EP1740079B1 - Wiping material dispenser provided with a cutting device comprising a format selecting unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A wiping material dispenser includes a drum receiving a cutting blade holder. An extension of one of the drum lateral sides comprises an offset supporting plate provided with an opening for fixing an end of the blade holder. A toothed sector is mounted on the end and interacts with a gearwheel freely mounted on the drum axis and connected to a hooked cam. The drum has a projected element having a ramp profile. A lateral flange of a housing receiving the drum axis makes it possible to fix a shaped body exhibiting elastic pivoting capacity in order for an end thereof to interact with the hooked cam or the projected element.

Description

The invention relates to the technical sector of dispensing machines with automatic cutting of wiping paper-type wiping materials for towel, toilet paper, wiping and cleaning applications in general.

The Applicant has developed many devices of this type which comprise, in the usual manner, a housing, a hood, a drum with integrated cutting blade, said blade being able to exit the drum in operation by means of launching and recalling drum. Side flanges of the housing are arranged to support the coil of material that comes, either in direct support on the drum, according to the teaching of the patent FR 2,322,215 , or in a plane above the drum without contact therewith, as for example in the embodiment described in the patent FR 2.799.946 . In this specific embodiment, a pressure roller is capable of ensuring a pressure of the web of material at a given location in addition to a second defined pressure zone towards the cutting zone of the web of material at the drum. . Thus, the loading coil can be mounted either on the receiving drum of the cutting mechanism, or in a plane above the drum and without contact therewith. These different types of devices in their basic concept and with different layouts are widely exploited by the applicant throughout the world through its licensees.

The Applicant has thus developed another dispenser device with automatic cutting of wiping material that is simplified in its implementation. purpose and purpose of the patent FR No. 2,828,084 . Briefly, the apparatus comprises a base casing with a bottom face and a bottom face with a cover, said casing receiving in a detachable manner, snap-fastening, a cartridge defining a supporting structure comprising two lateral transverse flanges, a connecting plate arranged between the flanges and a front spacer bar. The flanges receive, in their upper part, support ends of the material reel and, in their lower part, two drums arranged side by side, with no direct contact between them, the first drum being the blade drum, the second being the return drum, said drums being arranged at one of their ends facing to receive toothed rings for their connection and their rotation relative to each other. The blade drum is furthermore provided with a third ring gear cooperating with the mechanism for rotating the drums including a fixed cam. This blade holder arm of the cutting device includes a movable blade which cooperates with the aforementioned fixed cam by defining the path of the cutting blade. This specific apparatus includes a template for adjusting the format of the web of material to be dispensed, either by a prior change of pinion, or with the use of a sliding pinion that can be displaced in order to cooperate according to the position with a particular toothed wheel by a Drum arrangement in particular. Said sliding pinion is associated with an index protruding mounted on the movable shaft support sliding pinion and to be moved beforehand by the operator. This requires a prior adjustment of the format by the operator with opening of the device. This apparatus has the features of the preamble of claim 1.

In all the embodiments developed by the Applicant to date, the cutting device is independent of the arrangements and mechanisms for selecting the format.

As part of his personal research, the Applicant wanted to improve the output of the cutting blade out of the drum with a smooth operation, which can be adapted to any type of dispensing machine recalled above.

Another object of the invention has been to incorporate a format selector device complementary to said cutting device, which is of simplified construction, with a minimum of parts, and an ease of adjustment for the operator.

The aim sought by the Applicant has thus been to make improvements on the cutting device and on the format selection device which can be integrated in an optimized manner into existing devices.

These and other goals will emerge from the rest of the description.

According to a first characteristic of the invention, the apparatus for dispensing wiping materials, of the type comprising a casing with lateral flanges between which are arranged a receiving drum of a blade holder with a cutting blade, a reel of materials, is remarkable in that one of the transverse sides of the drum has in its extension a remote support plate having an opening for fixing the end of the blade holder, in that a toothed sector is mounted on said end with a peripheral end toothed, in that the toothed sector cooperates with a toothed wheel mounted free on the axis of the drum, said toothed wheel being secured to a hook cam, and in that the drum has, on the outer face of said transverse side, a shape protruding with a ramp profile, and in that the lateral flange of the casing opposite receiving the axis of the drum allows the attachment of a profiled body disposed between two fixed stops, said body having an elastic capacity pivoting to cooperate by its end forming appendage and head with either said hook cam, or with said protruding shape, depending on the operation and traction of the web of material.

• la figure 1 est une vue à caractère schématique d'un appareil distributeur, le couvercle n'étant pas représenté.
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective partielle du dispositif de l'invention avant montage et illustrant les composants essentiels.
• les figures 3, 4, 5 et 6 sont des vues à caractère schématique illustrant le dispositif de coupe, le moyen de sélecteur de format n'étant pas représenté, et le fonctionnement s'effectuant par la distribution d'un format de bandes de matériau en petit format.
• les figures 7 à 9 sont des vues à caractère schématique illustrant le dispositif de coupe, le moyen sélecteur étant représenté par son axe, et dans le cadre de la distribution d'un grand format.
• la figure 10 est une vue partielle à caractère schématique illustrant le tambour et les différents composants successifs montés.
• la figure 11 est une vue partielle du flasque support des moyens sélecteur de format.

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

• the figure 1 is a schematic view of a dispensing apparatus, the lid is not shown.
• the figure 2 is a partial perspective view of the device of the invention before assembly and illustrating the essential components.
• the Figures 3, 4 , 5 and 6 are schematic views illustrating the cutting device, the format selector means not being shown, and the operation being effected by dispensing a format of strips of material in small format.
• the Figures 7 to 9 are schematic views illustrating the cutting device, the selector means being represented by its axis, and in the context of the distribution of a large format.
• the figure 10 is a partial schematic view illustrating the drum and the various successive components mounted.
• the figure 11 is a partial view of the support flange of the format selector means.

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 dispensing apparatus is referenced as a whole by (1) and comprises a casing (2) having side flanges (3) (4) supporting the drum (5) including a cutting device on the one hand, and the coil of material (7) on the other hand. In a known manner, the drum whose end axes (5a) are positioned in the flanges (3) (4), has a longitudinal indentation (5b) capable of receiving the blade carrier (6) ( 6a), and this, in an articulated manner. A spring (8) ensures the elastic retention of the blade holder being fixed at one end to the central hub (5c) of the drum and to the other on said blade holder.

According to the invention, one of the transverse sides (5d) of the drum (5) has in its extension a support plate (10) obtained by molding with the structure of said drum and being offset with respect to said lateral side (5d). The support plate has an opening (10a) for fixing the end (6b) of the blade holder (6). On said end of the latter, is mounted a toothed sector (11) established at an angle of about 70 to 80 ° and having at the peripheral end a plurality of teeth (11a). These teeth are capable of cooperating with a toothed wheel (12) freely mounted and underlying on the axis (5a) of the drum to thereby allow it to be exposed thereafter the cutting blade outlet. Said toothed wheel (12) is secured to a hook cam (13) which rotates with the latter during operation in rotation of the drum. The end of the axis of the drum (5a) also receives a toothed wheel (14) of small diameter extending by a fixing surface (14a). Meanwhile, the flange (4) support of the aforementioned guide pin (5a) is itself arranged with a notch (4a) for the positioning and support of the axis of the drum. The drum (5) additionally has on its outer lateral face (5d) a protruding shape (15) with a ramp profile (15a), this shape being secured or shaped during molding. The flange (4) receives in its upper part in an attached manner or one-piece, two fixed forms constituting abutments (16) (17) between which is positioned a shaped body (18) which is fixed in its lower part by an axis of link and pivoting (19) disposed between the two abovementioned abutments. This body is shaped to have an elastic capacity of deformation under the conditions that will be defined below. This body comprises an elongate central base (18a) whose upper end (18b) has an appendix (18c) shaped L or hook and forming a head, and which is positioned opposite the edge (4c) of the flange (4). ) facing, and slightly inward overflow relative to said flange (4). From its base (18a), the body (18) has a flexible tongue (18d) whose rear end abuts the abutment (17). Thus, this body is likely to be biased in tilting due to its elastic deformation capacity and relative to its point of attachment and articulation (19) on the flange (4). Moreover, the lower part (18e) of the head of this body constitutes a guiding and abutment zone by a recess (18f) whose function will be specified later.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the lower part (4d) of the flange (4) is capable of receiving a bent lever (20) which is pivotally mounted relative to a hinge pin (26) secured to the flange (4). ) opposite. This lever (20) is shaped in a very particular way on either side of its axis of articulation. At the front, it has a recess (20a) L-shaped, so as to define a trident shape (20b). The latter thus comprises two outer teeth (20b1) (20b2) between which is formed a flexible tongue (20b3). The space (e) formed between the tooth (20c1) and the flexible tongue (20b3) is capable of accommodating a shaped axis (21a) projecting from a selector knob (21) of format. This profiled portion (21a) has a flat (21b) whose function will be described later. The selector knob is fixed by screws (27) to the flange (4) of the reference part (25). At its opposite end, the bent lever (20) is capable of receiving by a connecting pin (22) a toothed wheel (23) which will be capable of meshing with the gear wheel (14) underlying mounted on the axis (5a) of the drum (5). The toothed wheel (23) receives on its face (23a) facing the wall of the flange a projection (24) projecting finger forming whose function will be described later.

The selector knob advantageously has a marker (25) for identifying its position according to the two modes of small and large format distribution.

The structure of the invention having been described, it is now advisable to describe the operation of the cutting device when the latter is urged to cut strips of material in a first format, for example 20 to 25 cm, or according to a larger double format from the previous 40 to 50 cm. The drawings are thus referred to to expose the two phases of operation.

A) Distribution and cutting of a strip of material according to the small format (20 to 25 cm)

In this situation, the selector knob (21) is in such a situation between the tooth (20b1) and the flexible tongue (20b3) so that its flat portion (21b) is opposite the wall of the tongue. In this situation, said bent lever (20) in its lower part, receptive to the wheel (23), is located away from the aforementioned body (18) integral with the flange (4) and arranged in an adjacent plane. In this situation, the cutting operation is carried out as follows.

In the initial phase, the drum (5) in the rest position makes the cutting blade is retracted substantially inside the drum. The toothed sector (11) meshes with the toothed wheel (12) mounted on the axis (5a) of the drum near its lateral side associated with the hook cam (13). In this situation, it is these teeth (11a) located at one end of the sector that are in contact with the toothed wheel (12). On the other side of the flange, the toothed wheel (23) associated with the bent lever (20) meshes with the toothed wheel (14) mounted on the axis (5a) of the drum (5). The body (18) with elastic displacement is not stressed. When the web of material is pulled by the operator, the drum is rotated backward and only the gearwheel (12) and the associated hook cam (13) rotate. The toothed sector (11) is not subject to any movement for the moment around the toothed wheel (12) opposite. The hook cam (13) comes into abutment and contact against the head of the flexible body (20), and its recess in particular (18f) thereby ensuring a locking position. In this situation, under the pulling effect of the web of material, the toothed sector (11) associated with the drum (5) is rotated around the toothed wheel (12), which is locked in position by means of the link the cam hook with the head of the aforementioned body. This causes the cutting blade to come out of the drum. The continuous rotation of the drum causes the protruding form (15) which is integral with its lateral side (5c) to come in turn in contact with the flexible head of the body (20) and cause, passing underneath, its lifting by the elastic capacity of deformation and lifting of said head. This lifting is done thanks to the flexibility against the lower tongue of said body. The lifting of the head releases the cam hook (13) which can tilt with the toothed wheel (12) and return to the initial position by the triggering effect of the spring (8) which recalls the blade holder. The lifting of the head of the body takes place when the cutting blade is at the maximum output. Each drum revolution, there is cutting a strip of material in the selected format.

B) Distribution and cutting of a band of material according to the large format (40 to 50 cm)

It is now necessary to expose the format selection variant. In this implementation, it is necessary to act on the selector knob (21) by rotating it by half a turn, so as to eliminate the contact of the flattened portion (21b) of the axis of the button with the faces facing the teeth of the bent lever (20). The axis of the selector knob being of larger diameter, it causes the spacing of the intermediate flexible tongue (20b3) which comes in contact and pushed on the tooth (20b2) located immediately behind. This causes a slight pivoting of the bent lever (20) relative to its axis of rotation (26). Accordingly, the rear portion of the bent lever is slightly raised, so as to bring the projection (24) projecting finger of the toothed wheel (23) associated with the rear portion of the lever towards the lower base of the body.

Once the selector button is in position, it is necessary to describe the operation of the entire device, thus considering the distribution of a strip of material in a double format. To achieve this function, it requires that the cutting blade intervenes only once in two.

The approach is therefore the following. In the initial phase, the toothed sector is engaged by its teeth (11a) with the toothed wheel (12). Traction of the web of material causes the drum to rotate rearwardly and thus the rotation of the gearwheel (12) and the hook cam (13) associated therewith. The latter then comes into abutment against the head of the body (20) causing its locking in position with the wheel (12) associated. The continuous rotation causes the displacement of the toothed sector and the blade holder and therefore the exit of the blade. At this time, the finger-shaped boss formed on the wheel (23) is opposite the inner face of the body (20). The continuous rotation of the drum causes the protruding form (15) integral with the lateral side (5d) of the drum (5) to ensure the lifting of the head of the body and the release of the hook cam (13). The rotation of the drum again brings this time the finger boss, associated with the wheel (23), to cause the lifting of the head of the body (20), so as to escape and prevent contact with the hook cam which comes a again next to this area. Under these conditions, the hook cam is not braked and therefore its toothed wheel (12) associated either, and there is no action to ensure the output of the cutting blade. This allows, when the finger boss has passed its point of contact with the body, to then perform a second rotation of the drum, in view, this time, the output of the cutting blade. Indeed, the boss will no longer be in contact with the body and the hook cam comes this time in contact with the head of the body, causing the pivoting of the toothed sector and thus the output of the cutting blade and the shape in protrusion will lift said head of the body by releasing the cam hook and allow the exit. By this original arrangement, the distribution of a strip of material in double format is obtained.

The advantages are apparent from the description, in particular emphasizes and reminds the simplicity of the mechanism of the device, its immediate adaptability by an operator in the chosen format. The Applicant has found a great smooth operation of the cutting device. Thus, by a limited number of complementary parts, it is possible to provide this second format selection function.

Claims (9)

1. Wipe material dispensing machine comprising a housing (2) with lateral end pieces (3) (4) between which there is a drum (5) that accommodates a blade holder (6) with a cutting blade and a reel of material (7), characterised in that one of the lateral sides of the drum extends laterally as an offset support plate (10) which has an opening (10a) for fixing the end of the blade holder, and in that a toothed sector (11) is mounted on said end with a toothed peripheral end (11a),
   and in that the toothed sector cooperates with a gear wheel (12) which is freely mounted on shaft (5a) of the drum and said gear wheel is attached to a hooked cam (13),
   and in that the drum has, on the outer face of said lateral side, a protruding shape (15) with a ramp profile (15a),
   and in that opposite-facing lateral end piece (4) of the housing which receives the shaft of the drum makes it possible to fix a shaped body (18) located between two fixed limit stops (16) (17), said body exhibiting an elastic pivoting capacity in order for the end thereof which forms appendix (19c) and the head to cooperate either with said hooked cam (13) or with said protruding shape (15) depending on the particular operating phase and pulling of the strip of material.
2. Machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that toothed sector (11) is established over an angle of approximately 70 to 80° and has a plurality of teeth (11a) on its peripheral end.
3. Machine as claimed in either claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the end of the shaft (5a) of drum (5) receives a small-diameter gear wheel (14) with connection area (14a).
4. Machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the upper part of end piece (4) of the housing accommodates two fixed shapes that constitute limit stops (16) (17) between which body (18) is positioned and the lower part of the body is fixed by connecting pin (19) between the limit stops and to the end piece.
5. Machine as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the body comprises an elongated central base (18a), the upper end (18b) of which has an L-shaped or hook-shaped appendix (18c) that forms a head and positions itself opposite edge (4c) of opposite-facing end piece (4) of the housing and protrudes slightly internally relative to said end piece,
   and in that, at its base (18a), body (18) has a flexible tab (18d), the rear end of which presses against limit stop (17),
   and in that the lower part (18e) of the head of this body constitutes a guidance and limit stop zone thanks to a discontinuity (18f).
6. Machine as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the lower part (4d) of end piece (4) of the housing is capable of receiving a crank (20) that is pivotably mounted relative to a joint pin (26) which is joined to opposite-facing end piece (4),
   and in that the crank (20) is shaped at the front either side of its joint pin (26) with an L-shaped discontinuity (20a) so as to define a trident shape (20b),
   and in that its end that is opposite crank (20) is capable of receiving, by connecting pin (22), a gear wheel (23) that is capable of meshing with subjacent gear wheel (14) mounted on shaft (5a) of drum (5),
   and in that face (23a) of gear wheel (23) which faces the wall of the end piece has a protrusion (24) that forms a protruding finger.
7. Machine as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the trident shape comprises two outer teeth (20b1) (20b2) between which there is a flexible tab (20b3).
   and in that the gap (e) between tooth (20b1) and flexible tab (20b3) is capable of accommodating a shaped shaft (21a) of knob (21).
8. Machine as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that knob (21) fulfils a format selection function and in that its shaped shaft (21a) has a flat surface (21b) which, depending on its position, spreads or does not spread flexible tab (20b3) relative to outer teeth (20b1) (20b2) and causes pivoting of said crank relative to its attachment point,
   and in that the selector knob is fixed to the end piece by a shaft (27) and that it has a reference mark (25).
9. Machine as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the protrusion (24) that forms a protruding finger on gear wheel (23) fulfils the function of spreading body (18) when the crank is pivoted as a result of setting format selector knob (21) in a dual-format selection dispensing situation.

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