CN103260492A - Center-feed roll unit and dispenser incorporating said center-feed roll unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A center-feed roll unit for dispensing a web (18), in particular a paper or nonwoven web, the center-feed roll (10) having an inner center hole (14) and having a minimum inner diameter D defined before the first use of the roll_minAnd at right angles to the minimum inner diameter D_minHas a length L of the roll (10) in the longitudinal direction thereof and has a first end (16) and a second dispensing end (12) of the roll (10); the center-feed roll unit comprises an untwisting insert element (30) provided in the central bore (14), the insert element (30) being elongated and extending substantially in the longitudinal direction from a first end (16); and has an extension x in the longitudinal direction of 0.5. L<x<1.5·L。

Description

Center-feed roll unit and dispenser incorporating said center-feed roll unit

technical field

The invention relates to a center-feed roll unit for distributing a web, in particular a paper web or a web of nonwoven material, having the features of the preamble of claim 1 . Furthermore, the invention relates to a dispenser for a material web with such a center-feed roll unit.

Background technique

Center-feed roll units are well known in the art. They consist of center-fed rolls usually made of web material that is dispensed from the center of the roll to the outside of the roll. When such a center-feed roll unit is installed in a corresponding dispenser, the web material is dispensed through the apertures of the dispenser.

Dispensers with center-feed rolls are commonly used in public restrooms, hospitals and industry as hand towel dispensers or tissue or paper towel dispensers for general cleaning purposes. Additionally, dispensers with center-feed rolls are used in domestic settings, especially kitchens.

A problem encountered with center-fed rolls is that the web taken from a center-fed roll tends to leave the roll and the corresponding dispenser in a twisted configuration. In other words, the paper from the inside of the roll unwinds to create a twirl. This wrap is spread in the web material and allows it to be twisted after dispensing.

EP 0 480 848Bl relates to a paper towel dispenser that unrolls from the inside, having a chimney-shaped portion arranged around a bottom central opening. This chimney-shaped portion extends upwardly inside the center of the roll for the purpose of straightening the paper which has become twisted and crumpled during unwinding from the inside of the roll.

Depending on the vertical extension of the roll standing upwards and depending on the size of the chimney section around the dispensing opening at the bottom of the roll, the torsion problem cannot be reliably prevented.

Contents of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a center-fed roll unit and a dispenser incorporating the center-fed roll unit, which allow the web in the center-fed roll to untwist itself during the dispensing step.

This object is solved by a center-feed roll unit having the features of claim 1 and a dispenser for a material web having the center-feed roll unit. Other preferred features are presented by the dependent claims.

A center-fed roll unit according to the invention for dispensing a web, in particular a web comprising paper or nonwoven material, has a center-fed roll with an inner central hole and a A previously defined minimum inner diameter D _min , and a roll length L in the longitudinal direction perpendicular to this smallest inner diameter. Thus, the center-feed roll has a first end and a second dispensing end in the longitudinal direction. The center-feed roll unit of the present invention is characterized in that the device comprises an untwisting insert element disposed in the central bore, said insert element being elongate and extending substantially longitudinally from the first end, and having a longitudinal extension The dimension x is 0.5·L<x<1.5·L.

A detwisting insert element extends longitudinally from the first end of the roll. The first end is opposite the second allocation end of the volume. This means that if a center fed roll unit is positioned with its longitudinal orientation vertical and the dispensing end at the bottom, the untwisting insert element extends from the upper end, first end, and hangs to the inner center towards the lower dispensing end of the roll In the hole or even beyond the lower dispensing end. It is to be noted, however, that the center-fed roll unit may also be arranged with its longitudinal direction extending horizontally and in any oblique direction.

This particular arrangement has been found to provide very good results compared to prior art solutions.

The dispenser according to US 5,215,211 has an inserted stabilizing element which extends partly in the inner central hole of the roll. But this stabilizer feature is partly through the hole at the center of the connected sheet supply, for stabilizing the supply and preventing it from collapsing naturally after most of the sheets have been dispensed from the supply. Such a stabilizing element according to US 5,215,211 does not serve the purpose of preventing twisting of the dispensed sheet. This is also used in EP 0 107 487 Al which discloses a socket which acts as a support for the roll and holds the roll in place, especially when a substantial portion of the roll has been dispensed from the center of the roll. Thus, the socket counteracts possible collapse of the roll.

The function of the untwisting insert element is described below. As the web is dispensed from the center of a center-fed roll, there is a circular motion acting on the web material. This movement is either clockwise or counterclockwise depending on which side of the roll is used for dispensing. This first movement remains in the web and twists the tail. In addition to this first movement there is a second circular movement which produces an inner twirl in the opposite direction to the first movement. When using the elongated untwisted insert element according to the invention, this insert element becomes the center of the inner winding and stabilizes the inner winding and its movement is always relative to the dispensing opening and the first movement of the roll before it is dispensed. on the contrary. In this way, the web is forced to untwist after dispensing, since the two twisting movements in opposite directions neutralize each other.

The best results for the untwisting effect are obtained if the longitudinal extent x of the insert element is 0.6·L<x<1.5·L and preferably 0.8·L<x<L.

The center-feed roll may have a maximum inner diameter at or close to complete consumption of the web, wherein the longitudinal extension x of the insert element is equal to at least half of this maximum inner diameter of the center-feed roll. This places further demands on the longitudinal extension of the insert element. This is often automatically satisfied by the subject matter of claim 1 . But when the rolls used have a relatively large winding thickness of material, the geometrical situation in which the web is dispensed differs substantially between the first use of a center-fed roll and the eventual consumption of the roll. In this case, the minimum longitudinal extension of the insert element should also meet the above-mentioned requirements with regard to the maximum inner diameter of the center-feed roll.

The relative diameter of the insertion element is greater than 0.1·D _min and less than 0.99·D _min , preferably in the range between 0.6·D _min and 0.95·D _min , and most preferably between 0.8·D _min and 0.9·D _min within the range. It can be seen that the length of the insert element is more important than the diameter of the insert element and can even provide a relatively small space between the web to be dispensed and the insert element extending in the central hole, as long as it is still possible to land distribution. In this context, the term "relevant diameter" is defined as the inner diameter of the smallest tube still capable of accommodating said insertion element.

The insert element may be made of disposable material, preferably cardboard. This is particularly advantageous in case the insert element does not form part of the dispenser but rather becomes part of a replacement roll for the dispenser. In this case, the insert element can be discarded after the final consumption of each center-feed roll.

The insert element may be made of glass, wood, silicone, rubber, metal or plastic material. This list of possible materials shows a wide range of possible materials that can be used as the insert element. This wide range of materials suggests that it is mainly the position and geometry of the insertion element that is important, while its material is relatively unimportant. Notwithstanding this, some material characteristics are also important, since the web to be dispensed slides on the surface of the insert element. Thus, depending on the material of the web to be dispensed, the surface of the insert element should be adapted eg to prevent undesired wear and dusting effects in the dispenser. In order to avoid these problems, the insert element according to another embodiment has a smooth surface.

The insertion element can have a circular, semicircular, oval, crescent or prismatic, in particular triangular, cross-sectional shape. Tests carried out on different cross-sectional shapes of the insert element revealed that the cross-sectional shape has at least a smaller influence on the overall performance of the untwisting operation obtained by the insert element than the length of the insert element. However, the shapes given above have all proven to have very good results.

The insertion elements can also be formed from individual parallel rods.

Alternatively, flat, elongated strips of insert elements may be used. This has the advantage that the insert element is easy to manufacture, especially if it is made of disposable material such as cardboard.

The dispenser is characterized in that the insert element is detachably connected to the dispenser proximate a first end of a center-feed roll loaded into the dispenser. If the first end of the center-feed roll is the top end, the longitudinal direction of the center-feed roll is substantially vertical. This is a very common orientation for center-feed rolls in dispensers. The center-feed roll is inserted with its longitudinal direction substantially vertical and the insertion element is lowered from the upper end of the roll into the hollow core of the roll. The detachable connection of the insert elements simplifies the exchange of rolls. In this case, the insertion element can be detached and reconnected to the housing of the dispenser once the new roll has been correctly inserted into the dispenser.

Alternatively, the insert element may be attached to the dispenser by a form-fit connection, a snap fit, a sliding connection or by adhesive means such as double-sided tape.

However, the insertion element can also be hinged to the dispenser. This has the advantage that the insert element does not have to be dismantled when changing the center-feed roll. Attachment of the insert element by means of a hinge is particularly advantageous if the insert element is made of a flexible material so that it can bend during insertion into the central hole of the roll.

The insert element can be provided as a separate part which can be inserted into the center-feed roll before it is loaded into the dispenser. In this case, different designs are possible. According to a first option, said insert element is not connected to the housing of the dispenser but forms part of a center-feed roll unit. in this case. A possible design of such an insert element could be a plate-shaped flange element, to which an insert of elongated shape to be placed in the central hole of the roll is attached, the insert being positioned perpendicular to the main axis of the plate-shaped flange. extending in the direction of the surface. The flange element is formed such that it rests on the center-feed roll until it is completely used up.

According to a second option, it forms part of a replacement kit together with the replacement roll, like the insert element described with respect to the first option. After the replacement kit has been loaded into the dispenser, the flange element of the insert element is attached to the dispenser body. When the center-feed roll has been used up, the insert element is detached from the dispenser body and disposed of together with the center-feed roll.

Description of drawings

The invention will be described in more detail below by way of example only with reference to the following examples, in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows a dispenser comprising a center-feed roll inserted therein and having an untwisted insert element;

Figures 2 and 3 schematically show a center-feed roll to illustrate the dimensions used to determine the optimum size of the insert;

Figure 4 shows an example of an insert element;

Figure 5 shows possible cross-sectional shapes of the insertion element; and

Figures 6 and 7 are schematic cross-sectional views of a center-feed roll without and with an insert element to illustrate the untwisting effect of said insert element.

Detailed ways

In the following embodiments, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements throughout the drawings.

In FIG. 1 , a center-feed roll 10 inserted into a dispenser 20 is schematically shown. The dispenser 20 is only shown schematically, since the invention can be used in a very wide range of different dispensing devices, provided they accommodate a center-fed roll and are provided with suitable dispensing openings, the web to be dispensed in particular comprising one or more layers of paper Or a web of nonwoven material is removed through the dispensing opening. The web may have transverse perforations so that a user can easily remove a desired web length. Alternatively or additionally, the dispensing opening of the dispenser 20 may be provided with means for cutting the web, such as teeth with tearing edges, which penetrate the web and weaken the web to a point where the user can easily remove the desired length from the web. degree.

Furthermore, the dispenser 20 can generally be opened in a suitable manner so that maintenance personnel can access the interior of the dispenser. The cover element of the dispenser may be hingedly connected to the rear side wall, which is usually connected to the wall of the room. However, it is also possible that the cover can be removed by lifting up or down in the vertical direction. Such different configurations of opening the dispenser are not shown in Fig. 1 as they are well known in the field of dispensing devices. The same applies to suitable support structures to hold the center-feed rolls thereon. This may be a plate-like element with a central hole which supports the lower end 12 of the center-fed roll. However, alternative means such as gripping arms are also possible. The center-fed roll 10 has a central bore 14 having a generally cylindrical shape and extending along the longitudinal axis of the center-fed roll 10 from a lower end 12 to an upper end 16 of the roll. As will be seen later, the size of the central hole 14 depends on the degree of consumption of the web and ranges between its smallest diameter and its largest diameter.

As shown in FIG. 1 , there is an untwisting insert element 30 which is arranged within the central bore 14 and which, in the particular example shown in FIG. 1 , is attached at a hinge 32 to the housing part of the dispenser. However, this is only an example and it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that alternative ways of attaching the insert element to the dispenser are possible, such as a form-fitting connection, for example a hook-in connection, a snap-fit, a slide connection or a clip. permanent connection, but also an adhesive connection, e.g. using double-sided adhesive tape. An easy to use connection is to use velcro strips.

In the example shown in FIG. 1 , said insert element 30 extends between the upper end 16 and the lower end 12 substantially along the entire length of the center-fed roll. A web product such as a paper product 18 exiting the dispenser is shown schematically with arrow A indicating the direction in which the user tears the tail end of the web to dispense the appropriate length of web material.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the center-feed roll 10 has an overall length L in its longitudinal direction between an upper end 16 and a lower end 12 . Although in this particular embodiment the longitudinal direction of the center-fed roll is vertical, any other angular orientation may be used. Before its first use, the central hole 14 has a diameter D _min as a minimum diameter, which increases continuously during the distribution of the web product. This is again shown in FIG. 3 , showing a cross-sectional view from the upper end 16 of the center-fed roll 10 . Before its first use, the central hole 14 has a minimum diameter D _min and when the rolled web has been completely used up, the diameter increases to its maximum diameter as shown in FIG. 3 . The central hole may not have a circular cross-section, but may be deformed eg to an ellipse. In this case, the smallest diameter is defined as the largest outer diameter of the cylindrical element that can be inserted into the central hole before the roll is first used.

FIG. 4 shows an untwisted insert element 30 which, in the example according to FIG. 4 , differs from that shown in FIG. 1 . Said insert element 30 according to Fig. 4 can be used without being attached to a dispenser. It only needs to be simply inserted from the upper end 16 of the center-fed roll 10 so that the flange element 32 shown schematically in FIG. Portion 36 extends into the center hole of the center-feed roll.

其范围如下规定。As can be seen in Figure 4, the elongated portion 36 has a length x and a diameter

Its scope is defined as follows.

To obtain the desired untwisting effect, the length x is in the range between 0.5·L and 1.5·L. However, the optimum range was found to be close to the length L of the center-fed roll so that the insert element should extend almost all the way from the first end to the dispensing end of the roll. The optimal length of the slender part satisfies the equation: 0.8·L<x<L.

If the maximum inner diameter of the center-fed roll is relatively large, other geometrical requirements relate to the minimum length x. This is the case for rolls with high material thickness. In this case, the following equation should be satisfied: x>D _max /2.

In other words, the length of the insert element should be greater than half the maximum diameter of its center-feed roll, so that the desired effect of untwisting the insert element can also be achieved with relatively large central holes.

As for the diameter of the elongated portion of the untwisting insert element, it is smaller than the minimum diameter, so that in the case of web materials with relatively high flexibility and compressibility, the web material can also be removed without excessive force. Even if in some cases it is possible to provide the elongated part of the insert element with a diameter slightly larger than D _min , this dimension should be avoided, because the web material may tear at the beginning of the dispensing operation, when the maintenance personnel insert the insert element Web material may be damaged.

As regards the diameter of the elongated portion of the insertion element, relatively high diameter ranges are possible:

However, for better results, the following ranges should be selected:

Best results are obtained within the following ranges:

If the length of the insertion element is sufficiently long, the diameter can be chosen to be relatively small.

In the above equation, the diameter of the elongated portion of the insertion element is given. However, as shown in Fig. 5, different cross-sectional shapes of the elongated portion of the insertion element are also possible. Thus, the diameter used in the above equation is defined as the inner diameter of the smallest possible tube for passing through the elongated portion of the insertion element.

As shown in Figure 5, very different cross-sectional shapes of the insert element can be used. Starting from the top of the left column in Figure 5, it is circular, semicircular, triangular, or plate-shaped, as shown in Figure 1.

In addition to these shapes, good results can also be obtained from insert elements whose cross-sectional shape is C or S. Furthermore, it can be seen that the elongated portion of the insert element can be made of several separate elements, such as three rods 38 oriented in a triangular geometric configuration, where each side is of equal length.

The insertion element and in particular its elongated portion can be made of a wide range of materials, such as wood, glass, plastic, rubber, metal or silicone.

However, it is also possible to use disposable materials, eg made of cardboard. This disposable material is particularly advantageous when inserting elements as shown in Figure 4, which are not attached to the dispenser body but are supported by a center-feed roll so that each replacement roll may already have an insert element and maintenance personnel can easily When replacing the center supply roll without additional steps.

6 and 7 schematically illustrate the function of the untwisting insert element 30 . In the example shown in Figure 6, there is no element inserted in the central hole 14 of the roll. During dispensing of the web, the material web unwinds from the wall of the central hole 14 in a clockwise direction 40 in the example shown in FIG. 6 . Whether this movement is clockwise or counterclockwise depends only on which side of the center-feed roll is used to dispense the web. However, for the description of the twisting and untwisting effects, the direction is not important as long as the directions are opposite.

Apart from the first clockwise direction 40 , a twirl 42 is formed on the inner side of the central bore 14 . This wrap is formed by a second movement in the opposite direction, in a particular embodiment counterclockwise 44 . This causes the dispensed web of material to twist in the first direction 40 . If using an insert element as shown in Figure 7. The web 18 is again rolled away from the wall in a clockwise direction 40 . Additionally, wraps 42 are formed on the inside of central bore 14 in the opposite direction (counterclockwise in a particular embodiment). This roll 42 is stabilized and stored by said insert element 30 over its entire length towards the dispensing end of the roll. After the web 18 has left the end x of said insert element, the two movements in clockwise and counterclockwise directions neutralize each other so that the paper is automatically untwisted after dispensing.

The provision of an elongated untwisting insert element extending from the first end of the center-fed roll almost all the way to the dispensing end results in a surprising effect, that is, despite the fact that the dispensed web undergoes two different twisting directions in two different rotational directions. The two opposing torsion directions neutralize themselves, so that the material web can be removed substantially without torsion. It is still twisted when the user pulls the paper, but when the user releases the tail between tearing the web, the web remembers the two directions of twist applied to the web and untwists itself thus differing from conventional center-fed The dispenser is presented with a wider tail to tear than the user.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS 1. A center-fed roll unit for distributing a web (18), especially a web of paper or nonwoven material, said center-fed roll (10) having an inner central hole (14) and having having a minimum internal diameter _Dmin defined before first use and having a length L of the roll (10) in the longitudinal direction perpendicular to said minimum internal diameter _Dmin and having a first end (16) and a second dispensing end ( 12); It is characterized in that, The center-feed roll unit includes an untwisting insert element (30) disposed in the central bore (14), the insert element (30) being elongated and extending substantially along the longitudinal direction from the first end (16) extending; and having an extending dimension x of 0.5·L<x<1.5·L along the longitudinal direction. 2. Center-feed roll unit according to claim 1 , said untwisting insert element (30) having an extension x in longitudinal direction of 0.6·L<x<1.5·L and preferably 0.8·L<x <L. 3. Center-feed roll unit according to claim 1 or 2, said center-feed roll (10) having a maximum inner diameter _Dmax at which the web (18) is completely consumed, wherein said insert element (30) The longitudinal extension x is equal to at least half of the maximum inner diameter _Dmax of said center-feed roll (10). 4. A center-feed roll unit as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, It is characterized in that, The relative diameter of the insertion element (30) is greater than 0.1·D _min and less than 0.99·D _min , preferably in the range between 0.6·D _min and 0.95·D _min , and most preferably between 0.8·D _min and 0.9· In the range between D _min . 5. A center-feed roll unit as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, It is characterized in that, The insert element (30) is made of glass, wood, silicone, rubber, metal or plastic material. 6. A center-feed roll unit as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, It is characterized in that, The insert element (30) is made of disposable material, preferably cardboard. 7. A center-feed roll unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that, The insert element (30) has a smooth surface. 8. A center-feed roll unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that, The insert element ( 30 ) has a circular, semicircular, oval, crescent or prismatic, in particular triangular, cross-sectional shape. 9. A center-feed roll unit as claimed in any one of claims 1-7, It is characterized in that, Said insert element (30) comprises individual parallel rods (38). 10. A center-feed roll unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that, The insertion element (30) is a flat, elongated strip. 11. Dispenser for a web of material, in particular a web (18) comprising paper or nonwoven material, having a center-feed roll unit (10, 30) according to any one of the preceding claims. 12. The dispenser of claim 11, It is characterized in that, The insert element (30) is detachably attached to the dispenser (20) near the first end (16) of the center-feed roll (10) loaded into the dispenser (20). 13. The dispenser of claim 12, It is characterized in that, Said insert element (30) is attached to the dispenser (20) by a form-fit connection, a snap fit, a sliding connection or by adhesive means. 14. A dispenser as claimed in claim 12 or 13, It is characterized in that, The insert element (30) is hingedly (32) attached to the dispenser (20). 15. The dispenser of claim 11, It is characterized in that, Said insertion element (30) is provided as a separate part which can be inserted into the center-feed roll (10) before it is loaded into the dispenser (20).

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