Adaptive dispenser for expandable slit sheet material
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorThomas R. J. Corrigan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dispenser for a roll of sheet material having expandable slits includes side support members, an input roller movably and rotatably coupled to the side support members configured to apply an input loading force onto the roll in a direction at least partially toward a loaded position for the roll, and an output roller rotatably coupled to the side support members. The dispenser may include a drive system coupling rotation of the input roller and the output roller to define a velocity ratio greater than 1.1. The dispenser may have multiple positions configured to accommodate various roll weights and diameters as the roll is consumed. The dispensed may be used to deploy sheet material by expanding slits in the sheet material.
Claims14
A dispenser for a roll of sheet material having expandable slits, the dispenser comprising:
- side support members including a first side support member and a second side support member spaced along a width axis, each defining a material support interface configured to guide a material support member to a loaded position;
- an input roller movably and rotatably coupled to the side support members configured to engage the roll when the roll is mounted onto the material support member in the loaded position and configured to apply an input loading force onto the roll in a direction at least partially toward the loaded position;
- an input roller:
- interface configured to limit movement of the input roller in the direction at least partially toward the loaded position;
- an output roller rotatably coupled to the side support members, the output roller spaced from the input roller along a draw direction orthogonal to the width axis, the output roller positioned to engage unrolled sheet material from the roll extending from the input roller;
- and
- a drive system configured to couple rotation of the input roller and the output roller such that a velocity ratio of the output roller to the input roller is greater than 1.1 to expand slits in the sheet material.
A dispenser for a roll of sheet material having expandable slits, the dispenser comprising:
- side support members including a first side support member and a second side support member spaced along a width axis, each defining a material support interface configured to guide a material support member to a loaded position;
- an input roller movably and rotatably coupled to the side support members configured to engage the roll when the roll is mounted onto the material support member in the loaded position and configured to apply an input loading force onto the roll in a direction at least partially toward the loaded position;
- an output roller rotatably coupled to the side support members, the output roller spaced from the input roller along a draw direction orthogonal to the width axis, the output roller positioned to engage unrolled sheet mater from the roll extending from the input roller;
- a drive system configured to couple rotation of the input roller and the output roller such that a velocity ratio of the output roller to the input roller is greater than 11 to expand slits in the sheet material;
- and
- an input force member coupled to the input roller and at least one side support member configured to apply a force on the input roller configured to move the input roller in the direction at least partially toward the loaded position, wherein the input force member comprises two coiled springs each coupled to a different end portion of the input roller.
A dispenser for a roll of sheet material having expandable slits, the dispenser comprising:
- side support members including a first side support member and a second side support member spaced along a width axis, each defining a material support interface configured to guide a material support member to a loaded position;
- an input roller movably and rotatably coupled to the side support members configured to engage the roll when the roll is mounted onto the material support member in the loaded position;
- and
- an output roller rotatably coupled to the side support members, the output roller spaced from the input roller along a draw direction orthogonal to the width axis, the output roller positioned to engage unrolled sheet material from the roll extending from the input roller,
- wherein in a first position, the input roller is configured to apply a first input loading force onto the roll in a first direction at least partially toward the loaded position, the first direction at a first angle to a length axis,
- wherein in a second position, the input roller is configured to apply a second input loading force onto the roll in a second direction at least partially toward the loaded position, the second direction at a second angle to the length axis less than the first angle,
- wherein in a third position, the input roller is configured to apply a third input loading force onto the roll in a third direction at least partially toward the loaded position, the third direction at a third angle to the length axis less than the second angle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.