Patent GB-1465593-A (GB)
Title: Time-stop mechanism disabling device for a towel dispenser
IPC: A47K10/28
Filed: 1974-09-19
Abstract: 1465593 Towel dispensers STEINER CO LAUSANNE SA 19 Sept 1974 [1 Oct 1973] 40941/74 Heading B8M A towel dispenser 100 of the type in which clean towelling is dispersed from a supply 50 within a housing 101 to an exposed use-portion 52 in a loop exteriorly of the housing by the user pulling on the loop and soiled towelling 53 is taken-up into a storage position within the housing, the operation of clean towelling dispensing and soiled towelling take-up being held in a stopped condition a time stop mechanism 150 for a predetermined time period following the dispensing of a predetermined length of towelling, is provided with a disabling device for the mechanism 150, this device including an inhibiting mechanism 180 disposed within the housing 101 and having a towel dispensing condition, Fig. 3, wherein the mechanism 150 is normally operative and an inhibiting condition, Fig. 4, wherein the mechanism 150 is prevented from operation, whereby when the mechanism 180 is placed in the inhibiting condition a user can continuously withdraw clean towel from the supply 50 to facilitate servicing of the dispenser. In one embodiment, Figs. 3 and 4, the dispenser 100 comprises a lower cover 110 integral with a towel bed 111 and an upper cover 120 having a plate 121 welded thereto and connected to the bed 111 by an arm 125. Opening of the cover 110 about a pivot 116 to a towel servicing position causes the arm 125 to open the cover 120. A towel dispensing mechanism 135 and a take-up mechanism 140 co-operate to feed towel from a supply 50 in the bed 111 upwardly between a drive roller 136 and a pinch roller 137, each covered with sandpaper, and then downwardly through a slot between the covers 110, 120 to an exposed use portion 52. The soiled towelling 53 is smoothed by passage through fixed towel breakers 106, 107 and a movable towel breaker 117 and is wound into a roll 54 on a roller 144, the surface of the roll 54 engaging a sandpaper covering on a drive roller 141. The rollers 136, 141 have sprockets 138, 142 thereon interconnected by a chain 143 so that the same amount of soiled towelling is wound on the roll 54 as is withdrawn from the supply 50. The time stop mechanism 150 comprises a latch 151 pivotable about a bolt 152 and having thereon a pawl 153 engagable with one of five stop surfaces 156 on a wheel 155 carried by the roller 136. A roller 159 on a cam arm 158 carried by the roller 141 co-operates with a part-circular cam surface 157 on the latch 151. An upper fixed suction cup 163 is carried by a bracket 161 and a central opening communicating with a needle valve assembly 164 adjustable by a screw 165. A lower movable suction cup 173 is mounted on a rod 172 pivoted at 174 at the latch 151. As the user pulling the twoel downwardly approaches the end of a dispensing cycle, the roller 159 engages the surface 157 to pivot the latch 151 counterclockwise to move the cup 173 into engagement with the cup 163 and thus hold the latch 151. Continued movement of the clean towel rotates the next surface 156 into engagement with the pawl 153 to stop the dispensing of the towel, this movement also rotating the roller 159 out of engagement with the surface 157. When the valve assembly 164 permits enough air to bleed into the area between the cups 163, 173, the cups release and the parts return to the position of Fig. 3. An inhibiting bracket 180 is pivoted on the bracket 161 by a shoulder screw 167 and has a flange 182 engaged by a pin 129 on the arm 125 when the covers 110, 120 are closed. To service the dispenser, the cover 110 is opened to automatically move the arm 125 upwardly and open the cover 120. The movement of the arm 125 moves the pin 129 out of engagement with the flange 182 to allow the bracket 180 to fall from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 4 so that a lug 185 on the bracket 180 lies between and prevents engagement of the cups 163, 173. Any remaining clean towel can be continually withdrawn from the supply 50 to make way for a fresh roll. When the covers 110, 120 are closed, the arm 125 pivots the bracket 180 to the position of Fig. 3. In another embodiment, Figs. 5 and 6, the towel dispenser 200 comprises a lower cover 210 movable about a pivot 209 and a towel bed 211 movable about a pivot 212 and carrying a towel breaker 217 disposable between fixed breakers 206, 207. An upper cover 220 is urged about a pivot 222 to a closed position by a spring 223. A dispensing mechanism 235 and a take-up mechanism 240 co-operate to feed towel from a supply disposed in front of the bed 211 upwardly between a drive roller 236 and a pinch roller 237, each covered in sandpaper, and then downwardly through a slot between the covers 210, 220. The soiled towel is fed upwardly through an opening 213, through towel breakers 206, 206, 217 and is wound on a take-up roller 244 journalled in slots 231, the roll engaging a sandpaper covering on a roller 241 driven by roller 236 through a sprocket-and-chain drive (not shown). The time stop mechanism 250 comprises a lever 251 pivotable at 252 and having a pawl 253 engagable by a stop surface 256 on a cam 255 carried by the roller 236. Movement of the lever 251 is limited by abutments 254, 259, the lever 251 being weighted so as to be normally urged clockwise of Fig. 3. A fixed suction cup 263 is carried by a bracket 261 and has a central opening communicating with a needle valve assembly 264 adjustable by a screw 265. A suction cup 273 is carried by a slide 271 slidable in the bracket 261 and carrying a lug 268 limiting downward travel of the slide 271 and a stop surface 269 engagable with a surface 66 on the cam<SP>2</SP>2255. The slide 271 is pivoted to a link 275 having therein a slot 276 which receives a pin 258 on the cam 255. The pin 258 engages in a slot 278 in a second link 277, the parts being urged by a spring 279 to the position of Fig. 5. When clean towel is withdrawn, the roller 236 and the cam 255 rotate clockwise. At the highest point of travel of the pin 258, the slide 271 is raised so that the cup 273 engages the cup 263 and the mechanism 250 operates as described in U.S.A. Specification No. 2,834,645. An inhibiting bracket 280 is mounted on one of two guide arms 281 located one at each side of the dispenser. Each arm 281 is slidable with respect to the dispenser housing 201 and carries a flange 282 extending into a slot 215 in the towel bed 211. To service the dispenser, the operator opens the cover 210 and inserts a hand through the opening 213 to manually push the bed 211 and, therefore, the arms 281 forwardly. A lug 285 on the bracket 280 is moved between the suction cups 263, 273 and prevents engagement thereof whilst any remaining clean towel is withdrawn from the supply to make way for a fresh supply. In a further embodiment, Fig. 11, the dispenser 300 is provided with a cover 310 openable by movement about a pivot 316. The clean towel supply is stored in a receptacle 320 depending from the dispenser housing. The towel dispensing mechanism 335, take-up mechanism 340 and time-stop mechanism 350 are similar to those shown in Fig. 1. An inhibiting bracket 380 is pivoted on a bracket 361 carrying the upper suction cup 363 by a shoulder screw 367 and has a side flange 382 positioned in a rectangular notch 317 in a side wall 314 of the cover 310 when the cover is closed. To service the dispenser, the cover 310 is opened and the notch 317 is shifted out of the way of the flange 382 to allow the bracket 380 to fall clockwise so that a lug 385 thereon is positioned between the suction cups 363, 373 and prevents engagement thereof whilst any remaining clean towel is stripped from the supply to make way for a fresh roll. In a fourth embodiment, Fig. 15, the towel dispenser comprises a towel bed 411 and a removable mechanism frame 420 pivotally suspended within the dispenser housing on notches 409 in supports 408. The frame 420 includes plates 430 having mounted thereon a dispensing mechanism (not shown) including a front drive roller 436, a take-up mechanism (not shown) and a time stop mechanism including a stop latch 451 having a cam surface 453 engageable by a cam surface 457 on a cam 455 carried by the roller 436. A spring 454 urges the latch 451 counterclockwise about its pivot 452. A suction cup 463 is mounted on a fixed bracket 461 and a suction cup 473 is mounted on an arm 471 on the latch 451. The time stop mechanism operates as described in U.S.A. Specification 3,502,383. To service the dispenser, the cover is opened and the frame 420 is released to permit it to pivot, under gravity, to the dashed line position of Fig. 15. The suction cups 463, 473 are thus moved to a position in which an inhibiting bracket 480, fixed to the dispenser housing, is located therebetween to prevent engagement thereof whilst the towel supply is replaced.