US3125266A - Machine for xv n ndsftu - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 1964 H. v. KINDSETH ETAL 3,125,266

MACHINE FOR SELF-SERVICE DISPENSING 0F INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS FROM A WEB 0F FLEXIBLE MATERIAL Filed Dec. 27, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y mmvrons F 2 A H/ZDROLD \lgfigmssrg A ENNIS OMME Ia (A/P1. ENEJETH TT'ORNEY March 17, 1964 H. v. KINDSETH ETAL 3,125,266

MACHINE FOR SELFSERVICE DISPENSING OF INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS FROM A WEB 0F FLEXIBLE MATERIAL Filed Dec. 27,- 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 0 :1 w \2 h k 1 h l' 3 4 3 w l I \o N I A:: M

45 I "o LO l ih/ S I 0 I "1 I h I 1 n m 1 \1-- 2, INVENTORS HAROLD V/(INDSETH DENNLS L. PO ER CARL. P. Alli-55TH Male.

ATTORNEY I March 17, 1964 H. v. KINDSETH ETAL 3, 5, 66

MACHINE FOR SELF-SERVICE DISPENSING OF INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS FROM A was oF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL Filed Dec. 27, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVHVTORS 7 Kl EME ,R $5 w h W may H w March 17, 1964 H. V. KINDSETH ETAL MACHINE FOR SELF-SERVICE DISPENSING OF INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS FROM A WEB OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL Filed Dec. 27, 1961 "FIG. [4

POWER Sou/ac:

FIG. 13

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS HAROLD \/.K//v0sT/-/ DENNIS L. POMMEE CARL P. NESETH Brw.

ATTORNEY March 17, 1964 H. v. KINDSETH ETAL 3,125,266

MACHINE FOR SELF-SERVICE DISPENSING 0F INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS FROM A WEB 0F FLEXIBLE MATERIAL Filed Dec. 27, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 El a .11

{*FSJEE 53% -1420 Y 303 I 50 H (W -r -q' X /z4' n 124 Z1;

//o.- 64 I Y W300 V jgw'gurons f .HAROLD [/NDSETH F DENNIS L POM/VIE}? n jCARl. laNsszv-H M ii/ml ATTORNEY MACHINE FOR SELF-SERVICE DISPENSING F INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS FROM A WEB 0F FLEX- IBLE MATERIAL Harold V. Kindseth, Dennis L. Pommer, and Carl R.

Neseth, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Polyco, Inc., Englewood, Colo., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Dec. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 162,507 Claims. (Cl. 226-43) i United States Patent O This invention relates generally to a dispensing machine;

in particular, it concerns new and improved means for dispensing garment bags and similar articles formed in a continuous web of plastic film-type material.

The need for a reliable and efiicient means of dispensing plastic garment bags through coin-operated self-service machines or similar machines has risen sharply with the introduction of self-service dry cleaning establishments. Such enterprises feature coin-operated dry cleaning machines that are operated almost entirely by the customer with a corresponding reduction in the cost of having garments dry cleaned and the added convenience of quick service. Most of these establishments do not provide or make available to their customers the garment bags that are usually provided by the conventional dry cleaning establishments. Consequently, it has been necessary for the customer to bring his own container for the garments that are cleaned in the self-service establishments or run the risk of soiling the cleaned garments before they are returned to their proper storage space in the home. This inconvenience makes it harder for the self-service establishments to compete as effectively with the conventional cleaning establishments.

While the prior art relating to web forming, wrapping and registering devices is replete with various means for dealing with forming containers from a plastic web, registering of and advancing a web of film type material past a given station for purposes of printing indicia thereon, and detecting a predetermined mark or spot on a web to regulate its advance through a machine, none of these are entirely suitable for dispensing individual sections of a Web in the form of plastic garment bags.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a machine that will overcome the above disadvantages and limitations.

Another primary object of this invention is to provide an improved dispenser for plastic garment bags and similar articles.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dispenser for garment bags and similar articles that are formed in a web of continuous material.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a dispenser for garment bags and similar articles, novel and improved means for advancing a web of material a predetermined distance corresponding generally to the length of a bag section while at the same time making allowance for individual tolerances in the length of each bag section formed in the web.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a dispenser for garment bags and similar articles formed in a web of continuous material, novel and improved means for timing and regulating the advance of the web through said dispenser so that a bag section is at all times made available for easy removal from the end of the web by.

the customer.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a dispensing machine for film-type material including web feeding means for intermittently advancing a Web in cooperation with novel means for engaging and disengaging said feeding means to facilitate the loading of the machine.

Another object of this machine is to provide in a coin- 3,125,266 Patented Mar; 17, 1964 ice actuated vending machine for plastic garment bags and similar articles, novel and improved means for guiding and advancing a web of film-type material from a storage position to a position whereby removal of individual sections therefrom is facilitated.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a garment bag dispensing machine novel and improved means for correcting the advance of a web of film-type material upon the removal of a bag section from the end of the web.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved means for detecting and controlling the advance of a web of film-type material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unique electro-mechanical system for controlling the advance of a web of film-type material in a dispenser characterized by a non reliance upon spots or marks on the web and adapted to positively regulate the movement of the web in response to the action of a customer in removing an end section from the web.

Still another object of this invention is to provide unique detecting and controlling means for advancing a web of film-type material that is independent of non functional apertures or holes in the web for its operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a coinoperated plastic garment bag dispenser that can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost, is extremely rugged and reliable in operation, easy to service and maintain and is characterized by a pleasing external appearance.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in a coin-operated dispenser for plastic garment bags and similar articles formed in a continuous web of film-type material, novel and improved alternate means for detecting the position of the web and controlling the advance thereof, either in response to the configuration of the end of the Web after a bag section has been removed therefrolrjn or in response to holes blanked in the body of the we Another object of this invention is to provide in a dispenser for plastic garment bags and similar articles, novel and improved means for preventing the removal of more than one bag section for each cycle of operation and for preventing the tampering with the internal structure between cycles of operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a dispensing machine for garment bags formed in a continuous web of film-type material, novel and improved means for restricting and otherwise braking the advance of the material from a supply roll without interfering with the normal delivering and dispensing operation of the machine.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the machine and alternate embodiments of the film detecting elements thereof are shown by way of illustration only.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention, with portions broken away and parts removed, showing the dispenser in a working position;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal View, partially in section, on a reduced scale, taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the invention, with the front panel removed for purposes of clarity;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view, partially in section, taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partially in section, taken along the line 77 of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view, showing one means for regulating the advance of the web through the machine;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 illustrating alternate means for regulating the advance of the web through the machine;

FIGURE 10 is a circuit diagram corresponding to the means disclosed in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 11 is a circuit diagram corresponding to the means disclosed in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary elevational view, partially in section, taken along the line 12-12 of FIGURE 9 showing means for detecting the web therein;

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 12 illustrating one alternate means for detecting the web shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 14 is a view similar to FIGURE 12 illustrating another alternate means for detecting the web shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 15 is a diagram showing the circuitry involved in the means described in FIGURE 14; and

FIGURE 16 is a diagrammatic representation of an operating feature of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention is illustrated as embodied in a commercial machine for dispensing individual garment bags from an elongated web or strip of plastic film-type material. As shown in FIGURE 1, the invention, designated in its entirety by the reference character A comprises an outer housing or cabinet 20 adapted for mounting on the wall or other suitable location convenient to the self-service dry cleaning machines previously described. A supply roll 22 of tubular plastic film-type material 24 is mounted within cabinet 20 upon suitable bearings 26. The web 24 of material is withdrawn from the supply roll 22 and advanced through the cabinet in a manner to be explained. The web 24, which extends through a lower opening 48 in cabinet 20, is characterized by a series of longitudinally spaced discontinuities 30 arranged generally transverse to the length of web and defining therein a series of identical garment bag sections 32. As can be seen from FIGURE 1, each garment bag section 32 is shaped at the ends thereof in ac cordance with the contour of a garment, i.e., the discontinuities, slits, or perforations 30, which form planes of weakness between adjacent successive bag sections 32, have generally forwardly inclined (with respect to the direction of travel of web 24) shoulder portions 34 in communication with the edges of the web 24 and a central transverse neck portion 36 in communication with the rearward ends of the shoulder portions 34. Each bag section 32 is adapted for removal from web 24 by physi cally separating it therefrom when a bag section is ad vanced through the opening 48 in cabinet 20, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The discontinuities or perforations 30 in web 24 are so arranged in their proximity to each other as to permit the removal of a bag section from the web without substantially affecting or tearing the remainder of web 24 carried within cabinet 20, as will be explained.

Cabinet 20 is characterized by a top panel 38, rear panel 40, side panels 42 and a bottom panel 43 which enclose the internal mechanism of the machine. A front panel 44 is hingedly secured, as at 45, to allow it to pivot forwardly about a lower horizontal axis to permit the easy servicing and loading of the machine.

Intermediate the side panels 42 of cabinet 20 are a pair of spaced inner supporting walls 47 which carry the WOIking elements of the machine. A narrow elongated slot 48 in bottom panel 43 and parallel to the front edge thereof permits the egress of web 24 from the machine. A coin- 4 operated switch mechanism 49, detector light 50 and suitable locking means 51 make up the remaining features of cabinet 20.

Looking now at FIGURES 2 to 7, inclusive, a supply roll 22 of tubular plastic film-type material 24, usually wound upon an internal spiral paperboard core 52, is mounted in a freely riding manner upon a pair of rotatable support members 26, within cabinet 20 between supporting walls 47. Braking means for inhibiting the rotation of supply roll 22 is provided in the form of a sheet 54 of canvas or other material heavy enough to retard the withdrawal of web 24 from supply roll 22. Braking sheet 54 is anchored behind supply roll 22, as at 56, and may be provided with a pocket 58 on the forward edge thereof to receive a slender rod 60' of suitable weight to increase the frictional drag created by the contact between sheet 54 and web 24.

Carried slightly forwardly of and below supply roll 22 is a rotatable feed roll shaft 60, mounted between supporting walls 47 Feed roll shaft 60 is directly connected to the shaft 63 of an electric motor 64 that is carried by Walls 47 inwardly of panel 42 of cabinet 20, as shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3. Carried upon the ends of feed roll shaft 60 are a pair of non-resilient knurled driving sleeves 66 which frictionally engage and drive a pair of resilient driven sleeves 68 similarly positioned upon a parallel idler roll shaft 62. Driving sleeve 66a and driven sleeve 68a positioned remote from motor 64 on shafts 60, 62, respectively, are longitudinally split, as at 69, for a purpose to be explained. Similarly, a pair of longitudinally split resilient sleeves 66b and 68b are centrally carried upon shafts 60 and 62, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. Idler roll shaft 62 is rotatably carried in vertical register with feed roll shaft 60 between a pair of spatially aligned generally vertical lever arms 70 that are rockably carried on supporting walls 47 slightly forwardly of idler shaft 62. As shown in FIGURES 4-7, lever arms 70 are adapted to pivot about a horizontal axis .72 slightly above feed roll shaft 60 whereby to bring sleeve 68 of idler roll shaft 62 into driven engagement with sleeves 66 of feed roll shaft 60 when lever arms 70 are urged in the direction of feed roll shaft 60.

Biasing means are provided to normally urge shaft 62 towards shaft 60 whereby to effect a driving-driven engagement of sleeves 66, 68 of shafts 60 and 62, respectively. This is accomplished by providing a pair of tension spring members 74 attached, as at 75, at one end to supporting walls 47 rcarwardly of lever arms 70 and at the other end to the lower free ends of lever arms 70. This construction allows shafts 60 and 62 to be separated against the action of spring members 74 during the insertion of web 24 between sleeves 66, 68 for loading the machine. Suflicient tension is maintained between sleeves 66, 68 under normal operating conditions to advance the web without slipping.

Means for preventing web 24 from re-entering the zone of feed roll shaft 60 and idler roll shaft 62, after it has advanced therethrough, is provided by a chute or inclined trough 78. Chute 78 has a pair of generally horizontally spaced inclined walls 80, 82 that extend from just beneath shafts 60, 62 through opening 48 in bottom panel 43 and slightly therebelow. Chute 78 has an enlarged upper opening 84 and a diminished lower or bottom opening 85. In addition to preventing web 24 from becoming tangled with shafts 60, 62 chute 78 eliminates the possibility of tampering with the in ternal mechanism of the machine. Lawardly directed guides 79, 81 further protect the web from engagement with shafts 60, 62. Chute 78 also facilitates the separation of a bag section from the web by keeping the depending exposed bag section 32 substantially in line with the web position between the feeding area defined by shafts 60, 62 and the supply roll 22.

The foregoing has set forth the details of the Web supply, feeding and guiding elements of the machine.

It will be understood that the web 24 of supply roll 22 is withdrawn therefrom and fed through the nip 83 created by the engagement of feed roll sleeves 66 and idler roll sleeves 68. Web 24 is subsequently advanced through chute '78 and opening 48 into the area immediately below cabinet whereupon an individual bag section 32 is removed by the customer, in the manner shown in FIGURE 1.

The Way in which these elements are controlled to provide a coin-operated machine for dispensing individual bag section from the web will now be described. The first method to be explained relates to those bag sections 32 formed in web 24 that are characterized by generally contoured upper and lower ends as contrasted with sections that may be formed by means of scored or perforated lines perpendicular to the length of the web. That is to say, referring to FIGURE 1, shoulder portions 34 and neck portion 36 of each bag section 32 contribute to the operational mode and design characteristics of the means now to be described.

The garment bags commercially available are supplied in rolls similar to that illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 4 of the drawings. Each bag section 32 thereof corresponds in length to a nominal dimension between 36 and 36 /2 inches. This variation is necessary as even with the most rigid quality control as it would be almost impossible and prohibitively costly to secure supply rolls of plastic garment bags having each bag section therein exactly uniform in length. To provide for the fact that the bag sections vary in length from 36 to 36 /2 inches it is necessary to provide means for correcting the advance of the web each time a bag section is removed. If this isnt done, the errors in length will accumulate with disastrous results both to the customer and the commercial reputation of all concerned in the vending of the garment bags.

To this end a combination of two elements (broadly speaking) are provided. The first of these is a timing mechanism to control the advance of web 24 so that it is intermittently drawn from supply roll 22 a distance slightly less than one bag section length for each cycle of operation. The other element, which insures a reliable one-way correctional advance of the web, involves suitable detecting means responsive to the position of an individual bag section after each cycle of operation that causes the web to be advanced slightly after a bag section is removed therefrom. Thus this element corrects for the initial underfed position of the web resulting from the deliberate underadvance of the web by the timing mechanism described.

The timing mechanism selected for this purpose, more particularly shown in FIGURES 4 and 7, indicated generally by reference character 90, consists of a circular disc 92 carried by support 93 in contact with shaft 60. Disc 92 frictionally engages shaft 60 and is rotated thereby. Disc 92 is thin in cross-section and preferably made of phenolic-resin or other suitable material. Coaxial With and joined to disc 92 is a circular cam ring 94, of lesser diameter than disc 92, and rotatable therewith. Cam ring 94 is provided with a radial notch 96 along the periphery thereof. The design of timing mechanism 90 is such that exactly one complete revolution of cam ring 94 is described for each slightly underfed advance of a bag section 32 from supply roll 22. That is, for bag sections of the length referred to, cam ring 94 revolves a single revolution for approximately each 35 /2 of the'linear advance of web 24 from supply roll 22. Further provided is a control relay 98 of the singlepole single throw type having normally open contacts 100, the armature of which is connected to elongated arm 102 having a hook-shaped end 104 which bears against the periphery of cam ring 94 and is engageable with the radial notch 96 thereof. It can be seen that end 104 of arm 102 acts as a cam follower upon the circumference of cam ring 94, notch 96 serv- 6 ing as the start and finish of each cycle of operation.

The detecting means necessary to correct for the underfed advance of web 24 consists of a micro-switch 108 suitably carried by a support 109 behind feed roll shaft 60 (FIGURE 5). Contacts 110 of switch 108 are closed when the free end 114 of arm 112 moves into the plane normally occupied by web 24 as it is fed into nip 83 of the feeding mechanism. The free end 114 of arm '112 is so positioned that it occupies the area between the shoulder portions 34 of each bag section 32 of web 24 after it has been initially advanced in the manner described. FIGURE 8 illustrates bag section 32 of Web 24 in two positions; the upper line 115 showing the underfed advance position of web 24 before a bag section is removed therefromand the lower line 117 illustrating the downward displacement of a terminal bag section as it is being removed from the web. It can be seen that the tearing of a bag section from web 24 results in a generally trapezoidal shaped void 118 in the plane of the web thereby allowing arm 112, normally depressed by web 24 and maintaining contacts 110* in an open position, to rise into the plane of the web and close contacts 110 of switch 108. It should be noted that a-rm 112 is normally biased by web 24 so that whenever web 24 is clear of the area immediately above the free end 114 of arm 112, switch contacts 110 will be closed. The advancement or return of web 24 into void 118, created by the closing of contacts 110 after the removal of a bag section 32, causes arm 1112 again to be depressed thereby opening switch contacts 110 of switch 108. A feature to be considered is that when a bag section is removed from the end of web 24 to thus create void 118, gripping contact with web 24, between feed roll 60 and idler roll 62, is maintained by virtue of the forwardly extending shoulder portions 34 of the following bag section which engage end sleeves 66, 68 of shafts 60 and 62.

A second micro-switch assembly 120 is carried within supporting structure 47 for the purpose of disabling the machine whenever the supply of film from roll 22 is exhausted (see FIGURE 6). This switch has an elongated arm 122' normally in contact with the web 24 in a manner similar to the contact established by arms 112 of switch 108. Arm 122' actuates a pair of contacts (not shown) from a normally closed position to an open position whenever Web 24 is absent from the area between supply roll 22 and the feeding mechanism. Slots 69 in feed roll sleeves 66a, 66b and idler roll sleeves 68a, 68b permit the entrance therein of arms 112 and 122', respectively, so as to maintain contact with web 24 as close as possible to the nip area 83. It can be seen that the location of switch arm 122' of switch 120' allows hand starting of the machine during the loading thereof with supply roll 22 and the feeding of web 24 into the nip area 83. With panel 44 in an open position, switch arm 122' is easily accessible for this purpose.

Turning now to FIGURE 10, the operation of the system set forth will be described with reference to the circuitry involved. Switch 120' is closed upon loading the machine with a supply of film and threading it through the feeding and idler rolls 60, 62. A coin operated switch 124' momentarily energizes relay coil 98 to close contacts 100 thereof and energize motor 64. Cam ring 94 revolves by virtue of the withdrawal of arm 104 from notch 96; the contact of arm 104 with the periphery of cam ring 94 V mechanically locks in relay 98 and keeps contacts 100 in a closed position during one revolution or cycle of opera-- tion. During this time a bag section 32 is advanced through rolls 60, 62 and out opening 48 in cabinet 20.

' When notch 96 of cam ring 94 is again in register with arm end 104 of relay 98 the cycle of operation is completed by the dropping of end 104 into notch 96 and switch contacts 100 are opened thus disabling motor 64 and stopping the movement of web 24. When a bag section 32 is removed from the leading end of web 24 by a customer (by physically tearing the section extending through opening 28 apart from web 24 along discontinuities 30 in cabinet 20), void 118 is created in the plane of web 24. As explained, this occurrence causes switch contacts 110 to close thereby supplying current to motor 64. Web 24 is again advanced until void 118 is replaced by the body of the web thereby opening contacts 110 and terminating the corrective advance of the web. During this time, cam 94 is locked against rotation by arm end 104 in notch 96, with slippage occurring between disc 92 and feed roll 60, as explained in the next paragraph. Web 24 is at this point fully engaged along its width between sleeves 66, 68 of shafts 60, 62, respectively, and ready for the next cycle of operation.

During the operation of the timing mechanism 90 and the feeding means 66, 68, the frictional driving forces between feeding means 66, 68 is greater than the frictional force between driven disc 92 and shaft 60. The reason for this is due to the spring means 74 employed to create a constant driving-driven engagement between sleeves 66, 68. In addition, the entrance of web 24 into nip 83 of sleeves 66, 68 increases the loading therebetween. The result of this arrangement is that slippage is allowed to occur between disc 92 and shaft 60 if the web 24 is inserted too far initially or if it should be torn apart between the ends of a bag section. Such slippage permits the system to correct itself within a linear distance of no more than two bag lengths. In other words, any error that may be introduced into the dispensing of a bag from the machine is always resolved in favor of the customer.

Turning now to FIGURES 9 and 11 to 14, inclusive, alternate means for regulating the advance of a web having transverse discontinuities or planes of weakness therein are disclosed. In such an embodiment, the web 120 does not have the shoulder or neck portions of a bag section delineated therein as in the case of the first means described. Instead, a transverse plane of weakness 122, characterized by a series of perforations or slits 124 in a longitudinally spaced manner, is provided in web 120. To detect the position of the web 120 so as to dispense a bag section 126 for each cycle of operation, a plurality of holes 128 are provided in web 120. Holes 128 are located adjacent the leading edge of each bag section 126, preferably centrally along web 120 to facilitate the location of suitable detecting means between the ends of shafts 60, 62 as in the case of the first means previously described.

Means for detecting the position of web 120 as it advances through the machine may take at least three forms. The first of these is shown in FIGURES 9 and 12 wherein numeral 130 indicates a micro-switch, suitably supported as at 135, having normally closed contacts located immediately in front of web 120 adjacent its entrance into the nip zone 83. A slender elongated film detector arm 132 having a curved end 133 normally engages and bears against the body of web 120 as it is advanced through the machine. End 133 of arm '132 is in register with the longitudinally spaced holes or breaks 128 in film 120 so that the passage of hole 128 thereby results in the momentary upward displacement of arm 132 to open the contacts of switch 130. Suitable guide plates 134 are positioned behind web 120 to lend rigidity. This action disables motor 64 causing web 120' to stop shortly after the inertia in the system is dissipated. The web advance in this case operates independent of the timing means employed in the first system described. The planes of weakness 122 in web 120 are thus dynamically brought immediately below the nip area 83 and free of rolls 60, 62 after the system is disabled by switch .130. Removal of a bag section '126 from web 120 is accomplished by tearing it ofl? in the same manner as in the method first described. No corrective advance of the web is necessary as the net advance is determined entirely by the position of holes 128 in the web 124. By spacing holes 128 close enough to the leading edge of each bag section 126 advantage can be taken of the natural tendency of the rotating elements of the machine to resist an instantaneous cessation of movement because of their inherent inertia. The time elapsed due to this factor enables the web to dynamically advance to a suitable position beyond the feeding mechanism where it can be separated along perforations 124.

FIGURE 13 illustrates an alternate means for detecting the position of holes 128 in web 120. In this embodiment, a micro-switch 136, supported as at 137, is provided having normally closed contacts. An arm 138, suspended from switch "136 and movable in a pendulumlike manner, closes the contacts of switch 136 upon being displaced from a generally vertical position. A vane 138 is attached to the extremity of arm 138 so that a flat surface v140 thereof is in substantial register with the holes in web as it is advanced therepast. Positioned on the opposite side of web 120 is a nozzle 142 for introducing air under pressure through the holes 128 in web 120' as web 120 passes between nozzle 142 and vane 138. When a hole 128 is in register with nozzle 142 and vane 138 the air passing therethrough causes va-ne .138 to oscillate in a vertical plane thereby momentarily opening the contacts of switch 136 and disabling motor 64.

In FIGURES 14 and '15, a film detector switch 146, supported as at 148 is positioned in front of web 120. This form includes an elongated film detecting arm 150 having a curved free end 152 adapted to pass through holes 128 in web-120. Behind web 120 a solid contact bar 154 is provided which is electrically connected to motor 64. When a break or hole 128 in Web 120 passes arm 150 of switch 146, energy to drive motor 64 is cut olf by the closing of the circuit formed by contact bars 154 and free end 1152 thereof. FIGURE 15 illustrates the circuitry involved in this method of controlling the web advance through the machine. As shown, insertion of a coin into coin mechanism 49 closes momentary coin changer switch 202 which energizes control relay 198. Relay 198 locks in through contact 224. Drive motor 64 remains energized through relay contact 200 until film detector switch arm 150 makes contact with contact bar 154 through hole 128 in film 120. Closing of these contacts energizes control relay 230 causing contact 232 to open and deenergize relay 198. The system is then ready for a repeat operation. A detector light 50' may be put in the circuit as shown to indicate when the supply roll 22 is exhausted.

Referring to the circuit diagram of FIGURE 11, the operation of the system of FIGURES 9, 11 and 13 is initiated by the insertion of a coin into the machine to momentarily close switch 202 which is energized by coil 203. Relay 198 is locked in through contact 224 and motor 64 is energized until switch is actuated causing contact 224 to open and de-energize relay 198. Switch 212 is a sensing device, similar to switch 120' of FIGURE 10, for preventing the machine from operating if the web breaks or the machine is empty. As explained, switch 130 can be actuated either by an arm engageable with the web and sensitive to holes or breaks in the web (:FIGURE ll2) or it can be actuated by the air pressure means disclosed in FIGURE 13 of the drawings. As explained, the FIGURE 14 embodiment of the alternate means under discussion relies upon a direct contact between contact bar 154 and arm of switch 146 to electrically control the advance of the web, the web serving as an insulator as it passes between bar 154 and arm 150.

Referring now to FIGURE 16, the void 118 created by the removal of a section 32 from web 24 is indicated by the area enclosed between dotted line and segments 34, 36 of the plane of weakness across web 24. It should be understood that the particular shape of the plane of weakness resulting from perforation-s 30 can be modified and still come within the purview of the invention. That is to say, although a trapezoidal void 118 is shown having a finite longitudinal dimension A, a circular segment or other configuration suitable for the purpose could be used 9 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention has been sufiiciently tested and found to be entirely satisfactory. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention may be modified by many substitutions and equivalents and that this disclosure is intended to be illustrative only. For example, although shafts 60, 62 are shown as being equipped with spaced sleeves 6 6, '68 one may provide solid shafts in place of the sleeve construction described. The micro-switches referred to hereinabove may also take on several forms as well as the relay components and other parts forming the combination. When the terms perforated web, discontinuities, or slits are used in the claims it is intended that they will read on any construction resulting in a plane of weakness across the length of the web whereby a section can be removed from the web. Similarly, although the sections removed from the web are defined in terms of specific lengths, these lengths are meant to be illustrative only.

Although the web 124 is spoken of as of the plastic film type, the machine could easily be used for dispensing and/or vending other suitable sheet material including papen. cloth, and synthetic fabrics of virtually all kinds. No limitation in this or any other regard is intended as it is within the purview of the invention to encompass such variations as may come within the scope of the language set forth in the following appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a garment bag dispensing machine for vending individual garment bags from a continuous web of tubular plastic film type material, each of the bag sections being normed in the web by virtue of longitudinally spaced generally transverse discontinuities in the body of the web and having forwardly extending shoulder portions in communication with the edges of the web joined by a transverse central neck portion, a cabinet having a bag dispensing opening therein, a web supply roll mounted in said cabinet, feed roll means in said cabinet between said supply roll and the opening in said cabinet, an idler roll pivotally mounted in said cabinet normally biased into rotatable engagement with said feed roll whereby to advance the web from said supply roll through the opening in said cabinet, electric drive means for said feed roll means, timing means responsive to the rotation of said feed roll means for initially energizing said drive means whereby to advance the web slightly less than a bag section length for each cycle of operation, correctional advance means including detector means adapted to energize said electric drive means independently of said timing means to advance the web into full register with said feed roll means and said idler roll upon the separation of a bag section from the end of the web extending through said cabinet, and film supply detector means engageable with the web adapted to disable said electric drive means whenever the web is absent between said supply roll and said feed roll means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein non-resilient sleeves are carried by said 'feed rol-l means and resilient sleeves are carried by said idler roll, said non-resilient sleeves being grippingly engageable with said resilient sleeves to provide web feeding and advancing means.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said sleeves in the area adjacent said detector means are longitudinally split.

4. In a machine tor dispensing individual sections formed in a web of flexible material by virtue of spaced recurrent slits therein, the slits being arranged so as to leave a central void in the web upon the separation of a section therefrom, a cabinet having an article discharge p ing there a web supply ml in said cabinet, feed roll means for delivering the web from said supply roll through the discharge opening in said cabinet, electric means operable to drive said feed roll means, timing means associated with said feed roll means and said electric means operable to cause said teed roll means to advance the web a distance slightly less than an individual section length for each cycle of operation; and correctional advance control means cooperable with said electric means and responsive to the occurrence of a void in the web operable to cause said feed roll means to advance the web to replace the void whereby to correct for difierences in section lengths.

5. The machine described in claim 4 wherein said timing means includes cammeans yieldingly engageable with said feed roll means, a cam ring driven by said cam means and having a radial notch along the periphery thereof, said cam ring being adapted to rotate one revolution for each cycle of operation, a relay having normally open contacts, an arm connected to the armature of said relay operable to open and close the contacts thereof, said arm having a free end normally urged into engagement with the periphery of said cam ring to maintain the said contacts in a closed position and engageable with the radial notch therein to open the said contacts, and switch means for momentarily energizing said relay whereby to close the contacts thereof and withdraw the free end of said arm.- iirom the radial notch in said cam ring whereby to lock the said contacts in a closed position for one cycle of operation, said cam means and said feed roll means having sufficient slippage therebetween to permit the subsequent rotation of said feed roll means independent of the rotation of said cam means.

6. The machine described in claim 4 wherein said correctional advance control means includes switch means for independently energizing said electric means, said switch means having normally open contacts, a detector arm engageable with the web adapted to close the contacts of said switch means upon the occurrence of a void in the web and open the said contacts when the void is replaced by a solid section of the web.

7. The machine described in claim 4 wherein means are provided for detecting the presence of the web between said supply roll and said feed roll means, said detecting means being operable to disable said electric means whenever said supply roll is exhausted and being positioned in communication with the web independent of the void created in the plane thereof when a section is removed therefrom.

8. The machine described in claim 4 wherein guide means are provided in said cabinet between said feed rol-l means and the discharge opening in said cabinet for guiding the web therethrough and preventing the re-entry of the web in said feed roll means.

9. The machine described in claim 8 wherein said guide means consists of an elongated trough having an enlarged opening adjacent said feed roll means and a diminished opening adjacent the discharge opening in said cabinet.

10. The machine described in claim 5 wherein coin oper-ated switch means are provided for momentarily energizing said relay.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 20,793 Hamer July 112, 1938 432,233 Fowler et a1 July 15, 1890 2,629,440 Shaw et a1. Feb. 24, 1953 2,760,290 Miller et a1 Aug. 28, 1956 2,838,303 Morley June 10, 1958 2,896,944 Shiba July 28, 1959

Claims (1)

1. 4. IN A MACHINE FOR DISPENSING INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS FORMED IN A WEB OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL BY VIRTUE OF SPACED RECURRENT SLITS THEREIN, THE SLITS BEING ARRANGED SO AS TO LEAVE A CENTRAL VOID IN THE WEB UPON THE SEPARATION OF A SECTION THEREFROM, A CABINET HAVING AN ARTICLE DISCHARGE OPENING THEREIN, A WEB SUPPLY ROLL IN SAID CABINET, FEED ROLL MEANS FOR DELIVERING THE WEB FROM SAID SUPPLY ROLL THROUGH THE DISCHARGE OPENING IN SAID CABINET, ELECTRIC MEANS OPERABLE TO DRIVE SAID FEED ROLL MEANS, TIMING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FEED ROLL MEANS AND SAID ELECTRIC MEANS OPERABLE TO CAUSE SAID FEED ROLL MEANS TO ADVANCE THE WEB A DISTANCE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN AN INDIVIDUAL SECTION LENGTH FOR EACH CYCLE OF OPERATION, AND CORRECTIONAL ADVANCE CONTROL MEANS COOPERABLE WITH SAID ELECTRIC MEANS AND RESPONSIVE TO THE OCCURRENCE OF A VOID IN THE WEB OPERABLE TO CAUSE SAID FEED ROLL MEANS TO ADVANCE THE WEB TO REPLACE THE VOID WHEREBY TO CORRECT FOR DIFFERENCES IN SECTION LENGTHS.

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