JP6667558B2 - Automatic napkin dispenser - Google Patents

Description

  The present application, and the resulting patent, generally relate to napkin dispensers, and in particular, fold one or more napkins, or groups of napkins, from a continuous roll of sheet material in a controlled and effective manner. The present invention relates to an automatic napkin dispenser for dispensing.

  Dispensers, such as napkin dispensers, are generally configured to allow end users to retrieve products, such as napkins, for personal use. While conventional dispensers dispense the product inside properly, such dispensers do not have a control mechanism, thus allowing the end user to take any number of napkins. Further, such conventional dispensers tend to allow the napkin to become dirty during storage and / or dispensing due to contact with the surrounding environment. As such, excessive distribution of napkins, prematurely soiled napkins, and other types of wasteful consumption can lead to unnecessary operating costs.

  Known dispensers generally provide a bundle of folded napkins therein. Facilities such as quick-service restaurants need to maintain prepared supplies of such napkins, and need to constantly refill dispensers to ensure customer satisfaction. However, such pre-folded napkins can be generally more expensive than continuous rolls of, for example, napkin material or other types of sheet material. From such a continuous sheet of material, more napkins can be made. In addition, pre-folded napkins require time and expense to continuously refill the dispenser.

  Accordingly, there is a need for an improved napkin dispenser and method for dispensing napkins and the like. Such improved dispensers and methods provide for the controlled, automatic, control of napkins and similar types of paper products in an economical, efficient, and clean manner to limit or eliminate unnecessary consumption and costs. Distribution can be realized.

  Thus, the present application, and the resulting patent, may provide a napkin dispenser for dispensing a plurality of folded napkins from a continuous roll of sheet material to an end user. The napkin dispenser may include a loading station for loading sheet material, a folding station for folding napkins from sheet material, and a providing station for providing one or more of the folded napkins to an end user. .

  The present application, and the resulting patent, may further provide a buckling folding assembly for folding a sheet of material. The buckling folding assembly may include a first pinch roller pair, a second pinch roller pair downstream of the first pinch roller pair, and a buckling tray adjacent the second pinch roller pair. The tail of the material sheet fills the bucket chamber and the fold of the material sheet is forced through a second pair of pinch rollers.

  The present application, and the resulting patent, may further provide a slot folding assembly for folding a sheet of material. The slot folding assembly is a vertical plate having a slot, a pusher plate positioned adjacent to the slot through which the material sheet extends, and for pushing the pusher plate and the material sheet into the slot to fold the material sheet. Plate drive motor.

  The present application, and the resulting patent, may further provide an inverted folding assembly for folding a sheet of material. The reversing folding assembly may include a multi-roller mechanism and a reversing drive mechanism. The reversing drive mechanism may include a first drive roller, a second drive roller, and a directional roller such that the directional roller rotates in a first direction to advance the sheet of material and folds the sheet of material. To rotate in the second direction to attach.

  The present application, and the resulting patent, may further provide a push-in folding assembly for folding a sheet of material. The push-in folding assembly comprises a knife assembly for separating a sheet of material, a push bar disposed adjacent the knife assembly, and a slot, wherein the material sheet is forced through the slot and the crease is formed. And a slot located adjacent to the push bar to attach.

  These and other features and improvements of this application, and the resulting patent, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the several drawings and appended claims. Will be.

1 is a schematic view of a napkin dispenser that may be described herein. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example of a napkin dispenser that may be described herein having a partially transparent shell. FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the napkin dispenser of FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of a napkin dispenser that may be described herein, having a partially transparent shell. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a third alternative embodiment of a napkin dispenser that may be described herein, having a partially transparent shell. FIG. 6 is a partial side view of the napkin dispenser of FIG. 5. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fourth alternative embodiment of a napkin dispenser that may be described herein, having a partially transparent shell. FIG. 8 is a partial side view of the napkin dispenser of FIG. 7. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a fifth alternative embodiment of a napkin dispenser that may be described herein, having a partially transparent shell. FIG. 10 is a partial side view of the napkin dispenser of FIG. 9. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a sixth alternative embodiment of a napkin dispenser that may be described herein, having a partially transparent shell. FIG. 12 is a partial side view of the napkin dispenser of FIG. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a seventh alternative embodiment of a napkin dispenser that may be described herein having a partially transparent shell. FIG. 14 is a partial side view of the napkin dispenser of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plurality of napkin dispensers, which may be described herein, in several different configurations.

  Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an example of a napkin dispenser 100 as may be described herein. ing. As described in detail below, the napkin dispenser 100 can take many different sizes, shapes, and configurations, and can use many different types of components. Further, the components described in the following examples may be interchangeable such that napkin dispenser 100 is not limited to the given components or structures of any one example. Rather, any of the components described herein can be used together in any combination or orientation.

  Generally described, napkin dispenser 100 may use one or more continuous rolls 110 of sheet material 120. Any number of rolls 110 can be used in the napkin dispenser 100. Sheet material 120 may include any type of natural and / or artificial cloth or paper sheets, including woven and non-woven articles. The sheet material 120 may or may not include perforations at given intervals. The leading edge of the sheet material 120 of each roll 110 can be considered a tail 125. Napkin dispenser 100 separates and folds sheet material 120 to create a plurality of napkins 130 having folds 135. The fold 135 may be a solid fold with folds, and may instead be a "U" or "C" shaped structure. Further, multiple folds 135 may be provided, ie, "Z" shaped folds or dinner napkin folds.

  Accordingly, napkin dispenser 100 includes a plurality of stations to make napkin 130 from sheet material 120 of roll 110. These stations may include loading station 140. Loading station 140 receives roll 110 of sheet material 120. Loading station 140 may include loading mechanism 145 and feed mechanism 150. The napkin dispenser 100 may also include a folding station 160. Folding station 160 may perform multiple functions. Accordingly, the folding station 160 may include a folding mechanism 170 and a cutting mechanism 180. Folding mechanism 170 may perform napkin separation with or without cutting mechanism 180 as speed mechanism 185, as described in detail below.

  Napkin dispenser 100 may also include a serving station 190. The providing station 190 provides the napkin 130 to an end user. The napkin dispenser 100 may also include a user interface 200. The user interface 200 may allow the end user to select the number of napkins 130, etc., as well as allow the end user to start dispensing. These stations and other components of the napkin dispenser 100 may be wholly or partially enclosed within the shell 210. The outer shell 210 can be made from any type of substantially rigid material. The shell 210 may have one or more loading doors 220. Napkin dispenser 100 may be in communication with cash register 225 or other types of instructions or input devices. Also, other components and other features may be used herein in many different configurations.

  FIGS. 2 and 3 show a first example of a napkin dispenser 100 such as may be described herein as a single roll, seated folding, horizontal dispenser 230. Dispenser 230 may include a single roll 110. A single roll 110 may have a plurality of perforations 235 at substantially uniform intervals. The loading mechanism 145 of the loading station 140 may include a slot mechanism 245 having a pair of spindle plugs 240 in the roll 110 and a pair of slots 250 formed in the outer shell 210. Slot 250 is configured to receive spindle plug 240. The loading door 220 may also have push fingers 260 sized to accommodate the sheet material 120 as described below.

  The folding station 160 may include a folding mechanism 170 in the form of a seat folding mechanism 270. The buckling folding mechanism 270 may include a first pair of pinch rolls 280 and a second pair of pinch rolls 290. The buckling folding mechanism 270 may also include a buckling tray 300 and a distribution shelf 310. The first pair of pinch rolls 280 can be positioned with respect to roll 110 and loading door 220. A second pair of pinch rolls 290 may be located downstream with respect to the buckling tray 300 and the distribution shelf 310. The pair of second pinch rolls 290 may be collinear with the set of first pinch rolls 280 when the tail 125 descends. The buckling tray 300 can be sized to accommodate a desired length of the napkin 130. Pinch rolls 280, 290 may be spring biased and motor driven. Each pair of pinch rolls 280, 290 may be driven at different speeds. Stripper fingers between the pinch rollers can also be used here.

  The serving station 190 may include a serving tray 330. The serving tray 330 may be half-covered. The serving tray 330 may include an offset angle 340 to overlap the napkin 130. The angle 340 of the buckling tray can be about 140 degrees or the like. Other angles may be used here. The serving tray 330 may also have multiple retraction shelves, as described in detail below. User interface 220 may include a plurality of push buttons 350. Push button 350 may be any type of mechanical or electrical selector or the like. Push button 350 may indicate the number of napkins 130 to be dispensed. Although pushbuttons 350 for two, four, and six napkins 130 are shown, any number of napkins 130 may be used here with any number or orientation of pushbuttons 350.

  In use, the roll 110 can be dropped into the shell 210 through the loading door 220 along the slot 250 of the slot mechanism 245. The tail 125 of the roll 110 can be located on a pair of first pinch rollers 280. The push finger 260 of the loading door 220 may push the tail 125 between the pair of first pinch rollers 280 to load the tail 125 when the loading door 220 is closed. The buckling folding mechanism 270 scores the fold 135 by pushing the tail 125 into the buckling tray 300. Once the tail 125 hits the end of the buckling tray 300, the pair of second pinch rollers 290 pulls the fold 135 between them. Perforations 235 may be separated based on the speed difference between the pair of first and second pinch rollers 280, 290 acting as speed mechanism 185. The speed difference may be about 2 to 1, i.e., such that the perforations 235 separate between the pinch rollers 280,290. Once the perforations 235 are separated, the napkin 130 may fall along the distribution shelf 310 into the serving tray 330. Specifically, the number of the napkins 130 indicated by the push button 350 may drop onto the serving tray 330. The napkins 130 can be removed as a group by the end user. Thereafter, the serving tray 330 can be reloaded as described above. Other components and other structures can be used here.

  FIG. 4 shows another example of a single roll, co-fold, vertical dispenser 360. Dispenser 360 may be generally the same as dispenser 230 described above, except for user interface 200. Instead of pushbutton 350, user interface 200 may include one or more sensors 370. Each sensor 370 may be any type of motion sensor that does not require physical contact, such as photoelectric, infrared, and the like. The sensor 370 can be located anywhere on the shell 210. Thus, the dispenser 360 can be activated by the end user waving around. Dispenser 360 can be configured to dispense a predetermined number of napkins 130, or can dispense only one napkin 130 per end-user hand shake around sensor 370. Dispenser 360 may dispense napkin 130 to serving tray 330 or directly to the end user's hand. Thereafter, the serving tray 330 can be reloaded as described above. Other components and other structures may be used here.

  FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a third example of a napkin dispenser 100 such as may be described herein as a multiple roll, slot fold, vertical dispenser 380. Dispenser 380 may include more than one roll 110. In this case, a first roll 390 and a second roll 400 can be used, but any number can be used here. The loading mechanism 145 of the loading station 140 may include a door loading mechanism 405 having a plurality of loading doors 220. Each roll 390, 400 may have its own loading door 220, the first roll 390 has a first loading door 410, and the second roll 400 has a second loading door 420. Each door 410, 420 can be held open via a door post 430. Door post 430 may include a post rod that operates with a pen click-like mechanism or the like. The loading doors 410, 420 can be kept closed via magnets or the like. The feed mechanism 150 can include a roller mechanism 435, where each door 410, 420 has a pair of spring-loaded pinch rollers. Specifically, a pair of first pinch rollers 440 can be positioned with respect to first door 410, and a pair of second pinch rollers 450 can be positioned with respect to second door 420. One of the rollers 440, 450 can be located on each of the doors 410, 420 with one located inside. Other locations may be used here. The pinch rollers 440, 450 may be motor driven, ie, drive rollers. A sensor may be used to measure when one of the rolls 390, 400 is exhausted, thereby activating the pair of pinch rollers 440, 450 of the other roller.

  The folding station 160 of the dispenser 380 may include the folding mechanism 170 as the slot folding mechanism 460. Slot folding mechanism 460 may include a vertical plate 470 having a narrow slot 480. A horizontal pusher plate 490 may be located on the opposite side of the slot 480 and may include a plate drive motor 500 for generally horizontal movement. The upper edge of slot 480 may create as little friction as possible, and the lower edge may create frictional forces around. As such, sharp, slightly offset corners can be used. The leading edge of pusher plate 490 may also have sharp corners to create frictional forces. Multiple pusher plates 490 may be used here. The slot folding mechanism 460 may have an assembly drive mechanism 510 to move the slot folding mechanism 460 up and down vertically or in any direction. Any type of drive mechanism may be used here.

  The serving station 190 may take the form of a plurality of slot serving trays 530. Multiple slot serving trays 530 may have a plurality of slots 540 therein. A first group 550 of slots 540 can accommodate two napkins 130, a second group 560 of slots 540 can accommodate four napkins 130, and a third group 570 of slots 540 can accommodate six napkins 130. Can accommodate. The group of slots can accommodate any number of napkins 130. Any number of groups may be used here. Any type of user interface 200 may be used here.

  In use, the first roll 390 can be loaded via the first door 410 and the second roll 400 can be loaded via the second door 420 of the door loading mechanism 405. The tail 125 of each roll 390, 400 can be positioned for each pair of pinch rollers 440, 450 of the roller mechanism 435 and can be fed into the pinch rollers 440, 450. As each pair of pinch rollers 440, 450 pulls the sheet material 120 downward, the pusher plate 490 of the slot folding mechanism 460 pushes the sheet material 120 into the slot 480 so as to make a fold 135. While the force of the pusher plate 490 may also separate the perforations 235, the leading edge of the next napkin 130 is retained via a pair of pinch rollers 440,450. Thereafter, the pusher plate 490 can be pulled to leave the napkin 130 in one of the slots 540. The slot folding mechanism 460 can be moved vertically via the assembly drive mechanism 510 so that the napkin 130 is positioned in the respective slot 540 of the group 550, 560, 570 by the pusher plate 490. Can be. An appropriate group of napkins 130 can be removed by the end user. Thereafter, the serving tray 530 can be reloaded as described above. Other components and other structures may be used here.

  FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a fourth example of a napkin dispenser 100 that may be described herein as a multiple roll, reverse fold, vertical dispenser 580. Dispenser 580 may use multiple rolls 110. In this example, a first roll 590 and a second roll 600 are used, but any number of rolls 110 may be used here. The loading mechanism 145 of the loading station 140 may include a side door loading mechanism 405 having one or more side loading doors 610. Rolls 590, 600 may be spindle biased via side loading door 610. The first roll 590 may be unwound along the back surface 620 of the outer shell 210, and the second roll 600 may be unwound along the front surface 630 of the outer shell 210. A sheet guide 640 can be used between the rolls 590,600.

  The feed mechanism 150 may take the form of a multi-roller mechanism 650. The multi-roller mechanism 650 can be located below the rolls 590,600. The multi-roller mechanism 650 may include an upper supply roller 660 and a pair of lower directional rollers, namely, a first directional roller 670 and a second directional roller 680. Some or all of the rollers 660, 670, 680 may be motor driven. Upper feed roller 660 may cooperate with first directional roller 670 to pull sheet material 120 from first roller 590, while upper feed roller 660 cooperates with second directional roller 680 to remove sheet material 120. Two rolls 600 can be withdrawn. Placing the push finger 690 adjacent to the side loading door 610 allows the tail 125 of each roll 590, 600 to be pushed into the multi-roller mechanism 650. Other arrangements may be used here.

  The folding station 160 of the dispenser 580 may include a folding mechanism 170 in the form of an inverted folding mechanism 700. The reversing folding mechanism 700 may include a reversing drive mechanism 710 disposed downstream of the multi-roller mechanism 650. The reversing drive mechanism 710 may include a pair of drive rollers, that is, a first drive roller 720 and a second drive roller 730, and a directional roller 740. Some or all of the rollers 720, 730, 740 may be motor driven. The reversing folding mechanism 700 may also include a pair of rollers 750 disposed downstream of the reversing folding mechanism 700. Roller 750 may be spring biased and motor driven.

  The serving station 190 may include a serving tray 760. The serving tray 760 may be partially covered. The dispensing tray 760 can be located at either or both ends 620, 630 of the shell 210. User interface 200 may take the form of an adjustable knob 770 or other type of selector to indicate the number of napkins 130 to be dispensed.

  In use, the rolls 590, 600 can be loaded via the side loading door 610 of the side door loading mechanism. The tail 125 of the first roll 590 may extend along the back 620 toward the multi-roller mechanism 650, while the tail 125 of the second roll 600 may extend along the front 630 toward the multi-roller mechanism 650. . Push finger 690 supplies tail 125 to multi-roller mechanism 650 when side door 610 is closed. When the first roll 590 is dispensed, the upper supply guide roller 660 of the multi-roller mechanism 650 can rotate in a counterclockwise direction, while the first directional roller 670 rotates in a clockwise direction. When the second roll 600 is dispensed, the upper supply guide roller 660 can rotate clockwise while the second directional roller 680 rotates counterclockwise. (These rotation directions are examples and are merely relative, as opposed to absolute directions. Any rotation direction may be used herein, in any order or orientation.)

  In either orientation, the tail 125 is supplied from the multi-roller mechanism 650 to the reversing drive mechanism 710 of the reversing folding mechanism 700. The first drive roller 720 may rotate in a clockwise direction, while the second drive roller 730 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, thereby pulling the tail 125 downward. Directional roller 740 may rotate counterclockwise to advance sheet material 120 to a desired length. Thereafter, the directional roller 740 may reverse direction so that a fold 135 is formed and captured by the downstream roller 750. Speed difference between multi-roller mechanism 650 and reversing drive mechanism 710 acting as speed mechanism 185 to separate perforations 235. Thereafter, the directional roller 740 may reverse direction again to continue pulling the sheet material 120 downward. Here, the folded napkin 130 falls to the provision tray 760. The appropriate group of napkins 130 can then be removed by the end user. Thereafter, the serving tray 760 can be refilled as described above.

  However, alternatives may use a cutting mechanism 180 or the like downstream of the reversing folding mechanism 700 to separate the napkin 130, as described in more detail below. The dispenser 580 may also use a buckling folding mechanism 270, etc., instead of the reversing folding mechanism 700 here. Other components and other structures may be used here.

  FIGS. 9 and 10 show a fifth example of a napkin dispenser 100 such as may be described herein as a single roll, push-fold, vertical dispenser 780. Dispenser 780 may use a single roll 110, but may use additional rolls. Dispenser 780 may include a loading station 140 in the form of a tail finder 790. Tail finder 790 may include cradle 800. Cradle 800 may be spring loaded by a plurality of springs 810 or other types of tensioning devices. Tail finder 790 may include a pair of drive rollers 820. A pair of drive rollers 820 may be disposed around the bottom of cradle 800. Roll 110 can be positioned using cradle 800 via loading door 220. Roller 820 may rotate back and forth until tail 125 is captured therein.

  The loading station 140 may also include a cutting mechanism 180 as a knife assembly 830. The knife assembly 830 may include a knife roller 840 having a knife blade 850 and an anvil roller 860. Knife assembly 830 can be used with non-perforated rolls 870 of sheet material 120. Knife assembly 830 may cut napkin 130 from non-perforated roll 830 by contact between knife roller 840 and anvil roller 860. Knife blade 850 can be slightly angled. Additional rollers may be used to maintain tension. Knife assembly 830 can also be used with a roll having perforations 235.

  The loading station 140 may also have a folding mechanism 170 in the form of a push-in folding assembly 880. As the napkin 130 advances from the knife assembly 830, the napkin 130 may be pushed into the slot 890 by the push bar 900 of the push-and-fold assembly 880. Push bar 900 can be sized to accommodate slot 890. Thereafter, the napkin 130 can be pulled into the slot 890 via a pair of pinch rollers 910. The pinch roller 910 may be spring biased and motor driven. As the napkin 130 extends through the slot 890, a fold 135 can be formed.

  The napkin dispenser 780 may also include a serving station 190 in the form of a hidden tray assembly 920. The hidden tray assembly 920 may include a flat tray 925 that deviates from the end user's standard appearance. Flat tray 925 may be motor driven or gear driven. The push paddle 930 can be positioned below and connected to the flat tray 925. By depressing push paddle 930, flat tray 925 may be retracted to drop napkins 130. A sensor or the like may be used here to initiate the dispensing. The napkin dispenser 780 may also use the user interface 200 in the form of a knob 940 or other type of mechanical or electrical selector. Any suitable trigger mechanism may be used here.

  In use, the single roll 110 can be dropped into the cradle 800 of the tail finder 790. Roller 820 may rotate back and forth until tail 125 is captured therein. Thereafter, the sheet material 120 can be pushed into the cutting mechanism 180. Knife assembly 830 cuts sheet material 120 from non-perforated roll 830 by contact between knife roller 840 and anvil roller 860. As the sheet material 120 advances from the knife assembly 830, the sheet material 120 can be pushed into the slot 890 by the push bar 900 of the push-fold assembly 880 to make the fold 135 and the napkin 130. Thereafter, the napkin 130 may drop onto the flat tray 925 of the hidden tray assembly 920. By depressing push paddle 930, flat tray 925 may be retracted to drop one or more napkins 130 onto push paddle 930 or into the end user's hand. One or more trays can also be used. Other structures and other components may be used here.

  FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a sixth example of a napkin dispenser 100 such as may be described herein as a multiple roll, reverse fold, horizontal dispenser 950. Dispenser 950 may have a plurality of rolls 110 therein. In this example, a first roll 960 and a second roll 970 may be used, but any number of rolls may be used. The assembly 950 may use a loading station 140 in the form of a door loading mechanism 405, where the door loading mechanism 405 comprises two doors 410, 420 and a pair of drive rollers of a roller mechanism 435 as shown in FIG. 440 and 450. Similarly, the dispenser 950 includes a folding station 160 having a folding mechanism 170 such as the reversing folding mechanism 700 of FIG. 7 having a reversing drive mechanism 710 having first and second drive rollers 720, 730 and a directional roller 740. Can be used.

  The dispenser 950 may have a cutting mechanism 180 in the form of a wheel cutter 980 when a non-perforated roll 870 is used. Wheel cutter 980 may have a cutting wheel 990 that is moved by pulley 1000 or the like. Pulley 1000 may pull wheel cutter 980 over sheet material 120 to separate the napkin. If a perforation roll 110 is used, the perforations 235 can be separated, as described above, using speed differences created by multiple pinch rollers or the like.

  Dispenser 950 may have a serving station 190 in the form of a serving bucket 1010 having a plurality of trays 1020 therein. The tray 1020 may be divided by a number of shelves 1030. In this example, a first shelf 1040 and a second shelf 1050 are shown. Any number of shelves may be used here. Each of the shelves 1040, 1050 may have a shelf motor 1060 disposed with respect thereto. Shelf motor 1060 may retract one or both of shelves 1040, 1050. Shelf 1030 may form a first tray 1070, a second tray 1080, and a third tray 1090. Any number of trays 1020 may be used here. Any type of user interface 200 may be used here.

  In use, rolls 960, 970 can be loaded into doors 410, 420 of door loading assembly 405 and supplied via pinch rollers 440, 450 of roller mechanism 435. Thereafter, the fold 135 may be formed via the reverse folding mechanism 700 or similar device. Once the appropriate length of sheet material 120 has been advanced, the wheel cutter 980 may cut the sheet material 120 via a cutting wheel 990 advancing along the pulley 1000. Alternatively, if perforated paper is used, the speed of each pinch roller can be used to separate perforations 235. Thereafter, each napkin 130 may fall into the serving bucket 1010. The third tray 1090 may hold, for example, six napkins 130, the second tray 1080 may hold four napkins 130, and the first tray 1070 may hold two napkins 130. Thereafter, the appropriate number of napkins 130 can be removed from the appropriate tray 1020 by the end user. The first and second shelves 1040, 1050 can be retracted by a shelf motor 1060 to reload the serving bucket 1010. Thereafter, the six napkins 130 may drop onto the third tray 1090. Thereafter, the second shelf 1050 may be closed such that the four napkins 130 can drop onto the second tray 1080. Thereafter, the first shelf 1040 may be closed such that the two napkins 130 can drop onto the first tray 1070. Other shelf opening and loading techniques may be used here. Other components and other structures may be used here.

  FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a seventh example of a napkin dispenser 100 such as may be described herein as a multi-roll, seated-fold, vertical dispenser 1100. Dispenser 1100 may use multiple rolls 110. In this example, a first roll 1110 and a second roll 1120 may be used, but any number of rolls 110 may be used here. In this example, the assembly 1100 operates the loading station 140 in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 7 with a side door loading mechanism 605 having a side loading door 610 and a guide 640 disposed between the rolls 1110, 1120. Can have. The loading station 140 may also use a feed mechanism 150 in the form of a multi-roller mechanism 650. Further, the dispenser 1100 may use a folding station 160 having a folding mechanism 170 similar to the buckling folding mechanism 270 having the pinch rollers 280, 290 and the buckling tray 300 described above.

  The dispenser 1100 may have a serving station 190 in the form of a multi-slot mobility providing tray 1130. The multi-slot mobility providing tray 1130 may have a vertical drive mechanism 1140 disposed adjacent to the buckling folding mechanism 270. The multi-slot mobility providing tray 1130 may have a plurality of slots 1150 therein. The slots 1150 may be organized into groups, such that the first group 1160 may have two slots 1150, the second group 1170 may have four slots 1150, and the third group 1180 may have six slots. A slot 1150 may be provided. Any number of slots and groups may be used here. The vertical drive mechanism 1140 drives the multi-slot mobility providing tray 1130 up and down so that the buckling fold mechanism 270 can supply an appropriate number of napkins 130 to each group 1160, 1170, 1180. . The napkins 130 can be removed as a group by the end user. Thereafter, the serving tray 1130 can be reloaded, as suggested above. Other components and other structures may be used here.

  As can be appreciated, different types of loading stations 140, different types of folding stations 150, different types of dispensing stations 190, and different types of user interfaces 200 are provided for the entire napkin dispenser 100 in a number of ways. Applicable in different combinations and orientations. While a vertical orientation 1190 and a horizontal orientation 1100 are shown above, FIG. 15 illustrates a side-by-side orientation 1210, a mounting 1220 above the counter, a mounting 1230 below the counter, a mounting 1240 on the rear wall, and a mounting 1250 on the side wall. Also shown. Other types of mounting may be used here. In addition to using various types of user interfaces 200 as described above, the dispenser may also communicate directly with cash registers 225 or other types of instruction devices. Any type of input device may be used here. A cash register 225 or other device may indicate the number of napkins 130 to be distributed based on the content of the instruction or other parameters. Other structures and other components may be used here.

  It should be understood that the foregoing description pertains exclusively to particular embodiments of the present application and the resulting patent. Numerous changes and modifications may be made here by those skilled in the art without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims (15)

A dispenser for dispensing a plurality of products from a sheet material,
A loading station for loading sheet material;
A cutting mechanism for cutting a sheet from the sheet material,
Downstream of the cutting mechanism, a folding station for folding the sheet material;
Wherein the folding station includes a push-in folding mechanism,
The indenting and folding mechanism includes an indentation bar, a slotted plate, and one or more rollers disposed adjacent to the slot and for indenting the folds of the sheet material into the slot .
A dispenser , wherein a side formed by cutting the sheet material by the cutting mechanism and a fold formed by the press-folding mechanism are substantially orthogonal .   A dispenser for dispensing a plurality of products from a sheet material,
  A loading station for loading sheet material;
  A cutting mechanism for cutting a sheet from the sheet material,
  Downstream of the cutting mechanism, a folding station for folding the sheet material;
Wherein the folding station includes a push-in folding mechanism;
  The indenting and folding mechanism includes an indentation bar, a slotted plate, and one or more rollers disposed adjacent to the slot and for indenting a fold of the sheet material into the slot.
  The loading station has a tail finding mechanism;
  The tail finding mechanism comprises:
  A cradle from which the roll of sheet material is dropped,
  A pair of rollers disposed about the bottom of the cradle and rotating until a tail of the sheet material is found;
  A dispenser. The dispenser according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the loading station includes a loading mechanism. The dispenser according to claim 3 , wherein the loading mechanism includes a slot mechanism, a door loading mechanism, a side door loading mechanism, a tail finding mechanism, or a feed mechanism. The dispenser according to claim 4 , wherein the feed mechanism includes a roller mechanism or a multi-roller mechanism. The pushing folding mechanism includes a cutting mechanism, dispenser of claim 1 or 2. The dispenser according to claim 6 , wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a knife assembly or a wheel cutter. The dispenser according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising a serving station for providing one or more of the folded products to an end user. 9. The dispenser of claim 8 , wherein the serving station comprises a serving tray or a hidden tray assembly or a multi-slot mobility providing tray. The dispenser according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising a user interface. The dispenser of claim 10 , wherein the user interface includes one or more push buttons or one or more sensors. The dispenser of claim 1 or 2 , further comprising a cash register in communication with the dispenser. The dispenser of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the sheet material includes a plurality of perforations, a first pair of pinch rollers includes a first speed, and a second pair of pinch rollers includes a second speed. The faster first speed the second speed, so that the plurality of perforations, separated between the first pinch rollers and the second pinch rollers as speed mechanism, according to claim 13 A dispenser according to claim 1. 15. The dispenser of claim 14 , further comprising a distribution shelf or cutting mechanism downstream of the second pair of pinch rollers.