Machine for supplying flexible laminate material

Abstract

 The machine comprises a reel (B") of flexible laminate material (M"), which material passes through a live roller (8") and an idle roller (7"), comprising motorized means (50") which drive the live roller supplying the material when the user inserts a coin.

Description

[0001] This invention is concerned with a machine for supplying flexible laminate material.

[0002] The applicant is the holder of the Spanish Utility Models No. U9400002 and No. U9401471 which have as their object a machine which supplies laminate material of any kind, such as paper, unwoven cloth, etc., enabling precision supply of a predetermined amount of laminate material, this having multiple applications in automatic car-washes, petrol stations, supermarkets, etc.

[0003] In essence, the previous models consist of a reel of laminate material which supplies this via two rollers, one which is live and driven, and the other which is idle and free. In both cases, the drive of the live roller is manual, via a ratchet device with the corresponding ratchet wheel.

[0004] The aforesaid manual arrangement of the ratchet device with the ratchet wheel is complex to set up and operate.

[0005] This invention considerably simplifies the make-up and drive of the machine of the previous registrations, as the drive of the live roller is exercised by motor reduction means in combination with a timer tripped by a button of a conventional slot meter for coins.

[0006] The Dutch patent NL 8 301 666 from ROLLEX B.V. comprises a succession of flat objects wound round the cylinder, which are supplied via two guide cylinders, one of which is driven by an electric motor. The flat, wound objects have an opening which enables the operation of a blockage system via a photocell or equivalent, which enables this opening to be detected, and comprises a delay timing system for the electric motor which, once the opening has been detected, delays the stoppage of the flat, wound objects so that the photocell does not match up with this opening and operation can be restarted until the following opening is reached during the supply of the flat, wound objects.

[0007] This ROLLEX patent supplies individually separable flat objects, which must have openings for them to be detected by the blockage system. The delay timer solely has the function of delaying the stoppage after the photocell is detected.

[0008] In this invention, on the other hand, the material supplied by the machine is a strip of continuous material which does not need to have openings, as it works via timings determined by the timer. We would underline the fact that the function of the timers of the Dutch ROLLEX B.V. patent and this invention is different.

[0009] The German patent DE 22 09 512 from LEIENDECKER comprises a drive device which unwinds the length of one bag, with the succession of bags individually separated via perforations, from the feeder roll, which is driven on its shaft by an electric motor.

[0010] This LEIENDECKER patent does not have a live roller and an idle roller as does the patent as per the invention. The strip of laminate material of this invention does not require perforations in order to separate pieces of a specific length, and this length to be defined by the action of the timer.

[0011] The US patent USA 3 998 308 from YEAKLEY serves to supply towels using coins, and incorporates a manual operation mechanism which can be connected to the drive system for it to be activated. It has three auxiliary guide rollers.

[0012] This invention is made up of two rollers, one live and one idle, and supplies an amount of laminate material in line with the action of the timer.

[0013] As is herewith set out, this invention is characterized by the fact that it comprises motorized means which drive the live roller supplying the flexible laminate material, which are activated by a timer tripped by an electric button of a conventional slot meter when the coin is inserted.

[0014] These motorized means are motor-reducing and act directly on the live roller via a transmission system.

[0015] These and other characteristics will be made clearer in the detailed description which follows, to assist which two sheets of sketches accompany, representing a practical case of application, not limitative of the scope of this invention.

[0016] In the sketches:

[0017] Figure 1 is a fragmented top perspective view of the machine as per the invention.

[0018] Figure 2 is a fragmented lateral elevational view which illustrates the transmission system.

[0019] Figure 3 is a fragmented plan view of the machine.

[0020] Figure 4 is a fragmented, lateral elevational view illustrating an alternative construction with the motor reduction unit applied directly to the shaft of the live roller.

[0021] As is herewith set out, the machine for supplying flexible laminate material which is the object of this invention comprises a housing 1'' fitted with a hinged cover 2'', inside which there is a reel B'' of flexible laminate material M'', which is supported by a shaft 4'' which passes through the centre of the reel, which is supported by two lateral arms 5''' which are articulated at one end 5' to a strip 6'' the cover 2'', whilst at the opposite end, they define an idle roller 7''. The housing comprises an outlet S'' for supply of the material M''.

[0022] The machine comprises a live roller 8'' with a rough surface to assist the supply of paper from the reel B'' with the assistance of the idle roller 7''. This live roller 8'' rotates between two interior walls P''1 and P''2 by way of a shaft 8''a.

[0023] The idle roller 7'' (see figure 4) can adopt two main positions: one in contact with the live roller 8'' which supplies the laminate material M'', when the cover 2'' is closed, and another separate from the live roller 8'', when the cover 2'' is open, the movement of which of the idle roller 7'' is allowed by the supports 9'' of each side of same. The cover 2'' is opened with the rest 26''.

[0024] The invention comprises motor reduction means 50'' connected to the power supply, which drive the shaft 8''a of the live roller 8'', and which are activated by a timer 51'', which is tripped by an electric button or switch 52'' of a conventional slot meter 53'' for coins.

[0025] As can be observed in figures 1 to 3, the action of the shaft 8''a on the live roller 8'' is exercised by a transmission system TR'' which comprises two pulleys, one PO''1 mounted on the shaft 8''a of the live roller 8'', and one PO''2 mounted on the motor reduction unit 50'', and a belt CO'', the pulleys and the belt preferably being complementarily serrated.

[0026] The motor reduction unit 50'' is mounted on a Z-shaped plate attached to the inner plate P''2.

[0027] The electrical installation can be connected directly to the mains, or via a transformer.

[0028] Likewise, the motor turns over at 2800 revolutions per minute, and the reduction unit reduces these to 50 r.p.m. so that the supply, in combination with the transmission, is as appropriate.

[0029] The construction illustrated in figure 4 shows that the motor reduction unit 50'' is connected directly to the shaft 8''a of the live roller 8'', which can have an output speed of 75 r.p.m.

[0030] As can be observed, the timer 51'' has a timing adjuster 51''a and is connected to the motor reduction unit 50'' and to the button or switch 52'' of the conventional slot meter 53'' by way of the corresponding connections.

[0031] Likewise, the machine as per the invention incorporates a light 55'' (LED or similar) which indicates that voltage is being supplied and that the machine can operate, and another light 56'' (LED or similar) which indicates that there is a shortage of paper. So that, if these lights indicate that no voltage is being supplied or there is no paper, the machine cannot operate, because a lever - not illustrated - is activated, preventing the coin from going in.

[0032] The invention displays various spacing devices 36'', consisting of a band or equivalent which prevents the material M'' from rolling up on this live roller 8'' during supply of paper.

[0033] The invention incorporates a master switch - not illustrated - which can be in combination with the cover 2'', so that when this cover is opened to change the reel or for any inspection, the current flow is cut.

[0034] The motor naturally incorporates a self-braking system which prevents it turning over when the machine is not operating and paper cannot be supplied.

[0035] Operation of the machine is very simple: the user inserts the coin, and the button or switch of the slot meter trips the timer and the motor reduction means which make the live roller turn, making the machine start up, enabling the user to collect the material M'' supplied by the machine, until the supply of laminate material stops and the machine is ready for another cycle.

Claims

1.- Machine for supplying flexible laminate material, comprising a reel of flexible laminate material, which material passes through a live roller activated when the coin is inserted by the user, and an idle roller, characterized by the fact that it comprises motorized means which drive the live roller supplying the flexible laminate material, and which means are activated by a timer tripped by an electric button of the conventional slot meter when the coin is inserted.

2.- Machine for supplying flexible laminate material, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that these motorized means are motor-reducing.

3.- Machine for supplying flexible laminate material, as per claim 1, characterized by the fact that the live roller is driven by a transmission system from the motorized means, which acts directly on the shaft of the live roller.

Drawing