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

[0001] 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.

[0002] 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.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to produce a dispenser for strip material wound in rolls that allows the product to be used simply and efficiently, that additionally forms a container for a reserve supply of the material and that can be easily used in the domestic environment, even possibly constituting an attractive fitting in its own right.

[0004] The dispenser according to the invention basically comprises: 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, typically positioned underneath the dispensing compartment, for housing at least one or more spare rolls. In contrast to conventional dispensers, therefore, the dispenser according to the invention has had its dispensing axis rotated through 90°. In this way, it is possible to produce a cylindrical container that is divided into an upper portion, which forms the dispensing compartment, and a lower portion, which can be relatively large and which forms a reserve compartment in which several different rolls can be stacked on top of each other and stored.

[0005] The dispenser produced in this way can be a column-shaped structure that rests directly on the floor.

[0006] The dispensing compartment and the reserve compartment can be separated by a wall, to which the roll supporting spindle is attached, and which has openings or apertures such that the reserve compartment can be viewed and thus its contents checked without having to open up the reserve compartment itself. The dispensing compartment can in turn be closed by a transparent lid that also allows the dispensing compartment to be viewed so that the amount of material still available on the roll being dispensed can be checked.

[0007] The dispenser can be made with a diameter greater than that of conventional rolls so that it is able to house wider rolls than those commonly used, that will last longer.

[0008] The reserve compartment can be made with an access hatch which is opened by a sliding action. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment that is not only attractive but is economical to produce, the dispenser made as a cylindrical column-shaped structure can consist of two coaxial cylindrical elements that are capable of relative angular movement and are each fitted with a corresponding opening such that, by rotating one element with respect to the other, the reserve compartment can be opened and closed. The inner cylindrical element may protrude at the bottom with respect to the outer cylindrical element in order to form a base via which the dispenser can rest on the floor, while the outer cylindrical element can define the dispensing compartment, extending above the reserve compartment.

[0009] 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.

[0010] The drawing shows one possible embodiment of the invention and, in particular:

Fig. 1 shows a side view of the dispenser;

Fig. 2 shows a front view on II-II in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows an axial section on III-III in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section of the roll supporting means in a modified embodiment;

Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section of an alternative embodiment, 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.

[0011] 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.

[0012] 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.

[0013] 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.

[0014] 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.

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] Figs 5 to 9 show an alternative embodiment of the dispenser. 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] The advantage of this type of embodiment 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.

[0022] Figs 9 and 10 show an external view of the dispenser, the two views being orthogonal to each other.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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

1. Dispenser for strip material (N) wound in rolls (R), comprising:

- 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).

2. Dispenser according to Claim 1, in which the said dispensing compartment (10) is positioned above the said reserve compartment (7).

3. Dispenser according to Claim 2, in which the said reserve compartment (7) and the said dispensing compartment (10), positioned one above the other, define a column-shaped structure that can rest directly on the floor.

4. Dispenser according to Claim 2 or 3, in which the said dispensing compartment (10) and the said reserve compartment (7) are separated by a wall (9) with apertures (9A) which allow the contents of the reserve compartment to be checked via the dispensing compartment.

5. Dispenser according to one or more of the previous claims, in which the said dispensing compartment (10) is closed by a transparent lid (17).

6. Dispenser according to one or more of the previous claims, in which the roll supporting means comprise a spindle (13) having a vertical axis.

7. Dispenser according to Claim 6, in which the said spindle has a flange (13A) on which the roll (R) rests.

8. Dispenser according to Claim 6, in which the said spindle engages with a beaker-shaped member (31) inserted in the tubular core (T) of the roll (R).

9. Dispenser according to Claim 8, in which the said spindle has a conical end (13B) on which the base of the said beaker-shaped member (31) rests.

10. Dispenser according to one or more of Claims 6 to 9, in which the said spindle is attached to a dividing wall between the dispensing compartment (10) and the reserve compartment (7).

11. Dispenser according to one or more of the previous claims, in which the said reserve compartment (7) has an access hatch which is opened by a sliding action.

12. Dispenser according to one or more of the previous claims, in which the said dispensing compartment (10) and the said reserve compartment (7) are defined by two coaxial cylindrical elements (3, 5) that are capable of relative angular movement and are positioned one inside the other, having two openings (3A, 5A) that can be made to coincide angularly with each other in order to allow access to the reserve compartment (7).

13. Dispenser according to Claim 12, in which the innermost cylindrical element (5) forms a base via which the dispenser can rest on the floor.

14. Dispenser according to Claim 13, in which the outermost cylindrical element (3) defines the dispensing compartment (10).

15. Dispenser according to one or more of Claims 1 to 10, comprising an outer cylindrical body (3) inside which is housed a basket (51) for containing spare rolls (R_S).

16. Dispenser according to Claim 15, in which the said basket (51) defines a dividing wall between the reserve compartment (7) and the dispensing compartment (10), and in which the said wall is associated with means (13) for supporting the roll (R).

Drawing