Patent Publication Number: US-2009230232-A1

Title: Multi-roll dispenser

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of Application No. PCT/FR2007/001752 filed Oct. 24, 2007 which claims priority to European patent application 06291658.0 filed Oct. 25, 2006, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of dispensers of products in roll form, more specifically capable of containing a plurality of rolls arranged with axes parallel to one another, and having a plurality of slots or apertures for the exit (or dispensing) of the rolled products. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,726,825 discloses a dispenser capable of containing two rolls arranged one above the other. A first aperture in the lower part of the dispenser forms an exit for paper forming the lower roll, whilst a second aperture on the front face of the dispenser characterizes the exit for the paper forming the second roll. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,642,336 relates to a dispenser capable of containing three rolls: a first roll of large size, above which two other rolls of smaller size are stored in an element which is removable with respect to the body of the dispenser. The product forming the first roll is unwound through an aperture in the lower part of the dispenser, in fact through the open bottom of the dispenser. 
     Each of the other rolls is unwound through two slots formed at the front of the dispenser. 
     In the same field, U.S. Pat. No. 2,969,169 shows a dispenser containing three rolls arranged and stored one above the other and three different exits. According to this document, the three rolls have the same width, but are preferably formed from products of different types. 
     Dispensers, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,924,493, are also known, which contain a plurality of rolls, here three, and each exit of which has a sawtooth-shaped profile intended for cutting the paper (or other product) which emerges from it. 
     Of the dispensers recently marketed, for example, that described in EP patent 0 930 039 B1 is known. This dispenser can contain a paper roll, and it is characterized by an integrated cutting mechanism; the exit of the paper is effected via a slot in the lower part, in the bottom, of the dispenser. 
     This type of dispenser is useful for its capability in cutting paper, but it makes it possible to unwind only a single roll at a time. 
     It is likewise conceivable to store a second roll, called a spare, inside such a dispenser by means of some rearrangement. 
     However, no dispenser is known which makes it possible to unwind simultaneously a plurality of rolls, at least one of the exits of which makes it possible to brake the unwinding of the associated roll. 
     SUMMARY 
     Thus, the subject of the present disclosure is a dispenser of products in roll form, comprising:
         a first inner space intended for containing a first roll,   a first aperture in the form of a slot parallel to the axis XX′ of the first roll, as stored (held) in the first inner space,   at least one second inner space intended for storing a second roll, the axis YY′ of which is parallel to that of the first roll.       

     According to the disclosure, the dispenser comprises, furthermore, a second aperture having a slot parallel to the axis of the second roll for the exit of one end of the second roll, the said slot having a length smaller than the width of the second roll, in order to brake the unwinding of the said roll. 
     More specifically, the second aperture is in the general shape of a T. 
     Characteristically, the first and the second roll are of different size and/or composition. 
     As an illustration, the first roll is formed by an absorbent paper. 
     According to a particularly expedient embodiment, the second roll is formed by the winding of at least one plastic sheet. 
     Such a sheet tends to be unwound very easily, and therefore the second aperture according to the invention, of a length smaller than the width of the roll, effects a braking of the unwinding of the said roll placed opposite. 
     As an example, the second roll may be formed by the winding of plastic bags connected to one another by means of pre-cut lines. 
     Without departing from the scope of the disclosure, the second roll may be formed by the winding of elements in the form of gloves connected to one another by means of pre-cut lines. 
     In this context, the shape and arrangement of the gloves are such that the pre-cut lines form straight lines perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the unwinding direction of the roll. 
     Additionally, the dispenser may comprise a third aperture in the form of a slot parallel to the axis YY′ of the second roll and capable of being used alternatively to the said second aperture. 
     Moreover, the second aperture and/or the third aperture may be formed by means of a component attached to the front face of the dispenser. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description given in an illustrative and in no way limiting manner, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a presentation of a dispenser according to the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view of a dispenser according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     As can easily be seen in  FIG. 1 , a known dispenser comprises a plurality of inner spaces  1 ,  2 ,  3 , each containing a roll (not shown). Each roll is assigned an aperture  10 ,  11 ,  12  of elongate shape, parallel to the axis of the rolls  1 ,  2 ,  3 . 
     According to this prior art, a sawtooth-shaped blade  20  is arranged parallel to each aperture and delimits one of the sides of the latter. Each blade  20  forms here a means for tearing the wound product. 
     According to the disclosure, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the dispenser comprises a first inner space  1  for containing a first roll (not shown) of axis XX′ which is unwound through a first aperture  10  located in the lower part of the dispenser. The arrow A shows the unwinding direction of the first roll through the aperture  10 . 
     A second roll of axis YY′ parallel to the axis XX′ of the first roll is arranged in a second inner space  2  of the dispenser. According to this embodiment, the second inner space  2  is located below the first and in the vicinity of a second aperture  11  for the exit of the product forming the second roll of axis YY′. 
     More specifically, the second roll is placed opposite the second aperture  11 . 
     The second aperture  11  has, in particular, a slot  110  parallel to the axis YY′ of the second roll. The slot  110  has a length smaller than the width of the second roll, thus providing a narrowing and therefore a braking of the unwinding of the second roll when the latter passes through the slot  110 . 
     Thus, the sheet unwound through the second aperture  11  is extracted in the direction indicated by the arrow B. 
     In particular, the second aperture  11  may have the shape illustrated in  FIG. 2 , namely the shape of a T, the “horizontal” branch of which is formed by the slot  110  and the “vertical” branch of which is formed by a second portion  120  perpendicular to the slot  110  and of greater width. The portion  120  may, for example, enable the user to touch the outer surface of the second roll in order to bring about the displacement of the product in roll form. 
     The elongate slot  110  may advantageously have a length of between one third and half the width of the second roll. 
     Furthermore, the dispenser according to the invention may comprise a third aperture  12  located in the vicinity of the second aperture  11  and capable of being used alternatively to the second aperture  11  for the second roll. The third aperture  12  is here in the form of an elongate slot parallel to the axis YY′, and it makes it possible to unwind the product forming the second roll according to the arrow B′ of  FIG. 2 . 
     The second and third apertures  11  and  12  may be formed in and by virtue of a component  4  attached to the front face of the dispenser. 
     More specifically, the component  4  may be positioned by any means known per se in the vicinity of the second roll and opposite an aperture in the front face of the dispenser. 
     The component  4  here comprises the second aperture  11  in the shape of a T, already described, and a lower edge  5  cut in the form of sawteeth, which forms one of the sides of the third aperture  12 . The second side  6  of the third aperture  12  can be formed by a cut in the housing of the dispenser. The second aperture  11  can advantageously be formed by means of a cut in the component  4 . 
     Of course, other arrangements and/or positions may be provided for forming the various apertures according to the invention. All the apertures may be formed, for example, by cutting in the housing forming the dispenser. 
     Moreover, as a non-limiting example, the first roll may be formed by an absorbent paper of the multi-purpose wipe type, and it is extracted from the dispenser via the first aperture  10 . 
     The second roll may be formed by plastic bags connected to one another by means of pre-cut lines. 
     Depending on the desired use, the plastic bags may be extracted from the dispenser via the second aperture  11  or else via the third aperture  12 . 
     Advantageously, that dimension of the slot  110  of the second aperture  11  which is smaller than the width of the second roll makes it possible to brake the exit of the plastic bags and is conducive to pre-cutting them. 
     In this example, the dispenser may be used in service stations where both multi-purpose wipes (hand wipes, wiping products) and protective gloves against dirt are necessary. 
     Of course, very many other applications may be considered, without departing from the scope of the invention.