Automatic roll tensioner and material dispensing system using the same
AssigneeZsolt Design Engineering, Inc.
InventorZsolt Toth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic roll tensioner for a material dispensing system enables a material, e.g., paper or plastic, to be unwound from a roll of the material by pulling the material from the roll while maintaining tension on the material when pulling suddenly stops. The roll of material is positioned in the roll tensioner such that it can be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the roll by pulling the material from the roll to unwind material from the roll. A mechanism actuated by the weight of the roll of material applies frictional resistance to the rotation of the roll at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations on the periphery of the roll. An apparatus for converting sheets of paper into cushioning dunnage advantageously employs the automatic roll tensioner.
Claims28
An apparatus for enabling a material to be unwound from a roll of the material by pulling the material from the roll while maintaining tension on the material when pulling suddenly stops, said apparatus comprising:
- an arrangement for positioning a roll of material such that the roll can be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the roll by pulling the material from the roll to unwind material from the roll;
- and
- a mechanism actuated by said roll of material when said roll of material is positioned by said arrangement for applying frictional resistance to the rotation of said roll of material at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations on the periphery of said roll of material.
An automatic roll tensioner for a material dispensing system, said roll tensioner comprising:
- means for positioning a roll of material in said roll tensioner such that the roll can be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the roll by pulling material from the roll to unwind material from the roll;
- and
- a mechanism actuated by said roll of material when said roll of material is positioned by said means for positioning for applying frictional resistance to the rotation of said roll of material at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations on the periphery of said roll of material.
An apparatus for converting sheets of paper into void fill and cushioning dunnage, said apparatus comprising:
- a supply assembly supporting a roll of the paper to be converted;
- a conversion assembly through which paper from said roll of material can be pulled for folding and forming paper from said roll into pillow-like shapes for use as cushioning dunnage;
- and
- wherein said supply assembly comprises an arrangement for positioning said roll of material such that the roll can be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the roll by pulling the material from the roll to unwind material from the roll;
- and a mechanism actuated by said roll of material when said roll of material is positioned by said arrangement for applying frictional resistance to the rotation of said roll of material at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations on the periphery of said roll of material.
A material cart for enabling a material to be unwound from a roll of the material by pulling the material from the roll while maintaining tension on the material when pulling suddenly stops, said material cart comprising:
- a stand with wheels;
- an arrangement on said stand for positioning a roll of material on the stand such that the roll can be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the roll by pulling the material from the roll to unwind material from the roll;
- and
- a mechanism on said stand actuated by said roll of material when said roll of material is positioned by said arrangement on said stand for applying frictional resistance to the rotation of said roll of material at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations on the periphery of said roll of material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.