WO2010007261A1

WO2010007261A1 - Dispensing apparatus for pre-cut wiping materials with loading of pack of material

Info

Publication number: WO2010007261A1
Application number: PCT/FR2009/050875
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maurice Granger
Original assignee: Maurice Granger
Priority date: 2008-06-24
Filing date: 2009-05-13
Publication date: 2010-01-21
Also published as: EP2312984A1; FR2932671B1; US20110101020A1; FR2932671A1

Abstract

The dispensing apparatus for pre-cut wiping materials of the type comprising a parallelepipedal housing (10) having an end plate (10a) and a lid hinged to the base by a connecting pin (12) and including a locking means, is noteworthy in that it comprises a container holder (14) for holding a stack (P) of loaded pre-cut material and being able to hold a stack (R) of reserve material, and in that said container holder is hinged at its base to the lid and to the housing by the same rotary pin (12), and in that inside its upper part the lid has a horizontal plate (Hb) forming a support base for the loaded stack of material after tipping up the lid and the container holder in order to insert the reserve stack (R) of material, and in that said container holder is able to be engaged with and fastened removably to the housing after pivoting into the inner volume of the housing, and in that the container holder is tipped up by causing the loaded stack (P) of material to move downwards and enabling the insertion of the reserve stack (R) of material into the inner volume of said container holder, and in that the loaded and reserve stacks (P) and (R) of material are connected together by a means (15) after the reserve stack (R) of material has been positioned on the loaded stack (P) of material.

Description

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING PRE-CUTTING WIPING MATERIALS WITH LOADING A BLOCK OF MATERIAL

The invention relates to the technical sector of wiping material dispensing devices such as hand towels, toilet paper, paper towels and the like.

The applicant has been working for many years in this specific field with many patents filed, particularly on automatic or semi-automatic cutting machines, by simply pulling the end of the strip of material.

The strip of material can be rolled up and it is necessary to have an automatic cutting device allowing the cutting of the strip in a predetermined format, while allowing the insertion of the end of the strip out of the apparatus for drawing and cutting a following format of wiping material. In this configuration, the strip of material is uniform, without pre-cutting during manufacture and winding. The applicant has also incorporated, in this type of device, mechanical devices for the insertion of rolls or reels of stock material that can be transferred in a material distribution situation at expiration of the reel being finished.

The Applicant has also been interested in the design of wiping material dispensers in the pre-folded accordion position but with complex layouts and configurations.

The Applicant has also designed and devised a simplified dispensing apparatus for wiping materials described in the FR patent application. 08.53284. Such an apparatus is hereinafter briefly described for the understanding of the present invention, especially as it is referred to to describe the latter.

Thus, this dispensing apparatus for wiping materials is of the type comprising a housing (1) forming a receptacle with a bottom plate (1a), a lower horizontal wall (Ib) and side walls and a cover (2) hinged with locking means. The inner face of the front wall (2a) of the cover is arranged with a protruding shape (2b) having a curvilinear shape, II comprises a device (D) articulated with respect to the housing and providing the functions of loading, guiding and anti-crease forming of the strip of pre-cut material drawn to be evacuated in the front and lower part of the apparatus. This device includes a curvilinear shape (3) capable of engaging in the form (2a) established on the lid when closing said lid, said shapes (2a-3) being concentric while leaving a passage (e) for the strip of pre-cut material drawn. The pre-cut wiping material is in the form of a spool or folded in Z. It comprises, in the lower part of the apparatus, at the exit point of the material, opposite stops on either side of the device. the strip of material by ensuring the separation of a tape format from the pre-cut line opposite the tape.

All the devices thus mentioned and put into operation, as well as those of the competition, have been made either of metal material or by integrating plastics according to the evolution of technologies. In other words, these devices have always required the need to make molds to manufacture the various components, housing, cover, drum, and more generally the components integrated into their design and operation. This type of implementation has significant disadvantages.

Moreover, in the apparatus described in the aforementioned FR 08.53284 patent, it is provided that the material to be dispensed is disposed on a horizontal plate integral with the housing of the apparatus and then developed around the loading device (D) for guiding and shaping the material by being articulated relative to the housing. In other words, the loading of material can be formed only after the total expiry of the stack of material being dispensed, or the maintenance operator must monitor the height level of the stack of material and evacuate a small remaining volume to substitute another battery or refill of material. This therefore inevitably generates waste. Thus, the apparatus described in FR 08.53284 is excellent for the distribution of pre-cut wiping material but not suitable for its loading.

The applicant's approach was therefore to think from all of these data to the design of a new fast-loading, pre-cut wiper material dispenser, setting up a reserve of substitute material and succeeding the stack of material being finished, this apparatus must be simple in its constitution, its reliability, reducing, if necessary, its manufacturing costs being made of a material other than the plastic generating manufacturing molds.

In other words, the applicant's approach has been to design a distributor device of precut materials, which can be made, for example and advantageously also, based on cartons for different applications. The applicant's approach was to go into his thinking about the design of a dispensing device that could be considered by its constituent material as a disposable dispensing device at the end of use, much like disposable cameras.

To the knowledge of the applicant, who has specialized since 1968 in this activity, the date of his first patents for wiping material dispensing machines, it has never been specified and conceived to produce cardboard devices, let alone disposable, for the applications considered.

The invention is therefore of considerable importance and importance in terms of recycling and non-pollution and sustainable development.

The new distributor of pre-cut wiping materials is likely to find many applications by being made from the same concept in different materials, plastics or cardboard or similar, depending on the needs and meeting the requirements of continuous operation with setting up a reserve of pre-cut material.

According to a first feature, the pre-cut wiper material dispensing apparatus of the type comprising a parallelepiped-shaped casing with a bottom plate and a cover hinged to the base on a connecting shaft by including a locking means, is remarkable in it comprises a support-container receiving a stack of pre-cut material under load and having the capacity to receive a battery of reserve material, and in that said support-container being hinged at its base with respect to the cover and to the casing from the same axis of rotation, and in that that the cover has internally in its upper part a horizontal plate constituting a support base of the stack of laden material after tilting of the lid and the holder-container for the establishment of the reserve material stack, and in that said support-container is engageable and can be fixed in a detachable manner with respect to the housing, after pivoting in the interior volume of the housing, and in that the tilting of the support-container is effected by causing the moving the stack of laden material downwards and allowing the insertion of the reserve material stack into the interior volume of said holder-container, and in that the piles and of laden and reserve material are interlinked. by means after positioning the reserve material stack on the stack of laden material.

These and other characteristics will be apparent from the rest of the description.

For fixing the object of the invention illustrated in a nonlimiting manner to the figures of the drawings where:

- Figure 1 is a view of the dispensing apparatus of pre-cut wiping materials according to the prior art of FR 08.53284.

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention in the use position.

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus, according to Figure 2, in the open position for its loading of a stack of pre-cut material in reserve.

FIG. 4 is a view, according to FIG. 3, of the apparatus after putting in place the stack of pre-cut material in reserve.

FIG. 5 is a view of the loaded apparatus, according to FIG. - Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus according to the invention in the closed position.

- Figure 7 is a sectional view of the apparatus, according to Figure 6, in the open position for its loading with presentation of a reserve material stack. In this configuration, the reserve material stack is specifically made according to one aspect of the invention.

- Figure 8 is a view, according to Figure 7, after establishment of the reserve material stack and connection with the remaining material stack.

FIG. 9 is a view of the apparatus, according to FIG. 8, after closing and loading of the reserve material stack.

- Figure 10 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention in the operating position.

- Figure 11 is a view of the apparatus, according to Figure 10, with the open lid portion. - Figure 12 is a view of the apparatus, according to Figures 10 and 1 1, with the cover portion and the support-containing the stack of material laden and open reserve.

FIG. 13 is a view from below of FIG. 6 illustrating the guide stops of the wiping material; FIG. 14 represents the stack of pre-cut stock material according to a specific arrangement of the invention for the purpose of loading the wiper material; apparatus.

FIG. 15 is a view according to FIG. 14 showing the connection between the stack of material under load and the stack of reserve material. FIG. 16 shows an exemplary embodiment of the connection means between the stack of material under load and the reserve battery in a preferred implementation.

FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 are schematic views illustrating the different phases of presentation of the material stack in FIG. reserve and its connection with the stack of material under load, with the overflow and detachment of the connecting means.

- Figure 20 is a partial view illustrating the means of implementation and deformation of the material web in an alternative embodiment.

- Figure 21 is a view according to Figure 20 showing the passage of the band in the configuration considered.

In order to make the object of the invention more concrete, it is now described in a nonlimiting manner illustrated in the figures of the drawings.

The pre-cut wiper material dispensing apparatus is referenced as a whole by (A) and allows the dispensing of Z-folded pre-cut material strips. It comprises a parallelepiped-shaped casing (10) with a bottom plate (10a). side walls (10b) and a lower base (10c) and a cover (1 1) hinged to the base on a connecting shaft (12), including a key type locking means (13).

According to the invention, the dispensing apparatus comprises a support-container (14) receiving a stack of pre-cut material under load (P) and having the capacity to receive a stack of pre-cut material in reserve (R) intended to be assembled, said support-container (14) being articulated at its base relative to the cover (1 1) and relative to the housing (10) from the same axis of rotation (12). This support-container (14) of material is of parallelepipedal shape and is capable of engaging, after pivoting, in the interior volume of the housing. For this purpose, said support-container comprises a front wall (14a) parallel to the bottom wall (10a) of the housing when the apparatus is closed, two side walls (14b) reentrant inside the housing, a base of bottom (14c) and, above it, a horizontal plate (14d) for supporting the battery of the wiping material. In their upper part, the side walls (14b) are arranged internally with protruding pins (14e) engageable in recesses (10d) shaped on the side walls of the housing to provide locking in position. In the lower part, the side walls (14b) have openings (14f) for the passage of the hinge pins (12) above. In its upper part, the support-container (14) has a connecting strip (14g) disposed opposite the wall (14a) to come opposite the bottom wall (10a) of the housing (10). This connecting strip established between the side walls (14b) has, on the one hand, a cutout (14h) for the passage of the locking means (12) and, on the other hand, a vertical fixed tongue participating in said locking.

Furthermore, the bottom wall (10a) of the housing has a protrusion (10e) for locking to be opposite said tongue. According to the invention, the cover (11) has an upper horizontal wall (11a) from which the locking key (13) is arranged and also a second horizontal wall or plate (Hb) arranged inside leaving a passage interval of the locking means. This plate (1 Ib) provides an important function namely that of forming a support base of the stack of laden material for the establishment of the reserve material stack (R).

Before describing the operation and loading of the apparatus, it should be noted that, in an advantageous implementation, it can be arranged, on the one hand, on the inner face of the lid and, on the other hand, on the outer face of the front wall (14a) of the support-container with the shaping means described in the patent FR 08.53284. Thus, more particularly, the inner face of the lid is arranged with a shape curvilinear (I le) protruding intended to participate in guiding and shaping anti-folds of material. This shape (Ie) surrounds a central cutout (Hd) through which the material leaves the apparatus. Moreover, the outer face (Mal) of the front wall of the support-containing material is also arranged with a curvilinear projection (14n) capable of integrating into the volume defined by the shape (1 Ic) which is concentric by leaving a passage (e) for the movement of the material. A cutout (14p) is formed in the center of said projecting shape (14n). In its upper part, the front wall is arranged with a curved shape (14r) or rounded established in a curvilinear configuration in slight overflow on either side of the thickness of the wall (14a). This allows the passage and support of pre-cut material folded in Z.

As shown in Figure 13, the apparatus includes, in its lower part, stops (16) adjustable in position and opposite defining between them the passage of the strip of drawn material. These abutments (16) are arranged with a recess for perfect guidance output of the material and facilitating the separation of a format from the pre-cut line.

It is therefore appropriate to describe the loading conditions of such an apparatus.

It is represented by (P) the stack of material under load and by (R) the stack of reserve material, being reminded that these materials are pre-cut and folded in Z and thus likely to unfold fold by fold and continuously during traction by the operator. The apparatus, according to the invention described above, is designed to allow the tilting of the support-container after opening of the lid. It is necessary to refer to Figures 2 to 5, 6 to 9, 10-12 in particular.

In a closed situation, the stack (P) of laden material bears on the horizontal platform (14d) established on the support-container (14). After opening the cover (1 1) and its tilting, one proceeds to the tilting of the support-container to present it in opposite vertical plane. The operator, by simply pulling forward, will unlock said support-container relative to the housing, the projecting pins (14e) emerging from the recesses (1Od). The stack (P) of material will therefore rock too and fall by gravity to bear on the plate (1 Ib). Thus, said stack (P) of material will change position and support face. This battery (P) being of reduced volume due to the consumption made, it is therefore possible to introduce a new stack of material (R) called reserve, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 7, 8, in the internal volume of the support- containing and therefore supported on the stack (P) in charge. The next step is then to switch in the opposite direction the support-container in reverse movement. From the bearing, the two piles (P) and (R) will again change position in the support casing. The battery (R) of reserve material bears on the horizontal plate (14d) of the support-container and the battery (P) in charge therefore comes above it (Figure 9).

As shown in Figure 13, the apparatus then includes in its lower part around the cutouts (11 d- 14p) stops (16) adjustable in position and opposite defining between them the passage of the drawn material strip. These abutments (16) are arranged with a recess (16a) allowing perfect guidance at the exit of the material and facilitating the separation of a format from the precut line. To ensure a perfect continuity between the piles of material in charge (P) and in reserve (R), during the traction of the material by the operator, it is necessary to bind the two piles together, (P) and (R) by a temporary connection means such that the last ply (P1) of material of the stack (P) and the first ply (R1) of material of the stack (R) can be assembled. The solution provided by the applicant is thus illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 19.

Each stack of pre-cut and Z-folded conditioned material arranged on the apparent ply capable of coming into contact and support with a stack of laden material (P), comprises a particular connecting means (15) having two configurations, one of which in storage of the battery before insertion into the device, the other when charging in the device. This connecting means (15) is of the double-sided tape type and thus comprises an adhesive-coated portion (15a) in the form of a tablet which is fixed on the face facing the apparent fold of the stack of conditioned material and therefore in reserve, and a detachable tongue (15b) that can be grasped by the operator. This tongue (15b) may have a shape identical to that of the adhesive pad, as shown in FIG. 14 for example, or preferably with a longer length as shown in FIG. 16, and be overflowing and visible after stacking the two stacks (P). and (R). In this case, the tab has a portion (15bl) secured to the adhesive-coated pellet, and a portion (15b2) overflowing, and in particular the stack, to be grasped by the operator. The positioning zone of this connecting means (15) is located to be the most suitable for facilitating the removal of the tab by the operator. The implementation is as follows. When it is necessary to load the dispenser device with a reserve battery, after tilting of the lid and the holder-container under the conditions mentioned above, the operator grasps the battery of reserve material (R) intended to be changed. He positions on the remaining pile (P) of laden material, and removes the tongue (15b) by simple pulling. In other words, the removal of the tongue immediately leads to the adhesive bonding of the reserve material stack (R) which, by its weight, will cause the apparent receiving fold of the connecting means (15) to fold onto the fold apparent opposite the stack of laden material. It ensures an absolute continuity of the two stacks of material (P) and (R). When switching in the opposite direction of the support-container, the adhesive support is reinforced by the weight ratio of the batteries between them.

As it appears in the drawings, the bent portion (15b3) in the middle portion of the tongue is opposite the end (15b4) projecting from the tongue and gripped by the operator. Preferably, the dimensional ratio between the length of the adhesive portion and the length of the tongue is of the order of 1.5 to 2.5 in favor of the tongue, the tongue being of great length to allow its movement, its visual identification, and its seizure.

During the operation of the device, the traction of the material is carried out without problem during the passage of the connection zone of the piles (P) and (R). The centering in position of the connecting means (15) is of course preferable on the stack of conditioned material to facilitate the operation of the assembly. Depending on the case, one can also consider the establishment of several connecting means (15) of the aforementioned type.

In the context of a variant of the invention specifically relating to the guide means of the strip of material drawn between the shapes (1 Ic) and (14n), there is provided FIGS. 20 and 21 the implementation of several forms of the aforementioned type alternating to allow a better control of tension of the paper when it is thick. We have successively represented a form (I le), a form (14n), another form (I le), another form (14c), which all come entangled concentric to each other.

The dispensing apparatus as defined by the invention offers many advantages. It is first of all emphasized its simplicity with only three components that can be made of any plastic material and cardboard in particular. Loading conditions are easy and pose no problem. The connection of the batteries (P) and (R) material is simple to achieve.

Furthermore, the dispensing apparatus, according to the invention, comprising only three parts or components (10 - 11 - 14), ensures the distribution of the material in total silence in the absence of any cutting mechanism, drive and other components previously used.

The apparatus according to the invention is perfectly compatible for dispensers of all types of material sizes of different sizes since the effect of operation is performed solely on the precut line.

Claims

R E V E N D I C A T IO N S

-1- Apparatus dispensing pre-cut wiping materials of the type comprising a casing (10) of parallelepiped shape with a bottom plate (10a) and a cover hinged to the base on a connecting shaft (12) including a means of lock, characterized in that it comprises a support-container (14) receiving a stack (P) of pre-cut material under load and having the capacity to receive a battery (R) of reserve material, and in that said support-container being hinged at its base relative to the cover and the housing from the same axis of rotation (12), and in that the cover has internally in its upper part a horizontal plate (Hb) constituting a support base of the stack of laden material after tilting of the lid and the holder-container for the establishment of the battery (R) of stock material, and in that said carrier-container is likely to engage and to fix in a demontab way relative to the housing, after pivoting in the interior volume of the housing, and in that the tilting of the support-container is effected by causing the displacement of the stack (P) of material under load and allowing the insertion of the stack (R) of resist material in the interior volume of said holder-container, and in that the piles (P) and (R) of charge and reserve material are bonded together by means (15) after positioning the reserve material stack (R) on the stack of laden material (P).

-2- Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the support-container (14) comprises a front wall (14a) parallel to the bottom wall (10a) of the housing in the closed position of the device, two side walls (14b) re-entering the housing, a bottom base (14c) and above a horizontal plate (14d) for supporting the stack of material in operation.

-3- Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the reentrant side walls (14b) of the support-container (14) are arranged with protruding pins (14c) capable of locking in position in recesses (1Od) shaped on the side walls of the housing.

-4- Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that in its upper part, the support-container (14) has a connecting strip (14g) disposed opposite the wall (14a) to be opposite the bottom wall of the housing, said strip having a cutout (14h) for the passage of the locking means (12) and a tab (14m) vertical fixed participating in the locking.

-5- Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner face of the cover is arranged with a curvilinear (I le) projecting for pre-cutting and anti-crease shaping of the material, and e that the face external (Mal) of the front wall of the support-container is arranged with a protruding form (14n) curvilinear integrating into the volume defined by the form (I the) which is concentric to it leaving a passage (e) for the displacement of the material.

-6- Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the shape (I the) surrounds a central cut (1 Id), and in that the projection (14b) surrounds a cutout (14p), said cuts allowing the exit of the strip of material.

-7- Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises in its lower part around the cutouts (11 d- 14p) abutments (16) opposite and adjustable in position, said stops having a recess (16a) for guiding the material pulled out of the apparatus and facilitating the separation of a tape format from the adjacent precut line.

-8- Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that during the loading of the battery (R) of stock material, said stack (R) is secured by its apparent fold facing the apparent fold of the stack (P) of material loaded by at least one connecting means (15) detachable in part to allow the adhesive bonding of the two batteries (PR) together by their folds facing.

-9- Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the connecting means (15) is of the double-sided tape type with an adhesive portion (15a) in the form of a chip fixed on the face facing the apparent fold of the stack of conditioned material and in reserve, and a protruding tab and detachable (15b) of the receiving stack (R) can be grasped by the operator.

-10- Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the tongue (15b) has a portion (15bl) secured to the pellet and a portion (15b2) projecting from the pile to be grasped and allow traction removal of said tongue and binding firm folds apparent facing stacks of material (P) and (R).

-1- Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises the implementation of several forms (1 lc-14n) alternately to allow better control of tension of the paper when it is thick, said forms coming entangled by being concentric to each other. -12- Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the tongue (15b) has, in its middle part, a bent portion (15b3) located opposite its end (15b4) projecting from the receiving stack intended to be entered by the operator.

Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the length of the tongue is in a dimensional ratio greater than 1.5 to 2.5 of the length of the adhesive portion (15a).