Apparatus for individually dispensing flat objects

Abstract

 An apparatus having a housing (13) for receiving a stack (10;43) of flat objects (1,2,3;44,45,46) and letting the objects be withdrawn from the housing (13) one at the time in a predetermined direction of withdrawal. The apparatus comprises a slot (16), a lower base (20) in the housing for carrying the stack (10;43) and mounted in a mainly vertically displaceable manner, at least one spring (21) for affecting the base (20) with an upwardly directed force, and two successive, idler rollers (30,31) located in an area above the stack. The front roller is a driving pulley (30) and the rearmost a driven roller (31). The apparatus furthermore comprises an upper cover (14) and a mounting (26) mounted on this cover about a shaft (25) for mounting the shafts (32,33) of the rollers (30,31), and an operative connection connecting the driving pul ley (30) and the driven roller (31) by means of a continuous belt (36), running around the rollers (30,31). Thereby a simple, inexpensive structure is obtained that allows a user to take only one object from the housing easily, quickly, and safely and during this simultaneously bring a new newspaper to a position of collection for the next user.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus with a housing for receiving a stack of flat objects and letting the objects be withdrawn from the housing one at the time in a predetermined direction of withdrawal and comprising a slot made in the wall of the housing and having a width and height allowing the objects to pass, a lower base in the housing for carrying the stack and mounted in a mainly vertically displaceable manner, at least one spring for affecting the base with an upwardly directed force at least just as great as the weight of the stack and the dead load of the base, at least one row of rollers with an idler driving pulley located nearest the slot and a succeeding driven roller, and that the rollers are located in an area above the stack with shafts extending crosswise to the direction of withdrawal of the objects.

[0002] Many kinds of apparatuses and devices for dispensing a single object from a magazine of objects are known, for example napkin holders and newspaper dispensing machines.

[0003] Napkin holders for dispensing napkins and similar objects are often arranged in such a way that they will dispense one napkin at a time. In one embodiment this can take place by the napkins in the magazine being connected to each other by a small seam or are folded up at the ends in a long row in such a way that the outermost napkin in the row easily can be separated from the rest of the napkins by a pull.

[0004] In a second embodiment the napkins are forced towards an opening in the magazine by a light pressure so that every time a napkin is removed a new napkin will be ready for use at the opening.

[0005] However these dispensers have the disadvantage of not being able to dispense only one napkin at a time for certain. This is acceptable in these case as napkins are inexpensive objects intended to be thrown away after a short period of use. The known dispensers are however not suited for larger and more expensive objects, such as e.g. newspapers, where it is required that only one object is dispensed at a time with certainty.

[0006] For newspapers there are therefore particular newspaper dispensing machines that safely and reliably can dispense one newspaper at a time.

[0007] Such a newspaper dispensing machine is known from e.g. the US Patent No. 4,469,246 from 1984. In a housing, which is part of the dispenser, are mounted two rollers that touch the topmost newspaper and that furthermore are mounted in a drawer in the housing. Upon use the drawer is pulled out. During this the rollers are locked whereby the topmost newspaper is brought along and a front area of the newspaper will stick out of the housing with an area of gripping. When the drawer then is pushed in again, the rollers will be free-wheeling back over said newspaper. A user can now easily pull the newspaper out by taking hold of the area of gripping with the hand.

[0008] However, this structure is relatively expensive to manufacture and slow and difficult to use.

[0009] In a first aspect of the invention an apparatus of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph is provided for dispensing one object at a time easily, quickly and safely.

[0010] In a second aspect of the invention an apparatus of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph is provided for taking the object second from the top in the stack a distance out of the housing when the topmost object is removed.

[0011] In a third aspect of the invention an apparatus of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph is provided that has a simple, inexpensive design and that is easy to maintain.

[0012] The novel and unique feature according to the invention, whereby this is achieved, is the fact that the apparatus comprises an upper cover mounted on the housing and arranged to open and close an upper opening in the housing for introduction of the stack, a mounting mounted about an axis on the cover for mounting of the shafts of the rollers, and an operative connection between the driving pulley and the driven roller in form of a continuous belt running over a wheel on each roller.

[0013] Thereby a simple, inexpensive structure is obtained that ensures that a user easily, quickly, and safely can take just one object at a time from the housing and during this simultaneously bring a new newspaper to position of collection for the next user.

[0014] For rectangular objects each having a front edge, a rear edge, and two transverse edges, it is preferred that the housing correspondingly is rectangular with a front wall with the slot, an opposite back wall and two transverse walls.

[0015] The spring or springs press the stack up against the rollers with a spring power that must be at least as great as the weight of the stack plus the dead load of the base to always bring the topmost object in the stack to a position of collection.

[0016] To be able to hold the topmost object in this position, the cover carrying the mounting for the rollers must therefore be detachably locked in closed position. This can advantageously take place by pivotally hinging the cover on the housing and detachably locking it when it is closed.

[0017] As the objects can have a different thickness every time, the mounting can be adjustably mounted on the cover to thereby be able to compensate for such differences.

[0018] The rollers and/or the continuous belt can be of rubber or a similar material with a relatively high coefficient of friction in relation to the object to thereby avoid a possible sliding that could prevent the objects from being withdrawn for certain every time to a desired distance from the front wall of the housing.

[0019] In one embodiment the continuous belt can be a belt running over a pulley on each roller. This solution is simple and inexpensive and especially so if the rollers themselves are designed as pulleys. In the last-mentioned case it can advantageously be the belt that contacts the objects whereby the objects also are affected by a pull in the area between the rollers.

[0020] When the continuous belt yields to the pressure from the springs or is not running directly over the rollers, the spacing between the area of contact of the two rollers with the stack can advantageously be smaller than the spacing between the driven roller and the rear edge of at least the object second from the top in the stack. Thereby it is ensured that it is always only one object that can be withdrawn at a time.

[0021] To avoid that the topmost or the two topmost objects in the stack are damaged because the two rollers are running at different speeds, the continuous belt can be a chain running over a chain sprocket on each roller. Thereby it is obtained that the driven roller follows the driving pulley with great certainty.

[0022] The flat objects can be relatively thin and flexible. At the same time the topmost object must hang far enough out of the slot in the front wall of the housing for a user to be able to get hold of the object easily, safely and quickly and withdraw it from the slot.

[0023] To support the object a shelf can therefore extend from the underside of the slot with a cut of a size allowing a user to grip the projecting areas of the object with the hand at the same time as this area is effectively supported along the sides.

[0024] In a variant of this solution the wall of the housing, seen in horizontal cross section, can be extending along a polygon with a centre section being at a shorter distance from the stack of objects in the housing than the two adjacent side sections. Thereby it is obtained that the side sections are protected from e.g. rain.

[0025] The invention will be explained in greater details below, describing only exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing, in which

Fig. 1 is a perspective view seen obliquely from above of an apparatus according to the invention,

Figs. 2 - 7 are diagrammatic side elevational views of successive process stages of the apparatus in fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a third embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention.

[0026] In the following it is assumed that the flat objects to be dispensed are newspapers.

[0027] Fig. 1 shows a first 1, second 2, and third 3 newspaper each having a front edge 4, 5, 6, and a rear edge 7, 8, 9, and gathered in a stack of newspaper 10.

[0028] The apparatus, which generally is designated by the reference numeral 12, comprises a housing 13 having a magazine 12 for, as indicated by the arrow, accommodating the stack 10.

[0029] The housing 13 is constructed with a cover 14 and a front wall 15 with a slot 16 and two transverse walls 17 and 18 and a back wall 19. In the housing 13 is also a vertically displaceable base 20 for supporting the stack. This base 20 is affected by an upwardly directed spring power from, in this case, four pressure springs 21 mounted in pairs on a bar 22 in each side of the housing. Thereby it is obtained that the stack is pushed upwards at the same rate as the magazine is emptied, and that the magazine can accommodate newspaper stacks of different heights.

[0030] The front wall 15 of the housing is advantageously designed with a shelf 23 with a cut 24 of a size allowing a user to easily grip a projecting area of a newspaper (not shown) on the shelf.

[0031] On the cover 14 a mounting 26 is mounted on a shaft 25, said mounting being made of two projecting arms 27 and two links 28 pivotally mounted on an independent axle 29 journaled in the arms 27. Shafts 32 and 33 respectively are journaled at either end of the links 28. On the shaft 32 a driving pulley 30 is rotatably mounted and on the shaft 33 a driven roller 31.

[0032] A continuous rubber belt 36 is running on tracks 34 and 35 respectively made along the periphery of the rollers. In the case shown the two rollers are of the same size whereby they will rotate at the same rotational speed during operation.

[0033] The cover is pivotally mounted on the back edge of the housing by means of hinges (not shown). In the position of use the cover is closed and detachably locked to the housing 13 by means of a locking arrangement 37 known per se.

[0034] Figs. 2 - 7 show successive operation stages during use of the apparatus 12 in fig. 1.

[0035] In fig. 2 the cover 12 is open whereby the stack of newspapers 10 can be placed in the magazine 11 as indicated by the arrow.

[0036] In fig. 3 the stack of newspapers 10 has been put in place in the magazine 11 in which it is resting on the spring-loaded, vertically displaceable base 20. The cover is now closed and detachably locked to the housing by means of the locking arrangement 37.

[0037] Now the rollers and/or rubber belt position the stack of newspapers against the action of the spring power of the pressure springs 21 in such a way that at least the two topmost newspapers in the stack will be opposite the slot 16 in the front wall 15 of the housing. The topmost newspaper in the stack is withdrawn a short distance from this slot, ready to be gripped by a user.

[0038] The mounting 26 and thereby the height of the rollers can be adjusted in such a way that it is always ensured that the two topmost newspapers are positioned correctly in relation to the slot 16 even if the newspapers do not have the same thickness every time a new stack of newspapers is placed in the magazine.

[0039] This adjusting takes place merely by rotating the mounting about its shaft 25 and then locking it in a desired angular position.

[0040] In fig. 4 the first newspaper 1 is withdrawn through the slot 16 in the direction of withdrawal indicated by the arrow. The contact with the continuous belt 36 and/or rollers 30 and 31 will make these rotate in the direction of rotation indicated by the arrow and the belt will simultaneously run on the rollers.

[0041] In figs. 3 and 4 the driven, back roller 31 is at the rear edge 7 of the topmost newspaper. In fig. 5 the topmost newspaper has now been withdrawn further out from the slot 16 whereby the links 28 tip about their independent axle 29 on the arms 28 so that the driven roller 31 and/or the continuous belt 36 are made to contact the newspaper 2 second from the top which now begins following the topmost newspaper on its way out of the slot.

[0042] This will continue until the driving pulley 30, as shown in fig. 6, lets go of the rear edge of the topmost newspaper. The driving pulley and thereby the driven roller are no longer rotated by the topmost newspaper. The newspaper second from the top therefore stops travelling out of the slot and now assumes the position as the topmost newspaper in the stack.

[0043] This situation is shown in fig. 7 that corresponds to fig. 3. As seen the above operations can be repeated until the magazine is empty. By means of the apparatus according to the invention a user can obtain one and only one newspaper at a time at the same time as a new newspaper is brought in the position of collection for the next user.

[0044] To avoid sliding and thereby ensure that the newspapers are pulled equally far out of the slot every time, the continuous belt and/or rollers are advantageously made of a material such as e.g. rubber with a high coefficient of friction in relation to the paper of which the newspapers are made.

[0045] Fig. 8 shows a second embodiment 38 of an apparatus according to the invention seen in the same operation stage as the first embodiment in fig. 5. In this case the continuous belt 36 is designed as a belt 39 running around two belt pulleys 40, 41 on the shafts 32, 33 respectively of the driving pulley and the driven roller.

[0046] In stead of the mentioned belt transmission, a chain transmission (not shown) can however advantageously be used to ensure that the driving pulley and the driven roller always rotate at the same speed when a newspaper is collected from the apparatus. If the rollers rotate at different speed there may be a risk of the newspapers getting crumpled or torn more or less to pieces when they are withdrawn from the housing.

[0047] Fig. 9 shows a third embodiment 42 of an apparatus according to the invention with a stack of thin newspapers comprising a first 44, second 45, and third 46 thin newspaper.

[0048] In this case, the continuous belt is relatively flexible. The driving pulley therefore tips down on the second newspaper 45 second from the top immediately after leaving the rear edge of the topmost, first newspaper.

[0049] To ensure against the driving pulley in the final stage of the operation tipping all the way down on the newspaper 46 third from the top and thereby unintentionally taking this out in stead of the newspaper 45 second from the top, the spacing u between the axes 32 and 33 of the rollers is smaller than the spacing v between the axis 33 of the driven roller and the rear edge of the newspaper 45 second from the top. This relation, u < v, means that the driven roller never releases the contact with the newspaper 45 second from the top before the driving pulley has released contact with the topmost newspaper 44 and thereby no longer is rotated by this pulley.

[0050] The same relation u < v can advantageously also be applied to the second embodiment 38 in fig. 8 to thereby ensure against the driven roller in the final stage of the operation tipping down on the newspaper 46 third from the top and taking this one out in stead of the newspaper 45 second from the top.

[0051] The embodiments mentioned above and shown in the drawing are only to be taken as examples as many other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention.

[0052] For example the wall of the housing, seen in horizontal cross section, can be extending along a polygon with a centre section being at a shorter distance from the base of the housing than the two adjacent side sections. Thereby the advantage is obtained in that the side sections are protected against e.g. rain.

Claims

1. An apparatus with a housing for receiving a stack of flat objects (10;43) and letting the objects (1,2,3;44,45,46) be withdrawn from the housing (13) one at the time in a predetermined direction of withdrawal and comprising

- a slot (16) made in the wall (15) of the housing and having a width and height allowing the objects (1,2,3;44,45,46) to pass,

- a lower base (20) in the housing (13) for carrying the stack (10;43) and mounted in a mainly vertically displaceable manner,

- at least one spring (21) for affecting the base (20) with an upwardly directed force at least just as great as the weight of the stack and the dead load of the base,

- at least one row of rollers with an idler driving pulley (30) located nearest the slot (16) and a succeeding driven roller (31), and

- that the rollers (30,31) are located in an area above the stack with shafts extending crosswise to the direction of withdrawal of the objects

characterized in that the apparatus furthermore comprises

- an upper cover (14) mounted on the housing (13) and arranged to open and close an upper opening in the housing for introduction of the stack (10;43),

- a mounting (26) mounted about an axis (25) on the cover (14) for mounting of the shafts (32,33) of the rollers, and

- an operative connection between the driving pulley (30) and the driven roller (31) in form of a continuous belt (36;39) running over a wheel on each roller.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (14) is detachably locked to the housing (13) in closed position.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mounting (26) has at least one link (28) with bearings for the shafts (32,33) of the two rollers, and that this at least one link (28) is rotatably mounted on an arm (27) mounted on and extending downwards from the cover (14), seen in the closed position of this cover.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that the rollers (30,31) and/or the continuous belt (36;39) are of rubber or a similar material with a relatively high coefficient of friction.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, characterized in that the continuous belt (36) is a belt (39) or a chain running over a belt pulley (40,41) or a gearwheel on each roller (30,31).

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, characterized in that the continuous belt (36) is running over the two rollers (30,31) in the at least one row with a lower part contacting the stack (10,43) when the cover (14) is closed.

7. An apparatus according to any of the claims 1 - 6, wherein the housing is mainly rectangular and has a front wall (15) with the slot (16), an opposite back wall (19), and two transverse walls (17,18), and that each object (1,2,3;44,45,46) correspondingly is rectangular and has a front edge (4,5,6), a back edge (7,8,9) and two transverse edges, characterized in that the spacing (u) between the areas of contact (47,48) of the two rollers with the stack (10,43) advantageously is smaller than the spacing (v) between the driven roller (31) and the rear edge of at least the object second from the top in the stack.

8. An apparatus according to any of the claims 1 - 7, characterized in that the mounting (26) is adjustably mounted on the cover (14).

9. An apparatus according to any of the claims 1 - 8, characterized in that from the underside of the slot (16) is extending a shelf (23) with a cut (24) of a size allowing a user to grip an object (1,2,3;44,45,46) withdrawn in advance to or near the outer edge on the shelf (23) located on either side of the cut (24).

10. An apparatus according to any of the claims 1 - 9, characterized in that the wall of the housing, seen in horizontal cross section, is extending at least in the area at the slot along a polygon with a centre section being at a shorter distance from the stack of objects in the housing than the two adjacent side sections.

Drawing