FR2478601A1 - IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING ROLL PRODUCTS, IN PARTICULAR PAPER HAND TOWELS - Google Patents

Abstract

THE TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION IS THE DISTRIBUTION OF SHEET PRODUCTS AVAILABLE IN THE FORM OF CONTINUOUS TABLECLOTHS PRESENTED IN ROLLS CARRIED OUT ON CYLINDRICAL SUPPORTS. IT CONCERNS APPLIANCES OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A BOX WHICH HAS AT LEAST TWO SUPERIMPOSED HOUSINGS AS WELL AS A LOWER DISTRIBUTION PASSAGE, A RELEASABLE RETAINING BODY INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE TWO HOUSINGS AND DRIVEN BY A CONTROL UNIT. THE TECHNICAL PROBLEM CONSISTS OF PROVIDING SUCH A DEVICE WHOSE CONTROL OF THE RETAINING BODY IS NOT ACCESSIBLE FROM THE EXTERIOR. THE ESSENCE OF THE SOLUTION OF THIS PROBLEM RESIDES, BY MEANS OF THE INVENTION, IN THE FACT THAT THE CONTROL UNIT 11 IS PROVIDED INSIDE THE BOX 1 AT A DISTANCE FROM AN EDGE 2B OF THE PASSAGE WHICH IS LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF A CYLINDRICAL SUPPORT AND INCLUDES ELASTIC RETURNING MEANS, WHILE THE RETAINING ELEMENT 12 IS LOCATED AT A DISTANCE FROM A SUPPORTING ELEMENT 14 LESS THAN A DIAMETER OF THE PRODUCT ROLLER. THE MAIN USE OF THE INVENTION IS IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF PAPER TOWELS.

Description

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  Improvements to products dispensing devices in rolls,

including paper towels.

  The present invention relates to apparatus for dispensing sheet products available in the form of continuous plies presented in rolls made on cylindrical supports such as paper towels in rolls, of the type comprising a housing which - presents, on the one hand, at least two housings which are vertically arranged one above the other and are dimensioned so that they can each receive a roll, the lower housing having a fixed support element for a roller, and on the other hand at the lower part of said lower housing means delimiting an elongate dispensing passage whose section corresponds approximately to that of the sheet product, while there is provided between the two housing a retaining member which is mounted movably between a retaining position and an erasing position and is connected to a control member which is itself movable between two positions

  associated respectively with those of the retaining member.

  We already know, for example, by the United States Patent

  United States of America No. 2,871,078 (more particularly, rolls of toilet paper), devices of this type in which the retaining member is constituted by a semicylindrical cradle support rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis and secured to a handle 23 maneuver located outside the casing and which constitutes the control member. However, such devices have the serious disadvantage of having a control member accessible from the outside and which can be manipulated, inadvertently or maliciously, while the lower roller is not yet fully used, so that the roller higher comes to rely on it, thus creating a risk of jamming of the roll in use, or at least difficulty handling the latter. This is why the present invention aims to provide an apparatus of the aforementioned type in which the release of the roller

  top or reserve roll is automatically performed, and this

  once the roller is fully used.

  To this end, the invention relates to an apparatus of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the control member is disposed inside the housing and above said elongate passage and is, in the

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  Position which corresponds to said holding position, situated on the one hand at a distance from the fixed support element of the lower housing, which is less than a product roll diameter, and, on the other hand, at a distance from one of the two elongated portions.dimiting said bearing portion passage, which is smaller than the diameter of a cylindrical support, while in the position corresponding to said erasing position, it may be located at a distance from said elongated portion which is equal to this diameter of the cylindrical support, elastic return means being provided for the return of this control member in the retaining position, and in that the upper housing also has an element in the retaining position, located at a distance from this support element which is less than a roll diameter of product and, in the erasing position, at u do not distance from this

  which is greater than this diameter, the cylindrical supports of the rollers

  each other being provided with a flexible gripping element fixed

  on the cylindrical wall of this support.

  With this arrangement, when the roller in use is fully used, its cylindrical support rests on said portion

  length of the passage and on the control member, the flexible element of preheating

  sion attached thereto while then from it into and beyond the dispensing passage, so that the user can grip and pull on this element and on the cylindrical support which then pushes the control member towards its erasing position, so as to allow the extraction of this support, while this control member also causes the erasing member also in the erasing position which thus releases the reserve roller which was leaning against it and on the fixed element. support of the upper housing and which can, therefore, come to be placed in position

  service in the lower housing.

  In a particularly advantageous embodiment

  embodiment of the invention, the control member and the retaining member may be arranged at the ends of the arms of two levers pivotally mounted on the boftier about a horizontal axis and consist of two parts

  rod-shaped horizontal extensions oriented parallel to the direction

  tion of the dispensing passage, the levers being disposed near the faces of the housing perpendicular to this direction. This arrangement 2 4t7860 '-3- ensures a particularly balanced and precise operation of the set of

the device.

  Advantageously, it can be provided that, in the case where the means delimiting an elongate passage are constituted by two nipping members movable up and down, one of these elements constitutes the elongate bearing portion, while the Another elongate part is a movable part which is mounted held in a pinching position under the effect of its own weight. In this way, when the user applies a traction force on the gripping element of an empty cylindrical support, and the latter has pushed back the control member, this support can then also push laterally said movable part in order to allow its extraction

complete out of the device.

  The devices according to the invention find an advantageous application in public places and local communities

  o the consumption of rollers is important and o the risks of deterioration

  voluntary or not, are higher.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which will be given by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a device of FIG. roll dispenser according to the invention; FIG. 2 shows a side and partial view of this apparatus, more particularly illustrating its external operating elements; FIGS. 3 to 5 are sectional views of this apparatus;

  apparatus illustrating three different and successive phases of its func-

tioning.

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  The apparatus shown comprises (1) a casing 1, of approximately parallelepipedal shape, which has two lateral vertical faces or support flanges 1a and 1b, joined at the front by a crossbar 1c, and at the rear by a vertical bottom face ld, the assembly being completed by a removable housing the, shown in phantom

  end and away from the rest of the housing, this housing having a top face

  and a front face in which is optionally provided a transparent window if to observe the superior part of the interior of the casing.

  Inside this one and at its lower end

  two rubber cylinders 2a and 2b are arranged on shafts 3a and 3b (FIG 3) which are oriented in a horizontal direction

  X-X (FIG 1) perpendicular to the flanges 1a and 1b and are mounted

  these two flanges, the two cylinders 2a and 2b extending themselves -15 to near these flanges. The axes of the two shafts 3a and 3b are arranged in the same horizontal plane and their spacing is such that the two cylinders come into substantially contact with each other by creating between them a pinch gap 4 (FIG 3) extremely weak, if not non-existent due to the elasticity of the rubber of which the

  cylinders. This interval or pinch line has a horizontal shape

  tale elongated and constitutes the dispensing passage of the apparatus, this

  line or gap 4 being disposed in a vertical plane P-P.

  The cylinder 2h is positioned on a fixed part of the flanges 1a and 1b, whereas the front cylinder 2a is mounted on the horizontal limbs of two support elements in the form of a flange. L Sa and 5b (FIG 1) whose vertical wings are pivotally mounted at their ends 6 (FIG 2) on the flanges 1a and 1b respectively about a horizontal axis of rotation Y which is arranged in front and clearly beyond above the axis of the

cylinder 2a.

  Above the upper level of the two cylinders and slightly in front of the nip 4, but behind the axis of the cylinder 2a, are arranged two pins 7a and 7b (FIGS. flanges 1a and 1b and on which are pivotally mounted two levers 8a and 8b (Fig. 3). Each of these levers has a shorter lower arm 9 and a longer upper arm 10, the ends of the two short arms 9 being joined by a control rod 11 (FIG.

  two ends of the long arms 10 by a retaining rod 12.

  In the normal operating position of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 3, the long arms 10 of the two levers are slightly inclined upwardly and rearwardly, so that the retaining rod 12, which is oriented according to the direction XX as the rod 11 is located slightly behind the vertical plane PP (Figure 3). The length of the arms 10 is, moreover, sufficient for the rod 12 to be

  located in an upper part of the case which constitutes a first box-

  13a, while the lower part of the case, located below the

  level of this rod 12, constitutes a second housing 13b.

  In the upper housing 13a, there is also provided, on the side of the front face of the casing a bearing element 14 oriented

  also parallel to the X-X direction, this element being

  above the front portion of the cylinder 2a. In this way, a roll of paper towel

  reserve hands i5a can be kept in the upper housing 13a by bearing, on the one hand, on this support element 14 and, on the other hand, on the retaining rod 12, the axis of the mandrel or cylindrical support , for example

  cardboard, 16a on which is wound this roll being located lightly

  Z ment ment behind the vertical plane P-P, but in front of the rod 12.

  Moreover, in the lower housing 13b is

  placed a service roll 15b made on a mandrel or cylindrical support

  that 1b and dorit the axis is located approximately vertically to that Ca roll 15a, this roll 15b resting, on the one hand, on the control rod Il and; on the other hand, on the upper part of the rear cylinder 2b, taking

  possibly another support, by its rear face on a transverse deflector

  versal 17 inclined forwards and downwards and fixed on the rear wall Id,

  so as to come close to the upper part of the rear cylinder 2b.

  In this same normal operating position, the rod 11 is arranged very slightly above the upper part of the front cylinder 2a, and slightly in front of the journals 7a and 7b. The short arms 9 of the two levers 8a and 8b have a portion 18 bent forwardly. the ends of these bent portions being joined by a transverse rod 19. At the ends of the long arms 10 levers are fixed two return springs 20 disposed approximately horizontally and forwardly and

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  fixed themselves on the case. Stems II and 19 are joined by a

deflector plate 21.

  The L-shaped supports 5a and 5b of the front cylinder 2a are joined at their lower and rear edges by a saw-shaped bar 22 whose cutting edge is located in the normal service position.

  in the vertical plane P-P below the nip 4.

  The end of the shaft 3b of the rear cylinder which is journalled in the flange lb is fixed in a freewheel 23 (FIG 2) whose outer ring 23a carries a toothing which constitutes the wheel of

  output of a reduction gear train 24 having an internal gear

  double medial 24a and an input wheel 24b. It is mounted vertically

  above the other gears and is integral with a long operating lever 25 provided with a handle 25a and which is oriented towards the front and the bottom of the apparatus. The toothing of the wheel 24b is interrupted on a part of its periphery by a notch 26 which receives a pin 27 fixed on the flange 1b, so that the angular stroke of this wheel 24b, and consequently of the lever 25, is limited by the coming of one or the other

  from the ends of the groove 26 to the contact of the pin 27. This angular stroke -

  is, for example, of the order of 450, but-the coefficient of multiplication

  of the gear train 24 is such that at this stroke of 450: correspond--

  several domplets of the rear cylinder 2b.

  Finally, there is provided on the same flange lb and at its lower part, below the gear train 24, a slot 28 inside which can be moved an adjustable stop 29 which is placed in the path of the lever 25 during its angular travel allowed by the groove 26, so that the different locations of this stop 29 allow different races for the lever 25, these races being less than those authorized by the abutment of the pawn

  27 which corresponds to the longest stroke of the lever.

  The operation of the apparatus thus described is as follows. The apparatus is normally in the position of FIG. 3, in which a service roll 15b, placed in the lower housing 13b, rests on the rod 11 and on the rear cylinder 2b, while a spare roll i5a is placed in the upper housing 13a in

support on the retaining pin 12.

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  7 - When the roll 15b has just been put in place, its edge or free margin is in any position of its periphery and the user or the service attendant of the apparatus actuates the lever 25, which , through the gear train 24, causes a continuous rotation of the rear cylinder 2b. The roller resting on the latter is rotated, and this until its free margin comes into contact with the cylinder 2b which then directs it to the interval or pinch line 4, within which it is located then enclosed. The front cylinder 2a being applied, under the effect of its weight against the cylinder 2b, is rotated in the opposite direction, and this double movement of the two clamp rollers

  and continuously driving the web 30 of the roll 15b.

  The apparatus is thus in the "ready-to-use" position and when the first user again actuates the operating lever 25 over an angular stroke, for example a maximum of 45, the cylinders 2a and 2b undergo three complete revolutions, thus causing the ply 30 continuously over a length of, for example, less than 40 cms, thus constituting a first section of sheet which hangs below the apparatus and that

  the user can then tear by applying it against the saw 22.

  If, of course, instead of being constituted by a continuous web, the roll 15b-consisted of a pre-cut sheet according to

  sections of 40 cms, it would be a portion of the same length that would be

  tribeée by the two cylinders 2a and 2b and the user, without having to use the saw 22, could detach tun section by simrple tear

  following the leader line provided for this purpose.

  As and when use of the roll 15b, the diameter thereof gradually decreases until it remains on the mandrel 16b a last section 30a which, as shown in Figure 4, is engaged between the two cylinders 2a and 2b. In this position,

  the mandrel 16b rests on the rod 11 and the rear cylinder 2b.

  A new thrust on the control lever 25 causes, thanks to the pinching of the cylinders 2a and 2b, a traction on the last section 30a glued to the mandrel, which causes it to the

  bottom (Fig. 5); this downward movement causes the swing towards the outside.

  of the mobile equipment carrying the cylinder 2a. Thus, the descent of the

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  - 8 chuck is combined with the almost instantaneous drop of the reserve roller 15a which is released by the erasing of the rod 12, this deletion being due to the tilting of the levers 8a 8b driven by the rod which has itself been pushed back forward by the mandrel in its descent movement. It thus follows from this combined movement of descent of the mandrel and fall of the reserve roll that the roll comes both to hit the mandrel (which helps in its movement of <downhill) and immobilize it in rotation (which prevents it from turning on itself without being able to be driven by the cylinders), this double action thus perfecting the expulsion of this mandrel in the two cylinders

2a and 2b.

  It will be noted that this apparatus, besides the various

  advantages mentioned in the preamble of this description, offers a

  additional security. If, indeed, a malicious user lifted the cylinder 2a in the case where the casing would not completely envelop the latter, it would not be possible for the spare roller i5a to be released by the rod 12 as long as the service roll 15b has not been fully used. Indeed, the levers 8a and 8b can not rock (under the effect of a movement of the rod 11) as the roller 15b is not fully exhausted. Even under these conditions, the malicious user can not extract all of the remaining portion of the roll, because any traction applied to the free margin of this roll does not cause

  than a rotation of the latter.

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Claims (2)

CLAIMS) - Apparatus for dispensing sheet products available in the form of continuous webs presented in rolls made on cylindrical supports, of the type comprising a casing which has at least two housings which are arranged vertically one above the other and, in the lower part of the lower housing, means defining an elongate dispensing passage whose section corresponds approximately to that of the sheet product, while there is provided between the two housing an organ retainer which is movably mounted between a retaining position and an erasing position and is connected to a control member which is itself movable between two corresponding positions, characterized in that the control member (11) is arranged inside the casing (1) and above said extended passage (4) and is, in the retaining position, at a distance from one (2b) of the two elongated portions (2a, 2b) d delimiting said passage which is smaller than the diameter of a cylindrical support (16b), while in the erasing position it may be located at a distance from said elongated portion (2b) which is at least equal to that diameter, elastic means (20) being provided for the return of this control member (11) in the retaining position, the upper housing (13b) also having also a fixed element (14) support for roll, the element in the retaining position located at a distance from said bearing element (14) which is smaller than a product roll diameter (15a) and in the erasing position at a distance which is greater therefrom, the cylindrical supports (15a, 15b) of the rollers being, in addition, each provided with a flexible gripping element (30a) fixed on the cylindrical wall of this support.   2) - Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control member (11) and the retaining member (12) are respectively arranged at the ends of the two arms (9, 10) of a lever (8a, 8b) pivotably mounted on the housing (1) about an axis horizontal (7a).   - Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the lever arm (9) carrying the control member   (11) is shorter than that (10) carrying the retaining member (12). - 10 - 2t7860i   ) - Apparatus according to any one of   2 and 3, characterized in that two pivot levers are provided   tants (8a, 8b) united by two horizontal rod-shaped elongated pieces (11, 12) oriented parallel to the direction (XX) of the dispensing passage (4) and constituting the control member and the retaining member , while the levers (8a, 8b) are arranged near the   faces (la, lb) of the casing perpendicular to this direction.   ) - Apparatus according to any one of   Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that on the end of the arm   lever (10) carrying the retaining member (12) is fixed   a spring (20) constituting the elastic return means.   ) - Apparatus according to any one of   Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the control member (11) is offset laterally with respect to the mean vertical plane (P-P-) of the passage of   distribution (4), on the opposite side to the elongate bearing portion (2b).   ) .- Apparatus according to any one of the   Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the control member (11) is distinct from the two elongated portions (2a, 2b) which define the dispensing passage (4) and one (2a) of these two elongate portions is mounted freely and in a direction transversely oriented   relative to the direction of passage between these two parts.   ) - Apparatus according to any one of   1 to 7, characterized in that, in the case where the means   an elongated passage are constituted by two nip elements (2a, 2b) movable up and down, one of these elements (2b) constitutes the elongated support part.   9) - Apparatus according to claim 8 when   it depends on claim 7, characterized in that the gripping element (2b) which constitutes the movable elongated portion is mounted maintained   in the pinch position under the effect of its own weight.   ') - Apparatus according to any one of   Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the flexible gripping element (30a) of the cylindrical roller support (16b) is constituted by the last   section of the roll which is glued on the cylindrical surface of this support.