GB2201946A

GB2201946A - Dispensing device

Info

Publication number: GB2201946A
Application number: GB08729288A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David James Winder
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-01-23
Filing date: 1987-12-16
Publication date: 1988-09-14
Also published as: GB8729288D0; GB8701525D0

Abstract

A dispensing device (12) comprises a carrier mounted for guided movement around a reel (10) retained by two device-to-reel ledges (14), for the purposes of dispensing elemental or band-like material. e.g. self-adhesive tape. The free end of the said material passes through an integral aperture (4), for releasable retention on material retaining surface areas (18), recessed (20) to make tape available for subsequent use. Material cutting is by means of a serrated removable blade (22) located at the front of the device. The removable blade housing (2) facilitates the changing of blades for the purposes of cutting varying types of material which may be stored on a reel. The device may be of plastics or metal. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPENSING DEVICE I, David James Winder, of Milibarn House, 2a Leire Lane, Dunton Bassett, Nr Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 5JP, England, a citizen of the United kingdom, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: TECHNICAL FIELD: This present invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing elemental or band-like material and particularly, but not exclusively, to a device for dispensing self-adhesive tape stored on a reel.

BACKGROUND: Many difficulties are encountered in dispensing material stored on a reel such as self-adhesive tape without the aid of an efficient dispenser. One difficulty is that the end of the tape is often difficult to locate and free when it is desired to remove a length of tape from the reel. Another common difficulty is experienced whilst attempting to dispense by hand and sever material in that the material is often torn unevenly which can result in wastage. Dispensing such tape with these difficulties is tiresome, inefficient, time-wasting and for most industrial applications, very costly.

ESSENTIAL TECHNICAL FEATURES: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a dispensing device comprising a carrier mounted for guided movement around the reel, the free end of the elemental or band-like material passing through an aperture in the carrier for releasable retention at free end material retaining surface areas, cutting means being provided adjacent said aperture to enable a length of said material to be severed upon removal of the free end of the material from said material retaining surface areas.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the material stored on the reel is adhesive tape, whether single or double-sided. The aperture consists of a slot and an integral material loading channel adjancent to and dividing the material retaining surface areas into two ribbed raised surfaces, (or by some other means to reduce overall surface area of material retaining area so as to reduce the likelyhood of the tape sticking to said areas too effectively so as to make it difficult to release adhesive tape for subsequent use). The material retaining surface areas are located at the rear of the device.

Further, the material retaining surface areas are each especially cut out or recessed to facilitate gripping of the free end of the material and are set to a specific angle so as to facilitate the automatic retention (adhesion) of the 'new' free end following the severing of adhesive tape onto the material retaining surface areas. This occurs because the new free end 'springs' back against the material retaing surface areas automatically due to the cutting motion and pressure exerted by the user's hand (thumb).

There is also provided a surface at the leading end of the device whereby the user can exert hand (thumb) pressure on the device to aid the severing of the material. This is normally done in a downward direction exerting said pressure through the cutting blade into the material. Blades can be made from plastic or metal and can be removed and replaced at will to accomodate different types of material to be dispensed.

When the above material is not self adhesive, for example bandaging, string or wire, the material retaining surface area(s) may have a notch(s) cut or otherwise formed at the time the device is manafactured.

Preferably the device is disposable, one device being provided with each reel sold. However, the device may be reusable in which case the carrier is removeably mounted on the reel, conveniently by two small ledges. Further, and in either case the device may be made in varying widths and depths to enable fitting to different widths and lengths of elemental or band-like material.

EXAMPLE: The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows a side-view of the DISPENSING DEVICE (12) attached to a ROLL of ADHESIVE TAPE (10) and in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention and shows the DIRECTION (A) in which the TAPE (16) is dispensed from the reel in relation to the installation of the device (12) onto the said ROLL of ADHESIVE TAPE (10). Fig 1 also shows the specific angle (1) of the MATERIAL RETAINING SURFACE AREAS (18) in relation to the MATERIAL APERTURE or SLOT (4) (see Fig 2), the REMOVEABLE BLADE HOUSING (2) and the position and angle of the BLADE (22) in relation to the dispensing DIRECTION (A). fig 1 also shows View A direction (see also Fig 3), View B direction (see also Fig 4), and the INNER RIM (11) of the reel (10).

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the DISPENSING DEVICE (12) showing the device installed on a TAPE ROLL (10). Also shown is the MATERIAL RETAINING SURFACE AREAS (18), the RECESS or CUTOUT (20), the MATERIAL LOADING CHANNEL (3), the MATERIAL APERTURE or SLOT (4), the BLADE and CUTTING EDGE (22), the REMOVEABLE BLADE HOUSING (2), and the THUMB PRESSURE AREA (5).

Figure 3 shows View A of the DISPENSING DEVICE (12) (see also Fig 1). viz.

the MATERIAL APERTURE or SLOT (4), the MATERIAL RETAINING SURFACE AREAS (18) and their ribbed, or otherwise raised, surfaces, the MATERIAL LOADING CHANNEL (3), the RECESS or CUTOUT (20), and part of BLADE and CUTTING EDGE (22). The THUMB PRESSURE AREA (5) is also shown.

Figure 4 shows View B of the device (12) (see also Fig 1). viz. part BLADE and CUTTING EDGE (22) and DEVICE-to-REEL RETAINING LEDGES (14). An angled view of the THUMB PRESSURE AREA (5) is also shown.

Figure 5 shows a perspective rear view of the DISPENSING DEVICE (12), the DEVICE-to-REEL RETAINING LEDGES (14), and part BLADE and CUTTING EDGE (22).

Figure 6 illustrates a typical application of the DISPENSING DEVICE (12) and an adhesive ROLL of TAPE (10) and how the BLADE and CUTTING EDGE (22) is used in a downward manner using the THUMB PRESSURE AREA (5) for the appropriate pressure to sever tape. Adhesive tape is firstly placed onto the CARTON (6) which is being packaged and then drawn over the carton and down the side of carton, Finally to be 'severed and stuck down' as a single operation to the side of the said carton.

Referring to the drawings the DISPENSING DEVICE (12) is in the general form of an inverted U for quided movement around the reel. When the DEVICE is mounted on a SELF-ADHESIVE TAPE ROLL (10), for example, the DEVICE is placed over the roll and retained by two specially angled LEDGES (14) which locate themselves under the INNER RIM (11) of the REEL (10). This is to facilitate a 'slide-onand-over' and 'clip-on' action. The ADHESIVE TAPE (16) is loaded into 'the MATERIAL APERTURE or SLOT (4) by firstly 'bunching' the end of free TAPE (16) together and guiding same through the MATERIAL LOADING CHANNEL (3). By pulling the TAPE (16) forward in the DISPENSING DIRECTION (A) the TAPE (16) will spread itself to its normal width evenly against the front edge of the MATERIAL APERTURE or SLOT (4) ready for normal operation.

The rear of the device consists of two MATERIAL RETAING SURFACE AREAS (18) to which the free end of the tape is releasably secured when not in use. The said MATERIAL RETAING SURFACE AREAS (18) are RECESSED (20) to facilitate easy removal of the free end of the MATERIAL (16) and are separated to form the above mentioned MATERIAL LOADING CHANNEL (3) for correct material loading.

The front of the DISPENSING DEVICE (12) has incorporated a serrated BLADE (-22) by means of which a length of MATERIAL (16) can be severed from the reel. The BLADE (22) can be removed from the BLADE HOUSING (2) and replaced with another blade, either made from plastic or metal or other suitable material so as to provide a fast and effecient cutting action through varying types of material.

During storage, the free end of the MATERIAL (16) is releasably secured to the MATERIAL RETAING AREAS (18). When it is desired to dispense a length of material, the free end, located in the RECESS (20), is pulled by hand towards the front of the device, i.e. in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1.

DISPENSING DIRECTION (A). During this process the DISPENSING DEVICE (12) rotates around the REEL (10) in the same clockwise direction. The required length of MATERIAL (16) is then severed from the REEL (10) by pulling the free end of the MATERIAL (16) against the serrated BLADE (22), or in the application shown in Figure 6, in a downward motion, the BLADE & CUTTING EDGE (22) being pressed against the MATERIAL (16) until same is severed.

The DISPENSING DEVICE (12) would normally be manufactured from moulded plastics material. However, any other suitable material. such as metal may be used for its manufacture.

Claims

1. A dispensing device, for dispensing elemental or band-like material stored on a reel comprising a carrier mounted for quided movement around the reel.

Installation of which is facilitated by means of a 'slide-on-and-over' and 'clip-on' action and device-to-reel. retention achieved by specially angled ledgeswhich locate themselves under the inner rim of the reel.

2. A dispensing device, referred and related to CLAIM 1, by means of material loading the free end of the elemental or band-like material passes through the material loading channel between the material retaining areas into and against the material aperture or slot front edge in preparation for usage, and, in accordance with the preceding technical features.

3. A dispensing device, referred and related to CLAIMS 1 and 2, for releasable retention at the material retaining surface areas, on which the material is retained or stored, and, the angle of which is important, according to the preceding technical features.

4. A dispensing device, referred and related to CLAIMS 1, 2 and 3, on which there is provided a recess or cut out, on and between the material. retaining areas, for the purposes of easy access to the free end of material, in accordance with the preceding technical features.

5. A dispensing device, referred and related to CLAIMS 1, 2, 3 and 4, incorporating a removeable cutting blade for varying types of dispensed material, and, in accordance with the preceding technical features.

6. A dispensing device, by which easy downward motion dispensing and material cutting is facilitated through its design and contruction, in accordance with the preceding technical features.