DISPENSER FOR ROLLED WEBS

Abstract: The dispenser is generally of the kind comprising an enclosure housing means for rotatably supporting the web roll and having an elongate opening through which the web passes. The invention is characterised in that means (12, 13) are provided for pulling the web (27) from its roll on its path to the elongate opening (26), in that the web pulling means (12, 13) is connected via drive means (6, 11, 14) to a first operating member (7) mounted externally of the enclosure (1) which, in use, is arranged to actuate the web pulling means (12, 13) a predetermined amount to dispense a controlled web length, and in that means (e.g. jets 15a, 15b) are provided which may be actuated at the option of the user, via a second on/off operating member (21), by said first operating member (7) and whilst a web length is being dispensed to direct a fluid at least onto one surface, and preferably both surfaces, of said web length prior to it passing out of said enclosure through said opening. The invention provides a dispenser, e.g. a toilet roll holder, in which the length of the web dispensed is controlled and handling of the web avoided and in which the web can optionally be moistened.

Description: DISPENSER FOR ROLLED WEBS This invention relates "to dispensers for rolled web products, such as paper rolls for use in toilets and 5 kitchens. Particularly in the case of toilet rolls, present dispensers are mostly unhygienic and, in their basic form, merely comprise a spindle supported by a bracket on which a roll is freely mounted. Dispensers comprising an τ_o enclosure housing means for supporting the roll (eg a spindle or oppositely arranged bosses) and having an elongate opening through which the web passes are known and these at least provide some protection from the environment. However, because the roll is usually freely 3_5 mounted, to detach a length of the web it is necessary for the user to effect this manually, which includes handling the free end of the web left on the roll. An object of the invention is to provide a dispenser, in which the length of paper is controlled and 20 handling of the free end of the paper is avoided, and which provides other advantages as discussed below. According to the invention, a dispenser for rolled web products comprising an enclosure housing means for rotatably supporting a web roll and having an elongate 25 opening through which the web passes, is characterised in that means are provided for pulling the web from its roll on its path to said opening, in that the web pulling means is connected via drive means to an operating member mounted externally of the enclosure which, in use, is arranged to attactuate the web pulling means a predeter¬ mined amount to dispense a controlled web length and in that means are provided which may be actuated, if required, by said operating member and whilst a web length is being dispensed to direct a fluid at least onto one surface, and preferably both surfaces, of said web length prior to it passing through said opening. The fluid may be merely water to moisten the web for use, or perfumed water, or a medicament, etc. in liquid or powder form. Preferably, the directing means comprises a jet, or jets, for spraying the fluid towards the or each face of the web, connected to a fluid reservoir via a pump, said pump being arranged to be actuated when required via an on/off connection between it and said operating member. Preferably, said web pulling means comprise a roller in running contact with a stabilising surface, which is rotatable through a predetermined angle by operation of said operating member to pull the web length through the nip between said roller and stabilising surface. It will be appreciated that the dispensed length of web can be detached simply by the user pulling against the holding force provided by the nip. Alternatively, according to a feature of the invention, a shutter comprising a pair of aligned shutter blades may be provided which are arranged to move across the opening during dispensing movement of the roller to pinch the rear end of the dispensed web length between adjacent edges and thereby provide a holding force against which the dispensed length can be pulled. Preferably, the drive means comprise a rotatable member connected directly, or indirectly via an endless belt, to said roller, which is connected to said operating member by a mechanism which controls movement of the roller in only one rotational direction. Said mechanism may comprise shaped detents at spaced positions around the rotatable member and a spring-baised pawl mounted on the operating member, in which case said operating member conveniently comprises a lever rotatably mounted at one end within the enclosure which extends through a slot in the enclosure of a pre¬ determined length so that the outer end of the lever can be moved within limits defined by the ends of said slot to control the angle of rotation of said roller. In order that the invention may be readily understood and further features made apparent, one embodiment of a toilet paper dispenser constructed in accordance therewith will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a part sectioned side elevation of the dispenser, and Figure 2 is a part sectioned front view thereof. Referring to the drawings, the dispenser comprises an enclosure 1 having a hinged cover 2 which provides access to a compartment 3 for a toilet roll 4 which is mounted to be freely rotatably therein, eg on bosses 5 . To one side of the enclosure a drive disc 6 is fixed on a spindle to which a lever arm 7 is also fixed, said arm being pivoted on its inner end and projecting outwardly through a vertically extending slot 8 in the enclosure 1, so that rotation of the lever within the limits of the slot ends causes rotation of the disc 6. Furthermore, at equi-spaced positions, in the embodiment four, a detent 9 is provided in the periphery of the disc τ_0 6 which is chamfered as shown, and co-operates with a spring-biased pawl 10 on the arm 7, the arrangement being such that the disc can only be rotated in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 1 by pulling down on the handle. τ_ The disc 6 has a pulley groove around its circumference which is aligned with a pulley wheel 11 rotatably fixed to a feed roller 12 positioned within the enclosure beneath compartment 3 and which is in running contact with a stabilising roller 13 mounted beside it. 20 The feed roller 12 is connected to the drive disc 6 via pulley wheel 11 and a drive belt 14 and hence is also driven in a clockwise direction when the arm 7 is pulled down. A number of spray jets provided beneath the 25 rollers 12, 13 which are arranged in two rows 15a, 15b, facing towards each other. The jets are connected to a pump 16 to which an appropriate liquid, eg water, medicament, etc. if fed from a reservoir 17 via tubing 18. The pump comprises a simple piston/cylinder, the piston of which can be actuated by a pump rod 19 if the latter is moved to an operating position where its upper end is driven by one of four bosses 20 spaced around the drive disc 6, each associated with detent 9, by appropriate c movement of an on/off button 21 mounted externally of the enclosure on the outer end of a link rod 22 adjacent the arm 7. A cam 23 is provided on the spindle connecting the drive disc 6 and arm 7 and acts via guide arms 24 to - - move a pair of sliding shutter blades 25 mutually towards or away from each other to open and close an elongate aperture 26 in the bottom of the enclosure, through which the toilet paper is to be dispensed. Thus, the blades are arranged to be open during the period when the arm is , c being pulled down to permit movement of toilet paper through the aperture, and thereafter close to pinch the paper between adjacent edges to facilitate tearing-off of the dispensed length of paper. In use, a roll of paper 4 is placed in compart- 2Q ment 3 of the enclosure 1 by opening the hinged cover 2; this action also releases the stabilising roller 13 from contact with the feed roller 12. One end 27 of the paper is then fed between rollers 12 and 13 and out through aperture 26 between the -c jet rows 15a, 15b and the sliding shutter blades 25, which are open at this time. When the lever arm 7 is in its upper position as shown in Figure 1, pawl 10 attached thereto engages one of the four detents 9 around disc 6. When the handle is moved to its lower postion, the disc moves a quarter turn limited by slot 8. This rotation causes the feed roller 12 to rotate via disc 6, belt 14 and pulley 11. The ratios between the pulleys is such that the feed roller 12 is made to rotate the requisite number of turns necessary to drive a pre¬ determined length of paper from the roll. During this action the contra-rotating stabilising roller (13), which is spring loaded, holds the paper in tight contact with the feed roller. If the button 21 is in its "ON" position, the quarter turn rotation of the disc 6 additionally causes one of the bosses 20 attached thereto . to move in a downward arc and impart a downward thrust on pump rod 19, thus actuating pump 16 to force liquid from the reservoir 17 through the jets rows 15a and 15b in order to moisten a given area of the paper as it is fed between the jets. The two opposing rows of jets ensure that the paper remains vertical during the operating and passes unimpeded through the aperture 26. When lever arm 7 is moved to its lower position, the shutter cam 23 allows the shutter arms 24 to close the shutter blades 25, thus gripping the dispensed length of paper. The paper can then be torn off at that point, ensuring that paper is always retained between feed and stabilising rollers 12,13 ready for the next delivery. After each operation, the lever arm 7 must be returned to its upper position by means of a spring, or manually, to allow the pawl 10 to engage the next available detent 9. Movement of the handle from its lower to upper position does not result in any rotation of the disc 6, as the pawl 10 is designed to disengage its detent 9 when moving anti-clockwise. The reservoir 17 may contain liquid or powder. The liquid can be water in which perfume colour, or medicament such as a germicide is dissolved, or suspended. The pulley arrangement on disc 9 and pulley 11 may be replaced by a variable gear train, enabling the length of dispensed paper to be adjusted. The operation of the dispenser may be effected by an electric motor or clockwork drive. The reservoir 17 can be an internal part of the dispenser, or a separate container situated inside or remote from the enclosure. Advantages of a dispenser according to the invention are as follows: i) The paper is totally enclosed, ii) It is economical, as a precise length is dis¬ pensed with each operation. iii) It is more hygienic in that moistened paper cleans more effectively than dry paper, particularly if the liquid contains a germicide.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A dispenser for rolled web products comprising an enclosure (1) housing means (5) for rotatably supporting a web roll and having an elongate opening (26) through which the web passes, characterised in that means (12, 13) are provided for pulling the web (27) from its roll on its path to said opening, in that the web pulling means is connected via drive means (6,11,14) to a first operating member (7) mounted externally of the enclosure which, in use, is arranged to actuate the web pulling means a predetermined amount to dispense a controlled web length, and in that means (15a, 15b) are provided which may be actuated at the option of the user, via a second on/off operating member (21), by said first operating member (7) and whilst a web length is being dispensed to direct a fluid at least onto one surface, and preferably both surfaces, of said web length prior to it passing out of said enclosure through said opening. 2. A dispenser according to Claim 1, characterised in that the directing means comprises a jet, or jets (15a, 15b) arranged to spray fluid towards the or each face of the web, the or each said jet being connected to a fluid reservoir (17) via a pump (16), said pump being arranged to be actuated when required via said second on/off operating member (21) . 3. A dispenser according to Claim 1, or 2, characterised in that said web pulling means comprise a roller (12) in running contact with a stabilising surface (13), said roller being rotatable through a predetermined angle by operation of said first operating memeber (7) to pull the web length through the nip between said roller and i stabilising surface. 4. A dispenser according to Claim 3, characterised in that the nip between said roller and stabilising surface provides a holding force sufficient so that a dispensed length of web can be detached simply by the user pulling against said holding force. 5. A dispenser according to Claim 3, characterised in that a shutter comprising a pair of aligned shutter blades (25) is provided across said opening (26), said blades being arranged so that they move across said opening during dispensing movement of said roller to pinch the rear part of the dispensed web length between adjacent blade edges and thereby provide a holding force against which the dispensed length can be pulled. 6. A dispenser according to any preceding Claim, characterised in that said drive means comprise a rotatable member (6) connected directly, or indirectly via an endless belt (14), to said roller (12), and in that said rotatable member is connected to said first operating member (7) by a pawl mechanism (9, 10) which controls movement of said roller in only one dispensing rotational direction. 7. A dispenser according to Claim 6, characterised in that said pawl mechanism comprises shaped detents (9) at equi-spaced positions around said rotatable member (6) and a spring-baised pawl (10) mounted on said first operating member ( 7 ) . 8. A dispenser according to Claim 6, when dependent on Claim 5 characterised in that a cam (23) is provided on a spindle connecting said rotatble member (6) and said first operating member (7) which acts via guide arms (24) to move said shutter blades (25) mutually towards or away from each other as appropriate to open and close said opening (26). 9. A dispenser according to any preceding Claim, characterised in that said first operating member comprises a lever (7) rotatably mounted at one end within said enclosure (1) and which extends outwardly through a slot (8) - in the enclosure of a predetermined length so that the outer end of said lever can be moved within limits defined by the ends of said slot to control the angle of rotation of said roller and hence the length of the web dispensed.

Inventors: LEVISON BARRIE, LEVISON, BARRIE
Applicants: LEVISON BARRIE, LEVISON, BARRIE
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A47K10
IPC codes: A47K10