EP1463431B1 - Device for controlling and repositioning a roll of wiping material in an automatic-cutting dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine for dispensing a strip of material comprises a housing accommodating an internally hollow drum with a longitudinal slit which accommodates an articulated cutting device, and two end shields of articulated design to accommodate a reel holder which supports a reel of wipe material. The drum is associated with means of starting, and a load button. The machine is distinctive in that it includes a device for monitoring and repositioning the reel of wipe material which comes into action once during each revolution of the drum. The device being designed on the drum and having localized contact with the reel once during each revolution of the drum and causing said reel to be repositioned.

Description

The invention relates to the technical field of wiping paper dispensing devices made of cellulose wadding, creped paper and similar material intended more particularly for wiping the hands of users, the distribution of toilet paper, the distribution of paper towels.

The applicant has developed numerous patents on apparatus of the aforementioned type with a basic concept defined in French patents no. 2332215 , No. 2340887 .

Thus, we briefly recall the characteristics of such devices. These essentially comprise a housing (1) having a bottom (1a) and two lateral wings (1b), said housing extending in its lower part with an inclined profile (1c), the assembly having a profile adapted to allow the receiving and hinging a lid (2). In its lower part, the housing is capable of receiving, in known manner, a drum (3), hollow internally, to receive a cutting device (4). In the upper part, the casing receives two flanges (5a) (5b) capable of receiving, with articulation, a spool holder (6) having end pieces (6d) support supports for a spool of wiping material ( b). The wiping spool is supported on the drum (3) allowing the passage and unwinding of the material web at the rear of the apparatus between the drum and the bottom wall of the housing, so that said web of material is likely to open into the lower part of the appliance. The drum has on its periphery a self-gripping band (3a) in contact with the material to allow holding and facilitate tearing after cutting operation. In order to ensure that the reel of material on the drum is held, it is necessary to exert a certain constant bearing pressure throughout the course of the reel of material, regardless of the forces exerted.

In the development of devices of the aforementioned type, it has been introduced, in the lower part of the apparatus, a safety roller (7) can be associated with a guide belt (8) and transmission linking the rollers safety device and said drum. A provision of this nature has in particular been described in French patent no. 2555975 .

The drum may be described of the type described in the aforementioned French patents, but may alternatively provide, according to the French patent no. 2656601 two apertures (3b) formed at the periphery of the drum and permitting the orientation and engagement of the corresponding material web portions in case of angular pulling of the end of the paper web by the user, non-conforming traction to a normal pull defined in the front extension of the appliance.

The applicant has also developed a particular device for controlling the smooth running of the paper web according to the diameter and weight of the paper roll, depending on the tensile stress exerted on the projecting end of the paper output. apparatus. Such a device has been described in French Patent No. 2764278 .

In the context of the exploitation of the apparatus of the aforementioned type, using all or part of the characteristics recalled briefly, the applicant has found, in use, a problem of holding the reel of material with respect to its support flanges ( 5a - 5b). Whatever the characteristics of said flanges and their implementation, there is the use a slight tilting of the coil to the left, at an inclination (α) of a few degrees, causing the shutdown of the device and the no paper distribution.

This situation was observed independently of the traction force performed by the user, regardless of the configuration of the drum.

The support flanges (5a - 5b) of coil then bear against the wings (1b) of the housing and there are jamming effects of the paper web that can not come out directly through the lower opening of the device .

To overcome this disadvantage, the user must then operate the loading button (9) arranged laterally to the device that causes the rotation of the drum and the output of the material web. The action on the load button is mandatory to put the device in working order. If this manipulation is not really troublesome in itself, it nevertheless causes some inconvenience to the user who has the impression of having then a device whose operation is random. This also requires the user to have the idea of pressing the load button, which is far from obvious if we consider that these types of dispensing devices are located in public places where there is a multitude of potential users.

The document US 4,621,755 defines the preamble of claim 1.

The applicant's approach has therefore been to seek to improve the operation of such dispensers of wiping material by avoiding occasional interventions on the loading button, allowing a distribution of automatic and regular material strips against a constant control of the material. positioning the coil of material inside the apparatus.

According to a first feature, the automatic cut wiper material strip dispensing apparatus of the type comprising a housing (1) having a bottom (1a), two lateral wings (1b) and extending in its lower part with a inclined profile (1c) and receiving a cover (2), said housing receiving a drum (3) internally hollow with a longitudinal slot receiving a cutting device (4) with an articulated cutting blade, and lateral flanges (3d), said housing receiving two flanges (5a - 5b) arranged to articulate to receive a spool carrier (6) supporting a spool of wiping material (b), said drum having, on a part of its periphery, a self-adhesive strip gripping means (3a), said drum being associated with launching means, an eccentric (10) and return spring (11) and a loading button (9), is characterized in that it comprises a control device and repositioning the coil of wiper material ge occurring at each revolution of rotation of the drum, said device (12) being arranged on the drum and having a point contact with the coil at each revolution of rotation of the drum causing the repositioning of said coil.

According to a second characteristic, the apparatus is characterized in that the device comprises, on one of the lateral flanges (3d) of the end of the drum, a zone of finger-shaped projecting thickness (12), said drum being arranged opposite said finger with a smooth zone (3g) breaking the gripping zone (3a), the width of said smooth zone between the self-gripping parts being such that there is only contact with the coil.

These and other characteristics will be apparent from the rest of the description.

• la figure 1 est une vue de l'appareil, selon l'invention, présenté en position repos. Cette vue est établie selon la ligne de coupe A.1 de la figure 2,
• la figure 2 est une vue de face, selon l'invention, le couvercle étant enlevé ou abaissé permettant de visualiser le dispositif de l'invention, en position repos de l'appareil,
• la figure 3 est une vue, selon la figure 2, en situation de fonctionnement en cours de traction avec déviation de la bobine de matériau,
• la figure 4 est une vue complémentaire à la figure 3 avec intervention du dispositif de contrôle et de réajustement en position de la bobine de matériau,
• la figure 5 est une vue de côté selon la ligne 5.5 de la figure 4 avec remise en position de la bobine de matériau.

For fixing the object of the invention illustrated in a nonlimiting manner to the figures of the drawings where:

• the figure 1 is a view of the apparatus, according to the invention, presented in the rest position. This view is established according to section line A.1 of the figure 2 ,
• the figure 2 is a front view, according to the invention, the cover being removed or lowered for viewing the device of the invention, in the rest position of the device,
• the figure 3 is a view, according to the figure 2 in operating situation during traction with deflection of the coil of material,
• the figure 4 is a complementary view to the figure 3 with intervention of the control and readjustment device in position of the reel of material,
• the figure 5 is a side view along line 5.5 of the figure 4 with repositioning of the reel of material.

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

The apparatus comprises, in known manner, a rotation drum (3) internally hollow and receiving a cutting device (4) with blade holder. The drum (3) has two disk-shaped end flanges (3c - 3d). The drum is rotated relative to the flanges (5a - 5b) of the housing. It comprises a first end (3c) projecting to be associated with the flanges (5a) with means described in the previous patents using an eccentric system (10) with launching spring (11). The other end (3d) of the drum protrudes on the other side of the device on the flange (5b) opposite and to receive the loading button (9). The body of the drum may be a closed hollow cylinder internally with a longitudinal slot for passage of the cutting blade and receiving externally a self-gripping strip (3a) with a longitudinal slot for the output of the cutting device. It may have, on a part of its periphery, lightening zones (3f) described previously in French Patent No. 2656601 and illustrated by way of example in the drawings, without limitation. The cutting device may be of the type described in French Patent No. 2787986 .

The device for controlling and repositioning the material reel according to the invention is designed in the following manner. One (3d) of the lateral discs of the drum, advantageously the one arranged on the right side of the apparatus corresponding to the noted lower inclination portion of the material coil, has, directly by molding or inserting, a zone of thickness projecting from finger shape (12) which can be in contact with the material reel (b) once per revolution of rotation of the drum. Furthermore, the drum has, opposite the positioning of said finger (12), a smooth zone (3g) breaking with the gripping zone (3a). The drawings are shown in such an arrangement. The protruding position of the finger (12) is such that it lies in an upper plane (P1) in the plane of the generatrix (P2) of the drum in its self-gripping zone thus conceiving that, during the rotation of the drum, the coil, partially in contact with said finger, then causes a lifting effect of the material reel allowing its readjustment in non-inclination position and therefore perfectly parallel to the axis of the drum. The lifting finger is established to allow a timely raising of the coil sufficient to allow its refitting and positioning. The width of the smooth zone (3g) between the two self-gripping parts (3a) of the drum is also such that there is no contact with the material reel with no retaining or braking effect.

In the event that the drum is full, the smooth zone is established over the entire length of said drum, its width is greater than the width of the lifting finger. In a variant where the drum has openings or recesses described in the patent FR 2656601 the smooth zone is established in the part corresponding to the surface facing the lifting finger.

It should also be considered that said lifting finger is located in a substantially opposite plane, at the output of the cutting blade, and after cutting the web of material. It is thus understood that there is an automatic readjustment at each turn of the position of the material reel responding to the problem and avoiding any intervention on the loading button.

The solution provided by the invention is simple to make and requires no additional part.

Claims (5)

1. Dispensing machine for a strip of wipe material with automatic cutting, of the type comprising a housing (1) having a back (1a), two lateral sides (1b), the lower part of which extends as a sloping profile (1c) and fitted with a cover (2), said housing accommodating an internally hollow drum (3) with a longitudinal slit which accommodates a cutting device (4) with an articulated cutting blade, and lateral side pieces (3d), said housing accommodating two articulatedly designed side pieces (5a - 5b) intended to receive a reel holder (6) which supports a reel of wipe material (b), said drum having, over part of its periphery, a hook-and-loop strip (3a), said drum being associated with means of starting, an eccentric (10) and a return spring (11) and a load button (9),
   characterised in that it comprises a control device for repositioning the reel of wipe material which intervenes during every revolution of the drum, said device (12) being arranged on the drum and making point contact with the reel during every revolution of the drum, thereby causing repositioning of said reel.
2. Machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the device comprises, on one of the side pieces (3d) at the end of the drum, a thick protruding area shaped like a finger (12), said drum being designed, opposite said finger, with a smooth area (3g) which breaks up hook-and-loop area (3a), the width of said smooth area between the hook-and-loop parts being such that there is only contact with the reel.
3. Machine as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the protruding parts of finger (12) are located in a plane (PI) which is above the plane (P2) of the generating line of the drum.
4. Machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the drum is an internally hollow closed cylinder with a longitudinal slit through which the cutting blade passes.
5. Machine as claimed in any of claims I to 3, characterised in that the drum has cut-away areas (3f) over part of its periphery.

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