Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Coil holder or support – Mounted coil holder or spindle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-08
2001-08-21
Jillions, John M. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Coil holder or support
Mounted coil holder or spindle
C242S596400, C242S596700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276629
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
Conventional roll supports include more or less complicated mechanisms. Some require the use of a removable mandrel that needs to be manually inserted into the spool of the roll before its insertion in a corresponding housing of an apparatus. This complicates the process for the operator and increases the time for the replacement of a roll.
SUMMARY
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple mechanism to removably connect a suspended roll to a housing without the need of manually inserting a mandrel through the spool of the roll. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a new method for removably connecting a suspended roll to a housing.
The roll is suspended by gravity in the housing from the interior of an opened cylindrical spool around which the rolled up material is provided. The roll is supported in such a way that the rolled up material can be easily unrolled. This invention is particularly well adapted for paper rolls, especially rolls of paper used for issuing lottery tickets. It can also be used in a wide range of other applications, for example to support paper rolls for issuing receipts, and with materials other than paper, including fabrics, tissues, tapes, cords, wires or any other materials that can be rolled up.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a roll support for removably connecting a suspended roll to a housing. The support comprises two opposite supporting assemblies. Each assembly has a plate member that is operatively connected to a respective side of the housing and pivotable around a first horizontal pivot axis. The plate member provides a roll-receiving surface movable between a substantially horizontal position that is above or in the housing, and a substantially vertical position that is within the housing. A first biasing element forces the surface of the plate member toward the substantially horizontal position.
Each assembly comprises a suspension member that is pivotally connected to the respective side of the housing and pivotable around a second horizontal pivot axis. The suspension member has a main longitudinal axis that is orthogonal to the second pivot axis. The suspension member is pivotable relative to the plate member between a first position where the main longitudinal axis is at least parallel to the surface of the plate member, and a second position where the main longitudinal axis is substantially orthogonal to the surface. A second biasing element forces the suspension member toward the second position.
The present invention also provides a roll support comprising two opposite support means. Each support means comprise first means operatively connected to a respective side of the housing for providing a roll-receiving surface. The surface of the first means is movable between a substantially horizontal upper position and a substantially vertical lower position. Second means are used for forcing the surface of the plate means toward the substantially horizontal position. Third means are provided for supporting the weight of a respective side of the roll. The third means have a main longitudinal axis and are pivotable, relative to the first means, between a first position where the main longitudinal axis is at least parallel to the surface of the first means, and a second position where the main longitudinal axis is substantially orthogonal to the surface. Fourth means are provided for forcing the third means against the first means.
The present invention also relates to a method for connecting a suspended roll to a housing. The method is initiated by engaging the cylindrical outer surface of the roll against a middle portion of two opposite plate members that are initially projecting substantially inward from opposite sides of the housing. The roll is then moved into the housing against the action of two opposite biasing elements that force a respective plate member toward their initial position. Finally, the roll is further moved into the housing in order to allow inwardly-biased suspension members, each located on a respective side of the housing, to pivot and penetrate into the opened central spool.
A non-restrictive description of a preferred embodiment will now be given with reference to the appended figures.
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Bourque & Associates P.A.
Experts en Traitement de l'Information (E.T.I.) Montreal In
Jillions John M.
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