U.S. patent application number 13/680396 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-14 for dispenser.
This patent application is currently assigned to WRAP FILM SYSTEMS LIMITED. The applicant listed for this patent is Wrap Film Systems Limited. Invention is credited to Adrian Barratt, Ian Blackshaw, Carl Fenlon, Kelly Hodges, Neil Jones, Dave Lipscomb, Robey Tucker.
Application Number | 20130064612 13/680396 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42341095 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130064612 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tucker; Robey ; et
al. |
March 14, 2013 |
DISPENSER
Abstract
A dispenser for a roll of film material, comprising a cutting
arrangement for cutting polyethylene having an upper portion and a
lower portion, the upper portion being configured to move in
relation to the lower portion between an open position and a
cutting position. One of the upper portion and the lower portion
comprises a blade, and the other of the lower portion and the upper
portion comprises a cutting channel defined by a first pair of
legs. The legs include at least one surface configured to reduce
slip of film material across that surface.
Inventors: |
Tucker; Robey; (Telford,
GB) ; Blackshaw; Ian; (Shropshire, GB) ;
Jones; Neil; (Shropshire, GB) ; Fenlon; Carl;
(Shropshire, GB) ; Barratt; Adrian; (Shropshire,
GB) ; Lipscomb; Dave; (Shropshire, GB) ;
Hodges; Kelly; (Shropshire, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wrap Film Systems Limited; |
Shropshire |
|
GB |
|
|
Assignee: |
WRAP FILM SYSTEMS LIMITED
Shropshire
GB
|
Family ID: |
42341095 |
Appl. No.: |
13/680396 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/GB2011/050969 |
May 23, 2011 |
|
|
|
13680396 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
407/1 ;
221/135 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 35/002 20130101;
B65H 2701/1752 20130101; Y10T 407/10 20150115; B65H 35/0086
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
407/1 ;
221/135 |
International
Class: |
B26D 9/00 20060101
B26D009/00; B65H 35/00 20060101 B65H035/00; B65D 83/00 20060101
B65D083/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 21, 2010 |
GB |
1008480.4 |
Claims
1. A dispenser for a roll of film material, comprising a cutting
arrangement for cutting polyethylene having an upper portion and a
lower portion, the upper portion being configured to move in
relation to the lower portion between an open position and a
cutting position; wherein one of the upper portion and the lower
portion comprises a blade, and the other of the lower portion and
the upper portion comprises a cutting channel defined by a first
pair of legs; and wherein the legs include at least one surface
configured to reduce slip of film material across that surface.
2. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the upper portion
comprises the blade and the lower portion comprises the cutting
channel.
3. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the at least one
surface comprises a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) coating.
4. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein each leg comprises a
top, a front, outer side and a rear, inner side, and wherein the
top and front side of each leg and the rear side of one of the legs
is coated with a TPE coating.
5. A dispenser according to claim 3 wherein the coating extends
down approximately 50% of the front, outer side of each leg and a
portion of the rear, inner side of one of the legs.
6. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein when the upper portion
is in the cutting position, the blade will cut the portion of film
material by the time it has been stretched by a ratio of 4:1 from
its original length.
7. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein when the upper portion
is in the cutting position the blade extends into the cutting
channel by a distance of at least twice the width of the cutting
channel.
8. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the first pair of legs
are parallel to one another.
9. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein when the upper portion
is in the closed cutting position the blade is centrally positioned
within the cutting channel.
10. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the blade is
configured to meet the plane defined by tips of the legs
perpendicular to that plane on movement of the upper portion from
the open position to the closed cutting position.
11. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the first pair of legs
are at least 1.5 mm thick.
12. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the upper portion
further comprises a second pair of legs.
13. A dispenser according to claim 12 wherein when the upper
portion is in the closed cutting position the second pair of legs
is positioned outside of the first pair of legs.
14. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the upper portion and
the lower portion are hinged together.
15. A dispenser according to claim 14 wherein the upper portion
comprises a void configured to abut the lower portion so as to
prevent horizontal movement of the upper portion during movement of
the upper portion between the open position and the cutting
position.
16. A dispenser according to claim 15 wherein the lower portion
comprises a void configured to abut the upper portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of PCT Patent Application
GB2011/050969 filed on May 23, 2011, which designates the United
States, which also claims priority to Great Britain Patent
Application No. 1008480.4 filed on May 21, 2010, the entire
contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a dispenser, particularly
but not exclusively to a dispenser for polyethylene.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0003] Traditionally Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) has been the
preferred polymer for use as cling film. The reason for this being
its superior cling properties over Polyethylene (PE). It had been
noted however that in certain European countries PVC film was not
allowed due to the slight risk of residual monomer and plasticiser
migrating to the surface and transferring into the fatty acids in
food. PE film has no such problems as it is a pure polymer (no
additives) and it is polymerised from ethene gas therefore does not
present any migration risks.
[0004] Known dispensers would not cut PE as it could not hold the
material across the cutting channel in position therefore allowing
slippage and the overall channel depth was not sufficient to
stretch the material beyond its Elongation @ Break limits
(E@B).
[0005] Additionally, the applicant has recognised that with known
PVC dispensers, and with PE dispensers that are formed from
relatively thin plastics, a lack of stability of the hinged lid may
compromise the effectiveness of the cut.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] To alleviate this problem a new dispenser is described. It
comprises the usual features of known film dispensers but the
following modifications were made to ensure smooth and effective
cutting of Polyethylene film in the extruded body. The
modifications were made to overcome greater elongation & break
and tear resistance properties of Polyethylene over Poly Vinyl
Chloride and to generally improve the cutting action.
[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a
dispenser for a roll of film material, comprising a cutting
arrangement for cutting polyethylene having an upper portion and a
lower portion, the upper portion being configured to move in
relation to the lower portion between an open position and a
cutting position; wherein one of the upper portion and the lower
portion comprises a blade, and the other of the lower portion and
the upper portion comprises a cutting channel defined by a first
pair of legs; and wherein the legs include at least one surface
configured to reduce slip of film material across that surface. The
upper portion may comprise the blade and the lower portion may
comprise the cutting channel.
[0008] When the upper portion is in the cutting position, the blade
may cut the portion of film material by the time it has been
stretched by a ratio of 4:1 from its original length, and/or the
blade may extend into the cutting channel by a distance of at least
twice the width of the cutting channel. The upper portion may
further comprise a second pair of legs, and when the upper portion
is in the closed cutting position the second pair of legs may be
positioned outside of the first pair of legs. The upper portion may
comprise a lid wall, and the dispenser may further comprise a
support wall extending between part way down at least one of the
second pair of legs and the lid wall.
[0009] The cutting stroke was made to be at least double the width
of the cutting channel to allow for the stretch of the PE (200%).
The width is 6.3 mm therefore the stroke needs to be at least 12.6
mm but more if possible. In order to ensure that the stroke was
long enough to extend beyond the E@B of the PE a calculation was
devised using Pythagoras Theorem. (In a right angled triangle, the
square of the hypotenuse is equal to the square of the other two
sides). Therefore taking the cutting legs to form a parallelogram
when the blade (which would be central) stretched the film from the
blade edge to the cutting leg tips, two right angled triangles
would be formed using the stretched film and the cutting leg walls.
The leg length would then enable us to determine overall stretch
was beyond E@B.
[0010] The legs may be parallel to one another. When the upper
portion is in the closed cutting position, the blade may be
centrally positioned within the cutting channel. The blade may be
configured to meet the plane defined by tips of the legs
perpendicular to that plane on movement of the upper portion from
the open position to the closed cutting position.
[0011] The cutting legs were made to be level and blade
perpendicular @ point of contact with film then to curve
afterwards.
[0012] The legs are advantageously at least 1.5 mm thick, to add
strength to prevent the whole body collapsing under pressure.
[0013] The at least one surface may comprise a thermoplastic
elastomer (TPE) coating. Each leg may comprise a top, a front side
and a rear side, and the top and front side of each leg and the
rear side of one of the legs may be coated with a thermoplastic
elastomer coating. The coating may extend down approximately 50% of
the front (outer) side of each leg and a portion of the rear
(inner) side of one of the legs.
[0014] The TPE flexi should be a coating on top of each leg and
smeared down 50% of the outside of both sides of the back leg and
50% down the front of the front leg. This was required to hold the
film in position across the width of the cutting channel and ensure
no slippage occurred which would stop the film being extended
enough to allow the cut to take place.
[0015] The position of the hinge is moved to improve cutting arc
and the inner cutting leg is realigned to sit perpendicular above
void (currently adjacent to void).
[0016] The angle of the blade should be increased towards
90.degree. to make the blade cut straight down through the
film.
[0017] The anchor point of the grip assist was to be extended and
straightened out slightly to prevent lid catching on this before
cutting action has been completed.
[0018] There is further provided a dispenser for a roll of film
material, comprising a cutting arrangement for cutting polyethylene
having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion
being configured to move in relation to the lower portion between
an open position and a cutting position; wherein one of the upper
portion and the lower portion comprises a blade; the other of the
lower portion and the upper portion comprises a cutting channel
defined by a first pair of legs; the upper portion and the lower
portion are hinged together; and wherein the upper portion
comprises a void configured to abut the lower portion so as to
prevent horizontal movement of the upper portion during movement of
the upper portion between the open position and the cutting
position. The lower portion may comprise a void configured to abut
the upper portion.
[0019] The hinge needs to be more robust and either an extra void
added or void on lid extended to prevent haul off crushing body and
to prevent horizontal movement of lid during cutting action.
[0020] The grip assist hinge arm was extended to prevent film to
stop film residue from the cut building up in that area.
[0021] The blade pips were also modified (more pips per inch and
strategically positioned) to ensure a tighter grip in the blade
holding channel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0022] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to the following figures, in which:
[0023] FIG. 1--Shows the extrusion profile of the dispenser (1)
with the hinged upper portion (2) in its "open" position.
[0024] FIG. 2--Shows a similar arrangement to FIG. 1, with the
extrusion profile in its "closed" position.
[0025] FIG. 3--Close-up view of the cutting area of the dispenser,
with the upper portion hidden from view (as if it were open).
[0026] FIG. 4--Shows a similar arrangement to FIG. 3, with the
upper portion partway closed onto the lower portion.
[0027] FIG. 5--Shows a similar arrangement to FIG. 4 with the upper
portion fully closed onto the lower portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0028] FIG. 1 shows the dispenser (1) with a typical roll (3) of
material as would be positioned inside the dispenser (1), and the
blade (4) located within the jaws (5) of the cutting area of the
upper portion (2).
[0029] In FIG. 2, with the dispenser (1) in the closed position,
the upper (2) and lower portions of the extrusion correspond,
particularly in the cutting area (i.e. the parallel legs (5) on
either side of the blade slide down the outside of the parallel
legs (6) of the lower portion, while the blade (4) moves in between
the parallel legs (6) of the lower portion). As shown in FIG. 2,
the upper portion (2) comprises a lid wall (22) extending between
the hinge (9) and the cutting area. The upper portion (2) has a
void (7) defined by a wall (8) proximate the hinge (9). The wall
(8) forms a projection (21). The lower portion also has a void (18)
defined by a wall (19) proximate the hinge (9), the wall (19)
defining a recess (20) corresponding to the projection (21). When
the dispenser (1) approaches and is in the closed position (as
shown in FIG. 2), the void (7) abuts the lower portion so as to
prevent horizontal movement of the upper portion (2), i.e. the
projection (21) fits into the recess (20).
[0030] The cutting area of the dispenser (1) is shown in FIGS. 3, 4
and 5. A dotted line is added to represent a length of film
material (10), as if it had been drawn from the roll (3) at the
left hand side, and across the tips of the legs (6) of the lower
portion. Co-extruded surfaces (11) on the tips of these legs
(shaded for clarity) would provide a degree of "tackiness" that
would reduce the tendency for the film material to slip across
these surfaces. As previously stated, the co-extruded surfaces (11)
are in this embodiment of TPE flexi coating. As can be seen in FIG.
3, the surfaces (11) extend down approximately 50% of the front, or
outer side, of the front leg (6) and down approximately 25% of the
rear, or inner side, of the front leg (6). The surfaces (11) extend
down approximately 25% of the front, or outer side, of the rear leg
(6) and down approximately 50% of the rear, or inner side, of the
rear leg (6).
[0031] The length of film material would be drawn into the cavity
between the legs (6) of the lower portion by the tip of the blade
(4) as it passes downwards. As explained before, the co-extruded
surfaces prevent slippage of the film material onto the cavity, so
as a result the length of film material spanning the legs is being
stretched into the V-shape shown.
[0032] The stretched portion of film material would be drawn into
the V-shape shown, if by this point the blade had not pierced and
cut through it. However it has been established that the blade will
successfully cut the film material by the time it has been
stretched by a ratio of 4:1 from its original length. That is, the
depth of the V-shape that is formed by the stretched length of film
is twice the original length of the film spanning the legs of the
lower portion. Or, in terms of the geometry of the extrusion
profile itself, the depth of the channel that the film material is
drawn into, is approximately twice its width.
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the parallel legs (5) of the
upper portion (2) engage the outside of the parallel legs (6) of
the lower portion. When the upper portion (2) is in the closed
position, the legs (5) press the film material to the surfaces (11)
on the outsides of the legs (6), removing air from between the film
material and the surfaces (11) on the outsides of the legs (6).
This improves adherence of the film material to the legs (6), and
so improves cutting. The tips (12) of the parallel legs (5) extend
outwards, so extend away from the legs (6) of the lower portion
when the upper portion (2) is in the closed position. This makes
opening the dispenser (1) easier, as a user's fingers can easily
engage with the outer one of the tips (12) when lifting the upper
portion (2). The blade (4) is held between jaws (14) extending from
the upper portion (2). The tips (15) of the jaws (14) extend
outwards as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This aids fitting the blade (4)
into the jaws (14).
[0034] The upper portion (2) comprises a support wall (13) (see
FIGS. 4 and 5) extending from the inner parallel leg (5) to the
main part of the upper portion (2). The support wall (13) increases
the rigidity of the inner parallel leg (5) and so increases the
strength of the cutting area of the upper portion (2).
[0035] The material to be dispensed is presented by a presentation
means (16) shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in the form of an elongate plate.
In existing dispensers, the presentation means is a separate
component formed independently to the dispenser (1). In the present
invention the presentation means (16) is a part of the dispenser
(1) and is co-extruded with the dispenser (1), thus reducing
complexity and production costs. A hinge (17) of more flexible
material (see FIG. 4), also co-extruded with the dispenser (1),
allows movement of the presentation means (16) relative to the rest
of the dispenser (1).
[0036] The TPE coating inhibits slippage of PE across the cutting
channel, allowing the film to be extended enough to allow the cut
to take place. The positioning of the TPE coating on top of each
leg and smeared down part of the outside of both sides of the legs
further inhibits slipping.
[0037] The void on the lid inhibits horizontal movement of the lid
and increases stability during the cutting action. This helps to
ensure that the blade is correctly positioned when it meets the
film; i.e. that the blade meets the film at the optimal cutting
angle, perpendicular to the film.
* * * * *