US2944860A - Loading plate for towel dispensers - Google Patents

Description

J. L. ZIZZI LOADING PLATE FOR TOWEL DISPENSERS July 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1954 I] m. L. w s w w m m m July 12, 1960 V J. L. ZlZZl 2,944,860

LOADING PLATE FOR TOWEL DISPENSERS Filed July 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3

1 III/VIII 400 Joseph L. 2722/ INVENTOR.

Unite rates atentf.

I LOADING PLATE FOR TOWEL DISPENSERS Joseph L. Zizzi, Utica, N.Y., assignor to Joseph Darman,

Utica, N.Y.

Filed July 20, 1954, Ser. No. 444,423

Claims. (Cl. 312-38) This invention relates generally to continuous roll towel dispensers and has for its primary object the provision of an improved construction embodying a smoothing plate mechanism and operating means therefor elfective to automatically properly'position the smoothing towe sr 1 Still another object oithis invention iszto provide an improved smoothing assembly for towel dispensers which 2,944,860v Patented July 12, 1960 ice 2 bell crank that the force of the spring is over-center of the bell crank pivot axis one way or the other in the two corresponding positions.

, A further object of this invention is proved smoothing plate operating-mechanism in conformity with the foregoing objects wherein the linkage also includes a link member pivotally connected to one end of the bell crank and disposed at its opposite end in the path of movement of an abutment member carried by an abrasive roll, when the smoothing plate is in the inoperative position, such that actuation of the abrasive roll and consequent engagement of the abutment memwhich:

ber against the one end of the link will reverse the overcenter relationship of the spring with respect to the bell crank such that the spring may continue the motion of 'lh6 bell crank and consequently the hinged smoothing plate to the position wherein the hinged smoothing plate is in close proximity to the fixed smoothing plate.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a parthereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in Figure l is a. perspective view of. theimp'roved dispensing unit;

ineludes a fixed smoothing plate and a hinged smoothing plate CQOPCTHgblG therewithto effectively smooth soiled toweling as the same passes therebetween for disposition 9.. adaliemp roll.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision t an i npreved smoothing mechanism in conformity with ithe, foregoing object wherein the fixed smoothing plate is with-an-ofiset portion providing a groove within which the free edge of the hinged smoothing plate is regeiyed'for effectively tensioning a' substantially large area toweling to enhance the smoothing operation pertotmd. there n- A still further object of this invention is to provide an iv/herein a hinged smoothing plate is movable toward and "away from; fixed Smoothing plate so as to permit the passage oil a persons hand between the smoothing plates when the dispensing mechanism is being loaded with a fresh snpplynf towelingand, wherein linkage means joins, the abrasive rolls forming a portion of the dispensing unit with the hinged, smoothing plate such that a towel dispensing operation snbsequentto loading; of'the unit "will automatically returnthe hinged smoothing plate to its, proper and operative position in close. proximity to the; ,ffixed-smoothins pl e Ano her obie oft-thi movable smoothing plate whereinthe movable smoothing plate is normally pring, urg d in ga e Withthe fixed, plate and; wherein the spring, mechanism is. of Qs gchnatujre as to eiiect an even pressure throughout. the

area of contact, between thefixed and, movable. plates to insp re an even smoothing action across the area of the ing on an associated take-up Spindle...

St l; d lQ llfi QbJ'Q t oft thi'sjinventiw is to. provide an improved smoothing mechanism in, conformity with/the foregoing'object wherein the linkage means includes a ell: Grants membe movable with. the: hinged smoothin plate, between its operative and. loading, position and wherein a spring mechanism is. nqvelly associated: with l invention is to, utilize a smooth-j ing mechanism having a fixed smoothing. plate and,.a

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the fixed and hinged'smoothing plates; 1

Figure 3 is a vertica1 section taken through the dispensi'ng. cabinet showing, the dispensing unit operatively positioned therein and further showing the smoothing plateactuating. mechanism;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing. the operative relationship between the fixed and hinged smoothing plates;r

Figure 5. is a perspective view of a portion of the disfimnmved snoothing mechanism for towel dispensers l'arged scale;

smoothing plates and the actuating mechanism on an en- Figure" 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken sub- .st'antially along the plane of section line 6 -6 in Figure I 3'; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing details of the smoothing plates. 7

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and

i more specifically at this time to Figure 1 thereof, wherein the dispensing, unit isshown, the unit will be seen to con- 7 of a2 pai'r of side plate members 10 and 12' which rotatably carry therebetween a pair of abrasive roll ".rnernbers I4 and 16. The side plates 10 and 12 are :frigidly interconnected at three spaced points by means of the upper rear mounting bar member 18 whose opposite threadiedenri. 20' projects through apertures in the side wall and receives nut member 22 thereon, by' means of-a ffixed loading plate member 24 at the rear ofthe assembly toweling and assure a proper take-up action of, the toweland below the; mounting bar 13 and at the forward portiorr thereof means of a transverse support bar memberto whichthe 'arcuate protectorplate 26 is rigidly secured. The support rod. or bar, like the mountingbar I8, is provided with opposite threaded ends 2 8 which a project through suitable apertures in the side walls 10 and I2 and which are provided thereon with nut memhers 34% ton efi'eetively'completing their fastening thereto.

Asseen most clearly in Figures 2 and 4,- the rigidifying connection efieeted by the fixed= smoothing plate 24 is due ten the; provision of the" laterally bent cars 32 and 341disposed: at opposite: ends: thereof, both of: whicln'are" aperhired and are adapted to: engage against; the sur- 7Q faces oftheside plates Ill andv1 2 and receive: fastening elements, 36 therethroughto: securely interconnect the side walls 10 and 12.

to provide anim-,

To prevent movement of the fixed plate 24 about the fasteners 36 as a pivot, the upperor rearwardly inclined portion 38 thereof is provided at its opposite ends with the laterally projecting hook members 40 and 42 which are adapted'to engage about stud member-s44 which 'exte'nd'through and are fixed tothe side walls 10 and- 12.

Thus, it will be seen that the 'fixed mounting plate, the 'rnounting rod or bar and the support rod or bar effectively and rigidly interconnect the side plate members 10 and 12 such that'these members are properly related one to the other to permit proper and effective mounting of the roll members 14 and 16. I As seen'most clearly in Figure 3, the dispensing unit shown'in Figure 1 is mounted within a cabinet assembly indicated generally by' the'reference character'46 and it is to be noted that the cabinet in'cooper'ation with fthe dispensing unit presents a continuous loop of toweljing such as is well known in the art, the'clean towel end of'the continuous loop being indicated by the reference character 48 and the soiled endof the continuous loop being indicated by the reference character 50. That is, as is conventional, the cleanportion of the toweling issues from adjacent the-front of the cabinet, the front *door thereof being indicated generally by the reference 'character 52, and the soiled portion of the continuous loop projects upwardly into the bottom of the cabinet adjacent the rear'portion'thereof as will be readily apparent fromFigure' 3.

. Although the details of the dispensing assembly per se "forms'no part of this invention, it is necessary tolrealiz e that the two roll members 14 and 16 are operatively interconnected by the provision of sprocket members54 and 56 on one free end of their journal shaft with these :sprockets being drivingly associated by the provision of a flex-ible chain member 58 therearound as will be seen most clearly in Figure 1. Thus, as the clean toweling portion 48 is pulled from the cabinet by a user, the roll lmember 16 will be rotated in a well known manner to impart a similar rotative motion tothe roll 14 such that the soiled toweling will be rolled upon the spindle I member 60 as the roll 14 is rotated. It will be further jrealized that the dispensing mechanism also includes a cam member 62 mounted on the journal shaft 64 for the roll 16 at the end opposite from the sprocket 56 and :that this. cam member 62 includes a rigid abutment member 65 integral therewith and adapted to be rotated as the roll 16 is rotated. Although the cam member 62 is of no moment insofar as the subject matter claimed herein is concerned, the abutment member 65 forms an important part of this invention. Referring now more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 4, it will be seen that a movable smoothing plate indicated generally by the reference character'66 is hingedly mounted between the side wall members 10 and 12 adjacent the lower rear corner portion thereof and in this ,respect it will be noted that the movable smoothing plate 66 embodies a main body portion 68 provided'at opposite lower corners thereof with the hinge roll mem- 1 bers 70 and 72 which rotatably receive the inner end of binge pin members 74 which are threadedly engaged through the side walls 10 and 12 for effecting the pivotal connection between the smoothing plate 66 and the side walls.

The smoothing plate 66 will further be seen to consist of a free edge portion 76 angulated with respect to the main body portion 68 thereof and in this respect it is to be noted that the angulation between the portion 76 and the portion 68 is such as to permit the portion 76 groove or trough therebetween into which the reversely bent free edge portion 82 of the movable plate is projected when in the operative position. To prevent actual engagement of the edge 82 against the portion of the fixed plate, spacer tabs 84 are provided on the fixed plate portion 80 to prevent positive engagement of the edge 82 therewith. The efiect of this construction is to slightly space the free edge of the movable smoothing plate from the forwardly inclined portion 80 of the fixed smoothing plate and to obviate excessive frictional contact of the smoothing plate with the soiled toweling portion 50 as the same passes upwardly between the smooth ing plate members onto the take-up spindle 60.

The above described structural configuration of the fixed smoothing plate and the cooperative relationship of the hinged plate therewith effects an improved smoothing action on the toweling being fed onto the take-up roll 60 by virtue of the fact that the smoothing action on the-soiled toweling not only takes place in the region immediately between the free edge 82 and the portion 80 but also throughout the entire extent of the 'rearwardly 'inclined portion 38 of the fixed plate member and par large area of the toweling.

*thesoiled toweling and the consequent line smoothing action thereon audit will be readily apparent that-an improved smoothing action takes place as a result thereof since the smoothing action occurs over a substantially I Disposed adjacent the rearedge and on the outer side 0f the wall member 12 is a bell crank member 88 provided with a pivot pin member 90' projecting through an intermediate portion thereof and through the side wall 12 such that the bellcrank is pivotally attached to the 7 side wall sons to be movable between the full and dotted line positions shown in Figure 3. The lower end of the bell crank is provided with a relatively narrow projecting portion 92 which" terminates in a laterally bent :finger portion 94 which projects through an elongated arcuate'slot 96 in the side wall 12 to be disposed behind offset portion 102 against which the the movable smoothing plate 66 in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 5. The portion 68 of the plate 66 is notched as at 98 in the region of the free end of the finger 94 and on the. forward surface thereof is rigidly attached a tab member 100 having an angularly finger 94 engages. The purpose of the tab 100 is to present a substantially vertical space or surface engaged by the finger 94 so that the finger 94, being spring urged into engagement with the tab 100 as will be presently apparent, will exert the most effective force-to the plate 66 for urging the same into smoothing contactwith the fixed plate assembly 24.

Pivotally secured as by pins 104 to the upper end of the bell crank 88 is. a substantially horizontally disposed link member 106 whose opposite free end terminates in a laterally projecting ear 108] I horizontally elongated slot 110 which extends through a in the side wall 12. The ear 108 is wider than the remaining portion of the link and the'slot 110 such that the portion 112 thereof is disposed closely adjacent the inner surface of the side wall 12to impart a'guiding action to this end of the link.

The end of the link 106 which is pivotally attached to the bell crank 88 has an enlarged cam portion 114 which extends beyond the corresponding end of the bell crank 88 and against which the free end of a resilient spring get is rigidly attached to the finger member 116 is adapted to engage. The spring finlaterally projecting leg 118 of an .L-shaped bracket member 120 whose other leg is rigidly aflixed to the outer surface of the side wall 12 as by fasteners 122, the connection between the spring finger 116 and the bracket leg 118 able fastening means such as being effected by any suitthe member 124 as illustrated n'Figure 3. Thespring finger ll6 is so disposed re pec to the an; por io .1 4 of nk 6 a d th hell cra k 8 that when he be l etsnls is sp ed n ei h r one o its. op si e imits of PQS Q J. a i di ated by the. t ll and dot d l nes in Fi e 3 the sh ne fin will exert a te se on e ell c an 86 t rou h t i o s n 94 to mainta n the h l pr nk in the po iti n to which i h s been moved;

pu pose. nd operation o the i k and. e crank system is-such a to return t e. rem ab e smoo n pla .66 to. its operative position. whe eve th mo ab e smoothing p ate is disposed in. its inope ative pos t on suchas that in do ted lin s in Fig re 3. to permit l adi of the. dis ensing assembl-x- Tha is, it will be. clear tha uponservieing of th cabinet to introduce a fresh supp y of towel'mg therein, an. operator passes his hand upwardly through the rearward bottom open ng of the cabinet to swing the plate 66 away from the fixed plate 24 to permit the fresh supply of toweling to. be wound once or twice around the .takeup. spool 60. It is not then necessary for the. operator to, then swing the smoothing plate .66. back into. its operative position inasmuch as. pulling upon the clean towel loop. portion 48. which hangs from the cabinet will rotate the roll members 14 and 16 I and will consequently rotate the abutment member 65.

Since the hell crank and 88 and 10.6, respectively, are disposed in the full line position shown in Figure 3, the car 108 be disposed in the path of movement of the nt member .6; and w l he st u thereby to ntgoye the 106 a suflicient distance to. reverse the over- ,c e nter. relationship of the spring 116 against the cam porrign 1,14 f the link 106 whe eby the resiliency o f the spring member will continue pivoting the bell crank in a corresponding direction until the finger 94 has returned the smoothing plate 66 to its operative position.

Thus, it will be readily apparent that it will be impossible for the movable smoothing plate 66 to be left in its inoperative position.

A further improvement which is effected in the loading or smoothing plate mechanism resides in the mechanism mounted on wall which equalizes the pressure against the movable smoothing plate 66. This mechanism takes the form of an auxiliary bell crank 88' pivotally mounted on the side wall 10 by means of the pivot pin 90 and which is provided with a relatively narrow lower end projection 92 similar to the previously mentioned bell crank 88. Similar also to bell crank 88, the auxiliary bell crank has its lower extremity provided with a laterally bent finger portion 94' projecting through an arcuate slot 96 in side wall 10, this finger portion being adapted, in cooperation with a spring mechanism later described, to urge the hinged smoothing plate 66 toward and into engagement with the fixed plate 24.

To this end, it is to be noted that both ends of the plate 66 are notched as previously noted with respect to notch 98 and the finger portion 94' of the auxiliary bell crank projects into that notch adjacent the side wall 10 and into engagement with the tab member 100', or more specifically, into contact with the angularly ofiset portion 102 of this tab. Tab 100', like the previously described tab 100, is securely attached to the plate 66.

The spring mechanism which is associated with the auxiliary bell crank 88' is similar to the one associated with bell crank 88 in that it employs an L-shaped bracket member 120' secured to side wall 10 by fasteners 122' upon which the spring finger 116' is mounted. The free end of the spring finger bears against the upper end of the auxiliary bell crank and maintains the same to one or the other side of center corresponding to the open and closed positions of the loading or movable smoothing plate. In the same way that the spring finger 116 acts upon the enlarged end 114 of link 106 to urge bell crank 88 into either one of its two positions, the spring finger 116' acts directly upon the upper end of auxiliary bell crank 88'. Since the dimensions of the two bell cranks 88 and 88' are similar, substantially the same leverage is ex rted upon he smoothing plate 66 by se two el pranks such that the toweling is frictionally engaged there by with a uniform force all along the line of Contact with the beaded edge 82 of the loading plate.

To reverse the over center relationship of the auxiliary bell crank .88 as the loading plate is moved from its open position toward the closed position, means is provided to impart the necessary movement to the auxiliary bell crank. This means takes the form of a retaining bracket having one portion 126 secured to the loading plate and an opposite end portion 128 overlying the finger 24' in spaced relation to tab Thus, as the loading plate is moved, by the mechanism previously described, toward the closed position, the bracket portion 128 engages finger 94 and imparts a corresponding movement to auxiliary bell crank 88.

It is extremely important that the auxiliary bell crank be utilized in conjunction with the primary or main bell crank inasmuch as the uniformity in pressure exerted upon the soiled toweling as attained thereby assures that the soiled toweling will be evenly rolled upon the take- .up spindle 60. Any unevenness in tension against the toweling will cause the toweling to shift laterally toward the area 02 lesser tension and wind unevenly upon the take- .19 s ind From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the de s wi e re d y n er too a d f th Pla i n be i ved o be e e ry- Ho ev r. sinc num ous med fiea ien a d an es'w e dilv' eeu ts thos sk lled v t a t t n desired to i it e inten ion o he exact construc i n sho n a d cr be at dase r litt yl al 'su ta le modi ic tio s a d equ lent may be resorted to, falling within the scope or the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a towel dispensing assembly, a pair of spaced, rig-idly interconnected side wall members, a fixed smoothing plate rigidly secured between said side Wall members, a movable smoothing plate hingedly secured between said side walls, the hinge point of said movable plate being spaced from the fixed plate such that the movable plate is swingable between one position away from the fixed plate to permit the passage of toweling therebetween during loading operation of the assembly and a second position wherein a free edge portion holds a portion of toweling against the fixed plate, a bell crank pivotally secured intermediate its ends to one of said side walls and having one end abutting said movable plate, a spring member engaging the opposite end of said bell crank urging said crank between limits of pivotal movement on said one side wall, a pair of abrasive rolls journalled between said side walls, an abutment member rigidly secured to one of said rolls for rotation there with, and link means engaged by said abutment member and connected to said bell crank urging the latter on its pivot to a position lover-center with relation to said spring, said spring being operable to move the bell crank into engagement with the movable smoothing plate against the fixed plate.

2. In a towel dispensing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein an auxiliary bell crank is pivoted intermediate its ends to the other of said side walls and having one of its ends abutting said movable plate, and a second spring member engaging the opposite end of said auxiliary :bell crank between limits of pivotal movement of said other side wall, the spring members cooperating to eifect an even pressure along the length of the movable plate relative to the fixed plate.

3. In a towel dispensing assembly, .a pair of spaced, rigidly interconnected side Walls, an abrasive roll journalled between said side walls and having an abutment member rigid therewith adjacent one of the side walls, said one side wall having an opening adjacent said roll, a bell crank pivoted intermediate its ends to said one side wall, a link pivotally connected .to one end of said bell crank and extending therefrom toward. said side wall opening and terminating in a laterally projecting ear extending through the opening, said bell crank being swingable to move said ear into and out of the path of movevrnent of said abutment member, a resilient spring element fixed to said one side wall and engaging the link adjacent li-ts pivotal connect-ion with the crank such that the crank is normally urged into one of limits of swinging movement, said one side having an elongated slot therein adjacent the other end of said bell crank, a laterally projecting finger on said other end of the bell crank through which said finger projects, a smoothing plate hingedly secured between said side walls and engaged by said finger such that said link when in the path of movement of the abutment member will be urged by the same to move the bell crank into over-center relation with said spring whereby the spring willcontinue the motion of said bell crank and urge the smoothing plate to operating position.

4. In a towel dispensing assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein an auxiliary bell crank is pivoted intermediate 'i-ts' ends to the other of said side walls and having one 'of its ends abutting said movable plate, and a second spring member engaging the opposite end of said auxiliary bell crank between limits of pivotal movement of said other side wall, the spring members cooperating to .efiect an even pressure along the length of the movable gplate relative to thefixed plate;

5 In' a towel dispensing assembly, a pair of spaced,

,movable, plate is swingable between one position away from the fixed plate to permit the passage of toweling therebetween during loading operation f the assembly and a position wherein its free edge holds a portion of toweling against the fixedplate, a bell crank pivotally secured intermediate its ends to one of said side walls and having one of its ends abutting said movable plate, a spring member engaging the opposite end of said bell crank urging said bell crank between-limits of pivotal movement on said one side wall, a pair of abrasive rolls journalled between said side walls, an abutment member rigidly secured to one of said rolls for rotation therewith, and link means engaged by said abutment member and connected to said bell crank for urging the latter to a position over-center with relation to said spring, whereby the spring will move the bell crank to engage the movable smoothing plate against the fixed plate, an auxiliary bell crank pivoted intermediate its ends to the other of said side walls and having one of its ends abutting said movable plate, and a second spring member engaging the opposite end of said auxiliary bell crank urging said auxiliary bell crank between limits of pivotal movement on said other side wall, thefirst mentioned spring member and the second spring member cooperating' to eifeet an even pressure along the edge of the movable smoothing plate againstthe fixed plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 1,756,757 Olson l.---- Apr. 29, 1930 2,202,930 Steiner 'June 4, 1940 2,255,609 Birr et al. Sept. 9, 1941

Images