US3097760A

US3097760A - Apparatus for dispensing towels and the like

Info

Publication number: US3097760A
Application number: US127721A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joe T Short
Original assignee: Callaway Mills Co
Current assignee: Callaway Mills Co
Priority date: 1960-06-06
Filing date: 1961-07-28
Publication date: 1963-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 1980-07-16

Description

July 16, 1963 J. T. SHORT 3,0 7

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING TOWELS AND THE LIKE Original Filed June 6, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEYS July 16, 1963 J. T. SHORT 3,097,760

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING TOWELS AND THE LIKE Original Filed June 6, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING TOWELS AND THE LIKE Original Filed June 6. 1960 J. T. SHORT July 16, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 9% 77 jlhlfNvENToR "EM AM, M [Ma 7 ATTORNEYS July 16, 1963 J. T. SHORT 3,097,760

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING TOWELS AND THE LIKE Original Filed June 6, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 It 'IIII'IIIIIIA INVENTOR ATTORNEYS J. r. SHORT 3,097,760

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING TQWELS AND THE LIKE July 16, 1963 tat. ww N 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ioluw/g QM olll+ MHQ W JIANnVIEEJTOR Original Filed June 6, 1960 DM,M/ W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,097,760 APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING TOWELS AND THE LIKE Joe T. Short, West Point, Ga., assignor to Callaway Mills Company, La Grange, Ga a corporation of Georgia Original application June 6, 1960, Ser. No. 34,339. Di-

vided and this application July 28, 1961, Ser. No.

7 Claims. (Cl. 221-216) The present invention relates to a machine for dispensing clean towels in exchange for soiled towels deposited therein. This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 34,339, filed June 6, 1960.

It is common practice in shops and factories to make wiping towels available to workmen for use in wiping machinery, equipment, work in progress and finished items. The disappearance of such towels through loss or theft has been a serious economic consideration and has been a major factor in the cost of making such towels available. Machines have heretofore been developed which were designed to operate on the principle of supplying clean towels in exchange for soiled towels deposited in the machines. So far as I am aware, such prior machines have not gone into widespread use in spite of the obvious economic advantages which would he possessed by satisfactory machines for such purpose. It appears that one defect in prior machines has been that the mechanisms for receiving the soiled towels have not been sufliciently certain and selective in their operation to reasonably assure that clean towels would be dispensed only in exchange for soiled towels of comparable dimensions. It also appears that prior machines for this purpose have not had clean towel dispensing mechanisms which were reasonably certain to dispense a single clean towel for each soiled towel deposited in the machine and without risk of tearing or otherwise injuring the clean towel.

The machine of the present invention overcomes the primary deficiencies which have been found to exist in prior towel dispensing machines known to me. The mechanism includes a power driven conveyor over which solide towels are conveyed. A pair of switch actuating arms are longitudinally spaced along the conveyor to be deflected by a towel passing along the conveyor. If the soiled towel passing along the conveyor has been properly inserted into the machine and has sulficient minimum dimensions to assure that both switch actuating arms are held deflect at the same time, an accepting circuit is energized to cause the machine to dispense one clean towel. If a fragment of a towel or some article other than a towel is inserted in the machine, the two switch actuating arms will not be held deflected at the same time and the accepting circuit is not energized. The towel receiving mechanism is so constructed that a soiled towel cannot be withdrawn from the machine after it has entered the machine sufficiently to cause energization of the accepting circuit. Provision is also made to stop the conveyor to permit withdrawal from the machine of a .towel which has been improperly inserted, such as by rolling up the towel or wadding it in such a manner that it will not properly hold both of the switch actuating arms deflected at the same time. The towel receiving mechanism also includes means for rendering the machine in- 3,097,760 Patented July 16, 19.63

ice

operative when an excessive number of soiled towels has accumulated in the machine.

The clean towel dispensing mechanism includes an elevator for holding a stack of flat towels thereon. An oscillatable shaft is positioned above the stack of towels on the elevator. A pair of arcuate dispensing members are fixed to this shaft and are provided with pointed pins projecting therefrom. Means are provided for automaticalled maintaining the top towel on the stack at the proper elevation to be stripped from the stack by the pointed pins on turning of the shaft in one direction. The towel stripped from the stack is moved upwardly and laterally to be suspended above a towel discharge chute. The shaft then turns in the opposite direction and the s us pended towel is lowered into the chute and stripped from the pointed pins. The oscillation of the shaft is controlled by the accepting circuit discussed above.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved machine for accurately dispensing one clean towel in exchange for one soiled towel deposited therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a towel dispensing machine of the type described which will dispense a clean towel only inexchange for a soiled towel of certain minimum dimensions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a towel dispensing machine which can be easily and quickly loaded with a supply of clean towels.

A further object of the invention is to provide a towel dispensing machine having a soiled towel accepting mechanism which will accept soiled towels of certain minimum dimensions and will exchange a clean towel therefor, irrespective of variations in the weight of the soiled towel which might be caused by differences in the amount or character of the contaminants thereon.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type described which will permit a legitimate soiled towel which has been improperly inserted to be retrieved from the machine for proper reinsertion therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a towel dispensing machine of the type described which will become automatically inoperative when an excessive number of soiled towels has accumulated therein.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description which has reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a machine embodying the invention, with portions of the door shown broken away;

'FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the clean towel dispensing mechanism, taken along the line M of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of portions of the clean towel dispensing mechanism; I

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View illustrating a portion of one of the arcuate towel dispensing members and its relationship to a stack of clean towels;

[FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the soiled towel receiving mechanism with a portion of one wall broken away, and taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is a wiring diagram of the machine.

9 a Description of the Soiled Towel Receiving Mechanism The machine includes a cabinet designated generally by the reference numeral 8 and provided with a hinged front door 10. The door 10 is provided with a soiled towel receiving opening 12. A conveyor roller 14 is fixed to a shaft 16 which is mounted in suitable bearings to position the roller 14 immediately inwardly of the soiled towel receiving opening, as best illustrated in FIG- URE 5. A similar conveyor roller 18 is mounted on a shaft 20. A conveyor belt 22 is mounted on the

rollers

14 and 18. Suitable tension may be applied to the conveyor belt 22 by means of a pair of rocker arms, one of which is shown in the drawing and designated by the reference numeral 24. Arm 24 is pivoted at 26 and is bifurcated at its upper end to receive bearing 28 on the shaft 20. A screw 30 is threadedly received in a stationary bracket 32 and engages the lower end of the rocker arm 24. It will be understood that a similar mechanism is provided at the opposite end of the shaft 20 and that by appropriate adjustment of the screws 30, the tension on the conveyor belt 22 may be regulated. Roller 14 is driven by a sprocket 34 fixed to the shaft 16. The sprocket 34 is driven by a chain 36 from a motor sprocket 38 and an electric receiver motor 46. The mechanism described above is suitably supported by horizontally spaced,

vertical side plates

42 and 44 supported by a horizontal base plate 46 and a bracket 48 suitably secured to the door 10.

The conveyor belt 22 is driven in the direction of the arrow 50 by the receiver motor 40 when that motor is energized. The manner of energizing receiver motor 40 is hereinafter more fully described but is initiated by movement of a gate 52 just inside the soiled towel receiving opening 12. The gate 52 is pivoted on

side plates

42 and 44 by pivot pin 54 and carries a switch actuating arm 56 for actuating a switch 58. The gate 52 is moved toward closed position by a tension spring member 60' secured to a movable contact of the switch 58.

A switch actuating roller 62 is mounted on a shaft 64 carried by arms 66 (only one being shown in the drawings) which are pivotally mounted at 68. The arm 66 is provided with a switch actuating member 70 for actuating a switch 72 on upward deflection of the roller 62 by passage of an appropriately inserted towel thereunder. The arm 66 is also provided with a switch actuating member 74 which actuates a switch 76 upon excessive upward deflection of the roller 62 in the manner hereinafter described. A second switch actuating roller 78 is positioned along the conveyor belt 22 rearwardly of the roller 62. The roller 78 is mounted on a shaft 80 carried by rocker arms 82 (only one being shown in the drawings) which are pivotally mounted on a shaft 84. The rocker arm 82 is provided with a switch actuating member 86 for simultaneously operating a double switch arrangement designated generally by the reference numeral 88 when a soiled towel passes along the conveyor belt 22 beneath the roller 78.

A plate 90 is pivotally mounted between the

side plates

42 and 44 by means of a pivot pin 92. The plate 90 extends upwardly and forwardly and its free end is held adjacent the lower run of the conveyor belt 22 by the movable element of a switch 96. The switch 96 will -be actuated when one or more towels seek to follow the lower run of the conveyor belt 22 in the manner hereinafter described.

Description of the Clean Towel Dispensing Mechanism The cabinet 8 is provided with a central vertical wall 98 which cooperates with one side wall of the cabinet to provide a soiled towel storage compartment in which a bag 100 may be suspended by hooks 102. A vertical track 104 is fixed to the opposite face of the wall 98. A second vertical wall 106 carries a vertical track 108. An elevator platform 110 has spaced

plates

112 and 114 extending downwardly therefrom. The plates 112 and 4- 114 carry grooved rollers 116 which engage the

tracks

104 and 168 to guide the elevator platform in its vertical movement.

The elevator platform is supported by a pair of

cables

118 and 120. The cable 118' is wound on a drum 122 fixed to a horizontal shaft 124. The shaft 124 is mounted in suitable bearings in the

walls

98 and 186. The cable is similarly wound on a drum 126 fixed to the shaft 124. An elevator motor 128 is provided with a gear 130 which drives gear 132 fixed to the shaft 124 by means of an idler gear 134. A pawl 136 engages the gear 132 to prevent unintentional lowering of the elevator platform 110 from the position to which it has been elevated by the elevator motor 128.

The elevator platform 110 may be manually lowered to receive a stack of clean towels. This lowering of the elevator is accomplished by loosening a knurled nut 138 on the shaft 140 on which the idler gear 134 is mounted. This permits movement of the idler gear 134 longitudinally along its shaft to disengage that gear from the

gears

130 and 132. A manual crank 142 can be then inserted through an opening 144 in the cabinet to engage the opposite end of the shaft 124. The pawl 136 can be released manually and the elevator platform 110 lowered by rotating the crank 142 in the direction to unwind the

cables

118 and 120 from their respective drums.

The elevator motor 128 is automatically energized to maintain the top towel of the stack of towels 146 in appropriate dispensing position by means which will now be described. A horizontal shaft 148 is mounted in suitable hearings in the

walls

98 and 106. A plurality of feeler fingers 150 are fixed to the shaft 148 and extend forwardly therefrom. Also fixed to the shaft 148 is a switch actuating member 152. The feeler fingers 150 rest on the top towel of the stack 146. When that top towel is at an elevation too low for proper dispensing, the feeler fingers turn the shaft 148 and the switch actuating member 152 actuates a switch 154 to energize the elevator motor 128 in the manner hereinafter described. The elevator motor stops when the feeler fingers have been raised. The elevator platform 110 carries a switch actuating member 156 which actuates an elevator limit switch 158 secured to the wall 98. The elevator limit switch prevents excessive upward travel of the elevator platform 110 in the manner more fully described below.

A horizontal shaft 160 is mounted in suitable bearings in the

walls

98 and 106. The shaft 160 has secured thereto a pair of similar, arcuate,

towel dispensing members

162 and 164 which are more fully described below. Also fixed to the shaft 160 is a gear 166 which cooperates with a reciprocating rack 168. The rack 168 is secured between

side plates

170 and 172 which are provided with slots for receiving the shaft 160. The rack 168 is given reciprocatory motion by connecting rod 174 which is rigidly connected to the rack. The opposite end of the connecting rod is pivotally connected to a pin 178 mounted eccentrically on a crank plate 180. Crank plate 180 is secured to shaft 182 of a delivery motor 184. The crank plate 180 is provided with a protuberance 186 on its periphery for actuating a switch 188 to stop the delivery motor 184 after one revolution thereof in a manner hereinafter described.

The specific construction and configuration of the similar, arcuate,

towel dispensing members

162 and 164 can be seen best in FIGURES 2 and 4 in which the arcuate member 162 is shown. The distance from the shaft 160 of the arcuate portion thereof gradually increases from the point 162a to point 16217. The distance from the shaft 160 then increases rather rapidly at 1620 and is followed by a rounded portion 162d. A pair of pointed pins 190 project through openings in the rounded portion 162d of the member 162. Pins 190 are retained in position by set screws 192 threaded in sockets 194. The pins pr0- ject from the surface of portion 162d by the thickness of one of the towels to be dispensed. These pins do not extend radially from the shaft 160 but have their points inclined forwardly in the direction of movement indicated by the arrow 196 in FIGURE 4. The towel dispensing member 164 is in all respects similar to the member 162.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the arcuate towel dispensing member 1-62 in the position in which it has stopped by virtue of de-energization of the delivery motor 184 by the switch 188. Prior to stopping in the full line position shown in FIGURE 2, the arcuate member 162 will have moved counter-clockwise to the dotted line position shown in that figure. Pins 190 will have picked up the forward edge of the top towel 198 from the stack 146. The pins 190 will hold that towel in the position illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 4 until another towel is to be dispensed. One complete revolution of the delivery motor 184 will first cause clockwise movement of the

arcuate members

162 and 164 to strip the towel 198 from the stack 146 and suspend that towel above a towel discharge chute 200 carried on the rear of the door 10. The chute 200 is open at its lower end to a towel discharge opening 20 2 in the door 10. The

arcuate members

162 and 164 will then move in counter-clockwise direction and the suspended towel will be lowered into the chute 200. Further counter-clockwise movement of the arcuate members 16-2 and 164 to about the position shown in full lines in FIGURE 2 causes the chute 200 to strip towel 198 from the arcuate members. The arcuate members 16-2 and 164 will then continue counter-clockwise rotation to the position shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 2, will pick up the next towel from the stack, return to the full line position shown in FIGURE 2 and will then stop until another towel is to be dispensed. The portion l16'2c of the arcuate members assures that the portions 162d of those members will be smoothly cammed onto the top of the stack of towels during counter-clockwise movement to the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 2. It will be seen by reference to FIGURES 2 and 4 that from the point 162a to the point 16-21: the arcuate members have clearance above the stack of towels so that there is a slight lifting action of the towel 198 as it is being stripped from the stack. This lifting action reduces friction between the top towel 19-8 and the towel below it in the stack during the stripping operation.

Operation of the Machine Power is supplied to the machine through power lines 204 and 20 6. A workman desiring to exchange a soiled towel for a clean one inserts one corner of the soiled towel through the soiled towel receiving opening 12 to move the gate 52. Movement of the gate 52 causes the ,movable contact 208 of switch 58 to move out of engagement with contact 210 and into engagement with contact 212. The receiver motor 40 is thus energized to drive the conveyor 22 to advance the soiled towel into the machine. Power to receiver motor 40 is supplied from the line 204 through switch 96, through engaged

contacts

214 and 216 of an as yet de-energized relay 218, through contacts 208 and 212 of switch 58, to the motor 40 and through contacts 220 and 222 of switch 76, and

contacts

224 and 226 of switch 158 to power line 206. The soiled towel advances in a somewhat elongated condition along the conveyor 22 until it deflects both

rollers

62 and 78 to their elevated, dotted line positions 62a and 78a, respectively. The gate 52 closes while

rollers

62 and 78 are thus elevated. The receiver motor 40 remains energized, however, from power line 204, switch 96,

contacts

228 and 230 of switch 884: (which forms one component of switch 88 described above), to the receiver motor, through contacts 220 and 222 of switch 76, and through

contacts

224 and 226 of switch 158 to power line 2016-. The soiled towel is thus conveyed to the soiled towel storage compartment.

The simultaneous condition of the gate 52 being closed and the

rollers

62 and 78 being in their elevated positions 6 62a and 78a readies the machine for delivery of a clean towel. The relay 218 is now energized from power line 204, switch 96,

contacts

214 and 216 of relay 218, contacts 208 and 210 of switch 58,

contacts

232 and 234 of switch 8812 (which forms the other component of switch 88 described above),

contacts

236 and 238 of switch 72, switch 188, the coil of relay 218, and

contacts

224 and 226 of switch 158 to power line 206. The closing of relay 218 supplies power to delivery motor 184 from line 204, switch 96,

contacts

214 and 229 of relay 218-, to the delivery motor 184, and through

contacts

224 and 226 of switch 158 to power line 206. The delivery motor 184 turns one revolution to dispense a clean towel as described above and is then stopped by the opening of switch 188, which de-energizes the relay 218. A towel counter 240 is preferably connected in parallel to the relay 218 and counts one towel each time the relay is energized.

The elevator motor 128 is energized when the elevation of the top towel on the stack 146 is too low for dispensing. The feeler fingers :150 then descend to close the elevator switch 154. Current is then supplied from line 204, switch 96 and normally closed manual switch 242 to elevator motor 184 and through

switches

154 and 158 to line 206-. The elevator motor is stopped as soon as switch 154 is opened by elevation of feeler fingers 1150.

It will be seen from the above description that line 206 is connected in the circuit only through switch 158, which is controlled by the switch actuating member 156 on the elevator platform 110. When the towels in the stack 146 have become exhausted, the contact 226 of switch 158 breaks engagement with contact 224 and engages contact 244. An empty signal lamp 246 is then illuminated, but all other power to the machine is cut ofi.

The foregoing description relates to the normal operation of the machine. A workman may attempt to use some unauthorized object to dishonestly operate the machine. It is futile to push a stick or other narrow object through the towel receiving opening 12 and to attempt to hold the

rollers

62 and 78 elevated because the acceptance circuit cannot be completed until the gate 52 has closed, as described above. The workmen are instructed to insert towels through the towel receiving opening (12 by one corner, but in spite of such instructions a workman will occasionally roll up or wad a towel and insert it in the machine. A towel in such condition could not elevate both rollers 6-2 and 78 at the same time and a clean towel would not be dispensed. The machine permits the workman to retrieve such a towel and to reinsert it properly. The rolled or wadded towel will elevate the roller 62 to a greater extent than normal, until it assumes the dotted line position 62b. The switch actuating member 74 on the arm 66- then moves contact 222 of switch 76 out of engagement with contact 220 and into engagement with contact 248. The power to receiver motor 40 is thus interrupted and the conveyor belt 22 stops while the improperly inserted towel can still be reached and withdrawn through the opening 12 for proper reinsertion. Engagement of contact 1222 of switch 76 with contact 248 causes illumination of a reject lamp 250 which is on the door 10 and which is preferably positioned adjacent printed instructions for proper insertion of the towel.

It sometimes happens that an excessive number of soiled towels is permitted to accumulate in the soiled towel storage compartment. When this occurs, some of the towels may be pulled along the lower run of the conveyor belt 22 and tend to collect to such an extent as to cause the machine to become jammed. Such a condition deflects the switch actuating member to open the switch 96 and to thereby cut off all power to the machine until the situation is remedied.

I have illustrated and described what I regard as the preferred embodiment of the invention. It will be apparent that various alterations and modifications may be used without departing from the broader scope of the invention which is defined by the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus for dispensing towels from a stack of such towels: an elevator for supporting a stack of flat towels; a shaft extending horizontally above said elevator; an arcuate member fixed to said shaft; pointed pins projecting from said arcuate member; means for controlling the height of said elevator to position the top towel of the stack at an elevation for engagement by said pointed pins upon oscillation of said shaft; means for turning said shaft about its axis in one direction of rotation from a first position in which said pointed pins engage the top towel of the stack to a second position in which said pointed pins are positioned above and to one side of the stack of towels whereby the top towel is stripped from the stack by said pointed pins and suspended at said one side of the stack; said means for turning said shaft including means for turning the shaft about its axis in the opposite direction of rotation from said second position back to said first position; and means for stripping the suspended towel from said pins during turning of said shaft in said opposite direction.

2. In apparatus for dispensing towels from a stack of such towels: an elevator for supporting a stack of flat towels; a shaft extending horizontally above said elevator; an arcuate member fixed to said shaft; pointed pins projecting from said arcuate member; a towel discharge chute spaced below and laterally from said shaft; means for controlling the height of said elevator to position the top towel of the stack at an elevation for engagement by said pointed pins upon oscillation of said shaft; and means for turning said shaft about its axis in one direction of rotation from a first position in which said pointed pins engage the top towel of the stack to a second position in which said pointed pins are positioned above said chute whereby the top towel is stripped from the stack by said pointed pins and suspended above said chute; said means for turning said shaft including means for turning the shaft about its axis in the opposite direction 'of rotation from said second position back to said first position whereby the suspended towel is lowered into said chute and stripped from said pointed pins.

3. In apparatus for dispensing towels from a stack of such towels: an elevator for supporting a stack of fiat towels; a shaft extending horizontally above said elevator; an arcuate member fixed to said shaft, said arcuate 'member having a first portion thereof spaced a greater distance from said shaft than a second portion thereof with said portions merging along a smooth surface; pointed pins projecting from said first portion of said arcuate member; a towel discharge chute spaced below and laterally from said shaft; means for controlling the height of said elevator to position the top towel of the stack at an elevation for engagement by said pointed pins upon oscillation of said shaft; means for turning said shaft about its axis in one direction of rotation from a first position in which said pointed pins engage the top towel of the stack to a second position in which said pointed pins are positioned above said chute whereby the top towel is stripped from the stack by said pointed pins and suspended above said chute; said means for turning said shaft including means for turning the shaft about its axis in the opposite direction of rotation from said second position back to said first position whereby the suspended towel is lowered into said chute and stripped from said pointed pins; said second portion of said arcuate member being disposed rearwardly of said first portion thereof as said shaft moves from said first position to said second position to provide clearance between said arcuate member and the stack of towels during such movement and to smoothly cam said first portion back onto the top of the stack of towels as the shaft moves from said second position to said first position.

4. In apparatus for dispensing towels from a stack of such towels: an elevator for supporting a stack of fiat towels; a shaft extending horizontally above said elevator; a plurality of arcuate members fixed to said shaft, said arcuate members having first portions thereof spaced a greater distance from said shaft than second portions thereof; pointed pins projecting from said first portions of said arcuate members; a towel discharge chute spaced below and laterally from said shaft; means for controlling the height of said elevator to position the top towel of the stack at an elevation for engagement by said pointed pins upon oscillation of said shaft; means for turning said shaft about its axis in one direction of rotation from a first position in which said pointed pins engage the top towel of the stack to a second position in which said pointed pins are positioned above said chute whereby the top towel is stripped from the stack by said pointed pins and suspended above said chute; said means for turning said shaft including means for turning the shaft about its axis in the opposite direction of rotation from said second position back to said first position whereby the suspended towel is lowered into said chute and stripped from said pointed pins; said second portions of said arcuate members being disposed rearwardly of said first portions thereof as said shaft moves from said first position to said second position to provide clearance between said arcuate members and the stack of towels during such movement.

5. In apparatus as defined in claim 4, said means for controlling the height of said elevator comprising a feeler resting on the top towel of the stack, an electric motor for raising said elevator, and switch means actuated by said feeler for energizing said motor upon lowering of said feeler.

6. In apparatus for dispensing towels from a stack of such towels: an elevator for supporting a stack of flat towels; a shaft extending horizontally above one edge of a stack of towels on said elevator; a plurality of arcuate members fixed to said shaft, said arcuate members having first portions thereof spaced a greater distance from said shaft than second portions thereof; pointed pins project-ing from said first portions of said arcuate members; a towel discharge chute positioned adjacent said one edge of the stack of towels; means for controlling the height of said elevator to position the top towel of the stack at an elevation for engagement by said pointed pins upon oscillation of said shaft; means for turning said shaft about its axis in one direction of rotation from a first position in which said pointed pins engage the top tower of the stack to a second position in which said pointed pins are positioned above said chute whereby the top towel is stripped from the stack by said pointed pins and suspended above said chute; said means for turning said shaft including means for turning the shaft about its axis in the opposite direction of rotation from said second position back to said first position whereby the suspended towel is lowered into said chute and stripped from said pointed pins; said second portions of said arcuate members being disposed rearwardly of said first portions thereof as said shaft moves from said first position to said second position to provide clearance between said arcuate members and the stack of towels during such movement.

7. In apparatus for dispensing towels one at a time from the top of a stack of towels: means for supporting the stack of towels; a shaft extending horizontally above the stack of towels; a towel discharge chute spaced below and laterally in front of said shaft; an arcuate member fixed to said shaft, said arcuate member having a front portion thereof spaced a greater distance from said shaft than a rear portion thereof with said portions merging along a smooth surface; at least one pointed pin projecting from said front portion of said arcuate member at an inclination such that when said front portion of said arcuate member is directly below said shaft said pin extends downwardly from said front portion of said arcuate member and forwardly toward said discharge chute; means for controlling the relative heights of said stack supporting means and said shaft to cause said front portion of said arcuate member to contact the top towel of the stack when said front portion of said arouate member is directly below said shaft; drive means for oscillating said shaft back and forth about its axis through an angle less than 360 degrees; and control means for causing said drive means to oscillate said shaf-t over a complete cycle beginning and ending at an angular position where said pin is disposed forwardly of the lowermost point in its path of travel, said pin swinging forwardly and upwardly about the axis of said shaft during a first part of the cycle and then swinging downwardly and rearwardly past the lowermost point in its path of travel during the second part of the cycle and then swinging forwardly again 5 during a terminal part of the cycle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

7. IN APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING TOWELS ONE AT A TIME FROM THE TOP OF A STACK OF TOWELS: MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE STACK TOWELS; A SHAFT EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY ABOVE THE STACK TOWELS; A TOWEL DISCHARGE CHUTE SPACED BELOW AND LATERALLY IN FRONT OF SAID SHAFT; AN ARCUATE MEMBER FIXED TO SAID SHAFT, SAID ARCUATE MEMBER HAVING A FRONT PORTION THEREOF SPACED A GREATER DISTANCE FROM SAID SHAFT THAN A REAR PORTION THEREOF WITH SAID PORTIONS MERGING ALONG A SMOOTH SURFACE; AT LEAST ONE POINTED PIN PROJECTING FROM SAID FRONT PORTION OF SAID ARCUATE MEMBER AT AN INCLINATION SUCH THAT WHEN SAID FRONT PORTION OF SAID ARCUATE MEMBER IS DIRECTLY BELOW SAID SHAFT SAID PIN EXTENDS DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID FRONT PORTION OF SAID ARCUATE MEMBER AND FORWARDLY TOWARD SAID DISCHARGE CHUTE; MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE RELATIVE HEIGHTS OF SAID STACK SUPPORTING MEANS AND SAID SHAFT TO CAUSE SAID FRONT PORTION OF SAID ARCUATE MEMBER TO CONTACT THE TOP TOWEL OF THE STACK WHEN SAID FRONT PORTION OF SAID ARCUATE MEMBER IS DIRECTLY BELOW SAID SHAFT; DRIVE MEANS FOR OSCILLATING SAID SHAFT BACK AND FORTH ABOUT IT AXIS THROUGH AN ANGLE LESS THAN 360*; AND CONTROL MEANS FOR CAUSING SAID DRIVE MEANS TO OSCILLATE SAID SHAFT OVER A COMPLETE CYCLE BEGINNING AND ENDING AT AN ANGUALR POSITION WHERE SAID PIN IS DISPOSED FORWARDLY OF THE LOWERMOST POINT IN ITSS PATH OF TRAVEL, SAID PIN SWINGING FORWARDLY AND UPWARDLY ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID SHAFT DURING A FIRST PART OF THE CYCLE AND THEN SWINGING DOWNWARDLY AND REARWARDLY PAST THE LOWERMOST POINT IN ITS PATH OF TRAVEL DURING THE SECOND PART OF THE CYCLE AND THEN SWINGING FORWARDLY AGAIN DURING A TERMINAL PART OF THE CYCLE.