Abstract:
A center pull tissue dispenser comprising or including, an openable enclosure defining member, a base member located within the enclosure with which (and preferably to support) a coreless roll of towel material is located in a manner such that an axial end face of the roll is placed therewith (preferably thereon), and an opening in a wall of the openable enclosure defining member to allow the towel material to dispense therethrough, wherein downstream of the support of the roll by the base there is provided a dispensing characteristic adjustment mechanism which includes, a passage way through which the towel can pass, and a passage way restriction controlling member movable relative to the passage way.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a centre pull tissue dispenser and a related mechanism for controlling the feed characteristics thereof.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     With the advent of paper companies supplying tissue such as paper towels, toilet paper and the like in the form where there is no separate core provided (such as a cardboard core) developments have been occurring in relation to devices for convenient dispensing of the tissue material from the roll.  
         [0003]     The dispensing of tissue material from a coreless roll can occur from both the perimeter thereof or from the centre of the coreless roll.  
         [0004]     Several manufacturers exist which provide paper tissue in the form of coreless rolls and each manufacturer provides tissue material of different qualities, grades and gauges. For such different materials, different characteristics of strength and tearability exist. There is hence a need for a dispenser with a mechanism which allows for such variation in characteristics to be taken into consideration and allow for an adjustment to occur to ensure that convenient dispensing of the tissue material is achieved regardless of the characteristics of the material.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a centre pull tissue dispensing apparatus and/or mechanism for adjusting the dispensing characteristics of a towel dispensing apparatus which takes into consideration the above-mentioned desiderata or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice. Accordingly the present invention consists in a center pull tissue dispenser comprising or including, 
        an openable enclosure defining member,     a base member located within said enclosure with which (and preferably to support) a coreless roll of towel material is located in a manner such that an axial end face of said roll is placed therewith (preferably thereon), and     an opening in a wall of said openable enclosure defining member to allow said towel material to dispense therethrough, 
 
 wherein downstream of the support of said roll by said base there is provided a dispensing characteristic adjustment mechanism which comprises or includes, 
    a passage way through which said towel can pass, and     a passage way restriction controlling member movable relative to said passage way.        
 
         [0012]     In a second aspect the present invention consists in a mechanism to control the dispensing characteristics of a towel from a dispenser comprising or including, 
        a base member to be placed inside a dispenser for receiving thereon or therewith a coreless roll of towel in a manner such that an axial end face of said roll is placed thereagainst,     wherein downstream of the support of said roll by said base there is provided a dispensing characteristic adjustment mechanism which comprises or includes,     a passage way through which said towel can pass, and     a passage way restriction controlling member movable relative to said passage way.        
 
         [0017]     Preferably said passage way restriction controlling member is mounted on a carrier relative to which it is movable to restrict and un-restrict the passage way as desired.  
         [0018]     Preferably said carrier is itself movable and when moved, said restriction controlling member displaces in unity there with.  
         [0019]     Preferably when said carrier is moved and the restriction of said passage is changed.  
         [0020]     Preferably said restriction controlling member can be moved entirely out of said passage.  
         [0021]     Preferably said restriction controlling member is moveable relative to said carrier in a sliding engagement.  
         [0022]     Preferably said sliding engagement is controlled by a spindle rotatable about an axis and having a lug off-set from said axis to displace said restriction controlling member.  
         [0023]     Preferably said passage way restriction controlling member is adjustable from outside of said openable enclosure.  
         [0024]     Preferably said passage way restriction controlling member is adjustable by a key which is insertable into a keyhole to operate a mechanism to displace the passage way restriction controlling member.  
         [0025]     Alternatively the restriction controlling member is moveable and urged toward said passage by a biasing means to restrict said passage.  
         [0026]     Preferably said carrier is movable by operation of a handle which controls a carrier movement actuator mechanism.  
         [0027]     Preferably said dispenser is of a center pull type.  
         [0028]     Preferably a funnel member is provided below the support surface of said base member to funnel and guide towel material (in a continuous manner) from the coreless roll towards said opening in a said wall.  
         [0029]     Preferably said towel is to be dispensed from the center outwardly of said coreless roll.  
         [0030]     Preferably a dispensing characteristic adjustment mechanism is provided downstream of said support surface of said base, and within said enclosure of the dispenser.  
         [0031]     Preferably said enclosure defining member is to be oriented to present the opening in a said wall thereof in a downward direction.  
         [0032]     Preferably said enclosure defining member is openable in a manner to allow access to said base member.  
         [0033]     Preferably said enclosure defining member consists of a back wall for mounting to a substantially vertical surface of a structure, and a cover moveable relative thereto.  
         [0034]     Preferably said cover is pivotably moveable relative to said back wall.  
         [0035]     This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0036]     One preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0037]      FIG. 1  shows the present invention assembled with the funnel  9 , which the paper product enters from above, passes through and exits out the passage  28  indicated,  
         [0038]      FIG. 2  depicts in detail the mechanism for altering the tension applied to the paper and the means with which to open the throat of the passage fully. An actuator handle  10  urges a carrier actuator  3  to move in a vertical direction to actuate a pinion lug  8  which in turn causes partial rotation of the carrier pinion  6  about the pinion axle  7 . The carrier pinion in turn engages with the carrier rack  5  to cause the horizontal movement of the carrier  1  which in turn moves the restriction controller  2 . Thus when the actuator handle is lifted the restriction controller is moved clear of the throat of the passage to facilitate easy initiation of the paper product down the funnel and out the passage, and in the lowered position the actuator handle locks the movement of the pinion lug and hence the carrier and introduces the restriction controller to the throat of the passage. In this position the restriction adjusting mechanism  4  may be altered by the use of a key  43  to adjust the restriction controller&#39;s intrusion into the passage throat and thus vary the amount of friction applied to the paper product when pulled down through the passage,  
         [0039]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded isometric view of the five main components depicted in  FIG. 2 , in particular can be seen in more detail the restriction adjusting mechanism  4  and its engagement into the carrier  1  and restriction controller  2 ,  
         [0040]      FIG. 4  is a top isometric view clearly showing the funnel member  9  with the location of a recess  40  which allows access to the actuator handle  10  (not shown) to open the throat of the passage, the opening  34  for the restriction controller is also illustrated,  
         [0041]      FIG. 5  is a top isometric view of the base  11  with the pinion axle mounts  41  shown for mounting of the carrier pinion, thus the assembly shown in  FIG. 2  together with the funnel in  FIG. 1  resides within this base, and an aperture  42  is also illustrated that facilitates access to the restriction adjusting mechanism,  
         [0042]      FIG. 6  shows the use of the adjusting key  43  with the restriction adjusting mechanism key hole  44  protruding through the aperture  42  in the base,  
         [0043]      FIG. 7  illustrates the swinging down of the assembly cover  50  and the first process to introducing the paper product through the system by lifting of the actuator handle  10 , accessed from the recess  40 , to open the throat of the passage,  
         [0044]      FIG. 8  goes on to show the now easy procedure of feeding the paper product  18  through the system, with the throat opened,  
         [0045]      FIG. 9  illustrates the final part of the procedure, once the assembly cover has been swung back into place, where the key  43  is used to adjust the position of the restriction controller in the throat of the passage to apply the correct amount of friction to the paper to facilitate easy withdrawal through the funnel, of the paper and its subsequent tearing off of the desired portion aided by the region  25 ,  
         [0046]      FIG. 10  is an exploded isometric view of the mechanism of the present invention,  
         [0047]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the base and the restriction control mechanism located therein,  
         [0048]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the exterior of a tissue dispensing apparatus of the present invention, mounted in a vertical orientation, and  
         [0049]      FIG. 13  is a view similar to  FIG. 10  of the present invention, with the exception that the restriction controller  2  is biased into the throat of funnel  9  via the opening  34  by means of a spring  51  which bears upon the rear of the restriction controller  2  and the opposite and of the spring bears upon an innerwall of the base  11  (not shown). Thus is achieved a self tensioning system for paper towel dispensing, rather than one that is affected manually by the key system depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 9 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0050]     Where herein reference is made to a tissue, it is to be interpreted in a broad sense to include for example tissue, toilet paper, paper towels, whether of a single or multiply material and any other of such like materials. Such are provided in the form of a solid core roll and are to be dispensed therefrom from the centre outwardly. The roll may have perforations provided to define frangibly detachable portions of tissue or may alternatively be substantially non perforated.  
         [0051]     With reference to  FIG. 12  there is shown a dispenser of a kind to which the present invention relates. The dispenser provides an openable enclosure  20  within which a coreless role of, for example, a tissue paper is to be positioned. The dispenser  20  is preferably for example arranged so that the tissue paper can dispense through the bottom of the apparatus, as illustrated here, where the dispenser is mounted in a vertical arrangement. However top dispensing or even side dispensing arrangements are examples of alternatives.  
         [0052]     The apparatus of the present invention is preferably mountable to a horizontal structure, such as a wall in a toilet. The dispenser of the present invention may however be located in many other locations where tissues or towels are often required.  
         [0053]     Within the dispenser of the present invention, the roll of tissue is provided so as to locate against a base (not shown in  FIG. 12 ) wherein one of the axial end faces  22  is located against a base. In the arrangement where the axial end faces of the roll are substantially horizontal, the base member provides the vertical support to the roll.  
         [0054]     The base preferably holds the core in a position to allow for the tissue to dispense therefrom. In the preferred form where the base supports the roll, the base is preferably provided towards the lower end of the openable enclosure defining member  20 .  
         [0055]      FIG. 5  shows a portion of the base  11  of the present invention, the base provides a surface onto which the axial end face of the roll can be placed. Below such support surface there is provided an opening through which the tissue paper, pulled from the centre of the core, can be dispensed. This opening  25  may include perimeter features designed to aid in the perforation or tearing of the tissue paper so that selected and desired lengths and quantities of paper can be removed from the roll. Such perimeter features may have serrated edges.  
         [0056]     Provided intermediate of the support surface of the base and the dispensing opening, there is provided a mechanism to control the dispensing characteristics of the tissue, as illustrated in  FIG. 3  and in funnelling surface defining member  9  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ), the assembly of which is shown in  FIGS. 2, 1  and  10 .  
         [0057]     Illustrated in  FIG. 1  the passage way is preferably defined by a lower region of the funnelling surface defining member  9 . Preferably as a throat to the funnel. The passage way  28  is for example a channel section at the lower end of the funnel  9 . Relative to this passage way and moving in a direction in and out relative thereto is the restriction controller  2 . The restriction controller  2  moves in and out of the passage way and accordingly restricts and unrestricts the passage way thereby having an influence on the degree of ease of which the tissue can be drawn from the centre of the core. In the most preferred form the restriction controller  2  is a member which is of a smooth contoured surface which will prevent the tearing of the tissue as it passes thereover. In the most preferred form the restriction controller  2  moves relative to the passage  28  by a restriction adjusting mechanism  4 . An alternative to this arrangement is illustrated in  FIG. 13 . This mechanism is adapted to slidingly move the restriction controller  2 , in and out of the passage  28 .  
         [0058]     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 10 , the mechanism consists of a spindle type arrangement having a rotatable spindle  29  which includes a lug  30  located within a slot of the restriction controller  2 . The restriction controller  2  is mounted in a sliding arrangement to slide in and out of the passage  28  and by rotating the spindle  29 , a linear displacement of the restriction controller  2  will occur. A notched configuration  52  as shown in  FIG. 10  may be provided so that undesired movement of the restriction controller is reduced. The spindle  29  is preferably actuable by a user of the device to set the degree of restriction that is desired and required for convenient dispensing of the tissue. Such setting may be required where a new and different tissue is replaced in the dispenser where the tissue has different strength characteristics. Potentially also, as tissue is removed from the roll, a slow variation in the dispensing characteristics may occur requiring the occasional re-adjustment of the restriction controller.  
         [0059]     The dispenser of the present invention is adopted to allow for convenient replacement of rolls within the enclosure defining member.  
         [0060]     When a new roll is loaded into the device, (as shown in  FIG. 8 , by the opening of an access cover  50 ) it is likely that the setting of restriction, where the roll is from the same supplier and of the same characteristics, will remain the same. However as the restriction controller  2 , is located potentially with a large degree of restriction to the passage  28 , it may be difficult for a feed of the start of the roll to be provided through the passage.  
         [0061]     Therefore shown in  FIG. 7  is manual activation of the the present mechanism of the invention for removing the restriction controller from the passage  28  without loosing the setting that has been provided by the spindle  29 . The restriction controller of the present invention can be displaced from the passage and be returned back to the passage without loosing the setting once it has been returned.  FIG. 1 , shows this assemblage.  
         [0062]     This is preferably achieved by providing the restriction controller on a carrier  1 . This carrier, carries the restriction controller  2  and the restriction adjustment mechanism  4 . The carrier itself is displaceable relative to the passage. When it is displaced relative to the passage both the restriction controller  2  and the restriction adjustment mechanism  4  are displaced in unity. The carrier  1  is moveable between two conditions, the first where the restriction controller is operative and the other where the restriction controller is substantially removed from the passage way  28  to thereby clear the passage way to allow for more convenient feeding of tissue material.  
         [0063]     The carrier  1  is preferably manually actuable so that a person who is re-loading a new roll into the dispenser, can actuate the carrier to move it to the second condition for convenient re-loading. The actuation mechanism is preferably provided so that the openable and closure defining member needs first to be opened before access to the actuation mechanism for the carrier can be accessed.  
         [0064]     The dispenser of the present invention may be installed in situations where unwanted tampering of the dispenser may occur and hence precautions have been taken with the design of the product to reduce any such tampering resulting in a failure or reduced efficiency in operation of the invention. The dispenser of the present invention may for example be located in toilets of bars and where any intoxicated people have a higher disposition to vandalism.  
         [0065]     In the most preferred form the carrier  1  is actuable at a level proximate to the supporting surface of the base  11 . An actuator handle  10  is preferably graspable by a person re-loading a roll in the dispenser and can be moved preferably in a substantially vertical direction. This vertical movement is translated into a substantially horizontal movement of the carrier  1  by the use of a carrier actuator  3  which, supported by a track moves up and down, thereby displacing a pinion lug  8  which forms part of the carrier pinion  6  which is engaged with the carrier rack  5  to thereby displace the carrier  1 .  
         [0066]     When the actuator handle  10  is pulled up and out of the plane of the base  11  and handle, the restriction controller  2  is in the second condition. As soon as a feed of material has passed through the passage and the new roll is placed onto the support surface of the base  11 , the actuator handle is automatically returned to be within the plane of the support surface thereby also returning the restriction controller  2  to the original position.  
         [0067]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the base  11 , absent of the funnel  9  but showing the position of the restriction controller mechanism therewith. The funnel  9  has an opening  34  therein, into which the restriction controller  2  inserts.  
         [0068]     Channels  38  may for example be provided as part of the funnel defining member  9  as shown in  FIG. 4 , to allow for controlled vertical movement of the carrier actuator  3 .  
         [0069]     Shown in  FIG. 13  is the same apparatus as that of  FIG. 2  however an alternative tensioning modification system is employed.  
         [0070]     The alternative is the use of a biasing means on, in this embodiment, the back surface of the restriction controller  2 . The proximate end of the spring  51  bears upon the restriction controller to urge it into the throat of the funnel (not shown). In this way a constant tension is placed upon the paper towel that is passing through the throat.  
         [0071]     The level of tension placed upon the towel is self adjusting and will alter to match the characteristics of the paper towel passing through the throat. In this way fine tuning of the tension can be avoided if such a system is desired. The distal end of the spring  51  bears upon an inner surface of the base  11  (not shown). When mechanism is activated when installing a new core of paper, the system activates as previously described and the spring is compressed under the horizontal movement of the carrier  1  and thus the restricting mechanism  2 . The spring  51  also aids in returning the system to a dispensing state (i.e within the restricting mechanism within the funnel, bearing against the paper towel).  
         [0072]     In this embodiment the key activated adjustment mechanism previously described may remain and be utilised, for example for the settling of limits for the throw of the restriction mechanism into the throat of the funnel.