Packaging material dispenser

Abstract

A packaging material dispenser includes a brake arm with a horizontal portion that rests across the width of the peripheral surface of a roll of packaging material and includes a cutting tool arranged on the brake horizontal portion to aid in cutting across the width of the packaging material. The cutting tool is a slider-cutter that rides along a channel along the horizontal portion to enable the slider-cutter to ride within the channel to cut the packaging material. In another approach, the cutting tool is a stationary tear initiator configured to initiate a tear at one edge of the packaging material to facilitate tearing across the rest of the width of the packaging material. The brake arm is rotatably connected to a mast of the dispenser capable of holding at least one roll of packaging material on a support arm and allowing rotation of the roll thereabout.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a support element;   a packaging support arm supported by the support element, the packaging support arm configured to pass through a hollow center of a roll of packaging material;   a brake arm comprising a horizontal portion configured to contact a peripheral surface of the roll of packaging material and a support portion connected to the horizontal portion, the support portion pivotally connected to the support element;   a cutting tool arranged on the horizontal portion of the brake arm to contact the dispensed material to aid in cutting the dispensed material.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the support element comprises a mast assembly supported by a base. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the support element comprises a bracket configured to attach to a wall. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a spring connected between the brake arm and the support element to urge the brake arm into engagement with the peripheral surface of the roll of packaging material. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cutting tool comprises a slide cutter and wherein the horizontal portion of the brake arm defines an elongate channel configured to support the slide cutter. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the slide cutter comprises:
 a slider configured to engage a hollow center of the horizontal portion of the brake arm; 
 a handle; 
 a connecting member connecting the slider to the handle and configured to engage the elongate channel to prevent rotation of the slide cutter; 
 a blade configured to extend from outside the brake arm to inside the elongate channel. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cutting tool comprises a stationary tear initiator connected to the horizontal portion of the brake arm. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the stationary tear initiator comprises a plurality of blades disposed on the horizontal portion of the brake arm. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a measuring device connected to the brake arm and configured to provide a reference for a length of packaging material to remove from the roll of packaging material. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the measuring device comprises a rod with at least one reference point. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second packaging support arm supported by the support element, the second packaging support arm configured to pass through a hollow center of a second roll of packaging material; and 
 a second brake arm comprising a horizontal portion configured to contact a peripheral surface of the second roll of packaging material and a support portion connected to the horizontal portion, the support portion pivotally connected to the support element. 
 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus comprising:
 a means for supporting a roll of packaging material;   a means for contacting a peripheral surface of the roll of packaging material such that forcing packaging material from the roll against the means for contacting compresses the means for contacting against the roll of packaging material;   a cutting means arranged on the means for contacting to aid in cutting the dispensed material.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising a means for mounting the means for supporting and the means for contacting a peripheral surface of the roll of packaging material. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising a means for urging the means for contacting against the peripheral surface of the roll of packaging material. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising a means for measuring packaging material to be removed from the roll of packaging material. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 engaging a peripheral surface of a roll of material with a brake arm;   flipping a portion of the material over the brake arm;   applying pressure with the portion of the material to urge the brake arm against the roll of packaging material;   tearing the portion of the material from the roll using a cutting tool disposed on the brake arm.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 measuring a length of the portion of the material before tearing the portion of the material from the roll using the cutting tool disposed on the brake arm. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the tearing comprises:
 applying pressure to the portion of the material to engage a stationary tear initiator connected to the brake arm. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the tearing comprises:
 applying pressure to a slide cutter to slide the slide cutter along the brake arm to cut the portion of the material.