EP1181884B1 - Dispenser for cleaning wipes - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has upper and lower housing parts (1,4) and a detector that initiates a roller drive mechanism for cloths (T) with perforated separating lines (P) in a cassette (21). The lower housing part has at least one cassette holder and transport roller (11). The upper housing part has a drive mechanism with an electric motor (M) and gearbox. Portions are dispensed so the dividing line is in front of the rollers (11,30) but inside the dispenser. Independent claims are also included for the following: a method of operating at least one dispenser of cleaning cloths.

Description

The present invention relates to a dispenser according to claim 1 and to a method according to claim 13.

Already electric dispensers with cleaning tissue have also appeared on the market for anal hygiene. However, they have not been successful because replacing the paper rolls makes threading in the drive mechanism necessary and requires too much care from the operator in the low load capacity of the paper web. In the case of wet wipes, the mechanism additionally produces an uncontrollable contamination which can lead to unhygienic or even to harmful germ formation.

A non-contact paper dispenser for drying hands is known ( U.S. -A- 5,452,832 ) which is controlled by photocells. In a hinged housing a paper roll is arranged, whose outer end piece is guided in the lower housing part via transport rollers and a cutting device. When approaching a hand to the dispenser housing, the power supply of a drive motor is activated for a predeterminable time and issued a paper section. The protruding end of the dispenser is manually separated on a serrated knife blade.

This dispenser has the disadvantage of a current reel supply, or of the corresponding roll diameter dependent output length of the paper portion and is due Its specific transport and cutting device is not suitable for wet cleaning tissue.

A similar donor ( U.S. -A- 5,772,291 ) is powered by photovoltaic cells and is also designed only for the output of absorbent paper.

It is therefore an object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art paper dispensers, i. To create a dispenser that dispenses a constant amount of cleaning tissue and is also suitable for wet tissues. These are to be protected from the influence of germs which occur especially in the toilet area, even in the atmosphere. It must be guaranteed a perfect hygienic operation of the donor.

This object is solved by the features of claim 1.

The cleaning tissue there, known per se, usually paper or synthetic material which is impregnated with a skin-friendly, also known cleaning liquid remains hygienically stored in the dispenser until the detector reports a need. The activated by the detector drive mechanism then transports the cloth further in the unwinding until the built-in sensor a dividing line and / or perforation ie the unrolling of a portion is detected so that it after further transport, with the drive stopped, in front of the dispenser by manual pulling can be torn off and used without it being touched in any way.

The inventive solution allows a very hygienic design of the dispenser and ensures easy operation and economic maintenance.

From this process, there is the advantage that in the "standby" soaked with volatile substances handkerchiefs do not dry out even after several hours. When the dispenser is not in use for days, only a narrow strip dries out, so that the towelette is also perfectly usable at the next removal.

The dividing line or perforation serving as a spoiler edge is located in each case, viewed in the direction of development just before the fictitious contact lines of the two rolls. As a result, the fabric web is held securely non-positively; even with a non-axial removal this breaks only at the parting line or perforation whereby a safe portion-wise delivery is guaranteed.

The mentioned in the claim detector may be a non-contact proximity switch, infrared detector, a light barrier but also a simple micro-switch, which detects, for example, another process or be actuated by this.

Likewise, the control can be implemented with the inclusion of commercially available microprocessors, with appropriate control, monitoring and reporting functions; but in the simplest case, a notoriously known relay circuit already suffices for the control.

The sensor is placed in front of or behind the axes of the rollers. If an immediate control of the sensor is selected, this or its associated light guide is on the user side, after the rollers, but if a follow-up time is provided, the sensor is located in front of the rollers.

According to the method, according to claim 13, the coherent web emerging from the cassette is monitored on cleaning tissue as soon as the detector switches on the drive mechanism. If no paper or cloth web can be detected, the sensor shuts off the drive motor. However, if a cloth is present, the radiation path in the sensor is interrupted until the partially radiation-permeable separation line and / or perforation appears. Depending on the arrangement of the sensor or the associated light guide, the shutdown of the drive takes place immediately or only after a certain delay time. In any case, the dividing line and / or perforation must, viewed in the direction of unwinding, lie in front of the two rollers so that they clamp the part of the next section remaining in the device (= cloth) and ensure a defined demolition.

In dependent claims advantageous further embodiments of the subject invention are described.

According to claim 2, the sensor is formed electro-optical.

In itself, a single roller connected to the drive mechanism is sufficient. The specified in claim 3 embodiment is particularly recommended for smooth and or very wet cleaning tissue, since it is slip-free.

The embodiment according to claim 4 is very reliable and almost maintenance-free.

The contact pressure on the web of coherent cleaning tissue can be increased by the measures according to claim 5 in a simple manner.

Particularly favorable is the storage of 0-rings according to claim 6, since they protect the cloth and cause a centering orientation of the web.

By the orientation of the sensor according to claim 7, this can be positioned closer to the axes of the rollers, whereby the strip of material not stored in the cassette can be minimized.

Due to the design of the lower roller with a circumferential raised surface according to claim 8, the parting line and / or perforation can be partially opened, which facilitates their monitoring and simplifies the tearing of the section again.

As an alternative to claim 8, the variant according to claim 9 is advantageous if the cloth is not or only slightly moist. By a finger-like support surface, the sensor can be assigned even closer to the axes of the rollers: A fixed surface but increases the friction on the cloth, what u.a. can lead to a dripping of liquid.

The combination of the above-mentioned measures with a reflective surface serves for improved detection of the Dividing line and / or perforation by the sensor, claim 10.

If the reflective layer according to claim 11 laterally pulled out in strip form on the transport roller, it can be controlled with the same sensor, the speed of the drive.

The embodiments of the dispenser according to claims 1 to 11 are very energy-efficient, so that this is autonomously ausgestaltbar according to claim 12.

The monitoring of the transport roller with the measures of claim 14 provides a simple function control and can close at a speed drop to a low battery charge; a sudden increase in signal amplitude indicates an empty cassette or a ripped cloth band.

The method of claim 15 is particularly advantageous when more than one dispenser is to be used in a predetermined order. This may, for example, be a first dispenser equipped with toilet paper, which activates a second dispenser provided with wet tissue by simply monitoring the removal or rotational movement, by means of the detector mentioned in claim 1, and provides it in the manner described.

The methods shown allow technical solutions that can be combined with known per se means of remote monitoring and allow for minimal staffing a maximum of reliability.

Followed by drawings, a preferred embodiment of the subject invention is shown.

Fig. 1

einen an einer Wand montierten Spender für Feuchttüchlein in einer Perspektivdarstellung, vor der ersten Inbetriebnahme,

Fig. 2

den Spender Fig. 1 mit geöffnetem Gehäuseoberteil,

Fig. 3

den Spender Fig. 1 mit abgenommenem Gehäuseoberteil und aufgesetztem Antriebs-Support,

Fig. 4

das Gehäuseunterteil mit seiner Transportwalze,

Fig. 5

das Gehäuseunterteil Fig. 4 in einer Draufsicht,

Fig. 6

eine Schnittdarstellung durch einen funktionsbereiten Spender, vor dem Entnehmen und Abtrennen eines Feuchtüchleins,

Fig. 7

den Antriebs-Support aus Fig. 3 von innen,

Fig. 8

eine erste Variante einer Ausgestaltung des elektro-optischen Sensors zur Detektion einer Perforierung im Feuchttüchlein,

Fig. 9

eine zweite Variante eines elektro-optischen Sensors mit einer partiell wirkenden mechanischen Öffnung der Perforierung,

Fig. 10

eine zu Fig. 9 analoge Ausgestaltung mit einer ausgeprägten Reflektorfläche zur verbesserten Detektion und

Fig. 11

die Vorratskassette für Feuchttüchlein aus Fig. 2 in einer Einzeldarstellung, vor ihrem Einsatz im Spender.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a wall-mounted wet tissue dispenser in a perspective view, prior to initial start-up;

Fig. 2

the dispenser Fig. 1 with the upper housing part open,

Fig. 3

the dispenser Fig. 1 with removed upper housing part and attached drive support,

Fig. 4

the lower housing part with its transport roller,

Fig. 5

the lower housing part Fig. 4 in a plan view,

Fig. 6

a sectional view through a functioning donor, before removing and separating a Feuchtüchleinins,

Fig. 7

the drive support of Figure 3 from the inside,

Fig. 8

a first variant of an embodiment of the electro-optical sensor for detecting a perforation in the wet tissue,

Fig. 9

a second variant of an electro-optical sensor with a partially acting mechanical opening of the perforation,

Fig. 10

an analogous to Fig. 9 embodiment with a pronounced reflector surface for improved detection and

Fig. 11

the supply cassette for wet tissue from Fig. 2 in a single view, before their use in the dispenser.

A dispenser for wet wipes is designated 100 in FIG. The dispenser 100 is arranged on a wall W in the usual way - like a toilet paper dispenser.

The dispenser 100 has an upper housing part 1, with a central window 2, behind which a proximity detector for the demand-oriented output of wet tissue T is arranged. The presence of an output-ready wet tissue T can be recognized by an opaque viewing window 3; the output direction is marked with an arrow.

The upper housing part 1 projects beyond a lower housing part 4 by a closure 5 can be seen on the right side.

In the open dispenser 100 of FIG. 2, further details are apparent:

On side walls 6 of the upper housing part 1 are locking cam 7, which can engage in a locking latch 20 and lock the upper part 1 with the closure 5. In the lower housing part 4, a cassette 21, with a supply of wound or folded wet tissue is present, wherein the portion length by a per se known perforation is predetermined. The cassette 21 is made of a thin-walled hard plastic and has peripheral and lateral stiffeners 22 and 23, respectively; a circumferential, the cassette 21 laterally superior support surface 24 fits positively into the lower part 4. In the front part of the cassette 21 projects out a Codier-cam 10 which characterizes the contents of the cassette or indicating.

Rear side of the upper housing part 1 protrude buttons 8 and 9, which rest upon closing of the dispenser 100 on the coding cam 10 and signal its shape.

On the front side, a transport roller 11 can be seen in the lower housing part 4. This has left a large bearing pin 16 with a gear 17 and right, a small bearing pin 19, which pins are fixed in corresponding resiliently designed, split bearings 16 'and 18 respectively. From the main body 14 of the transport roller 11 are friction rings 12, which serve the transport of - not shown here - wet wipe. In addition, punctures 13 in the main body 14 can be seen, which serve to carry out sensors described later.

Further parts can be seen in the illustration in FIG. 3; this shows the dispenser Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 with the upper housing part 1 removed, but with an attached drive support 47. This lies with his, indicated by a bearing 48 drive roller, directly on the transport roller 11. In the upper part of the support 47, a circuit board E is inserted and fixed with brackets 46. The circuit board E carries on its front side the proximity detector, which behind the window 2, see. Fig. 1, is arranged; on the back are all arranged electronic components for the engine control and the monitoring of the wet wipe.

The drive support 47 also has two openings 8 'and 9' for a 1st and a 2nd button, which are designed in the form of micro switches, are arranged in the upper housing part. In the further breakthroughs 45 can be seen, which serve from joints for mechanical connection with the upper housing part 1. At a rear rear wall 43 hinges 44 are arranged, which project beyond these and serve as bearings for the upper housing part. On opposite side walls 42 are incisions 42 'present, so that when closing the dispenser, these resiliently engage in the upper housing part 1 and engage there. In the rear wall 43 are a total of three openings 52, which serve to attach the dispenser to a wall.

On the cartridge 21 protrudes laterally out a cylindrical roller guide 53 which rotatably supports an axial core and wound in the form of a coil of wet tissue. Support surfaces 24 of the cassette 21 are parallel to the rollers 11 and 30 by centering surfaces 41 in the lower housing part 4, see. Fig. 2, positioned.

In FIG. 4, all of the three openings 52 serving for fixing can be seen in the rear wall 43. The side walls 42 have in the rear, lower corners stiffeners 54, which are designed as indentations. Between the stiffeners 54 is a battery compartment with four batteries B inserted

In the plan view Fig. 5, the battery compartment of a power supply 50 with four mono cells E is completely visible. About a recess 49 in the lower housing part 4, a connecting shaft 25 is guided away, which carries the two locking latch 20 and is provided on its right side with a rotatable closure 5.

Fig. 6 shows the dispenser 100 in a sectional view, in cooperation of the functional parts.

It can be seen how the attached on the connecting shaft 25 locking bolt 20 engages in the locking cam 7 and the two parts, the lower housing part 4 and the upper housing part 1 with each other.- Not shown is a spring which is stretched between the two parts 4 and 5 and the rollers 30 and 11 against each other suppressed or this presses on the intermediate wet tissue T. Peripheral and behind the drive shaft 32 and the transport shaft 33, a light guide L is passed, which detects the individual sections of the wet wipe T limiting perforations and an overlying electric motor M - controls a DC motor - via the electronics E.

It can also be seen that the cassette 21 is divided into two parts and that the wet wipe is dispensed via two sealing discharge lips 26. Above this, the coding cam 10 projects out of the lateral surface of the cassette 21 and presses on a first button 8, which in turn is connected to a microswitch on the circuit board E. The button 8 on the one hand determines the presence of a cassette 21 and on the other hand, it can be used in conjunction with a 2. Button 9 also "read in" the quality and / or the capacity of the cassette.

The electric motor M is embedded in a recess 29 of the drive support 47, wherein the drive-side engine mount is indicated and designated 28. Before the engine mount 28 is a symbolized gear 27, which serves as a drive pinion for the two rollers 30 and 11.

It can be seen in Fig. 6 are each a section 1 'in the upper housing part 1 and a further cutout 4' in the lower housing part 4, which serve the convenient removal of the T Tuchleinins. Here are additional support surfaces 51 for the cassette 21 can be seen.

The drive support 47 is shown in its interior in Fig. 7.

The electric motor M with its drive-side bearing 28 and its gear 27 is clamped in a motor mount 31 and engages with the gear 27 in another spur gear 15 on the drive roller 30 can be clearly seen on this roller 30, the paired friction rings 34 and through two punctures 13 guided light guides L and L '. At the upper end of the light guide L is a transmitting diode 35, which sends a light beam S through the light guide L and the case of a non-existent handkerchief T or an existing perforation in the kerchief T as a light beam S 'via the light guide L' to a receiving diode 36th is directed.

All electronic components are in a conventional manner on the circuit board E, which is fixed by brackets 46 with clamping points in the drive support 47. Fits 45 'match those on the counterpart of the drive support 47, which are designated 45 in FIG.

The interaction of the drive roller 30 with the transport roller 11 and a wet tissue T guided therebetween are shown in FIG. 8. Here it can be seen that the light guide L is arcuately guided under the wet tissue T and that in the event of the emergence of per se notoriously known perforation in the kerchief T, in the light guide L 'can pass through a light beam which generates an electrical signal in the receiving diode 36.

Also visible are the paired friction rings 34 in the drive roller 30, between which similar friction rings 12 engage and transport in conjunction with each other the wet wipe and automatically run parallel. The power transmission between the gears 15 and 17 is also apparent. The engagement of the two spur gears 15 and 17 is spring-loaded in a conventional manner.

An alternative embodiment of the detection of a perforation in the tissue T is shown in FIG. 9. Here is a torically shaped surface 37 between two friction rings 12 and projects beyond this on its largest diameter. It is obvious that as a result of this measure, only a weakly formed perforation opens and forms the drawn slot P ', by means of which a beam reflected on the toric surface 37 reliably detects it .- For improved use of the existing radiant power of the light guide L is dimensioned larger, while the light guide L 'is a conically tapered fiber optic range.

An analogous solution can be seen in the example of FIG. 10. Instead of the previously described toric surface, a finger with a convex support surface 38 is provided here. The support surface is provided with a metallic reflective layer 39 and therefore requires an even smaller radiant power; the opened perforation P ', i. the slot can be shorter here.

The detail view Fig. 11 shows the cassette 21 in a lateral perspective view before it is inserted into a dispenser. On the front side, a grip part 40 'can be seen, which is separated by a manual turn at the breaking edge 40, whereby a strip of wet wipe is visible, which is placed on the rollers 30. See Fig. 6, which shows the situation after closing the upper housing part 1.- The type of insertion takes place in a similar manner as in the so-called instant cameras.

The dispenser 100 is largely constructed of notorious known materials, in particular plastics; Likewise, the electronic components are commercially available.

The control of the electric motor M takes place in such a way that a determined perforation allows the rollers 30 and 11 to continue rotating until the two perforations P reach the positions shown in FIG. 6 and that the cloth T is easily tear-off.

By further reflecting points on one of the rollers 11 or 30 or one of the gears 17 and 15 can speed information in the light guide L 'fade in, so that this by a simple frequency filter and / or a known crossover of the determination and signaling of Separate perforations, allow a Drehzahlmessung- and monitoring.

The cassettes 21 are already known in a similar manner for hand-rolling devices and have proven to be very hygienic and well storable.

While a proximity detector for initiating the dispenser is provided in the exemplary embodiment, in other cases, this may be dependent on the prior use of another device, such as a water rinse, a Wasserausflusses (faucet) or by the prior use of a conventional toilet paper roll.

The subject invention has all the prerequisites in order to be able to monitor and control it in conjunction with a remote data transmission also from a control center.

Claims (15)

1. A dispenser for cleansing tissues, in particular moistened toilet paper, the said dispenser consisting of a housing lower element (4) and a swing-up housing upper element (1), there being provided in the dispenser a detector which initiates an electrically driven drive mechanism with two rollers (11, 30) for the timely portion-wise delivery of cleansing tissues (T), the cleansing tissues (T) being unwindably stored in a replaceable holder (21) and having a parting line and/or perforation (P) defining the delivery portion, the housing lower element (4) having at least one support for the holder (21), there being positioned upstream of the support in the cleansing tissue unwinding direction a conveying roller (11) that is rotatably mounted in the housing lower element (4), there being provided in the housing upper element (1) the drive mechanism, consisting of an electric motor (M), a gear mechanism (27, 15) and a drive roller (30), and there being arranged upstream or downstream of the shafts of the two rollers a sensor (35, 36; L, L') which senses the parting line and/or perforation (P) and which disconnects the power supply to the electric motor (M) of the drive mechanism.
2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (35, 36; L, L') is of an electro-optical design.
3. A dispenser according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the drive roller (30) is synchronously coupled to the conveying roller (11) via a gear mechanism (15, 17).
4. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the transmitter component and the receiver component (35, 36) of the electro-optical sensor (35, 36; L, L') are arranged in the housing upper element (1) and, in their radiation direction and radiation detection direction respectively, are oriented onto the surface of the cleansing tissue (T), and wherein a radiation-reflecting layer (39) and/or a radiation guide (L) are arranged in the housing lower element (4).
5. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least the conveying roller (11) has a plurality of disc-shaped raised portions.
6. A dispenser according to claim 5, wherein friction rings (12) are non-positively embedded in the raised portions, the said rings projecting beyond the raised portions, resting on the tissue (T) and conveying it.
7. A dispenser according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the sensor (35, 36; L, L') is oriented onto an interspace between two adjacent raised portions.
8. A dispenser according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the conveying roller (11) is, at least between two raised portions, in the form of a toric face (37), the largest diameter of which projects beyond the disc-shaped friction rings (12).
9. A dispenser according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein there is arranged in the housing lower element a bowed supporting face (38) projecting beyond the conveying roller (11).
10. A dispenser according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the toric face (37) or the bowed supporting face (38) has a radiation-reflecting layer (39) onto which is oriented at least a receiver component (36; L') of the sensor.
11. A dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the conveying roller (11) has a lateral radiation-reflecting layer which is discontinuous in an axial direction and/or is of a striped design.
12. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the power supply (50) for the drive mechanism (M; 27, 15) is arranged in the housing lower element (4) and consists of a low-voltage source, preferably of dry batteries (B).
13. A method for operating at least one dispenser for cleansing tissues, in particular toilet paper and/or moistened paper tissues, the said dispenser consisting of a housing lower element and a swing-up housing upper element, there being provided in the dispenser a detector which controls an electrically driven drive mechanism for the timely portion-wise delivery of cleansing tissues, the cleansing tissues being unwindably stored in a replaceable holder and having a parting line and/or perforation defining the delivery portion, wherein the presence of a tissue projecting from the holder is checked by means of an electro-optical sensor in a first method step and, if the tissue is present, the sensor activates the drive mechanism in a second step until the sensor detects the first parting line and/or perforation and, in a next step, disconnects the power supply to the drive mechanism.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein there is provided for the tissue a conveying roller which, at least in part, has a peripherally discontinuous radiation-reflecting layer, and wherein the sensor monitors the rotation of the roller and its angular velocity, and wherein the power supply is disconnected if a high signal amplitude occurs.
15. A method according to claim 13, wherein mutually associated dispensers are activated by the detector such that a specified sequential supply of the tissues is effected.

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