# US 9,517,908 B2 · Spindle and dispenser for roll products and methods for making and using same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,908 B2 - Document ID: US9517908B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/363,246 - Filed: 2012-12-14 - Published: 2014-11-13 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Applicants: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Inventors: Thomas C. Meier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517908B2 ## CPC - B65H 16/02: Supporting web roll - B65H 35/002: {Hand-held or table apparatus (B65H35/006 takes precedence)} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Spindles (10) adapted to receive a tape roll having a core opening thereof and comprising an elongate body (12) and at least one spacing member (14a, 14b, 14c) comprising a protuberance (18a, 18b, 18c) wherein the protuberance is configured such that it can be configured in a first protruding position and in a second non-protruding position. Also, dispensers comprising such spindles, methods of assembling such dispensers, and methods of dispensing tape from tape rolls mounted on such spindle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spindle adapted to receive a tape roll having a core opening which has an inner diameter, wherein said spindle comprises an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and defining a cross sectional profile perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, the cross sectional profile of the elongate body being smaller than the inner diameter of the core opening, and wherein the at least one spacing member can be configured in a first position extending from the body perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to define a dimension which is larger than the cross sectional profile of the elongate body and in a second position defining a dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis which is less than the dimension defined in the first configuration and which is small enough to permit the tape roll to be positioned thereover while the tape roll is received on the spindle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spindle of claim 1 wherein said body is generally cylindrical. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The spindle of claim 1 wherein said body has a cross section that is not circular. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The spindle of claim 1 wherein said spacing member and said body are integral. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The spindle of claim 1 wherein spacing member comprises a protuberance that can be configured in a first protruding position and in a second non-protruding position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The spindle of claim 5 wherein said spacing member comprises an arm connecting said protuberance to said body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The spindle of claim 6 wherein said arm is resilient and urges said protuberance into said first position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The spindle of claim 1 comprising a spring configured to urge said spacing member into said first position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The spindle of claim 1 wherein said spindle comprises two or more spacing members which can be independently configured in a first position and in a second position and which are located at different longitudinal locations. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The spindle of claim 1 wherein said spindle comprises two or more spacing members which can be independently configured in a first position and a second position and which are located at equivalent longitudinal locations. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The spindle of claim 1 wherein at least one end is configured to engage with a support. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The spindle of claim 11 wherein two ends are configured to engage with a support. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A tape dispenser comprising a spindle of claim 11, the dispenser adapted such that at least one end of the spindle can be free to permit a tape roll having a core opening to be mounted thereon and removed therefrom. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The tape dispenser of claim 13 further comprising two tape rolls mounted on said spindle wherein said tape rolls are separated by at least one said spacing member which can be configured in a first position and in a second position and which is in a first position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The dispenser of claim 13 wherein said spindle is releasably mounted thereon, the dispenser and spindle being adapted to permit removal and replacement of tape rolls thereon. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The dispenser of claim 13 further comprising a cutting member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) A method for assembling a dispenser of claim 13 comprising sliding a first tape roll having a core opening over an end of the spindle and at least one of: (i) over a first spacing member that is in its second position; or (ii) to a first spacing member that is in its first position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 comprising sliding the first tape roll over the first spacing member and further comprising sliding a second tape roll having a core opening over the spindle to a first spacing member wherein said tape rolls are separated by at least the first spacing member that is in its first position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) A method for dispensing tape from a dispenser of claim 13 having a first tape roll thereon comprising removing a portion of tape from said first tape roll such that said first tape roll rotates about said spindle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein said dispenser has a second tape roll thereon, the first and second tape rolls being separated by a first spacing member that is in its first position such that when said first tape roll rotates about said spindle it substantially does not contact said second tape roll.