Method and apparatus for dispensing cellular web material

Claim 2

Apparatus for dispensing pads of cellular web material of predetermined length from a supply roll of the web material; said apparatus comprising an elongate substantially horizontal stationary blade having a cutting edge facing horizontally thereon, means for feeding the web material downwardly from the supply roll above said blade and in freely suspended condition past said blade cutting edge, means stopping said feeding means upon a predetermined length of the web material falling past said cutting edge, an anvil roller adjacent said blade, means traversing said anvil roller along the surface of the web material opposite from and aligned with said cutting edge from one side edge to and beyond the other side edge of the web material, said traversing means comprising an endless pliable element having a run thereof movable with said pliable element, yieldable means supporting said anvil roller for rotation on one side of said carriage and urging said anvil roller toward said blade cutting edge, a trackway spaced from and extending substantially parallel with said cutting edge, guide roller means journaled on said carriage and engageable with said trackway during travel of said carriage along said run of said pliable element to insure that said anvil roller presses against said cutting edge during traversing movement of said anvil roller so as to cause said cutting edge to progressively cut through the web material and sever a predetermined length therefrom whereby the severed length will fall from the cutting edge, and means for receiving and delivering the severed length into a position for removal from the apparatus.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 2 which further comprises restarting driving of the supply roll in response to completion of movement of the anvil roller beyond the other side edge of the web material.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 3 wherein the step of moving the anvil roller includes moving the same in an endless path and interrupting the movement of the anvil roller during driving of the supply roll in rotation.

Claim 7

Apparatus for dispensing predetermined length pads of a cellular web material which lacks flexural rigidity in the plane of the web, the apparatus comprising: means for supporting a supply roll of web material and for driving the roll in rotation to deliver web material therefrom, elongate blade means mounted below said roll supporting and driving means and having a cutting edge with a length at least as great as the transverse width of the web material, said blade means being mounted with said cutting edge extending and directed generally horizontally, means for directing an unwinding length of web material advancing from the supply roll to depend freely from said roll supporting and driving means and to pass adjacent said blade means without imposition on the web material of compressional forces in the plane of the web, means for interrupting driving of the supply roll when a predetermined length of web material has been unwound and passed beyond the blade, anvil roller means for engaging web material and for cooperating with said cutting edge in severing web material, means for moving said anvil roller means in horizontal traversal along the surface of the web material opposite from and in alignment with said cutting edge and from one side edge of the web material to and beyond the other side edge thereof, means for resiliently biasing said anvil roller means against said web surface and said cutting edge during the traversing movement thereof, and chute means underlying said stationary blade for receiving a freely falling severed length of web material and delivering the severed length into a position for removal from the aPparatus.

Claim 8

Apparatus for dispensing predetermined length pads of a cellular web material which lacks flexural rigidity in the plane of the web, the apparatus comprising: means for supporting a supply roll of web material and for driving the roll in rotation to deliver web material therefrom, elongate blade means mounted below said roll supporting and driving means and having a cutting edge with a length at least as great as the transverse width of the web material, said blade means being mounted with said cutting edge extending and directed generally horizontally, means for directing an unwinding length of web material advancing from the supply roll to depend freely from said roll supporting and driving means and to pass adjacent said blade means without imposition on the web material of compressional forces in the plane of the web, means for interrupting driving of the supply roll when a predetermined length of web material has been unwound and passed beyond the blade, anvil roller means for engaging web material and for cooperating with said cutting edge in severing web material, means for moving said anvil roller means in horizontal traversal along the surface of the web material opposite from and in alignment with said cutting edge and from one side edge of the web material to and beyond the other side edge thereof, means for resiliently biasing said anvil roller means against said web surface and said cutting edge during the traversing movement thereof, and chute means underlying said stationary blade for receiving a freely falling severed length of web material and delivering the severed length into a position for removal from the aPparatus.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for interrupting driving of the supply roll comprises timer means operatively connected with said roller supporting and driving means for controlling the duration of driving the roll in rotation and means operatively interconnecting said timer means with said roller moving means for actuating said roller moving means upon interruption in driving of the supply roll.