Patent GB-951333-A (GB)
Title: Machine for dispensing towels and the like
IPC: A47K10/26
Filed: 1961-02-17
Abstract: 951,333. Feeding sheets. CALLAWAY MILLS & CO. Feb. 17, 1961 [June 6, 1960], No. 5892/61. Heading B6B. [Also in Division G4] A clean towel is dispensed from a machine only on the insertion of a soiled towel of the correct size which on insertion deflects spaced electric switch actuating arms adapted, when held in deflected position by a soiled towel, to initiate electric means responsive to the deflection of the arms to dispense a clean towel from a stack disposed within the machine. Pile tables; sheet-separators.-The apparatus comprises a closed cabinet with a hinged front door 10 provided with a soiled towel receiving opening 12 and a clean towel discharge opening (202, not shown). The clean towels 146 are stacked on a platform 110 provided with rollers 116 which engage vertical tracks within the cabinet, and the platform is suspended by cables 118, 120 wound on drums secured to a shaft 124. The shaft 124 is coupled by gears to the shaft of an elevator motor 128 under the control of a switch 154 which is opened and closed by curved feeler arms 150 which rest on the top of the pile, thus ensuring that the top of the pile is kept at a substantially constant level. When an idler gear 134 is removed, the platform 110 may be raised or lowered by a hand-crank 142. On removal of all the towels 146, a contact 156 on the platform operates a limit switch 158 to cut off power to the apparatus and illuminate a warning lamp. A shaft 160 has secured thereto a pair of similar arcuate members 162, 162 each provided with two towel-engaging pins 190, and a gear 166 on the shaft engages a rack 168 which is reciprocated by a rod 174 connected to a pin eccentrically secured on a crank-plate 180. The plate 180 is carried by the shaft of a delivery motor 184 which is controlled by a switch 188, operated by a cam projection 186 on the plate 180, to stop the motor after one revolution. The pins 190 pick up the top towel towards the end of their counterclockwise movement, separate the towel on their clockwise movement to suspend it above a discharge shoot (200, not shown), and the towel is stripped from the pins on the return counterclockwise movement. The radius of the arcuate members 162, 164 decreases gradually from the position of the pins 190, except for a portion just behing the pins. Sheet-conveyers.-A clean towel cannot be dispensed unless a soiled towel is placed into the apparatus through the opening 12 on to a conveyer belt 22. The belt 22 is mounted on rollers 14, 18, the roller 14 being driven by a chain 36 from a motor 40, and the roller 18 being mounted in adjustable bearings 28. Two switch-actuating rollers 62, 78 in levers which are pivoted at 68, 84, respectively, rest on the belt 22, and a switch-actuating plate 90 is arranged to engage the lower run of the belt. Operation; safety and control devices.-When a soiled towel is inserted through the opening 12 and placed on the belt 22, a gate 52 is rocked by the towel to operate a switch 58, the motor 40 is energized to drive the belt 22, and the towel lifts the rollers 62, 78, on its way to the reception compartment, to operate switches 72 and 88 to condition the circuit for delivery of a clean towel. The delivery motor 184 is energized, a clean towel is delivered by the members 162, 164, and a towel counter is operated. Since the rollers 62 and 78 must be raised and the gate 52 must be closed for operation of the machine, a clean towel cannot be dispensed by thrusting a stick along the belt 22. If a doubled or rolled soiled towel is inserted, it will not raise both rollers 62, 78 at the same time, and a clean towel is not dispensed in this case: the roller 62 is raised to such an extent that a switch 76 is operated, the motor 40 is then stopped, a warning light appears and the towel can be withdrawn for proper insertion. When the soiled towel compartment is full and some of the towels are dragged along the lower run of the belt 22, the plate 90 is deflected to operate a switch 96 which cuts off power to the apparatus. The limit switch 158 cuts off power when all the clean towels 146 are dispensed.