Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DescriPtion
Dispenser for Coiled Material Havinq
,Improved O~erator Actuator and Drive Mechanism
Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to
a dispenser for coiled material having an improved
operator actuator and drive mechanism. In accordance
with one feature of the invention, the dispenser has
an actuator or button conveniently located on the
front of the dispenser. The actuator or button, when
pressed or pushed by the operator, activates a
horizontally reciprocative drive mechanism so as to
drive a drive roller and dispense a predetermined
length of towel from the dispenser. Other features
of the invention include provision of a ratchet/slip
clutch interconnecting a drive gear and a drive
roller of the dispenser, and coaction of the drive
gear with an idler gear during operation of the
dispenser.
Background Art
Roll towel dispensers typically feed paper
towel from a roll in the dispenser through a
discharge opening by operation of a pair of
cooperating feed rollers. The actuator or means
employed by the operator for dispensing towel from
the dispenser varies from one arrangement to the
next.
One form of dispenser is operated by means
of a lever or handle extending outwardly from the
front of the cabinet. Downward movement of the lever
or handle by the operator results in rotation of the
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feed rollers and a predetermined length of towel is
dispensed through the discharge opening. A second
type of dispenser utilizes a small crank located on
the side of the cabinet, and rotation of the crank by
the operator results in the dispensing of a
continuous length of paper towel from the dispenser.
Dispenser arrangements of the prior art
present significant disadvantages. A primary
disadvantage is inconvenience to, or the need for
excessive effort by, the user. For example,
arrangements employing a lever or handle require the
user to move the lever or handle, with more than a
minimal effort, through a significant distance in
order to dispense towel.
A further disadvantage of arrangements of
the prior art resides in the fact that such
arrangements are prone to slippaae of the coiled
material as it is dispensed, and this can result in
jamming of the coiled material during the dispensing
operation. This problem results from the fact that,
in such prior art arrangements, pressure is not
maintained on both sides of the coiled material as it
is dispensed.
Therefore, it is considered desirable to
develop a dispenser for coiled material having an
improved operator actuator and drive mechanism.
Specifically, it would be advantageous to develop a
roll towel dispenser which requires only a minimal
effort on the part of the user. It would also be
considered advantageous to develop a roll towel
dispenser in which pressure is maintained on both
sides of the roll towel as it is dispensed, thereby
preventing slippage of the roll towel and consequent
jamming of the dispenser.
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The following patents are considered to be
typical of the prior art relative to the invention
disclosed herein: 3,214,227; 3,269,590; 3,269,591;
3,313,583; 3,276,706; 3,436,001; 3,456,854;
3,511,419; 3,843,218; 3,917,191; 3,971,607;
4,106,684; 4,135,678; 4,137,805; 4,165,138;
4,206,858; 4,213,363; 4,314,679; 4,358,169;
4,378,912; 4,383,657; 4,403,748; 4,406,421;
4,579,268; 4,598,664; 4,611,768; 4,621,755;
4,635,837; 4,666,099; 4,690,345; 4,773,608;
4,786,005; 4,846,412; and 4,934,575.
Disclosure of Invention
The present invention generally relates to
a dispenser for coiled material having an improved
operator actuator and drive mechanism. In accordance
with one feature of the invention, a roll towel
dispenser has a push-button or similar push-type
actuator conveniently disposed on the front of the
dispenser. In short, when the operator pushes or
presses the actuator, a horizontally reciprocative
gear rack moves through a predetermined distance so
as to operate on a pinion drive mechanism, causing
cooperating feed rollers to dispense a predetermined
length of towel through the discharge opening of the
dispenser.
In accordance with the invention, the push-
button or push-type actuator is part of an overall
pendulum-type device which rotates to the rear of the
dispenser when pushed by the user, and which, under
spring action, returns to its original position once
the user removes pressure from the push-button. The
horizontally reciprocative gear rack is formed on an
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inner portion of the pendulum-type device so as to
operate on an adjacent pinion drive mechanism.
As a result of the unique and novel design
of the present invention, as will be described in
more detail below, a minimal effort on the part of
the user is required in order to dispense a
predetermined length of towel through the discharge
opening of the dispenser.
In accordance with another feature of the
invention, a ratchet/slip clutch interconnects a
drive gear and a drive roller of a dispenser so as to
provide for unidirectional movement of the drive
roller, that is, movement of the drive roller in one
direction when the user operates an actuator, and no
movement of the drive roller when the actuator is
released by the operator and/or returns to its
original position.
In accordance with a further feature of the
invention, coiled material or roll towel is conveyed
between an idler roller and a drive roller toward the
discharge opening, and the idler roller is geared to
the drive roller so as to be driven by the drive
roller during the dispensing operation. ~s a result,
pressure is maintained on both sides of the coiled
material during the dispensing operation, and this
prevents slippage and consequent jamming of the
dispenser. Other advantages of the invention will
become evident from the detailed description below,
the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings.
It should be noted that the latter two
features -- provision of a ratchet/slip clutch and
gearing of the idler roller and the drive roller --
can be employed with or without a push-type actuator.
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For example, those two features can be employed in a
crank-type system.
Therefore, it is a primary object of the
present invention to provide a dispenser for coiled
material having an improved operator actuator and
drive mechanism.
It is an additional object of the present
invention to provide a dispenser for coiled material
employing a push-button or push-type actuator for
dispensing a predetermined length of towel through a
discharge opening of the dispenser.
It is an additional object of the present
invention to provide a dispenser for coiled material
having an improved operator actuator in the form of a
pendulum-type device.
It is an additional object of the present
invention to provide a dispenser for coiled material
having an improved operator actuator incorporating a
rack and pinion drive mechanism.
It is an additional object of the present
invention to provide a dispenser having a
ratchet/slip clutch interconnecting a drive gear and
drive roller of the dispenser so as to provide for
unidirectional movement of the drive roller during
operation of the dispenser.
It is an additional object of the present
invention to provide a dispenser for coiled material
in which the coiled material is conveyed to the
discharge opening by means of cooperating drive and
idler rollers, the drive and idler rollers being
geared to each other so that the drive roller drives
the idler roller, thereby maintaining pressure on
both sides of the coiled material so as to prevent
slippage and consequent jamming.
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The above and other objects of the
invention, and the nature of the invention, will be
clearly understood by reference to the following
detailed description, the appended claims, and the
accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of Drawings Figures
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the
dispenser of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a side view of the dispenser of
the present invention.
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the various
component parts of the dispenser of the present
invention .
Figure 4 is a detailed view of the
ratchet/slip clutch interconnecting the drive gear
and the drive roller.
Figure 5 is a side view of the actuator of
the dispenser of the present invention, showing the
spring-type mechanism by means of which the actuator
is returned to its normal position when pressure is
released by the user.
Best Mode for Carryina Out the Invention
The invention will now be described in more
detail with reference to Figure 1, which is a
perspective view of the dispenser of the present
invention.
As seen in Figure 1, the dispenser 10
comprises the following basic external components: a
cover 12, a door 14, a tray 16, a push-button or
push-type actuator 18, and a discharge opening 20
through which paper 20a is dispensed.
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Figure 2 is a side view of the dispenser of
the present invention. Elements or components common
to Figures 1 and 2 are identified by identical
reference numerals.
As seen in Figure 2, the dispenser 10
further comprises a rear panel 22, paper holder 24,
idler roller 26, deflector 30, combination gear 32
and 34, drive gear 36, paper cutter 40, and gear rack
62. Gears 32, 34 and 36 form a pinion drive
mechanism on which gear rack 62 operates.
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the
components or elements of the dispenser of the
present invention. Again, components or elements
common to Figures 1 and 2, on the one hand, and
Figure 3, on the other hand, are identified by
identical reference numerals.
As seen in Figure 3, the dispenser 10
further comprises the following elements: drive
roller 28 adjacent to idler roller 26, divider 38,
paper cutter 40, ratchet/slip clutch 42, and transfer
mechanism 50. The transfer mechanism 50 includes the
following elements: legs 52a-52d, rollers 54a-54d,
brace 56, transverse central arms 58a-58b, and
torsion spring 60.
It should be noted that the exploded view
of Figure 3 shows the various components of the
dispenser lO in a disassembled disposition for the
purpose of providing a full view of each of the
components elements thereof. Accordingly, Figure 3
should not be construed as showing the final position
of each of the components and the final relative
position between adjacent components once the
dispenser is in its assembled state. ~his is
particularly true with respect to the combination
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gear 32 and 34, drive gear 36, ratchet/slip clutch 42
(which is connected to drive gear 36 in the assembled
state, as indicated by the dotted line in Figure 3),
idler roller 26, and drive roller 28 (connected to
ratchet/slip clutch 42 in the assembled state). A
precise view of the final disposition of these latter
elements is shown in Figure 2.
As seen in Figures 1-3, the dispenser 10
has a cover 12, inside of which a coiled material
20a, such as a non-perforated roll towel (also
referred to as a "continuous roll" towel or a "hard
wound roll" towel), is positioned on paper holder 24.
More specifically, one side of the roll towel is held
by paper holder 24, and there is a further paper
holder (not shown) by means of which the other end of
the roll towel is mounted on divider 38.
A door 14, preferably a transparent door,
is mounted on cover 12 via hinge pins 14a and 14b.
Thus, the door 14 can be rotated on hinge pins 14a
and 14b to an upward or closed position, being
secured by a latch mechanism 14c which is seated in a
companion latch mechanism 12a on the cover 12. When
the latch mechanism 14c is disengaged from the latch
mechanism 12a, the door 14 may be rotated downwardly
into the open position, thereby providing access to
the roll towel within the cover 12 for the purpose of
adjustment or replacement thereof.
The transfer mechanism 50 is a conventional
arrangement provided in the dispenser 10 for the
purpose of transferring feed from a partially
consumed roll of coiled material to a fresh or
reserve roll of coiled material. The transfer
mechanism 50 is quite similar in structure and
operation to the improved transfer mechanism
2060799
disclosed in Cornell - 4,403,748, which has been
reassigned to the assignee of the present invention,
and the disclosure of Cornell - 4,403,748 is
accordingly incorporated herein by reference thereto.
In short, a partially used roll is disposed in the
lower portion of the dispenser 10 and, as the
partially used roll is consumed, the transfer
mechanism 50 functions to insert the free end of a
fresh roll stored in an upper portion of the
dispenser 10 into a nip between idler roller 26 and
drive roller 28 so that the sheet from the fresh roll
is fed from the dispenser 10.
Further referring to the transfer mechanism
50 of Figure 3, it should be noted that legs 52a-52d
are inserted into molded-in eyelets (not shown) in
the lower surface or floor of the tray 16 of the
dispenser 10 during the assembly process, thereby
fixing the transfer mechanism 50 in place within the
dispenser 10.
As described in more detail below, drive
roller 28 with its associated ratchet/slip clutch 42
provides for unidirectional paper feed, override
pressure release, and direct gear contact with idler
roller 26. As also described below, during
operation, idler roller 26 provides increased
pressure against the middle of drive roller 28,
thereby providing for self-centering of the sheet
material as it moves within the dispenser 10.
Tray 16 incorporates a molded-in paper
deflector 30 (seen in Figure 2), the deflector 30
serving as a guide for the sheet material as it moves
toward and through the discharge opening 20.
A paper cutter 40 is mounted in the lower
portion of the tray 16, and provides the user with a
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means for severing a dispensed portion of sheet
material from the major portion of ~heet material
remaining on the roll in the dispenser 10.
As also seen in Figure 3, in accordance
with the present invention, tne push-button or push-
type actuator 18 is provided in the form of a
pendulum-type device. More specifically, actuator 18
has an upper portion 18a in which a hole is formed to
permit the actuator 18 to be hingedly mounted on a
hinge pin 38a of divider 38. ~hen so mounted during
assembly of the dispenser 10, a lower portion or
button portion 18b of actuator 18 is received within
an open portion 16a of the tray 16, so that the user
has access to the lower portion 18b of actuator 18
and can press on a front face of the portion 18b in
order to operate the actuator 18 in the manner
described in more detail below.
It should be noted that, with reference to
Figures 2 and 3, when actuator 18 is mounted on hinge
pin 38a, the lower portion 18b of actuator 18 is so
disposed relative to divider 38 that combination gear
32 and 34, drive gear 36 and gear rack 62 assume
relative positions as shown in Figure 2. Thus, the
teeth of the smaller gear 32 (of combination gear 32
and 34) mesh with the downwardl~ facing protrusions
or serrations on gear rack 62, while the teeth of
larger gear 34 (of combination gear 32 and 34) mesh
with the teeth of drive gear 36.
Further referring to Figures 1 thru 3, in
operation, when a user wishes to dispense paper from
the dispenser 10, he presses on the front face of
lower portion 18b of actuator 18. As a result,
actuator 18 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction
around hinge pin 38a, and the lower portion 18b moves
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toward the rear panel 22 of dispenser 10.
Consequently, the gear rack 62 located within the
actuator 18 and having downwardly facing grooves or
serrations (shown in Figure 2) moves a predetermined
distance to the rear of dispenser 10. In moving
toward the rear of dispenser 10, gear rack 62 rotates
combination gear 32 and 34 in the clockwise
direction, and this causes drive gear 36 to rotate in
the counter-clockwise direction.
Drive gear 36 is joined with ratchet/slip
clutch 42 and, as a result of movement of the drive
gear 36, the ratchet/slip clutch 42 rotates in the
counter-clockwise direction (as seen in Figure 3)
within the interior of an end portion of drive roller
28, thereby rotating drive roller 28 in the counter-
clockwise direction.
As drive roller 28 rotates in a counter-
clockwise direction, co-action between end gear 28a
of drive roller 28 and end gear 26a of idler roller
26 results in rotation of idler roller 26 in the
clockwise direction. As a result, paper or sheet
material located in the nip between idler roller 26
and drive roller 28 is moved downward between idler
roller 26 and drive roller 28 so as to encounter the
deflector 30, and the paper or sheet material is
guided by deflector 30 to the discharge opening 20.
Then, the user grips the paper or sheet material 20a
(Figure 1) and subjects it to a tearing motion so as
to cause the paper to bear against the cutter 40
(Figures 2 and 3), thereby severing the dispensed
portion of the paper or sheet material 20a from the
remaining portion in the dispenser 10.
Figure 4 is a more detailed view of the
ratchet/slip clutch 42 of Figure 3. As seen therein,
206~79~
ratchet/slip clutch 42 interconnects drive roller 28
and drive gear 36. Drive roller 28 comprises a drive
gear 28a (previously discussed) and an end portion
28c having a grooved interior 28b. Ratchet/slip
clutch 42 comprises fins 42a, a protruding stem
portion 42b, a sleeve 42c having protruding portions
42d forming a grooved interior of the sleeve 42c, an
end piece 42e, and a grooved stem po.tion 42f which
is designed to fit within the grooved interior 28b of
end portion 28c of drive roller 28.
Fins 42a of ratchet/slip clutch 42 are
oriented in such a direction that, when fins 42a are
disposed within the interior of sleeve 42c, fins 42a
are capable of rotating freely in a clockwise
direction within the sleeve 42c, but rotation of the
fins 42a in a counter-clockwise causes fins 42a to
bear against the protruding portions 42d within the
interior of sleeve 42c, thus rotating sleeve 42c and
end portion 42f of ratchet/slip clutch 42 in the
counter-clockwise direction.
It should also be noted that the protruding
stem portion 42b of ratchet/slip clutch 42 is,
preferably, octagonal in shape, and the stem portion
42b is seatable in a corresponding octagonal recess
36a in drive gear 36. Of course, conversely, drive
gear 36 could just as easily be provided with a stem
which would fit into a recess in the center of fins
42a of ratchet/slip clutch 42 so as to interconnect
drive gear 36 and ratchet/slip clutch 42.
As described above, when a user wishes to
dispense paper from the dispenser 10, he presses on
the front face of lower portion 18b of actuator 18
(see Figures 1 thru 3). As a result, actuator 18
rotates in a counter-clockwise direction about hinge
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pin 38a, the lower portion 18b moves toward the rear
panel 22 of dispenser 10, and the gear rack 62
located within the actuator 18 moves a predetermined
distance to the rear of dispenser 10. In the
S process, gear rack 62 rotates combination gear 32 and
34 in the clockwise direction, causing drive gear 36
to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction.
Referring to Figure 4, counter-clockwise
rotation of drive gear 36 results in a corresponding
counter-clockwise rotation of protruding stem portion
42b of ratchet/slip clutch 42. This results in
counter-clockwise rotation of fins 42a, as a result
of which the fins 42a bear against protruding
portions 42d within the interior of sleeve 42c and
this results in counter-clockwise rotation of sleeve
42c and end portion 42f connected thereto. Since the
grooved end portion 42f of ratchet/slip clutch 42 is
contained within the grooved interior 28b of end
portion 28c of drive roller 28, counter-clockwise
rotation of end portion 42f results in corresponding
counter-clockwise rotation of drive roller 28. As
explained above with reference to Figures 1 thru 3,
this results in movement of the paper or sheet
material between idler roller 26 and drive roller 28
so that the paper or sheet material is dispensed from
dispenser 10.
As mentioned earlier, ratchet/slip clutch
42 can be employed to interconnect drive gear 36 and
drive roller 28 in a dispenser, regardless of whether
or not a push-type actuator is employed. For
example, ratchet/slip clutch 42 can be employed in a
crank type system.
Figure S is a view of the inner side of the
actuator of Figure 3. More specifically, Figure 5 is
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a view of that side of actuator 18 closest to divider
38 of Figure 3 when the actuator 18 is mounted on
hinge pin 38a.
As seen in Figure 5, a spring 18c extends
horizontally along the width of the upper portion 18a
of actuator 18. An end 18d of spring 18c is
connected to a pin 18f at the rear face of actuator
18, the other end 18e of spring 18c being connected
to a point 38b near the front edge of divider 38
(Figure 3).
During operation of actuator 18 by the
user, spring 18c is elongated due to rearward
movement of the actuator 18. Once the operator
releases pressure on the lower portion 18b of
actuator 18, spring 18c urges actuator 18 back to its
normal position. That is, clockwise rotational
movement of the actuator 18 about hinge pin 38a
results in movement of lower portion 18b toward the
front of the dispenser 10, and actuator 18 thereby
assumes its original position. This horizontal
return movement of portion 18b results in a
corresponding movement of gear rack 62, and as a
result combination gear 32 and 34 is rotated in the
counter-clockwise direction. This results in
clockwise rotation of drive gear 36 which, in turn,
causes the fins 42a of ratchet/slip clutch 42 to
rotate in the clockwise direction within the sleeve
42c of ratchet/slip clutch 42. However, as discussed
above with reference to Figures 3 and 4, the fins 42a
of ratchet/slip clutch 42 are so oriented as to
merely slip in the counter-clockwise direction within
the interior of sleeve 42c so that end portion 42f
remains stationary, thereby causing no motion of
drive roller 28 or of idler roller 26 (which is
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geared to drive roller 28 via gear 26a associated
with gear 28a).
To summarize, the dispenser 10 of the
present invention is provided with a pendulum-type
actuator 18 hingedly mounted on divider 38 via hinge
pin 38a. As described above, the actuator 18 can be
caused to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction
about hinge pin 38a as a result of the user's
pressing on lower portion 18b so as to move it toward
the rear of dispenser 10. A reactive force in spring
18c causes the actuator 18 to rotate in a clockwise
direction once the user releases pressure Gn lower
portion 18b, thereby moving lower portion 18b in a
horizontal direction toward the front of dispenser 10
so that lower portion 18b assumes it original
position. Thus, the gear rack 62 contained within
the interior of actuator 18 is horizontally
reciprocative, that is, it moves to the rear of the
dispenser 10 when the user operates the actuator, and
it returns to the front of dispenser 10 when the user
releases pressure on the actuator 18.
Finally, it is preferable that the
ratchet/slip clutch 42 (Figures 3 and 4) and/or drive
gear 36 of the present invention be designed so as to
provide the dispenser 10 with an override pressure
release capability. That is to say, the octagonal
recess 36a of drive gear 36 and/or the protruding
stem portion 42b of ratchet/slip clutch 42 should be
designed with some mutual slippage between those
elements inherent therein. In that way, when and if
a jam occurs in the dispenser 10, if excess pressure
is applied by the user on actuator 18 in an attempt
to release and dispense the paper 2Oa, the pressure
exerted on the actuator 18 by the user will cause the
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octagonal recess 36a in drive gear 36 to slip around
the protruding stem portion 42b of the ratchet/slip
clutch 42 until the jam is cleared and the drive
roller 28 can rotate freely.
S While preferred forms and arrangements have
been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be
understood that various changes in detail and
arrangement may be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of this disclosure.
