JPH06169856A - Folding device for toilet tissue paper - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically fold out the paper end area after cutting and supply the same. CONSTITUTION:When paper cutting is detected by a cutting detector 15, the paper end is folded out in a designated shape by a paper foldout mechanism 21, and fed to a designated position by a paper feed mechanism 31. Accordingly, even if a preceding user roughly cut paper, the trouble of manually folding out the paper end can be eliminated and a good impression can be always given to the following user.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a folding device for toilet paper capable of folding and supplying the cut paper end portion into a predetermined shape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional toilet paper dispenser comprises a support for rotatably supporting a paper roll and a cover for covering the supported paper roll.
You can pull out the required length of paper and cut it off with the tip of the cover.

[0003]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional distribution device, the paper cutting end is often liable to be rough, and there is a drawback that a subsequent user is uncomfortable. Especially in hotels, inns, restaurants, etc. where service is important, the end of the paper is folded in a triangular shape in order not to give a bad impression to the user, but it is not necessary to fold it every time it is used. It is possible and the effort involved is considerable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a folding device for toilet paper, which can automatically feed the end portion of the cut paper after folding.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, in claim 1, roll supporting means for rotatably supporting a paper roll, and paper folding means capable of folding a paper end into a predetermined shape are provided. Paper feeding means for feeding the paper in a predetermined direction, cutting detection means for detecting the paper cutting, folding control means for activating the paper folding means when the paper cutting is detected, and paper for operating the paper feeding means after the completion of folding. The feeding control means constitutes a folding device for tret paper.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the paper folding means according to the first aspect, in which the substrate facing the paper end portion, at least one folding piece flexibly attached to the substrate end, and the folding piece turned to the paper side. It is composed of a drive mechanism that moves and returns.

[0007]

In the folding device for toilet paper according to the first aspect, when the paper cutting is detected by the cutting detection means, the paper folding means is operated by the folding control means to fold the end of the paper, and after the folding is completed, the paper is fed. The paper is fed into place by the means.

In the toilet paper folding device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the folding of the paper end is performed by rotating the folding piece at the substrate end to the paper side and returning it by the drive mechanism.

[0009]

1 to 11 show one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a folding device, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the folding device, and FIG. 3 is a front view of a paper folding mechanism. ,
4 is an exploded view of the folding plate, FIG. 5 is a side view of the paper feeding mechanism, FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an electric system circuit, FIG. 7 is a flowchart of folding control, and FIGS. 8 to 11 are explanatory diagrams of the paper folding operation. is there.

First, the structure of the apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. In the figure, 1 is a main body case 1, 1
1 is a door, 21 is a paper folding mechanism, and 31 is a paper feeding mechanism.

The main body case 1 is open at the front surface and both side surfaces, and has a roll receiving portion 2 having a semicircular cross section having a guide piece 2a at the front end in the lower portion. Roll support rods 3 that rotatably support the paper roll R are removably installed on both walls of the receiving portion 2. In addition, a partition plate 4 that forms a vertically long paper passage 4a is provided between the main body case 1 and the back wall, and a bracket 5a above the partition plate 4 is provided with paper guide rollers 5 at the front and rear. ing.

The door 11 has a U-shaped cross section that matches the opening surface of the body case 1, and one end of the door 11 is rotatably supported by the body case 1. A lock 12 and a handle 13 are provided on the other side of the door 11, and the lock 12 can lock the door 11 in a closed state to prevent mischief.
The door 11 can be opened and closed by grasping the handle 13. Further, a V tooth row 14 for easily cutting the paper P is provided at the lower end of the front surface of the door 11, and a cutting detector 15 is provided inside thereof. The cutout detector 15 uses a piezoelectric element and detects the presence or absence of cutout from the pressure when the paper P is cut out by the V tooth row 14.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the paper folding mechanism 21 includes a folding plate 22, a pressing plate 23, a drive gear 24, two driven gears 25, a lifting link 26, and a pulse motor 27. It consists of and.

As shown in the exploded view of FIG. 4, the folding plate 22 has a substrate 22a whose lower end is formed at a 90 ° angle, and three folding pieces 22b, 22c, 22d each having a substantially right triangle shape.
A flexible sheet 22e made of a flexible plastic film, cloth, non-woven fabric, etc., and a flexible sheet 22e conforming to the combined shape of the folding pieces 22b, 22c, 22d,
The substrate 22 and the folding pieces 22b, 22c, 22d are connected to each other by 9
It is formed by combining the 0 ° corner portions so as to be joined and sticking the flexible sheet 22e on one surface thereof. The folding plate 22 has its upper portion fixed to the back surface of the door 11 so that the flexible sheet 22e faces the main body case 1 side.
Two folding pieces 22b and 22d can be simultaneously folded to the upper right side on the front side, and two folding pieces 22c and 22d can be simultaneously folded to the upper left side on the front side with the diagonal one-dot chain line shown in FIG. 3 as an axis.

A rotating arm 22f is rotatably supported by a bulging piece 22a1 provided at the lower left and right positions of the substrate 22a, and the left and right folding pieces 22f are attached to the rotating arm 22f.
Pins 22b1 and 22c1 projecting from b and 22c are engaged. A pinion 22g is attached to the shaft tip of each rotating arm 22f.

The lower end of the pressing plate 23 is formed at a 90 ° angle, and it is opposed to the center of the folding plate 22 with a slight gap allowing the passage of the paper P. The upper and lower ends of the pressing plate 23 are slightly bent toward the main body case 1 side so that the paper P can be guided without getting caught in the gap with the folding plate 22. Further, a long hole 23a for receiving the feed roller 36 of the paper feeding mechanism 31 is formed in the center of the lower portion of the pressing plate 23, and an elevating pin 23b engaging with the elevating link 26 is provided in the center of the upper end. Further, the pressing plate 23 can be moved only in the vertical direction by guide means (not shown).

The drive gear 24 has a tooth row 24a on a part of its peripheral surface (in a range of about 180 °), and is arranged opposite to the center of the pressing plate 23 on the main body case 1 side. This drive gear 24
A rotary shaft 27a of a pulse motor 27 is fitted in the.

Each driven gear 25 has the same number of tooth rows 25a as the driving gear 24 on its peripheral surface, and is arranged on both sides of the driving gear 24 so that they can mesh with each other. The driven gear 25 has a cam-like projection 25b for driving a link on a part of its peripheral surface, and a relay link 25d provided with a rack 25c is rotatably connected near the cam-like projection 25b. Each rack 25
c meshes with the pinion 22g of the folding plate 22, respectively,
A guide means (not shown) enables linear movement in an oblique direction.

The lifting link 26 has a pulse motor 2 at one end.
7, which is rotatably supported by a rotary shaft 27a, and has a long hole 26 at the other end.
A pair of first links 26a having a1 and a pair of second links having one end rotatably supported by the main body case 1 and having a connecting pin 26b1 at a position near the same end and a long hole 26b2 at the other end.
Link 26b and each first link 26a has a slot 2
6a1 engages with the connecting pin 26b1 of the second link 26b, and each second link 26b engages the elongate hole 26b2 with the elevating pin 23b of the pressing plate 23. Although illustration is omitted, the first link 26a or the second link 26b is urged downward by a spring material, and both the links 25a and 26a.
For b, the state of FIG. 3 is stationary. Each first link 26a
Are pressed upward by the cam-shaped projections 25b of the driven gear 25, and each second link 26b is connected to the first link 26a.
Thus, the connecting pin 26b1 is pressed upward and tilted respectively, whereby the pressing plate 23 moves upward against the spring biasing force.

The pulse motor 27 is fixed on an upper bracket 27b provided on the partition plate 4, and both driven gears 25 are rotatably supported by the bent end of the bracket 27b.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the paper feeding mechanism 31 includes a pulse motor 32, a first gear 33 fixed to a rotary shaft 32a of the pulse motor 32, and a second gear 3.
4, a third gear 35, and a feed roller 36.

The pulse motor 32 is fixed to a lower bracket 32b provided on the partition plate 4, and the second and third gears 34 and 35 are rotatably supported by the tip of the bracket 32b to form a third bracket. The gear 35 meshes with the second gear 34, and the second gear 34 meshes with the first gear 33. The feed roller 36 is made of rubber, and is rotatably supported by the end portion of a swing arm 37 which is supported by the shaft portion of the third gear 35. Timing pulleys 35a and 36a are coaxially fixed to the third gear 35 and the feed roller 36, respectively, and a timing belt 38 is wound around both pulleys 35a and 36a. The feed roller 36 is a long hole 23a of the pressing plate 23.
The paper P can be held between the folding plate 22 and the folding plate 22, and when a load is applied to the gear group during motor operation, the swing arm 37 is urged upward, and the paper holding force of the feed roller 36 increases. Paper P is fed downward.

Next, the electrical configuration will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, a control circuit having a microcomputer configuration, 42 is an operation switch, 43 and 44 are drive circuits for the pulse motors 27 and 32, and 15 is a cutout detector.

The control circuit 41 comprises a well-known CPU and a memory storing a control program, etc., and sends a control signal to each of the drive circuits 43 and 44 based on the detection signal of the cut detector 15. The drive circuit 43 sends a pulse signal corresponding to one rotation of the drive gear 24 to the pulse motor 27 of the paper folding mechanism 21. On the other hand, the drive circuit 44 sends to the pulse motor 32 of the paper feed mechanism 31 a pulse signal necessary for obtaining the feed roller 36 with a feed amount sufficient to expose the paper end after folding. As a power source for the electric circuit, a commercial AC power source is converted into a direct current for use, and a dry battery can be used. In addition, a solar battery can be used in a daylightable condition.

The operation and control procedure of the folding device will be described below. When the paper P is pulled out in the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in which the paper front end Pa is exposed and the pressure at the time of cutting is detected by the cut detector 15, a timer (t1) is started and a predetermined time has passed since the cut detection. For example, when 5 seconds have passed, a pulse signal for one rotation is sent to the pulse motor 27 of the paper folding mechanism 21 to carry out the paper folding operation (S1 to S4 in FIG. 7).

At the same time, the timer (t2) is started, and when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of folding, specifically, when the pulse motor 27 rotates 360 °, a predetermined pulse is applied to the pulse motor 32 of the paper feeding mechanism 31. A signal is sent to carry out the paper feeding operation (S5 to S7 in FIG. 7).

Specifically, when the paper P is cut along the V tooth row 14 without steps, the paper P after cutting is at the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. From the same state, drive gear 24
In the process of rotating 0 °, as shown in FIG.
The tooth row 24a of No. 4 meshes with the tooth row 25a of the left driven gear 25 so that the driven gear 25 rotates 180 °, and the rack 25c
Is pulled toward the upper right, the pinion 22g and the rotating arm 22f rotate about 180 °, and the two folding pieces 22b and 22d of the folding plate 22 are folded to the upper right on the front side. In addition, at the end of the course, the cam-shaped projection 25 of the driven gear 25 on the left side
The first link 26a and the second link 26b on the left side are tilted upward by the pressing by b, and the first link 26a and the second link 26b on the right side are also tilted upward accordingly, and the pressing plate 23 is moved upward. To evacuate.

That is, until the end of the folding operation of the folding pieces 22b and 22d, the pressing plate 23 can prevent the paper edge from swinging or being displaced, whereby the paper edge is used as the folding shaft of the folding pieces 22b and 22d. You can fold it along the front right corner at a 90 ° angle.

From the state shown in FIG.
In the rotation process, the driven gear 25 on the left side is further rotated 180 ° as shown in FIG.
4a, the rack 25c returns to the lower left direction, the pinion 22g and the rotating arm 22f rotate about 180 °,
The two folding pieces 22b, 2 of the folding plate 22 that have been folded
2d returns. Also, the driven gear 2 on the left side at the beginning of the course
5, the left first link 26a and the second link 26b are tilted downward, and the right first link 26a and the second link 26b are released.
Also tilts downward and the pressing plate 23 moves downward and returns.

That is, the pressing plate 23 can be moved downward at the initial stage of the returning operation of the folding pieces 22b and 22d to prevent the folded and folded end portions of the paper sheet from returning or loosening.

From the state shown in FIG.
During the rotation process, as shown in FIG. 10, the drive gear 2
The tooth row 24a of No. 4 meshes with the tooth row 25a of the right driven gear 25, the driven gear 25 rotates 180 °, and the rack 25c
Is pulled toward the upper left, the pinion 22g and the rotating arm 22f rotate about 180 °, and the two folding pieces 22c and 22d of the folding plate 22 are folded to the upper right on the front side. Also, at the end of the course, the cam-shaped projection 25 of the driven gear 25 on the right side
The first link 26a and the second link 26b on the right side are tilted upward by the pressing by b, and accordingly, the first link 26a and the second link 26b on the left side are also tilted upward, and the pressing plate 23 is moved upward. To evacuate.

That is, until the end of the folding operation of the folding pieces 22c and 22d, the pressing plate 23 can prevent the paper edge from swinging or being displaced, whereby the paper edge is used as the folding shaft of the folding pieces 22b and 22d. You can fold it further to the upper left of this side at a 90 ° angle.

From the state shown in FIG.
In the process of rotating by 0 °, as shown in FIG. 11, the driven gear 25 on the right further rotates 180 ° to be disengaged from the tooth row 24a of the drive gear 24, and the rack 25c returns to the lower right direction to rotate the pinion 22g and the rotation. The arm 22f rotates about 180 °, and the two folding pieces 22 of the folding plate 22 that have been folded.
c and 22d are restored. Further, at the beginning of the same course, the pressing by the cam-shaped projection 25b of the driven gear 25 on the right side is released, and the first link 26a on the right side and the second link 26b are tilted downward, and along with this, the first link 26a on the left side and the first link 26a on the left side. The second link 26b also tilts downward, and the pressing plate 23 moves downward and returns. Further, at the end of the course, the feed roller 36 rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG.
The paper P sandwiched between is fed downward.

That is, in the initial stage of the returning operation of the folding pieces 22c and 22d, the pressing plate 23 is moved downward, the folded paper P is fed downward, and the leading end of the paper P is slid on the guide piece 2a, as shown in FIG. Can be exposed to the outside.

In the above description of the operation, the paper P is the V tooth row 1.
Although the case where the paper is cut without steps is illustrated as an example, even when the paper is cut roughly, the cut end is shown in FIG.
If it is below the level S-S, the same folding operation as above can be performed.

As described above, in the above-described folding device, the paper end after cutting can be folded twice at a 90 ° angle and then fed in to expose the front end Pa, so that the front user can cut the paper. Even if it is done roughly, there is no need to fold it by hand, and a subsequent user can always have a good impression.

Although the folding plate is formed from the substrate, the folding piece and the flexible sheet, the flexible sheet is not required if the folding piece is directly rotatably connected to the substrate end by a hinge or the like. The folding plate can be formed. Also, the paper end after cutting is shown to be able to be folded twice at a 90 ° angle. However, if one driven gear, rack, pinion, rotating arm, etc. of the paper folding mechanism are excluded, it will be a 90 ° angle. It is also possible to supply a product that has been folded once. Further, the folding angle of the paper can be arbitrarily adjusted by the joining angle of the substrate and the folding piece. Furthermore, the paper folding mechanism and the feeding mechanism are not limited to the structures shown in the drawings as long as the same operation is possible. Furthermore, the cut-off detector may be replaced by a switch means such as a micro switch or a sensor.

[0038]

As described above in detail, according to the folding device of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to fold the cut-out paper end into a predetermined shape and then feed it in to expose the front end. Even if the previous user cuts out the paper roughly, there is no need to fold it by hand and it can always give a good impression to subsequent users, and hotels, inns, restaurants, etc. where service is important. Is extremely useful in

According to the folding device of the second aspect, by rotating the folding piece at the end of the substrate toward the paper side and returning it.
The above folding operation can be performed reliably and cleanly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a folding device.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a folding device.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the paper folding mechanism.

[Fig. 4] Exploded view of the folding plate

FIG. 5 is a side view of the paper feeding mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an electric circuit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of folding control.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a paper folding operation.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a paper folding operation.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a paper folding operation.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a paper folding operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Main body case, 3 ... Roll support rod, 11 ... Door, 15 ...
Cut-off detector, 21 ... Paper folding mechanism, 22 ... Folding plate,
22a ... Substrate, 22b, 22c, 22d ... Folding piece, 22
e ... Flexible sheet, 31 ... Paper feeding mechanism, R ... Paper roll, P ... Paper.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Roll supporting means for rotatably supporting a paper roll, paper folding means for folding a paper end into a predetermined shape, paper feeding means for feeding a paper in a predetermined direction, and paper cutting detection For toilet paper, comprising cut-out detection means, folding control means for activating the paper folding means when paper cutting is detected, and paper feed control means for activating the paper feeding means after completion of folding. Folding device. 2. The paper folding means comprises a substrate facing the paper end portion, at least one folding piece flexibly attached to the substrate end, and a drive mechanism for rotating the folding piece toward the paper side and returning it. The folding device for toilet paper according to claim 1, wherein: