Coreless Roll Mounting Apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for mounting a coreless roll that comprises a first and/or second component with a roll mounting surface comprising a radius that is substantially equal to the inner radius of the roll such that the roll mounting surface supports the coreless roll when the roll mounting surface is disposed within the cavity; and a tapered guiding surface coupled to a distal end of the roll mounting surface that transitions from a radius less than the radius of the roll mounting surface to a radius substantially equal to the radius of the roll mounting surface such that the tapered roll guiding surface guides a free end of the coreless roll formed in the cavity against the inner circumference of the roll when the apparatus is inserted into the cavity.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and devices for mounting paper rolls, in particular to methods and devices for mounting coreless paper roles on devices, such as printers, without damaging the paper roles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is common for labels or paper used in printing to be in the form of a roll. The most common technology involves wrapping a continuous sheet of labels or paper 400 around a cardboard core 410 forming a cored roll, as shown in FIG. 11. The core provides for structural support for the paper and labels, especially when the label or paper is unrolled from the core. The cored roll 430 provides an internal cavity 420 that enables the cored roll to be mounted to the apparatus by inserting an element in to the cavity. The core prevents the paper or labels on the internal part of the roll from becoming bent or damaged, and consequently technology involving mounting a cored roll is not very sophisticated, as the internal diameter of the core simply needs to interact with the external diameter of a mounting element. The core allows for the entire roll to be used, and serves as an efficient way to mount a roll of paper or labels, while providing structural integrity to the entire roll.

Nonetheless, technology is moving away from cored rolls, as rolls are now made without the internal core, as shown in FIG. 10. As with the cored roll, a coreless role 220 can be made of a continuous sheet of labels or paper 240 and form an internal cavity 210. Coreless rolls save on the use of material to make the inner core, which saves cost and packaging, and is beneficial as the inner core does not have to be thrown out. Coreless rolls also have the advantage of having more labels per roll as coreless rolls are not limited by the internal diameter of the cores. The drawbacks to coreless rolls are that they suffer from lack of structural support and protection that the core provides. Another issue is that coreless roles are being mounted on elements that are designed to receive cored roles. One feature of a coreless role is that the end 230 of the rolled label or paper that forms the internal diameter of the role hangs free within the cavity of the role. As a result, when a coreless role is mounted on an element that is designed to receive a cored role, the mounting element will bend or damage the free end 230 of the paper forming the internal diameter of the coreless role. These problems with coreless rolls lead to inefficient use of the coreless roll, uneven delivery of the labels, and difficulties with mounting a coreless roll onto an apparatus, such as a printer.

FIG. 9 depicts an example of a commercially available printer designed to dispense a cored roll. Printer 300 comprises a pair of spring loaded mounting elements 310 that exert a force in the direction of arrows 350, 355. Mounting elements 310 comprise a plurality of ledges 312, 314 that comprise outer circumferences that correspond to inner circumferences of cored paper rolls of different sizes. To mount a paper roll in printer 300, the mounting elements 310 are moved in a direction opposite arrows 350, 355. The paper roll is placed in between these elements such that the axis of the paper roll is approximately aligned with the axis formed by ledges 312, 314. The spring loaded mounting elements 310 are brought together in the direction of arrows 350, 355 until the mounting elements 310 are in contact with the paper roll and either ledge 312, 314 are disposed within the internal cavity of the paper roll.

Mounting elements such as those depicted in FIG. 9, are not adequate for securing a coreless paper roll to printer 300. When the axis of a coreless paper roll is aligned with the axis formed by ledges 312, 314 and the mounting elements 310 are brought together, ledges 312, 314 will damage the free end of the paper forming the internal diameter of the coreless role.

What is needed is a mounting apparatus that enables a coreless roll to be mounted to a dispenser without damaging the free end formed in the cavity of the role. It would be beneficial if the mounting apparatus were in the form of an adapter that secures the enables a coreless role to be secured to a dispenser designed for cored paper roles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for mounting a coreless roll that comprises a first and/or second component with a roll mounting surface comprising a radius that is substantially equal to the inner radius of the roll such that the roll mounting surface supports the coreless roll when the roll mounting surface is disposed within the cavity; and a tapered guiding surface coupled to a distal end of the roll mounting surface that transitions from a radius less than the radius of the roll mounting surface to a radius substantially equal to the radius of the roll mounting surface such that the tapered roll guiding surface guides a free end of the coreless roll formed in the cavity against the inner circumference of the roll when the apparatus is inserted into the cavity. It is preferable that the second component detachably couples to the first component.

It is another object of the invention for the first and/or second components to comprise a base coupled to the proximal end of the mounting surface, wherein the base comprises an outer radius that is greater than the inner radius of the coreless role such that a surface of the base extending in the direction of the outer radius of the role comes in to flush contact with a surface of the role extending from the inner radius to the outer radius with the mounting surface is disposed in the cavity. The base can comprise a coupling element that detachably secures the proximal end of either component to a mounting element that supports the apparatus. The base can further comprise a friction surface, such as friction bumps, disposed on a surface of the base extending in the direction of the outer radius opposite the base contact surface.

It is a further object of the invention for the first and/or second components to comprise an introduction element that detachably couples the first and second components. Preferably first and second introduction elements couple the first and second components. Such an embodiment can be provided by a first introduction element with a cavity that is open towards the distal end of the first introduction element and comprises a threaded surface on an inner surface of the first introduction element forming the cavity, the second introduction element comprises a threaded surface on an exterior surface forming the second introduction element, and the first and second components are detachably coupled by aligning the distal ends of the first and second components and radially rotating the first component relative to the second component such that the first and second components move in an axial direction.

Other objects of the invention and its particular features and advantages will become more apparent from consideration of the following drawings and accompanying description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the mounting apparatus of the present invention in a first position.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the mounting apparatus of the present invention in a second position.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the mounting apparatus of the present invention in the first position.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the mounting apparatus of the present invention in the second position.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a first component of the mounting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an end view of the first component of the mounting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a second component of the mounting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of a coreless roll supported by the mounting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows an internal view of a commercially available printer that receives paper roles.

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a coreless roll.

FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of a cored roll.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for a coreless paper roll mounting apparatus that enables a coreless paper roll to be secured to a dispenser, such as a printer. FIGS. 1-7 depict an embodiment of the present invention, which provides a coreless paper roll mounting apparatus with first and second components 21 and 1. As shown in FIG. 1, first and second components 21 and 1 comprise a base member 23, 3, a roll mounting surface 26, 6, a tapered guiding surface 20, 10, and an introduction element 22, 2. The coreless paper roll mounting apparatus enables a coreless paper roll to be properly mounted to a printing apparatus such as the device shown in FIG. 9.

Introduction elements 22, 2 assist a user in inserting the first and second components 21, 1 into the core 210 of the coreless role. In order to assure that the free end 230 of the role is not damaged by the introduction elements, the outer radii of these elements are less than the internal diameter of the coreless roll. The outer radii of these elements should be sufficiently small such that the introduction elements 22, 2 do not damage or bend the free end 230 when the introduction elements are inserted in to cavity 210. Preferably, the outer radii of these elements are small enough such that they do not come into contact with the free end 230.

Introduction elements 22, 2 also enable the first and second components 21, 1 to be detachably coupled together. As shown in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, first component 21 comprises a cavity 27 that is open towards the distal end of the first introduction element 22 and comprises a threaded surface 24 on the inner surface of the first introduction element 22. Second component 1 comprises a threaded surface 4 on the exterior surface forming the second introduction element and an outer diameter that corresponds to the inner diameter of cavity 27. The first and second components 21, 1 are detachably coupled by aligning the distal ends of the first and second introduction elements such that the second introduction element is disposed within cavity 27 and radially rotating the components relative to one another. The radial rotation of the components will cause the components to move in an axial direction such that the components are drawn together and enable the coreless roll 220 to be secured to the mounting apparatus.

Introduction elements 22 and 2 are coupled to and extend away from tapered guiding surfaces 20 and 10 respectively. Tapered guiding surfaces 20, 10 comprise an expanding outer diameter in the proximal direction of each respective component. Preferably the outer diameter of each tapered guiding surface provides a sloped transition from the outer diameter of an introduction element to the outer diameter of a mounting surface. The sloped transition of the tapered guiding surfaces 20, 10 enable the free end 230 of the coreless roll to be placed against the internal diameter of the coreless roll without bending or damaging the free end. Once the introduction elements 22, 2 are aligned and as the first and second components are drawn together in the axial direction, the increasing diameter of the tapered guiding surfaces 20, 10 urge the free end towards the inner surface of the coreless roll and eventually enable a surface of the free end to be in complete contact with inner surface.

Tapered guiding surfaces 20, 10 are couple to and extend away from roll mounting surfaces 26, 6 respectively. Roll mounting surfaces 26, 6 comprise an outer diameter that is substantially equal to the inner diameter of coreless roll 220. When the first and second components are drawn together in the axial direction and the free end 230 is urged against the inner surface of roll 220 by the tapered guiding surfaces 20, 10, the roll mounting surfaces 26, 6 become disposed within cavity 210. With the roll mounting surfaces 26, 6 disposed within the cavity, roll 220 is supported by the mounting apparatus such that the roll 220 and the mounting apparatus remain axially aligned.

Coupled to the proximal end of the roll mounting surfaces 26, 6 are bases 23, 3. These bases comprise an outer diameter that is greater than the internal diameter of roll 220 such that when the components are drawn together, inner base surfaces 31, 11 come in to flush contact the end surfaces 250. Bases 23, 3 enable coreless roll 200 to be secured to the mounting apparatus in the axial direction.

Bases 23, 3 further comprise friction elements 30 on the outer surfaces of the bases. FIGS. 3-6 illustrate that these friction elements are preferably friction bumps that arranged as an array of bumps in a two tiered circular pattern. Preferably the mounting apparatus serves as an adapter that enables a coreless role to be effectively mounted to existing dispensing apparatuses, such as a printer, for cored rolls. These pre-existing dispensing apparatuses typically comprise geometrical restrictions that limit the amount of space that can accommodate an adapter. For instance, the dispensing apparatus may be limited in the length of a roll that can be mounted to the apparatus. Such restrictions require that the base be thin. However, since the depicted embodiment requires the components to be radially rotated in order for the coreless role to be secured to the mounting apparatus, a thin base makes it difficult to ensure that surfaces 31, 11 are in sufficient contact with surfaces 250 of the roll. As a result, friction elements 30 provide a surface that enables a user to press their palms against the bases and further rotate the components relative to one another. While the preferred embodiment depicts bumps that extend away from the outer surfaces of the bases, alternatively the score marks, dimples or other elements that change the topography of the outer surfaces can be included with or substituted for the bumps. The ability to rotate the components relative to one another can be further assisted by the incorporation of friction ribs 9, 29 within the cavity of each component.

Bases 23, 3 further enable the mounting apparatus to be secured to mounting elements of a rolled paper dispensing apparatus, such as printer 300. Bases 23, 3 comprise coupling elements 32, 12 that detachably secure the mounting apparatus to mounting elements, such as elements 310. As shown in FIG. 1, Bases 23, 3 comprise radial surfaces 32, 12, each of which form a cavity. For a mounting apparatus that serves as an adapter for a dispenser that incorporates mounting elements as shown in FIG. 9, the circumference of radial surfaces 32, 12 are substantially equal to either outer circumference of ledge 312 or 314. Such an embodiment enables the coreless role to remain axially aligned with mounting element and also enables the mounting apparatus to rotate about the surface of either ledge and the coreless roll rotates to dispense paper.

The present invention has been described above in terms of a presently preferred embodiment so that an understanding of the present invention can be conveyed. However, many alternative designs and structural arrangements are possible without departing from the principle of the invention. The scope of the present invention should therefore not be limited by the embodiments illustrated, but rather it should be understood that the present invention has wide applicability with respect to mounting apparatuses for coreless roles. All modifications, variations, or equivalent elements and implementations that are within the scope of the appended claims should therefore be considered within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A system for dispensing paper from a coreless roll, comprising:

a coreless roll of paper comprising a first radius corresponding to an outer circumference of the roll and a second radius corresponding to an inner circumference of the roll, wherein the inner circumference forms a cavity from a first end to a second end of the roll; and

a coreless roll mounting apparatus, comprising:

a first component with a first roll mounting surface comprising a radius that is substantially equal to the second radius of the roll such that the first roll mounting surface supports the coreless roll when the first roll mounting surface is disposed within the cavity; and

a first tapered guiding surface coupled to a distal end of the roll mounting surface that transitions from a radius less than the radius of the roll mounting surface to a radius substantially equal to the radius of the roll mounting surface such that the tapered roll guiding surface guides a free end of the coreless roll formed in the cavity against the inner circumference of the roll when the apparatus is inserted into the cavity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second component that detachably couples to the first component, the second component comprising a second roll mounting surface with a radius that is substantially equal to the second radius of the roll such that the roll mounting surface supports the coreless roll when the roll mounting surface is disposed within the cavity.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second component further comprises a second tapered roll guiding surface coupled to a distal end of the second roll mounting surface that transitions from a radius less than the radius of the second roll mounting surface to a radius substantially equal to the radius of the second roll mounting surface such that the second tapered roll guiding surface guides a free end of the coreless roll formed in the cavity against the inner circumference of the roll when the second component is inserted into the cavity.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first component further comprises a first base coupled to the proximal end of the first mounting surface, wherein the first base comprises an outer radius that is greater than the second radius of the coreless roll such that a surface of the first base extending in the direction of the outer radius comes in to flush contact with a surface of the roll extending from the second radius to the first radius with the first mounting surface is disposed in the cavity.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first base comprises a first coupling element that detachably secures the proximal end of the first component to a first mounting element that supports the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first coupling element is a cavity formed in the first base that comprises a circumference that is substantially equal to an outer circumference of the first mounting element.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first introduction element coupled to the distal end of the first tapered guiding surface comprising a radius that is less than the second radius of the roll.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first introduction element detachably couples the first component to a second component comprising a second roll mounting surface with a radius that is substantially equal to the second radius of the roll such that the roll mounting surface supports the coreless roll when the roll mounting surface is disposed within the cavity.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second component further comprises a second tapered roll guiding surface coupled to a distal end of the second roll mounting surface that transitions from a radius less than the radius of the second roll mounting surface to a radius substantially equal to the radius of the second roll mounting surface such that the second tapered roll guiding surface guides a free end of the coreless roll formed in the cavity against the inner circumference of the roll when the second component is inserted into the cavity.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second component further comprises a second introduction element coupled to the distal end of the second tapered guiding surface comprising a radius that is less than the second radius of the roll.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first introduction element and the second introduction element interact such that the first component and second component are detachably coupled.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first introduction element forms a cavity that is open towards the distal end of the first introduction element and comprises a threaded surface on an inner surface of the first introduction element forming the cavity, the second introduction element comprises a threaded surface on an exterior surface forming the second introduction element, and the first and second components are detachably coupled by aligning the distal ends of the first and second components and radially rotating the first component relative to the second component such that the first and second components move in an axial direction.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first base or the second base further comprise a friction surface disposed on a surface of the first or second bases extending in the direction of the outer radius opposite the base contact surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the friction surface comprises one or more elements selected from a group consisting of friction bumps, score marks, and dimples.

15. An apparatus for mounting a coreless roll comprising a first radius corresponding to an outer circumference of the roll and a second radius corresponding to an inner circumference of the roll, wherein the inner circumference forms a cavity from a first end to a second end of the roll, the apparatus comprising:

a first component with a first roll mounting surface comprising a radius that is substantially equal to the second radius of the roll such that the first roll mounting surface supports the coreless roll when the first roll mounting surface is disposed within the cavity;

a first base coupled to the proximal end of the first mounting surface, wherein the first base comprises an outer radius that is greater than the second radius of the coreless roll such that a surface of the first base extending in the direction of the outer radius comes in to flush contact with a surface of the roll extending from the second radius to the first radius with the first mounting surface is disposed in the cavity;

a friction surface disposed on a surface of the first base extending in the direction of the outer radius opposite the base contact surface, wherein the friction surface is selected from a group consisting of friction bumps, score marks, dimples and combinations thereof; and

a second component that detachably couples to the first component by aligning the distal ends of the first and second components and radially rotating the first component relative to the second component such that the first and second components move in an axial direction.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first component further comprises a first introduction element with a radius that is less than the second radius of the roll that couples the first component to the second component.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second component further comprises a second introduction element with a radius that is less than the second radius of the roll.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first introduction element forms a cavity that is open towards the distal end of the first introduction element and comprises a threaded surface on an inner surface of the first introduction element forming the cavity and the second introduction element comprises a threaded surface on an exterior surface forming the second introduction element such that the first and second components are threadedly coupled.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first component further comprises a first tapered guiding surface coupled to the distal end of the roll mounting surface and the proximal end of the first introduction element that transitions from a radius less than the radius of the roll mounting surface to a radius substantially equal to the radius of the roll mounting surface such that the tapered roll guiding surface guides a free end of the coreless roll formed in the cavity against the inner circumference of the roll when the apparatus is inserted into the cavity.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second component comprises a second roll mounting surface comprising a radius that is substantially equal to the second radius of the roll such that the second roll mounting surface supports the coreless roll when the second roll mounting surface is disposed within the cavity; a second base coupled to the proximal end of the second mounting surface, wherein the second base comprises an outer radius that is greater than the second radius of the coreless roll such that a surface of the second base extending in the direction of the outer radius comes in to flush contact with a surface of the roll extending from the second radius to the first radius with the second mounting surface disposed in the cavity; and

a friction surface disposed on a surface of the second base extending in the direction of the outer radius opposite the base contact surface, wherein the friction surface is selected from a group consisting of friction bumps, score marks, dimples and combinations thereof.