, i.e. in the third direction 26, the first portion 16 of the housing 4 is arranged after the second portion 20 of the housing 4. The first portion 16 of the housing 4 is arranged adjacent to a first wall 27 of the housing 4. The first wall 27 is arranged opposite to the access opening 22. The second portion 20 of the housing 4 is arranged adjacent to the access opening 22.

(13) The dispenser 2 comprises a first support element 28 for the web material and a second support element 30 for the web material. Part of the web path extends between the first and second support elements 28, 30 and over the first support element 28. The first direction 14 extends from the stack position 10 to the first support element 28, and the second direction 18 extends from the first support element 28 to the second support element 30. The web path is accessible at a level 32 defined between the first support element 28 and the second support element 30, in both the first and second portions 16, 20 of the housing 4, via the access opening 22.

(14) The second support element 30 comprises a first roller 34 and a second roller 36. A passage for the web material is formed between the first and second rollers 34, 36. The second support element 30, with its first and second rollers 34, 36, may form a separation unit for separating a sheet of web from the tail 21 of the web material. The first support element 28 comprises a third roller 38. The first, second, and third rollers 34, 36, 38 are pivotably suspended in the housing 4. They may be directly, or indirectly, suspended in the housing 4.

(15) FIG. 2 illustrates a dispenser 2 for dispensing web according to embodiments. The dispenser 2 comprises a housing 4, and the housing 4 comprises a door 6. In the door 6, a dispensing opening 12 is provided for dispensing the web. The door 6 is arranged for opening and closing an access opening to an interior of the dispenser 2. The door 6 may be locked in a closed position by means of a locking arrangement 40.

(16) FIG. 3 illustrates the dispenser 2 of FIG. 2 with the door 6 in an open position. Again, the dispenser 2 is arranged for dispensing web from a stack of continuous web material which may be Z-folded in an accordion-like manner. The stack has been omitted in FIG. 3 for clarity reasons. However, from a stack position 10 a web path extends to the dispensing opening 12 of the dispenser 2. The stack position 10 is arranged in a lower portion of the housing 4.

(17) Again, the web path extends in a first direction 14 in a first portion 16 of the housing 4 and in a second direction 18 in a second portion 20 of the housing 4. The first direction 14 is substantially opposite to the second direction 18. The housing 4 comprises an access opening 22 in a first side portion 24 of the housing 4. The access opening 22 provides access to the interior of the housing 4. The web path is accessible along a third direction 26, in both the first and second portions 16, 20 of the housing 4, via the access opening 22. The dispenser 2 comprises a first support element 28 for the web material and a second support element 30 for the web material. The first direction 14 extends from the stack position 10 to the first support element 28, and the second direction 18 extends from the first support element 28 to the second support element 30. The web path is accessible at a level 32 defined between the first support element 28 and the second support element 30, in both the first and second portions 16, 20 of the housing 4, via the access opening 22.

(18) A guiding element 42 is pivotably arranged inside the housing 4 and arranged to pivot towards the first support element 28 about a pivot axis 44. When no web material extends along the web path, the guiding element 42 abuts against the first support element 28. The guiding element 42 extends substantially from a first wall 27 of the dispenser 2 to the first support element 28. The first wall 27 is arranged opposite to the access opening 22. The first axis 44 extends along the first wall 27. A nip formed by the first support element 28 and the guiding element 42 may hold a tail of the web material and prevent the tail of the web material from sliding backwards towards the stack position 10. The guiding element 42 is arranged to pivot towards the first support element 28 from above, and since the first support element extends from the first wall 27 to the first support element 28, it may be ensured that an attendant threads a tail of web material from the stack position 10 over the first support element 28 and under the guiding element 42, i.e. through the nip formed therebetween. The first support element 28 comprises a third roller 38 pivotably suspended inside the housing 4.

(19) The second support element 30 comprises a separation unit 46 adapted for separating a sheet of web from a tail of a web material coming from a stack of web material inside the dispenser 2. The separation unit 46 is adapted for separating a sheet of web from a perforated web material. The separation unit 46 comprises a first roller 34 having a first rotation axis and a second roller 36 having a second rotation axis. The first and second rotation axes extend in parallel with each other. A passage is formed between the first and second rollers 34, 36. The first and second rollers 34, 36 are provided with protrusion elements 48 being spaced along the first and second rotation axes. Outer portions of the protrusion elements 48 on the first roller 34 overlap partially with outer portions of the protrusion elements 48 on the second roller 36 with a radial overlap length forming an undulated passage for a web material between the first and second rollers 34, 36. The radial overlap length may be between 2-40 mm, preferably 2-20 mm, more preferably 3-12 mm, or most preferably between 4-10 mm.

(20) Each protrusion element 48 has a widest width in parallel with the first and second axes within the overlap length. A sum of the widest width of all protrusion elements 48 on one of the first roller 34 or the second roller 36 is between 5-30%, preferably 12-20%, of a web width of the relevant roller 34, 36. The web width is the width of the web material passing over the relevant roller. The undulated passage forms a friction nip, in which the first and second rollers 34, 36 engage frictionally with the web material passing there through. Due to the frictional engagement of the web material, a sheet of web may be separated from the tail of web material in the separation unit 46 along a perforation of the web material as a user pulls on the web material to dispense a sheet of web.

(21) FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a cross section through a stack 8 of web material according to embodiments. The stack 8 is adapted for being placed in a stack position 10 of a dispenser 2 according to any one of FIG. 1, or 2 and 3. A tail 21 of web material from the stack 8 is threaded along a web path of a relevant dispenser 2. The web material in the stack 8 of web material is a continuous web material which is Z-folded in an accordion-like manner. The web material comprise a first web layer 50 divided into sheet products defined between longitudinally separated lines of weakness 52 extending across the first web layer 50. The web material further comprise at least one second web layer 54 divided into sheet products defined between longitudinally separated lines of weakness 56 extending across the second web layer 54. The first and second web layers 50, 54 are interfolded so that the lines of weakness 52 of the first web layer 50 are offset from the lines of weakness 56 of the second web layer 56 in a longitudinal direction of the first web layer 50. At one end or at both ends of the stack 8, the stack 8 may be provided with an adhesion arrangement 58 for interconnecting the web material of one stack 8 with that of a further stack 8. Thus, replenishing a dispenser 2 with stacks 8 of web material may be facilitated.

(22) Example embodiments described above may be combined as understood by a person skilled in the art. It is also understood by those skilled in the art that the dispenser may be used with a stack of non-perforated web material, in which case a separation unit comprising a cutting element may be provided in the dispenser. The cutting element may for instance be a cutting knife, a rotating cutting cylinder, or a serrated edge.

(23) Although the invention has been described with reference to example embodiments, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art. For instance, each one of the first and second layers of the web material may comprise one or more sub-layers. The sub-layers may be at least partially connected to each other. The web material in a stack of continuous web material may be V-folded or W-folded in an accordion-like manner.

(24) Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of various example embodiments and that the invention is defined only the appended claims.

(25) 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.