DISPENSER FOR ELONGATE MATERIAL

• US 20060273217A1
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonoco Development Inc (Sonoco Products Company)
• Original Assignee: Sonoco Development Inc (Sonoco Products Company)
• Inventors: Wilkinson, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,204,452 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 242/598
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 49/325 Arrangements or adaptations for supporting the shafts, e.g. saddle type shaft bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 59/04 by devices acting on package or support

Abstract

A dispenser for an elongate material is provided having a support and a spool rotatably mounted in the support. The spool includes a core and two ends extending radially outward from the core. At least one ring on the support encircles a respective end of the spool. In one embodiment, the radial outside of each ring is provided with a formation tapering towards the middle of the spool.

Claims

1. A dispenser for elongate material, comprising:

a support;

at least one end plate, the support fixed to the end plate;

a spool mounted on the support, the spool having a core and two ends extending radially outward from the core;

at least one ring on the end plate, the at least one ring encircling a respective end of the spool, the radial outside of at least one said ring being provided with a formation tapering from the end plate towards the core of the spool.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of end plates, a pair of supports and a pair of rings, each ring encircling a respective end of the spool.

3. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said respective spool end has at its periphery a skirt extending axially away from the core of the spool and facing radially outwards, facing the relatively inner surface of the at least one ring.

4. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said tapering formation comprises a plurality of guide ribs on the relatively outer surface of said at least one ring.

5. A dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the guide ribs are generally triangular.

6. A dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of friction ribs extending between at least one said ring and the respective end of the spool.

7. A dispenser according to claim 6, wherein said friction ribs are attached to said ring and press against a rim of said respective end of the spool.

8. A dispenser according to claim 6, wherein the inside of said ring is generally cylindrical, the outside of said rim is generally cylindrical, and said ribs extend axially over the inside of said ring.

9. A dispenser according to claim 6, wherein said fiction, ribs are flexible, are fixed to one of said ring and said core, and press against the other of said ring and said core.

10. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the support further comprises a pair of end plates each comprising a support for said spool, at least one of said end plates comprising a respective said ring with said support for said spool at the center of said ring.

11. A dispenser according to claim 10, wherein each said support for said spool comprises an arbor for an end of the core of the spool.

12. A dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a box enclosing said spool.

13. A dispenser according to claim 12, further comprising a pair of end plates within said box, each end plate comprising a support for said spool, at least one of said end plates comprising a respective said ring with said support for said spool at the center of said ring.

14. A dispenser for elongate material, comprising:

a holder;

a spool rotatably mounted in the holder, the spool having a core and at least one end extending radially outward from the core;

at least one ring on the holder, encircling a respective end of the core; and

a plurality of friction ribs forming a frictional engagement between said at least one ring and the respective end of the core.

15. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein said at least one ring comprises a pair of rings each encircling a respective end of the spool.

16. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein said at least one spool end has at its periphery a skirt extending axially away from the middle of the spool and facing radially outwards, facing the respective said ring.

17. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein said friction ribs are attached to said ring and press against a rim of said respective end of the spool.

18. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the inside of said ring is generally cylindrical, the outside of said rim is generally cylindrical, and said ribs extend axially over the inside of said ring.

19. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein said friction ribs are flexible, are fixed to one of said ring and said spool, and press against the other of said ring and said spool.

20. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the holder further comprises a pair of end plates, each comprising one of said rings and each comprising a support for said spool at the center of said ring.

21. A dispenser according to claim 20, wherein each said support for said spool comprises an arbor for an end of the core of the spool.

22. A dispenser according to claim 14, further comprising a box enclosing said spool.

23. A dispenser for elongate material, comprising:

a box;

a pair of end plates within the box, each comprising a ring having a generally cylindrical inside surface and an arbor at the center of said ring;

a spool rotatably mounted on said arbors, the spool having a core and two ends extending radially outward from the core, wherein each said spool end has at its periphery a skirt extending axially away from the middle of the spool, said skirt having a generally cylindrical outside surface facing the inside surface of the'"'"' respective said ring;

a plurality of generally triangular guide ribs on the outside of each ring tapering towards the middle of the spool; and

a plurality of flexible friction ribs extending axially on the inside of said ring pressing against the skirt of said respective spool end.

24. An end plate for a dispenser for elongate material, comprising:

a central support to rotatably mount an end of a spool on one side of the end plate;

a ring having a generally cylindrical inside surface concentric with the support;

a plurality of guide ribs on the outside of the ring tapering towards said one side of the end plate; and

a plurality of flexible friction ribs extending axially from the inside of said ring.

25. A dispenser for elongate material, comprising:

a support;

a spool rotatably mounted in the support, the spool having a core and two ends extending radially outward from the core;

a pair of rings on the support, each ring encircling a respective end of the spool, the radial outside of at least one of said rings being provided with a formation tapering towards the middle of the spool.

26. A dispenser for elongate material, comprising:

a support;

a spool rotatably mounted in the support, the spool having a core and two ends extending radially outward from the core;

at least one ring on the support, encircling a respective end of the spool, the radial outside of at least one said ring being provided with a formation tapering towards the middle of the spool; and

said respective spool end has at its periphery a skirt extending axially away from the middle of the spool and facing radially outwards, facing the said at least one ring.

27. A dispenser for elongate material, comprising:

a support;

a spool rotatably mounted in the support, the spool having a core and two ends extending radially outward from the core;

at least one ring on the support, encircling a respective end of the spool, the radial outside of at least one said ring being provided with a formation tapering towards the middle of the spool, said tapering formation comprises a plurality of guide ribs on the outside of said at least one ring.

28. A dispenser according to claim 27, wherein the guide ribs are generally triangular.

29. A dispenser for elongate material, comprising:

a support;

a spool rotatably mounted in the support, the spool having a core and two ends extending radially outward from the core;

at least one ring on the support, encircling a respective end of the spool, the radial outside of at least one said ring being provided with a formation tapering towards the middle of the spool; and

a plurality of friction ribs extending between said at least one ring and the respective end of the spool.

30. A dispenser according to claim 29, wherein said friction ribs are attached to said ring and press against a rim of said respective end of the spool.

31. A dispenser according to claim 29, wherein the inside of said ring is generally cylindrical, the outside of said rim is generally cylindrical, and said ribs extend axially over the inside of said ring.

32. A dispenser according to claim 29, wherein said fiction ribs are flexible, are fixed to one of said ring and said core, and press against the other of said ring and said core.

33. A dispenser for elongate material, comprising:

a support;

a spool rotatably mounted in the support, the spool having a core and two ends extending radially outward from the core;

at least one ring on the support, encircling a respective end of the spool, the radial outside of at least one said ring being provided with a formation tapering towards the middle of the spool,

the support further comprises a pair of end plates each comprising a support for said spool, at least one of said end plates comprising a respective said ring with said support for said spool at the center of said ring.

34. A dispenser according to claim 33, wherein each said support for said spool comprises an arbor for an end of the core of the spool.

35. A dispenser for elongate material, comprising:

a spool having a core and two ends extending radially outward from the core;

at least one ring, encircling a respective end of the spool, the radial outside of at least one said ring being provided with a formation tapering towards the middle of the spool;

a box enclosing said spool; and

a pair of end plates within said box, each end plate comprising a support for said spool, at least one of said end plates comprising the ring, with said support for said spool at the center of said ring.