[0001] The invention relates to a towel dispenser comprising a housing with a frame part
having a back plate which can be mounted on a wall, two side plates and a front plate
connecting the side plates, wherein back plate, side plates and front plate give the
frame part a tubular shape with open ends, and cover parts which are connectable to
the frame part and which can close at least the open ends of the tubular frame part,
wherein adjacent a transition between the front plate and each of the two cover parts
a slot is present for letting through a towel web, which slots extend parallel to
each other and are spaced apart, which housing is provided with a first space for
receiving a stock of clean towel web and with a second space for receiving used towel
web, wherein the towel web can extend via the first and the second slot from the first
space to the second space while running, between the first space and the first slot,
between a set of feed rollers, at least one of these feed rollers being coupled to
a transmission mechanism which can charge an energy accumulator, such as a spring
motor, which energy accumulator, controlled by a delay mechanism, can rotate a take-up
shaft in the second space for taking in used towel web, and wherein means are further
present for enabling used towel web to be partially retracted from the second slot
and taken into it again.
[0002] Such towel dispenser is known from EP-A1-0 309 208. For fitting a stock of clean
towel web, the roll is placed in a receiving space, after which the leading end of
the web of towel material should first be passed from the inside between the feed
rollers and pulled. Then, the leading end should be threaded through the first and
second slots provided in the front plate. After having passed the second slot, the
towel web should be passed over and along six rollers, while an elongated loop is
formed.
[0003] The loop thus formed provides the possibility of temporarily retracting used towel
web from the second slot, due to the fact that the roll forming one end of the loop
is displaceably arranged. When used towel web is being pulled out, the elongated loop
is shortened through displacement of the roll. If the pull-out force is removed, gravity
provides that the roll returns into its starting position again and thus takes in
the used towel web that was previously pulled out.
[0004] The pulling out and taking in again of used towel web promotes a hygienic and at
the same time convenient use of the towel dispenser. However, this means that for
pulling out a length of towel web sufficient for enabling drying of the hands, the
location where the towel web is engaged should be shifted several times during pulling
out, because the distance between the points of engagement and the second slot partly
determines the length of clean towel web that can be pulled from the first slot at
once without taking over or letting the towel web slip. Taking over or letting slip
can be avoided by causing used towel web to come back from the second slot during
the pull-out movement. To prevent the hands from contacting, during drying, that used
part of the towel web, that part should be taken in again directly after completion
of the pull-out movement.
[0005] After the formation of an elongated loop during the fitting of a roll of clean towel
web, the end of the towel web should be wound some turns around the take-up shaft
accommodated in the second space.
[0006] All in all, the fitting of a new stock of towel web is a labor-intensive and time-consuming
affair, which moreover requires some insight into the operation of the towel dispenser
in order to fit the towel web in the required manner. The fitting of the towel web
between the feed rollers and through the slots requires some patience. If the pulling
out and taking in again of used towel web is to take place correctly, the elongated
loop should be properly formed. Finally, the end of the towel web should be wound
on the take-up shaft in the proper direction, to prevent the end from being turned
loose again upon first use.
[0007] US-A-3,574,431 discloses a towel dispenser wherein a stock roll to be placed in a
top compartment closable by a first cover part abuts against a feed roller which is
fixedly mounted in the frame, and wherein a roller mounted in a cover part presses
the towel web against the feed roller when the cover part is closed. Via a chain,
the feed roller directly drives a take-in roller which rotates faster and which is
fixedly disposed in a bottom compartment closable by a second cover part. To permit
slipping, a take-up roller on which used towel material is wound rests freely rotatably
on the take-in roller. In the bottom compartment, the towel web is threaded underneath
a pull-in bracket, then over a stationary shaft and then through the nip between the
take-in roller and the take-up roller, before it is connected to the take-up roller.
In this manner, in this towel dispenser, too, the fitting of a new roll of clean towel
material is a laborious operation requiring proper attention and knowledge of the
apparatus.
[0008] The object of the invention is to improve a towel dispenser of the type described
in the opening paragraph so that it can be filled easily and quickly, also by personnel
not trained therefor, while, moreover, the amount of towel web used per drying operation
is kept as slight as possible and hygiene is served optimally.
[0009] To that end, in accordance with the invention, it is proposed that the first and
the second slot are always formed between a cover part and the front plate of the
frame part, that at least one of the feed rollers is mounted in the frame part and
at least one other feed roller is mounted in a first cover part closing the first
space, and that in the frame part a guide part is mounted and in a second cover part
closing the second space a take-in roller is mounted, wherein the towel web, when
being introduced into the towel dispenser, can be placed from the first space over
the feed roller or feed rollers mounted in the frame part and then on the outside
along the guide part, whereupon, when the first cover part is being closed, the feed
rollers come to lie relative to each other so that the towel web is held in close
contact with at least one of the feed rollers which, via the energy accumulator, drives
the transmission mechanism coupled to the take-up shaft, and when the second cover
part is being closed, the guide part and the take-in roller form a slot through which
the towel web will extend automatically.
[0010] Through these features, a new stock of clean towel web can be placed in the towel
dispenser in an extremely simple manner and with only a slight chance of mistakes.
After all, when the towel dispenser is opened through displacement of the cover parts,
the first slot and the nip between the feed rollers are simultaneously increased so
that at once, the entire stock of towel web can be introduced therethrough. In other
words, reaching through the increased first slot and nip between the feed rollers,
a new stock of towel web is placed in the first space, whereupon the end of the towel
web is retracted again along the same way. Also, after the relevant cover has been
swung open, the second slot and the slit between the guide part and the take-in roller
is likewise increased to allow the web to be passed therethrough without any problems
in order to connect the end of the towel web to the take-up shaft, while the curved
guide surface of the take-in roller in particular causes the withdrawing of used towel
web to take place in a supple manner. The fitting operation can then be completed
simply by bringing the two covers into the closing position.
[0011] Because the pulled-out towel web has to charge an energy accumulator via a roller
by driving that roller in rotation, it should be provided that this roller does indeed
rotate during displacement of the towel web. Driving the roller by means of the towel
web suchwise is surrounded with more guarantees if, in accordance with a further embodiment
of the invention, a set of rollers consists of a first roller and two rollers which
are displaceable relative to the first roller during the opening of a cover part,
which have parallel center lines and which are straddled on the first roller when
that cover part is closed, so that a towel web running between the rollers is forced
to be in contact with a part of the circumference of each roller. This effect can
further be improved if the two jointly moving rollers are mounted in a yoke having
a pivot parallel to the center lines of those two rollers. Any plays or tolerances
can then be taken up in a simple manner.
[0012] The convenience during the fitting of a new stock of towel web can further be increased
if, in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the cover parts are
pivotally connected to the frame part, in each case by means of a pivot extending
parallel to the first and second slots.
[0013] It has been observed hereinabove that mistakes may occur during connecting the end
of a towel web to the take-up shaft. This can be prevented in a particularly effective
manner if, in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the take-up shaft
is provided with a slot extending over at least the width of the towel web, into which
slot the towel web can be slid from aside and which comprises means retaining a slid-in
towel web by means of friction. Through these features, it is no longer necessary
during the fitting of a new stock to wind a certain length of towel web around the
take-up shaft in one direction or the other, so that it can no longer cause any mistakes
being made either.
[0014] In the known prior art, the take-up shaft is driven by a stationary shaft which is
drivable by the energy accumulator to be charged by means of the feed rollers and
which contacts the towel web wound on the take-up shaft. The take-up shaft is movably
supported in bearings, to enable ensuring that the desired contact is maintained when
the diameter increases through wound-up used towel web material. A take-up shaft having
an end of the towel web slid into it can be less suitable for being driven by such
a roller. For that reason, in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention,
it is preferred that the take-up shaft be directly drivable by the energy accumulator
to be charged by means of the feed rollers. This solution has the further advantage
that instead of two shafts, now only one shaft is present.
[0015] In that case, that one shaft should actually be drivable as well as detachable. In
accordance with the invention, this can be realized in an advantageous manner if the
take-up shaft is at one end thereof provided with an insert journal having such a
shape that through insertion, a moment-transmitting connection can be formed with
an element drivable in rotation by the energy accumulator, whilst the take-up shaft
is at its other end provided with an insert journal which can be inserted into a bearing
that can be swivelled or pulled away.
[0016] As mentioned hereinabove, from the point of view of hygiene it is preferred that
the distance between the first and the second slot is as small as possible, because
then, in the waiting position of the towel dispenser, the visible, directly touchable
part of the towel web is as small as possible. This part can be reduced further if
in accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a flap is
provided connecting to the first slot and pivotable adjacent that first slot, which
flap comprises a first part connected to the first cover part and a second part connected
to the frame part, whilst the towel web can extend between the two flap parts and
the first flap part can be coupled to the second flap part, and the second flap part
is pressed into an inclined swivelled-out position by a spring force, which spring
force is less than the force generated by the energy accumulator driving the take-up
shaft.
[0017] After use of the towel dispenser, the take-up shaft driven by the energy accumulator
will take in the towel web and pull it taut between the first and the second slot.
Although the flap is arranged for springing outwards, a proper choice of the spring
forces will cause the flap to be pulled along so that this flap, too, will be directed
from the first to the second slot. Consequently, in the waiting position, the length
of free towel web has been reduced. When a new length of clean towel web is being
pulled out, a wider loop is formed and the flap will be able to swivel out. Together
with the recess formed in the front plate, the flap produces a greater manoeuvring
space during the drying of the hands, which, compared with a situation without flap,
is greater to the extent that with flap the length of towel web to be pulled out can
be smaller than without flap. In this manner, the flap has a double advantage, viz.
reduction of the free length of towel web in the waiting position and reduction of
the necessary length of clean towel web to be pulled out. The use of such towel web
becomes possible, at least so in a useful manner, through the particular construction
of the towel dispenser according to the invention. After all, having to slide the
leading end of the towel web through the narrow flap opening having a passage which
is almost equal to the cross section of the towel web would be an almost impossible
task in view of the slight stability of form of the towel web. However, by also increasing
the passage of the flap in conformity with the increase of the passage of the two
slots and the nip between the relevant rollers also when the towel dispenser is being
opened, the fitting of a new stock of towel web remains possible in a quick and simple
manner, with a slight danger of making mistakes, inspite of the presence of the flap.
[0018] Because of the two-part construction of the flap, it should be provided that in the
waiting position, also the flap part resting outside on the towel web remains directed
in the same direction as the towel web. For that purpose, the two flap parts are coupled,
yet this coupling should preferably be so that during the opening of the towel dispenser,
that coupling is broken without any additional operations. This can be realized in
a simple manner if the coupling between the two flap parts takes place by means of
a magnetic force. It is also possible that the first flap part is pressed in the direction
of the other flap part by gravity or by a spring force, this force being less than
the spring force that tries to cause the second flap part to swivel out.
[0019] With reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, the towel dispenser
according to the invention will presently be further described and explained. In these
drawings:
Fig. 1 shows the towel dispenser in front view with a towel web pulled taut;
Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 shows the towel dispenser in side elevation, with a towel web pulled out in
the form of a loop;
Fig. 4 shows the towel dispenser in side elevation in folded-upen position;
Fig. 5 schematically shows the internal mechanism of the towel dispenser in perspective;
Fig. 6 shows a take-up shaft in elevation; and
Fig. 7 shows a section taken on line VII-VII in Fig. 6.
[0020] The towel dispenser shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a frame part 1 composed of a
back plate 2, two side plates 3 and a front plate 4. The frame part 1 is closable
at the top by means of a top cover 5 and at the bottom via a bottom cover 6. An outer
flap part 8 is provided on the top cover 5 for pivoting about a shaft 7, while, as
may appear most clearly from Fig. 4, the frame part 1 carries an inner flap part 10
for pivoting about a shaft 9. The flap parts together form a passage for a towel web
11 which, from a space in the top part of the towel dispenser and via a first slot
12 between the top cover 5 and the front plate 4, enters the passage between the flap
parts 8 and 10, leaves this passage on the opposite side and runs, via a second slot
13 between the front plate 4 and the bottom cover 6, towards a space in the bottom
part of the towel dispenser.
[0021] Fig. 2 shows the towel dispenser in a waiting position ready for use. The towel web
11 is pulled taut, so that it extends from the first slot 12 to the second slot 13
as straight as possible. In the waiting position, the inner flap part 10, which is
arranged for swivelling out via spring means not shown, is pulled into an almost vertical
position by the towel web 11, as is shown in Fig. 2. By the action of gravity or by
magnetic means not shown, the outer flap part 8 has followed the inner flap part 10
into the almost vertical position.
[0022] If the towel dispenser has to be used, the towel web 11 is manually pulled outwards
to form an wide, easily accessible loop for drying the hands, partly because of the
flap parts 8 and 10 then swivelling out, as shown in Fig. 3.
[0023] From Fig. 4, showing the towel dispenser in an open position allowing removal of
a used stock of towel web and placement of a new stock of clean towel web, it appears
that in the top part of the frame part 1 a trough 14 is provided forming a receiving
space for a stock of clean towel web. That stock is shown in the form of a roll 15.
It is observed that this may as well be a towel web which is for instance folded zigzag.
In practice, a textile towel web is often rolled up, while a paper towel web is typically
folded zigzag. This, too, should not be interpreted as a limitation: a zigzag-shaped
towel web is just as much possible as a rolled-up paper web.
[0024] For inserting a new stock of towel web into the dispenser, the roll 15 is placed
in the trough 14, after which the end of the towel web 11 is pulled over a feed roller
16 mounted in the frame part 1. Then, the towel web 11 is passed over the inner flap
part 10, while the end is connected to a take-up shaft 17, with the towel web running
on the outside along a guide plate 18 mounted in the frame part 1.
[0025] As Fig. 4 demonstrates, for opening the towel dispenser, the top cover 5 has been
swivelled upwards and the bottom cover 6 has been swivelled downwards. Adjacent the
outer flap part 8, a yoke 21 is mounted on the cover 5 for pivoting about a shaft
20, which yoke carries on either end thereof a further feed roller 22 for rotation.
The yoke 21 is positioned so that when the top cover 5 is closed, the rollers 22 are
straddled on the feed roller 16, as may appear most clearly from Fig. 5. When the
top cover 5 is thus closed, the towel web 11 is clamped between the feed rollers 16
and 22, ensuring that those rollers will rotate when the towel web 11 is pulled at.
Provided on the bottom cover 6 is a further take-in roller 25, mounted in a support
24 for rotation about a shaft 23. This roller 25 is positioned so that when the bottom
cover 6 is closed, this roller 25 forms a slot together with the guide plate 18. As
a result, the towel web 11 is given a course as indicated by the dotted line 11a.
[0026] From the above it will be appreciated that by simply placing a roll 15 into the trough,
pulling out the free end and connecting that free end to the take-up shaft 17 and
closing the top cover 5 and the bottom cover 6, the fitting of a new roll is completed.
[0027] The connection to the take-up shaft 17 can be realized in a particularly simple manner
when use is made of a take-up shaft as shown in Fig. 6. The shaft 17 shown in Fig.
6 is provided with a slot 26 extending over the larger part of the length of the shaft.
Two ribs 27a are provided, extending in the slot, and opposite these ribs two grooves
27b are located, as may appear most clearly from Fig. 7. For connecting the towel
web to the take-up shaft 17, the towel web should merely be slid into the slot 26
from aside. This sliding in from aside is hardly opposed by the ribs 27a and the grooves
27b, while wishing to pull the web from the slot 26 perpendicularly thereto calls
up a great resistance. After the towel web has been slid into the slot 26, the take-up
shaft 17 only needs to be inserted into its bearing in the bottom portion of the frame
part 1, for which purpose the take-up shaft 17 comprises two insert ends, one of which
can be inserted into a bearing support 19 capable of being swivelled away, so that
after inserting the other end, swivelling the bearing support 19 in the direction
of the take-up shaft 17 and inserting one end therein, the positioning of the take-up
shaft 17 is completed. Pre-rolling the web some turns about the shaft can be omitted,
which has the advantage that this pre-rolling cannot occur in the wrong direction
either, as a result of which the towel web would be unwound again upon first use.
[0028] With reference to Fig. 5, the operation of the towel dispenser will now be specified,
starting from a towel web placed in the dispenser.
[0029] When the towel web 11 is pulled at to form a loop as shown in Fig. 3, the feed roller
will start rotating and driving a belt 29 via a belt wheel 28, which belt 29 in turn
causes the belt wheels 30, 31 and 32 to rotate, tensioning a spring motor 33. Belt
wheel 31 is of double construction and drives belt wheel 35 via a belt 34. The belt
wheel 35 is mounted on a shaft 36, which further carries a gear wheel 37 which is
in engagement with a gear wheel 38. Located on the shaft, not shown, of the gear wheel
38 are the cam disks 39 and 40. The cam disk 39 provides the rotation of a cam arm
41 having a suction cup 42 connected thereto, which suction cup, upon rotation of
the cam arm 41, is pressed against a counter member, not shown, and thus provides
a generally known retarding mechanism. After one revolution, the cam disk 40 presses
by its cam on the cam of a crank 43, which is rotatably connected to a belt block
44 and presses this belt block against the belt 29, so that the belt 29 is pressed
against a blocking projection 45 mounted on the frame part 1 and is thus blocked.
[0030] After a certain time has passed, the suction cup 42 comes loose from its counter
member, causing the cam arm 41 to slip back into its starting position and to push
the crank 43 away from under the cam on the cam disk 40, whereupon the belt block
44 tilts back and the belts 29 and 34 are released again.
[0031] During rotation of the cam arm 41, a shaft 46 and a blocking catch 47 mounted thereon
are rotated as well, so that a belt 48 is pressed against a blocking projection 49
mounted on the frame part 1 and is thus blocked. As a result, the spring tension built
up in the spring motor 33 is blocked against unwinding.
[0032] During the formation of the loop of towel web 11 as shown in Fig. 3, not only clean
towel web is drawn from the first slot 12, but also used towel web is drawn from the
second slot 13 to enable pulling out a sufficient length of clean towel web in a flowing
motion without taking over and without letting the towel path slip between the fingers
whereby the pulling takes place, inspite of the relatively small distance between
the end of the flap parts 8 and 10 and the second slot 13. When used towel web is
being retracted from the second slot 13, the take-up shaft 17 is unwound, which shaft
tensions the spring motor 33 by means of gear wheels 50, 51 and 52. For that purpose,
gear wheel 50 is coupled for moment transmission to the insert end of the take-up
shaft 17 through a suitable construction, for instance square in cross section, of
that insert end and its insert opening, while a freewheel clutch in shaft 53 provides
that this can be effected inspite of the belt 48 being blocked. Also, a one-way centrifugal
clutch in wheel 54 prevents the air brake 55 from being activated.
[0033] As soon as the pulling out of towel web 11 has been completed and this web is released
for drying the hands, the take-up shaft 17 will wind up again the length of towel
web 11 that was unwound. This movement is braked due to the fact that the air brake
55 starts rotating and, consequently, braking. Both the unwinding and the winding
up of the take-up shaft 17 are maximized by a limiter accommodated in wheel 56.
[0034] After the above-mentioned time span has passed in the retarding mechanism, the shaft
46 being rotated again causes the blocking catch 47 to be swivelled back and the belt
48 to be released. After the removal of this blocking, the spring motor 33 will drive
the take-up shaft 17, as a result of which used towel web 11 is taken in, which movement
is again braked by the air brake 55 rotating along, and the towel dispenser is brought
from the position shown in Fig. 3 into that of Fig. 2.
[0035] Each time when the cam arm 41 tilts back into its starting position and thereby rotates
the shaft 46, a reset catch 57 is also tilted, causing a reset arm 58 to be pressed
into the teeth of a reset wheel 59. This takes place at the same moment when the take-in
movement is released upon the removal of the blocking of the belt 48. This belt causes
wheel 60 to rotate, which in turn drives a belt 61 and hence belt wheel 62. The belt
wheel 62 rotates relative to a reset wheel 59 that is placed on the same shaft and
blocked by the reset arm 58. A cam wheel 63 between the belt wheel 62 and the reset
wheel 59 provides that this rotation is limited to maximally one revolution. This
limitation becomes effective when the roll 15 becomes exhausted and the winding up
of the take-up shaft 17 is no longer limited by the towel web 11 being pulled taut.
Owing to this limitation, energy stored in the spring motor 33 is retained and can,
after the towel dispenser has been filled with a new roll 15, directly be used again
for taking in a towel loop which will be formed almost each time when a new roll is
being fitted. Each time when a length of clean towel web 11 is pulled out and cam
arm 41 tilts, the blocking of the reset wheel 59 is removed and a torsion spring 63
mounted between the belt wheel 62 and the cam wheel 63 each time provides the resetting
of the position of the cam wheel 63 into the starting position relative to the belt
wheel 62.
[0036] It is readily understood that within the framework of the invention as laid down
in the appended claims many variants and modifications are possible, in particular
with regard to the various constructional details and mechanisms shown in Fig. 5.
1. A towel dispenser comprising a housing with a frame part (1) having a back plate (2)
which can be mounted on a wall, two side plates (3) and a front plate (4) connecting
the side plates, wherein back plate (2), side plates (3) and front plate (4) give
the frame part (1) a tubular shape with open ends, and cover parts (5,6) which are
connectable to the frame part (1) and which can close at least the open ends of the
tubular frame part wherein adjacent a transition between the front plate (4) and each
of the two cover parts a slot (12,13) is present for letting through a towel web (11),
said slots extending parallel to each other and being spaced apart, said housing being
provided with a first space (14) for receiving a stock (15) of clean towel web and
with a second space for receiving used towel web, wherein the towel web can extend
via the first (12) and the second (13) slot from the first space (14) to the second
space while running, between the first space and the first slot, between a set of
feed rollers (22,16), at least one of said feed rollers being coupled to a transmission
mechanism which can charge an energy accumulator, such as a spring motor, which energy
accumulator, controlled by a delay mechanism, can rotate a take-up shaft (17) in the
second space for taking in used towel web, and wherein means are further present for
enabling used towel web to be partially retracted from the second slot and taken into
it again,
characterized in that the first (12) and the second (13) slot are always formed
between a cover part (5,6) and the front plate (4) of the frame part (1), that at
least one of the feed rollers (16) is mounted in the frame part and at least one other
feed roller (22) is mounted in a first cover part (5) closing the first space, and
that in the frame part (1) a guide part (18) is mounted and in a second cover part
(6) closing the second space a take-in roller (25) is mounted, wherein the towel web
(11), when being introduced into the towel dispenser, can be placed from the first
space over the feed roller (16) or feed rollers mounted in the frame part and then
on the outside along the guide part (18), whereupon when the first cover part (5)
is being closed, the feed rollers (16,22) come to lie relative to each other so that
the towel web (11) is held in close contact with at least one of the feed rollers
(16) which, via the energy accumulator, drives the transmission mechanism coupled
to the take-up shaft (17), and when the second cover part (6) is being closed, the
guide part (18) and the take-in roller (25) form a slot through which the towel web
will extend automatically.
2. A towel dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that a set of rollers consists
of a first roller and two rollers which are displaceable relative to the first roller
during the opening of a cover part, which have parallel center lines and which are
straddled on the first roller when said cover part is closed, so that a towel web
running between the rollers is forced to be in contact with a part of the circumference
of each roller.
3. A towel dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that the two jointly moving
rollers are mounted in a yoke having a pivot parallel to the center lines of said
two rollers.
4. A towel dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
the cover parts are pivotally connected to the frame part, in each case by means of
a pivot extending parallel to the first and second slots.
5. A towel dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
the take-up shaft is provided with a slot extending over at least the width of the
towel web, into which slot the towel web can be slid from aside and which comprises
means retaining a slid-in towel web by means of friction.
6. A towel dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
the take-up shaft is directly drivable by the energy accumulator to be charged by
means of the feed rollers.
7. A towel dispenser according to claim 6, characterized in that the take-up shaft is
at one end thereof provided with an insert journal having such a shape that through
insertion, a moment-transmitting connection can be formed with an element drivable
in rotation by the energy accumulator, whilst the take-up shaft is at its other end
provided with an insert journal which can be inserted into a bearing that can be swivelled
or pulled away.
8. A towel dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
a flap is provided connecting to the first slot and pivotable adjacent that first
slot, said flap comprising a first part connected to the first cover part and a second
part connected to the frame part, whilst the towel web can extend between the two
flap parts and the first flap part can be coupled to the second flap part, and the
second flap part is pressed into an inclined swivelled-out position by a spring force,
said spring force being less than the force generated by the energy accumulator driving
the take-up shaft.
9. A towel dispenser according to claim 8, characterized in that the coupling between
the two flap parts takes place by means of a magnetic force, a spring force or gravity.
10. A towel dispenser according to claim 8, characterized in that the first flap part
is pressed, by spring force, in the direction of the other flap part, said spring
force being less than the spring force which tries to cause the second flap part to
swivel out.
1. Handtuchspender mit einem Gehäuse, das einen Rahmenteil (1) mit einer an einer Wand
befestigbaren Rückplatte (2), zwei Seitenplatten (3) und einer die Seitenplatten verbindenden
Vorderplatte (4) aufweist, wobei die Rückplatte (2), die Seitenplatten (3) und die
Vorderplatte (4) dem Rahmenteil (1) eine röhrenförmige Gestalt mit offenen Enden geben,
und mit Deckteilen (5,6), die an dem Rahmenteil (1) befestigbar sind und die mindestens
die offenen Enden des röhrenförmigen Rahmenteils schließen können, wobei nahe einem
Übergang zwischen der Vorderplatte (4) und jeder der beiden Deckteile ein Schlitz
(12,13) zum Durchlassen einer Handtuch-Bahn (11) ausgebildet ist, wobei die beiden
Schlitze parallel und im Abstand zueinander verlaufen, wobei das Gehäuse einen ersten
Raum (14) zur Aufnahme eines Vorrats (15) sauberer Handtuch-Bahn und einen zweiten
Raum zur Aufnahme gebrauchter Handtuch-Bahn aufweist, wobei die Handtuch-Bahn über
den ersten (12) und den zweiten (13) Schlitz aus dem ersten Raum (14) zu dem zweiten
Raum verlaufen kann, während sie zwischen dem ersten Raum und dem ersten Schlitz und
zwischen einem Satz von Zuführrollen (22,16) läuft, wobei mindestens eine der Zuführrollen
mit einem Transmissionsmechanismus verbunden ist, der einen Energiespeicher wie z.B.
einen Federmotor laden kann, wobei der Energiespeicher unter Steuerung durch einen
Verzögerungsmechanismus eine Aufnahmewelle (17) in dem zweiten Raum zwecks Aufnahme
gebrauchter Handtuch-Bahn drehen kann, und wobei ferner Einrichtungen vorgesehen sind,
mit denen gebrauchte Handtuch-Bahn teilweise aus dem zweiten Schlitz herausgezogen
und wieder in diesen hineinbewegt werden kann,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der erste (12) und der zweite (13) Schlitz jeweils zwischen
einem Deckteil (5,6) und der Vorderplatte (4) des Rahmenteils (1) ausgebildet sind,
daß mindestens eine der Zuführrollen (16) in dem Rahmenteil befestigt ist und mindestens
eine weitere Führungsrolle (22) in einem den ersten Raum schließenden ersten Deckteil
(5) befestigt ist, und daß in dem Rahmenteil (1) ein Führungsteil (18) befestigt ist
und in einem den zweiten Raum schließenden zweiten Deckteil (6) eine Einzugsrolle
(25) befestigt ist, wobei die Handtuch-Bahn (11), wenn sie in den Handtuchspender
eingesetzt wird, aus dem ersten Raum über die in dem Rahmenteil befestigte Zuführrolle
oder Zuführrollen (16) und dann an der Außenseite entlang des Führungsteils (18) verlegt
werden kann, woraufhin, wenn der erste Deckteil (5) geschlossen wird, die Zuführrollen
(16,22) derart relativ zueinander zu liegen kommen, daß die Handtuch-Bahn (11) in
engem Kontakt mit mindestens einer der Zuführrollen (16) gehalten wird, die über den
Energiespeicher den mit der Aufnahmewelle (17) gekoppelten Transmissionsmechanismus
antreibt, und wenn der zweite Deckteil (6) geschlossen wird, der Führungsteil (18)
und die Einzugsrolle (25) einen Schlitz bilden, durch den die Handtuch-Bahn automatisch
hindurchläuft.
2. Handtuchspender nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein Satz von Rollen eine
erste Rolle und zwei Rollen aufweist, die während des Öffnens eines Deckteils relativ
zu der ersten Rolle versetzbar sind, parallele Mittellinien haben und rittlings auf
der ersten Rolle sitzen, wenn das Deckteil geschlossen ist, so daß eine zwischen den
Rollen durchlaufende Handtuch-Bahn in Kontakt mit einem Teil des Umfangs jeder Rolle
gezwungen wird.
3. Handtuchspender nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die sich gemeinsam bewegenden
Rollen in einem Joch befestigt sind, das einen parallel zu den Mittellinien der beiden
Rollen verlaufenden Schwenkpunkt hat.
4. Handtuchspender nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
die Deckteile schwenkbar mit dem Rahmenteil verbunden sind, und zwar in jedem Fall
durch einen parallel zu den ersten und zweiten Schlitzen verlaufenden Schwenkstift.
5. Handtuchspender nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
die Aufnahmewelle mit einem sich mindestens über die Breite der Handtuch-Bahn erstreckenden
Schlitz versehen ist, in den die Handtuch-Bahn seitlich eingeschoben werden kann und
der eine Einrichtung aufweist, die eine eingeschobene Handtuch-Bahn durch Reibung
hält.
6. Handtuchspender nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
die Aufnahmewelle direkt durch den Energiespeicher antreibbar ist, der mittels der
Zuführollen geladen wird.
7. Handtuchspender nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Aufnahmewelle an
einem Ende mit einem derart geformten Einsatz-Lagerstift versehen ist, daß durch Einführung
eine Momenttransmissionsverbindung mit einem durch den Energiespeicher drehend antreibbaren
Element gebildet werden kann, während die Aufnahmewelle an ihrem anderen Ende mit
einem Einsatz-Lagerstift versehen ist, der in ein Lager eingeführt werden kann, das
weggeschwenkt oder weggezogen werden kann.
8. Handtuchspender nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
eine Lasche vorgesehen ist, die mit dem ersten Schlitz verbunden ist und nahe dem
ersten Schlitz schwenkbar ist, wobei die Lasche einen mit dem ersten Deckteil verbundenen
ersten Teil und einen mit dem Rahmenteil verbundenen zweiten Teil aufweist, während
die Handtuch-Bahn sich zwischen den beiden Laschenteilen erstrecken kann und der erste
Laschenteil mit dem zweiten Laschenteil verbunden werden kann, und der zweite Laschenteil
durch eine Federkraft in eine schrägverlaufende ausgeschwenkte Position gedrückt wird,
wobei die Federkraft kleiner ist als die Kraft, die von dem die Aufnahmewelle antreibenden
Energiespeicher erzeugt wird.
9. Handtuchspender nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Verbindung zwischen
den beiden Laschenteilen mittels Magnetkraft, Federkraft oder Schwerkraft erfolgt.
10. Handtuchspender nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der erste Laschenteil
durch Federkraft in die Richtung des anderen Laschenteils gedrückt wird, wobei die
Federkraft kleiner ist als die Federkraft, die den zweiten Laschenteil auszuschwenken
versucht.
1. Dérouleur de serviette comportant un boîtier avec une partie de bâti (1) ayant une
plaque arrière (2) qui peut être montée sur un mur, deux plaques latérales (3) et
une plaque avant (4) reliant les plaques latérales, la plaque arrière (2), les plaques
latérales (3) et la plaque avant (4) donnant à la partie de bâti (1) une forme tubulaire
avec des extrémités ouvertures, et des parties de capot (5, 6) qui peuvent être reliées
à la partie de bâti (1) et qui peuvent fermer au moins les extrémités ouvertes de
la partie de bâti tubulaire, une fente (12, 13) étant présente de façon adjacente
à une transition entre la plaque avant (4) et chacune des deux parties de capot afin
de laisser passer une bande de serviette (11), lesdites fentes s'étendant parallèlement
l'une à l'autre et étant espacées, ledit boîtier étant pourvu d'un premier espace
(14) afin de recevoir une réserve (15) de bande de serviette propre et d'un deuxième
espace afin de recevoir la bande de serviette utilisée, la bande de serviette pouvant
s'étendre en passant par la première (12) et la deuxième fente (13) depuis le premier
espace (14) jusqu'au deuxième espace tout en se déplaçant, entre le premier espace
et la première fente, entre un ensemble de rouleaux d'avance (22, 16), au moins un
desdits rouleaux d'avance étant relié à un mécanisme de transmission qui peut charger
un accumulateur d'énergie, tel qu'un moteur à ressort, lequel accumulateur d'énergie,
commandé par un mécanisme à retard, peut entraîner en rotation un arbre de réception
(17) dans le deuxième espace afin de rentrer la bande de serviette utilisée, et des
moyens étant en outre présents afin de permettre à la bande de serviette utilisée
d'être partiellement rétractée de la deuxième fente et rentrée de nouveau,
caractérisé en ce que la première (12) et deuxième fente (13) sont toujours formées
entre une partie de capot (5, 6) et la plaque avant (4) de la partie de bâti (1),
en ce qu'au moins un des rouleaux d'avance (16) est monté dans la partie de bâti et
au moins un autre rouleau d'avance (22) est monté dans une première partie de capot
(5) fermant le premier espace, et en ce qu'une partie de guidage (18) est montée dans
la partie de bâti (1) et un rouleau d'entrée (25) est monté dans une deuxième partie
de capot (6) fermant le deuxième espace, la bande de serviette (11), lorsqu'elle est
introduite dans le dérouleur de serviette, pouvant être placée depuis le premier espace
par-dessus le rouleau d'avance (16) ou les rouleaux d'avance montés dans la partie
de bâti et ensuite à l'extérieur le long de la partie de guidage (18), à la suite
de quoi, lorsque la première partie de capot (5) est fermée, les rouleaux d'avance
(16, 22) viennent s'étendre l'un par rapport à l'autre de telle sorte que la bande
de serviette (11) est maintenue en contact intime avec au moins un des rouleaux d'avance
(16) qui, par l'intermédiaire de l'accumulateur d'énergie, entraîne le mécanisme de
transmission relié à l'arbre de réception (17), et lorsque la deuxième partie de capot
(6) est fermée, la partie de guidage (18) et le rouleau d'entrée (25) forment une
fente à travers laquelle la bande de serviette s'étend automatiquement.
2. Dérouleur de serviette selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'un ensemble
de rouleaux se compose d'un premier rouleau et de deux rouleaux qui peuvent être déplacés
par rapport au premier rouleau pendant l'ouverture d'une partie de capot, qui ont
des axes parallèles et qui chevauchent le premier rouleau lorsque ladite partie de
capot est fermée, de telle sorte qu'une bande de serviette s'étendant entre les rouleaux
est forcée en contact avec une partie de la circonférence de chaque rouleau.
3. Dérouleur de serviette selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que les deux rouleaux
se déplaçant conjointement sont montés dans une chape ayant un pivot parallèle aux
axes desdits deux rouleaux.
4. Dérouleur de serviette selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé
en ce que les parties de capot sont reliées de façon pivotante à la partie de bâti,
dans chaque cas au moyen d'un pivot s'étendant parallèlement aux première et deuxième
fentes.
5. Dérouleur de serviette selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé
en ce que l'arbre de réception est pourvu d'une fente s'étendant sur au moins la largeur
de la bande de serviette, la bande de serviette pouvant être enfilée par le côté dans
cette fente qui comprend des moyens qui retiennent une bande de serviette enfilée
au moyen d'une friction.
6. Dérouleur de serviette selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé
en ce que l'arbre de réception peut être directement entraîné par l'accumulateur d'énergie
devant être chargé au moyen des rouleaux d'avance.
7. Dérouleur de serviette selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que l'arbre de
réception est pourvu à une extrémité d'un tourillon d'insert ayant une forme telle
que, par l'intermédiaire de l'insertion, une liaison de transmission de moment peut
être formée avec un élément pouvant être entraîné en rotation par l'accumulateur d'énergie,
alors que l'arbre de réception est pourvu à son autre extrémité d'un tourillon d'insert
qui peut être inséré dans un palier qui peut être basculé ou retiré.
8. Dérouleur de serviette selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé
en ce qu'un volet est prévu pour raccordement à la première fente et afin de pouvoir
pivoter de façon adjacente à cette première fente, ledit volet comportant une première
partie reliée à la première partie de capot et une deuxième partie reliée à la partie
de bâti, alors que la bande de serviette peut s'étendre entre les deux parties de
volet et la première partie de volet peut être reliée à la deuxième partie de volet,
et la deuxième partie de volet est poussée dans une position basculée vers l'extérieur
et inclinée par une force de ressort, ladite force de ressort étant inférieure à la
force générée par l'accumulateur d'énergie qui entraîne l'arbre de réception.
9. Dérouleur de serviette selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que la liaison
entre les deux parties de volet se fait au moyen d'une force magnétique, une force
de ressort ou par gravité.
10. Dérouleur de serviette selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que la première
partie de volet est poussée, par une force de ressort, dans la direction de l'autre
partie de volet, ladite force de ressort étant inférieure à la force de ressort qui
essaie d'amener la deuxième partie de volet à pivoter vers l'extérieur.