Dispenser for strip material wound in rolls

Abstract: The dispenser for strip material (N) comprises: a dispensing compartment (10) with roll supporting means (13) that support the roll so that its axis is vertical and allow it to rotate; in the wall defining the said compartment, an essentially vertical slot (11) for dispensing the strip material (N); and a reserve compartment (7) for housing at least one spare roll (R s ).

Description: The invention relates to a novel dispenser for paper strip material wound in rolls, such as for example toilet rolls, paper towels or the like. The dispensers currently in use, especially for domestic and informal use, consist of a single support for a single roll, positioned so that its axis is horizontal and so that it unwinds horizontally. Spare rolls are usually stored separately, with individual rolls being taken out as and when the roll in use runs out and needs replacing. However, on industrial or commercial premises, it is known to use dispensers with reserve compartments and with systems that automatically replace the finished roll with a new one, but these systems are bulky and complex. From US-A-4,177,958 a dispenser is known, which includes a dispensing compartment with supporting means that hold the roll so that its axis is vertical, thereby allowing it to be dispensed; an essentially vertical slot for dispensing the strip material; and a reserve compartment, positioned underneath the dispensing compartment, for housing at least one or more spare rolls. In contrast to conventional dispensers, therefore, the dispenser according to US-A-4,177,958 has had its dispensing axis rotated through 90°. Taking out one of the spare rolls from the reserve compartment is, however, a rather unpractical operation. The object of the present invention is to produce a dispenser for strip material wound in rolls that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art dispenser. Starting from US-A-4,177,958 this object is achieved with the features of claim 1. Additional advantageous features and embodiments of the dispenser according to the invention are detailed in the appended claims and will be described with reference to an exemplary embodiment. In the drawings: Figs. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of a dispenser which does not fall within the scope of the invention, Fig. 2 being a front view on II-II in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 an axial section on III-III in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 a longitudinal section of the roll supporting means in a modified embodiment; Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section of the an embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention, with a inner basket; Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal section of the basket of the dispenser shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 shows a view on VII-VII in Fig. 6; Figs 8 and 9 show two external views of the dispenser in Fig. 5; Fig. 10 is an external side view of an additional embodiment; and Fig. 11 is a section on XI-XI in Fig. 10. With initial reference to Figs 1 to 5, the dispenser, indicated as a whole by the reference numeral 1, consists - in the embodiment illustrated - of two coaxial cylindrical elements made of sheet metal, indicated by the numerals 3 and 5. The cylindrical element 3 has an opening 3A, while the inner cylindrical element 5 has an opening 5A, of essentially the same shape and size as the opening 3A. The two elements 3 and 5 are capable of relative angular movement with respect to their common geometric axis so that the openings 5A and 3A can be made to coincide or can be positioned diametrically opposite one another, as shown in Fig. 3. In this way, the lower compartment 7 defined by the elements 3 and 5 can be opened and closed via an angular sliding movement of the two elements. The external cylindrical element 3 is attached to a flat circular wall 9 that separates the lower compartment 7 from an upper, dispensing, compartment 10. The compartment 10 has a dispensing slot 11 that is essentially vertical and parallel to the geometric axis A-A of the dispenser. The circular wall 9, that has openings 9A for purposes which will be described below, is attached to a spindle 13 with a flange 13A, on which is placed a roll R of strip material, such as a toilet roll, having a tubular core T. The roll R rests on the flange 13A of the spindle and can therefore readily rotate while the strip material wound on it is pulled out via the dispensing slot 11, as may be seen by way of example in Fig. 1, in which the material being dispensed is indicated by N. The dispensing compartment 10 is closed at the top by a lid 17 that has at least one central portion 17A made of transparent material, such as plexiglas, glass or the like, so that the inside of the dispensing compartment may be viewed. The inner cylindrical element 5 is closed at the bottom by a circular wall 5A, beneath which protrudes a collar-like portion 5B of the cylindrical element 5, which portion, together with the bottom wall 5A, defines a recess for a rubber ring 19 that forms the element via which the dispenser rests on the floor. A certain number of spare rolls R s , shown by chain lines in Fig. 3, can be housed inside the compartment 7. In this way, a column-shaped structure is obtained that can rest on the floor anywhere in the room in which it is to be used. A supply of spare rolls R S can be stored inside the reserve compartment 7, while the dispensing compartment 10 contains a single roll positioned so that its axis is vertical and so that it unwinds vertically. Through the transparent portion 17A of the lid 17 it is possible to see how much of the roll R being dispensed is left and how much has been used and, through the said lid 17 and the apertures 9A, it is also possible to check how many spare rolls are still available in the reserve compartment 17. Fig. 4 shows, in an enlarged detail of the longitudinal section, an alternative arrangement of the members for supporting and rotating the roll R being dispensed. In this case, the spindle 13 does not have an associated flange but engages with a beaker-shaped element 31 inserted inside the tubular core T of the roll R. The beaker-shaped element 31 has a base 31A that rests on the top end 13B of the spindle. The reference 31B indicates a flange on the beaker-shaped member 31 on which the roll R rests. This arrangement facilitates rotation of the roll R and therefore dispensing of the material wound on it. The beaker-shaped member 31 can be supplied with the dispenser 1, or could also be inserted in each finished roll R so that it can be used with the dispenser forming the subject of the present invention. Figs 5 to 9 show an embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention. The same reference numerals are used to indicate identical or corresponding parts. In this case, the dispenser is formed by a single cylindrical body formed by a cylindrical element 3 with an opening 3A. The cylindrical element 3 is closed at the top by a lid 17, preferably made of transparent material. A rubber ring 19 is provided at the bottom and forms a base via which the dispenser rests on the floor. Inside the cylindrical element there is a basket, indicated as a whole by the reference 51 and shown in isolation in Figs 6 and 7. The basket 51 is formed by three strips of sheet metal 53, 54 and 55 that have been folded into a C shape and are joined together via two plates, a top plate 59 and a bottom plate 57. The strip 53 has two horizontal portions that are approximately twice the length of those of the two strips 54, 55, which are of equal length. A basket is thus formed in which its sides are defined by three vertical strips positioned at 90° to each other, and one of its sides is completely accessible so that spare rolls R s can be inserted. Attached to the top of the plate 59 is a spindle 13 on which a roll R is placed, from which the strip material is dispensed. A bush 31, having the same functions as the beaker-shaped member denoted by the same reference numeral in Figs 1-5, can be inserted between the roll R and the spindle 13. Fig. 5 shows the position of the basket 51 containing four spare rolls R s and with one roll R which is to be dispensed via the opening 3A on the spindle 13. As may be clearly seen from Fig. 5, the dispensing 10 and reserve 7 compartments are defined and separated by the basket 51, in which the top horizontal portions of the strips 53, 54, 55 and the plate 59 form a sort of dividing wall between the dispensing compartment 10 and the reserve compartment 7. When the roll R has run out, the lid 17 is removed and the basket 51 is raised and partially pulled out in order to remove one of the spare rolls R s . The basket is then replaced inside the cylindrical element 3, the new roll is placed on the spindle 13 and the dispensing compartment 10 is once again closed by the lid 17. The advantage of the dispenser of the invention is that it is less expensive to produce and the spare rolls R s are completely isolated from the outside, so that the base of the cylindrical element 3 can be welded to the side wall. This prevents damage to the rolls which could otherwise get wet. Figs 9 and 10 show an external view of the dispenser, the two views being orthogonal to each other. Instead of a flat, fixed lid 17, a cap-like lid may be provided, as shown in Figs 10 and 11, having a circular flat top surface and a cylindrical lateral surface in which the dispensing opening 3A is formed. In this case also, the lid 17 can be made of transparent material so that it is possible to check how much roll has been used.

Claims: Dispenser for strip material (N) wound in rolls (R), comprising: an outer cylindrical body (3) in said cylindrical body a dispensing compartment (10) with roll supporting means (13) that support the roll so that its axis is vertical and allow it to rotate; in the wall defining said compartment, an essentially vertical slot (11) for dispensing the strip material (N); and a reserve compartment (7) underneath said dispensing compartment, for housing at least one spare roll (R s ) characterised in that inside said outer cylindrical body (3) is housed a basket (51) for containing spare rolls (R S ), said basket defining said dispensing and said reserve compartments. Dispenser according to Claim 1, characterised in that said basket (51) defines a dividing wall between the reserve compartment (7) and the dispensing compartment (10), and in which said roll supporting means (13) are connected to said dividing wall. Dispenser according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said reserve compartment (7) and said dispensing compartment (10), positioned one above the other, define a column-shaped structure that can rest directly on the floor. Dispenser according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said dispensing compartment (10) is closed by a transparent lid (17). Dispenser according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that the roll supporting means comprise a spindle (13) having a vertical axis. Dispenser according to Claim 5, characterised in that said spindle has a flange (13A) on which the roll (R) rests. Dispenser according to claim 5, characterized in that said spindle engages with a beaker-shaped member (31) inserted in the tubular core (T) of the roll (R). Dispenser according to Claim 7, characterised in that said spindle has a conical end (13B) on which the base of said beaker-shaped member (31) rests.

Inventors: PERINI PIERLUIGI, PERINI, PIERLUIGI
Applicants: PERINI PIERLUIGI, PERINI, PIERLUIGI
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A47K10
IPC codes: A47K10