Patent ID: 6609450
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: A47K,Y10T

Abstract:
An automatic paper dispensing apparatus for dispensing one of toilet paper and paper towels, said apparatus comprising:a molded plastic housing; a take-off reel of paper material supported in an upper part of said housing; a hinged cutting blade for cutting a portion of paper material; a support drum rotatably supported in a lower part of said housing; a start mechanism associated with said support drum disposed on one side of said housing; a pressure roller disposed in relation to said support drum which ensures feeding of a strip of paper from said take-off reel to the support drum and ensures tensioning of the strip of paper; a rack gear internally fixed on one side of said plastic housing; a toothed heel associated with a shaft of said hinged cutting blade and said rack gear for moving said cutting blade; and a protective cover hingably attached to said housing, in which the housing of the paper towel dispensing version of said apparatus further includes a pair of parallel end shields disposed in the lower part of said housing, each of said parallel end shields being perpendicular to a rear plane of said housing and spaced to allow positioning of said support drum and said pressure roller, each of said end shields including elastically deformable tongues having recesses to accommodate the pressure roller and to position opposing ends of the support drum, and in which the housing of the toilet paper dispensing version further includes a front end shield and a rear wall, each of said front end shield and said rear wall being spaced to allow positioning of said support drum and said pressure roller therebetween, each of said front end shield and rear wall including plastically deformable tongues having recesses to accommodate the pressure component and scallopings to position opposing ends of the support drum and wherein the protective cover includes horizontal tabs capable of engaging the tongues of said end shields of either said housing.