An automatic dispenser for paper towels severable from a continuous roll

Description

[0001] This invention concerns an automatic dispenser for paper towels which are severable from a continuous roll in the shape of predetermined length strips made available on the outside of the dispensing apparatus so that they can be subsequently torn off manually against a stationary blade in a relatively hidden position within the device according to the preamble of claim 1. A number of types of paper towel dispensers are already known, adapted in particular to enable a manual pulling of the free flap which has remained accessible after a previous usage, and the "ripping" thereof against a stationary blade. A brake device is sometimes provided which is adapted to block the unwinding of the strip from the feed roll, after a certain length, thereby making it easier to tear off the paper to be used, whereafter a further clean flap of material may be allowed to project outside to be manually grabbed for a subsequent usage cycle. In other embodiments, a side crank or handle is provided for rotating the feed roll in the unwinding direction, in order to have available on the outside a paper strip of a desired length.

[0002] Document US-A-4 666 099 discloses an automatic dispenser corresponding to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] It is the object of this invention to provide a dispensing apparatus of the type mentioned herein above, adapted to guarantee top safety, by providing a cutting blade in an area as hidden and as recessed as possible within the device according to the characterising portion of claim 1.

[0004] Preferred features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

[0005] The above and other objects, advantages and features of the dispensing apparatus according to this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, which is given herein for exemplary and non limiting purposes, reference being made to the attached Figures wherein:

Figure 1 shows a front view of the device support portion only, without the cover;

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view along line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows another cross section along line III-III of Figure 1, with a paper feed roll mounted therewithin, in oder to show the paper path all the way to the outlet opening and further on;

Figure 4 shows a top plan view of said apparatus, without the cover and in partial cross section, along line IV-IV of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a block diagram schematic of the electrical power supply portion for actuating the apparatus.

[0006] Referring now to the drawings, the inventive device includes a housing thereof comprising a wall mounted support portion 1 having a back portion 31 adapted to be fastened to a wall, two side walls 41a and 41b and a paper feed roll support comprising a pair of bracket or cantilever members, 43a, 43b, having a substantially semi-circular recess 45a, 45b adapted to provide a rolling engagement seat for the ends of a tubular member 25 used as a core for roll 10. Cover 2 has a downwards facing paper dispensing port 2a, directed in such a way as to provide a guiding action for paper 10a towards the outside, after the paper has passed in front of a cutting blade 3 mounted on cover 2 in a position set back within the recess defined by port 2a, in order to be scarcely accessible from outside. As it is shown more clearly in Figure 3, said recess is protected also on the sides, at both ends of dispensing port 2a, by a pair of walls 2b integral with cover 2 as well. In this way accessibility to blade 3 from the outside is reduced to a minimum, by the way no accessibility being required in this case, contrary to what holds true for the majority of the dispenser devices of the prior art, in that there is made available on the outside a paper flap 10a having a length sufficient for using it and thereafter tearing it off by applying a pressure on said blade without having to grab the paper close to the blade.

[0007] Paper dispensing is performed by dragging the paper by means of a pulling roller 12 actuated by a small motor 8 fastened to support portion 1, in particular on an internal side shoulder 7 thereof. Referring now to the drawing, pinion 8 on the motor output shaft meshes with a first gear 9 of a reduction gar whose second gear 9a meshes in turn with a further motion transmitting gear 11 mounted on roller 12 shaft.

[0008] Paper 10a coming from roll 10 is led between the surface of roller 12 and a confronting roller 13 rotatingly mounted for instance on a pair of journals fastened to the ends thereof, each of them being rotatable within a small support plate 14 provided with biasing springs 15 adapted to press the opposing roller 13 against dragging roller 12. Preferably, roller 12 will be made of a certain number of cylindrical rubber lined members integrally provided on a shaft rotatably mounted, at the ends thereof, on structural parts of support 1, like for instance shoulder 7 mentioned above and a rib 7a on the opposite side, which supports as well the corresponding end of opposing roller 13 as it is best shown in Figure 4. In the spaces included between said roller 12 cylindrical members, stationary tongue shaped members, or the like, may be provided in order to prevent the paper from winding back around roller 12 and to induce the paper along its regular path.

[0009] As it will be explained in more detail referring to Figure 5, the dispensing control is performed by means of a switch 17 actuated through a pushbutton 6, comprising for instance a flexible blade having one end fastened to cover 2, and bearing on the switch 17 in order to supply power to motor 8 through a timer 18, the power supply being made available as a rectified 12V DC current from a transformer 23 connected to the grid. A printed control circuit 16 connects switch 17 to timer 18 as well as to a LED 19 for displaying the apparatus operating condition, the assembly being mechanically supported by said shoulder 7 integral with support 1, while cover 2 carries, besides pushbutton 6, also a clear inspection hole 20 to display the LED light. Instead, transformer 23, together with program printed circuit 22, is mounted within a support or fastening box 21 on the bottom of back panel 31, in order to be accessible only upon having withdrawn fastening screws 26 and after having necessarily taken the device off the supporting wall. The same holds true to gain access to the location of electrical connections 27, which is protected from the outside by means of a cover 24, still on the back side of the device.

[0010] Operations are as described in the following. Once cover 2 has been opened by authorized personnel who are able to operate lock 5 by means of an appropriate key, in a new paper roll 10 to be used there is inserted a supporting tubular member 25, to be set, at the ends thereof, in special seats 45a and 45b of side supports 43a and 43b. The roll is manually unwound enough to insert the paper free end between dragging roller 12 and opposing roller 13 (while pushing the latter downwards in order to compress springs 15), possibly by taking advantage of motor 8, which is actuated by means of switch 17. Springs 15, which are now free, will bias roller 13 against roller 12, in order to provide the friction necessary to drag paper 10a. To that end, roller 13 will preferably be rendered rough, by any known method, according to the material thereof (wood, plastics, and so on), in particular in the central area of said roller 13, having preferably a larger diameter. In fact, the paper dragging action will be more effective in the roller central area, and in particular dragging roller 12 will comprise a number of rubber lined cylindrical areas, separate from each other, whose size is increasing towards the center, in order to prevent the paper from contacting the rollers along the whole width thereof, which might cause the paper to curl if the paper were irregularly engaged within the roller nip. Therefore, it is preferable that friction is concentrated in a single central area corresponding to the enlarged and knurled portion of roller 13 and to the central rubber lined cylinder of roller 12, while the other cylindrical portions thereof provide more of a guiding than of a dragging action.

[0011] Actuation is performed by enabling, by means of switch 17 controlled through pushbutton 6, a potentiometer or timer 18 which, as it is more clearly shown in the block diagram of Figure 5, makes it possible to supply motor 8 for a predetermined time, with DC electrical power coming from the rectified output of transformer 23. It should be noted that, instead of pushbutton 6, or in addition or as an alternative thereto, a photoelectric cell or proximity switch control might be provided in a completely similar arrangement. LED 19 may be the normally lit type, being turned off while the device is operating, i.e. during the entire period motor 8 is actuated, or vice-versa it might be normally off, with a red light being turned on during operation to warn the user that a further actuation of pushbutton 6 or photoelectric cell will have no result. The printed circuit 16 connections will be such as to prevent any further operating cycle until switch 17 is in any way actuated, in order to prevent the paper from unrolling continuously for instance in case a match or similar sharp member is inserted to keep pushbutton 6 in a depressed position, or else if the photoelectric cell is kept persistently blinded. The actuation time may be set on timer 18 by the service personnel only, and only after the cover has been opened to gain access to shoulder 7 carrying said control members, as well as for possible maintenance of the mechanical parts. The overall actuation time will depend upon the unrolling speed, therefore on roller 12 peripheral speed, but in any case it will be long enough to let out a paper flap 10a of a sufficient length for various uses. Preferably, right after each operating cycle a "pause" period will further be provided, during which any actuation will have no result. This will be provided for instance by arranging that timer 18 may inhibit, for a predetermined time period a new actuation of motor 8, starting from the end of an operation thereof.

[0012] Referring now more particularly to Figure 5, transformer 23 is shown therein as being supplied with power from the grid through a fuse 23a, whose secondary side supplies separately the reduced voltage driving motor 8 and an enable circuit for actuating said motor. The pair of DC supply circuits are shown at 22, which is the same reference number used for the program printed circuit of Figure 4. The enable circuit, which may comprise the printed control circuit 16 of Figure 2, includes an ON-OFF circuit 34, in series to switch 17, which is possibly actuated not through a push-button but by means of an electronic or photoelectric cell control, or proximity detector. In this case, an operating distance control 34a may be provided, said enable circuit including as well timer 18 with an associated control 18a of the operating time, therefore of the amount of paper dispensed, as well as a pause circuit 32 and relevant controls 32a. The pause circuit prevents timer 18 from enabling a subsequent operation, for a predetermied time period after motor 8 has stopped its operating cycle, as controlled by said timer. Therefore, after a cycle has been started, the whole time period set in the timer 18 will have to elapse (during which motor 8 is in operation and rotates dragging roller 12 which dispenses the paper) as well as the whole time period set in pause circuit 32, possibly adjustable in 32a, before next cycle can be started. Indicator light 19 of the dispenser operating condition might indicate as well if the motor is operating or not, and possibly also the pause period, as mentioned above, thereby indicating if the dispenser can be actuated or not.

[0013] From the above, all the advantages of safety, reliability, easy operation, sturdy and simple construction of the dispensing device of this invention should be apparent.

[0014] Those skilled in this art may possibly make additions and/or modifications to the embodiment of the dispenser described and shown above. In particular, differences may concern the paper roll support, the position and embodimental shape of the dragging rollers, the position of the various components and the shape of the structure parts.

Claims

1. An automatic dispenser for paper towels severable from a continuous roll including, within a housing (1) closed by means of a cover (2), a support for a paper roll (10), a dragging roller (12) and an opposing pressure roller (13) for dragging, under the action of a motor (8), a paper strip (10a) which has been unrolled from said roll (10), leading it in front of a cutting blade (3), with said cover (2) hingedly connected to the bottom of housing (1), there being provided transmission means (9, 9a, 11) between motor (8) and said dragging roller (12), which are all mounted, like said motor (8), on a side shoulder (7) integral with said housing (1), characterized in that said blade (3) is mounted on the lower portion of said cover (2), in a position set back within a dispensing port (2a) which is also provided on the lower side of cover (2).

2. The dispenser of claim 1, characterized in that said motor (8) is actuated by means of a pushbutton (6) or the like, for enabling an ON-OFF circuit (17) by means of a timer (18) in order to supply power to motor (8) during a possibly adjustable predetermined time period.

3. The dispenser of claim 2, characterized in that it includes as well a pause circuit (32) adapted to inhibit power from being supplied again to motor (8), for a possibly adjustable time period starting from the time the motor actuation has been stopped.

4. The dispenser of claim 2 or 3, wherein said circuit (17) and timer (18) are mounted on a printed control circuit (16) within the front portion of said side shoulder (7), accessible only by opening the cover (2), together with an indicator light (19) showing motor (8) operating condition.

5. A dispenser according to one or more of the previous claims wherein said cover (2) may be locked to the top portion of housing (1) by means of a lock (5), and on the rear side or back plate (31) of housing (1) there is mounted a transformer (23) provided with a relevant program printed circuit (22) for supplying power to motor (8) and to control circuit (16), said transformer and control circuit being accessible from outside only after having removed a support (21) normally fastened by screws to said back plate (31), after said dispenser has been taken off the supporting wall.

6. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said support of roll (10) comprises a pair of cantileverd side members (43a, 43b) integral with housing (1) and having a substantially semicircular seat (45a, 45b) adapted to support the ends of a cylinder shaped roller (25) used as a core for said roll, the opposing roller (13) being mounted at the ends thereof in small plates (14) wherein springs (15) are housed in order to bias said roller against said dragging roller (12), the contact area between said two rollers being mainly located in the central area of said rollers.

7. The dispenser of claim 2, characterized in that it includes, besides said pushbutton (6), a photoelectric cell device or the like, as alternate means for actuating said circuit (17).

Ansprüche

1. Automatischer Spender für von einer kontinuierlichen Rolle abtrennbare Papierhandtücher, der innerhalb eines Gehäuses (1), das mit Hilfe eines Abdeckteils (2) geschlossen ist, enthält: eine Stütze für eine Papierrolle (10), eine Zugrolle (12) und eine gegenüberstehende Druckrolle (13) zum Ziehen, unter der Wirkung eines Motors (8), eines Papierstreifens (10a), der von der Rolle (10) abgerollt wurde, wobei der Papierstreifen entlang einer Schneidekante (3) geführt wird, wobei das Abdeckteil (2) schwenkbar mit dem Boden des Gehäuses (1) verbunden ist, Übertragungseinrichtungen (9, 9a, 11) zwischen dem Motor (8) und der Zugrolle (12) vorgesehen sind, die, wie der Motor (8) alle auf einer Seitenschulter (7) befestigt sind, die einstückig mit dem Gehäuse (1) ausgebildet ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Kante (3) an dem unteren Abschnitt des Abdeckteils (2) in einer Position innerhalb der Abgabemündung (2a), die auch an der Unterseite des Abdeckteils (2) vorgesehen ist, zurückversetzt angeordnet ist.

2. Spender nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Motor (8) mit Hilfe eines Druckknopfes (6) oder dergleichen betätigt wird, um eine EIN-AUS-Schaltung (17) mit Hilfe eines Zeitgebers (18) einzuschalten, um den Motor (8) während eines möglicherweise regelbaren vorherbestimmten Zeitraums mit Strom zu versorgen.

3. Spender nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß er auch eine Pausenschaltung (32) enthält, die ausgelegt ist, um eine erneute Stromzufuhr zu dem Motor (8) zu verhindern, während eines möglicherweise regelbaren Zeitraums, der mit dem Zeitpunkt beginnt, an dem der Motorbetrieb beendet ist.

4. Spender nach einem der Ansprüche 2 oder 3, bei dem die Schaltung (17) und der Zeitgeber (18) auf einer gedruckten Steuerschaltung (16) innerhalb des vorderen Abschnitts der Schulter (7) angebracht sind, welche Schulter nur durch ein Öffnen des Abdeckteils (2) zugänglich ist, zusammen mit einem Anzeigelicht (19), das den Betriebszustand des Motors (8) anzeigt.

5. Spender nach einem oder mehrerer der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem das Abdeckteil (2) mit dem oberen Abschnitt des Gehäuses (1) mit Hilfe eines Schlosses (5) verriegelt werden kann, und bei dem an der Rückseite oder Rückenplatte (31) des Gehäuses (1) ein Transformator (23) angebracht ist, der mit einer mit einem entsprechenden Programm versehenen gedruckten Schaltung (22) für die Stromversorgung des Motors (8) und der Steuerschaltung (16) versehen ist, wobei der Transformator und die Steuerschaltung von außen nur zugänglich sind, nachdem eine Stütze (21) entfernt wurde, die normalerweise mit Hilfe von Schrauben mit der Rückenplatte (31) befestigt ist, nachdem der Spender von der ihn tragenden Wand abgenommen worden ist.

6. Spender nach Anspruch 1, bei dem die Stütze der Rolle (10) ein Paar auslegerarmförmige Seitenteile (43a, 43b) enthält, die einstückig mit dem Gehäuse (1) ausgeführt sind und jeweils einen im wesentlichen halbkreisförmigen Sitz (45a, 45b) aufweisen, der ausgelegt ist, um die Enden einer zylinderförmigen Rolle (25) zu tragen, die als ein Kern für die Rolle verwendet wird, wobei die gegenüberstehende Rolle (13) an ihren jeweiligen Enden in kleinen Stützplatten (14) angebracht ist, in denen Federn (15) untergebracht sind, um diese Rolle gegen die Zugrolle (12) vorzuspannen, wobei der Kontaktbereich zwischen den beiden Rollen hauptsächlich in dem zentralen Bereich der beiden Rollen vorgesehen ist.

7. Spender nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß er neben den Druckknöpfen (6) eine photoelektrische Zellenvorrichtung oder etwas entsprechendes enthält, als eine alternative Einrichtung zum Betätigen der Schaltung (17).

Revendications

1. Distributeur automatique de papiers essuie-mains détachables d'un rouleau continu comprenant, à l'intérieur d'un boîtier (1) fermé par un couvercle (2), un support pour un rouleau de papier (10), un rouleau d'entraînement (12) et un rouleau presseur opposé (13) pour entraîner, sous l'action d'un moteur (8), une bande de papier (10a) qui a été déroulée dudit rouleau (10), l'amener en avant d'une lame de découpe (3), ledit couvercle (2) étant relié par une charnière à la partie inférieure du boîtier (1), en formant ainsi un moyen de transmission (9, 9a, 11) entre un moteur (8) et ledit rouleau d'entraînement (12), qui sont tous montés, de même que ledit moteur (8), sur un épaulement latéral (7) intégré audit boîtier (1), caractérisé en ce que ladite lame (3) est montée sur la partie inférieure dudit couvercle (2) dans une position reculée à l'intérieur d'une ouverture de distribution (2a) qui a été formée sur le face inférieure du couvercle (2).

2. Distributeur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit moteur (8) est mis en marche au moyen d'un bouton poussoir (6) ou analogue, pour former un circuit MARCHE-ARRET (17) comportant une minuterie (18), de manière à alimenter le moteur (8) pendant une période de temps réglable prédéterminée.

3. Distributeur selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend également un circuit de pause (32) prévu pour empêcher d'alimenter le moteur (8) pendant une période de temps éventuellement réglable qui commence à l'instant où le fonctionnement du moteur a été arrêté.

4. Distributeur selon la revendication 2 ou 3, dans lequel ledit circuit (17) et la minuterie (18) sont montés sur un circuit imprimé de commande (16) dans la partir avant dudit épaulement latéral (7), accessible uniquement en ouvrant le capot (2), en même temps qu'un voyant indicateur (19) signalant l'état de fonctionnement du moteur (8).

5. Distributeur selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ledit couvercle (2) peut être verrouillé à la partie supérieure du boîtier (1) au moyen d'un loquet (5), et dans lequel sur la face arrière ou plaque arrière (31) du boîtier (1), est monté un transformateur (23) équipé d'un circuit imprimé du programme correspondant (22) pour l'alimentation du moteur (8) et du circuit de commande (16), ledit transformateur et ledit circuit de commande étant accessible de l'extérieur uniquement après avoir démonté un support (21) normalement fixé par des vis à ladite plaque arrière (31), et après que ledit distributeur a été dégagé de la paroi support.

6. Distributeur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit support de rouleau (10) comprend deux éléments latéraux en porte-à-faux (43a, 43b) intégrés au boîtier (1) et ayant un coussinet sensiblement en forme de demi-cercle (45a, 45b) prévu pour supporter les extrémités d'un rouleau de forme cylindrique (25) servant de noyau audit rouleau, le rouleau opposé (13) étant monté à ses extrémités opposées dans des petites plaques (14) à l'intérieur desquelles sont logés des ressorts (15) pour solliciter ledit rouleau contre ledit rouleau d'entraînement (12), la surface de contact entre lesdits deux rouleaux étant principalement située dans la région centrale desdits rouleaux.

7. Distributeur selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend, à côté dudit bouton poussoir (6), un dispositif à cellule photoélectrique ou analogue, comme autre moyen de mettre en marche ledit circuit (17).

Drawing