WO2008056052A2

WO2008056052A2 - Multiple-roll dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2008056052A2
Application number: PCT/FR2007/001752
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maurice Zuger; Jean-Louis Neveu; Nicolas Pommier; Nourddine Smaïli
Original assignee: Georgia-Pacific France
Priority date: 2006-10-25
Filing date: 2007-10-24
Publication date: 2008-05-15
Also published as: EP1915934B1; EP1915934A1; WO2008056052A3; US20090230232A1; ES2388539T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispenser for roll-type products comprising: a first inner space (1) for containing a first roll; a first slot-shaped opening (10) parallel to the XX' axis of the first roll stored (held) in the first inner space (1); at least one second inner space (2) for storing a second roll having an axis YY' parallel to that of the first roll; characterised in that it further comprises a second opening (11) having a slot parallel to the axis of the second roll for outputting one end of the second roll, wherein said slot (110) has a length that is shorter than the width of the second roll in order to slow down the unwinding of said roll.

Description

MULTI-ROLL DISPENSER

The present invention relates to the field of product distributors in rolls, and more specifically can contain several rollers arranged with axes parallel to each other, and having several slots or openings for the output (or distribution) of the rolled products.

This type of distributor has been known for many years.

Thus, US Pat. No. 2,726,825 discloses a dispenser that can hold two rollers arranged one above the other. A first opening in the lower portion of the dispenser constitutes a paper outlet forming the lower roll; while a second opening on the front face of the dispenser characterizes the outlet for the paper forming the second roll.

US Patent 3,642,336 relates to a dispenser capable of containing three rollers: a first large roll above which are stored two other rollers of smaller size in a removable member vis-à-vis the body of the dispenser. The product forming the first roll is unwound through an opening in the lower portion of the dispenser, in fact through the open bottom of the dispenser.

Each of the other rolls is unwound through two slots in the front of the dispenser.

In the same field, US Pat. No. 2,969,169 shows a dispenser containing three rolls arranged and stored one above the other, and three different outlets. According to this document the three rollers have the same width but are preferably formed of products of nature. different.

Distributors are also known as described in US Pat. No. 2,924,493, containing a plurality of rollers, here three, and each output of which has a sawtooth profile for cutting off the paper (or other product) coming out of it. Among the recently operated distributors, for example, that described in patent EP 0 930 039 B1 is known. This dispenser can hold a roll of paper and is characterized by an integrated cutting mechanism; the output of the paper is operated via a slot in the lower part, in the bottom, of the dispenser. This type of dispenser is interesting for its ability to cut paper, but it allows to unwind only one roll, at a time.

It is also conceivable to store a second so-called reserve roller inside such a dispenser, with some arrangement. However, there is no known distributor that allows to simultaneously unwind several rollers, at least one of the outputs can slow the unwinding of the associated roller.

Thus, the subject of the present invention is a distributor of products in rolls comprising:

a first internal space intended to contain a first roll,

a first slot-shaped opening parallel to the axis XX 'of the first roll as stored (maintained) in the first internal space,

at least one second internal space intended to store a second roll whose axis YY 'is parallel to that of the first roll.

According to the invention, the dispenser further comprises a second opening having a slot parallel to the axis of the second roll for the exit of an end of the second roll, said slot having a length less than the width of the second roll in order to braking the unwinding of said roll.

More specifically, the second opening has the general shape of a T.

Typically, the first and second rolls are of different size and / or composition. As an illustration, the first roll is formed by an absorbent paper.

According to a particularly interesting embodiment, the second roller is formed by winding at least one plastic sheet.

Such a sheet has a tendency to unwind very easily, which is why the second opening according to the invention, which is less than the width of the roll, brakes the unwinding of the roller placed opposite it.

For example, the second roll can be formed by winding plastic bags interconnected by precuts.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, the second roller may be formed by the winding of glove-shaped elements interconnected by precuts.

In this context, the shape and arrangement of the gloves are such that the pre-cuts form straight lines perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the unwinding direction of the roll. Additionally, the dispenser may comprise a third slot-shaped opening parallel to the axis YY 'of the second roller, operable alternately to said second opening. Moreover, the second opening and / or the third opening can be achieved by means of an insert on the front face of the dispenser.

Other features, details, advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the description which follows, given by way of illustration and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a presentation of a distributor according to the prior art;

- Figure 2 is a schematic view of a dispenser according to one embodiment of the invention. As can be readily seen in FIG. 1, a known dispenser comprises a plurality of internal spaces 1, 2, 3 each enclosing a roll (not visible). Each roller is associated with an opening 10, 11, 12 of elongate shape, parallel to the axis of the rollers 1, 2, 3.

According to this prior art a sawtooth blade 20 is disposed parallel to each opening and delimits one of the sides. Each blade 20 here constitutes a means of tearing the wound product.

According to the invention as shown in Figure 2 the dispenser comprises a first internal space 1 to contain a first roll (not visible) axis XX 'which is unwound by a first opening 10 located in the lower part of the distributor. Arrow A shows the direction of unwinding of the first roll through the opening 10.

A second roller axis YY 'parallel to the axis XX' of the first roller is disposed in a second internal space 2 of the distributor.

According to this embodiment, the second internal space 2 is situated below the first and in the vicinity of a second opening 11 for the outlet of the product forming the second axis roller YY '.

More precisely, the second roll is placed opposite the second opening 11.

The second opening 11 has in particular a slot 110 parallel to the axis YY 'of the second roller. The slot 110 has a length less than the width of the second roller thus creating a narrowing and thus a braking unwinding of the second roller as it passes through the slot 110.

Thus, the sheet unwound through the second opening 11 is extracted in the direction indicated by the arrow B.

In particular, the second opening 11 may have the shape shown in Figure 2 namely the shape of a T whose "horizontal" branch is formed by the slot 110 and the "vertical" branch by a second portion 120 perpendicular to the slot 110 and larger width. The portion 120 may for example allow the user to touch the outer surface of the second roll to cause the roll product to move.

The elongate slot 110 may advantageously be between one-third and one-half the width of the second roll.

In addition, the dispenser according to the invention may comprise a third opening 12 located near the second opening 11, and alternatively usable at the second opening 11, for the second roller. The third opening 12 is here in the form of an elongated 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.

The second and third openings 11 and 12 may be formed in and through a part 4 attached to the front of the dispenser.

More specifically, the piece 4 can be positioned by any means known per se near the second roller, opposite an opening in the front face of the dispenser.

Part 4 here comprises the second T-shaped opening 11 already described, as well as a lower saw-toothed edge 5 which forms one of the sides of the third opening 12. The second side 6 of the third opening 12 can be made by cutting in the dispenser housing. The second opening 11 can advantageously be made by cutting in the part 4.

Of course, other arrangements and / or positions may be provided to form the different openings according to the invention. All openings may for example be made by cutting into the housing forming the distributor.

Moreover, by way of non-limiting example, the first roll may be formed by an absorbent paper, of the paper towel type, and it is extracted from the dispenser by the first opening 10. The second roll may be formed of connected plastic bags. between them by precuts.

Depending on the desired use, the plastic bags can be extracted from the dispenser by the second opening 11 or by the third opening 12. Advantageously, the size of the slot 110 of the second opening 11, less than the width of the second roller , helps to stop the release of plastic bags, and promotes their pre-cut. In this example, the dispenser can be used in service stations where both paper towels (hand towels, wiping product) and dirt protection gloves are required.

Of course, many other applications can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1) Distributor of products in rolls comprising

a first internal space (1) intended to contain a first roll,

a first slot-shaped opening (10) parallel to the axis XX 'of the first roll as stored in the first internal space (1),

at least one second internal space (2) intended to store a second roll whose axis YY 'is parallel to that of the first roll, characterized in that it further comprises a second opening (11) having a slot parallel to the axis of the second roll for the exit of an end of the second roll, said slot (110) having a length less than the width of the second roll in order to brake the unwinding of said roll. 2) Dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the second opening (11) has the general shape of a T.

3) Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and the second roll are of different size and / or compositions. 4) Dispenser according to claim 3, characterized in that the first roll is formed by an absorbent paper.

5) Dispenser according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the second roller is formed by the winding of at least one plastic sheet. 6) Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second roller is formed by the winding of plastic bags interconnected by precuts.

7) Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second roller is formed by the winding of glove-shaped elements interconnected by precuts.

8) A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a third opening (12) in the form of a slot parallel to the axis YY 'of the second roller, used alternately to said second opening (11). 9) Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second opening (11) and / or the third opening (12) are formed by means of a part (4) attached to the front face of the distributor. 10) A dispenser according to claim 9, characterized in that the second opening (11) is formed by a cut in the insert (4).