STRIP DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR FLEXIBLE MATERIAL PACKS IN COILS POSITIONED HORIZONTALLY OR VERTICALLY

Abstract

A dispensing apparatus for strips of coiled flexible material having at regular intervals tear lines to form the strips. The apparatus includes a casing receiving the coil, the casing having a circular opening for the passage and distribution of a strip of coiled flexible material under a tensile stress. The casing also includes at least one washer fixed on the casing concentrically with the distribution opening, wherein the internal diameter of the at least one washer is smaller than the diameter of the opening. The one or more washers are made of an elastomeric material capable of being deformed under the effect of the material distribution through the opening for achieving, concomitantly, a strip cut along a tear line. The one or more washers cooperate with an element manually operable and arranged to reduce the internal diameter of the one or more washers.

Claims

1. A dispensing apparatus for coiled flexible material having tear lines to form strips, the apparatus comprising: a casing receiving the coiled flexible material, the casing having a circular opening for passage of the coiled flexible material when under a tensile stress; at least one washer fixed on the casing concentrically with the circular opening, an internal diameter of the at least one washer being smaller than a diameter of the circular opening, the at least one washer made of an elastomeric material deformable under an effect of the passage of the coiled flexible material through the circular opening for achieving, concomitantly, a strip cut along a tear line, wherein the at least one elastomeric washer cooperates with a manually operable element arranged to reduce the internal diameter of the at least one elastomeric washer.

2. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the manually operable element comprises a hollowed disk having a circular opening, the hollowed disk circular opening having a diameter greater than the internal diameter of the at least one elastomeric washer, wherein the hollowed disk is fixed to the at least one elastomeric washer.

3. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the hollowed disk is connected to a return spring in an inside diameter reduction position of the at least one washer.

4. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one washer comprises a plurality of superimposed elastomeric washers, and wherein each of the plurality of superimposed elastomeric washers have a same internal diameter.

5. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one washer comprises a plurality of superimposed elastomeric washers, and wherein each of the plurality of superimposed elastomeric washers have an internal diameter decreasing in size.

6. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one washer comprises a washer of rigid material interposed between elastomeric washers, wherein an internal diameter of the rigid material washer is at least equal in size to the diameter of the circular opening of the casing.

7. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elastomeric washer is fastened inside the casing.

8. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elastomeric washer is fastened outside the casing.

9. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elastomeric washer is mounted in combination with a support ring fastened about the circular opening of the casing.

10. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein mounted in combination with the support ring comprises positioned in an undercut formed in the support ring.

11. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the support ring has a dome shape, and wherein fastened about the circular opening of the casing comprises mounted by clipping onto an outer face of the casing.

12. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the mounting of the rigid material washer and the elastomeric washers comprises an indexing means relative to the circular opening of the casing.

13. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein faces of the at least one elastomeric washer are one of smooth and rough.

14. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the casing receiving the coiled flexible material comprises the coiled flexible material disposed on a vertical plane in the casing, wherein a central opening of the coiled flexible material is positioned opposite the circular opening of the casing, wherein the circular opening of the casing is positioned on a horizontal lower part of the casing, and wherein the coiled flexible material is supported on the horizontal lower part.

15. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the casing further comprises hinged arms, the hinged arms having ends provided with tips receiving the coiled flexible material, the hinged arms being hinged from a vertical position to a horizontal position, the horizontal position corresponding to a positioning mode of the coiled flexible material, the hinged arms being locked by locking means arranged on the casing in a vertically raised position or being locked by locking means for use in a vertical position of the horizontally lowered coiled flexible material.

16. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the locking means comprises recesses in sides of the casing adapted for receiving a bossing formed on an outside part of each of the hinged arms, each of the sides of the casing having a stop limiting the tilting of the hinged arms.

17. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the hollowed disk comprises a hollowed disk having a capacity for angular displacement and eccentrically with respect to the at least one elastomeric washer for positioning the hollowed disc circular opening at different positions relative the internal diameter of the at least one elastomeric washer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The invention is described hereinafter more in detail with the figures appended hereto in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view before assembly of the main components of the apparatus according to the invention.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus in the open position prior to placement of a coil.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus in closed position.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus in the open position, and prior to placement of the coil.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, after placement of the coil and closing of the apparatus.

[0034] FIGS. 6 to 12 show various forms for implementing and positioning the elastomeric washers for cutting a tape.

[0035] More particularly, FIGS. 6, 8 and 10 are partial, schematic and longitudinal sectional views, at the level of the washers when no tensile stress is applied on the strip, while FIGS. 7 and 9 correspond respectively to FIGS. 6 and 8, and show the action of the washers when a tensile stress is exerted on the band, for its cut.

[0036] FIG. 11 is a bottom view corresponding to FIG. 10.

[0037] FIGS. 13 and 14 show, by way of example, an embodiment in a vertical using position of the coil (FIG. 13), and in a horizontal operating using of the coil (FIG. 14).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0038] The dispensing apparatus for strip of flexible material is defined as a whole by (A). The coiled flexible material is designated as a whole by (B) and comprises, in known manner, at regular intervals, weakness or tear lines, or others, to form strips with predetermined lengths. Remember that the flexible material, which can be a wiping material of any known and appropriate type, paper, cotton, non-woven, being able to form towels, paper towels, toilet paper, . . . , can be realized in various thicknesses.

[0039] The apparatus comprises a casing (1) receiving the coil (B), said casing (1) having a circular opening (1a) for the passage and distribution of a strip (B1) under the effect of a tensile stress exerted by the user. In a non-limiting embodiment illustrated in the figures of the drawings, the receiving casing (1) has a rear face (1b), a horizontal bottom part (1c) in which is formed the dispensing opening (1a), and side faces (1d). The casing (1) receives a freely hinged cover (2). The cover and said casing have complementary locking means of any known and appropriate type. Obviously, the casing and the cover can be made in different materials and have different profiles.

[0040] According to a basic characteristic of the invention, the cutting of the material strips, at the pre-cut lines, is effected by at least one washer (3) fixed to the casing (1), particularly on the part (1c), concentrically to the dispensing opening (1a). The internal diameter (3a) of the washer (3) or washers (3) is smaller than the diameter of the dispensing opening (1a). Importantly, the washer(s) (3) is/are implemented in an elastomeric material capable of being deformed under the effect of a distribution of the material through said opening (1a), to cause concomitantly a cutting of a strip according to a considered tear line.

[0041] For example, the washer(s) (3) of elastomeric material can be implemented in all types of rubbery material, whose hardness is variable and may depend on the nature of the material.

[0042] Similarly, the washers (3) may be smooth or have a certain roughness. The one or more elastomeric washers (3) may also be formed by an O-ring.

[0043] In FIG. 12, the elastomeric washer(s) (3) is/are mounted in combination with a support ring (5) having fastening arrangements, with respect to the dispensing opening (1a). For example, the washer(s) (3) is/are positioned in an undercut (5a) formed in the thickness of the ring (5) by being maintained therein by a rigid washer (6). The ring (5) may have a dome shape and can be fixed by clipping, for example, at the external face of the casing (1) on the bottom part (1c) and co-axially to the dispensing opening (1a).

[0044] Advantageously, the washer(s) (3) cooperate(s) with a element (7) manually operable and arranged to reduce at will the internal diameter of the washer(s) (3). This element (7) consists for example of a hollowed disc bounding a circular opening (7a) whose diameter is greater than the internal diameter of the elastomeric washer(s) (3). The disc (7) is positioned co-axially at the elastomeric washer(s) (3), with capacity of eccentric angular displacement with respect to said washers. For example, the disk (7) is fixed to a rigid washer (4) by means of a pivot axis (18). The rigid washer (4) is for example fastened to the outside of the casing (1), concentrically to the opening (1a) of said casing. This offset hinge (18) results in that when someone acts on the disc (7) for example by means of an operating member in the form of a finger (7b), the opening (7a) of the disc is set in various orientations relative to the internal diameter of the washer(s) (3), thus changing its diameter (dashed lines, FIG. 11).

[0045] Note that the top face of the disc (7) in contact with the washer (4) may be covered with a rubbery material (12). Advantageously, the disc (7) is connected to a return spring (13) in a reduction position of the internal diameter of the washer(s) (3). Similarly, the disc is preferably mounted in the undercut (5a) of the ring (5), which has a notch for the deployment of the finger (7b).

[0046] It follows from these characteristics that in one position of the disc (7), the opening (7a) of the latter is arranged concentrically with the dispensing opening (1a) of the apparatus, to permit the engagement of the paper after loading the coil for a first use.

[0047] In another position of the disk, the opening (7a) is eccentric relative to the opening (1a), corresponding to a decrease of the diameter of the washers (3) for dispensing and cutting a strip under a small tensile stress exerted on the paper projecting from the opening (1a) (dashed lines, FIG. 11).

[0048] From this basic concept, various embodiments can be envisaged, as shown in particular in FIGS. 6 to 12 of the drawings.

[0049] For example, the opening (1a) may be in communication with several washers (3) superimposed and having the same internal diameter (FIG. 12), or the opening (1a) may be in communication with several washers (3) superimposed and with an internal diameter decreasing toward the strip dispensing to create a cone effect (FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9).

[0050] In a preferred embodiment which can however not be considered as limiting, and in the case of several elastomeric washers (3), a washer (4) made of rigid material is interposed between said washers (3), whose internal diameter (4a) is at least equal to the diameter of the dispensing opening (1a).

[0051] Whatever the embodiments, that is to say the arrangements of the washers, the latter can be fixed outside the casing (6, 7, and 10, 11) or inside the casing (8, 9). The different elastomeric washers (3) and the rigid washers (4) comprise all types of angular indexing means and all types of fastening means, relative to the dispensing opening (1a).

[0052] Whatever the embodiments and the arrangements of the elastomeric washers (3), after having engaged the material through the dispensing opening (1a), and therefore through the internal diameter (3a) of the elastomeric washer(s) (3), this or these latter deforms(s) resiliently under the effect of the tensile stress exerted on the material. This results in a pinching action at said material, causing concomitantly a cutting of a strip at the considered precut or weakness line, and this whatever the intensity and orientation of the tensile force exerted by the user on the material. It refers more particularly to FIGS. 7 and 9 of the drawings.

[0053] In the embodiments illustrated in particular in FIGS. 1 to 12), the material is disposed in a vertical plane, the central opening of the coil being arranged opposite to the dispensing opening (1a) formed in the thickness of the lower part (1c) of the casing (1). The coil (B) rests on this lower part, and the washer(s) (3) and/or (4), when this or these latter is/are fastened inside the casing (1). In this embodiment, the apparatus is used with the unwinding by the center of the material coil.

[0054] FIGS. 13 and 14 show, by way of indicative but not limitative example, an embodiment of the apparatus, in particular with respect to the casing, for the dispensing of coil material in a vertical position (FIG. 13), or in a horizontal position (FIG. 14). The casing (1) comprises hinged arms (8) on its side faces, whose ends are provided with tips (8a) receiving the material coil (B). The arms (8) are hinged from a vertical position to a horizontal position to correspond to the positioning mode of the material coil. The arm (8) can be locked in a vertically raised position for a vertical use of the coil (FIG. 13), or a horizontally lowered position for a horizontal use of the coil (FIG. 14) by means (9) (10) and (11) arranged on the casing (1). For example, these means are made by providing the side faces of the casing with a recess (9) on reception of a bossing (10) formed on the outside part of the hinged arm (8). The side faces of the casing comprise stops (11) limiting the tilting of the arm to the horizontal or substantially horizontal position.

[0055] The advantages are well apparent from the description. It emphasized and recalled the apparatus design simplicity for the cutting of pre-cut strips and materials by the use of simple elastomeric washers, of the type of those commonly used in trade.