US2425915A - Dispensing cabinet structure - Google Patents

Description

ug- 39, 3947. R. G. .BIRR

DISPENSING CABINET STRUCTURE Filed June 20, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l JC @l H AZZ Aug. w, 1947. R. G. BIRR 2,425,915

DISPENS ING CABINET STRUCTURE Filled June 20,. 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 l v //Z' I 1:

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f5 I v if A i. f i i ff 1,45' /4 s ii: z a a 2' 30 9 4. Z8 5 Z 5 fail/Q76 f6 jzfe 7a 150.20.'v Zelf?" @f/Ma@ Patented Aug. 19, 1947 DISPENSING CABINET STRUCTURE Rudolph G. Birr, Lombard, ll., assignor to Steiner Sales Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, a corporation of Utah Application June 20, 1945, Serial No. 600,621

(Cl. S12-38) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cabinets for dispensing sheet materials of various kinds, and provides structures which are cheaper, more easily assembled and disassembled, more efficient in use and more rugged.

In this art there is an increasing and insistent demand for simplication of structure and for reduction in costs of production of and of servicing. Towel service is a gift on the part of company management, and therefore it is important to make the original cost of the cabinet, as well as its upkeep cost, as low as possible, and to so construct the devices that they can be serviced in the least possible time with the least possible throuble. The new structures of the present invention respond to the above demands in high degree.

An object of the invention is to provide a cover which substantially entirely encloses an inner cabinet section and which has five wall portions. Another object is to provide a new method and means for assembling and attaching the cover to The invention is shown applied to a type of cabinet known as a continuous cabinet, and in which partition means is provided for separating soiled from clean toweling, including the separation of the roll of clean toweling from that portion of soiled toweling which is moving within the cabinet toward a soiled towel takeup rol1 In preliminarily loading a continuous cabinet it is necessary to take a terminal portion of the toweling in the hand and thrust it upwardly through an opening in the bottom of the cabinet, to a position to facilitate its connection with the soiled towel takeup roll, which roll rests by gravity on a soiled towel takeup drive roll.

Another object is therefore to provide a partition and soiled towel smoothing element movable to provide space for facilitating upward introduction of the toweling for connection with the soiled towel roll, and movable to and adapted to vbe held at another position to prevent introduction of the hand after the cabinet has been serviced and the cover locked. It is an object to provide very simple and eicient means for positively holding the partition in its smoothing position after the cabinet is serviced and ready 'for use.

Another object is to provide for increased bottom area of the bottom of an inner section, forwardly of the smoothing and partitioning means, sufficient for the 4adequate support of the clean towel roll, while the cover of the cabinet is open, and while the partition is positioned to permit upward introduction of the hand behind it.

Heretofore more complicated and more expensive structures have been used for positively holding the partition and smoothing element in smoothing position, and for moving the partition forwardly to make space for the upward introduction of the hand and the toweling- The preferred form of the present invention discloses a new and very simple device, cheap to construct and easy to assemble, and not requiring pivotal connections. The above mentioned functions are served by providing an extension for a space-making and smoothing element which is engageable by a part of the cover other than ther front wall, 'as the cover moves to closed position, and which part remains engaged while said cover is closed, and positively holds the partitioning element in its smoothing positiont Objects, features and advantages of the invention will be further pointed out in the description of the drawings, and in said drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical section through the cabinet with the cover open;

Fig. 2 is a plan section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 with the cover closed;

Fig. 3 is a partial front elevation of the lower part of the cabinet with the cover open;

Fig. 4is a detail vertical cross-section showing how the bottom of the inner section is attached to the vertical side plates of that section;

Fig.V 5 is a plan 'section similar to Fig. 2 showing a modication in which means on the side walls of the cover hold the partition and smoothing element in smoothing position;

Fig. 6 Vis a side elevation of the cabinet with .its cover closed, but broken away to show part of the stop mechanism and means for holding the smoother partition in smoothing position; and

Fig. 7 is a partial front elevation of the lower part of the cabinet, showing the modied structure of Figs. 5 and 6.

In the drawings the numeral I indicates the :back plate of the inner section of a cabinet of the so-called continuous type, and this back plate has openings 2 by which the cabinetl can be hung on fastening devices provided on a wall.

The back plate is stiiened by three flanges. There are two outturned, forwardly convergent cover-guiding flanges, one on each opposite vertical edge and indicated at 3. The other flange is an inturned horizontal flange 4 at the top edge. The flanges 3 serve the dual purpose of stiffening the plate I and as inclined planes adapted to guide and slightly spread the rear portions of the sides of the cover section during its closure. The spreading action on the metal sides puts them under slightly resilient tension and prevents rattle. The top ange 4 is overlapped by the inner surface of the top wal1 of the cover when the latter is closed.

Rigidly attached as by welding to the back plate, and extending forwardly as best shown in Fig. 2, are two upright plates 5 and 6 which support all of the dispensing mechanism. Each plate has an inturned vertical flange 8 at its rear which is connected as by spot-welding tothe inner face of the back plate I. Each of these upright plates has at its top a horizontal outturned flange 9 and each has at its front edge a vertical outturned flange I0. Each one of these plates has its forward bottom edge curved as at I2, and the bottom of the cover is correspondingly curved to conform to said curved portions.

The bottom of the vCabinet is in part formed by a plate indicated at I5 and this plate is secured to the inner section and extends forwardly to a point about half way between the lfront and the back of the cabinet. The inner section is constituted by the 'back plate I, side plates 5 and 6, and bottom plate I5. It is a feature of this invention that the bottom of the cabinet is formed by hinging a bottom of the cover to a bottom of the inner section. This bottom-forming plate I5 is easily attachable and detachable. It is held by means of two angle irons, each of the irons having one flange I 6 welded to the top surface of the bottom plate. The other flange I1 is detachably secured by suitable screws I8 to the outer sides of the Vupright plates :5 and 6. This is a very simple form of connection and permits the bottom I5 with the cover `hinged thereto, forming a unit, to be easily connected to the inner section. The bottom plate projects laterally beyond the plates 5 and 6 as best shown in Fig. 2. The forward edge ofthe bottom plate l5 is rolled to provide tubular hinging elements 20, in this instance four in number, a pair at each side and near the inner sides of the respective plates 5 and 6.

The one-piece cover is generally designated22 and comprises a bottom wall 23, a front wall 24, a top wall 25, and side walls '26. 'The bottom wall 23 extends only about half way from front to back ofl the rcabinet and has its-inner edge rolled to form five tubular hinging elements Vwhich fit between the hinging elements 20 of the bottom plate I5. The hinging elements of the cover comprise an elongated central element indicated at 2'I and two pairs of lateral elements indicated at 26 Vand vcorresponding to the two pairs ofrolled elements 20 of the bottom plate. The hinge is so vplaced -that the cover when open can assume a balanced hanging position directly below the inner section, as best shown in Fig. l.

It is to 'be -noted that the vone-'piece downswing cover is pivoted on a stationary bottomforming wall of the inner section instead of a bottorn'wall of an outercasing, 'as gis usuallythe case, and that this bottom-forming wall is removable and forms the support or shelf for the roll of clean toweling. This construction does away with the use of trunnions and brackets as means for pivoting closure elements for the cabinet, and provides a simple construction adapted to be easily assembled.

The cover has a horizontal slot 29 in its front wall through which the clean toweling passes, to the outside of the cabinet, and the portion of the cover from wall 23 to the slot 29 serves as a loopmeasuring device when servicing the cabinet.

Now referring to Figs. 1 and 2. The bottom .I5 is provided with a forward central extension vindicated at 30. The inner end of this extension 30overlies the hinge but underlies and is secured to a forward raised portion 3I of the plate I5. The extension overlies the elongated central tubular part 21 of the cover and is about the same length as that tubular part. This forward extension is slightly curved upwardly `as shown in Fig. 1 and is adapted to support and prevent forward rolling of the clean towel supply roll. It will be noted that extension plate 30 is so positioned that spaces are provided between its lateral edges and the inner faces of the upright plates 5 and '5.A Downwardly into these spaces extend arms 32- which are extensions of a partition element 33 which acts to separate the clean towel supply roll from the soiled toweling which is on its way to the soiled towel takeup roll. The lower ends of these arms 32 are engaged by the inner face of the bottom wall 23 of the cover, when the' cover is closed.

This partition 33 is pivoted to each plate 5, B, as at 34. The plate is provided with lateral stiening flanges 35. The arms 32 extend forwardly of the hinge and downwardly into the space between the plate 3!! and the side walls 5 and 6. The lower Vends 33 of these arms 32 are so located that the bottom vwall 23 4will engage them during closure of the cover and will cause them to hold the partition element 33 against movement away from smoothing position and assuring that its rear smoothing edge lo will remain in proper relationto companion horizontal smoothing elements 4I, i12` suitably secured to the inturned rear flanges of vthe upright plates 5 and 8, as best shown in Fig. 2. These smoothing bars 4I, 42 have at points near the plates 5 and 6 pairs of upwardly slanted extensions 45, 6,5, and the partition 33 is cut out at .49 to clear the lower extension 46.

The plate 33 can be swung forwardly by introducingthe hand upwardly through an opening 58 in the bottom plate I5. Although during the operation ofthe cabinet the tendency of the clean towel roll is, during dispensing, to be rolled rearwardly against the partition element 33 to hold it in `smoothing position, yet this action cannot entirely be depended on to maintain the proper smoothing .relation of the elements. Moreover, this action alone would not prevent forced introduction of the hand to a level above the smoothing means. Therefore, positive means is provided to unfailingly` hold the smoothing element in smoothing relation. Three sides of this opening are formed by the corresponding sides `of the bottom plate, and the fourth side is formed by the back plate I. The Vedges ofthe opening of the plate are flanged as shown in Fig. 1.` When the partition 33 is moved forwardly the arms 32 are moved downwardly at points forwardly of the hinge. This movement occurs during servicing of ,the cabinet.

In servicing the cabinet the cover is swung downwardly to a position below the cabinet, the clean towel roll is placed on the extension 35, the toweling is passed upwardly over the measuring roll 52, thence around the usual pinch roll 53, thence downwardly and into the cover, thence rearwardly through the slotted opening 29, to the rear of the cover, thence upwardly through the opening 5i) in the bottom plate l5, then across the smoothing elements lil, 42, and upwardly to the soiled towel takeup roll 55 which has trunnions received by slots 51 in the plates 5 and 5.

The takeup roll 5t is driven by the soiled towel.

takeup drive roll SB. The rolls 52, 5B, are of equal diameter and are driven at the same rate by a sprocket chain drive (not shown). The usual pivoted separator plate 62 lies between the soiled toweling on roll 56 and the clean toweling on the pinch roll 53.

Although only partly shown in one of the figures, it will be understood that the device has a suitable stop mechanism arranged on the outside of the plate 5, and it may be of any suitable construction. Since the stop mechanism forms no part of this invention it has not been fully illustrated. The stop mechanism, in part, illustrated in Fig. 6, is like that oi my cope-riding application, Serial No. 600,620', led June 20, 1945.

So far as I am aware it is entirely new to provide a cover which entirely encloses an inner section and which has a slot through which the toweling can be threaded, and new to have such a cover connected to an inner section so as to be capable of assuming a pendent position beneath the inner section and in a manner to utilize the slot as a loop-measuring element and in such manner that after the toweling has been passed through the slot and formed into a loop, the cover can be closed so that the loop is left at the outside of and depending from the bottom oi the cabinet.

In servicing the cabinet the cover can be opened to assume a horizontal position, then the forward end of the toweling can be threaded downwardly through the toweling slot, and then the cover can be brought upwardly to allow the operators hand to be thrust upwardly through the bottom opening of the cabinet to carry the toweling past the smoothing means and position it to be attached to the soiled towel takeup roll. After connection to the takeup roll the cover is lowered to dependent position and the toweling drawn taut to measure the loop and then the cover is closed. During closing the slot will ride along the toweling in an arcuate path (leaving the loop pendent below the cabinet) to assume the proper position in relation to the pinch rolls when the cover is fully closed.

The cover is provided with a suitable lockable latch means generally indicated at 65. The latching elements engage suitable openings SG in the plates 5 and G. Thus, the cover can be locked in closed position.

In Figs. 5, 6 and l is illustrated modification of the structure for holding the smoothing and space-making element 33 in smoothing position. In other respects the cabinet structure is the same as in the iirst form. In this second form the arms 32 previously described are omitted, and on the iront of the element 33 is arranged a bar 15. This bar projects laterally of the element 33 at both ends as shown at T6, see Fig. 5. These extensions 'I6 pass through openings 11 of the upright plates 5 and 6 and the sides 18 of the cover are provided with angle irons Sii, one flange of each of which engages a corresponding projection 16 to positively hold the element 33 in smoothing position.

A suitable stop mechanism is generally indicated by the numeral 8l and a lower portion of the stop mechanism indicated at 82 lies just forwardly of the opening 11, as best shown in Fig. 6. The forward edges or walls 83 of the openings 'Il form stops with which the projections 16 engage to limit forward motion of the element 33 when it is moved by hand. Thus, the openings Tl have a double function.

The cover 2| is provided below its slot with an element providing an outwardly, downwardly inclined surface 85 from which the toweling hangs spaced from. the front of the cabinet as shown. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be noted that when the cover is in its lower position and when measuring the loop the toweling will extend from this inclined portion upwardly to the smoothing device. It is seen also by Fig. 1 that after the loop is formed the cover can be moved to closed position, leaving the loop hanging freely below the cabinet.

In both forms of the smoother-holding device, means on the cover is utilized to secure the partition plate 33 at smoothing position and at a Dosition to prevent introduction of the hand to a level above the smoothing means. In one form the single-inner surface of the curved bottom of the cover engages lever arms of the partition. In the other form projections on the vertical side walls of the cover engage lateral projections of the'partition for this purpose. In no Vform are slides used, nor are there any pivoted control'elements.

An important structure of this invention relates to the structure of the bottom of the inner section and the particular means by which a singlepiece cover is hinged to the bottom. This structure is unique and it has structural advantages, and is simple, cheap, easily made, and easilyv assembled. I believe myself the rst to provide a sealed bottom for the cabinet, one-half of which is formed by a fixed part of an inner section and the other half of which is formed by the bottom wall of a swingable single-piece cover to form a total bottom wall for the cabinet. This bottom and hinging structure for the cover has a unique relation to a clean and soiled towel separator or partition which cooperates to smooth soiled toweling, and which is held in its smoothing position, by means of the cover when said cover is closed. By half-and-half formation of a cabinet bottom, respectively by parts of the inner section and outer cover, it is possible to utilize the outer edge of the bottom of the inner section and the inner edge of the bottom of the cover to form a hinge by simple rolling of the metal sheet material oi which they are formed. Y

I believe it entirely new to have the bottom of an inner section provided on its forward edge with tubular hinging members and then to have the area of that bottom increased by means of a plate which overlies and extends forwardly of the tubular hinging members. I believe it also new to pivot a soiled towel smoothing member on an axis which lies intermediately of tubular hinge-forming members and of an opening through which the soiled towel is thrust during servicing. I believe it also new to releasably secure to an inner section, a bottom and cover structure as a unit, and to have the fastening accessible when the cover is open.

In the new cabinet construction herein the cover has a long vertical dimension and the rear portions of its sides are not cross-connected at the bottom. Means is provided to guide the free sides of the cover during its closing motion, and this means acts to steady and reenforce the rear portions of the cover after closure.

Another` advantage in providing a single-piece cover for the cabinet is that when it is fully opened all mechanism carried on the outer lateral sides of the upright plates of the inner section is exposed to view and accessible while the cabinet is hanging on the wall, in other Words, can be made more accessible without taking the cabinet 01T of the wall.

I believe myself the first (in a towel cabinet of the continuous type) to pivctally attach a bottom wall of a cover, which also has side, front and top walls, to the bottom wall of an inner section, and the rst to utilize an inner surface of said cover other than its front or top surfaces to positively hold a portion of a towel-smoothing means in smoothing relation when the cover is closed.

It will be noted that the part 3l is integral with the bottom plate l5 and that its bending up as shown in Fig. 1 provides an elongated central recess 3 la for the reception of the long tubular part 21 of the cover. The elongated tubular part 21 on the bottom wall of the cover stiffens and reenforces this wall. On the other hand, the elongated extension 3| with the element 30 acts to stiffen the forward edge of bottom plate l 5. The pintle is indicated at 28a, and after insertion its ends are suitably peened over to prevent axial disengagement.

What I claim is:

1. A towel cabinet having a soiled towel takeup roll, means for smoothing the soiled toweling as it approaches the takeup roll including a pivoted member which separates the clean towel supply from the soiled toweling being smoothed and against a part of which the soiled towel drags, saidmeans being movable toward and away from the soiled toweling and having an extension, and said cabinet having a hinged cover and having front, side and bottom walls, and means on a wall of the cover other than its front wall for engaging the extension when the cover is closed, and adapted to hold said member in smoothing position.

2. A towel cabinet adapted to dispense laundered fabric material including, an inner section having upright plates on which the dispensing mechanism is mounted, means disposed between the plates for smoothing the soiled toweling, including a part pivoted to said plates, an outer cover section having front, side, and bottom walls, and having 1its bottom wall hinged to a bottom wall of the inner section, and means on said pivoted part Vadapted to ybe engaged by an inner surface of said cover other than that of its front or top wall to positively hold said `pivoted part in smoothing position.

3. A towel cabinet adapted to dispense laundered fabric material including, an inner section having upright plates on which the dispensing mechanism is mounted, means disposed between the plates for smoothing the soiled toweling, `including a part pivoted to said plates, an outer cover section having a bottom wall hinged to a bottom wall of the inner section, and means on said pivoted part adapted to be engaged by the inner surface of the bottom wall of said cover when the cover is closed to positively hold said pivoted part in smoothing position.

4. A towel cabinet adapted to dispense laundered fabric material including, an inner section having upright plates on which the dispensing mechanism is mounted, means disposed between the plates for smoothing the soiled toweling, including a part pivoted to said plates and having projections passing through openings in the plates, and an outer cover section having bottom and side walls, and hinged by its bottom wall to a bottom wall of the inner section, the side walls of said cover section having means which engage said projections of said pivoted part when the cover is closed to positively hold said pivoted part in smoothing position.

5. A device of the class described comprising, a back plate, a pair of upright plates attached by their rear ends to and extending forwardly from the back plate, a bottom member secured to the upright plates, said bottom member having on its forward edge two series of tubular hinge-forming elements, a portion of the bottom which lies intermediately of said series of tubular elements being at a level above its top surface, an extension secured to the bottom and lying at a level between said intermediate portion and said tubular elements and extending forwardly of said elements, and a cover hinged to said tubular elements of said bottom and adapted to entirely enclose said upright plates.

6. A device of the class described Comprising, a back plate, a pair 0f upright plates attached by the rear ends to and extending forwardly from the back plate, a bottom member and means detachably securing it to the upright plates, said bottom having on its forward edge a series of tubular hinge-forming elements, a central extension secured to and extending forwardly of said tubular elements, a smoothing element pivoted between said side plates and cooperating with means on the back wall to smooth toweling, said upright plates having openings therein and said smoothing element having extensions passing outwardly through said openings, and a cover hinged to said tubular members of the bottom adapted to entirely enclose said upright plates and having means on its side walls adapted to engage said extensions of said smoothing member, to hold the member in smoothing position when the cover is closed.

RUDOLPH G. BIRR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,255,609 Birr Sept. 9, 1941 2,288,332 Steiner June 30, 1942

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