Double core tissue roll, dispenser and method

• US 20020050544A1
• Filed: 12/11/2001
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Essity Operations Wausau LLC
• Original Assignee: Bay West Paper Corporation (Svenska Cellulosa AB)
• Inventors: Bagan, Douglas E., Slye, Steven M., Baughman, Randy A., Stanland, Mark Harrison, Elliott, Adam T., Cotnoir, Alain P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,648,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 242/559.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3656 with paper jam preventing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3687 with one or more reserve rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3836 with roll spindles which are supported at one side
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3253 with one or more reserve rolls

Abstract

An improved web material dispenser that is designed to dispense web material, such as toilet tissue or the like. The dispenser is able to retain a roll containing tissue at a dispensing position until the tissue has been exhausted from the roll. The dispenser senses that the tissue is exhausted from the roll, and only then permits a reserve roll to be rotated into a dispensing position. Thus, the dispenser ensures that the tissue from each roll is used up before permitting access to a reserve roll. The invention also provides a new web material roll that utilizes a “double core”, as well as a method of making the “double core”.

Claims

1. A web material roll, comprising:

first and second core sections, said core sections being spaced apart from each other defining a gap therebetween; and

a web material wound onto said core sections.

2. The web material roll according to claim 1, wherein said web material comprises toilet tissue.

3. The web material roll according to claim 1, wherein said first and second core sections include facing ends that face each other, the gap being defined between the facing ends of the first and second core sections, and said first and second core sections each include ends that are even with side surfaces of the web material.

4. A method of forming a core for a web material roll, comprising:

providing an elongate, generally cylindrical tube having a longitudinal axis;

cutting the tube into a plurality of generally cylindrical sections, each of said sections having a length approximately equal to a width of web material to be wound onto the roll; and

removing a predetermined length from proximate the center of at least one of said sections to form first and second core sections, whereby the combined length of the first and second core sections is less than the width of the web material to be wound thereon.

5. A web material dispenser, comprising:

a housing;

a spider rotatably mounted within the housing, said spider rotatable about an axis extending through a center of the spider;

a plurality of spools connected to said spider and projecting therefrom in a direction parallel to said axis, said spools being rotatable with said spider along a rotation path spaced from said axis; and

a core stop fixed to said housing, said core stop configured to cross the rotation path of said spools.

6. The web material dispenser according to claim 5, wherein said core stop includes a first portion extending parallel to said spools and a second portion extending perpendicular to said first portion and to said spools, said second portion extending toward and crossing a central rotation path of said spools.

7. The web material dispenser according to claim 6, wherein said spools each include a distal end spaced from said spider, and said second portion is spaced from the distal ends of said spools whereby said spools are able to rotate under said second portion.

8. The web material dispenser according to claim 7, wherein each said spool is configured to receive a web material roll thereon, at least of said web material rolls including first and second core sections, said core sections being spaced apart from each other defining a gap therebetween, and further including a web material wound onto said core sections;

wherein the web material wound onto the core sections has side surfaces defining a first distance therebetween, and wherein said first and second core sections have a combined length that is less than said first distance.

9. The web material dispenser according to claim 8, wherein said second portion has a bottom edge that is positioned above the spider a second distance, said second distance being greater than the combined length of said first and second core sections and said second distance being less than said first distance.

10. The web material dispenser according to claim 5, wherein said core stop includes a first portion extending parallel to said spools and a second portion extending perpendicular to said first portion and to said spools, said second portion extending toward and crossing an outer rotation path of said spools.

11. The web material dispenser according to claim 10, wherein said second portion does not cross a central rotation path of said spools.

12. The web material dispenser according to claim 10, wherein said second portion includes an end that is located adjacent to a central rotation path of said spools.

13. The web material dispenser according to claim 10, wherein at least one of said spools includes a cut-out that is positioned to permit passage of said second portion therethrough.

14. The web material dispenser according to claim 13, wherein each said spool is configured to receive a web material roll thereon, and wherein at least one of said web material rolls includes first and second core sections, said core sections being spaced apart from each other defining a gap therebetween, and further including a web material wound onto said core sections;

and wherein said cut-out is positioned within said gap when at least one web material roll is positioned on the spool.