US2931536A - Dispenser for paper blanks - Google Patents

Description

April 1960 J. C.-THOMASMA ETAL 2,931,536

DISPENSER FOR PAPER BLANKS Filed Nov. 25, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet .1

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April 5, 1960 J. c. THOMASMA ETAL 2,931,536

DISPENSER FOR PAPER BLANKS Filed Nov. 25, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 2 P 1960 J. c. THOMASMA ET AL 2,931,536

DISPENSER FOR PAPER BLANKS Filed NOV. 25, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 81% 1h fl? faz/c /rzic s 39 U17 kanzasn'za Uo/zaCT 20.6020

"-Q aZfiOLfCLQ/g United States Patent 6 DESPENSER FOR PAPER BLANKS John C. 'lhornasrna, Kalamazoo, and Charls W- Thomasma, Sturgis, Mich, assignors to Sanitor Mfg. Co., Kalamazoo, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application November 25, 1955, Serial No. 548,906-

Claims. (Cl. 221-41) The present invention relates to a dispenser for paper blanks. The invention finds particular, although not. ex? elusive, utility'indispensers adapted to dispensetoilet seat covers.

With an increasing emphasis; on public washroom cleanliness, more and more toilet seat cover dispensers are being employed. The existing units are alsobeing used more extensively. For these and other obvious reasons it becomes highly desirable to provide a dispensing unit. with greater durability,. capacity, and ease of operation.

Although all of the elements of. the new dispenserfcoact' to produce an improved operation, the key to the improved operation is a new and improved ejector and locking mechanism. The new ejector contemplates an elongate flexible tongue which coacts with a: central dcflector serving to impart a wider range of operation to the feeder. I

Consequently, it is the principal object of the-invention to provide a dispenser with more efficient and durable. ejector mechanism. A more detailed object of the invention is to furnish a dispenser with increased capacity and an ejector which will operatefaithfully as the'supply is progressively consumed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser which is quieter in operation while still accommodating a greater capacity.

Further objects and advantages of the present. invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying descriptive drawings of an illustrative embodimentv of the invention in which: 1

Figure 1 is a front view of a typical tissue dispenser embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional: view in enlarged scale of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1 taken along section line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a back view of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1'.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the dispenser showing its inner details with the front and back portions opened at their hinged joint.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the ejector mechanism showing it in the neutral or starting position.

Fig. 6 is anenlarged View of the ejector mechanism showing its position in the process of ejecting.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the ejector mechanism showing the ejector at the end of its discharge stroke poised for returnv to the starting position 'as shown in Fig. 5. V

Fig. 8 is an enlarged partial section of the. ejector mechanism and associated dispenserportions taken along section line 8-8 of Fig. 6 and showing the action of: the ejector beginning to eject a sheet of. tissue.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged partial section of the ejector mechanism taken along section line 9-9 of Fig. 7 show ing the ejector in its fully extended position poised for retraction as illustrated in Fig. 7.

Federated Apr. 5, 1960 the locking mechanism which forms a part of: the new ejector...

Fig. 1 1 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the ejector parts.

Fig. 12 is a top view of the ejector carriage.

Fig. 13 is an end view in enlarged scale of the inclined plane member of the ejector mechanism.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown in the foregoing drawings, the invention is em. bodied in a dispenser 10 for disposable toilet seat tissue covers of the variety employed in public restrooms; Basically, the dispenser is made up of a rigid back. 11 and front cover 12 which are hinged at their lower portionsby means of binge pins 14. A pair of hooks 15 disposed along the upper edge of the back 11 are pro.- vided to hang pads 16 of folded tissues to be sequentiall-y ejected from the dispenser It A pair of, mount ing.- holes 18 are provided in the dispenser back 11. in order to secure the unit to a wall. Additional ports 19 in the back portion '11 of the dispenser maybe similarly employed to secure the unit to its associated wall.

When the unit is mounted on awall, as shown in Fig. 1, the front of the cover 12 presents a pleasing appearance, and is normally enamelled white. In order to eject a toilet seat tissue, the user need only depress the ejector button 20 in order to deliver a toilet seat tissue through the delivery slot 21 defined at the lower extremity of the dispenser 10.

The heart of the dispenser unit 10 resides in the ejector mechanism 30 and its associated locking mechanism .60. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 2, the cover 12 and back plate 11 form a closure which houses folded pads 16 of toilet seat covering tissues. It is the function of the ejector mechanism 30, upondepressing the ejector button 20, to advance a gripper 31, shown in the form of a semicylindrical rubber pad, in such a manner that it will reach inwardly and then downwardly in order to first frictionally engage the top tissue sheet of the pad 16 Thereafter by pressing the ejector button 20 further downwardly, the seat cover is delivered into the dispenser slot 21 where the user may pull the sheet the Fig. 10 is abroken enlarged exploded perspective of I remaining distance out of the dispenser 10. Upon releasing the ejector button 20, the ejector return spring 32, having been tensioned by the downward movement of the ejector button 20, returns the entire ejector mechanism into the starting position.

The action of the ejector mechanism and the'deta-ils of construction which impart a greater capacity and ease of operation to the dispenser unit will become more ap-' parent as its details of construction are described. Referring now to Figs. 2, 4 and 5, it will be seen that the actual. ejecting action is accomplished directly by the rubber gripper 31 which is secured at the bottom end of the tongue 34 by means of screws 35 or any other convenient fastening element. The tongue 34 rides on a carriage 36 which in turn moves'within the track 38. An inclined plane 39 is provided at the end of the inclined plane support 40 which coacts with the inclined plane runner portion 41 of the tongue 34 to advance the gripper 31 inwardly and downwardly as the ejector button 20 is moved downwardly.

The inclined plane runner sections 41 are defined by a dog-bone shaped opening 42 within the center of the tongue 34, the runners being that area of. metal which flanks the center portion of the. dog-bone. The end re.- ces ses 44 of the dog-bone are of sufficient proportion to overlap the inclined plane 39 so that at the beginning or the end of the stroke of the tongue 34-, the gripper and tongue assembly will lie fiat against the carriage 36. The inclined plane is cantilever mounted so that its. leading edge 45 will. permit the tonguev runners 41 to pass beneath the inclined plane onthe ret-urnstroke. At the V 3 same time, the inclined plane must be yieldably urged toward the carriage 36 so that upon the downward stroke of the tongue 34 the runners 41 will engage the forward face of the inclined plane 39in order to raise the tongue.

The details of the construction of the tongue 34, track 38, carriage 36, and inclined plane 39 are best shown in Fig. 11. In view of the operational requirements of the tongue it must be a thin, yieldable member. Blue clock spring steel of .018" thickness performs well. The tongue 34 is secured at its rear portion to the carriage 36 in a cantilever mounting, shown in the present instance as eifected by crimped tabs 46. The spring 32 is secured at one end to the track 38, and at its other end to the carriage 36 at the carriage spring hook 37.

The track 38 is in the form of a channel member having upstanding edges 48 and overlapping flanges 49. The forward portion of the track has a cut out 43 to receive the ejector button 20.

The carriage 36 is of less yieldable strip material than the tongue, having an ejector button 20 secured to its rear portion. The forward tab 47 of the carriage is proportioned to rest beneath the inclined plane 39 when the ejector is in its starting position. A pair of upstanding tabs 50 are provided on the rear portion of the carriage 36 to engage resilient rubber bumpers 51 which are secured to the track 40 for the purpose of cushioning the return stroke of the ejector and simultaneously silencing the operation of the unit.

Although the forward inclined plane 39 is the operative portion of the inclined element, the details of the inclined plane support 40 play a part in the present embodiment of the invention. The upturned edge 45 at the base of the inclined plane 39 slidably engages the body of the carriage 36. The upturned edges 43 engage the inner upturned edges 33 of the carriage 36. The offset mounting tabs 63 are secured to the track 38 at its end when the ejector mechanism is fixed to the dispenser front 12. The tab 58 is recessed beneath the inclined plate 52 when assembled. The forward upwardly inclined tongue tabs 57 serve to engage the edges of the tongue 34 and incline the tongue up slightly so that the forward end of the tongue will properly engage the inclined plane 39.

Because the ejector mechanism must cooperate with other elements of the dispenser framing, their construction should be adapted for cooperative action with the ejector mechanism. As will be seen from the drawings, particularly Fig. 4, a bevel plate 52 is provided at the lower extremity of the ejector mechanism with its main body portion inclined to bring its lower edge in close proximity with the dispenser opening 21 at the bottom of the dispenser unit. As will be seen in Fig. 9, the bevel 52 serves to guide the forward portion of the tongue 34 at the lower end of its stroke to extend the tissue sheet 55 downwardly and in a centered position within the dispenser port opening 21. A complementary tissue deflector 56 is formed into the back 11 of the dispenser unit in order to bring the bottom ends of the folded tissue packs 16 into closer proximity near the bottom of the unit and the ejector opening 21.

Coupled with the ejector mechanism 30 is a unique locking assembly 60. The lock contemplates a key slot 61 in the top 11 and a stirrup 62 secured to the top beneath and adjacent to the key slot 61. A curved yieldable lock tongue 64 having a pair of lateral notches 65 is secured to the cover 12 beneath the track 38 of' the ejector mechanism. A pair of downwardly turned ears 66 extending from the back 11 are proportioned to nest within the notches 65 of the locking tongue 64 so that the hook portions 68 of the locking tongue 64 are held in place behind the ears 66 when locked. It will be appreciated that the forward portion of the locking tongue 64 including the notches and adjacent hook must be curved and inclined downwardly in order to engage the forward extremity of the hooks 68 and spring them downwardly until the cars 66 of the back plate lock snappingly engage the lock slots 65. By providing a slotted opening 61 in the upper portion of the cover plate, the unit can be unlocked by inserting a fiat key which depresses the locking tongue 64 downwardly to a sufficient extent that the locking hooks 68 are disengaged from the back plate ears 66, and then the unit may be opened for servicing by pulling the front plate downwardly about the hinge pins 14-.

A review of the entire structure of the dispenser unit and the cooperative relationship of the various elements may best be made by observing the operational cycle illustrated in Figs. 5 through 9. At the start of the cycle the tongue 34 is positioned with the lower recess 44 of the dog-bone opening 42 around the inclined plane 39. As the ejector button 20 is pushed downwardly, the tongue 34 and its associated carriage 36 move downwardly against the tensioning of the spring 32. The runners 41 of the tongue 34 engage the inclined face of the incline 39 and move the tongue, and particularly its associated rubber gripper 31, into contact with the outer tissue of the paper pack 16 as shown in Fig. 8. Also in Fig. 6, it will be seen, that the runner portions 41 of the tongue 34 overlap the inclined plane 39.-

It will be appreciated, that the function of the runners 41 with a single inclined face 39 within the dog-bone opening 42 is one of providing a constant centering action of the elongated tongue 34. Because of the centering action, the dimensional tolerances of the carriage and its associated track fall within the realm of economical manufacture.

When the end of the stroke has been reached, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9, the runners 41 of the tongue 34 suddenly release their hold on the inclined plane 39 and the top recess 44 permits the tongue 34 to snap back toward the carriage 36 lowering the position of the runners 41 sufficiently so that they can pass beneath the inclined plane 39. The notches 54 at the rear edge of the inclined plane are provided to permit the runners 41 to by-pass the inclined plane on the return stroke.

Because many users of the dispenser will carelessly release the ejector button 20, and result in the carriage 36 being snapped quickly into the rearward position, the rubber bumpers 51 at the rear portion of the track 38 are provided to cushion the shock as they engage the tabs 50 at the rear portion of the carriage 36.

In operation it has been proven that the instant ejector mechanism will handle larger pads of folded tissues than heretofore accomplished with similar dispensers known in the art. The pairs of opposed bevels and deflectors at the bottom opening 21 of the dispenser permit thicker pads to be effectively reduced in location during the ejection operation than was formerly possible. Also, the additional firmly supported width of the gripper 31 extending the etfective width of the tongue 34 provides a larger area for contacting, holding, and moving the tissues from the dispenser. The bumpers 51 provide for a silenced return stroke and reduce the shock loading on the unit otherwise encountered in many known dispensers. In addition, the unique locking mechanism formed as a continuation of the ejector mechanism serves torender the dispenser tamper-proof, and yet readily serviceable.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in full here, there is no intention to thereby limit the invention to the details of such embodiment. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative embodiments, usages and equivalents of the dispenser as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, specification and appended claims.

We claim as our invention: 7

1. In a dispenser for flexible paper sheets arranged flat against each other in a pad, the combination of a body having laterally spaced generally parallel walls defining anejection slot along oneof. theiredges: and adapted to receive said pad between them withuthe pad lying adjacent one wall. and spacedfrom the other wall; an elongated ejector track mounted on said other wall.- and extending along the wall and transversely of said slot, a carriage reciprocable in said track between a retracted position spaced from said slot and an advanced position closer to the slot, means yieldably urging said carriage toward said retracted position, a fiat elongated tongue secured at one end to said carriage and extending therefrom along said track and toward said slot, said tongue having a longitudinally extending slot with enlarged end portions spaced along the tongue and connected by a narrower central portion, a cam member projecting out wardly from said track and including an inclined plate positioned to fit into said enlarged end portions of said slot with said carriage in said positions but having a width greater than the spacing between the edges of said central portion to engage such edges and cam the free end of said tongue toward said one wall and said pad when said carriage is moving toward said advanced position, said free end of said tongue normally being urged to a position adjacent said track and spaced from said pad, and a gripper on said free end of said tongue engaging the adjacent sheet of said pad as such end is camrned toward the pad, said inclined plate having a support narrower than said edges so as to pass between the edges and being yieldably urged toward said other wall but movable away from the wall to permit the passage of the edges between the plate and the wall as said carriage moves from said advanced position to said retracted position, the edge portion of said other wall adjacent said slot being inclined toward said one wall and spaced from said track a distance correlated with the length of said tongue for engagement with said free end of the tongue to cam said gripper positively toward the one Wall when said carriage moves into said advanced position.

2. In a dispenser for flexible paper sheets arranged flat against each other in a pad, the combination of a body having laterally spaced generally parallel walls defining an ejection slot along one of their edges and adapted to receive said pad between them with the pad lying adjacent one wall and spaced from the other wall, an elongated ejector track mounted on said other wall and extending along the wall and transversely of said slot, a carriage reciprocable in said track between a retracted position spaced from said slot and an advanced position closer to the slot, means yieldably urging said carriage toward said retracted position, a flat elongated tongue secured at one end to said carriage and extending therefrom along said track and toward said slot, a cam member projecting beyond said track and toward said one wall and engaging said tongue to urge the free end of the tongue toward the one wall and said pad during the movement of said carriage between said positions and toward said advanced position, said cam member releasing said tongue for movement away from said other wall when said carriage reaches said advanced position, and a gripper on said free end of said tongue engaging the adjacent sheet of said pad as such end is cammed toward the pad by said cam member, the edge portion of said other wall adjacent said slot being inclined toward said one wall and spaced from said track a distance correlated with the length of said tongue for engagement with said free end of the tongue to cam said gripper positively toward the one wall when said carriage moves into said advanced position.

3. Ina dispenser for flexible paper sheets arranged fiat against each other in a pad, the combination of'a body having laterally spaced generally parallel Walls defining,

an ejection-slot along one of their edges and adapted to receive said pad between them with the pad lying adjacent one wall and spaced from the other wall, an elongated ejector track mounted on said other wall and extending along thewall and transversely of said slot,, a carriage reciprocable in saidtrack between, a retracted position spaced from said slot: and an advanced position closer to the slot, means yieldably urging said carriage toward said retracted position, a fiat elongated tongue secured at one end to said carriage and extending there from along said track and toward, said slot, said tonguehaving a longitudinally extending slot with enlarged end portions spaced along the tongue and connected'by a nar rower central portion, a cam member projecting outwardly from said track and including an inclined plate positioned to fit into said enlarged end portions of said slot with said carriage in said positions but having a width greater than the spacing between the edges of said central portion to engage such edges and cam the free end of said tongue toward said one wall and said pad when said carriage is moving toward said advanced position, said free end of said tongue normally being urged to a position adjacent said track and spaced from said pad, and a gripper on said free end of said tongue engaging the adjacent sheet of said pad as such end is camrned toward the pad, said inclined plate having a support narrower than said edges so as to pass between the edges and being yieldably urged toward said other wall but movable away from the wall to permit the passage of the edges between the plate and the wall as said carriage moves from said advanced position to'said retracted position.

4. In a dispenser for flexible paper sheets arranged flat against each other in a pad, the combination of a body having laterally spaced generally parallel walls defining an ejection slot along one of their edges and adapted to receive said pad between them with the pad lying adjacent one wall and spaced from the other wall, an elongated ejector track mounted on said other wall and extending along the wall and transversely of said slot, a carriage reciprocable in said track between a retracted position spaced from said slot and an advanced position closer to the slot, means yieldably urging said carriage toward said retracted position, a flat elongated tongue secured at one end to said carriage and extending therefrom along said track and toward said slot, said tongue having a longitudinally extending slot with enlarged end portions spaced along the tongue and connected by a narrower central portion, a cam member projecting outwardly from said track and including an inclined plate positioned to fit into said enlarged end portions of said slot with said carriage in said positions but having a width greater than the spacing between the edges of said central portion to engage such edges and cam the free end portion of said tongue toward said one Wall and said pad when said carriage is moving toward said advanced position, said free end portion of said tongue normally being urged to a position adjacent said track and spaced from said pad, and said inclined plate having a central support narrower than said edges so as to pass between the edges during advancing and retracting move ments of said tongue, and at least one tab member projecting outwardly from said track and toward said other wall to engage said free end portion of said tongue and raise said edges for engagement with said cam member when the carriage is in said retracted position and moving toward said advanced position.

5. In a dispenser for flexible paper sheets arranged flat against each other in a pad, the combination of a body having laterally spaced generally parallel walls defining an ejection slot along one of their edges and adapted to receive said pad between them with the pad lying adjacent one wall and spaced from the other wall, an elongated ejector track mounted on said other wall and extending along the wall and transversely of said slot, a carriage reciprocable in said track between a re tracted position spaced from said slot and an advanced position closer to the slot, means yieldably urging said carriage toward said retracted position, a flat elongated V 7 tongue secured at one end to said carriage and extending therefrom along said track and toward said slot, said tongue having a longitudinally extending slot with enlarged end portions spaced along the tongue and connected by a narrower central portion, a cam member projecting outwardly from said track and including an inclined plate positioned tofit into said enlarged end portions of said slot with said carriage in said positions but having a width greater than the spacing between the edges of said central portion to engage such edges and cam the free end portion of said tongue toward said one wall and said pad when said carriage is moving toward said advanced position, said free end of said tongue normally being urged to a position adjacent said track and spaced from said pad, and a gripper on said free end 15 2,571,831

of said tongue engaging the adjacent sheet of said pad as such end is cammed toward the pad, said inclined plate having a support narrower than said edges so as to pass between the edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 937,584 Fitch Oct. 19, 1909 1,434,061 Lewis Oct. 31, 1922 1,440,101 Pfund et al Dec. 26, 1922 1,446,285 Barlett Feb. 20, 1923 1,677,938 VanSickle July 24, 1928 1,953,037 Ash Mar. 27, 1934 2,299,940 Thomasma Oct. 27, 1942 Cain Oct. 16, 1951

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