An electronic card for the control of rolled-out paper dispensers

Abstract

 An electronic card for controlling operation of a paper dispenser through microswitches (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5) carried on the electronic card itself and interfaced directly with associated mechanical elements of the dispenser.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to an electronic or logic card for the control of an automatic dispenser of rolled-out paper, in particular for controlling the different operating steps during a paper dispensing cycle thereof.

[0002] In this type of paper dispensing device, a given amount of paper, for example, to be used as a towel, is released on demand by an user, the paper being rolled-up again automatically after a preset time.

[0003] Although rolled-out paper has been, and will continue to be spoken of in this disclosure, it should be appreciated that the concerned type of dispenser could also dispense other material than paper, as for example a fabric material.

[0004] Automatic dispensers of paper are already known. They comprise a housing in which a roll or package of paper is arranged, with a free end portion of the paper being passed through appropriate slots to be rewrapped around a rewinding axis or drum. For the paper to be dispensed, two driving rollers are provided, which are connected respectively to the roll of paper to be released and the rewinding drum and each of which will, on demand by an user, roll out a given amount of paper so as to form a paper loop beneath the dispenser. After a preset time has elapsed, the driving roller connected to the rewinding drum is operated in a reverse direction and the released paper is rolled up again.

[0005] In order to control the various steps of the paper dispensing cycle, microswitches are provided and are connected to an electronic central system conveniently provided inside the dispenser.

[0006] In known dispensers these microswitches are connected to the electronic control system via electric wires.

[0007] Such an arrangement has obvious disadvantages due to difficulties encountered in assembling the electric circuitry associated with the dispenser and also when repairing is to be made because it is necessary for this to disjoin the different wires connecting the microswitches to the electronic system.

[0008] Thus, the object of this invention is to obviate the above-­mentioned disadvantages by providing an electronic or logic card for the control of an automatic rolled-out paper dispenser, which does not include connecting wires to the various microswitches and which is easy to mount and easy to replace when damaged.

[0009] The electronic card for the control of an automatic rolled-­out paper dispenser according to the invention is characterized in that it provides for all the microswitches controlling the dispenser to be interfaced directly with mechanical components of the dispenser.

[0010] In particular, the electronic card according to the invention is applicable to the automatic dispenser disclosed in European Patent Application N. 86830040.1 (publication number 0195751) filed in the name of this Applicant.

[0011] Further features of the logic card for automatic rolled-out paper dispensers according to the invention will be better under­stood from the following detailed description given in relation to one embodiment thereof shown by way of a non limiting example in the accompanying drawing,wherein the single figure is a partial side view of an automatic paper dispenser equipped with an electronic card of the invention, with the cover casing being removed therefrom.

[0012] With reference to the above figure, 1 indicates a side wall of an automatic rolled-out paper dispenser on which an electronic card -as indicated by reference numeral 2- is mounted for controlling operation of dispenser. The card 2 is arranged close to the upper left angle of wall 1, from which wall 1 a cover casing has been removed for the sake of clarity.

[0013] The depicted dispenser is the same as disclosed in the above-­mentioned European Patent Application N.86830040.1 to which refer­ence is made herein for a detailed description of both the mechanic­al part of the dispenser and operation thereof.

[0014] Thus, only the dispenser mechanisms being interfaced with the microswitches controlling the various dispensing cycle steps will be schematically shown and described herein, with the same reference numerals as used in European Patent Application N. 36830040.1 being utilized whenever possible.

[0015] Provided on the dispenser side wall 1 is a cam 26 in the form of a circular disk having a notch 27 formed on the contour thereof.

[0016] A lever 28 has one of its ends pressed by a spring 50 against the profile of cam 26, this lever 28 being a part of a hinged lever system which also includes a lever or vane means 29 keyed on to an axis 51 and located inside the dispenser. The vane 29 is shown in dot-dash line in the figure.

[0017] The lever 28 is secured to the wall 1 by means of a pin 30 passed through a slot 31 in lever 28.

[0018] Thus, the lever 28 is able to move in a reciprocating manner, where­as the vane 29 can swing about the axis 51. This vane 29 is held by its bottom end 29ʹ always contacting a portion of paper that is schematically shown in dotted line, at 13, in the drawing.

[0019] Provided on the profile of cam 26 and the top of lever 28 are a cam pawl 38 and a projection 28ʹ respectively, which are inter­faced with associated microswitches M1 and M2 carried on the electronic card 2 and acting to stop the paper delivery step and the paper rewrapping step respectively, as will be better explained further.

[0020] Also provided on wall 1 is a movable tab 32 which is caused to rotate to a small extent in an anticlockwise direction when a paper supply is used up, in order to actuate a microswitch M3 provided on the electronic card 2 for producing quick rewinding of the paper.

[0021] The electronic card 2 has two further microswitches M4 and M5 carried thereon.

[0022] Microswitch M5 is interfaced with a push-button 55. This push-­button 55 is operated by closing the dispenser cover which brings about general reset of the system, that is to say, the dispenser is made ready for commencing a cycle.

[0023] Microswitch M4, on the other hand, is interfaced with a push-­button 54 that extends out of the dispenser cover and can be operated by an user at each start of a cycle.

[0024] Operation of the automatic dispenser, provided with electronic card in conformity to the invention, is as briefly described below.

[0025] Once the dispenser cover is closed, the button 55 actuates the microswitch M5 to cause general reset of the system thereby to bring the different dispenser members to a position ready to start a cycle.

[0026] In order to start a cycle, the user presses the button 54 which is interfaced with the cycle-starting microswitch M4.

[0027] It is to be noted that at the beginning of a cycle the paper 13 is tightly stretched under the paper dispenser so that the vane 29 is in a position slightly rotated clockwise with respect to the position shown by the drawing, whereas the lever 28 is displaced towards the right with the end thereof being out of the recess 27 in cam 26.

[0028] At the start of a cycle, a motor is operated and causes a kinematic chain to rotate which results in the paper being released.

[0029] During the paper releasing step, the cam 26 performs a complete revolution with the cam starting from, and stopping at the same position as occupied by the cam in the figure.

[0030] Paper delivery is stopped when the cam 26 has performed one rotation, since at that time the cam pawl 38 actuates the micro­switch M1 which indeed operates to stop the delivery step.

[0031] During this paper releasing or delivery step, the paper forms a paper loop beneath the dispenser unit whereupon the spring means 50 causes the articulated lever system to return to the position shown by the drawing i.e. with the lever 28 being fitted by its end in the recess 27 of disk or cam 26. At this position, the vane 29 has been swung about the axis 51 so that its lower end 29ʹ is pressing the paper 13 against a fixed abutment 39 provided at the rear on the dispenser as shown schematically by the drawing in dotted line.

[0032] A timer, not shown, permits the paper to be held in this posit­ion of use for an appropriate time after which it causes the paper to be automatically rolled-up again by reversing the direction of rotation of the motor.

[0033] During the paper rewrapping step, the paper portion extending out of the dispenser will be stretched tight so as to adhere to the undersurface of the dispenser thereby to cause the vane 29 to swing in a clockwise direction and, thus, the lever 28 to move towards the right until the upper projection 28ʹ of same lever will actuate the microswitch M2 which acts to stop the paper rewrapping step.

[0034] Then, the paper dispenser is ready for further use.

[0035] When the supply of paper in the dispenser is used up, oppositely arranged square elements rigidly connected to the movable tab 32 and normally pressing on the paper against spring action, are lowered and cause the tab 32 to rotate anticlockwise so as to actuate the microswitch M3 which produces quick rewinding of the paper.

[0036] It clearly appears from the above that the electronic card of the invention has advantages in that it carries on it all the microswitches necessary to control the various steps of the paper dispensing cycle, which microswitches are directly inter­faced with associated mechanical elements of the dispenser; in this way, any connection means between the microswitches and the electronic card can be dispensed with.

[0037] By this arrangement, considerable time saving can be achieved when assembling the electric circuitry associated with the paper dispenser, since it is sufficient to position the electronic card. Moreover, in case of damage to any component, the card can be removed without complicated disconnections being required.

[0038] Although a preferred embodiment of the electronic card for automatic rolled-out paper dispenser according to the invention has been described herein before, it will be understood that changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement and operation, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. An electronic card, particularly for the control of automatic, rolled-out paper dispensers through microswitches (M1/M5), characterized in that all of said microswitches (M1/M5) are carried on the electronic card and are directly interfaced with associated mechanical elements of the concerned dispenser.

2. The electronic card according to claim 1 as associated with an automatic paper dispenser having a disk or cam (26) arranged on one side wall thereof, the disk or cam (26) being provided on its peripheral contour with a pawl (38) and a notch (27) that cooperates with one end of a lever (28) provided at its top with a projection (28ʹ) and being able to move in an axial direction, characterized in that said microswitch (M1) is interfaced with said cam (26) and is actuated by said cam pawl (38) to cause interruption of a paper delivery step, whereas the microswitch (M2) is interfaced with the lever (28) and is actuated by said lever projection (28ʹ) to cause interruption of a paper rewind­ing step.

3. The electronic card according to claim 2 wherein a swinging tab (32) is arranged on the side wall of the paper dispenser, characterized in that said microswitch (M3) is interfaced with said tab (32) and is actuated by this latter upon exhausting a paper supply in the dispenser, to cause quick rewinding of same paper.

4. The electronic card according to any preceding claim, wherein said microswitch (M5) is interfaced with a push-button (55) and is actuated by this latter upon closing a dispenser cover to cause general reset of the system and make the various dispenser elements ready for commencing a cycle.

5. The electronic card according to any preceding claim, wherein said microswitch (M4) is interfaced with a push-button (54) that is manually operated by an user for starting a dispensing cycle.

6. The electronic card according to any preceding claim, wherein the card is arranged close to an upper front angle on one side wall of a paper dispenser to which the card is associated.

Drawing