US2470186A - Control means for towel cabinets - Google Patents

Description

May 17, 1949.

Filed March 29, 1946 1.. L. PRICE CONTROL MEANS FOR TOWEL CABINETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BY Wig m May 17, 1949.

L. PRICE CONTROL MEANS FOR TOWEL CABINETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29,-1946 INVENTOR.

E 5 p W L t Patented May 17, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL MEANS FOR TOWEL CABINETS Laurence L. Price, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 29, 1946, Serial No. 658,042

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in towel dispensers.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved towel dispenser wherein there is a roll over which toweling from a supply roll or source of supply is trained and which is caused to rotate as the toweling is withdrawn from the dispenser, and to provide a novel arresting means for temporarily arresting rotation of the roll to prevent the toweling from being continuously withdrawn from the supply.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a dispenser wherein there is a roll over which toweling from a source of supply is trained and which is caused to rotate as the toweling is withdrawn and to provide a tilt bar adjacent the roll adapted to be tilted when the portion of the toweling that leaves the roll is placed under tension, and to provide means operable by the tilt bar for arresting rotation of the roll, the said means being so arranged as to automatically clear when the tension of the toweling is released so that even though a subsequent tension is immediately applied to the toweling to operate the tilt bar the roll will not have its rotation arrested until it has turned and dispensed a predetermined length of toweling.

A further object of the invention is to provide a towel dispenser wherein there is a roll over which the toweling is trained and which is caused to rotate by the toweling as it is withdrawn and which is so designed that the toweling is urged into firm engagement with the roll over a substantial area around its circumference as to prevent slippage of the towel with respect to the roll both for measuring purposes and maintaining the length of the loop of toweling that is suspended below the dispenser.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser wherein there is a roll over which the toweling is trained and which is turned as the toweling is withdrawn and to provide a mangle in association with the roll for pressing the toweling against it and which mangle provides a convenient movable partition dividing the cabinet into two compartments one of which is adapted to receive clean toweling and the other of which is adapted to receive soiled toweling for rewinding purposes.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest inthe following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure l. is a view in front elevation of the improved towel dispenser, the front cover therefor being illustrated as having been removed;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line 2-2 upon Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial view in side elevation illustrating a detail of construction and may be regarded as having been taken in the direction of the arrow 3 upon Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 i a partial view in side elevation illustrating another detail of construction and may be regarded as having been taken in the direction of the arrow 4 upon Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line 5--5 upon Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section across the end of the measuring roll of the dispenser and taken substantially upon the line 6--6 upon Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but illustrating a modified form of construction that may be employed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the improved towel dispenser comprises a suitable frame generally indicated at I0 having a bottom II, sides I2 and I3, and a top I l. The sides I2 and I3 are preferably flanged outwardly at their forward edges and a cover, not shown, is applied thereover which is equipped with sides extending rearwardly and covering the mechanism disposed outwardly of the sides I2 and I3. A measuring roll I5 extends transversely across the frame adjacent the forward side thereof and has its ends rotatably mounted in the sides. This measuring roll on one end thereof is equipped with a pinion I 6 which meshes with a pinion I! of the same size that is mounted on the end of a roll I8. An anti-backup pawl I9 is engageable with the pinion I I to prevent reverse rotation of the rolls I5 and I8. Both rolls are preferably covered with a friction material such as for example sandpaper or emery cloth.

2!] indicates a supply roll of clean toweling which is trained over the roll I5 and down to the forward edge 2| of the bottom II. A tilt bar 22 is pivotally mounted between the sides I2 and I3 adjacent the underside of the roll I5. This tilt bar is located between the forward side of the roll I5 and the edge 2| of the bottom II and normally occupies the full-line position shown in Fig. 2, wherein it bends the reach or length of toweling between the roll I5 and the edge 2|. At one end thereof the tilt bar has secured thereto an arm 23 that is urged upwardly by a coil tension spring 24 anchored to the side [3. The tension spring 24 normally maintains the tilt bar in the full-line position shown in Fig. 2, but whenever a tension is applied to the toweling to pull it downwardly from the roll l the bent portion of the reach of toweling straightens as indicated by dotted lines on Fig. 2, and swings the tilt bar into the dotted-line position shown. In the dotted line or tilted position the upper edge 25 of the tiltbar swings upwardly into engagement with the toweling and serves to press or pinch it against the underside of the roll 15.

A mangle 26 is pivotally mounted as at 21 between the sides l2 and i3 and extends downwardly and rearwardly between the rolls l5 and I8 terminating adjacent the bottom l l, thus forming a partition that efiectively divides the interior of the cabinet or frame into two compartments 21a and 28. The weight of this mangle being disposed rearwardly of the pivot 21 causes the mangle to swing downwardly in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 to engage the toweling and press it against the upper side of the roll It. In this manner it will be observed that the toweling is pressed firmly against the measuring roll by the mangle and is in engagement with the measuring roll for approximately one-half of its circumference. When a tension is applied to the toweling to withdraw toweling from the dispenser the tilt bar 22 on being turned into the dotted-line position has its upper edge swung into engagement with the toweling on the underside of the roll and consequently, in view of the large surface contact between the toweling and the roll and the spaced points where the toweling is urged into engagement with the roll by the mangle and the edge 25 respectively slippage of the toweling with respect to the roll is effectively prevented.

Means is provided for arresting rotation of the roll l5 after the roll has rotated a predetermined amount to permit a predetermined length of clean toweling to be withdrawn. To this end the trunnion 29 on that end of the roll which extends through the sides i3 is equipped with washers or spacers 3i, and a dog 35 which is freely rotatable thereon between limits provided by the inwardly bent lip 32 on a cap 33. The cap 33 is slipped onto the squared or non-circular portion 3:3 of the trunnion so as to be rotatable there-- with. The dog 3| when. engaged by the lip 32 will be caused to rotate with the roll iii but when permitted to do so this dog may rotate relatively to the roll and advance itself with respect to the lip 32. The upper end of the arm 23 indicated at 35 is engageable with a locking bar 35 pivoted as at 31 to the side 53 and urged rearwardly by means of a spring 38 engageable with the forward flange on the side 13. This locking bar provides a shoulder that is adapted to be moved into the path of the dog 3!. In the normal position of the tilt bar 22 illustrated in ful1-lines in Fig. 2, the arm 23 is in a position wherein its upper end presses the locking bar 36 forwardly against the action of the spring 38 and out of the path of the dog 3-1. However, when tension is applied to the toweling to tilt the tilt bar 22, arm 23 swings into the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 4, allowing spring 38 to move the locking bar rearwardly so that its shoulder 39 is in the path of the dog. Consequently on pulling toweling from the cabinet the tilt bar not only cooperates with the mangle in causing the toweling to firmly engage the measuring roll to prevent slippage but it also releases the locking bar 36 to interpose its shoulder 39 in-the path of the dog. Rotation of the roll l5 may continue until lip 32 has picked up the dog 3! and caused it to rotate into a position wherein it engages the shoulder 39. In this position further rotation of the roll is stopped. If the tension on the toweling is released spring 24 returns the arm 23 and the tilting bar 22 to their full-line positions causing the upper end to swing the locking bar 35 out of the path of the dog. As soon as the locking bar is moved out of the path of the dog the dog may then freely turn by gravity with respect to the trunnion 29 and swing downwardly into approximately the position shown in full lines on Fig. 4, thus advancing automatically with relation to the lip 32. This clears the locking mechanism so that even though the towel should again be immediately pulled turning the tilt bar 22, the arm 23 and returning the locking bar 3% to locking position, the shoulder 39 will not have been returned to the position beneath the dog due to the fact that the dog has advanced from this position when released under the influence of gravity. As the roll i5 again starts to turn the dog is picked up by the lip 32 and is turned with the roll I5 until it ultimately reengages the shoulder 39 on the locking bar.

The toweling after leaving the edge 2| is formed in a loop 39 and is drawn up through the bottom of the frame adjacent the rear edge 40 of the bottom H. On the back of the mangle there is secured a bar or angle iron M which cooperates with the mangle to provide a guide slot 42 through which the toweling is trained and the toweling is then brought upwardly over the roll it and wound upon a suitable core 43 having trunnions slidable in slots M formed in the sides 22 and i3. Rotation of the measuring roll [5 causes the roll 8 to rotate at the same speed through the drive aiiorded by the pinions l6 and H. The core or windup roll 43 rests against the upper surface of roll i3 by gravity and the toweling is caused to automatically wind up on this windup roll. The windup roll is withdrawn from the cabinet when the toweling is completely wound thereon by passing its trunnions through the forward ends of the horizontal portions of the slots M.

It will be readily observed that whenever the supply roll 2i! need be replenished that this rollmay be readily inserted into the compartment 21 through the open front of the frame. Threading of the soiled end of the toweling through the compartment '28 is also easily accomplished in that this compartment is readily accessible above the rolls [5 and [8. The large contact area between the toweling and the roll i5 assures against slippage and that the length of the loop 39 will remain constant.

The modification illustrated in Fig. '7 is substantially the same as that previously described and consequently corresponding parts have been identified with the sufilx a. Therein the tilt bar 22a has the arm 230 secured thereto so as to be movable therewith. This arm is urged in a clockwise direction by the spring 24a. In this form of construction the upper end 35a is directly interposed in the path of the dog am when the tilt bar is tilted by applying tension to the toweling. In other words in this form of construction instead of releasing a locking bar to move into the path of the dog the arm on the tilt bar itself moves directly into the path. When the tension on the toweling is released spring 2 1a, swings the arm so that its upper end 35 is swung out of the path of the dog 3| and the dog consequently swings downwardly by gravity so as to clear the arresting mechanism and permit rotation of the roll even though a subsequent tension on the towel returns 35a to the path of the dog.

It will be appreciated from the above-described construction that the improved towel dispenser is of relatively simple and durable construction. Assurance is made that the toweling will not slip with respect to the measuring roll and the arresting means is operable by the application of tension to the toweling. The arresting means although simple in construction is highly effective and durable.

While springs 24, 24a, and 38 are preferably employed it will .be readily understood that weights or the equivalent may be utilized to yieldably urge their respective parts to their normal positions. Also, if desired, the dogs 3| and. 3117. may be spring-actuated instead of gravityactuated,

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a towel dispenser, a measuring roll over which toweling is trained from a supply, a mangle normally pressing the toweling against one side of the roll, a tilt bar movable by applying tension to the toweling for pressing the toweling against another side of the roll, and means for arresting rotation of the roll.

2. In a towel dispenser, a measuring roll over which toweling is trained from a supply, a mangle normally pressing the toweling against one side of the roll, a tilt bar movable by applying tension to the toweling for pressing the toweling against another side of the roll, and means for arresting rotation of the roll after a predetermined amount of rotation thereof.

3. In a towel dispenser, a measuring roll over which toweling is trained from a supply, a mangle normally pressing the toweling against one side of the roll, a tilt bar movable by applying tension to the toweling for pressing the toweling against another side of the roll, and means for arresting rotation of the roll operable by the tilt bar.

LAURENCE L. PRICE.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,460,215 Schwimmer June 26, 1923 1,480,294 Overholt Jan. 8, 1924 1,505,664 Olson Aug. 19, 1924 1,609,089 Jones Nov. 30, 1926 1,906,353 Addler May 2, 1933 1,988,266 DeBersaques Jan. 15, 1935 2,140,440 Chidsey Dec. 13, 1938 2,202,930 Steiner June 4, 1940 2,266,063 Morris Dec. 16, 1941

Images