Paper toweling or tissue dispensing apparatus including roll overspin control

Dispenser apparatus for holding a roll of paper toweling or tissue sheet material and dispensing the sheet material, the apparatus including structure exerting drag forces on the roll to reduce overspin when pulling forces on the sheet material causing dispensing have been terminated.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to dispenser apparatus for holding a roll of paper toweling or tissue sheet material and for dispensing the sheet material during rotation of the roll.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Overspin of a roll paper product such as paper toweling pulled during dispensing can create slack in the dispensed toweling remaining in a dispenser after the desired length has been dispensed. The slack segment can interfere with subsequent proper operation of some dispensers.

Dispenser arrangements are known which address the problem of overspin and slack creation. Such known devices are characterized by their relative complexity and high expense. The following patent documents are believed to be representative of the current state of the prior art in this field:

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to dispenser apparatus for holding a roll of paper toweling or tissue sheet material having centrally disposed first and second roll support openings at opposite ends thereof and for dispensing the sheet material during rotation of the roll.

The dispenser apparatus includes a first roll support positioned in the first roll support opening, the first roll support operable to support the roll and allow rotation of the roll relative thereto to unwind the sheet material when a pulling force is applied to the sheet material.

The first roll support is configured to exert frictional drag forces on the roll to reduce overspin of the roll when the pulling force is terminated.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now toFIGS. 1-3, 5 and 6of the drawings, dispenser apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is illustrated. The dispenser apparatus is for holding a roll12of paper toweling or tissue sheet material having roll support openings14,16at opposed ends thereof.

The dispenser apparatus is for dispensing the sheet material during rotation of the roll caused by a pulling force applied to the sheet material. The approach for applying pulling force to the sheet material for accomplishing dispensing may be use of any known prior art mechanical mechanisms or simply applying such forces manually to the toweling or tissue directly.

The dispenser apparatus incorporates a roll support18positioned in the roll support opening14and operable to support the roll and allow rotation of the roll relative thereto to unwind the sheet material when a pulling force is applied to the sheet material. The roll support18is configured to exert frictional drag forces on the roll12to reduce overspin of the roll when the pulling force is terminated.

Roll support18is configured to hold the weight of the roll off center. In this first embodiment of the invention, the roll support18is connected to and projects inwardly from a roll support arm20which may be of any suitable type commonly used in toweling and tissue roll dispensers.

A second roll support arm24is positioned at the other end of the roll and utilized to support the roll. Roll support arm24rotatably accommodates a plug26which is inserted into roll support opening16. This latter arrangement is commonly employed to support a roll end and is merely exemplary since any suitable known arrangement for supporting the end of the roll at roll support opening16and allowing rotation of the roll may be employed.

Roll support18functions as an overspin control or reducer. This is accomplished by holding the weight of the roll off center. Roll support18includes a hub projection28and a hub projection support, the latter in this embodiment comprising a portion30of roll support arm20, the hub projection being pivotal mounted relative to the hub projection support.

The hub projection includes a male portion32and a hub projection base34from which the male portion extends.

The hub projection base34is connected by hinge36disposed the bottom thereof with the hub projection support30of roll support arm20and is tiltable between the positions shown inFIGS. 1 and 3. Retainer structure in the form of an elongated hook38on the hub projection base34extending through an aperture40of the hub projection support30limits pivotal movement between the hub projection an the hub projection support.

The roll support18is configured to include space and distinct roll core contact points. The roll core contact points are di imposed at different angles relative to vertical.

Male portion32has an oval-shaped outer peripheral surface with two adjacent curved upper corners42,44forming the roll core contact points. The male portion has an oblong configuration and is canted, as may perhaps best be seen with respect toFIG. 2, so that the roll core holds the weight of the roll off center, the core being shown in dash lines inFIG. 2and designated by reference numeral46, the core46having a topmost upper surface49and core inner surface51.

The roll core contact points are disposed at different angles to the vertical, the verticle axis identified by reference numeral47. InFIG. 2these angles are shown as 45 degrees and 60 degrees; however, the angles shown are relative to a specific core diameter and are tunable based on overspin reduction needed for a particular core diameter or other characteristic, such as if mated with a roll plug system and the frictional characteristics of the plug system. The hub projection male portion shape illustrated creates more frictional drag than a centered shape would, as can be depicted by a force diagram (not shown). If desired, a roll support similar to roll support18may also be employed at the other end of the roll as well.

An upper segment of the male portion of the roll support18hub projection has been cut away to leave an opening48. This feature forces contact with the roll core away from the lateral face of the hub projection base34.

FIG. 4shows a second embodiment of the invention. Other than the male portion of the hub projection, components of the second embodiment are identical to the components of the first embodiment and share the same reference numbers. The male portion of this second embodiment, identified by reference numeral54, has no cut-away upper portion and is slightly larger in size for accommodating a different sized roll core.

FIGS. 7-9, 11 and 12disclose another alternative embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the roll support is identified by reference numeral60. The hub projection support is part of a roll support arm20and is of the same construction as the hub projection support previously described with other embodiments and bears the same reference number30.

The hub projection62of this embodiment differs from that described above. More particularly, the male portion64and the shape of the hub projection base66differ. The hub projection male portion64is round rather than oblong in shape and has a single centered contact point68with the inside diameter of the roll core. This may best be seen with reference toFIG. 8.

The male portion64forms an upper space or void70between the distal end of the male portion and the outer surface of hub projection base66.FIG. 7andFIG. 8show the male portion64extending along a horizontal axis, that is, in untilted condition. The hub projection base of course is also untilted. When the hub projection62bears the weight of an end of the roll12it begins to tilt and the upper outer surface of the hub projection base66engages the roll end.

As may perhaps best be seen with reference toFIG. 12, hub projection base66has an upper slanted face portion72which extends downwardly somewhat beyond the center of the hub projection base. The upper slanted face portion may be cylindrical. Immediately below the upper slanted face portion72is a face portion74tangentially disposed relative to the face portion72and located a slight distance below the center of the hub projection base. InFIG. 7face portion74is shown engaging the end of the roll. The weight of the roll will move the hub projection62to a tilted orientation, as shown for example inFIG. 9. The location where the roll end contacts the face varies with the amount of tilt or pivot.

Overspin reduction or control is accomplished through bias with the end of the roll created by a moment arm of roll weight applied to the male portion of the hub projection which is offset from the pivot point located at the hinge76pivotally connecting the hub projection base to the hub projection support30of the roll support arm. The cut-away top portion of the male hub projection portion creates a larger moment arm than would be accomplished without an upper space or void70. The embodiment shown inFIG. 10is identical to the embodiment ofFIG. 9except that the male portion84has no cut-away or void space. As indicated by the illustrated downwardly extending arrows inFIGS. 9 and 10, the contact point of the male portion84with the roll core is substantially closer to the pivot point at hinge76, thus creating a considerably shorter moment arm.

It is typical for toweling rolls to have a width tolerance of plus/minus ⅛ inch, or more. The pivoting hub projection arrangement allows the roll support system to absorb that tolerance without excessively squeezing the maximum width rolls. The bias with the end of the roll also keeps the roll positively engaged with both roll supports so that the narrow rolls will not fall off of the supports during dispensing.

FIG. 11shows a fixed roll holder projection86on the right roll support.

FIGS. 13 and 14show an embodiment of an invention wherein a hub projection male portion90is affixed to the inner surface of a roll support arm20, for example by being integrally molded therewith. The male portion has an oval configuration and is canted to provide two roll core contact points as described above with respect to the first embodiment of the invention. Alternatively, the male portion could have a generally oval configuration with flat surfaces disposed between curved corners, for example the generally rectangular male portion shape shown inFIGS. 18 and 19.

FIGS. 15-17show a single fixed mandrel tissue dispenser94utilising the overspin reducing concept disclosed herein. The dispenser cover is not shown. The hub projection male portion or mandrel96is elongated so that it contacts all or at least a significant portion of the length of the roll tissue core. The hub projection male portion or mandrel96is oval shaped, having two upper curved contact corners due to canting of the mandrel.

FIGS. 18 and 19show another embodiment of the invention wherein a hub projection male portion98having an outer surface of generally rectangular configuration is affixed to the inner surface of a roll support arm20, for example being integrally molded therewith. In this embodiment the roll contact points are at upper adjacent curved corners100of the but projection male portion. These contact points are disposed on opposite sides of a vertical axis extending through the top-most, upper inner surface of said roll core and at the same angle (in this instance 40 degrees) relative to the vertical axis.

The overspin control features of this invention can be employed at left, right or both sides of a dual support system.

It is also to be understood that the principles of the present invention can be applied to rolls wherein the core is a traditional separate core about which paper sheet material is wound thereabout or wherein the core is formed from the same toweling as the rest of the rolls, i.e. so-called coreless-cored rolls.