U.S. patent number 3,570,731 [Application Number 04/827,564] was granted by the patent office on 1971-03-16 for wheeled support for upright rolls.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The E. O. Bulman Manufacturing Co., Inc.. Invention is credited to Edward Waltz.
United States Patent |
3,570,731 |
Waltz |
March 16, 1971 |
WHEELED SUPPORT FOR UPRIGHT ROLLS
Abstract
A wheeled, upright frame having top and bottom members. The
bottom member has a plurality of spaced upwardly extending
spindles, each spindle being adapted to support the lower axial end
of an upright roll and being spaced from the nearest portion of the
top member a distance greater than the length of the roll. A
plurality of upper spindles are slideably disposed within openings
in the top member and coaxial with the lower spindles. A plurality
of cutting bars are pivotally supported upon and extend between the
top and bottom members for engagement with said rolls.
Inventors: |
Waltz; Edward (Grand Rapids,
MI) |
Assignee: |
The E. O. Bulman Manufacturing Co.,
Inc. (Grands Rapids, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
25249541 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/827,564 |
Filed: |
May 26, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
225/38; 225/67;
280/79.3; 242/594.5; 242/596.4; 242/557 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H
35/0006 (20130101); A47F 7/175 (20130101); Y10T
225/27 (20150401); Y10T 225/237 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
A47F
7/16 (20060101); A47F 7/17 (20060101); B65H
35/00 (20060101); B26f 003/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;280/79.3 ;83/649,650
;225/38,69,62,66,67 (X)/ ;225/68,69,70,71 ;242/55.2,55.42 (X)/
;242/55.54 (X)/ ;211/44 ;248/(Inquired) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Friaglia; Leo
Assistant Examiner: Paperner; Leslie J.
Claims
We claim:
1. A device for supporting a roll of sheet material in an axially
vertical position and for dispensing portions of said material from
the said roll, comprising:
frame means including a bottom member, a top member and
interconnecting structure extending between and rigidly secured to
said bottom member and said top member;
lower spindle means mounted upon the bottom member and projecting
upwardly therefrom for engaging and supporting said roll of sheet
material;
means defining a vertical opening through said top member coaxially
aligned with the upright axis of said lower spindle, the distance
between the upper end of said lower spindle and the lower side of
the top member around said opening being greater than the length of
the roll of sheet material; and
an elongated upper spindle axially slideably disposed within said
opening in said top member and having an enlargement spaced
substantially from its lower end for positively limiting downward
movement of said upper spindle through said opening, said upper
spindle having a downwardly diverging portion spaced downwardly
from said enlargement, the lower end of said diverging portion
being larger than the diameter of said opening, whereby upward
movement of said upper spindle beyond a predetermined distance
wedges said upper spindle with respect to said top member.
2. A device according to claim 1, including upper and lower arms
pivotally supported upon said top member and bottom member,
respectively, adjacent said spindles; and a cutter bar pivotally
connected at its upper and lower ends to said arms and adapted to
engage said roll.
3. A device according to claim 2, having an H-shaped base including
said bottom member; and four casters mounted at and supporting the
four corners of the base.
4. A device according to claim 2, wherein said lower spindle means
comprises a substantially circular and horizontal support plate
coaxial with said axis of said lower spindle means and spaced from
the upper end thereof, said plate having a portion of reduced
radial extend on the side thereof adjacent said cutting blade,
whereby said cutting blade can move close to said axis.
5. A device according to claim 3, including plural pairs of upper
and lower spindles having vertical axes disposed substantially
within a single plane; and plural cutter bars, each thereof being
operable with a roll supported by a pair of upper and lower
spindles.
6. A device according to claim 5, including plural pairs of upper
and lower spindles arranged in a second plane parallel with and
spaced from said first plane; and cutter bars associated with said
spindles in said second plane.
7. A device for supporting a plurality of relatively large and
axially vertical rolls comprising:
a substantially rectangular base frame including a bottom
member;
a top member vertically aligned with said bottom member, and
upright members extending between and rigidly connected to said top
member and said bottom member;
a plurality of axially vertical lower spindles nonrotatably mounted
upon said bottom member, each lower spindle having an integral,
concentric and substantially circular flange spaced from the upper
end thereof, and each flange having a portion of reduced radial
extent on one side thereof;
plural upper spindles vertically slideably supported upon said top
member, each upper spindle having upper and lower enlarged portions
preventing accidental disengagement thereof from said top member,
and each upper spindle being coaxial with a lower spindle, the
distance between each pair of upper and lower spindles, when said
upper spindle is in its uppermost position, being greater than the
axial length of a roll of sheet material to be supported
therebetween;
plural pairs of arms pivotally supported upon said top member and
said base member, one pair of arms being adjacent each pair of
upper and lower spindles;
a cutter bar mounted upon and extending between each pair of upper
and lower arms, said bar being positioned so that it will engage
said portion of reduced radius on said flange means when the roll
of sheet material is removed therefrom; and
casters connected to and supporting the four corners of said base
frame.
8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said upper spindles have
substantially cylindrical central portions and downwardly diverging
lower portions; and
wherein said upper member has a plurality of vertical openings, one
upper spindle being disposed within each of said openings, and the
diameter of each opening being smaller than the diameter of the
lower end of the upper spindle disposed therein, whereby upward
movement of each upper spindle means beyond a selected point wedges
said upper spindle with respect to said top member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to a wheeled support adapted to
carry and dispense sheet material from plural rolls thereof mounted
upon the support and, more particularly, to spindle structure for
mounting said rolls upon the frame of the support.
Persons acquainted with the manufacture and use of equipment for
supporting rolls of sheet material and dispensing the material from
the rolls have long recognized the problems of loading relatively
large rolls of sheet material onto the frame of the dispenser and
providing plural rolls in positions from which the sheet material
can be readily dispensed even by small children. In particular, but
not as a limitation, rolled paper dispensers are widely used in
educational institutions, particularly in the lower grades. Because
of the demands for space, wheeled supports are usually provided for
the rolls and dispensers, but the rolls are normally arranged with
their axes in horizontal positions, usually stacked one above the
other. As a result, the uppermost rolls are difficult for small
children to reach, and it is even more difficult for the children
to operate the paper-dispensing mechanism associated therewith. On
the other hand, the lowermost rolls are in an awkward position for
the teacher. Furthermore, and of equal importance, it is difficult
to load relatively large rolls of paper, such as those which are
more than 2 feet long and 6" in diameter, upon such racks in
horizontal positions. Usually, the loading operation requires at
least two adults, primarily because of the difficulty of gripping
the roll while it is being loaded.
The cores used in rolls of paper vary somewhat in diameter and,
where the core is relatively small, it is necessary to provide a
lower support for an upright roll which will not interfere with
dispensing the radially innermost end of the sheet material. Yet,
the lower spindle must be of sufficient diameter that it will
provide adequate axial support for the roll which often weighs
substantially in excess of 25 pounds.
Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is the provision of
a wheeled support for plural, axially upright rolls of sheet
material wherein relatively large rolls can be readily mounted upon
the rack, one at a time, by an individual adult person, and all of
the paper on each roll can be dispensed.
A further object of this invention is the provision of a rolled
paper support, as aforesaid, having spaced upper and lower
spindles, the upper spindle being arranged to releasably support
itself in a raised position when a roll of sheet material is being
loaded upon the lower spindle.
Other objects and purposes of this invention will become apparent
to persons familiar with this type of equipment upon reading the
following descriptive material and examining the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wheeled support embodying the
invention and showing plural rolls of sheet material mounted
thereon.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of said wheeled support with said rolls
of sheet material.
FIG. 3 is a broken, sectional view taken along the line III-III in
FIG. 1 with the rolled sheet material removed.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG.
1.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is modified wheel support adapted to hold two rows of rolled
sheet material.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to that taken along the line
IV-IV in FIG. 1, but illustrating a modified lower spindle.
For convenience in description, the terms "upper," "lower" and
words of similar import will have reference to the wheel support of
the invention or parts thereof as appearing in FIGS. 1 and 6. The
terms "inner," "outer" and derivatives thereof will have reference
to the geometric center of the wheel support and parts thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objects and purposes of the invention, including those set
forth above, have been met by providing a wheeled, upright frame
having spaced, aligned and interconnected top and bottom members. A
plurality of lower spindles are mounted upon the bottom member to
support and position the lower axial ends of upright rolls of sheet
material. The upper axial ends of the rolls are releasably engaged
by upper spindles slideably supported upon the top member. Each
upper spindle can be releasably held in the raised position while a
roll is being loaded upon its corresponding lower spindle. A cutter
bar is mounted upon the frame for use in dispensing the sheet
material from each roll.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The roll support 10, one preferred embodiment of which is
illustrated in FIG. 1, is comprised of an upright, substantially
rectangular frame 11 mounted upon a pair of parallel crossbars 12
and 13, all of which are preferably fabricated from hollow metal
tubing having a rectangular cross section. Casters 14 are pivotally
connected to and support the opposite ends of the two crossbars 12
and 13. Caps 16 are secured to and cover the opposite ends of the
crossbars 12 and 13.
The frame 11 (FIG. 1) has spaced, parallel and substantially
horizontal top and bottom members 17 and 18, respectively. A pair
of spaced and parallel upright members 21 and 22 extend between and
are rigidly secured to the two corresponding ends of the top member
17 and bottom member 18.
A plurality of lower spindles 23 are preferably mounted at uniform
and spaced intervals along said bottom member 18 (FIG. 3). Each
spindle 23 (FIG. 4) is comprised of a spacer 24 which rests upon
the upper side 33 of the bottom member 18 and has a vertical
opening 26 therethrough. A substantially horizontal and
substantially circular plate 27 is supported upon the spacer 24 and
has an opening 28 preferably of about the same diameter as, and
aligned with, the opening 26.
A sleeve 29 (FIG. 4) is supported upon the plate 27 and has a
central opening 32 which is also of about the same size as, and
coaxial with, the opening 26. The upper and lower sides 33 and 34
of the bottom member 18 have openings 36 and 37, respectively,
which are preferably of about the same diameter as the opening 26
and coaxially alignable therewith. A round headed screw 38 is
snugly but slideably inserted through the openings 32, 28, 26, 36
and 37, and the lower threaded end of the screw 38 is engaged by a
nut 39 whereby said screw and nut hold the assembly of sleeve 29,
plate 27 and spacer 24 rigidly upon the bottom member 18. Washers
42 and 43 encircle the screw 38 adjacent the head 44 thereof and
the nut 39, respectively, for conventional purposes.
The plate 27 is preferably cupped slightly with its concave side
facing downwardly. Thus, when the sleeve 29 is disposed within the
opening 46 in the core 47 of the paper roll 48, said roll is
supported by engagement between the core 47 and that portion of the
plate 27 adjacent the opening 28 therein. This arrangement
minimizes frictional drag when the roll 48 is rotated during the
process of dispensing the sheet material therefrom. The round head
44 on the screw 38 facilitates insertion of the upper end of the
spindle 23 into the opening 46 in the core 47.
The plate 27 has one substantially straight edge 45 which is of
reduced radial extent and preferably extends along a chord of the
circle defined by the remainder of the outer edge of the plate 27.
The purpose of this edge 45 will appear hereinafter.
The upper and lower sides 51 and 52 (FIG. 5) of the top member 17
have a plurality of openings 53 and 54, respectively, which are
arranged in vertically aligned pairs, and each pair is in vertical
alignment with the axis of a lower spindle 23 (FIG. 1). An upper
spindle 56 is slideably disposed within each pair of openings 53
and 54 in axial alignment with a lower spindle 23.
The upper spindle 56 (FIG. 5) is comprised of an elongated tube 57
with a seam 58 extending lengthwise thereof. The tube 57 is
preferably substantially cylindrical and is secured at its upper
end to a knob 59 which extends laterally substantially beyond the
peripheral surface of the tube 57 and is substantially larger than
the opening 53 in the upper side 51. Thus, the knob 59 positively
limits downward movement of the upper spindle 56 when said knob
engages the upper side 51 of the top member 17.
The lower end 62 of the tube 57 diverges slightly downwardly so
that the lowermost end of the tube 57 has a diameter slightly
larger than the diameter of the opening 54 in the lower side 52.
This divergence can be accomplished merely by placing a wedge into
the lower end of the seam 58 and spreading those parts of the lower
end 62 adjacent the seam 58. The upper spindle 56 is preferably
fabricated from metal and the wall thickness of the tube 57 is such
that the lower end 62 will flex inwardly when the spindle is raised
to its wedged position of FIG. 5. Yet, the tube 57 has sufficient
strength to oppose substantial lateral forces when it is in its
operating position within the upper end of the opening 46 in the
core 47 of a roll of paper 48.
A pair of arms 63 and 64 (FIG. 1) are pivotally supported at one
end of each upon bracket assemblies 66 and 67, respectively, which
in turn are mounted upon the opposing sides 52 and 33,
respectively, of the top and bottom members 17 and 18. Each pair of
bracket assemblies 66 and 67 is located adjacent a pair of upper
and lower spindles 56 and 23, respectively, and said assemblies 66
and 67 may be mirror images of each other. A cutter bar 68 is
pivotally engaged at its upper and lower ends by the arms 63 and
64.
The bracket assemblies 66 and 67 and their associated arms 63 and
64 may be substantially identical with the corresponding parts
disclosed in either of the two U.S. Pats. No. 2,473,744 and No.
2,559,937, both issued to Elvah O. Bulman. Each arm 64 (FIG. 3),
for example, is engaged by a spring-biased toggle mechanism 69
which can hold the arm in a fully open position 64A or continuously
urge said arm from an open position toward the closed position of
64B.
The straight edge 45 is positioned so that it is substantially
perpendicular to a tangent of the arc of swing of the arm 64 as the
arm approaches engagement with the edge 45. Thus, the cutter bar 68
is permitted to move close enough to the axis of the spindle 23 to
dispense the entire roll of paper without materially reducing the
strength of the plate 27.
MODIFIED STRUCTURES
The roll support 75 (FIG. 6) differs from the roll support 10 in
that the roll support 75 has a pair of upright frames 76 and 77
rigidly supported in spaced, parallel relationship upon a pair of
crossbars 12A and 13A. The lower spindles 23A and upper spindles
56A, which are supported on the frames 76 and 77, may be identical
with the spindles 23 and 56, respectively, described above.
Likewise, the cutter bars 68A and their supporting arms and bracket
assemblies may also be identical with those described above with
respect to the structure disclosed in FIG 1.
It will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure that roll
supports having varying numbers of pairs of upper and lower
spindles and either one or two upright frames may be provided
within the scope of the invention.
FIG. 7 illustrates a modified lower spindle adapted to replace one
of the lower spindles in the frame 11, for example, to accommodate
a roll 81 which has a shorter, axial length than the other rolls 48
disposed within the frame 11.
Specifically, the spindle 80 has an elongated spacer 82 with
tapped, lengthwise openings 83 and 84 in the upper and lower ends,
respectively, thereof. A bolt 86 extends upwardly through the
openings 36A and 37A and is threadedly received into the opening
84. A plate 27A and sleeve 29A are secured to the upper end of the
spacer 82 by a screw 87 which extends through the sleeve 29A and
plate 27A and is threadedly engaged within the opening 83. Thus, by
appropriate selection of the length of the spacer 82, rolls of
substantially different axial extent can be accommodated.
OPERATION
While persons skilled in this field will understand the operation
of the roll support 10 from the foregoing description, such
operation will be briefly summarized.
The lower spindles 23 (FIG. 1) are mounted upon the bottom member
18 so that the straight edge 45 on each plate 27 is in the
above-described position with respect to the closed cutter bar 68.
The upper spindles 56 are inserted through the openings in the top
member 17 after which the lower end of the seam 56 in each tube 57
is spread to provide the enlarged lower end. The cutter bars 68 are
then moved into the open positions, as indicated by the location of
the arm 64A in FIG. 3, and the upper spindles 56 are moved into
their raised position of FIG. 5. The described positions of the
upper and lower spindles and the cutter bars are shown at the roll
position second from the right in FIG. 1.
A roll 48 of paper is now arranged in an upright position adjacent
the frame 11 after which its lower end is placed upon the lower
spindle 23 so that the sleeve 29 extends into the core of the roll.
The upper end of the roll is then moved toward the frame until the
lower end of the upper spindle 56 can move downwardly into the
core. The spindle 56 can be easily tapped loose from its wedged,
raised position. The cutter bar 68 is then moved into position
against the periphery of the roll and paper from the thusly mounted
roll can now be dispensed.
Removal of an empty core can be effected by simply reversing the
above-described procedure, after which a new roll can be placed in
position as heretofore described.
Operation of the roll support 75 disclosed in FIG. 6 would be
identical with that described above with respect to the roll
support 10, except that the roll support of FIG. 6 can carry twice
as many rolls of paper.
Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have
been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be
recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed
apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the
scope of the present invention.
* * * * *