Abstract:
The invention relates to a dispensing unit for providing web material with a support wall and a movable opposite support wall including a cutting device including a cutting slide and a cutting blade fixated at the cutting slide and including a linear support at the opposite support wall, wherein the cutting slide includes an operating head and a slide base and the cutting blade extends between the operating head and the slide base, and wherein the support wall includes a recess which is configured so that it facilitates a movement of the cutting slide and the slide base is movable away from the recess when moving the opposite support wall.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from and incorporates by reference German utility model application 20 2013 003 963.9, filed on Apr. 29, 2013 which is incorporated in its entirety by this reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a dispensing unit for providing web material. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Dispensing units of the general type recited supra are used for pulling off web material from a web material roll and for cutting a web material section from the pulled off portion. In particular paper or foil webs can be used which are useable for packaging purposes, for example as gift wraps. These are not dispensing units for bathroom applications which typically have complicated, partially motor driven mechanisms in order to provide the web material so that it can be handled. 
         [0004]    Dispensing units are typically made from a roll support and a cutting device attached at a support wall. Both are associated with one another so that web material can be pulled off over the support wall from the web material roll that is inserted into the roll support. A cutting device facilitates cutting a web material section from the pulled off web material. Embodiments for simple dispensing units of this type can be derived from US 2004/0040429 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,559 A, EP 1 808 394 A1 and DE 60 2005 001 319 T2. 
         [0005]    The cutting unit for dispensing units of this general type includes a cutting slide which is slideably supported in a slide support which extends transversal to a pull off direction of the web material. A pull off direction is a direction in which the web material can be pulled off from a web material roll that is received in the roll support. As apparent in particular from US 2004/0040429 A1 the cutting slide includes a guide base that engages the slide support and it includes an operating head provided for handling the cutting slide, wherein a fixed cutting blade with an edge or with two opposite edges for being useable in both sliding directions extends between the operating head and the support base. The slide support includes a support rail that is arranged at the support wall, wherein the support rail is configured in the form of grooved rails including undercuts. Therein the support base is supported so that it cannot be lifted out of the support rail transversal to an extension of the support rail, The cutting slide extends far enough from the support rail to that its cutting blade protrudes beyond the support rail and the support wall. 
         [0006]    For a cutting process the cutting slide is moved to one end of the slide support. There the cutting slide is outside of the portion where web material is pulled off for preparing a cut. The pull off is performed so that the web material is pulled over the support wall and thus over the support rail far enough so that an appropriate web material section is on the other side of the cutting device with respect to web material roll. Then the cutting slide is moved along the support rail through respective handling of the operating head with the consequence that the cutting blade of the cutting slide cuts into the web material and cuts off the web material section. 
         [0007]    The known dispensing devices of the type described supra are configured in a very simple manner mostly due to cost reasons but they have functional disadvantages. Thus, the support of the cutting slide only at the bottom side of the web material to be cut off is not particularly precise so that uneven cut edges are created. Furthermore an operator has to hold the web material taunt over the support wall in order to prevent an uneven cut or tearing of the web material. This, however is not easily feasible since an excessive pull on the web material would cause further pull off from the web material roll. Thus, operating the known dispensing units there has its problems and does not provide clean and straight cut edges. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,497 discloses a dispensing unit for providing web material in which the cutting slide of the cutting device is supported at an opposite support wall which is different from the previously cited dispensing units so that the opposite support wall is moveably supported so that it is moveable from a first position adjacent to the support wall into a second position that is remote from the support wall. The cutting slide includes a fixed cutting blade which protrudes beyond the side of the opposite support wall that is arranged opposite to the support wall and protrudes in a first position of the opposite support wall into a groove shaped recess in the support wall. In this dispensing unit there is a risk that an operator may get injured at the cutting blade when the opposite support wall is in the first position, in particular when web material is pulled off from the web material roll before cutting. Furthermore the inclined cutting edges of the cutting blade prevent the web material from sliding from the cutting blade, in particular when the cutting edges lose their sharpness after a while. This yields unsatisfactory cutting results. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a dispensing unit including a roll support for receiving a web material roll so that the web material roll is rotatable, wherein the dispensing unit includes a support wall that is fixated at the dispensing unit, wherein the support wall is configured and arranged so that web material which is pulled off from a web material roll that is arranged in the roll support is pullable out of the dispensing unit in a pull off direction, wherein an opposite support wall is arranged opposite to the support wall, wherein the opposite support wall is movably supported so that it is movable from a first position adjacent to the support wall into a second position that is remote from the support wall, wherein a cutting device is associated with the support wall, wherein the cutting device includes a cutting slide with a fixated cutting blade, wherein the cutting device includes a slide support for the cutting slide that extends transversal to the pull off direction of the web material, wherein the slide support includes a linear support, wherein the linear support is arranged at the opposite support wall, wherein the cutting slide is supported by the linear support, wherein the cutting slide includes an operating head, wherein the operating head is slideably supported in the linear support, wherein the operating head protrudes from the opposite support wall on a side that is oriented away from the support wall, wherein the cutting blade is arranged at the cutting slide so that moving the cutting slide along the linear support separates a web material section from a web material arranged on the support wall, wherein the cutting blade protrudes beyond the side of the opposite support wall which side is opposite to the support wall, wherein the support wall includes a recess, so that precisely cut edges can be obtained in spite of simple handling and so that operators are protected against a contact with the cutting blade. 
         [0010]    This object is achieved according to the invention through a dispensing unit with the following features. 
         [0011]    the cutting slide has a slide base; 
         [0012]    the cutting blade extends between the operating head and slide base; 
         [0013]    the recess is used for receiving the slide base and configured so that it facilitates moving the cutting slide over an extension of the linear support and so that the slide base is moveable from a first position into a second position away from a recess when the opposite support wall is moved. 
         [0014]    A core idea of the invention is to provide a cutting slide of a dispensing unit according to the invention in which the cutting slide is supported at the opposite support wall with a slide base so that the cutting blade extends between the operating head and slide base. The slide base functions as a protective cover for the cutting blade when the opposite support wall is moved into its second position or arranged in its second position. Through respective dimensioning it is prevented that an operator can come in contact with the cutting blade. It is appreciated that an overhang of the cutting blade beyond a bottom side of the opposite support wall should be kept as small as possible, e.g. should not amount to more than 2.5 mm. The slide base and the recess in the support wall are thus sized so that the slide base fits into the recess, on the other hand side so that the slide base is moveable out of the recess when moving the opposite support wall from its first position into its second position. The slide base does not only have a protective function, but additionally prevents a sliding of the web material when being cut. 
         [0015]    In a configuration of the invention it is provided that the opposite support wall is pivotable from a first position into a second position and vice versa about an axis extending transversal to the pull off direction. A suspension of this type for the opposite support wall can be produced in a simple manner and provides a precise movement sequence. Side lobes connected with the support wall can be used for pivotable support of the opposite support wall, wherein the side lobes are provided at a face of the dispensing unit. Advantageously the opposite support wall shall be pivotable far enough into the second position so that it does not pivot back into the first position self acting, at least when the dispensing unit is placed on a horizontal plane. When pulling the web material from the web material roll it is not required to retain the opposite support wall in the second position. 
         [0016]    A particularly simple embodiment of the dispensing unit is provided when the support wall forms part of a base plate of the dispensing unit on which the dispensing unit sits during use. For simple handling it is advantageous when the support wall extends in a substantially horizontal direction in particular in a portion of the cutting device. 
         [0017]    In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the dispensing unit according to the invention the opposite support wall is moveably supported so that it contacts the support wall at least in portions in the first position where the opposite support wall is adjacent to the recess, namely advantageously so that a contact is provided on both sides of the support rail, in particularly over its entire length. Differently from a tight gap between the support wall and the opposite support wall this embodiment provides the option to clamp the web material pulled off into cutting position through moving the opposite support wall from the second position into the first position between both walls, wherein a slight pressure onto an outside of the opposite support wall in a direction towards the support wall already suffices. The clamping supports the web material in its position and prevents its movement transversal to its plane. As a result extremely clean and reproducible edges are cut. Web material scrap is reliably prevented. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment of the invention it is provided that the operating head and the linear support reach behind one another so that the operating head is not movable transversal to the linear support and out of the linear support, in particular not in a direction of an outside of the opposite support wall. Thus, also a correct support of the cutting slide orthogonal to a plane of the web material to be cut shall be provided since also this facilitates generation of clean cut edges. 
         [0019]    The linear support can have a support slot that is open towards the support wall, wherein the support slot is penetrated by a support bar of the operating head. For a simple configuration it is useful when the support slot extends opposite to the recess. Thus, the support bar can be configured so that is reaches behind the linear support at its end oriented towards the support wall so that movability of the cutting slide perpendicular to a plane of the web material is limited. 
         [0020]    According to the invention it is furthermore provided that the linear support includes at least one support groove at a side of the opposite support wall which side is oriented away from the support wall, wherein a protrusion of the operating head engages the support groove. Also this is eventually used for an exact support of the operating head and thus of the cutting slide. It is appreciated that both sides of the linear support can be provided with support grooves of this type. 
         [0021]    Another feature of the invention is that the linear support is configured at least at one end open or openable so that the cutting slide is removable from the linear support at the at least one end. It is appreciated that this portion should be outside of the pull off portion of the web material. 
         [0022]    The roll receiver can be configured in a simple manner so that two opposite receiving lobes are provided for supporting faces of the inserted web material roll, wherein receiving bars that are oriented towards one another extend from the receiving lobes for circumferentially supporting the inserted web material roll. The receiving bars can extend over an entire width of the roll receiver. However, since web material rolls of this type have substantial intrinsic stiffness, in particular when the web material is rolled onto a core, it suffices for avoiding unnecessary material consumption when short receiving bars are provided at the receiving lobes, wherein only short receiving bars are provided at the receiving lobes, which receiving bars extend over a circumferential portion that suffices for support. 
         [0023]    The receiving lobes are advantageously connected with the support wall, thus advantageously so that the receiving bars transition flush into the support wall, thus so that there is no step between the two of them. The support of the web material roll is enhanced when additional support protrusions are provided opposite to the receiving bars for circumferential support of the inserted web material roll. The extension of the receiving bars or support protrusions shall be dimensioned so that on the one hand side an exact support of the web material roll is provided when web material is pulled off, and on the other hand side so that only very little material has to be processed in order to support the web material roll. In any case it is useful to shape and arrange the receiving bars and support protrusions so that they envelop a correctly inserted web material roll circumferential on both sides, but at the most far enough so that at least in one position an insertion of the web material roll into the roll support is feasible without having to remove portions of the dispensing unit for this purpose. 
         [0024]    A particular aspect of the present invention is that an adhesive tape dispenser is arranged at the dispensing unit through which an adhesive tape roll can be provided. Since dispensing units are almost exclusively used for providing web material for packaging purposes and in particular when wrapping gifts adhesive tapes are typically used that use a layer made from pressure sensitive adhesive, a connection of the dispensing unit and glue strip dispenser provides that a glue strip is always available during packing. The adhesive tape dispenser can be configured as usual, this means it can include an adhesive tape roll support for receiving an adhesive tape roll and a separation device typically configured as a saw tooth shaped serrated edge for separating a glue strip section from the glue strip roll. An advantageous location for the glue strip dispenser can be one of the faces of the dispensing unit wherein the attachment is advantageously provided so that the glue strip dispenser is also removable. This way the glue strip dispenser can also be used at another location. Advantageously the glue strip dispenser should be attachable at both faces. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    The invention is described in more detail based on an embodiment with reference to drawing figures, wherein: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the dispensing unit according to the invention with the opposite support wall in the first position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  illustrates the dispensing unit according to  FIG. 1  in the same perspective view, however with the opposite support wall in the second position and with an inserted web material roll; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross section in a vertical plane through the dispensing unit according to  FIGS. 1 and 2  in a plane through the cutting slide and with opposite support walls in the first position and with an inserted web material roll. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    The dispensing unit  1  illustrated in the figures includes a shaped base element  2  with a base plate  3  with a rectangular planform. The topside of the base plate  3  is formed by a support plate  4  whose front portion includes a horizontally extending first section  5  and a second section  6  that slopes downward at a slant angle and adjoins in reward direction (cf.  FIG. 3 ). At the front side and also at the two faces the base plate  3  is defined by termination bars  7 ,  8  extending downward from the support wall  4 . At a bottom side of the support wall a plurality of vertical reinforcement ribs  9  ( FIG. 3 ) are formed which extend parallel to face side termination bars  8 . The dispensing unit  1  rests on lower face edges of the reinforcement ribs  9  and also on lower face edges of the termination bars  7 ,  8  when the dispensing unit is placed on a plane, for example a table top. 
         [0030]    The face side termination bars  8  continue towards the back side of the dispensing unit  1  in formed side lobes  10 ,  11 . They are depicted in mirror images. Together with the backward extending downward sloping section  6  of the support wall  4  the side lobes form a roll support for a web material roll  12  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The web material roll  12  is supported along its longitudinal extension at its bottom by the last portion of the second section  6 . The faces of the web material roll  12  are supported by sides of the lateral walls  10 ,  11  that are oriented towards each other. Additionally receiving bars  13  that are oriented towards one another extend from both side lobes  10 ,  11 , wherein the receiving bars join a rear edge of the support wall  4  in a flush manner and are bent upward. In the upper portion the receiving bars  13  support the web material roll  12  at its rear circumference (see  FIG. 3 ). For support at the front side triangular support protrusions  15 ,  16  extend from the side lobes  10 ,  12  wherein the support protrusions enclose the web material roll  12  together with the receiving bar  13  at their ends as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . As also illustrated in  FIG. 3  the receiving bars  13  on the one hand side and the support protrusions  15 ,  16  on the other hand side are offset so that a full web material roll  12  can be inserted into the roll support from above. 
         [0031]    An opposite support wall  17  is pivotably supported about a pivot axis at outer sides of the support protrusions  15 ,  16  wherein the pivot axis extends in parallel with the front edge of the base plate  3  and thus perpendicular to the axis of the web material roll  12  and to its pull off direction (Arrow A in  FIG. 2 ). Thus, pivot arms  18 ,  19  are formed at the opposite support wall  17  wherein the pivot arms enclose the support protrusions  15 ,  16  at an outside. In  FIG. 1  the opposite support wall  17  is in a first position where it rests on the support wall  4  and in which the front side of the opposite support wall  17  terminates flush with the termination bar  7  of the base plate  3 , so that as apparent from  FIG. 3  the opposite support wall  17  completely covers the first horizontal section  5  of the support wall  4 . In  FIG. 2  the opposite support wall  17  is pivoted up into its second position, wherein the front faces of the side lobes  10 ,  11  are used as stops for the pivot arms  18 ,  19 . The stops are arranged so far in the rear that the opposite support wall  17  in the second position illustrated in  FIG. 2  is supported through its own weight and through its center of gravity so it contacts the sides lobes  10 ,  11 , thus so that the opposite support wall doesn&#39;t pivot back again by itself. 
         [0032]    The opposite support wall  17  has a termination bar  20  at its front side which forms a flush termination with the termination bar  7  of the base plate  9 . Two offset clamping bars  21 ,  22  protrude at the bottom side of the opposite support wall  17  wherein the clamping bars extend parallel to one another over almost an entire width of the opposite support wall  17  and parallel to the termination bar  20 . Its lower faces are at the same level as the faces of the termination bar  20 . As apparent in particular from  FIG. 3  the opposite support wall  17  contacts the support wall  4  in the first position with faces of the clamping bars  21 ,  22  and of the termination bar  20 , this means the opposite support wall  17  is supported on a top side of the support wall  4  through the termination bar  20  and the clamping bars  21 ,  22  when the opposite support wall is in the first position. 
         [0033]    A cutting device  23  is integrated into the support wall  4  and the opposite support wall  17  for cutting web material that is run between the two walls. The cutting device extends parallel to a front edge of the dispensing unit almost over an entire of width of the support wall  4  and of the opposite support wall  17 . The cutting device  23  is essentially made from a support slot  24  extending in this direction and penetrating the opposite support wall  17 , a groove recess  25  molded thereunder into the support wall  4  and having a rectangular cross section and open towards the support slot  24  and a cutting slide  26  protruding into the support slot  24  and the groove recess  25 . Also the groove recess  25  extends almost over the entire width of the support wall  4 . The support slot  24  and the groove recess  25  are arranged between the two clamping  21 ,  22 , thus they are enclosed by the clamping bars. 
         [0034]    The cutting slide  26  is essentially configured from three components. It includes an operating head  27  extending upwards beyond the opposite support wall  17  and having a handling bar  28  extending transversal to its movement direction predetermined by the support slot  24  and the groove recess  25 . Below the handling bar  28  the operating head  27  includes downward extending protrusions  29 ,  30  which engage grooves  31 ,  32  respectively extending parallel to the support slot  24  and formed into the top side of the opposite support wall  17 , so that the protrusions are proximal to groove walls that are adjacent to support slot  24 , so that an additional support for the operating head  27  is provided. The operating head  27  includes a support bar  33  in its center wherein the support bar penetrates the support slot  24  and is configured wide enough so that it fills the support bar  33  besides a tolerance clearance so that the side walls of the support slot  24  support the support bar  33 . At a lower free end support slot  24  and support bar  33  are widened, so that the support bar  33  reaches behind the support slot  24 . This way it is not possible to lift the cutting slide  26  out of the support slot  24 . 
         [0035]    The support bar  33  terminates slightly above a topside plane of the support wall  4 . There a fixated cutting blade  34  that extends in a vertical plane is molded into the support bar  33 . The cutting blade  34  extends into the groove recess  25  and is connected there with a slight base  36  which has a rectangular cross section. The operating head  27  with the support bar  33 , the cutting blade  34  and the slide base  36  form a rigid unit. The cutting blade  34  extends in the illustration of  FIG. 3  perpendicular to the drawing plane and has sharp cutting edges at its front side and backside viewed in a direction of the support slot  24 . 
         [0036]    At a side of the side lobe  11  that is oriented towards a viewer of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  an adhesive tape dispenser  37  is attached. The adhesive tape dispenser has a housing  38  into which an adhesive tape roll is inserted. At a front side the housing  38  has a dispensing opening  39  through which an adhesive tape strip that is pulled off from the roll can be pulled out. At the front edge of the housing  38  a serrated cutting edge is provided through which an adhesive tape section that is pulled out of the dispensing opening  39  can be cut off. An outer shape of the adhesive tape dispenser  37  is adapted to an outer shape of the side lobe  11 . 
         [0037]    In order to perform a cutting process the opposite support wall  17  is pivoted up from a first position illustrated in  FIG. 1  into a second position illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Thus, reaching under the opposite support wall  17  is facilitated that recesses  41 ,  42  are formed into corners of the base plate  3 . Pivoting the opposite support wall  17  lifts the slide base  36  out of the support groove  25 . From the last cutting process there is still web material  43  on the support wall  4  up to the center of the support groove  25  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The web material  43  arranged at this location can now be gripped and pulled off over the support groove  25  and the front edge of the dispensing unit  1  in the desired length in pull off direction (Arrow A). Thereafter the opposite support wall  17  is folded down again into the first position ( FIG. 1 ) wherein the cutting slide  26  is in the end position illustrated in  FIG. 1  which is arranged outside of the pull off portion of the web material roll. The web material  43  is clamped between the topside of the support wall  4  and the faces of the clamping bars  21 ,  22  and of the termination bar  20  through a slight pressure on the opposite support wall  17  from above and thus fixated namely through the clamping bars  21 ,  22  proximal to cutting device  23  and thus of the cutting blade  34 . Through moving the cutting slide  26  from the position illustrated in  FIG. 1  to the other end of the cutting device  23  the cutting blade  34  engages the web material  43  with its cutting edge and cuts the web material section off that protrudes from the dispensing unit  1 . The cut off web material section can then be removed from the dispensing unit  1  after lifting the opposite support wall  17  up again. 
         [0038]    The dispensing unit one can not only be used to cut off web material  43  that is pulled off from a web material roll  12 , but individual web material sheets can be cut in an analogous manner in that they are slid from behind on the support wall  4  in forward direction into the portion of the cutting device  23 .