A device for dispensing flat sheet material from a roll in a housing frame

Abstract: A dispenser for flat sheets from a roll (3) in a housing frame (1), which encloses flanges (2) in a hollow core (4) with a perforation (5) in such a way that empty cores can be pulled out and a next roll can come into position to use.

Description: The present invention relates to a device for dispensing sheet material from a roll which is stored in a housing. The sheet material can be paper, plastic foil or aluminium foil, in particular toilet paper, cleansing paper, packaging wrapper or paper for clearing,as used in lavatories, in housekeeping, public buildings, shops, industry, hotels etc. Such rolls are kept in housings to render the possibility of application for daily use, and easy to refill and to dispense in a hygienical way, and the required length is at one's disposal by unrolling and tearing or cutting off. In such housings, which exist in several different shapes, it is possible to put several rolls above each other, such that a next roll will be available when the first roll is used up. The problem has risen that a shaft should be placed in the axial line of the roll, in order to keep the roll in its position inside the housing. In the Netherlands Patent Application 83 01 285 a similar spindle for a roll comprised in a holding device for flexible blade material is described, which is extending at both sides and which is pressed in an outward direction by means of a spring,and can be pulled back. The insert of the spindle into a new roll is rather difficult, and the holding device ought to be opened for that purpose. This is a disadvantage in case of putting in a housing in public areas,such as toilets. In the U.S. Patent 3,572,600 a holding device for rolls is described, wherein the rolls are not put upon one such spindle but upon two shaft-shaped tubes,which are placed in each others extension. It is envisaged that said shafts are not grasped any more,if the material of the roll is used up, such that they will have to drop from the holding device. However this does not appear if there is still any paper or foil is left behind upon the shafts, such that it cannot be reviewed whether material is still present,and an obstruction in the housing might appear The housing should be opened again and again in order to review, to remove remainders of an almost consumed roll, and to put a new roll in place. The disadvantages of these known devices for dispensing a sheet material from a roll are now obviated by means of the construction according to the present invention. To that end the housing according to the present invention is provided with two collar flanges, put opposite to each other at the sides around the imaginary horizontal central axis, and in each of said flanges a flexible collar is fitting, which can be pushed in into the axial direction, as it is made of an elastic polymer, and being part of a rotatable hollow tube, around which the sheet material is rolled up, which is perforated such that it will break at the take-out, as it is somewhat pushed in radially, which is becoming possible only if the rolled material of same has been consumed. By the means of both flanges positioned opposite of each other in the housing frame and by providing the flexible collars of the extending from the hollow core the possibility is created to take out the empty core without any trouble and to slip a following roll through the interstice of the housing frame, or, in the case that several rolls have been stored in the housing frame, to allow the following roll to slip into its position, whereas the collars of the new roll remain in a pushed in position,until the place of the flanges is reached, where they will leap out in axial direction into the flange opening for receiving. The collars consist of a flexible elastic plastic material, preferably of polypropylene, but any other elastic plastic, such as a copolymer of propylene and ethylene or heterotactic vinyl acetate with sufficient reshaping properties (plastic memory) can also be used for this item. Each collar consists of a circular flat middle part with a surrounding groove with a diameter such that the middle part possesses a strain directed outwards, if the circumference of said collar brings to bear a pressure in the outward direction when the middle part is pushed. Pilfering of rolls which are provided with coiled sheet-shaped material is not possible, because after the insertion the collars protruding from the ends of the cores in the flanges are preventing the removal of the roll until the last piece of sheet-shaped material has been used up. The replacement of a removed empty core by a new roll is much more simple, since it is not necessary to open the housing of the frame. The invention is further elucidated on the basis of the annexed figures 1-5. In these figures the most important accessories of the housing and the roll according to the present invention are shown schematically in partial cross-sections. The part numerals indicated in the different figures indicate identical accessories. Figure 1 shows a cross section of the housing of the frame (1), comprising at opposite sides the flanges (2) facing each other. Figure 2 shows in partial cross section the rolls (3) of paper or foil and centrally in said roll the core (4), which has a perforation (5) on its circumference, with the collar (6) of a flexible plastic, which is protruding in this figure, but the central part of same can be pushed in the axial direction such that said central part will acquire a stress property laterally in outward direction. Figure 3 shows the insertion of the roll (3) into the housing frame (1), whereat the still collapsed collars (6) have reached the flanges (2) respectively. Figure 4 presents the situation of the roll (3) in the housing frame (1) pursuant to the linear expansion of the collars (6) in the flanges (2). In figure 5 it is shown schematically, how by grasping the empty core (4) the disengagement of that core (4) is effected, such that the parts of said core are dropping out of the housing or can be taken out, because the collar (6) is getting off from flange (2), as a result of the falling apart of the core (4) along the perforation (5). The integrated form of suspension of the roll makes any spindle or shaft superfluous. The placing of rolls in the housing frame is therefore much easier than in the devices according to the state of the art. Any opening of the housing is not necessary. Housing frames without any movable part can be provided with the rolls provided with collars according to the present invention. Remainders of empty cores and remainder pieces of paper or foil in the housing or in the surroundings of the dispenser is well-nigh impossible. The invention is not restricted to the embodiment as described in the foregoing. The housing frame can also comprise several stock rolls, which can be inserted in the same manner, as is described for one roll only. The housing frame can be open at the bottom or it can be provided with a closing panel with a cleft. The housing can also be provided with an opening at the front side, through which the sheet material can be pulled.

Claims: A device for dispensing sheet material from a roll (3) which is rotatively stored in a housing frame (1) consisting of a housing which is provided with two flanges (2) put opposite to each other at both sides around an imaginary horizontal central axis, the roll of sheet material being wound around a hollow core (4), characterized in that the ends of said hollow core are closed by means of circular flexible collars (6), which fit in said flanges, and which can be pushed inwardly in the axial direction, and that said core is perforated (5) along a line around its circumference. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the circular flexible collars consist of a flexible plastic material. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the flexible plastic is polypropylene. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the flexible plastic is a copolymer of propylene. A device according to claims 1-2, characterized in that the circular flexible collars consist of a round middle part circumfered by a groove, which has a diameter such that the middle part has a strain in an axial direction, if the circumference of said collar is increased somewhat by pushing the middle part. A housing for dispensing sheet material provided with devices according to one or several of the preceding claims said housing being also provided with two flanges put opposite to each other at both sides around an imaginary horizontal central axis.

Inventors: VAN ERVEN JOHANNES HENDRICUS M, VAN HOOF JACOBUS JAN WILHELMUS, VAN ERVEN, JOHANNES HENDRICUS MARIA CATHARINA, VAN HOOF, JACOBUS JAN WILHELMUS MARIA
Applicants: VENDOR BV, VENDOR B.V.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B65H75
IPC codes: A47K10, B65H75