Dispensing drum

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a dispensing drum for a sheet material dispenser, the dispensing drum comprising first and second part-cylindrical drum members that are coupled together to form a drum body defining a central axis. The first and second drum members are coupled together by an end piece located adjacent to a first end of the drum body. The end piece comprises a first mounting formation that is engaged with a corresponding first mounting formation provided at the first end of the drum body to form a first coupling, and a second mounting formation that is engaged with a corresponding second mounting formation provided at the first end of the drum body to form a second coupling. The first coupling is configured to be formed by bringing the first mounting formations together in a first direction aligned with the central axis of the drum body, and the second coupling is configured to be formed by bringing the second mounting formations together in a second direction perpendicular to the central axis of the drum body.

1 . A dispensing drum for a sheet material dispenser, the dispensing drum comprising first and second part-cylindrical drum members that are coupled together to form a drum body defining a central axis; wherein the first and second drum members are coupled together by an end piece located adjacent to a first end of the drum body. 
     
     
         2 . A dispensing drum according to  claim 1 , wherein the end piece is configured to be mounted to the drum body by moving the end piece relative to the drum body in order to bring at least one mounting formation provided on the end piece together with at least one mounting formation provided at the first end of the drum body. 
     
     
         3 . A dispensing drum according to  claim 2 , wherein the end piece comprises a first mounting formation that is engaged with a corresponding first mounting formation provided at the first end of the drum body to form a first coupling, wherein the first coupling is configured to be formed by bringing the first mounting formations together in a first direction aligned with the central axis of the drum body. 
     
     
         4 . A dispensing drum according to  claim 3 , wherein the first mounting formation of the end piece comprises at least one aperture formed in the end piece, and the corresponding first mounting formation of the drum body comprises at least one protrusion that extends from the first end of the drum body in a direction aligned with the central axis of the drum body, the protrusion being received within the aperture to form the first coupling. 
     
     
         5 . A dispensing drum according to  claim 4 , wherein the protrusion is formed by a first protruding part that is connected to the first drum member and a second protruding part that is connected to the second drum member, the first and second protruding parts being received together within the aperture provided in the end piece to form the first coupling. 
     
     
         6 . A dispensing drum according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second protruding parts has a part-cylindrical shape, and the first and second protruding parts together form the protrusion with a generally cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         7 . A dispensing drum according to  claim 4 , wherein the protrusion comprises a shank portion and an enlarged portion located outboard of the shank portion with respect to the drum body, wherein the shank portion of the protrusion is received within the aperture provided in the end piece, and the enlarged portion of the protrusion overhangs at least a portion of the aperture. 
     
     
         8 . A dispensing drum according to  claim 7 , wherein the aperture provided in the end piece comprises a keyhole shaped slot including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the slot having a larger width than the second portion of the slot, wherein the first portion of the slot is configured to allow the enlarged portion of the protrusion to pass therethrough as the end piece is being assembled together with the first and second drum members, and wherein the second portion of the slot receives the shank portion of the protrusion therein and is overhung by the enlarged portion of the protrusion when the end piece has been fully assembled together with the first and second drum members. 
     
     
         9 . A dispensing drum according to  claim 2 , wherein the end piece comprises a second mounting formation that is engaged with a corresponding second mounting formation provided at the first end of the drum body to form a second coupling, wherein the second coupling is configured to be formed by bringing the second mounting formations together in a second direction perpendicular to the central axis of the drum body. 
     
     
         10 . A dispensing drum according to  claim 9 , wherein the second mounting formation of the end piece comprises at least one projecting portion that projects from a main body of the end piece in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the drum body, and the corresponding second mounting formation of the drum body comprises at least one recess formed in the first end of the drum body, the projecting portion being received within the recess at the end of the drum body to form the second coupling. 
     
     
         11 . A dispensing drum according to  claim 9 , wherein the second mounting formation of the end piece comprises first and second projecting portions that project from the main body of the end piece, and the corresponding second mounting formation of the drum body comprises a first recess formed in the first drum member and a second recess formed in the second drum member, the first projecting portion being received within the first recess and the second projecting portion being received within the second recess to form the second coupling. 
     
     
         12 . A dispensing drum according to  claim 10 , wherein the projecting portion(s) of the end piece are planar in shape and the recess(es) in which the projecting portion(s) of the end piece are received comprise slot(s) extending in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the drum body. 
     
     
         13 . A dispensing drum according to  claim 9 , wherein the end piece further comprises a third mounting formation that is engaged with a corresponding third mounting formation provided at the first end of the drum body to form a third coupling, wherein the third coupling is configured to resist movement of the end piece relative to the drum body in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the drum body, thereby resisting disengagement of the second coupling. 
     
     
         14 . A dispensing drum according to  claim 13 , wherein the third mounting formation of the end piece comprises at least one projection that extends towards the drum body, and the corresponding third mounting formation of the drum body comprises at least one opening formed in the first end of the drum body, the projection being received within the opening to form the third coupling. 
     
     
         15 . A dispensing drum according to  claim 1 , wherein the end piece comprises a shaft portion that extends outwardly therefrom in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the drum body, the shaft portion being configured to allow the dispensing drum to be rotatably mounted in a sheet material dispenser. 
     
     
         16 . A sheet material dispenser comprising a dispensing drum according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A method of assembling a dispensing drum for a sheet material dispenser, the method comprising:
 bringing first and second part-cylindrical drum members together to form a drum body; and   mounting an end piece to a first end of the drum body, the end piece being configured to prevent relative movement between the first and second drum members when fully assembled together with the drum body.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the step of mounting the end piece to the first end of the drum body comprises moving the end piece relative to the drum body in order to bring at least one mounting formation provided on the end piece together with at least one mounting formation provided at the first end of the drum body. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the step of moving the end piece relative to the drum body comprises moving the end piece relative to the drum body in a first direction aligned with a central axis of the drum body, wherein movement of the end piece in the first direction relative to the drum body brings a first mounting formation provided at the first end of the drum body into engagement with a first mounting formation of the end piece to form a first coupling. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the step of moving the end piece relative to the drum body comprises moving the end piece relative to the drum body in a second direction perpendicular to a central axis of the drum body, wherein movement of the end piece in the second direction relative to the drum body brings a second mounting formation of the end piece into engagement with a second mounting formation provided at the first end of the drum body to form a second coupling.