Center-feed roll unit and dispenser incorporating such center-feed roll unit

Abstract

A center-feed roll unit for dispensing a web, especially a web of paper or nonwoven material, is disclosed. The center-feed roll has an inner center hole and a minimum inner diameter D min defined before a first use of the center-feed roll. A length L of the center-feed roll in a longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the minimum inner diameter D min , and the enter-feed roll includes a first end and a second dispensing element. The center-feed roll unit includes an untwisting insert element provided in the center hole. The insert element is elongate and extends from the first end of the center-feed roll essentially along the longitudinal direction, and has an extension x in the longitudinal direction of 0.5· L<x <1.5· L.

1 . A center-feed roll unit for dispensing a web of material, the center-feed roll unit comprising:
 a center-feed roll having the web of material and having an inner center hole with a minimum inner diameter D min  defined before a first use of the center-feed roll, a length L of the center-feed roll in a longitudinal direction being perpendicular to the minimum inner diameter D min , and the center-feed roll including a first end and a second dispensing end; and   an untwisting insert element provided in the center hole, the untwisting insert element being elongate and extending from the first end of the center-feed roll essentially along the longitudinal direction, and having an extension x in the longitudinal direction of
   0.5 ·L<x< 1.5 ·L,    
   wherein,   dispensing the web of material from a center of the center-feed roll causes a first circular movement of the web of material and an inner twirl in the opposite direction to the first circular movement, and the untwisting insert element is provided to be in the center of the inner twirl to stabilize the inner twirl and inhibit further movement of the inner twirl in a direction opposite to the first circular movement, so that the web of material untwists after dispending.   
     
     
         2 . The center-feed roll unit according to  claim 1 , the untwisting insert element having an extension x in the longitudinal direction of
   0.6 ·L<x< 1.5 ·L.      
     
     
         3 . The center-feed roll unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the diameter of the untwisting insert element is larger than 0.1·D min  and smaller than 0.99·D min .   
     
     
         4 . The center-feed roll unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the untwisting insert element is made of glass, wood, silicone, rubber, metal or plastic material.   
     
     
         5 . The center-feed roll unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the untwisting insert element is made of disposable material.   
     
     
         6 . The center-feed roll unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the untwisting insert element has a smooth surface.   
     
     
         7 . The center-feed roll unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the untwisting insert element has a cross-sectional shape which is one of circular, semi-circular, elliptical, crescent shaped, prismatic, and triangular.   
     
     
         8 . The center-feed roll unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the untwisting insert element comprises separate parallel rods.   
     
     
         9 . The center-feed roll unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the untwisting insert element is a flat elongate strip.   
     
     
         10 . A dispenser for a web of material, including a center-feed roll unit according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the untwisting insert element is removably attached to the dispenser close to the first end of the center-feed roll loaded into the dispenser.   
     
     
         12 . The dispenser according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the untwisting insert element is attached to the dispenser via one of a form-fit connection, a snap fit, a slide-in connection, and an adhesive.   
     
     
         13 . The dispenser according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the untwisting insert element is hingedly attached to the dispenser.   
     
     
         14 . The dispenser according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the untwisting insert element is provided as a separate part insertable into the center-feed roll before the center-feed roll is loaded into the dispenser.   
     
     
         15 . The center-feed roll unit according to  claim 1 , the center-feed roll having a maximum inner diameter D max  at full consumption of the web of material, wherein the longitudinal extension x of the untwisting insert element equals at least half of the maximum inner diameter D max  of the center-feed roll. 
     
     
         16 . The center-feed roll unit according to  claim 1 , the untwisting insert element having an extension x in the longitudinal direction of
   0.8 ·L<x<L.      
     
     
         17 . The center-feed roll unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the untwisting insert element is larger than 0.6·D min  and smaller than 0.95·D min . 
     
     
         18 . The center-feed roll unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the untwisting insert element is larger than 0.8·D min  and smaller than 0.9·D min . 
     
     
         19 . The center-feed roll unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the untwisting insert element is made of cardboard.