MXPA97004175A - Process and apparatus to dispatch pa towels - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dispenser for paper towels comprising a housing with a cavity having a certain width to receive a stack of interfolded paper towels and a slot in said housing having a length and a width through the which paper towels are dispensed individually from said housing, the length of said slot being approximately the same width of said cavity, the slot having a pair of end portions at each end of said slot length and a middle portion between the end portions, the middle portion that has a smaller dimension across the width than each of the end portions

Description

PROCESS AND APPARATUS TO REMOVE PAPER TOWELS Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to a process and apparatus for dispensing paper towels, and particularly to the dispatch of a stack of interfolded paper towels. For this application, the term "paper towel" is intended to cover broadly all sheet paper products designed to dry or clean surfaces, including, for example, disposable napkins and tissues, as well as other articles generally referred to as paper towels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Individual paper towels are often dispensed from a stack of paper towels interfolded or bent into C. Paper towels may have a single fold or multiple fold construction. A single-fold paper towel is formed from a rectangular sheet having a fold line extending generally parallel to the two lateral edges of the sheet. The fold line subdivides the sheet into two sections,? -normally they are of equal size. The two sections of the sheet are each generally in the order of 28 centimeters x "" "centimeters When stacked, the sections of each paper towel are overlapped and adapted to receive between them a section of each of the two adjacent towels The fold lines of the two adjacent paper towels are opposite the fold line of the first towel.Adenu, the two adjacent towels will each receive a section of the first towel between their overlapping sections. The multi-fold paper towel shape is interposed in a stack very similar to that of a single fold paper towel.These towels include a plurality of fold lines to define a multiple of overlapping sections configured in an accordion style. In a stack, one section of each paper towel is received between a couple of sections of each adjacent paper towel.Another form of multi-fold paper towel, is the paper towel. that of crease C. A fold paper towel C is formed from a single sheet, and is folded to form a generally C-shaped configuration. Although the sheets are stacked to be dispatched, they do not interfere with each other. . A stack of paper towels is generally dispensed from an enclosed tray provided with an elongated opening along its bottom surface. A section of the lowermost paper towel projects from the opening to be held and dispensed by a user. In a pi1-bent, pulling a paper towel from the tray will cause the lower section of the next paper towel to protrude from the opening. In a stack of towels in fold C, a flap of the next towel is exposed to be fastened after the towel is removed from the bottom. Without erokffsrgo, in any case, multiple towels are occasionally dispatched when the bottom towel is pulled from the opening. The risk of dispensing multiple towels is particularly acute when the battery is low, and there is. Less weight and friction available to keep towels-remaining in the tray. The interfolded paper towels can also be dispensed from an opening in the upper part of an enclosed box. Essentially in the same way, pulling the top paper towel out of the box causes a section of the next paper towel to protrude from the opening. However, as the pile becomes smaller, an increasingly larger gap forms between the opening and the top of the pile. Frequently an e? -adored *** plastic in an effort to prevent adjacent paper towels from becoming disconnected. However, disconnection often occurs to alter the dispatch process. When this happens, the user must reach through the opening and pull the next paper towel out of the box. Finally, many dispatchers are susceptible to people purposely removing an excessive number of paper towels, and in this way cause waste and loss for the owner. One of these dispensers is formed as a box with an open front, such that the front paper towel is maintained along its peripheral edge. The stack is oriented horizontally and spring-loaded forward towards the opening. With this construction, a user can push a finger inside the dispenser, against the force of the spring, and pull a lot of the paper towels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, paper towels are individually dispensed from a stack of interfolded paper towels. The paper towels are received in a housing, and are dispatched by their extremadura. through a slot in a smooth and generally uninterrupted manner. The groove is formed by releasing a paper towel at the same time. Moreover, the dispatcher effectively resists the pull by a user of a stack of paper towels from the dispenser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a front view of a dispatch-in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is a top plan view of the dispenser. Figure 3 is a front view of the dispenser with a paper towel partially dispensed. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the dispenser with a paper towel that is dispensed additionally. Figure 5 is a front elevational view of a dispensing element of the dispenser. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second dispenser in accordance with the present invention. Figure 7 is a perspective view of a dispatcher tercp in accordance with the present invention. Figure 8 is a rear elevational view of the third dispenser. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX of Figure 8. Figure 10 is a perspective view of a third dispenser with a paper towel partially dispensed. Figure 11 is a perspective view, partially broken away in parts, of a fourth dispenser in accordance with the present invention. Figure 12 is a top plan view of a single fold, partially folded paper towel. Figure 13 is an enlarged partial end view "1 of a stack of single-fold paper towels.

Detailed Description of the Present Invention A dispenser 10 (Figures 1 to 5) in accordance with the present invention, has a housing 12 with a rear wall-1, a bottom wall 16, and a pair of side walls 17, 18, which collectively they define an internal cavity 19 in which a stack of paper towels 20 is placed. A shipping element 21 is slidably mounted for vertical movement in the cavity 19. The shipping element 21 has an overlapping top face 23. to the stack of paper towels 20, a front face 25, and a pair of side arms 27 (which are seen only in the modified embodiment of Figure 6). The upper face 23 includes notches 29 along its sides to receive the guides 31 mounted along the internal surfaces of the side walls 17, 18. Of course, other guide configurations could be used. The paper towels 20 are loaded into the housing 12 in an interfolded stack (Figures 1 and 13). Paper towels 20 are preferably single-fold towels, although multiple-fold towels can be used. A single-fold paper towel 20 (Figures 12 and 13) of a single sheet 22 of material having two opposite side-edges 24, 26, and two opposite end edges 28, 30 is formed. Sheet 22 includes a fold line 34 extending parallel to lateral edges 24, 26, preferably along the midpoint of the sheet; although, if desired, the fold line could be off center. The line d-* fold 34 defines two equal sections or layers 36, 38. The folded towel 20 (ie, with overlapping sections 36, 38) includes a fold side 40, a side edge 42, and a pair end 44, 46. The stacked paper towels 20 are interposed with each other (Figure 13). For example, paper towels 20a, 20b, and 20c are folded into the stack such that sections 34, 36 of each towel are superimposed. Towel 20a receives a section 36b, 34c of the two adjacent towels 20b, 20c between its two sections 34a, 36a. The fold lines 34b, 34c are placed on the opposite side of the stack from the fold line 34a. Then the section 34a is received between the sections 34b, 36b of the paper towel 20b, and] section 36a is received between the sections 34c, 3r > c of the paper towel 20c. The stack is loaded into the housing 12, such that the ends 44 (or 46) of the paper towels are directed towards the front wall 25 of the dispensing element 21. The paper towels 20 are dispensed through a slot 50 extending transversely through the front face 25 of the dispensing element 21 (Figures 1 and 3-5). ). The slot 50 is adjacent to the upper face 23 in order to dispense the uppermost paper towel of the stack. The lower edge 51 of the slot 50 is contoured to define a narrow medial portion 52, a pair of enlarged end portions 54, 56, and transition portions 58, 60. In particular, the lower edge 51 includes generally horizontal end segments. 62, 63, a generally horizontal middle segment 68 offset from the end segments, and inclined transition segments 65, 66 interconnecting the end and middle segments. In a preferred example, the height H1 of the middle portion 52 is 0.635 centimeters, and the height H2 of the end portions 54, 56 is 1.27 centimeters. Furthermore, in this example, the end segments 62, 63, the transition segments 65, 66, and the middle segment 68, are 3,492 centimeters, 0.896 centimeters, and 6.35 centimeters, respectively. Of course, the lengths of the different segments can be varied. Also, the dimensions of the slot may vary depending on the size, volume, and weight of the pnpol. To begin dispensing the paper towels 20, a user pulls the uppermost paper towel 20 from the slot 50. To assist in initiating the dispensing process, the cuts 70, 71 are provided on the upper face 23 adjacent the portions. of end 54, 56 (Figures 2 to 4). In this way, the user can reach one of the cuts 70, 71 and pull the first paper towel 20. Once the first towel is removed, the remaining towels will be pulled successively partially out of the slot 50 by removing each one. towel.

The stack of paper towels is placed in "1 housing 12 with the ends 44 (or 46) facing toward the front face 25. As seen in Figure 3, the dispenser 10 has the same function as that shown in FIG. a 20d paper towel partially removed from the pile. , paper towel 20d is initially initially removed through the end portion 54. In general, the corner 74 along the edge side 42 of the section 36 is refilled and e-pulled by a user. This pulling action tends to cause the section 36 to move in a rotary type movement as the section is pulled through the slot 50; although there may be significant variability of the movement of the towel during dispatch. The ski diagonally opposite 76 tends to move towards the far side wall 17, and thus gradually pulls the fold line 34 together with it. This action, at your voice, lines or rolls the lower section 38 up against the upper face 23 as the paper towel 20d is removed. The paper towel 20d is also sliding outwardly through the slot 50 as it is rolled and moved rotationally. To ensure that the corners 76, 78 release the side wall 17, the ratio of the width to 1 ~ depth of the paper towel 20 must be limited. For the paper towel to have a basis weight of about 10,432 kilograms to 11.34 kilograms, the width to depth ratio of the paper towel should not be greater than approximately 1: 1.1 (Figure 12); that is, the end-point distance Dx (ie, 40 to 42) should not be greater than about 10 percent longer than distance D? from side to side (ie, 44 to 46). In accordance with 1 - > above, if a paper towel has a width (ie, 7 side by side) of 12.7 centimeters, then its depth (say, end to end) should not be greater than about 13.97 centimeters. With respect to lighter weight paper, the ratio of width to depth may be greater than 1: 1.1; that is, paper towels can be formed with a larger D1 depth compared, '~ ae with the width D2. The depths of the paper towel, however, may be less than the maximum limits. Towels that are meaningful to grow, or the maximum aspect ratio for a given paper, risk binding as they are dispensed, which can lead to tears or excessive wrinkling of the towel. When the paper towel begins to be dispensed from the slot 50, the volume of the initial portion of the towel normally pulls through one of the portions d "end 54 or 56 (Figure 3). paper towel extends through the remainder of the groove The middle portion 52 tapers to prevent more than one towel being dispensed when the paper towel is pulled by the user.The intersection of the transition segments 65, P '" with the middle segment 68 it is rounded to avoid the trapping or tearing of the paper towel being dispensed. As the paper towels are removed from the dispenser 10, the dispensing element 21 slides down along the guides 31. In this way, the dispensing element 21 rests continuously on the uppermost paper towel. This application of weight on the towels maintains sufficient frictional forces between the interfolded paper towels, such that a section 36 of the next paper towel is partially folded outward with the removal of the most superior paper towel. More specifically, as the lower section 38d of the uppermost paper towel is rolled and slid into the slot 50, the pupeloi section 36e of the next paper towel 20e is rolled and slid therewith. This concurrent movement of the two towels continues essentially until the overlapping sections begin to pass through the slot 50. At this point, the tapered middle portion 52 and the transition portions 58, 60, and the friction contact with the sections - of underlying paper towels, tend to resist the concurrent movement of the two sections of the towel. The paper towel 20d, therefore, begins to slide relative to the towel 20e, such that only a portion of the next towel extends out of the slot 50 when the towel 2O1 has been completely removed (Figure 4) . As can be seen, the next towel 20e will be dispensed in the same manner as the towel 20d, with the exception that the movement will be in the opposite direction, because the towels are interfolded in an alternate manner. To load the dispenser, the dispensing element 21 is lifted or removed from the housing 12, and the paper towels are inserted. In this embodiment, the front and the upper part of the housing 12 are opened to facilitate the loading of the paper towels. However, an upper wall or a stop along the upper part of the housing can be provided to prevent the removal and possible loss of the dispatch element 21. Too lian do paμol inferior are exposed when the housing is loaded, this mode is susceptible to a user digging in the pile and remove a lot of towels. In accordance with the above, this modality is especially suitable for use by employees, such as by a verification employee to clean the sweeper in a grocery store. In an alternative embodiment (Figure 6), the front face 25 'of the dispatch element 21' can be extended to completely cover the front of the housing 12 'when it is fully loaded, to prevent users from j <; - > No pile of towels from the middle or from the pa; bottom of the stack. This dispenser 10 ', of course, would need to be mounted on the edge of a counter, or be provided with an opening 80 in the counter 82 to receive the extended front face 25'. The use of an opening 80 e- > the counter would ordinarily be used when the dispenser 10 'is integrally built into the top pair of the counter. In another dispenser 110 (Figures 7 to 10), which is preferred for any use, a housing 112 is provided with an upper wall 113, a front wall 115, a lower wall 116, and a pair of side walls 117, 118 for defining a cavity 119 for receiving paper towels 20. A slot 150 is provided in the front wall li! > adjacent to the lower wall 116, for dispensing the paper towels. As with the above embodiments, the paper towels are configured in such a way that their ends 44 (or 46) face towards the front wall 115. The slot 150 has the same configuration as the slot 50, except that it is inverted; that is, the contoured edge 151 is along the top edge of the slot instead of the bottom edge. The dispatch operation is the same, with the exception that it is also reversed. The lower section 38 of the lowermost paper towel 20 is held and pulled by the user. In addition, the upper section 36 is rolled and slides along the lower wall 116 as the towel is pulled outwardly. A rail 153 is mounted along the lower wall 116 to accommodate the additional weight of the stack on the towel being dispensed in the dispenser 110 (Figures 7 to 9) The rail 153 is mounted centrally on the lower wall 116 for extend from the front to the back. The rail 153 preferably has a triangular configuration, although other shapes, such as semicircular, could be used The rail 153 causes the lower portion of the stack to warp on the rail. move or oscillate slightly around the rail 153 as alternating paper towels are removed To make it possible for the papo towels to be gently dispensed, the rail 153 is separated from the front wall 115. In the preferred example, the rail 153 is known from the front wall 115, and is provided with an inclined front end 155, which is inclined at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. The rear side of the housing 112 is preferably left open to provide easy loading of the paper towels 20 (Figures 8 and 9). However, a hinged rear wall or back door (not shown) could be used to provide a closed container. Of course, a door could be provided to load the paper towels along any of the walls of the housing. The door could also be provided with a locking mechanism of a known construction, if the construction of the dispenser 10 or 110 could also be oriented horizontally instead of vertically. In this configuration, slot 50 or 150 could be oriented up, down, or along one side of the dispenser. As an example, the dispenser 210 receives a horizontal stack of paper towels 20. The stack is forced to advance the towels into the slot 250 through the resorption 255. The spring 255 compresses the plate 257, which, at a time, compress over the last paper towel in the stack to be shipped. Alternatively, the dispenser 210 could be placed on an incline, and a weight could be used to force the paper towels into the slot 250. Also, when a dispensing element (not shown) is used, the spring forces the dispatch item to the stack. The above discussion refers to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Various other modalities can be made, as well as many changes and alterations, without departing from the spirit and the broader aspects of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims (20)

1. A dispenser for paper towels, which comprises a housing for receiving a stack of interfolded paper towels, and a slot through which the paper towels are individually dispensed from the housing, the slot having a middle portion and a pair of end portions, the middle portion defining a narrower gap than the end portions.

2. A dispatcher according to the claim 1, wherein the slot has a border along one side, which includes a pair of spaced-apart end segments, a middle segment between, but offset from, the end segments, and a pair of transition segments that interconnect to each other. the end segments and the middle segments.

3. A dispatcher according to the claim 2, wherein the segments are each generally linear.

4. A dispatcher according to claim 3, wherein the segments are generally in the same plane. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the middle portion of the slot is dimensioned to prevent the dispatch of more than one paper towel at a time. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the housing supports the stack of paper towels in a generally vertical stack. * « A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the housing supports the stack of paper towels in a generally horizontal stack. 8. A dispatcher according to the claim 7, which also includes an element for forcing the groove and one end of the stack towards each other. 9. A dispatcher according to the claim 8, wherein the groove is formed in a wall of the housing, and the forcing element moves the stack towards the groove midway! , that the paper towels are dispatched. 10. A dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the slot is formed in a dispatch element slidably mounted inside the housing, and the forcing element moves the dispensing element toward the stack as the towels are dispensed. paper. 11. A dispatcher according to the one claimed,! 1, wherein the groove is formed in a wall of the housing. 12. A dispatcher according to the claim ,. 1, wherein the slot is formed in a sliding element mounted slidably inside the housing. 13. A paper towel dispenser, which comprises a housing for receiving a stack of paper towels, a base surface extending generally parallel to the paper towels and abutting against one end of the stack, and a front wall which extends generally peiependicular to the base surface, the front wall having a groove adjacent to the base surface for dispensing the paper towels. 14. A dispatcher according to the claim 13, wherein the slot has a middle portion and a pair »end portions, and the middle portion defines a recess m? narrower than the end portions. 1

5. A dispenser according to claim 13, wherein the base surface and the front wall form at least part of a dispatch element that slides on the housing. 1

6. A dispenser according to claim 13, wherein the base surface and the front wall e form integrally with the housing. «• 1

7. A process for dispensing paper towels, which comprises: loading a stack of papo towels" 1"interfolded in a housing provided with a slot, each paper towel in the stack having at least one fold line and one a pair of ends extending generally perpendicular to this fold line, loading the stack in such a way that the paper towels are substantially flat, and in such a way that one end of each paper towel faces the slot; individual paper towels from the stack through the slot, this dispatch causing a portion of an adjacent paper towel to overrun through the slot 1

8. A process according to claim 17, wherein the paper towels are loaded into the housing a generally vertical stack. ** 1

9. A process according to claim 18, wherein the paper towels are loaded into the housing and a generally horizontal stack. 20. A process according to claim 19, which further includes forcing the loaded stack of paper towels and the slot toward each other.