Film and wrap dispenser

Details Film and wrap dispenser Film and wrap dispenser

1994-05-17

1997-10-14

Rada, Rinaldi I.

Severing by tearing or breaking

Severing by manually forcing against fixed edge

Work stripped from blade by relatively movable means

225 46, 225 79, 83171, B26F 312, B65H 3504

Patent

active

056762976

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF PRESENT INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing film and wrap, such as for example plastic film or wrap, polyethylene cling wrap and the like. It is particularly relevant to the dispensing of plastic film or wrap of the kind that is provided in roll form, normally disposed around a cylindrical core.
Cling wraps and films are common household and commercial products, used for example in the packaging of a great diversity of products, including foods, magazines, stationery and many other consumer goods. In many cases, such film or wrap is supplied as a cylindrical roll extending about a core (such as for example a cardboard core). In use, only limited length of film or wrap are required from time to time for any particular use, and thus means are usually provided in association with said rolls of film or wrap, for the cutting of film or wrap as may be desired.
It is common to use cardboard boxes for packaging such film or wrap which have also included a serrated metallic blade on an exterior surface for cutting the film. This has proved to be unsatisfactory in so far as the film often folds up over onto itself (especially due to its inherent clinging nature). Further, such serrated blades often become blunt before the roll of film has been fully used and, being disposable, are not environmentally acceptable to many people.
Alternative methods and arrangements have been proposed whereby containers or housings are provided, which involve the utilisation of severing means in the form of a hot wire, operated by electrical power or battery or the like. This wire is used to quickly melt and cut through the film, causing an even cut across the width of the film. By way of example only, such an arrangement is disclosed in Australian patent specification No 544,232 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,144.
While such arrangements are particularly useful and a substantial advance over the use of cardboard containers with serrated edges, disadvantages have been found to exist with such further arrangements. For example, it has been found to be necessary to provide an efficient and straightforward means of pulling the film out of the container, so as to allow the film to be cut by the severing means. It has further been found to be necessary to provide straightforward and efficient means for maintaining sufficient tension and pressure on a roll of film within such a container. By way of example, the effective operation of such containers depends to a large extent upon being able to maintain a suitable pressure and tension on the film at the point where the cut is to occur. Where the tension is too great, the film may be prone to tear unevenly. Alternatively, should tension be insufficient, the film was unlikely to pull away from the wire and in fact can leave a sticky deposit on the wire which can result in future insufficiencies unless the wire or severing means is cleaned.
While the arrangement such as that disclosed in Australian patent specification No 544,232 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,144 are particularly advantageous, such arrangements have not overcome the problems outlined above. In other words, they have not enabled film to be maintained at a sufficient tension. One of the problems is that as the film or wrap is used, so too is the diameter of the roll of film or wrap reduced. Also of course, the use of the film results in the mass of the roll being reduced. Thus, surface areas between a roll and the dispensing apparatus and the functional forces thereof are variable while it is desirable that the film tension remains substantially constant.
Some previous attempts to overcome the above problem have been made by attempting to hold the rolls of film or wrap within the internal diameter of the cardboard cores.
That is, by fitting the cores over appropriately formed and dimensioned lugs or axles. While, theoretically this should be possible, given the dimension of the core should remain constant throughout the use of film or wrap, in practice this is not the case. In many cases, such cardboard

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