INDENTED CORELESS ROLLS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING

Abstract: A coreless roll (10) of absorbent paper product such as toilet tissue is configured to be easier to mount to a rotary dispenser (32) than coreless rolls heretofore known. The coreless roll includes a rolled web of absorbent paper product (12) that is rolled about a winding axis (16) into a cylinder having first and second flat ends (14), and a pair of depressions defined in the coreless roll. A first of the depressions is defined on one side (20) of the roll and is substantially centered with respect to a winding axis (16) of the roll, and the second depression is on a second, opposite side (22) of the roll and is also substantially centered with respect to the winding axis (16) of the roll. Methods of making and using the coreless web are also described.

Description: INDENTED CORELESS ROLLS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention pertains to the field of commercial and consumer absorbent paper products, which includes toilet tissue and paper towels. More specifically, this invention relates to an improved coreless roll of absorbent paper product that is formed so as to be easy to mount onto a dispenser. 2. Description of the Prior Art Commercial and consumer absorbent paper products such as toilet tissue and paper towels are typically distributed and dispensed in roll form, and nearly always include a hollow cylindrical core that the product is wrapped about. The core is usually some type of cardboard, which is glued together and to the product so that the core stays intact and the product does not separate from the core. The product is then dispensed by mounting the roll on a spindle, such as can be found on the ubiquitous bathroom toilet roll dispenser, that passes through or otherwise penetrates the inner space of the core. Some dispensers include pegs that penetrate the hollow space within the core for only a limited extent, as demonstrated in U.S. Patents 390,084 and 2,905,404 to Lane and Simmons, respectively. Recently, coreless rolls of toilet tissue have appeared on the market, primarily in Europe, that are wound throughout the entire diameter of the roll. There are advantages and disadvantages associated with the coreless rolls. Coreless rolls are ecologically superior to cored rolls because no adhesives or throwaway materials are used to make the product. In addition, more product can be provided in the space that would otherwise have been occupied by the core. Cored rolls are more expensive to manufacture than coreless rolls because of the expense of making the cores and joining the cores to the product. In addition, coreless rolls have the advantage of being less subject to pilferage in commercial locations because of their inherent incompatibility with conventional dispensers. On the other hand, there are dispensing problems with coreless rolls that so far been difficult to overcome. Conventional dispensers for coreless rolls typically include an enclosed support surface that the roll is supported on as it turns, and an opening through which the product is passed. While functional, these dispensers have some undesirable characteristics, including an inability to control drag resistance to withdrawal of the product, the fact that the product actually touches the inside of the dispenser, which might be considered unsanitary by some consumers, and an inability to provide 180 degree product access to the consumer. Many of the above described problems would be overcome if a dispenser existed for mounting a coreless roll to rotate about its axis, as cored roll dispensers do. Unfortunately, such a dispenser has yet to be successfully developed. One of the problems that stands in the way of the development of such a dispenser involves how the coreless roll is to be centered on the dispenser. If the roll is not centered, a rotating imbalance will be created as the roll turns. Also, the roll will be prevented from dispensing product until expiration in the event that its winding axis is not precisely centered on the dispenser. However, since the typical coreless roll has flat, unbroken side surfaces, it is difficult to locate the location of the winding axis. It is clear that a need exists for an improved system, method and product for permitting the effective dispensing of coreless rolls of absorbent consumer and commercial paper products. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved system, method and product for permitting the effective dispensing of coreless rolls of absorbent consumer and commercial paper products. According to a first aspect of the invention, a method of treating a coreless roll of absorbent paper product so as to make it easier for a user to center a winding axis of the coreless roll with respect to a dispenser includes steps of: (a) positioning a tool adjacent to at least one side of the coreless roll so that the tool is substantially centered with respect to the winding axis of the roll; and (b) pressing the tool into the side of the roll to form a visible depression in the side of the roll that is centered with respect to the winding axis of the roll, whereby maintenance personnel will find it easier to center the roll with respect to a dispenser. A method of mounting a coreless roll of absorbent paper product into a dispenser according to a second aspect of the invention includes steps of (a) locating at least one depression that is formed in at least one side surface of the coreless roll; (b) aligning the coreless roll with respect to the dispenser with the aid of the depression; and (c) securing the coreless roll onto the dispenser in the aligned position. According to a third aspect of the invention, a coreless roll of absorbent paper product that is configured to be easier to mount to a rotary dispenser than coreless rolls heretofore known includes a rolled web of absorbent paper product that is rolled about a winding axis into a cylinder having first and second flat ends; and a depression defined in at least one of said ends for guiding a user to center said rolled web with respect to a dispenser, whereby the coreless roll can be conveniently and accurately mounted into the dispenser. These and various other advantages and features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a conventional coreless roll of an absorbent paper product; FIGURE 2A is a diagrammatical view depicting a first step in a process that is performed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2B is a diagrammatical view depicting a second step in the process shown in FIGURE 2A; FIGURE 2C is a diagrammatical view depicting a third step in the process shown in FIGURES 2A and 2B; FIGURE 2D is a diagrammatical view depicting a fourth step in the process shown in FIGURES 2A-2C; and FIGURE 3 is an assembly viewed depicting installation of an improved coreless role according to a preferred embodiment of the invention on to a dispenser. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numeral designate corresponding structure throughout the views, FIGURE 1 depicts a conventional coreless role 10 of an absorbent paper product web 12. Coreless role 10 is symmetrical about a winding axis 16 and has a pair of oppositely facing flat side surfaces 14 defined thereon which are substantially flat and unbroken, as is shown in FIGURE 1. As may be imagined from viewing FIGURE 1, it is difficult to locate the winding axis 16, which accounts for the difficulty of mounting such coreless rolls 10 onto rotary type dispensers such as, for example, the dispenser that is depicted in FIGURE 3. FIGURES 2A-2D depict a method, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, of treating such a coreless roll 10 of absorbent paper product 12 so as to make it easier for a user to center a winding axis 16 of the coreless roll 10 with respect to a dispenser, such as the dispenser 32 that is depicted in FIGURE 3. Referring to FIGURES 2A-2D, the preferred method is performed by first dampening selected portions of the two oppositely facing side surfaces 20, 22 of the coreless roll 10. In a preferred embodiment, this is carried out by advancing a pair of nozzles 18, respectively, toward the side surfaces 22 to dampen the central area of the side surfaces 20, 22. Nozzles 18 are then retracted, as is also indicated diagrammatically in FIGURE 2A. Alternatively, the dampening depicted in FIGURE 2A could be performed in other ways, such as by using the indenting tool itself to perform the dampening. The indenting tool could have a fluid passage defined therein, or a reservoir for holding the dampening fluid. As is shown in FIGURE 2B, a pair of cylindrical tools 24, 26 are then advanced toward the wetted center portion of the side surfaces 20, 22 of the coreless roll 10. Tools 24, 26 preferably have a diameter that is within the range of substantially 1/32 of an inch to one half of an inch. Most preferably, tools 24, 26 have diameters that are approximately 5/32 of an inch. Tools 24, 26 are preferably turned about their respective axis as they are advanced into the wetted sides 20, and 22 of the coreless roll 10, as is shown in FIGURE 2C. The inventors have found that by wetting the area to be indented considerably less force is required to form the indentation. At the same time, the wetting enables a more uniform and molded appearance to be 'achieved when forming the depression. In addition, the inventors have determined that the most effective method of making the indentation seems to be a combination of a rotary and plunging action. A piston-like plunging action, without the rotary motion, and especially without dampening, has been found to damage the edges of the hole or depression and lessons the likelihood of being able to obtain a uniform molded appearance. After the step depicted in FIGURE 2C, the tools 24, 26 are withdrawn, leaving the completed improved coreless roll 28 of the absorbent paper product depicted in FIGURES 2D and 3. As is shown in FIGURE 3, coreless roll 28 has a clearly defined depression 30 formed in the respective side surfaces 20, and 22 thereof. The invention also includes a method of mounting the improved coreless roll 28 of absorbent paper product onto a dispenser, such as the dispenser 32 shown in FIGURE 3 that is mounted to a wall 34. This is accomplished by locating the depressions 30 that are formed in the respective side surfaces of the improved coreless roll 28, then aligning the coreless roll 28 with respect to the dispenser 32. In practice, this is done by aligning the depressions 30 with dowels 36, 38 in the dispenser 32. Dowels 36, 38 may have pins 40, 42 extending from ends thereof to further aid in retention of the coreless roll 28 on the dispenser 32 during operation. A retracting mechanism 44 may be provided to retract the second dowel 38 for ease of installation and/or removal of a coreless roll 28 from the dispenser 32. It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS; 1. A method of treating a coreless roll of absorbent paper product so as to make it easier for a user to center a winding axis of the coreless roll with respect to a dispenser, comprising steps of: (a) positioning a tool adjacent to at least one side of the coreless roll so that the tool is substantially centered with respect to the winding axis of the roll; and (b) pressing the tool into the side of the roll to form a visible depression in the side of the roll that is centered with respect to the winding axis of the roll, whereby maintenance personnel will find it easier to center the roll with respect to a dispenser. 2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of wetting the tool prior to the completion of step (b) . 3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of wetting a portion of the side of the roll that the tool will be applied to prior to step (b) . 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (b) is performed by rotating the tool about an axis of the tool as the tool is pressed into the side of the roll . 5. A method according to claim 2, wherein step (b) is performed by rotating the tool about an axis of the tool as the tool is pressed into the side of the roll. 6. A method according to claim 3 , wherein step (b) is performed by rotating the tool about an axis of the tool as the tool is pressed into the side of the roll . 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the tool that penetrates the roll in step (b) is substantially cylindrical. 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the cylindrical portion of the tool has a diameter that is within the range of substantially 1/32" to 1/2". 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the cylindrical portion of the tool has a diameter that is approximately 5/32". 10. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (b) is performed so that the tool penetrates into the coreless roll a distance within the range of substantially 1/32" to 1/2". 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein step (b) is performed so that the tool penetrates into the coreless roll a distance of approximately 3/16". 12. A coreless roll of absorbent paper product that is manufactured according to the method set forth in claim 1. 13. A method of mounting a coreless roll of absorbent paper product into a dispenser, comprising steps of: (a) locating at least one depression that is formed in at least one side surface of the coreless roll; (b) aligning the coreless roll with respect to the dispenser with the aid of the depression; and (c) securing the coreless roll onto the dispenser in the aligned position. 14. A method according to claim 13, wherein step (a) is performed by locating a pair of depressions in the coreless roll, a first of the depressions being on one side of the roll and substantially centered with respect to a winding axis of the roll, the second depression being on a second, opposite side of the roll and also being substantially centered with respect to the winding axis of the roll. 15. A coreless roll of absorbent paper product that is configured to be easier to mount to a rotary dispenser than coreless rolls heretofore known, comprising: a rolled web of absorbent paper product that is rolled about a winding axis into a cylinder having first and second flat ends; and a depression defined in at least one of said ends for guiding a user to center said rolled web with respect to a dispenser, whereby the coreless roll can be conveniently and accurately mounted into the dispenser. 16. A coreless roll according to claim 15, wherein said web is not cut to form said depression. 17. A coreless roll according to claim 15, wherein said depression is of the type that is formed by pressing a tool into said end. 18. A coreless roll according to claim 17, wherein said depression is of the type that is formed by pressing a tool into said end while a portion of the rolled web that the tool penetrates is damp. 19. A coreless roll according to claim 15, wherein a pair of depressions is defined in the coreless roll, a first of the depressions being on one side of the roll and substantially centered with respect to a winding axis of the roll, the second depression being on a second, opposite side of the roll and also being substantially centered with respect to the winding axis of the roll.

Inventors: MITCHELL JOSEPH, MITCHELL, JOSEPH
Applicants: KIMBERLY CLARK TISSUE COMPANY, KIMBERLY-CLARK TISSUE COMPANY
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A47K10
IPC codes: A47K10, B65H18