EP0385894B1 - Cutting device for wiping material stored in an automatic apparatus dispensing it in a thin concertina-folded strip - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for cutting wiping materials stored in a unit which automatically dispenses them in the form of a narrow, concertina-folded strip is outstanding in that it is made up of two profiled, metal blades with a cutting edge (5 and 6) mounted, so as to elastically hinge, between two pairs (1-2) and (3-4) to feed the folded material, at a determined point so that when the said pairs are rotated, the blades are gradually superimposed from one end to the other, during the rotation whilst remaining in permanent contact and in a position substantially parallel to the rotation axes of the pairs of toothed wheels throughout the cut in order to provide shearing type cutting of the folded strip of material inserted between the said pairs and fed by manually pulling the strip projecting from the unit causing the pairs to rotate.

Description

Device for cutting wiping materials stored in an apparatus ensuring their automatic distribution in the form of a narrow strip folded in accordion.

The invention relates to a device for cutting wiping materials stored in an apparatus ensuring their automatic distribution in the form of a narrow strip folded in accordion.

The object of the invention relates to the technical sector of devices for dispensing wiping materials of the paper, wadding, non-woven or other type.

Many devices and devices are known which are designed to automatically or not distribute lengths of wiping material in public or private sanitary facilities.

These means use various materials: papers, wadding, nonwovens, which are endowed with a certain absorbing power. For essentially economic reasons, the materials used are becoming thinner and therefore more fragile.

When we want to make available to the user a device allowing automatic distribution of determined lengths of these types of materials by simple traction on an overhanging part of the device, as is the case with devices having made the subject to patent protection and of which the applicant is also the holder, it is understood that, taking into account the tensile strengths, as low as they are, and the fact that the user has wet hands, he can arrive with very fragile materials, to tear the strip pulled before the end of the distribution.

To remedy this drawback, the applicant has proposed, according to applications 8805939 and 8807823, an apparatus making it possible to cut and automatically distribute lengths of wiping material, even the finest, without risk of unexpected tearing. For this, provision has been made for combined means for successively folding the accordion strip unrolled, drag it and cut it to length automatically when the folded and projecting end of the device is pulled, thus having in the hand a narrow and resistant strip which will naturally unfold then providing a surface sufficient wiping.

In this type of device, the device for driving and cutting the folded strip mounted on a fixed part or in an interchangeable cassette, responds well to the problem posed. However, depending on the type of wiping material used, the cut by penetration and tearing obtained by a serrated blade and the pinching action of two jaws of support and counter-support, can be modified, that is to say -to say that the folded strip can be cut too early and then the next strip may not overflow from the device, or too late which can lead to excessive overflow and a greater tensile force.

To obtain a clear and precise detachment of the folded strip when pulling on the projecting part of the device, with all kinds of wiping materials from the most fragile to the most resistant, with wet hands and according to any direction out of the aircraft, gold. designed the cutting device according to the invention which is arranged between the pairs of toothed wheels for driving the material folded upstream by the complementary oriented and spaced projections defined in application N. 8805939.

We also know, as described in document US 2560 061, a device for cutting wiping materials stored in an apparatus ensuring automatic distribution by passage between drive means, the cutting device comprising two metal blades profiled at cutting edge in fixed position.

According to a first characteristic, of the invention the cutting device is constituted by two profiled metal blades and with a cutting edge mounted with elastic articulation between the pairs of toothed wheels for driving the folded material, at a determined point, so that by rotation of said couples, the blades are progressively superimposed from one end to the other as the rotation progresses, remaining in permanent contact with pressure and in position substantially parallel to the axes of rotation of the pairs of toothed wheels during the entire of the material introduced between said pairs and driven by manual traction on the strip projecting from the device causing the couples to rotate.

According to another characteristic, the metal blades are maintained in permanent contact and in a position substantially parallel to the axes of rotation of the pairs of toothed wheels, by a device comprising a rod articulated elastically with respect to one of the pairs of toothed wheels in its part. lower and shaped at its upper end so that, when the blades are face to face, a projection formed under the metal blade integral with the other pair of toothed wheels rests on this profiled end and causes both the tilting of said link and the pivoting of said blade which thus forces, the other blade located above, to also pivot.

Another feature is that the articulated link is precisely positioned on the pair of toothed wheels and profiled at its upper end, so that it is in contact with the projection of the thrust blade throughout the fraction of rotation corresponding to the complete superposition of the blades from one end to the other of their cutting edge, and that it escapes from said projection during all the rest of the rotation.

According to other characteristics, the blades have sharp edges opposite to each other and curved in the length of the blades to allow progressive shearing and their pivot axes are slightly inclined inversely in the transverse direction to ensure the contact between them.

These characteristics and others will emerge from claims 5 to 10 and from the description which follows.

• La figure 1 est une vue à caractère schématique illustant un appareil de distribution de matériau d'essuyage intégrant le dispositif de coupe selon l'invention et les moyens de guidage et d'entraînement du matériau montés dans une cassette interchangeable.
• La figure 2 est une vue de face selon flèche (F1) de la figure 1 de la cassette illustrant le dispositif de coupe en position repos.
• La figure 3 est une vue de dessous de la cassette selon la figure 2.
• La figure 4 est une vue de face selon flèche (F2) de la figure 1, montrant le mécanisme de lancement des couples de roues dentées.
• Les figures 5 et 6 sont des vues schématiques respectivement de face et de dessus illustrant le dispositif de coupe au début du sectionnement de la bande pliée et tirée.
• Les figures 7 et 8 sont des vues schématiques respectivement de face et de dessus illustrant le dispositif de coupe à la fin du sectionnement de la bande pliée et tirée.
• La figure 9 est une vue schématique de face illustrant le dispositif de coupe immédiatement après le sectionnement de la bande pliée et tirée.

To fix the subject of the invention without however limiting it, in the attached drawings, where:

• Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating a wiping material dispensing apparatus integrating the cutting device according to the invention and the means for guiding and driving the material mounted in an interchangeable cassette.
• Figure 2 is a front view along arrow (F1) of Figure 1 of the cassette illustrating the cutting device in the rest position.
• FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the cassette according to FIG. 2.
• Figure 4 is a front view along arrow (F2) of Figure 1, showing the mechanism for launching the pairs of toothed wheels.
• Figures 5 and 6 are schematic views respectively from the front and from above illustrating the cutting device at the start of the sectioning of the folded and pulled strip.
• Figures 7 and 8 are schematic views respectively from the front and from above illustrating the cutting device at the end of the sectioning of the folded and pulled strip.
• Figure 9 is a schematic front view illustrating the cutting device immediately after cutting the folded and pulled strip.

In order to make the object of the invention more concrete, it is now described in nonlimiting form of embodiment illustrated in the figures of the drawings.

Referring to Figure 1, we successively recall the main components of the illustrated device, it being understood that the device according to the invention can be combined with other types of devices.

The device consists essentially of a support (A) for fixing relative to any surface, of a reel holder element (B), of a closure cover (D) and of an interchangeable cassette (E ), carrying all the mechanisms necessary for driving and cutting the strips previously folded in accordion by projections (G1-G2) established additionally on the support (A) and on the spool holder (B) which also carries a means (H) of return and conformation of the strip unrolled.

The cassette (E) laterally has grooves (E1) for sliding guide on slides fitted to the walls of the support (A) where it is locked automatically and released by manual action.

Between the front and rear faces of the cassette, two pairs of coaxial toothed wheels (1-2) and (3-4) are mounted for free rotation intended for guiding and driving the folded strip upstream, and passing between the two couples. At the rear, the guide toothed wheels (1-3) with full teeth have a lower module than that of the drive toothed wheels (2-4). In this way, the guide toothed wheels mesh with each other without play, while the drive toothed wheels mesh with each other with a regular play allowing the passage without jamming of the folded strip.

On the other hand, the drive toothed wheels have a rounded edge on the outside facilitating the engagement of the band when loading the device, while the inside of the teeth is preferably with a rough surface, in particular on the and other notches (2a-4a) for passage of the cutting device, in order to ensure the drive without slipping after the cutting of the detached strip.

In order to precisely adjust the space between the toothed wheels, (2-4) according to the thickness of the material to be dispensed, provision is made for an adjustable mounting of at least one of the pairs of toothed wheels at the level of its axis of rotation. This adjustment can be obtained by any means such as tilting according to several positions of said torque relative to the faces of the cassette, mounting of the axis in an ovalized opening, or alternatively, by using cassettes of pairs of toothed wheels with different spacing. .

The cutting device according to the invention consists of two metal blades (5 and 6) articulated at (7 and 8) to the two toothed wheels of each pair and passing through the notches (2a-4a) of the wheels (2-4). The cutting edge (5a-6a) of each blade is in the form of inverted bevels and the edge is curved as shown in Figure 3, that is to say that the distance (x) from the edge to the pivot axis of each blade gradually decreases from the hinged end on the gear wheels (1-3) to the other end.

Note that the pivot axes (a and b) of the blades (5 and 6) are slightly inclined inversely in the transverse direction for reasons explained in the following description.

The blades are positioned between the toothed wheels of each pair so that by rotation of said pairs can be face to face in slight offset with their overlapping cutting edges.

The blade (5) is connected, at its end opposite the cutting edge to the toothed wheel (2) by a spring (9) oriented to return said blade in the direction of rotation of the toothed wheel; in the same way, the blade (6) is returned by a spring (10) and the two blades rest at rest on the hub between the toothed wheels (3-4).

A link (11) is articulated at (12) near its lower end on the toothed wheel (3) below the blade (6) at rest. Its upper end located immediately under the blade forms a hollow imprint (11a) intended to cooperate with a convex projection (5b) of the blade (5) when the two blades arrive face to face.

A spring (13) suitably attached to the lower end of the link and on the toothed wheel (3) resiliently brings the link back into abutment against a stopping point (3a) of said toothed wheel.

We will now describe the operation of the device equipped with the cutting device according to the invention.

When loading the device, the strip of material is unwound from the reel mounted on its support (B), then positioned on the return and shaping member (H) and engaged behind the support (B) released from the fixed part (A), until its free end projects beyond the lower part of the appliance.

The support (B) is then applied against the fixed part (A), thereby initiating the folding of the strip by the projections (G1-G2). When manually pulling on the overhanging end, the folded strip automatically passes between the pairs of toothed wheels (1-3) and (2-4) which are then rotated, tensioning a spring (14) attached to the ends eccentrics (15) formed at the end of the axes of rotation of the pairs of toothed wheels and outside the wheels (1 and 3). The spring (14) is pretensioned in the rest position (Figure 4) and the eccentrics (15) are oriented so that the spring is in the elastic return phase when the two cutting blades come face to face. In this way, the energy stored by the spring is released to add to the manual tensile force in order to overcome the resistance generated by cutting the material.

When the two blades are face to face (Figures 5 and 6), taking into account their mounting on the toothed wheels, their active part is substantially parallel to the line passing through the axes of rotation of the toothed wheels, and the cutting edge of the blade (6) is in contact or almost with the edge of the blade (5) while being ready to be superimposed at their end situated on the side of the gear wheels (1 and 3).

At this instant, the projection (5b) of the blade (5) rests on the imprint (11a) of the rod (11) which, due to its judiciously calculated point of articulation (12), pivots with the against its spring (13) under the thrust of the blade (5) driven in rotation by manual traction on the overflowing strip. Said blade (5) thus abutted by its projection (5b), remains aligned with the line of axes and supports the blade (6) also driven; the blade spring (5) is calibrated to ensure pressure on the blade (6) during cutting.

During this phase, the folded strip of material pulled manually is cut gradually from one edge to the other (Figures 7 and 8) due to the curved profile of the cutting edges of the blades.

In practice, the adjustment and configuration of the blades is such that in terms of cutting, there remains a thickness of material which is not cut, so that in the manual traction action, the next strip is also driven between the cogwheels to extend beyond the device. The complete separation then takes place quite naturally by reaction at the end of traction when the toothed wheels also driven by the return of the spring (14), return to their rest position after a pawl (16) articulated elastically on the toothed wheel ( 2), has passed a projection (17) formed on the hub of the toothed wheel and provided with at least one stop notch (17a) preventing the backward movement of the toothed wheels.

Note that when the drawn strip is cut, the blades (5 and 6) are substantially on the line of the axes of rotation of the toothed wheels (Figure 7).

At this time, the imprint (11a) of the link (11) escapes from the projection (5b) of the blade (5) which can then pivot in elastic return to return to the rest position, while the blade (6) which is then no longer supported in fact the same (Figure 9). The link (11) also returns to the stop position on the stop point (3a). The device is then ready to operate a new manual traction on the next strip overflowing. Note also that a clearance (18) is provided at the rear of the cassette to possibly collect the waste of wiping materials which can then be discharged through openings (19).

The advantages emerge clearly from the description, in particular the clear and precise cutting of all types of wiping materials is emphasized by the profiled cutting blades acting by progressive shearing.

Claims (10)

1. Cutting device for wiping materials stored in an apparatus for the automatic dispensing of these materials in the form of a narrow, accordion-pleated strip or web by means of the passage thereof between pleating end driving organs, said device consisting of two contoured metal blades wits sharpening cutting edge (5 and 6) which are mounted with elastically hinged linking between two driving pairs of toothed wheels (1-2) and (3-4) for the pleated or folded material, at a point which is so pre-determined that as a result of the rotation of said pairs, the cutting blades will be superposed gradually from an end to the other end, as the rotation is in progress, while remaining in permanent pressure contact relationship and in a position very nearly parallel to the central axes of rotation of the toothed wheel pairs for the whole duration of the cutting process in order to cut off by shearing action the pleated web of material inserted between said pairs and driven by manual pull on the web projecting out from the apparatus causing thereby the wheel pairs to be rotated.
2. Cutting device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the metal blades 5 and 6 are maintained in permanent contact relationship and in a position very nearly parallel to the rotational axes of the pairs of toothed wheels by means of a device including a small rod (11) liked hingedly and elastically relative to one of the pairs of toothed wheels, at the lower part thereof, and designated at the upper part (11a) thereof in order that at the time where the blades are facing each other, a projection (5b) formed under the metal blade (5) unitary with the other pair of toothed wheels will be abutted on this contoured end, bringing about at the same time the rocking motion of said small rod and the swivelling of said blade (5), the other blade (6) located above being caused thereby to be also swivelled.
3. Cutting device as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the hinged small rod (11) is positioned in an accurate manner on the pair of toothed wheels and so contoured at the upper end thereof that this rod will be in contact with the projection (5b) of the urging blade (5) during all the fraction of rotation corresponding to the complete superposition of the blades from the one end to the other end of their sharpened cutting edge, and will be cleared from said projection for the whole time during which the rotation is completed.
4. Cutting device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cutting blades (5 and 6) have sharpened cutting edges (5a and 6a) facing one another in order to permit the cutting operation to be achieved by shearing action.
5. Cutting device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the cutting blades (5 and 6) have curved sharpened cutting edges (5a and 6a) with between the said edge thereof and the pivotal axis (7 and 8) thereof a distance (x) which is gradually decreasing from the end located on the side of the driving toothed wheels (1 and 3) up to the other end, so that a gradual shearing action will take place within the width of the folded web.
6. Cutting device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the pivotal axes (7 and 8) are slightly inclined in a conversely reverse manner in the transverse direction in order to provide a permanent contact for all the duration of the cutting step.
7. Cutting device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the cutting blades (5 and 6) are so positioned and designed that with a given type of material, the severing action will take place on all the pleats of the pulled out web, with the exception of one layer only ; said web being separated naturally on completion of the pulling stress by reaction due to the abutment of the toothed wheels on a non-return stop, in order to provide the automatic projection of the next web.
8. Cutting device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the spacing for the passage of the folded web of material therethrough between the two toothed wheels (2 and 4) is vertically adjustable in accordance with the type of the paid out material.
9. Cutting device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the toothed wheels (2 and 4) are provided, at least on both sides of notches (2a) and 4a) for the passage of the cutting blades (5 and 6) therethrough, with a roughened internal surface for driving through slipping the web of material coming next to the severed web.
10. Cutting device as claimed in Claim 1, integrated within a cassette (E) interchangeable with the pairs of toothed wheels and the other elements necessary for the operation, characterized in that there is comprised within said cassette a clearance (18) making it possible to collect the material waste which can be discharged through suitable openings (19).

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