Center pull towel dispenser method and apparatus

A center pull towel mechanism having an adjustable iris system where a locking system is configured to enclose the surfaces defining the towel iris. In one form the adjustable iris system automatically adjusts the cross-sectional opening with an adjustable member positioned in the transverse rearward portion with respect to the towlette members interposed therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Straight pull towel dispensing mechanisms have been utilized to allow dispensing of rolled paper towels which have perforations at prescribed lateral locations. Oftentimes a straight pull apparatus extracts the towel members from an inner open cylindrical area of the towel where the paper towel folds to a lower opening passing therethrough. A certain amount of friction acting upon the paper towel will break the perforation and one of the towel members will disengage from the roll of towels and a portion of the adjacent upper towel member will protrude through the opening of the towel dispensing apparatus.

Oftentimes paper quality and the general qualities of the paper have a tendency to provide different dynamics of the tearing action. For example, in some cases the paper may be thicker or the fiber matrix itself may be stronger. Further, the type of perforations can differ in cut length and attachment length in the lateral direction. In particular, the thickness of the paper towel will create a different cross-sectional area where the towel member is folded up and passing through the lower opening of a towel dispensing apparatus.

In the original center pull designs, a dispenser used in hard roll of towels and pulled the paper up through the center through an eye of a hole, and it was difficult to load because the user needed two hands to load the item by threading the paper from the top and pulling it out through the lower hole in the bottom. Oftentimes, a janitor will hold the item between his shoulder and cheek so he can use both hands to push the lower hole into the casing and have one hand free to feed the hole and pull the paper out of the bottom portion while simultaneously trying to finesse the entire roll into a holding place within the casing. Oftentimes the orifice was a fixed size, so if there was any issue with the quality or thickness of the paper or the change in the idiosyncrasies, there were problems related to tearing at a proper length to have a rather short extended tail or one which is too long.

A second generation of center pull towels included two improvements. One was a split funnel that rotated such that instead of placing in the material in a hole, there was a split and the janitor could place the material in the split. Thereafter, in the back portion of the unit, the unit can be adjusted. Because the adjustment member was in the rearward portion, this made the process very inconvenient and increased difficulty in determining which direction of rotation would tighten the orifice.

Further, paper is very abrasive and orifices tend to wear, such that an adjustment of an orifice may need to be performed in some forms during the use of a paper towel roll.

As disclosed herein, there is an embodiment involving fine-tuning the orifice setting in the front portion of the unit when the unit is open. Further disclosed is an automatic tension setting.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved adjustment of the opening where an iris adjustment system can provide a system for a closing the iris after a person maintaining the paper towel dispensing unit has placed a roll of paper towels therein. Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for enclosing an adjustable iris to provide a more consistent towel breaking so a sufficient amount of towel extends out of the apparatus for a second withdrawal of a perforated towel section.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Disclosed herein is a towel dispenser having a casing which has a mounting portion, a base region and a panel region movable attached to the base region. The base region also has a surface defining an access slot. An iris adjusting system is provided having an iris adjustment member comprising an adjustable iris surface which defines in part a towel iris. The iris adjustment system operatively configured to reposition the iris adjustment member to reposition the adjustable iris surface to change the cross-sectional area of the towel iris from within the chamber of the casing.

There is further an iris locking system front transverse surface portion and a surface defining a front slot opening. The front slot opening has an open orientation where the slot opening is in alignment with the access slot of the casing to provide access to the towel iris, and the transverse front surface has a closed orientation to discontinue communication between the axis slot of the casing and the towel iris where the transverse front surface is repositioned by way of an engagement surface of the iris locking system which is configured to engage the panel region of the casing and reposition the transverse front surface to the closed position with respect to the base region of the casing.

In one form the iris adjustment member is pivotally attached to the casing and a biasing member biases the iris adjustment member so the towel iris has a minimum cross-sectional area. In this embodiment the iris adjustment member can be pivotally attached to the base region of the casing and a shroud defines the transverse front surface and substantially encases the iris adjustment member in the circumferential region thereof and an engagement latch of the shroud defines the engagement surface and is operatively configured to engage the panel region of the casing when the panel region is in a closed position with respect to the base region. In one form the iris adjustment member comprises a biasing surface which is configured to engage a receiving surface of the shroud where the biasing surface of the iris adjustment member places an opposing force against the force of the engagement latch from the panel region of the casing when the panel region is in the enclosed position with respect to the base region of the casing.

One form of repositioning the front engagement surface is where the panel region is configured to engage the engagement latch of the shroud which rotates the shroud opening to the closed orientation when the panel region of the casing is in engagement with the base region to form an enclosed position.

In a preferred form the panel region is pivotally attached to the base region and the surface defining the slot opening is facing a transverse outward region. The iris adjustment system can have a lock extension at an opposing region of a pivot extension to pivotally connect the iris adjustable member.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that in one form of the disclosure a center pull towel dispenser is provided with an adjustable iris surface positioned in a transverse rearward portion of the towel iris (the portion positioned away from the user) to provide a transverse front surface for the towel to slide against when being pulled from the dispenser. The towel iris is essentially an opening defined by surrounding surfaces where the iris has a degree of adjustability of its open cross-sectional area. The substantially static transverse front surface defines, in part, the towel iris and in one form is provided with an open orientation when a front panel is in an open orientation to provide access to the towel iris for various purposes such as replacing, installing or otherwise modifying a paper towel positioned in the towel dispenser. Of course there can be many forms of a self adjusting iris adjustment system as well as a manual iris adjusting system.

Other details of one form of carrying out the broadly protected concept are disclosed further herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown inFIG. 1, there is an environmental view of the paper towel dispenser20which is an improvement over the disclosures U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,510,964 and 6,769,589 which are incorporated by reference. To aid in the description of the drawings, the axes system10is defined where the axis12indicates a vertical axis pointing a vertical direction and the axis14represents a lateral axis, where based from the transverse front portion of the paper towel dispenser20, the axis14is pointing in the left direction with a substantially opposing direction in the right direction. Finally, the axis16indicates a transverse direction and points in a transverse forward direction (the opposing direction being a transverse rearward direction). Of course, the axes are for general reference purposes to aid in the description and orientation of the components described herein.

The paper towel dispenser20generally comprises a casing22as shown inFIG. 3, an iris adjustment system24as shown inFIG. 7, and an iris locking system26as shown inFIG. 8. Referring back toFIG. 1there is shown the environmental view ofFIG. 1where the individual30is pulling on a towlette32which has broken away from the base frame end portion34. As shown inFIG. 2, the ream36is shown where a plurality of perforations38separate each towlette member.FIG. 3shows the ream36in a conventional wound-up manner. The end portion34generally comes from the inner conduit portion37. It should be noted, as shown inFIG. 1, that commonly the broken perforation region38′ is of an oblique nature because, as shown inFIG. 3, the end portion34is dispensed from the towel iris106to the top and in general the bottom region will pass through the towel iris106to enhance the associated perforation while it passes through. As described herein, the towel iris106is adjustable and further locked in place by the iris locking system26described further herein.

Now referring toFIG. 3, it can be appreciated that the casing22defines and interior chamber and in one form comprises a base region42and a panel region44. In one form, the panel region44is pivotally connected at the pivot location46. In one form, the pivot location46is comprised of an internal hinge48which is hidden from view and the surrounding surfaces50and52of the panel region44and the base region42respectively are substantially continuous, creating a smooth exterior housing. As shown inFIG. 3, the internal pin47is positioned in the interior chamber portion of the casing22.

The casing22further comprises a faceplate54which in one form mounts to the base region42by way of the snap connectors56and58. The base plate54in one form allows for a different type of material and more modular configuration to house the iris adjustment system24and the iris locking system26which are shown by way of example in detail herein below. It should be noted that the central region60of the faceplate is of a frustoconical nature, having a smooth fillet-like interface to the upper surrounding surface62, which is configured to support the lower surface of the paper towel roll36. As shown inFIG. 9, there is a cross-sectional view of the faceplate54where the central region60comprises the frustoconical-like surface to channel the paper towel members up to the central opening62.

As shown inFIG. 4, there is a base plate where the underside portion is exposed. As shown in the bottom protruding portion61, there is a surface70which is an outer surface which in part can be conical to allow rotation of the components and in particular the shroud member92of the iris locking system26.

The surface72in one form comprises a cylindrical opening to engage the pivot extension94of the iris adjustment member90of the iris adjustment system.

As shown in one form, there is a plurality of lock positions where the first form of the description of the iris adjustment system as is a manual one and a lock extension96of the iris adjustment member is configured to engage one of the lock positions74. Of course, other lock mechanisms can be employed.

Further shown inFIG. 4in the lower portion are stopping members76and78which are configured to engage the trailing and leading stop surfaces130and132of the shroud member92described further herein. The access slot73is defined in the central lateral transverse front region.

Of course, it can be appreciated that a plurality of methods, components and assemblies can be used to have the iris adjustment system. Disclosed above and further herein are examples of carrying out the broader concept which is protected by way of the claims herein.

As a final note with regard to the base member54, the internal surface80comprises in part a portion of the iris as shown inFIG. 4. In one form, the transverse front region82will provide a portion of the iris along with the adjustable iris surface98of the iris adjustment member24as well as, in one form, a portion of the shroud92.

With the foregoing description in place with regard to the base member, there will now be a description of the two components which in part comprise the iris adjustment system and the iris locking system. The first component to be described is the iris adjustment member90followed by a description of the shroud92(which in part comprises the iris locking system26).

As shown inFIG. 5, there is an iris adjustment member90. In this form, the member90is a manual adjust embodiment, but an automatic adjust embodiment will described further herein with reference toFIGS. 13-19. The iris adjust member90comprises a pivot extension94and a lock extension96. Further, the iris adjustable surface98is provided in the transverse rearward portion of the towel iris, which is repositioned with respect to the transverse front region82of the base plate54as shown inFIG. 4. There is further a circumferential region100as shown inFIG. 5and an adjustment arm102.

Now referring toFIG. 7, it can be appreciated that in an operating position, the pivot extension94is received within the cylindrical opening defined by the surface72of the base plate so the iris adjustment member90is pivotally attached thereto. In this form, the adjustment arm102can be manually adjusted such that the lock extension96is springingly attached to the arm by way of a cantilevered arm97. As shown inFIG. 10, the isometric view illustrates the adjustment arm102being positioned at one of the prescribed locations indicated by the designations at104which in one form are numeric designations incrementing to indicate a prescribed cross-sectional area of the towel iris indicated at106.

Now referring back toFIG. 6, there is shown a shroud92which in one form comprises the iris locking system26. The shroud has an outer peripheral region120and an inner peripheral region122. The internal surface124has a front transverse portion which is configured to form, in part, the towel iris106as shown inFIG. 10. There is further a positioning latch128having a trailing stop surface130and a leading stop surface132. The engagement latch136is shown where the engagement surface138is provided to have torque placed thereon to rotate the shroud92into a closed orientation. It can be seen inFIG. 8that the shroud92is positioned around the iris adjustment member90, in one form.

Now referring toFIG. 11, the iris locking system26as shown where the shroud92is rotated to a locked orientation. In one form, the engagement surface138is biased to the locked orientation either manually or by an extension engagement surface in the panel region44(the panel region44is shown inFIG. 3).

As shown inFIG. 20, there is a cross-sectional view taken at line20-20ofFIG. 1. It can be appreciated that the panel engagement member142is configured to engage the engagement latch102to automatically bias the shroud92to the closed and locked orientation when the casing44is in an enclosed position with respect to the base region42as shown inFIG. 3(as well as inFIG. 1in the environmental view).

FIG. 9shows a cross-sectional view taken at line9-9ofFIG. 8, and it can be seen in one form how the shroud92is encompassed around the iris adjustment member90.

As shown inFIG. 6, the transverse front surface124is configured to discontinue communication with the towel iris106(seeFIG. 10) and the access slot73of the casing as shown inFIG. 4, which in one form is comprised of the base plate54. Of course, the access slot73is defined by the lateral adjacent surfaces thereof. It should be noted that other methods of providing a transverse front surface can be employed. The surface defining the slot opening139as shown inFIGS. 6 and 10of the iris locking system has the locked orientation (SeeFIG. 10) where the slot opening is not in alignment with the access slot73of the casing, which in one form is a part of the base plate54. As shown inFIG. 8, the surface defining the slot opening139is in alignment with the access slot73to allow the towel member to have access therein when, for example, a towel is being loaded above the lower portion of the paper towel dispenser20. The term to discontinue communication between the towel iris106and the access slot73is generally defined as providing a sufficient amount of discontinuity between these areas such that when a paper towel is pulled downwardly, as shown inFIG. 1, the transverse front surface124will not allow access at the front portion of the access slot73. Of course, not providing communication generally means that in the direction of pull, or the substantial vertical direction perhaps with a slight transverse forward angle, there is a sufficient amount of the surface124to engage the paper towel for the operation described initially in the specification when discussing the general nature of the center pull towel mechanism.

With the foregoing description in place of the first embodiment, there will now be a description of another form. In this form, the adjustment of the towel iris106is executed automatically by way of a biasing member275. To aid in the description, similar numerals which are incremented by 200 (i.e. will be preceded with a numeral “2” when referring to numbers with two significant digits) will designate similar components for the first embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 13, there is a faceplate254which is similar to the base plate as shown inFIG. 4, except the biasing attachment location274is provided which attaches to the biasing member275as shown inFIG. 16. The shroud292is similar to the shroud inFIG. 6, however a rotational biasing surface293is provided. In the similar form, the engagement latch336is provided to rotate the shroud member292to a close and locked orientation in a similar manner as described above with reference toFIG. 20.

Now referring toFIG. 14, there is shown another form of the iris adjustment system224where the iris adjustment member290is an automatic adjusting iris member. The torque transfer surface291in one form is a vertically extending peg member to engage the rotational biasing surface293as shown inFIG. 17in the assembled view where the torque transferring surface291is an engagement with the rotational biasing surface293to bias the shroud292to the unlocked orientation.

It should be noted that the connection of the biasing member275is such that a torque is supplied around the pivot extension294to bias the iris adjustment member290to the reduced iris size orientation as shown inFIG. 17.

FIG. 16shows the iris adjustment member290positioned upon the base plate254. Further,FIG. 17shows a shroud member292positioned over the iris adjustment member290. Now referring toFIG. 18, it can be appreciated in the locked orientation that the shroud292is rotated and the engagement latch336is rotated by engaging the panel engagement member142as shown inFIG. 20. This rotation partially opens the towel iris306and the biasing member275which is in one form a tension helical spring that is placed in a higher stored energy state such that the rotational biasing surface293is engaging the torque transfer surface291of the iris adjustment member290. Therefore, it can be appreciated that in this form, the biasing member275not only biases the iris adjustment member290to a reduced surface area orientation of the towel iris306, but further provides a force to reposition the shroud292into an unlocked orientation, as shown inFIG. 17.

Now referring toFIG. 19, it can be appreciated that the towel iris306is in a maximum open orientation. This view is used as an example to show that a force applied upon the iris adjustment surface298automatically adjusts the towel iris size in the cross-sectional area thereof indicated at306. It can be appreciated that the biasing member275is at a maximum stored orientation state in this configuration. In a view such asFIG. 19, presumably a very thick paper towel cross-sectional area is passing through the opening and the biasing member275transfers a certain amount of frictional force through the surface298to the outer surface of the towel section34which is shown by way of example inFIG. 3.

As shown inFIG. 21, there is another iris adjustment system324where an iris adjustment surface298is positioned in the transverse rearward region with respect to the surfaces defining the towel iris306. The iris adjustment system324has a biasing member375which is configured to reposition the iris adjustment surface298in a transverse forward orientation. This embodiment illustrates the general principle of having the iris adjustment surface298positioned in the transverse rearward portion attached to the base plate254, which in one form is a part of the base region of the casing. Therefore, referring back toFIG. 1, it can be appreciated that when an individual30is pulling a towlette32, in most situations, the towlette will be pulled toward the transverse front portion as indicated by the vector16. Therefore, the general direction of pull is opposed to the iris adjustment surface298described above, whereby the force vector of pulling the towlette32in a slight traverse forward direction will not affect the iris opening. As described above, in one form the iris locking system provides the front transverse surface, which is repositionally connected to the base region and configured to allow access to the towel iris when the repositional region of the casing is in the open orientation. Of course, the surface124(seeFIG. 11) can be provided in a plurality of forms other than that shown by example above.

While the present invention is illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments are described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications within the scope of the appended claims will readily appear to those sufficed in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicants' general concept.