阅读说明：本技术 纸张产品分配器 (Paper product dispenser ) 是由 S·B·金 于 2018-06-12 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种卷纸产品分配器,所述卷纸产品分配器具有分配嘴,所述分配嘴具有内部部分和外部部分,所述内部部分与所述外部部分配合以使得能够进行单张纸张分配,以及防止纸张产品掉回所述分配器中并使使用者无法触及。(A rolled paper product dispenser having a dispensing tip with an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion cooperating with the outer portion to enable single sheet dispensing and to prevent paper product from falling back into the dispenser and being inaccessible to a user.)

1. A dispenser for center-pull rolled products, comprising:

a body having a product holding area for the product, and a front cover pivotally hinged to a back cover to allow the front cover to transition between an open position and a closed position;

a dispensing nozzle located in the front cover and proximate to the core of the product when the front cover is in the closed position, wherein:

the dispensing tip having an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion being closer to the roll than the outer portion when the front cover is in the closed position;

the inner portion having a plurality of fingers, each of the plurality of fingers having a floating finger end, and at least two finger ends being unconnected to each other, and wherein the plurality of fingers define a conical or quasi-conical shape of the inner portion, and the at least two finger ends define at least a portion of a channel through which the sheet of product can be dispensed; and is

The outer portion has an opening at least partially overlapping the channel.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fingers comprises at least three fingers.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, the opening having a first diameter and the passageway having a circular cross-section having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.

4. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein the opening has an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the inlet end is closer to the interior portion than the outlet end, and the inlet end lies in an inlet plane, and wherein the at least two finger ends do not pass through the inlet plane.

5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the at least two finger ends are spaced at least 120 degrees apart along a circle formed by the plurality of fingers.

6. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the inner portion has a height, the outer portion has a height, and the height of the inner portion is greater than the height of the outer portion.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to dispensers for dispensing rolled paper products.

Background

Systems for dispensing consumables are ubiquitous in many environments today. For example, toilet paper dispensers are common in many private, semi-private, and public restrooms. In such widely adopted situations, preventing overuse of paper products dispensed by such dispensers helps control the cost of operating facilities where such dispensers are located, including, for example, reducing the number of paper products that need to be purchased, and reducing the costs associated with servicing and maintaining the dispensers, such as refilling the dispensers with other paper products.

Disclosure of Invention

In general, the subject matter of this specification relates to paper product dispensers for sheet-by-sheet dispensing on a roll basis. One aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a system that includes a distributor having: a body having a product holding area for the product and a front cover pivotally hinged to a back cover to allow the front cover to transition between an open position and a closed position; a dispensing nozzle located in the front cover and proximate to the core of the product when the front cover is in the closed position, wherein: the dispensing tip having an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion being closer to the roll than the outer portion when the front cover is in the closed position; the inner portion having a plurality of fingers, each of the plurality of fingers having a floating finger end, and at least two finger ends being unconnected to each other, and wherein the plurality of fingers define a conical shape of the inner portion, and the at least two finger ends define at least a portion of a channel through which the sheet of product can be dispensed; and the outer portion has an opening at least partially overlapping the channel.

Particular embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented to realize one or more of the following advantages. For example, by dispensing individual sheets of paper, the dispenser facilitates partial control and reduces overuse of the paper product, such as toilet tissue, which also reduces costs associated with operating the dispenser.

As described below, center pull products are typically dispensed through a small opening in the front cover of the dispenser. In some instances, for example, if a sheet of paper product is prematurely perforated or torn, such as before passing through the dispenser opening for access by a user, the paper product may fall back into the dispenser interior. This condition can render the dispenser inoperable because the dispensing opening is typically too small for the user to access the interior of the dispenser to retrieve the next sheet.

To address this problem, the dispensers described herein include a dispensing tip (e.g., an opening) having a valve structure that allows paper product sheets to pass out of the dispenser during a dispensing operation, but prevents the sheets from reversing direction and falling back into the dispenser interior and being inaccessible to the user. This avoids user frustration from not being able to use the dispenser and avoids unnecessary maintenance or service access to open the dispenser and pass paper products through the opening for access by the user.

The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

Drawings

FIG. 1A is a representation of an exemplary product dispenser.

FIG. 1B is a representation of an exemplary paper product roll.

Fig. 1C is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary dispenser with a front cover of the body in a closed position.

Fig. 1D is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary dispenser with a front cover of the body in a closed position and an open position to illustrate a product retention area.

Fig. 2A is a first side cross-sectional view of a dispensing nozzle.

Fig. 2B is a second side cross-sectional view of the dispensing nozzle.

Fig. 2C is a perspective view of the dispensing nozzle.

Figure 2D is a cross-sectional view of the dispensing nozzle with the paper product extending through the dispensing nozzle.

Fig. 2E is a perspective view of an auxiliary member of the dispensing nozzle.

FIG. 3 illustrates a representation of an exemplary product support structure.

Fig. 4 shows a diagram of an exemplary forward biasing apparatus.

Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure relates generally to dispensers that provide individual sheets of paper (e.g., one sheet at a time) dispensed from a roll, such as a roll of toilet paper.

Dispensers intended to inhibit excessive consumption of paper products are sometimes referred to as roll-to-roll dispensers. One technique for achieving this partial control is to dispense only one sheet at a time. This may require coordination between the paper product roll design (e.g., the type of perforation separating the individual sheets on the roll, the width and length of each sheet, etc.) and the dispensing system, which includes the dispensing nozzle through which the sheets are dispensed.

To this end, the dispensing system described herein, including the dispensing tip, has a shape that matches the paper product size (i.e., paper length, width, bulk, and/or composition) to apply sufficient force and cause the paper sheets separated by the perforations to tear when pulled for individual paper sheet dispensing. For example, a user grasps a portion of the paper from a roll extending from the dispenser opening and pulls the paper. The force required to pull the protruding sheet through the opening exceeds the force required to tear the perforation to separate the sheet from the next sheet on the roll. Thus, when a sheet is pulled through the opening, the sheet is separated from the next sheet for individual sheet dispensing and the next sheet is partially extended from the dispenser opening for grasping by the user for the next dispensing operation.

Fig. 1A is a representation of an example dispenser 100. The dispenser 100 may be, for example, a toilet paper dispenser 100, a towel dispenser 100, or a wipe or towelette dispenser 100 for rolled paper products, among others. Paper products describe sheet materials made from, for example, cellulosic fibers (e.g., wood pulp), synthetic fibers (e.g., polypropylene), or some combination thereof, and include, for example, toilet tissue, paper towels, and wipes. The rolled product is an interconnected paper product wound around a core, and the center-pull product is a rolled product that unwinds outwardly from its core toward its periphery.

Fig. 1B is a representation of an exemplary paper product roll 106 (e.g., a center-pulled roll paper product). The paper product 106 includes a plurality of product sheets 106a separated by perforations 106 b. As described in more detail below, the perforations 106b have a breaking force that is exceeded when the product 106 is pulled through the dispenser 100 to separate the sheets 106a for individual sheet dispensing during a dispensing operation. In some embodiments, when the Perforation Bond Distance (PBD) is 1.0 mm, the paper product 106 (in roll form) has an Outer Diameter (OD) of 190-. In some embodiments, for example, the bonding rate (═ 1-perforation rate) is from 15% to 50%, particularly from 20% to 35%. The sheets 106a are pulled through the dispenser 100 and dispensed along an axis parallel to their length L.

The dispenser 100 includes a body 102, such as a composite or metal housing, having an exterior surface (e.g., an exterior surface of the body 102). The dispenser 100 also includes a product holding area 104 for holding (e.g., rolling) paper products 106, as shown in fig. 1C and 1D, respectively, which are cross-sectional views of the dispenser 100 with the front cover 102a of the body 102 in a closed position and an open position to reveal the product holding area 104.

In some embodiments, the product retention area 104 is a space or cavity within the body 102 in which the product 106 can be positioned for dispensing and can be accessed by rotating or pivoting the front cover 102a away from the rear cover 102b (e.g., wall mount portion) from a closed position to an open position via a hinge or the like. For example, when in the closed position, the front cover 102a and the back cover 102b define the product retention area 104.

The dispenser 100 also includes a dispensing nozzle 110 for dispensing a portion of the product 106 (e.g., one sheet of paper 106a at a time), as described with reference to fig. 2A, 2B, and 2C. Fig. 2A is a first side sectional view of the dispensing tip 110, fig. 2B is a second side sectional view of the dispensing tip 110, and fig. 2C is a perspective view of the dispensing tip 110. The dispensing nozzle 110 is located in the front cover 102a and, in some embodiments, is proximate to the core of the product 106 when the front cover 102a is in the closed position. Thus, the dispensing nozzle 110 provides an opening in the front cover 102a through which the product 106 can move from the product retention area 104 to an area outside of the dispenser 100 for access and use by a user. As described above, in some embodiments, the dispensing tip 110 is positioned in alignment with and proximate to the central axis of the product 106, e.g., in alignment with the axis of the center of the open core of the rolled product 106. In other embodiments, the dispensing tip 110 may be positioned anywhere on the front cover 102a or side 105 of the dispenser 100, for example, near the periphery of the roll 106. For example, for rolled products 106 unwound from their periphery, the dispensing nozzle 110 is positioned on the side 105 of the dispenser 110.

More particularly, fig. 2D shows a cross-sectional view of the dispensing nozzle 110 with the paper product 106a extending through the dispensing nozzle 110. In this normal operation, the paper 106a passes through the nozzle 110, thereby pulling the next paper partially through the nozzle 110 before punching holes from the next paper, which allows the next paper to protrude from the dispensing nozzle 110 for easy grasping by the user. Thus, in this operation, the next sheet is partially pulled through the dispensing nozzle 110 before it is punched from the sheet 106a being pulled by the user. To this end, the force exerted on the paper sheet by the primary dispensing nozzle 110 as the paper sheet 106a passes through is designed to cause the paper sheet 106a being pulled by the user to perforate (by exceeding the force required to perforate) the next paper sheet 106a only after the next paper sheet 106a has partially passed through the dispensing nozzle 110.

In some embodiments, the force is applied by friction between the sheet 106a and the dispensing nozzle 110 based at least in part on the diameter of the dispensing nozzle 110 and its configuration relative to the size, basis weight, and/or composition of the sheet 106 passing through it. For example, for a conical dispensing nozzle 110, the narrowing of the dispensing nozzle 110 increases the frictional force exerted on the product 106 as the product 106 passes through, because the diameter of the dispensing nozzle 110 decreases as the paper 106a is pulled through until the paper 106a is perforated. Thus, after perforation, it is desirable for the next sheet of paper 106a to be partially located in the product retention area 104 and to extend partially through the dispensing nozzle 110.

Since the dispenser 100 and product 106 are designed to work together to ensure proper dispensing, the dispenser 100 also prevents the use of unauthorized rolls because rolls that are not manufactured to the proper specifications (e.g., as described above) will perforate prematurely (e.g., periodically) or not perforate at all.

In some embodiments, the dispensing tip 110 has an inner portion 112 and an outer portion 114, the inner portion 112 being closer to the roll 106 than the outer portion 114 when the front cover 102a is in the closed position. The inner portion 112 and the outer portion 114 may be separate pieces or a single piece. The inner portion 112 and the outer portion 114 cooperate to define a channel through which the product 106 is dispensed from the product retention area 104 to a user. The inner portion 112 may have a height 112h, for example, in the range of 10-20mm, particularly in the range of 13-18mm, and the outer portion 114 may have a height 114h in the range of 5-12mm, particularly in the range of 7-10 mm. In some embodiments, the height 112h of the inner portion 112 is greater than the height 114h of the outer portion 114.

In some embodiments, the inner portion 112 has a plurality of fingers 113, each of the plurality of fingers 113 has a floating finger end 116, and at least two finger ends 116 are not connected to each other. For example, in some embodiments, no finger end 116 is connected to any other finger end 116. The plurality of fingers 113 at least partially define a channel 111 through which the product 106 is dispensed. In some embodiments, the fingers 113 define a conical shape (e.g., a quasi-conical shape, e.g., a concave cone) for the channel 111, with the wide end 118 of the cone being closer to the product holding area 104 than the narrow end 120 of the cone. For example, the diameter or width of the wide end 118 of the cone is in the range of 8-25mm, particularly 10-15mm, the diameter or width of the narrow end 120 of the cone is in the range of 4-12mm, particularly 6-9mm, and the height of the fingers 113 is in the range of 5-15mm, particularly 9-13 mm. In some embodiments, fingers 113 define a cylindrical channel having a constant or varying combined diameter thereof from wide end 118 to narrow end 120.

The number of fingers 113 may vary. For example, in some embodiments, there are three fingers 113 evenly spaced 120 degrees apart along the circle formed by the plurality of fingers 113. Generally, there are at least two fingers. The fingers 113 may be made of, for example, a composite material or a metallic material. In some embodiments, the fingers 113 may deflect or flex slightly as the product 106 is pulled through the mouth 116, for example to spread outward to temporarily increase the diameter of the narrow end of the cone 120, but the fingers are generally semi-rigid members, for example, maintaining their own shape and position, and being somewhat resistant to any changes in them. At least two or all of the fingers 113 may, for example, be completely separate from each other, but have a common base 119. As described above, at least two fingers 113 are able to deflect because they are separate, e.g., have separate finger ends 116 or are separated entirely by a common base. In addition to or instead of the diameter or (the diameter of the cone defined by the fingers 113), the degree of deflection may be selected to apply the force required to perforate the sheet 106 a.

In some embodiments, the inner portion 112 includes an auxiliary member 117, as shown in fig. 2E, which is a perspective view of the auxiliary member 117 of the dispensing tip 110. Auxiliary member 117 has a finger-like structure similar to inner portion 112, except that auxiliary fingers 124 of the auxiliary member are positioned to surround fingers 113 and are placed to then overlap the open area in the inner position (i.e., cover the space between fingers 113). Accordingly, in some embodiments, the secondary fingers 124 may define a quasi-conical shape that surrounds the quasi-conical shape defined by the plurality of fingers 113. For example, the secondary fingers 124 are positioned along a circle having a diameter that is greater than the maximum diameter or width of the outer portion 114. In some embodiments, the height of the secondary fingers 124 is in the range of 10-20mm, particularly 12-17 mm. In some embodiments, the diameter or width of the wide end of the quasi-conical shape defined by the secondary fingers is in the range of 10-20mm, in particular in the range of 13-18mm, and the diameter or width of the narrow end of the quasi-conical shape defined by the secondary fingers is in the range of 5-10mm, in particular in the range of 6-9 mm.

The outer portion 114 has an opening 122 that at least partially overlaps the channel 111. The diameter or width of the opening 122 is for example in the range of 5-10mm, in particular 6-9 mm. In some embodiments, the opening 122 is centered on the channel 111, while in other embodiments, the opening 122 is offset from the channel 111. The outer portion 114 may be made of the same material as the inner portion 112 or of a different material. In some embodiments, the diameter of the auxiliary member 117 is greater than the diameter of the opening 122.

The opening 122 has an inlet end 123 and an outlet end 125. The inlet end 123 is closer to the inner portion 112 than the outlet end 125, and the inlet end 123 lies in an inlet plane 127. In some embodiments, finger end 116 does not pass through entrance plane 127 such that finger 113 does not extend into outer portion 114. In other embodiments, fingers 113 may extend into outer portion 114.

As discussed above, it is undesirable for the product 106 to fall back into the dispenser 100, such as into the product holding area 104. To avoid this problem, the dispenser may have an opening 122 with a diameter or width greater than the diameter or width of the inner portion 112 (e.g., the narrow end of the cone 120), and/or the fingers 113 may deflect inward to reduce the diameter of the channel 111 if the product 106 moves back into the product retention area 104. More specifically, as the product 106 moves from the inner portion 112 to the wider outer portion 114 (e.g., the opening 122) during a dispensing operation, the product 106 can expand into a less wrinkled or contracted form, the product 106 is squeezed or compressed to be able to pass through the inner portion 112, and then can return to a larger shape in the wider outer portion 114. Thus, if the product 106 begins to fall (or be pushed) back into the interior portion 112, it must be compressed again to fit within the narrower interior portion 112. The force required for this compression, and the greater friction between the product 106 and the narrower inner portion 112, prevents the product 106 from moving back into the dispenser 100, as compared to the friction between the product 106 and the wider outer portion 114. Also, in some embodiments, when the product 106 begins to fall back into the interior of the dispenser 100, the product 106 becomes trapped between the gap formed between the inner portion 112 and the outer portion 114.

Further, given that the product 106 may engage the finger ends 116 when compressed back into the narrower inner portion 112, the finger ends 116 may catch the product 106 and pull or deflect inward, thereby further narrowing the narrow end of the cone 120, making it more difficult for the product 106 to fall back into the dispenser 100. In addition, when the product 106 attempts to move back into the dispenser 100, it may attempt to stretch into the area between the fingers 113 and become trapped between the fingers 113 and the secondary fingers 124, which also prevents such rearward movement of the product 106.

As described above, the front cover 102a may be hinged to the rear cover 102b, as shown in fig. 1D. In some embodiments, the front cover 102a is hinged to the rear cover 102b near a bottom edge 126 of the rear cover 102 a. More generally, the rear cover 102b or the dispenser 100 may include a hinge stop 128 to limit the width/distance the front cover 102a can pivot open. For example, the hinge stop 128 may be a mechanical obstruction that engages and limits the bottom portion of the front cover 102a from pivoting beyond a certain point, e.g., limits the front cover from opening beyond 115 degrees.

Fig. 3 shows a representation of an exemplary product support structure 302. The dispenser 100 includes a product support structure 302 that provides support for the center-pull roll product as the product 106 is depleted and its periphery becomes thinner and tends to collapse. For example, the product support structure 302 may be positioned proximate a periphery of the product side of the front cover 102a, the back cover 102b, or both, and may include a plurality of points or areas of engagement that press against or are inserted near the periphery of the product 106 when the front cover 102a is in the closed position. The product support structure 302 functionally retains the periphery of the product 106 to prevent it from collapsing when depleted.

Fig. 4 shows a diagram of an exemplary forward biasing device 402. The dispenser 100 includes a positive biasing device 402 that urges the product 106 toward the front cover 102a when in the closed position, and, similar to the support structure 302, also helps prevent the product 106 from collapsing while otherwise positioning the product 106 for proper dispenser operation. In some embodiments, the forward biasing device 402 includes a plurality of biasing members 404 positioned on the rear cover 102 b. Each biasing member 404 includes a biasing device 406 and a product contacting device 408. In some embodiments, the product contacting device 408 is made of an elastic material, such as silicone rubber, and has a textured, e.g., wavy, surface to cause friction between the product contacting device 408 and the paper product 106. In some embodiments, the textured surface may produce a more abrasive surface than a comparable flat surface. Biasing device 406 may be, for example, a spring 406 or other resilient member that engages rear cover 102b at one end and product contacting device 408 at the other end and biases product contacting device 408 away from rear cover 102 b. In this manner, when the front cover 102a is in the closed position, the biasing member 404 urges the product 106 toward the front cover 102a to direct the product 106 to its desired position to dispense and support the product 106 during dispensing, e.g., to help prevent the product 106 from collapsing or shifting during dispensing, thereby facilitating proper dispenser 100 operation.