Film dispenser with a positioning device for film sections to be cut off.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a film dispenser with a positioning device for film sections to be separated. Cling films, or more generally polymer films, aluminum foils, and baking paper are examples of sheet materials that are typically wound around a core, with the core generally comprising a core sleeve. Such film rolls can be stored in dispenser housings that include a removal opening for withdrawing an end section of the wound film and means for separating such end sections from the film supply wound around the core.

[0002] In this document, the terms "film" and "film roll" are used synonymously for any sheet material or sheet roll, unless otherwise stated.

[0003] Film rolls for commercial purposes, for example, for use in commercial kitchens, comprise a film strip wound on a core, typically in the range of approximately 100m to approximately 600m in length, and typically in the range of approximately 30cm to 60cm in width, and can be 45cm or 30cm in particular. For baking paper, widths between 50 and 60cm are common, for example, approximately 53cm. Such film rolls are preferably stored at the point of use in sturdy, refillable dispensers.

[0004] EP3453659A1 discloses a film dispenser comprising a metal housing in which two film rolls can be rotatably mounted. Each film roll comprises a core sleeve and a film strip wound thereon, the core sleeve projecting axially on both sides of the wound film strip. The end sections of the core sleeve are rotatably mounted in the housing on roll holders. The roll holders are bearing plates projecting upwards at the bottom of the housing and having recesses that are open toward the upper end and are each designed to receive an end section of the respective core sleeve. The film dispenser comprises a cutting device with a blade that is slidably mounted along a guide rail attached to the top of the housing front. A rod is attached to the side walls of the housing parallel to the guide rail.Together with the guide rail, this defines a cutting plane and also serves as a stop for the housing's hinged lid when the lid is closed. When cutting an end section of film unwound from the film roll, it rests on the rod and on the top of the guide rail. The rod is positioned relatively close to the guide rail so that it does not interfere with the insertion and removal of film rolls from the housing.

[0005] The front recesses on the roll holders are inclined in such a way that a front film roll can be brought into a storage position located at the front of the housing. With such arrangements, comparatively small and light front film rolls can be held more effectively in the recesses when a film section is pulled out of the housing. Additionally or alternatively, a pivoting hold-down device can be arranged in the housing to load the front film roll. The hold-down device rests on the front film roll and, due to its gravity, ensures that the front film roll is not lifted against the gravity of the hold-down device when a film section is pulled out of the housing and jumps out of the recesses.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a film dispenser which is designed for space-saving storage of a film roll and is easy to operate.

[0007] This object is achieved by a film dispenser according to the features of patent claim 1.

[0008] The film dispenser comprises an elongated dispenser housing with a wall that defines a receiving space for receiving a film roll, and a bearing device with two roll holders arranged axially spaced from one another in this dispenser housing and connected to the dispenser housing or the wall of the dispenser housing.

[0009] The roll holders are designed to receive and rotatably support a film roll in the dispenser housing. They preferably each comprise a bearing body with an upwardly open recess. These recesses are intended to receive projecting end sections of the core or corresponding pins connected to the core at the axial ends of a film roll, so that the film roll is rotatably mounted on the bearing bodies. The lowest level of the recesses, where the core or the pins rest on the bearing bodies, is also referred to as the bearing level. The film dispenser further comprises a removal opening delimited by sections of the wall of the dispenser housing, through which an end section of the film strip can be pulled out of the dispenser housing, and a separating device for separating such film sections from the wound film supply. The removal opening can, for example,a free space between wall sections of the dispenser housing, which define a housing body, and a hinged lid of the dispenser housing, which is pivotally mounted on this housing body. The separating device preferably comprises a cutting device with a knife mounted so as to be displaceable along a guide rail. The guide rail can in particular be arranged on a longitudinal edge of the housing body, where it acts as a stop for a hinged lid when the latter is closed. The guide rail is preferably designed and arranged on the dispenser housing in such a way that the knife can be moved even when the hinged lid is closed. This has the advantage that a film section to be separated can additionally be clamped between the guide rail and the hinged lid during cutting.

[0010] A positioning device arranged in the dispenser housing ensures that end sections of the film released from the film roll have a defined position and orientation within the dispenser housing in the area of ​​the removal opening when they are pulled out of the dispenser housing and separated using the separating device. This applies regardless of the remaining quantity of film stock wound onto the core or the outer diameter of the film roll. For this purpose, the positioning device comprises a support profile, e.g. a rod or a tube, which is held in a support position in the dispenser housing and can be moved between the support position and a release position. The positioning device can, for example, be displaceable or pivotable about a pivot axis aligned parallel to the support profile on the side walls of the dispenser housing or on the bearing bodies for the film roll in the dispenser housing.In the support position, the contact profile is arranged between the film roll and the removal opening in such a way that an end section of the film rests against the contact profile when it is pulled out of the dispenser housing and separated. Preferably, the contact profile in the support position is arranged at approximately the same level as the removal opening above the bearing level of the recesses on the roll holders, e.g. within a tolerance range of 5% to 10%. The contact profile and the edge of the housing body adjacent to the removal opening or a guide rail of a cutting device arranged there define an approximately horizontal withdrawal plane in which the film is pulled out of the dispenser housing and cut if necessary. This is particularly advantageous in combination with cutting devices in which a blade should be aligned as orthogonally as possible to the film during cutting, i.e. when a knife is moved along the guide rail.

[0011] Particularly in compact dispenser housings where the width of an access opening for inserting and removing a film roll is only slightly larger than the maximum outer diameter of a film roll, the contact profile can partially block the access opening when it is in the support position. This can make inserting and removing film rolls difficult or impossible. In the release position, however, the contact profile is arranged in the edge area or outside the access opening of the dispenser housing so that film rolls can be inserted or removed without obstruction. The length of the contact profile is generally at least as long as the width of the film sections to be separated, and preferably the same size or greater than the distance between the roll holders. This means that the film can be supported along the entire length of the separating device during separation or held in an optimal position for separation.Preferably, the profiles have a round cross-sectional shape.

[0012] The material of the contact profile or a coating on the surface of the contact profile can be determined according to the desired adhesion or sliding properties for a particular film material. The contact profile preferably comprises a rigid, dimensionally stable tube or rod, which can be made of steel, for example. Such contact profiles can, if required, have an anti-slip coating, such as soft PVC or another material.

[0013] The positioning device comprises a holding device which ensures that the contact profile is held or locked in the support position when an end section of the film is pulled out of the dispenser housing and separated.

[0014] Preferably, the holding device comprises at least one transmission element connected to the support profile, which is movably, in particular pivotably, mounted in the dispenser housing. A contact portion of this transmission element rests against the core or a corresponding pin of a film roll when the roll is rotatably mounted on the roll holders. This holds the support profile in the support position.

[0015] When a film roll is inserted into the roll holders, the core or pins exert a compressive force on each transfer element, moving it from the release position to the support position. As long as the film roll is supported on the roll holders, the support profile remains held in the support position.

[0016] Preferably, each transmission element comprises a lever pivotably mounted in the dispenser housing, having an active leg and an actuating leg connected to each other in an L-shape. The end region of the active leg is connected to the contact profile, and the contact section is formed on the actuating leg. In the central region between these legs, a bolt, for example, can protrude, which can be rotatably mounted as a pivot shaft in a corresponding bore in the adjacent roll holder or the side wall of the dispenser housing. In alternative designs, the bolt and bore can also be interchanged.

[0017] In particularly advantageous embodiments of the positioning device, one such lever is arranged at each of the two ends of the contact profile.

[0018] Such positioning devices can be easily mounted by slightly elastically spreading or pressing the two levers together at corresponding bearing points on the roll holders or the side walls of the dispenser housing.

[0019] The roll holders can be designed as L-shaped plates, the shorter horizontal legs of which are connected to the bottom of the dispenser housing. The longer vertical sections of these plates are arranged slightly spaced from the side walls of the dispenser housing and have an upwardly open recess for each receiving an end section of the core sleeve of a film roll. Protruding stop pins can be formed on this plate, for example, as end stops for each of the lever legs. These define the support position and the release position of the contact profile.

[0020] When the support profile is in the release position, a section of the actuating leg protrudes into the storage area for a core section protruding from the film roll. When a film roll is inserted into the roll holder in the dispenser housing, the protruding core section displaces the actuating leg. This pivots the positioning device, allowing the support profile to move into the support position. Preferably, the gravity of the core alone is sufficient to hold the support profile in the support position.

[0021] The positioning device can be designed so that when the film roll is lifted out of the roll holders it automatically pivots back into the release position as soon as the core is removed from the roll holders. This can be achieved, for example, by arranging the center of gravity of the positioning device laterally offset from its pivot axis when the support profile is in the support position. The force of gravity causes a torque which automatically pivots the positioning device back into the release position, provided that opposing frictional forces of the bearing are smaller. In some embodiments these frictional forces are negligible. With such devices, film rolls can be exchanged simply by lifting them out of the roll holders.

[0022] In other embodiments, the coefficient of friction between the levers and the roller holders may be sufficiently large so that the positioning device can be moved from the support position to the release position and vice versa only by exerting an additional torque.

[0023] Additionally or alternatively, the roller holders and the levers can comprise cooperating retaining elements, such as small, dome-like protrusions and / or corresponding recesses protruding from the surfaces, which positively secure the parts to one another in the support position and / or the release position. To overcome the retaining force of the retaining elements, a sufficiently high torque must be exerted on the levers. This causes the positioning device to be slightly elastically deformed, so that the retaining elements can be displaced from their secured position and the positioning device can be moved from the secured position.

[0024] In such designs, the contact profile can be held in the respective position independently of other influencing factors. To change the position, an operator can exert a corresponding pressure force on the contact profile or on the lever(s). This also applies to other film dispenser designs where the transmission elements are not necessarily designed as pivoting levers.

[0025] The holding device, which ensures that the contact profile or positioning device remains in the support position under the influence of gravity, can have one or more of the following features: a) At least one transmission element, on which the contact profile is arranged, is non-positively and / or positively connected to the dispenser housing or the roll holder in the support position by cooperating holding elements. By applying an additional force, a retaining force of the connection can be overcome and the positioning device can be moved into the release position. b) At least one transmission element, on which the contact profile is arranged, comprises a contact section which is arranged in the storage area for the core or a pin fastened to the core of a film roll in such a way that the positioning device is held in the support position by such a core or pin when the film roll is mounted on the roll holders. The core or pin acts as a stop which limits the range of movement of the transmission element.

[0026] In the case of positioning devices with transmission elements in the form of levers, these levers and the bearings for the core on the roll holders can be designed and coordinated with one another in such a way that the ends of the core of a film roll mounted on the roll holders are held force-fittingly or positively between the actuating arms of the levers and the bearings when a corresponding torque is exerted on the positioning device. This can be achieved, for example, by the actuating arm and the opposite edge of the recess in the roll holder being designed like pliers, the jaws of which are curved so that they encompass at least half of the core in cross-section when they are in contact with the core. If a section of film exerts a force on the contact profile when being pulled out of the dispenser housing, the core is reliably prevented from being pulled upwards out of the bearings.

[0027] In some embodiments of the film dispenser, the positioning device can alternatively be designed such that a film roll mounted on the roll holders is lifted by pivoting the positioning device, making it easier to grasp from above. This is particularly advantageous if the film roll is difficult to access when mounted on the roll holders.

[0028] A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to some figures. Figure 1 shows a film dispenser with a film roll rotatably mounted therein, Figure 2 shows the arrangement of Figure 1 with opened hinged lid and without side wall, but with a pulled-out end section of the film, Figure 3 a pivoting positioning device mounted on two roll holders and a lifted-out film roll, Figure 4 a cross-section of a film dispenser with an arrangement according to Figure 3, Figure 5 a cross-section of the foil dispenser from Figure 4 with the hinged lid open and with a film roll rotatably mounted in the roll holders, Figure 6 the arrangement of Figure 5 , but with the hinged lid closed.

[0029] Figure 1shows a film dispenser with an elongated dispenser housing 1, which comprises a housing body and a hinged lid 9. The housing body comprises a wall with a housing base and four walls, namely a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls. The hinged lid 9 is pivotally mounted on the housing body about a pivot axis A in the region of the rear upper edge and is designed to cover an upper access opening in the housing body. This serves to insert film rolls into the dispenser housing 1 or remove them from the dispenser housing 1. Film rolls comprise a core 11, onto which a film 13 or a film strip is wound. After the film supply wound onto the core 11 has been used up, cores 11 without film 13 are removed from the dispenser housing 1 in an analogous manner.

[0030] Typically, the core 11 is a sleeve whose end portions protrude from both sides of the wound film strip and are used for rotatably supporting the film roll on roll holders in the dispenser housing. Alternatively, pins 2 can be used for this purpose. These pins are attached to the ends of a core sleeve and protrude axially beyond the wound film strip. In the illustrations in the Figures 1 to 6 Pins 2 are arranged at the ends of the cores 11. Pins 2 are adapters with which film rolls with different core dimensions can be adapted for rotatable mounting on the roll holders. Such pins 2 can, in particular, comprise a section with a smaller outer diameter than that of the core sleeve 11. This facilitates space-saving storage of the respective film roll in the dispenser housing 1, since the roll holders for mounting such pins 2 can have smaller dimensions.

[0031] In the dispenser housing 1, two roll holders are connected to the housing body at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction. They can be Figure 2 The bearing bodies 3 shown comprise L-shaped plates, the shorter legs of which are preferably oriented outward toward the adjacent side wall of the dispenser housing 1 and are connected to the housing base, e.g., by riveting or welding. The longer bearing legs are preferably arranged parallel to the adjacent side wall of the dispenser housing 1 at a small distance, which can, for example, be in the order of approximately 1 cm to approximately 4 cm.

[0032] Each bearing body 3 comprises a recess 5 on the bearing leg with an introduction area open towards the upper end face and a lower edge section for rotatably supporting one of the end sections of the core 11 or an axially projecting pin 2 fastened thereto.

[0033] An end section of the film 13 can be pulled out of the dispenser housing 1 through a removal opening 15 and separated from the wound film supply by means of a separating device 17. In the illustrated embodiment of the film dispenser, the separating device 17 is designed as a cutting device with a guide rail 8 on which a knife 7 is slidably mounted. The guide rail 8 is attached to the front upper edge of the housing body.

[0034] The removal opening 15 can be a space between the guide profile 8 of the cutting device and the hinged lid 9, as in the embodiment of the film dispenser in Figure 1is shown. Preferably, the hinged lid 9 comprises at least one edge portion that rests on the guide rail 8 when the hinged lid 9 is closed or in a closed position. If an end portion of the film 13 to be severed rests on the guide rail 8, it can be clamped between the edge portion of the hinged lid 9 and the guide rail 8. This can make it more difficult for the film 13 to slip in the region of the guide rail 8 when cutting with the knife 7.

[0035] In the illustrated embodiment of the dispenser housing 1, the access opening for inserting and removing film rolls, which can be covered by the hinged lid 9, and the removal opening 15 are formed integrally. In alternative embodiments, the removal opening 15 could also be formed separately from the access opening on the dispenser housing 1 (not shown).

[0036] A positioning device 21 with a contact profile 23 is movably arranged in the dispenser housing 1 such that the contact profile 23 can be moved into a support position and into a release position. The support position is defined such that an end section of the film 13 to be severed rests against the contact profile 23 in a defined position suitable for withdrawal and separation in the dispenser housing 1 in front of the removal opening 15 and the separating device 17, regardless of the respective film supply or the outer diameter of the film roll. In the support position, the contact profile 23 is preferably arranged approximately at the same level as the guide rail 8, particularly in the case of separating devices 17 with a movable knife 7, and together with the guide rail 8 defines an approximately horizontal cutting plane. The plane of a blade of the knife 7 is then aligned orthogonally to the cutting plane during cutting.This facilitates easy cutting and the formation of perfect cut edges on the film 13.

[0037] When the support profile 23 is in the support position, it generally blocks the access opening of the dispenser housing 1. Inserting or removing film rolls from the dispenser housing 1 is then hindered or even prevented. In the release position, the support profile 23 is arranged near the edge or next to the access opening, allowing insertion and removal of a film roll from the dispenser housing 1.

[0038] The positioning device 21 comprises two levers 25. Each lever 25 comprises an actuating leg 25a and an active leg 25b, which extend from a common central base region, preferably in an L-shape, in different directions. The ends of the active legs 25b are each connected to one of the ends of the contact profile 23. Each lever 25 is pivotally mounted in its base region about a pivot axis B on the adjacent bearing body 3 in the dispenser housing 1 ( Figure 3 ). For this purpose, for example, projecting bolts 29 may be formed on the bearing bodies 3 parallel to the contact profile 23 and corresponding bores 27 may be formed on the levers 25, or vice versa.

[0039] In alternative embodiments of the film dispenser, the levers 25 could be pivotally mounted in an analogous manner on the side walls of the dispenser housing 1 (not shown).

[0040] Preferably, end stops 31 for the actuating leg 25a and / or the active leg 25b of the lever 25 are formed on the bearing body 3 or alternatively on the wall of the dispenser housing 1. These limit the range of motion of the lever 25 and define its end positions, in which the contact profile 23 is in the support position or the release position.

[0041] In the representations in the Figures 1, 2 , 5 and 6A film roll is arranged in the dispenser housing 1, with projecting pins 2 at the ends of the core 11 being mounted in the recesses 5 of the bearing bodies 3. Each actuating leg 25a rests against the adjacent pin 2. The positioning device 21 is thus held in a pivoted position in which the contact profile 23 is in the support position. In some embodiments of the film dispenser, the weight of the core 11 alone is sufficient to hold the positioning device 21 with the contact profile 23 in the support position. When the film roll or the core 11 or the pins 2 are lifted out of the recesses 5 of the bearing bodies 3, the weight force acting on each of the actuating legs 25a is eliminated. In the support position, the center of gravity of the positioning device 21 is generally offset relative to the pivot axis B in the direction of the separating device 17.When the core 11 is lifted, the positioning device 21 therefore automatically pivots into the release position according to the . Figures 3 and 4 In some embodiments, this can be prevented if necessary, for example, by inhibiting frictional forces between the legs 25 and the bearing bodies 3. In such arrangements, an operator can move the positioning device 21 into the desired position by exerting an additional force.

[0042] In the release position, a section of each actuating leg 25a lies within the bearing area for the core 11 or for the pin 2. When a film roll is inserted into the dispenser housing 1, the pins 2 are inserted into the recesses 5 of the bearing bodies 3. The pins 2 press on the actuating legs 25a and automatically move the positioning device 21 with the contact profile 23 into the support position. In some embodiments, this can be prevented, for example, by greater frictional forces or by holding elements. An operator can nevertheless move the positioning device 21 into the support position by exerting an additional force on the contact profile 23 or on the active leg(s) 25b of the lever 25.

[0043] In some embodiments, the bearing bodies 3 can comprise a nose 33 projecting in the direction of the recess 5. This is a section of the bearing body 3 projecting above the bearing area for the core 11 or the pin 2 in the direction of the recess 5. This section and a preferably concavely curved section of the actuating leg 25a are jaws of a pair of pliers which are designed to retain a pin 2 mounted in the recess 5 of the bearing body 3 in the bearing location when a film section is pulled out of the dispenser housing 1.

[0044] When pulled out, the film section resting against the contact profile 23 creates a torque on the positioning device 21, so that the pin 2 is clamped between the jaws of the pliers. This corresponds to the illustrations in the Figures 2 , 5 and 6 .

[0045] Preferably, the end portion of the actuating arm 25a is convexly curved. In the release position, this portion of the actuating arm 25a rests against the rear end stop 31.

Claims

1. A film dispenser comprising a dispenser housing (1) and a mounting apparatus having two roll holders arranged axially at a distance from one another in the dispenser housing (1) and connected thereto for rotatably mounting a film roll which comprises a film (13) wound onto a core (11), wherein the dispenser housing (1) comprises an access opening for inserting and removing the film roll and a removal opening (15) for extracting end portions of the film (13) from the dispenser housing (1), and wherein the film dispenser comprises a separating device (17) for detaching extracted end portions of the film (13), characterized in that a positioning device (21) having a contact profile (23) is movably mounted in the dispenser housing (1) between a support position and a release position, wherein the support position is fixed so that the end portion of the film (13) lies in contact with the contact profile (23) during separation with the separating device (17), and wherein the release position is fixed so that the contact profile (23) is arranged in the end region or outside of the access opening of the dispenser housing (1) so that film rolls can be inserted into, and extracted from, the dispenser housing (1) without hindrance, and in that the positioning device comprises a holding device, with which it can be held in the support position.

2. The film dispenser according to Claim 1, characterized in that the roll holders are bearing bodies (3) which are connected to the dispenser housing (1) at a distance from the side walls of the dispenser housing (1) and comprise recesses (5) which are open to the top for introducing and rotatably mounting end portions of the core (11) of a film roll, and in that the positioning device comprises levers (25) connected to the contact profile (23), which are pivotably mounted about a pivoting axis (B) on the bearing bodies (3) or on the side walls of the dispenser housing (1).

3. The film dispenser according to any one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the length of the contact profile (23) is at least as large as the distance between the roll holders.

4. The film dispenser according to any one of Claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the holding device comprises at least one of the levers (25), and in that said lever (25) comprises an actuating leg (25a) and an active leg (25b) which extend starting from a common base region at the pivoting axis (B) in different directions, wherein the contact profile (23) is connected to the active leg (25b), and wherein the actuating leg (25a) comprises a contact portion which is arranged in the mounting region for the core (11) so that it holds the positioning device (21) in the support position by lying in contact with the core (11) of a film roll mounted in the dispenser housing (1).

5. The film dispenser according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that at least one end stop (31) for delimiting the range of movement of the respective lever (25) protrudes on at least one of the bearing bodies (3).

6. The film dispenser according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the bearing bodies (3) comprise a nose (33) protruding in the direction of the recess (5).

7. The film dispenser according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the actuating leg (25a) comprises a concavely curved portion.

8. The film dispenser according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the separating device (17) comprises a cutting device having a guide rail (8) and a knife (7) which is displaceable along said guide rail (8).

9. The film dispenser according to Claim 8, characterized in that the dispenser housing (1) comprises a housing body with an access opening at the top and a hinged lid (9) which is pivotably mounted on this housing body about an axis (A) for covering the access opening, and in that the guide rail (8) is arranged on the upper edge of the housing body opposite the axis (A) and, together with the hinged lid (9), delimits the removal opening (15).

10. The film dispenser according to Claim 9, characterized in that the contact profile (23) in the support position is substantially arranged at the same level above a mounting level predefined by the roll holders for the core (11) of the film roll.