JPS5848168B2 - Dispenser for rolls of flexible sheet material - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material, particularly where each roll has a support spindle projecting outwardly from opposite ends of the core of the roll. Dispenser for rolls of paper towels, tissue paper and similar materials.

More specifically, the dispenser of the present invention relates to dispensing flexible sheet material piecemeal from a wound spout, in which case the material is precisely unwound from a plurality of rolls and each wound roll is unwound. The leading free end of the outer surface of the sheet material is held so that it can be dispensed from each roll in sequence to ensure that the sheet material is accurately fed into the delivery mechanism outside the dispenser and within reach of the user. I can do it.

Importantly, the present invention also encompasses a mechanism adapted to be used within a dispenser to cut flexible sheet material into individual lengths of the same.

Numerous sheet material dispensing structures are known in the art and have been employed in commercial applications, such as paper towel dispensers mounted on walls at the desired location of towel utilization. .

Considering the large number of such dispensers that are employed in many commercial establishments such as factories, office buildings, halls, etc., it is important to note that in such dispensers, especially to the extent that a single roll can be packaged within each dispenser, In some cases, increasing attention is being given to the question of the substantial expense of time and effort required in replenishing exhausted rolls.

Thus, when an individual dispenser has used up the entire quantity of rolls in the same dispenser, i.e. the first roll has been used up and a spare roll is moved to the delivery position and the sheet material is delivered from this spare roll. Many structures have been developed to accommodate multiple rolls of wound sheet material so that they only need to be refilled when available in the dispenser.

Obviously, this reduces the time and expense required in replenishing the large number of dispenser rolls within a store, and therefore labor costs are correspondingly reduced.

Single roll dispensers can be easily loaded with rolls by an attendant, and the leading free end of the sheet material on the roll is threaded into a delivery mechanism to be utilized by the user of the dispenser. However, the advent of dispensers accommodating multiple rolls ensures that when the first roll is used up, the leading free end of the sheet material on the outer surface of the spare roll is dumped by the dispenser's delivery mechanism and is delivered out of the dispenser. A particular problem has arisen in providing a structure that effectively enables this to be carried out.

The problem is that this dumping and feeding from the reserve roll can be done effectively and accurately automatically in the absence of personnel who must return to the dispenser to first pass the leading free end of the reserve roll through the feed mechanism. to ensure that it is achieved.

This problem, of course, defeats the purpose of a multi-roll dispenser.

A number of designs, structures and mechanisms have been previously proposed for accomplishing this dumping of the leading free end on the reserve roll.

Each roll dispenser has a promising purpose of automatically and accurately feeding the end of a new roll into a feeding mechanism so that the dispenser can continue to operate and supply sheet material to the user of the same dispenser. It is said that

Various attempts in the development of multi-roll dispensers have pursued this goal; There are many deficiencies and failures in ensuring that information is properly made available to the public.

When these problems exist, even if the dispenser is easily understood, passing the leading end of the first roll through can be severely confounded by structures with complex dispensing mechanisms. There is a need for a simple but effective structure that can be easily loaded by at-risk personnel.

In the case of complex dispensers, proper loading and ensuring that the leading edge on the reserve roll will be picked up may be employed with multiple or even fewer multiple roll dispensers. The staff assigned to load the numerous roll dispensers in the store may be beyond their capacity.

Previously, perforating or cutting mechanisms used in towel dispensers had a rotatably mounted knife and a rotatably mounted cooperating roller, with the latter roller It had a slot for receiving a radially outer portion of the knife as it rotated through the knife.

The flexible sheeting material is threaded between the roller and knife so that it is perforated or cut when the radially outer portion of the knife enters a slot in the roller.

Such perforating or cutting mechanisms are satisfactory for perforating or cutting relatively inflexible, flexible sheeting materials such as non-creped paper towels.

However, with the increasing use of relatively stretchable, flexible sheet materials such as stamped or creped paper towels, conventional perforation and cutting mechanisms have been reduced to allow the sheet material to be cut by a knife blade. It has proven unsatisfactory as it has a tendency to stretch around the blade without being perforated or cut.

Although precision rotary shears are also known that can be employed to solve this problem, these shears are designed to be installed for use in both commercial and private washrooms. Flexible sheet materials used in dispensers are very expensive.

The roll dispenser of the present invention has particular application to multiple rolls each held within a dispenser housing on support spindles projecting outwardly from opposite ends of the roll core.

Inwardly directed tracks on opposite inner walls of the dispenser housing receive an outwardly projecting spindle held fixedly on a roll core in the form of either a core end cap or a mandrel; The structure is such that the rotation of the roll is promoted as the roll moves downward.

The bottom roll engages and is driven by a rotatably mounted feed roller located adjacent the bottom end of the track.

Additionally, as an essential part of the invention, a hold-down roller rotatably mounted within the dispenser housing is associated in driven relationship with the feed roller.

The hold-down roller is formed with axially spaced eccentrically disposed resilient segments which, as the hold-down roller rotates, grip the leading free end of the sheet material on the outer surface of the virgin roll. It serves to pick up and feed the sheet material into the nip between the feed roller and the hold-down roller so that the sheet material from the roll resting on the feed roller and at the bottom of the track is transferred between the rollers and then out of the dispensing device into the user's hand. Ensuring that it is sent in a timely manner.

The hold-down roller also includes axially spaced resilient conical portions that press against the feed roller as the sheet material passes through the nip between the rollers.

The inwardly directed tracks supporting the spindles projecting from the ends of the roll core are inclined outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the main length of the tracks and generally toward a position tangent to the outer circumference of the feed roller. Each track has a lower end portion.

This lower end portion of each track is provided with a swingably supported guide biased inwardly toward the centerline of the track, the guide being located below said inclined portion of the track. has been done.

This forced deflection guide urges rotation of the wound roll downwardly in the track by pressing against the outer periphery of the spindle at opposite ends of the roll.

This action rotates the roll during its downward movement in the track.

Although the lower end of each track does not necessarily have to be beveled as described above,
It should be located on the side of said track that is disposed in the direction in which the sheet material is to be drawn from the roll when it is being drawn from the dispenser and engaged with the feed roller and the hold-down roller.

Regarding the hold-down roller, the elastically deformable segment on the hold-down roller projects eccentrically outward over a portion of the outer periphery of the hold-down roller and is in an unused state at the bottom of the dispenser track. The rolls are positioned such that they will not only engage the feed roller, but will also engage the hold-down roller.

As the hold-down roller rotates with the feed roller, the deformable eccentric segment moves toward the leading free end of the sheet material on the roll, causing it to buckle downward into the nip between the rollers.

Additionally, axially spaced resilient cylindrical portions on the feed rollers facilitate mutual drive of the rollers as the sheet material is threaded through the nip between the rollers.

These resilient sections are preferably conical in shape and extend inwardly toward the center point of the holddown rollers so that each conical section facilitates the spread of the sheet material along the width of the nip between the rollers. facing.

A dispenser of the invention embodying the above features preferably has a feature in which the feed roller and the hold-down roller are stopped from rotating and the individual sheets cut from the sheet material unwound from the roll are placed at a free end readily accessible to the user. A mechanism is also provided for also arresting the movement of the sheet material so as to have a .

and a cam-operated knife swingably mounted within the feed roller, as the feed roller is rotated with the sheet material covering the surface of the feed roller. Projected through the aperture.

The cam action is such that the knife is positively extended and retracted relative to the opening in the feed roller, and the actuating cam is such that the knife, which has this toothed edge along itself, is inserted between the feed roller and the hold-down roller. Immediately before the sheet material reaches the nip, it is first fixedly mounted so as to protrude outward.

The ridges of this toothed blade are spaced apart to enter between the eccentric segment carried by the hold-down roller and the resilient conical section to create perforations in the sheet material adjacent to the two tips between the rollers. I'm starting to give it to you.

The present invention further provides a cutting mechanism having a cradle and a feed roller rotatably mounted on the cradle such that the sheet material passes over the roller.

The knife is swingably mounted within a feed roller so that a portion of the knife swings radially outward about an axis laterally spaced from the plane of the knife. It defines a blade for.

The blade projects outwardly through an opening in the feed roller and cuts the sheet material as it passes over the outer periphery of the feed roller.

The knife carries a cam follower spaced from the pivotable mounting axis of the knife, and the fixed cam is such that when the cam and the cam follower on the knife are engaged and the feed roller rotates, the knife The rollers are mounted adjacent to each end of the feed roller so that the blades can be actively protruded or retracted.

In view of the foregoing, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a flexible sheet material dispenser having an improved mounting arrangement for a wound roll carried within the dispenser to provide a dispensing action. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser that ensures rotation of the roll in an accelerated manner.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a special configuration of the presser roller with interengaging feed and presser rollers to facilitate the picking up of the leading edge of sheet material on the outer surface of a fresh roll. be.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a resilient device in accordance with the foregoing object to facilitate the spreading of the sheet material across the width of the nip between the feed roller and the hold-down roller as the hold-down roller rotates. The length of itself is to provide a presser roller that carries it at a distance from each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser having opposing inward tracks for receiving the spindle of the mouth to be dispensed, in which the lower end portion of each track carries a guide device. carried and the guide device is forced inwardly toward the center of the track to provide a friction surface along which the outer periphery of the roll spindle engages within the track. The purpose is to promote roll rotation.

According to the above purpose, by adopting the inclined lower end portion of each track,
It is also an object of the invention that the same sections are inclined outwardly from the axis of the feed rollers so that the forced deflection guide of each track is arranged below each inclined track section.

A subsidiary object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser in accordance with the above object, in which a portion of the roll spindle has a circumferential groove spaced inwardly from the outermost end of the spindle; The track has a flange arrangement, causing the guide device to pass through the groove when the spindle is lowered in the dispenser track so that proper charging orientation is ensured for the rolls in the dispenser track. It is.

An important object is to provide a flexible sheet material dispenser having a mechanism for effectively cutting flexible sheet material removed from a roll within the dispenser.

In addition to the above objects, the present invention includes a knife within the feed roller, the knife projecting outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the feed roller to cut the sheet material as it passes over the feed roller. The purpose is to provide a mechanism for

In addition to the above two objects, a further object of the present invention is that the cutting knife is swingably mounted inside the feed roller, and a fixed cam device outside the feed roller moves the cutting knife as the feed roller rotates. It operates to actively protrude or retract.

It is a subsidiary object of the present invention to provide a flexible sheet material dispenser having a sheet material cutting mechanism that is simple, durable, economically manufactured and ideally suited for both commercial and domestic use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof.

A complete rolled roll dispenser is shown in FIG. 1 as a multi-roll dispenser provided with a housing 10 consisting of a cover 12 and a cradle 14 with inner walls 16 and 18 and a back wall 20. In this figure, the lower part of the cover 12 has been cut away to expose the interior of the dispenser.

A bottom wall 22 is also mounted on the cradle 14 as part of the dispenser housing 10, as seen most clearly in FIG.

An elongated opening 24 spanning most of the width of the dispenser housing is provided at the front end of the bottom wall 22 of the cradle 14 to provide a device for directing the sheet material to be dispensed within the reach of the user.

In the illustrated embodiment, opposite inner walls 16 and 18
Each is provided with a vertical track 26, each shown in cross-section in FIG. 2 and one shown in perspective in FIG. 4 as being carried by the sidewalls 18.

The sidewall tracks 26 face inwardly to receive a spindle projecting outwardly from the core C of a wound roll R of flexible sheeting material.

The forward portion 28 of the back wall of each track 26 is angled inwardly toward the interior of the dispenser housing 10.

These inwardly slanted portions 28 of the track 26 engage the ends of the spindles projecting outwardly from the end of the center C of the roll R, as seen in FIG. Adjacent to the outer periphery.

Thus, as the roll R moves down in the track 26, the engagement of the ramp 28 on the forward end of the spindle causes the roll R to rotate in a direction from which the sheet material will eventually be unwound. become a trend.

However, if a spare roll is placed on top of the bottom roll while it is being dispensed from the dispenser in a cabinet with many rolls arranged in the track, the top The upper reserve roll will be prevented from rotating and unwinding the sheet material on the lower roll before it is substantially exhausted and enters the spent roll disposal pocket P. .

The reserve roll is then moved downwardly into position with the leading free end being fed outwardly from the dispenser of the sheet material of the roll to the user.

In the illustrated embodiment, as best seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the core C of roll R carries a mandrel 30 held within the core C by frictional forces. ing.

Mandrel 30 has a flange 32 at one end of the mandrel and fins 34 extending outwardly from the inner cylindrical surface of mandrel 30.

These fins 34 fit into slots formed in the roll core C and extending outwardly into the wound sheet material to securely key the mandrel 30 and roll R together.

A thick cylindrical spindle 36 is provided at one end of the mandrel 30 and extends outwardly from a center C on the mandrel, and the opposite end of the mandrel has a spindle 38.

Spindle 38 has a circumferential groove 40 formed inwardly of its outermost end.

One track 26 has a flange 42 at its upper end that extends along both inner edges of the track.

7. The flange 42 extends from the track 2 so as to protrude into the groove 40 of the spindle 33 when the roll R is loaded into the dispenser.
It covers part of 6.

The advantage of having a groove 40 to allow entry of the spindle 38 into the groove passing through the track having seven flange 42 is that proper loading of the roll into the dispenser is ensured and one mandrel end , that is, only the proper end of the roll is allowed to pass downwards into this track 26.

Spindle 36 without groove 40 at the opposite end of the roll
cannot enter the track 26 with the flange 42, so the roll must be inserted into the dispenser in such a way that only the spindle 38 is in the track 26 carried by the wall 18 during loading.

The keying by the fins 34 to the slots formed in the core C and the roll R is important to the operation of the dispenser, so that the drive action to rotate the rolls of the track is ensured to the rolls for delivery as described below. communicated.

The lower end of each track 26 is angled from the longitudinal axis of the main length of the track, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

These lower ends of both tracks are beveled rearward within the dispenser housing 10 and beveled from the axis of the feed roller described below, such that the beveled portion of each track is generally tangent to the outer circumference of the feed roller. It is supposed to be on the line.

Each beveled portion of the track 26 is defined by a fixed upper wall 44, and a swingably mounted drive guide 46 is swingably mounted at 48 to the lower end of the track. has been done.

Each drive guide 46 includes a friction surface 50 forming the lower wall of the beveled portion of the track, with the guide 46 being generally inclined from the main length of the track.

The upper end of the friction surface 50 of each guide 46 has a projection 52 with an inclined cam portion 54 extending upward therefrom.

Each guide 46 is forced inwardly toward the center of the track 26 by a spring 56 mounted on a suitable fixed stud 58.

One end of the spring 56 presses against a fixed platen of the portion forming the track 26, and the other end of the spring 56 presses into engagement with the outer wall of the guide 46 and is held in a retainer 60 on the guide 46. ing.

The bottom end wall 45 below the fixed wall 44 is beveled rearward at an even steeper angle.

This wall 45, as will be explained in more detail below,
The spindle passes between the feed roller and the wall 45 into a disposable pocket P at the rear of the dispenser housing.

Drive guide 46 is constantly biased by spring 56 to swing about fulcrum 48 so as to be moved inwardly toward the center of track 26.

In this position, the inclined cam portion 54 engages the cam portion as the spindle moves down within the track 26, pushing the drive guide 46 forward and past the protrusion 52 to the friction surface 50. and a fixed upper wall 44 for movement of the spindle.

In this position the spindle contacts the friction surface 50 so as to be urged to rotate in the direction of unwinding the sheet material from the roll.

This rotation of the rolls is facilitated under the action of the outer periphery of the spindle rolling down along a friction surface 50, which surface has a high friction surface that drives the roll spindle and the rolls carried by it more aggressively. A coating providing a coefficient may be provided.

Alternatively, a material having a high coefficient of friction may be used in fabricating the drive guide 46 to impart a high coefficient of friction to the surface 50.

A drive guide 46 pivotally mounted in association with each track 26 preferably and advantageously rotates the sheet material of the track for delivery of a feed roller mounted adjacent the lower end of the track 26. It is swingably mounted on the side that is in the direction in which it will be pulled out from the roll.

Where the lower portion of the raceway is beveled as shown and described in the preferred embodiment, the friction surface 50 forming the lower surface of the beveled raceway portion itself covers the outer peripheral surface of the spindle as a friction surface. presses against the spindle and facilitates rotation of the spindle.

The pressure of the spindle against the fixed sloped wall 44, which is the upper wall of the sloped track section, is reduced in such a configuration.

During the unfeeding operation, the force that pulls the sheet material from the roll pulls on the spindle carrying the roll, causing friction surface 50
Apply more pressure to firmly press the

This force therefore also drives the roll moving down on the beveled friction surface 50 and its spindle to facilitate rotation of the roll.

In this case as well, pulling out the sheet material from the roll during feeding while the spindle is in tighter contact with the surface of the drive guide 46 will lighten the engagement of the outer periphery of the spindle from the fixed upper wall 44; Even free.

Even if the track is straight over its entire length and does not have an inclined lower part, the action of a spring-biased drive guide pivotably (or pivotably) mounted on the lower part of the track near the upper end of the feed roller is effective. It is true.

Since the drive guide is located on the side of the track 26 in the direction in which the web of sheet material is drawn off the roll, the force for drawing the web is applied to the mandrel spindle in the lower part of the track by a spring-biased pivotably mounted drive. Press against the guide.

This reduces or eliminates the force exerted on the stationary opposite side wall of the track.

Additionally, forces that enhance the rotation of the mandrel spindle and the rolls carried on the mandrel during sheet material distribution in the direction in which the web is unwound from the rolls are effective for effective and easy distribution of the sheet material from the rolls.

A feed roller 62 is rotatably mounted within the dispenser housing 10 adjacent to the lower end of the housing 10 to engage the feed roller as the roll dispenses sheet material from the roll. It is designed to be driven by

As shown, rollers 62 are mounted generally below the main length of track 26 and are connected to central portion 64;
It consists of a plurality of axially spaced cylindrical sections including two end sections 66 closed at their respective outer ends by end caps 67.

Each feed roller section has an internal cavity so as to provide an interior space along the same length of the feed roller 62 for accommodating the toothed cutting knife 68 therein.

Feed roller sections 64 and 66 are slotted to provide an elongated exterior opening 70 at the outer periphery of feed roller 62.

Both shaft ends 72 protrude from opposite end caps 67 of the feed roller 62, and the feed roller is driven by each shaft end 72 engaged in a hole 74 provided in a fixedly mounted cam block 76. Supports rotation.

It should be understood that the cam block 76 is connected to the feed roller 62.
These cam blocks are fixedly mounted at each end of the dispenzano housing 10 and are respectively fixed to opposite inner walls 16 and 18 of the cradle 14 forming part of the dispenzano housing 10 and facing inwardly from the same side walls. It is that you are.

The cam flock 76 is internally equipped with a plate cam consisting of a cam pocket 78 which, in the case of each cam block 76, is open towards the end associated with the same block of the feed roller 62.

Pocket 78 has a corresponding partially cylindrical portion with a center of curvature at the axis of hole 74 for receiving shaft end 72 and an outwardly curved portion extending away from the axis of feed roller 62.

This outwardly curved portion communicates at each of its ends with the ends of the partially cylindrical portion, so that the pocket 78 is formed in the shape of an endless cam.

The sawtooth cutting knife 68 is carried on a member 79 arranged in the interior space of the feed roller 62, which member is a cylindrical stud with a pivot axis offset from the plane of the cutting knife 68. 80, one at each end of knife 68 and member 79.

Studs 80 are engaged in holes in opposing end caps 67 of feed roller 62.

The cutting knife 68 also has a cam follower 82 at each end thereof disposed in the plane of the knife, one such cam follower passing through a hole in each end cap of the feed roller 62. .

The cam followers at each end of the roller 62 fit into pockets 78 in the fixed cam block T6 so that the followers engage the feed roller 62 as the sheet material is delivered from the wound roll.
As the roller rotates, the cutting knife 68 is propelled to control the extension and retraction of the cutting knife 68 from the roller.

As the roller 62 rotates, the knife 68 closes the opening 2.
4 to allow removal of a length of material from the dispenser, projecting outwardly to pierce and cut the sheet material.

The operation of fixed cam block 760 in controlling the extension and retraction of knife 68 via cam follower 82 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 15-20.

In this regard, it should be mentioned that the arrangement of the cam pockets 78 and fixed cam blocks T6 at each end of the feed roller 64 provides the advantageous effects of the present invention on the other components of the structure, which will be explained next. This means that it is obtained relatively to the other person.

To facilitate the description of the particular structures shown in FIGS. 15-20, reference numerals are in the 100s or 100'.
It is given from the table.

Referring to FIG. 15, the dispenser 110' is located at the 15th
It has a pedestal 112' which is only partially shown in the figure.

The cradle has an opening 114' at its lower front end through which a flexible sheet material W, such as a paper towel, passes for access to a user.

The sheet material W is attached to a suitable support shaft 116' within the dispenser.
It is taken out from the roll R mounted above.

As sheet material W is drawn from roll R, it passes over rotatably mounted feed roller 118' and then exits downwardly through opening 114'.

A pinch roller 120' mounted on a shaft 122' is biased by a spring to engage the outer surface of the feed roller 118' so that the flexible sheet material W is pulled between the pinch roller and the feed roller. is passing through.

Feed roller 118' is rotatably mounted within dispenser cradle 112' on short shafts 124 and 126, with short shaft 126 carrying feed wheel 128 at its coaxial outer end.

This feed wheel is mounted for rotation with the feed rollers and operates as described below as lengths of sheet material W are delivered and cut from roll R.

The feed roller 118' has a knife 130 swingably mounted therein, and the structure of the knife is similar to that of the 18th knife.
As shown in the figure.

This knife is mounted so as to swing about an axis that is laterally spaced from the plane of the blade 134 of the knife.

The feed roller 118' has an aperture 132 formed in its outer periphery such that a knife blade 134 can be extended beyond the outer surface of the feed roller 118' or retracted into the feed roller 118'. has.

The dashed line L in FIG. 15 indicates the passageway through which the blade 134 projects beyond the periphery of the feed roller 118' as the feed roller 118' rotates so that the sheet material can be effectively cut and removed by the user. It shows.

The construction of the knife 130, as best seen in FIG. 18, includes studs located at each end of the knife 130 to form a pivot axis spaced from the plane of the knife blade 134. The knife is swingably mounted by 136.

The knife has a cam follower 1 arranged in the plane of the blade of the knife.
38 at each end.

The fulcrum stud 136 is connected to the end wall 140 of the feed roller 118'.
The knife 130 is supported so as to be swingable about an axis laterally spaced apart from the plane of the blade 134 of the knife.

If the knife protrudes from the opening 132 or vice versa, the feed roller 11
Control of the retraction movement of the knife into 8' is achieved by a follower 138 that engages a stationary plate cam 142, which cam is connected to feed roller 11 in cradle 112'.
One is mounted adjacent to each end of 8'.

The form of each plate cam 142 is shown in FIG.

The plate cam has a pocket 144 of substantially uniform width along its length for receiving one cam follower 138.

In each case, pocket 144 is open toward the end of feed roller 118' as shown in FIG.

The pocket 144 of each plate cam 142 is a partially cylindrical portion 14
6, the center of curvature of the same part is the short axis 1 of the feed roller 118'.
24 and 126.

Pocket 144 also has an outwardly curved portion 148 that extends away from the axis of feed roller 118'.

The latter section is connected at its ends to the ends of the partially cylindrical section 146, respectively, so as to actuate one of the cam followers 138 when the feed roller 118' rotates.
44 is formed in the form of an endless cam.

In FIG. 15, the dashed circle C indicates the path along which the mounting stud 136 of the knife 130 moves as the feed roller 118' rotates.

This view also shows the four sequential positions of the stud 136 relative to the axis and the movement of the cam follower 138 within the pocket 144 of the plate cam 142.

As previously mentioned, the dashed line L' in FIG. 15 indicates the path through which the blade 134 of the knife 130 is caused to move by the cam follower 138 guided within the pocket 144 of the plate cam 142.

It can be seen from this path of motion that the blade 134 begins to project beyond the outer circumference of the feed roller 118' as soon as it passes the point of engagement of the feed roller 118' and the Vinci roller 120'.

19 and 20, feed wheel 128 is shown mounted on the outer end of short shaft 126. Referring to FIGS.

This feed wheel is provided with notches 150 arranged at equal intervals around the outer periphery of the feed wheel, and reversal prevention pawls 152.
mount 1 so that it swings freely and engages with notch 150.
12', the feed wheel 128 and the feed roller 11
This is to prevent reverse rotation with 8'.

The feed roller 118' is secured to the frame 11 by a fastener 158.
2' and offset from the axis of rotation of the feed wheel 128 and the feed roller 118' by a set screw 160.
8 is driven through a portion of each rotation by an overcenter device having a spring 156 connected to the 8.

It should be readily understood that during rotation of feed wheel 128 and feed roller 118' in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 20, spring 156 initially is to be pulled.

When the set screw 160 moves beyond the alignment of the short shaft 126 and the link 162, the overcenter device is fully biased;
The spring thus assists in further rotation of the feed wheel 128 and feed roller 118' to actuate the knife so that the sheet material is cut and additional flexible sheet material is fed into position for the next use of the dispenser. It uses the same spring's stored energy to make it.

It should be noted that the central portion 64 of the feed roller 62 is spaced at each end from the inner ends of the end portions 66 of the same roller.

These distances, as shown more clearly in FIGS. 1 and 8, are provided for purposes that will be clarified below.

Cylindrical portions 64 and 66 forming feed roller 62
With respect to the outer annular end and end plate 6 of the end portion 66, all of these portions are connected to the outer annular end and the end plate 6 of the end portion 66 as shown in FIGS.
The outer circumferential surface may be provided with high friction surface material up to 7.

The central portion 64 may have a rubber surface to provide good drive characteristics for moving the folded roll within the dispenser and delivering sheet material from the roll to the dispenser outlet opening 24.

The cylindrical outer surface of all feed roller sections may be made of rubber so as to have good feeding characteristics of the sheet material.

In the present invention, the cam pockets 78 of the fixed cam flocks 76, one at each end of the feed roller 62, are preferably provided with cam followers for driving the knife out of the roller 62 and retracting it into the same roller. The action on 82 is arranged and configured to project knife 68 into the state of motion shown in FIG.

Thus, in the present invention, the knife 68 is initially pushed through the opening 70 by camming, starting at a point just before the nip between the feed roller 62 and the hold-down roller 84.

As the feed roller 62 rotates relative to the fixed cam pocket 78 of the cam block 76, the serrated blade of the knife protrudes further from the interior space of the roller 62, as shown in phantom in FIG. Proceed through multiple protruding locations as if you were there.

The knife rapidly protrudes through the opening 70 in the roller 62 to effectively cut the sheet material W, but as it passes through the positions it passes into the roller 62 and under the protrusion in the form of a driven cam pocket 78 of the cam follower 82. As expected, it can be withdrawn quickly.

The structure of the hold-down roller 84 is best shown in the perspective view of FIG.

Roller 84 is rotatably mounted at each end of the roller in bearing blocks 86 which respectively receive the ends of the roller.

Each bearing block 86 is slidably mounted in a slot (not shown) provided in the side walls 16 and 18 of the pedestal 140, which is part of the dispenser housing 10.

The slots provided in the side walls 16 and 18 allow the feed roller 84 to move into and out of contact with the axis of rotation of the feed roller 62 provided by both ends of the shaft 72 on which the feed roller 62 is mounted. It is generally radially oriented with respect to the axis of rotation of roller 62.

The hold-down rollers 84 have bearing blocks 86 at each end of the rollers 84 that are engaged by springs 88, one on each hold-down roller 84, as shown in FIG.
is resiliently forced toward the cylindrical surface of the feed roller 62 by the cylindrical surface of the feed roller 62.

One end of each spring 88 is in pressure contact with the bearing block 86 and the holding roller 84 supported by the block.
is pushed toward the feed roller 62.

The opposite end of each spring 88 engages a fixed abutment 90, one carried by each side wall 16 and 18, and the central portion of each spring 88 engages a stud 90 carried by each side wall 16 and 18. 92 (5th
(see Figure and Figure 6).

Attached to the hold-down roller 84 are a pair of mutually spaced resiliently deformable segments 94.

Each segment 94 is eccentric with respect to the axis of roller 84 and is resiliently deformable.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 13, the resiliently deformable segment has a plurality of resilient radial fingers 96.
is formed by.

It should be understood that these elements, which rotate with the hold-down roller 84, move together with the same roller such that the resiliently deformable segment 94, which projects outwardly and is eccentric to the axis of the roller 84, forms part of the feed roller 62. 64 and the end portion 66.

Although the resiliently deformable segments 94 are shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 10-13 as being formed by resilient radial fingers 96, other embodiments may be employed. This is shown in Figure 14.

In this embodiment, the resiliently deformable segment is formed by an outwardly projecting arcuate wall 98 that is arcuate outwardly from the portion of the element that is attached to the holddown roller 84. , forming an eccentric elastically deformable segment.

The arcuate wall 98 engages and picks up the leading free end of the sheet material at the outer surface of the roll in the same manner as the resilient radial fingers 96 do in the embodiment shown in FIG. It has a surface.

This operation will now be explained in more detail with respect to the operations performed as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the outwardly projecting arcuate wall 98 is provided with a radial plate 100 extending outwardly from the axis of the restrainer roller 84 and below the arcuate wall 98. It may be reinforced by

It should be understood that the embodiments shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 may be suitably made of any rubber-like material, which simply extends the leading free end of the sheet material from the outside surface of the roll. This will not only provide the desired frictional properties for the action of the eccentric segment during pick-up, but also the resiliency desired for the effective action when the dispenser is used to deliver sheet material from a wound roll. It also provides deformability.

The hold-down roller 84 also has resilient conical portions 102 spaced axially along the roller.

Each conical portion 102 of roller 84 has a cylindrical outer periphery that presses against the surface of feed roller 62 to define a dip between it and the latter.

As can be seen from FIG. 8, the two central conical sections 1
02 presses against the central portion 64 of the feed roller, and the conical portion outwardly of the eccentric segment 94 presses against the feed roller 62.
is pressed against the end portion 66 of.

An important feature of the location and arrangement of the conical portions 102 that rotate with the holddown rollers 84 is that each conical portion faces inwardly toward the center point of the holddown rollers 84.

This feature serves the special function of acting to spread the sheet material along the length of the doublet between feed roller 62 and hold down roller 84.

Under the action of a spring 88 at each end of the hold-down roller 84, the conical portion 102 tends to flex in the nip between the rollers so that the cylindrical circumference is slightly lateral to the center point of the roller 84. can be bent to

Since the conical portion faces inwardly toward the center point of the holding rollers 84, the cylindrical outer circumference of portion 1020 will move axially outwardly upon this deflection, and will move between the two prongs of the rollers. Acts on the passing sheet material to spread it outwardly towards the ends of the holding rollers 84 and thus in a fully spread and taut state between the feed roller 62 and the holding roller 84. Facilitate the passage of the same material.

Before considering other structures that may be employed in effectively directing the sheet material leaving the feed rollers out of the dispenser housing and within reach of the user, it will be appreciated that FIGS.
The function of eccentric segment 940, which is part of hold-down roller 84 as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 12, will now be described.

Referring to FIG. 7, a substantially exhausted first roll ER is shown in a sacrificial pocket P at the rear of the cradle 14, in front of the rear wall 20 and above the bottom wall 22. be.

This roll ER is the lowest roll loaded into the dispenser, and the spare roll is placed on top of this bottom roll and rests on the surface of this bottom roll. It was intended to be moved into place once the rolls were effectively exhausted.

Therefore, the roll ER passes down the track 26 with a limited amount of sheet material still wound thereon and is substantially exhausted before the roll's spindle is placed at the lower end of the track 26. At this point, it moved below the bottom end wall 45, crossed the surface of the feed roller 62, and fell into the waste pocket P.

The sheet material W is fed over the top of the feed roller 62 and through the duplex between the feed roller 62 and the hold-down roller 84 so as to exit through the dispenser housing opening 24.

It should be understood, of course, that while the feed roller 62 continues to rotate under the action of sheet material W being withdrawn from the opening 24 of the dispenser housing 10, the cam under the driving force of the stationary cam pocket 78 against the cam follower 82 The effect is to extend and retract the knife 68 according to the motion shown in FIG.

The protruding action of the knife 68 serves to cut a length of sheet material W on each revolution of the feed roller 62 so that the cut length of the sheet material is determined by the desired length of the sheet material from the dispenser cabinet. Allowed to be withdrawn by the user.

Opposed eccentric segment 94 and conical portion 102
The structure of the holding roller 84 incorporating the cutting knife 68
It is also advantageous when working with Nono and toothed blades.

The ridges of the knife's sawtooth blade are simply eccentric segments 94 in between.
Rather than being transparent, they are spaced apart so that the resilient conical portion 102 also passes through.

This state is shown by the imaginary line in FIG.
This can be understood from position 4.

This relationship between the ridges of the sawtooth blade of the cutting knife and the eccentric segment 94 and conical portion 102 allows for the camming action of the knife through the aperture 70 of the feed roller 62 to be transferred between the feed roller and the hold-down roller. The trick is to start just before the second step.

This is because when the sheet material is placed between the rollers, the conical portion 102 acts to spread the sheet material along the length of the pair of rollers, and the two tips between the rollers spread the sheet material along the length of the pair of rollers. Of course, it is advantageous in that it is reliably held in the expanded state.

As shown in FIG. 7, if the knife protrudes through the aperture 70 just before the nip of both rollers, the outermost ridges of the knife and toothed edges will pierce the sheet material. The sheet material can first be perforated along the length of the roller.

At this time, both rollers act to firmly hold the sheet material in place.

As this sheet material passes through the two cam followers 8
The cam action on 2 continues to move the knife 68 outward.

As the sheet material passes through the nip between rollers 62, 84, knife 68 is rapidly extended to complete the cutting of the sheet material so that it can be removed from the dispenser cabinet.

As previously mentioned, under the control of fixed cam pocket 78, the knife is then rapidly retracted into feed roller 62 and
The next time the roller rotates, it is ready to perform the next sheet material cutting operation.

At this point, as shown in FIG. 7, the roll that had been placed above the track as a reserve roll is in its unused position with its spindle pointing toward opposite side walls 16 of pedestal 14. Friction surface 50 of drive guide 46 on 18
It has been moved down until it engages with.

The diameter of this reserve roll, which is then prepared for removal of sheet material and is therefore in the delivery position, is such that it does not merely rest on and is in driving engagement with the surface of the delivery roller 62. The diameter is such that it also has a diameter sufficient to be engaged by the eccentric segment 94 on the hold down roller 84 as the hold down roller 84 rotates with the feed roller 62.

Discarded Pocket} Practically used up roll ER in P
As the remaining sheet material continues to be withdrawn from the dispenser, it continues to rotate the rollers as it passes through the nip between the rollers, and this withdrawal action is used for the expected use outside of the dispenser, as described next. This is accomplished either by being pulled by a person or manually operated by a hand wheel vehicle 104.

As the hold-down roller 84 rotates, it rotates with the resiliently deformable segments to align them with the outer surface of a new, unused roll that was previously placed above in the dispenser cabinet as a spare roll. Frictional contact is made at the delivery position.

This new, unused roll in the delivery position is in surface engagement with the feed roller 62 and is facilitated in rotation by the frictional engagement of the spindle of the roll with the surface 50 of the drive guide 46 in the lower part of the track 26. If so, it is rotated in a direction that feeds the free end of the sheet material onto the resiliently deformable segment 94 of the hold-down roller 84.

Referring to FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, the action of the eccentric segment 940 on the hold-down roller 84 will follow the action shown.

Feed roller 62 is rotating in a counterclockwise direction, while hold-down roller 84 is rotating in a clockwise direction, with sheet material passing between the two rollers.

This clockwise rotation causes the free end to move as shown in FIGS. 10-12 as the eccentric segment 94 on the hold-down roller 84 moves into frictional engagement with the free outer layer of the roll R. As shown, as the rotation between these three elements progresses, it has the effect of buckling.

The sheet material W is at this point still being withdrawn from the essentially exhausted roll ER in the waste pocket P, so that once the sheet material is withdrawn by the user, the continuous rotation of the three elements mentioned above is This tends to be ensured as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

If the buckling action produced by the eccentric segment 94 is accomplished by the use of resilient fingers 96 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the buckled sheet material will Feed roller 62 and holding roller 84
Continue until the point where you are actively and reliably drawn into the nip between the two.

As this operation progresses, the outer free end of the new unused roll is conveyed in a double thickness between the rollers and delivered through the opening 24 in the dispenser housing 10.

If the leading free end of the new unused roll R is not effectively picked up by the initial sweep or friction of the eccentric segment 94 of the hold-down roller 84, the three elements will continue to rotate and the segment 94 and roll R
Sequential sweeping or frictional engagement between the outer layer of sheet material on top of the almost exhausted roll E in the waste pocket P
The process will be repeated as residual sheet material is withdrawn from R.

Once the leading free end of the sheet material on the new roll in the delivery position has been picked up, multiple thicknesses of sheet material are delivered from the dispenser for a period of time until all of the sheet material on roll ER is used up. Sometimes.

And also, as shown in FIG. 12, the double thickness coming from the buckled surface layer of the sheet material leaving the virgin roll R is discharged from the dispenser with the residual material on the roll ER. It doesn't matter if there is a certain period of time.

However, the action of the eccentric segment 940 effectively and positively picks up sheet material from the new roll and feeds it into the nip between the feed and hold back rollers.

This roll will therefore be manipulated to be dispensed from the dispenser.

The dispenser operates such that at the end of each cycle, the leading edge of the sheet material extends out of the dispenser cabinet to be grasped by the user.

The mechanism for delivering sheet material has a device for measuring the length of each delivered piece of such material and for stopping the delivery action at the end of this desired length.

A manual feed mechanism is also provided.

This manual feed mechanism and related components are best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The mechanism is shown more clearly in the cross-section of FIG.
It has 4.

Accordingly, a set screw 106 is screwed into the end of the feed roller 62 to securely mount the wheel 1.04 for rotation therewith.

The handle wheel 104 has a recess 108 and a protrusion 1 on its outer periphery to facilitate rotation of the handle wheel by the user's fingers.
10 are provided alternately.

As handle wheel 104 is rotated, feed roller 62 is also rotated and cammed to move knife 68 in and out as described above.

The link 112 is pivotally connected to a set screw 114 screwed into the handle wheel 104 at a point radially offset or eccentric relative to the axis of rotation formed by the set screw 106 of the handle wheel 104. has been done.

A spring 116 is attached to the opposite end of the link 112 while the upper end of the spring 116 is attached to the cradle 140 sidewall 16 at 118.
Fixed.

A reverse rotation prevention pawl 120 is swingably mounted on a set screw 122 screwed into the side wall 16 of the pedestal 14.

This pawl rests in the recess 108 of the wheel 104 and prevents rotation of the wheel in a clockwise direction as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Set screw 11 eccentric to the rotational axis of the handle wheel 104
A spring 116 acting through a link 112 pivotally connected by 4 cuts the sheet material such that the material cutting action is accomplished without the user having to increase the pulling force on the sheet material coming out of the dispenser. Give the power to help.

During the first part of the rotation of the steering wheel 104, the spring 11
6 is pulled in a counterclockwise direction as the wheel rotates, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

After the set screw 114 passes through the lowest point at 1800 opposite to the position shown in FIG. 5, i.e. from the position shown in FIG. to rotate together with the roller 62,
and assists in moving the knife 68 outwardly and then inwardly by camming to accomplish the sheet material cutting operation.

In the dispenser of the present invention for wound rolls of flexible sheet material, multiple rolls of said material can be loaded into the same dispenser and each roll in turn can be picked up and removed from the same dispenser. 3 is a detailed description with sheet material being fed out.

Although the cutting mechanism of the present invention is also described in detail and is intended for use with the described dispenser, it is not limited to its use with the dispenser described.

It should certainly be understood that various modifications to both the dispenser and cutting mechanism of the present invention may occur to those skilled in the art.

Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a front view of the dispenser of the present invention for a wound roll of flexible sheeting material with the front cover removed to expose internal components of the dispenser housing; FIG. The figure is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in Figure 1.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the roll-mounted spindle for use with the dispenser at line 5--5 of FIG. Figure 6 is a diagram showing the side wall of the housing cover removed.
FIG. 1 is a diagram similar to that shown in the figure, but showing the delivery mechanism in the advanced position of sheet material delivery; FIG. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the front cover, spine and bottom of the housing showing the cutting knife and holding roller being operated; FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing one of the fixed cams for the purpose of FIG. FIG. 10 is a partial end view showing the relationship between the feed roller and the holding roller and the unused roll when the holding roller approaches the unused roll and picks up the leading free end of the sheet material of the roll; FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10, but showing the hold-down roller buckling the free end of the sheet material of the unused roll into a nip between the feed roller and the hold-down roller; FIG. Again similar to FIG. 10, but showing the free end of the sheet material on the virgin roll being fed downward into the nip between the feed roller and the hold-down roller; FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 14 is an alternative implementation to the resiliently deformable eccentric segment shown in FIG. 13. An example perspective view, FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the front of the dispenser showing the cutting mechanism within the cradle for a roll of flexible sheet material, FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the front of the dispenser, and FIG. 17 is a side view taken along line 1717 in FIG. 16, and FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken at line 1717 in FIG.
5 and 16 are perspective views of the cutting knife mounted within the feed roller; FIG. 19 shows an over-center device for driving the feed roller through a portion of each rotation; FIG. 20 is a side view showing the overcenter device and the anti-return pawls that engage notches equidistantly spaced around the outer periphery of the feed roller. 10... "TispenzahousingJ, 16,
18... "inner wall", 24... "elongated opening", 26... "vertical track", 36...
... "Cylindrical spindle", 46 ... "Drive guide", 50 ... "Friction surface", 56 ...
..."Spring", 62..."Feed roller", R.
・・・・・・``Wrapped roll.''

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. Inwardly directed tracks 26, 26 provided on opposite inner walls 16, 18, within which a wound roll R of flexible sheeting material is directed. a dispenser housing 10 for receiving the roll R to be delivered, adapted to move downwardly; a feed roller 62 rotatably mounted within the housing 10 adjacent the lowermost ends of the tracks 26, 26; The outer peripheral surface of the roll R having support spindles 36 and 38 engaged with the lowermost ends of the tracks 26 and 25 engages with the feed roller 62, and as the feed roller 62 rotates, a feed roller 62 adapted to be rotationally driven; and a device 24 for directing sheet material leaving the feed roller 62 from the dispenser housing to a user. In a dispenser for a wound roll R of flexible sheeting material having a support spindle 36,38 projecting into; a roll drive guide positioned and movably mounted adjacent the lower end of each of said tracks 26,260; 46, the roll drive guide device 46 includes a roll drive guide device 46;
a device 5 for deflecting inward toward the center of the track 26;
6, and each of the roll drive guides 46, 460 is provided with a friction surface 50 that engages the outer circumferential surface of the support spindle 36; 38 in the track 26, the friction surface 50 A dispenser for a wound roll of flexible sheet material, characterized in that it is adapted to promote the rotation of roll R as it moves downwards. 2 a housing 10 and devices 26, 26 mounted within said housing 10 for rotatably supporting a wound roll R of flexible sheeting material within said housing 10;
The feed roller 62 is rotatably mounted in the housing 10, and the holding roller 84 is rotatably mounted in the housing and engages with the feed roller 62. The holding roller 84 means those 6
2, 84 to define a second nip through which the sheet material passes, and is operatively mounted within the feed roller 62 to pass the sheet material proximate to the third nip. a knife 68 having an outer cutting blade for cutting the sheet material as it passes; said feed roller 62 has an opening 70 for projecting said cutting blade; A roll of flexible sheet material comprising an actuating device 78, γ9, 80, 82 interlocking with said knife 68 to cause said cutting blade to project outside said feed roller 62 to cut said sheet material. In a dispenser for rolled rolls; the hold-down roller 84 has a plurality of axially spaced circular portions 102 rotatably engaged with the feed roller 62;
9, 80, and 82 indicate that a locus L drawn by the cutting blade around the rotation axis of the feed roller 62 until the cutting blade is completely projected outside the feed roller 62 through the opening 70 is; A plurality of circular portions 102, 102, . . . are arranged around the rotation axis of the holding roller 84.
The cutting is performed to the outside of the feed roller 62 through the opening 70 in a relationship that is timed with the rotation of the feed roller 62 and the holding roller 84 so as to intersect with an imaginary cylindrical surface defined by . The blade is made to protrude, and the shape of the cutting blade is similar to that of the holding roller 8.
4, and the cutting blade does not come into contact with the plurality of circular portions 102 when the feed roller 62 and the holding roller 84 rotate. A dispenser for a wound roll of flexible sheet material, characterized in that the dispenser is configured to: 3 a housing 10, a device 26, 26 mounted within the housing for rotatably supporting a roll R of flexible sheeting material wound thereon; It has a mounted feed roller 62 and a holding roller 84 that is rotatably mounted in the housing and engages with the feeding roller 62, and the feeding roller 62 and the holding roller 84 are 62,8
In a dispenser for a wound roll R of flexible sheet material, the hold-down roller 84 is adapted to define a nip through which the sheet material passes between 4 and 4;
a resilient conical portion 102 that urges the sheet material axially outwardly of the feed roller 62 to spread the sheet material along the surface of the feed roller 62 as the sheet material passes through the nip; A dispenser for a wound roll of flexible sheet material, characterized in that: 4 a housing 10, a device 26, 26 mounted within said housing for rotatably supporting a wound roll R of flexible sheeting material within said housing; a feed roller 62 mounted so as to
A restraining roller is rotatably mounted in the housing and engages with the feeding roller 62, and the feeding roller 62 and the pressing roller 84 are
0 to define a nip through which the sheet material passes. In a dispenser for a wound roll R of flexible sheet material; said hold-down roller 84 discards the leading free end of the sealing material on the outer surface of the unused roll engaged with said hold-down roller 84; Dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material, characterized in that it comprises a device 94 for raising and conveying the free end into said bip. 5. A dispenser for a wound roll R of flexible sheet material, the core C of said roll R having an internal through hole for the support mandrel 30, and one end of said core C of said roll R A slot is formed extending into the sheet material, and one end of the mandrel 30 is provided with a fin 34 that fits into the slot, thereby allowing the roll R
is locked to the mandrel 30 so as not to rotate relative to the mandrel 30, and the mandrel 30 protrudes outward in the axial direction beyond both end surfaces of the roll R and is rotatably mounted in the housing 10. has spindles 36, 38 for the
It has a portion 40 whose lateral cross-sectional dimension is smaller than that of the
The one spindle 38 is received within identically dimensioned vertical tracks 26, 42 in one of the inner walls 18, 16 of the housing 10, while the other spindle 36 has a larger transverse cross-sectional dimension. It has become too 5K to be accepted into this vertical orbit 26, 42,
Thereby, the spindles 36 and 38 protruding from both ends of the mandrel 300 are capable of mounting the roll R in the housing 10 with the axis of the roll oriented in only one direction. Dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material.