Wet or dry web dispenser

Details Wet or dry web dispenser Wet or dry web dispenser

1999-02-05

2002-02-12

Lamb, Brenda A. (Department: 1734)

Coating apparatus

Immersion or work-confined pool type

With means for moving work through, into or out of pool

C118S419000, C118S428000, C118S429000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06346153

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a dispenser for providing a flexible web, such as a cellulosic, synthetic or blended web, including a bath tissue or personal wipe to a user. The dispenser is capable of providing either a dry web or at the option of the user, providing a wetted web, preferably having a measured amount of an active liquid or liquid treatment material such as a personal care liquid. The invention is directed generally to a device which dispenses a web such as a bath tissue and is directed more specifically to a device which stores a dry web and is capable of dispensing said web dry or in a wetted state containing an intentionally selected liquid based on user needs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A great deal of attention has been directed to the manufacture, use and sale of dispensers that can provide either dry or liquid treated webs including bath tissues, wipes, etc. Typically, such dispensers comprise a container having a useful number of such web articles. The most common are KLEENEX® brand tissues obtained from the familiar box and rolled bath tissue dispensed from wall mounted dispensers. Further, the webs can be dry or treated with a functional liquid. The functional liquid material can be a simple cleaner, maintenance item or a personal care liquid suitable for dermatological contact with an adult, child or infant. Such webs can comprise personal, cosmetic or sanitary wipes, baby wipes, hand wipes, wipes used in car cleaning, household or institutional cleaning or maintenance, computer cleaning and maintenance and any other area in which a flexible wipe having a useful liquid treatment has application. These webs (tissues or wipes) can be made from simple webs, robust webs or treated high strength materials. In use, the user grasps the leading edge of a web material and withdraws sufficient web, in a wetted or dry state, to be used. When the appropriate amount is withdrawn, the web is then obtained individually or is cut, torn at a perforated edge or otherwise severed from the supply.
The prior art recognizes that wetted webs can be provided from a supply of wetted material. Alternately, dispensers can be made by providing apparatus that can apply a treatment liquid to a web which is stored dry. These devices are capable only of dispensing wet web products, as the user does not have the option of choosing between a wet or dry product. Some dispensers use rollers immersed in the treatment fluid to wet the web, or, alternatively, place the rolled web itself within a liquid reservoir. Examples include Kimble, U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,502; and Warren, UK Patent Application No. GB 2168031 A. Other dispensers use a spray to moisten the dry web, including Marceau, U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,846; Carper, U.S. Pat. No. 2,789,725; and Boone, U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,185. Tondelli, UK Patent Specification No. 887,478 discloses a toilet paper dispenser having a spray that can be used to incorporate a liquid treatment onto a rolled web as the web is drawn off a roll.
Watson et al., UK Patent Specification No. 1,370,633 teaches a complex electrically driven mechanism that can be switched on and off to provide a web. The web can be used dry or can optionally be treated with a liquid by a movable mechanism within the device that brings a roll coater upwardly into contact with the moving web as the web is dispensed by the electrical motive members of the dispenser. Tarkkonen, PCT International Publication No. W088/041 (International Application No. PCT/FI86/00146) discloses a tissue paper moistening apparatus having a tissue roll enclosed within a dispenser having a liquid reservoir. The reservoir is connected to a pad that is perforated to provide the liquid. In operation, the apparatus introduces liquid treatment into the pad which, when treatment is desired, is brought into direct liquid transfer contact with the tissue incorporating the liquid into the tissue material. The art discloses additional examples of devices which can dispense either a moistened or dry cellulosic web product at the user's discretion. Many of these involve devices where the dry web passes over a roller which can be moved so as to optionally contact the web with a treatment liquid, thereby providing the user with the option of selecting a wet or dry product.
UK Patent Application No. GB 2045722 A describes a device whereby ordinary toilet tissue may be automatically folded into multilayer pads which can be dispensed either dry or wet at user's option. The pads can be sprayed either with water from a supply line or container or with appropriate medicated fluids and creams provided by a pressurized can or storage container. This device appears to require the user to simultaneously turn a handle to dispense the tissue and depress dispensing means for either water or other treatment fluid. Terepin, U.S. Pat. No. 3,771,883, discloses a device for dispensing a sanitary web in either a dry or lubricated condition. This device has a lubricant contained within a substrate. The device also possesses a diaphragm which permits lubricant to pass from the substrate into the web when the web material is pressed against the diaphragm. Perlman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,084,664, discloses a device utilizing a series of rollers to selectively wet toilet paper. This device uses a complicated set of gears and rollers to accomplish its purpose. Other references also teach devices in which the web is selectively wetted by moving rollers in and out of contact with either the liquid itself or a roller immersed in said liquid. Kaczeus, U.S. Pat. No. 3,460,509, describes a complicated set of rollers which may be used to selectively wet the dispensed web. Kaczeus teaches the use of a mechanical path-directing device. Further examples of these include Tusch, U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,365; Garson, U.S. Pat. No. 2,308,168; Browning, U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,953; Pschibul, U.S. Pat. No. 3,363,604; and Fernando et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,433. These teachings include apparatus that can provide a liquid treated web or dry web. However, these apparatus are complex, costly or can result in waste of the liquid treatment material.
The art has experimented broadly with devices that store a dry cellulosic web and then dispense it in a wet condition. As discussed, some can only dispense a wet product, while others have the advantage of selectively dispensing either a wet or dry product. However, due to the complexity (and consequent expense) of these devices, in recent years the art has moved away from such devices and has instead embraced premoistened products. These are products in which the web is stored moist and is dispensed moist. Currently there is a plethora of such products, including baby wipes, hand wipes, wipes intended for computer screens, etc.
For example, Kopacz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,332, is directed to a wet wipe suitable for use as baby wipes having an improved dispensibility and a method of producing the same. The reference goes on to disclose preferred parameters such as peel force and peel force ratios. Also disclosed are preferred dispensing forces and preferred dispensing force ratios. This is where the art is today-specifically, premoistened wipes and improvements therein. Kaufinan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,220, is directed to a wet-wipe container with an improved stay-open lid. This is a container which could possibly be used for baby wipes, such as those in the previously discussed reference. Doyle et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,017,002, discusses a substantially air-tight, cylindrical container containing an elongated web of perforated wet-impregnated, tissue-like material. The web is wound concentrically and is dispensed from the center of the cylinder. The web is dispensed through a resilient slit at the top of the container which opens enough to permit the web to be dispensed but substantially prevents air infiltration otherwise. Thompson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,876, discloses a somewhat similar dispensing device. However, Thompson uses a screw-on cap which includes a slitted aperture for dispensing the web whi

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