Abstract:
A portable paper and tape dispensing apparatus accessible from at least two sides including dispensing stations capable of ready conversion to permit dispensing to either side. Each dispensing station is capable of uniting the paper and tape in a selected fashion prior to its exiting from the station.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Apparatus for dispensing paper and tape have been disclosed in numerous prior patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,152,032; 3,463,694; 3,553,060; 3,630,421; 3,787,271; and Re. 23,542). Other apparatus have been disclosed which permit ready substitution of paper rolls on cantilevered arms (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,847,709 and 4,052,248). 
     None of the prior apparatus has simplicity of construction and assembly capable of versatile dispensing and accomplished proper tape to paper union prior to exiting from the dispensing apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Broadly, the present invention is an apparatus for dispensing a paper-tape composite such apparatus having a frame, a dispensing unit secured to the frame, a pair of spaced-apart projections on the dispensing unit which projections are capable of detachably receiving and supporting either a roll of paper or a cutter and paper support element. Mounted between the projections is a tape dispenser orientable to feed the tape toward the projection having the paper roll on it. 
     It is a feature of the apparatus that one or more dispensing units may be mounted on the apparatus to permit withdrawal of the paper-tape composite from either side of the apparatus. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a view taken along and in the direction of the FIG. 1 arrow of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a view taken along and in the direction of the FIG. 6 arrow of FIG. 7; and 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, wheeled multiple dispensing apparatus 10 includes vertical frame 11; lower stand frame element 12 and wheel and axle set 13 which rest on a support floor. Vertical frame 11 is formed in an elongated U-shape consisting of two generally parallel uprights 15, 16 and a curved piece 17 which functions as a handle. Uprights 15, 16 and curved piece 17 are integrally formed. 
     Supported on vertical frame 11 are a plurality of individual dispensing units 20, 21, 22, and 23. Each such unit includes a V-shaped mount arm 20a, 21a, 22a, and 23a; two stationary support projections 24R and 24L; and a central tape support axle 26 (see also FIG. 4). Support projections 24R, 24L are positioned at approximately equal vertical heights for supporting either a rotatable paper roll 20b, 21b, 22b and 23b or a cutter and paper sheet support housing 20c, 21c, 22c, and 23c. Each stationary projection 24R, 24L is of a different length to serve paper rolls and support housings of differing widths (see FIG. 2). 
     Each dispensing unit 20, 21, 22, 23 is capable of carrying the roll of paper on either its right or its left projection 24R, 24L with its sheet support housing 20c (etc.) on the other projection. This permits withdrawing the end of paper sheet 18 from one or more rolls from either side of the apparatus 10. 
     Each projection 24R, 24L is positioned at an angle to the horizontal thus employing the force of gravity to assist in retaining the paper rolls 20b (etc.) on the projections. Removable frictional drag mechanisms 28 are attached through set screws 29 to the projection end portion 31 after a roll has been placed in operative position. The frictional drag mechanisms 28 operate by urging coil springs 32 against the roll end 33 to slow and stop roll rotation. This prevents the rolls, which have substantial weight and inertia, from continuing to rotate any substantial amount after the operator stops pulling on paper sheet 18. 
     Cutter and paper sheet support housings 20c, 21c, 22c and 23c include a top panel 20d, 21d, 22d, 23d; depending outside panel 20e, 21e, 22e and 23e and depending angled inside panel 20f, 21f, 22f and 23f. Each outside panel has holes 34 to receive threaded bolts 36 for bolting the panels to the projections. Each sheet support housing 20c, 21c, 22c and 23c is readily movable from the projection 24L, 24R to another by unbolting and rebolting. 
     Turning to FIG. 3, each side panel 20f (etc.) carries an extendible resilient sheet holder 37 which holder is connected to the ends of the panel by hooks 38. Indentations 20g, 21g, 22g and 23g in the inside panels at each end cradle the sheet holder hooks 38 to prevent them from moving out of position under action of sheet 18. Cutter outside panels 20e (etc.) carry serrated cutter edges 20h, 21h, 22h and 23h against which sheet 18 is pulled to tear off a selected length of the sheet. 
     Turning back to FIG. 1, tape application is accomplished by initially positioning the end of the tape as unrolled from a tape roll 41 from point A near the bottom of tape roll 40 to a point B on the paper roll 20b (etc.). The tape is then brought around the roll of paper 20b (etc.) and adhered to the top of the lead sheet 18. The pulling of sheet 18 will thereafter cause the tape to be unwound from tape roll 41 as selected amounts of paper are removed and cut off. The tape support axle 26 is shaped to support tape roll 41 to dispense to the left or, upon turning the roll 180°, to dispense to the right. 
     Turning to FIG. 6, a tabletop apparatus 48 carrying one dispensing unit 50 is shown which unit is constructed the same as those previously described above including a V-shaped mount arm 50a; a pair of projections 50R, 50L; a paper roll 50b; and a sheet support housing 50c having a top panel 50d; an outside panel 50e; inside panel 50f; and cutter edge 50h. Apparatus 48 has a stand 53 and is readily portable using handle 52. 
     In the operation of each dispensing apparatus of this invention, a roll of paper 20b (etc.) or 50b having a selected width is positioned on one of the projections 24, 50 depending on the side from which the paper sheet is desired to be dispensed. The cutter support housing 20c (etc.) or 50c is positioned by bolting on the opposite projection arm. A tape roll 41 is positioned on tape support axle 26 with the lead section of tape exiting tape roll 41 from the bottom of the roll. The lead section of tape is passed under the paper roll 20b (etc. or 50b and positioned on the edge of the lead section of paper 18. As the lead section 18 is pulled the tension in the tape and the force required to pull the paper causes the tape to be firmly united to the paper. The thus-formed paper-tape composite is then threaded between inside panel 20f (50f) and sheet holder 37 to support the composite paper-tape. When a length of composite paper-tape is desired, it is withdrawn and then raised up and cut off by manipulating it over cutter edge 20h, (etc.) or 50h.