Patent Publication Number: US-2004046082-A1

Title: Automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-261661, filed Sep. 6, 2002, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates to an automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus that is favorably used as welfare equipment for the physically handicapped and the like.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0005] In general, most public facilities and decentsized buildings are fully equipped with rest rooms for the physically handicapped. These rest rooms have improved barrier-free facilities such as a facility for opening/closing a door by a button operation and a facility for guiding a user such as a handrail. As for the feeding of toilet paper, however, a conventional toilet paper feeding apparatus is still used in most cases. Equipment for automatically adding a roll of toilet paper has conventionally been known as disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 6-7263. However, now, there are no equipment for automatically rewinding toilet paper and then sending it out by a required length.  
       [0006] In the conventional toilet paper feeding apparatus, a user has to tear off a length of toilet paper by himself or herself. For the physically handicapped such as a person who is paralyzed on one side and a person who is wounded in the hand, therefore, it is not easy to tear off a given length of toilet paper even though the paper is perforated such that it can easily be cut. The user therefore finds it very inconvenient.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus that is capable of automatically feeding a given length of a roll of toilet paper by performing a very simple operation.  
       [0008] In order to attain the above object, the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to the present invention has the following characteristic configuration. The other characteristic configurations will be clarified in the Detailed Description of the Invention.  
       [0009] An automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention, comprises a paper holder which holds a roll of toilet paper such that a roll axis becomes horizontal and which has a paper sending section that sends out the toilet paper, a paper receiving tray provided close to the paper sending section of the paper holder, and a paper sending mechanism which sends out a given length of the toilet paper to the paper receiving tray in response to a user&#39;s instruction,  
       [0010] the paper sending mechanism including a motor which rotates for a given period of time and then stops rotating in response to a user&#39;s instruction, a sending roller which is rotated by the motor to send out the toilet paper to the paper receiving tray, and means for automatically cutting a sending end portion of the toilet paper when the sending roller stops as the motor stops. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
     [0011]FIG. 1A is a schematic front view of an automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0012]FIG. 1B is a sectional view taken along line  1 B- 1 B of FIG. 1A.  
     [0013]FIG. 2A is a cutaway front view of a paper sending mechanism of the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the front of a case is cut away.  
     [0014]FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line  2 B- 2 B of FIG. 2A.  
     [0015]FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a driving controller in the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0016]FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing an operation of the driving controller in the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0017]FIGS. 5A and 5B are illustrations for describing the operation of the driving controller in the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0018]FIGS. 6A to  6 F are schematic views showing a process of using the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0019]FIG. 7A is a schematic front view of an automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0020]FIG. 7B is a sectional view taken along line  7 B- 7 B of FIG. 7A.  
     [0021]FIGS. 8A and 8B are illustrations for describing the operation of a driving controller in the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0022] (First Embodiment)  
     [0023] Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B,  2 A and  2 B, an automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a paper holder  11 . The paper holder  11  holds a roll of toilet paper  1  in such a manner that its roll axis  1 X becomes horizontal, and includes a paper sending section  11   a  for sending out the paper  1 . The top surface of the paper holder  11  serves as a roll holding section  14  having an arched inner surface. The roll holding section  14  can freely be opened and closed with a top cover  12  whose distal end  12   b  is hinged on a hinge section H. The front portion  12   a  of the top cover  12  is a relatively thick block and its undersurface is a pressing flat surface. This pressing flat surface presses a sending portion  1   a  of the toilet paper  1  on the top surfaces of sending rollers, as will be described later. The front of the top cover  12  is provided with a start switch  15 .  
     [0024] A paper receiving tray  13  for receiving the paper  1  is provided outside the paper holder  11  and in front of the paper sending section  11   a . A paper sending mechanism  100  for sending out the toilet paper  1  to the paper receiving tray  13  by a given length in response to a user&#39;s instruction is provided in a region under the paper sending section  11   a.    
     [0025] The paper sending mechanism  100  includes a driving controller  110 , which will be described later, first and second motors  121  and  122  that are controlled by the driving controller  110 , and first and second sending rollers  141  and  142  that are rotated by the first and second motors  121  and  122 , respectively to send out the roll of toilet paper  1  to the paper receiving tray  13 .  
     [0026] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the first and second motors  121  and  122  are attached to their respective motor brackets  151  and  152  that are each formed of an L-shaped member. The motor brackets  151  and  152  are fixed on the bottom  102  of a case  101  by fixing pins  161  and  162  each having a spring washer. The terminals  121   a  and  121   b  (neither of which is shown) of the first motor  121  and the terminals  122   a  and  122   b  of the second motor  122  are all connected to the driving controller  110 .  
     [0027] A rotating-force transfer roller  131  is fitted on the shaft  121   c  of the first motor  121 . The roller  131  is pressed on the outer surface of the first sending roller  141  from below.  
     [0028] A rotating-force transfer roller  132  is fitted on the shaft  122   c  of the second motor  122 . The roller  132  is pressed on the outer surface of the second sending roller  142  from below.  
     [0029] The first and second motors  121  and  122  transfer their rotating forces to the first and second sending rollers  141  and  142  through the rotating-force transfer rollers  131  and  132 , respectively, with the result that the first and second sending rollers  141  and  142  are rotated. The rollers  131 ,  132 ,  141  and  142  have very small irregularities on their surfaces to increase frictional resistance. The first and second sending rollers  141  and  142  are arranged adjacent to each other in the sending direction such that they can send the roll of toilet paper  1  to the paper receiving tray  13 .  
     [0030]FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the driving controller  110 . The driving controller  110  is formed chiefly of a timer  113 . The timer  113  includes first and second timer circuits  111  and  112  that are capable of freely varying the set time. The timer  113  is connected to a power supply  114  via the start switch  15 . The timer  113  has a self-holding contact TC 3  and a self-releasing contact TC 4 . The first timer circuit  111  includes a first timer contact TC 1 . The second timer circuit  112  includes a second timer contact TC 2 .  
     [0031] As shown in FIG. 4, the first timer contact TC 1  sends an output from t1 when the start switch  15  turns on to first time t3. The second timer contact TC 2  sends an output from t1 when the start switch  15  turns on to second time t4 that is later than the first time t3 by a given period of time.  
     [0032] The first motor  121  rotates in response to the output of the first timer circuit  111  and the second motor  122  rotates in response to the output of the second timer circuit  112 .  
     [0033] The driving controller  110  so configured performs the following operation. Referring to FIG. 4, when the start switch  15  turns on at time t1, the timer  13  is supplied with power from the power supply  114 . Thus, the timer  113  is actuated and self-held by the self-holding contact TC 3  at time t2. Since the first and second timer contacts TC 1  and TC 2  are closed at time t2, the first and second motors  121  and  122  start to rotate. Accordingly, both the first and second sending rollers  141  and  142  rotate in the same direction as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5A. Thus, the toilet paper  1  is sent out in the direction of the paper receiving tray  13  as indicated by arrows X and Y in FIG. 5A (to the left in FIG. 5A). When the first timer contact TC 1  turns off at time t3, the first motor  121  stops rotating, whereas the second motor  122  continues rotating. Therefore, when the first sending roller.  141  stops rotating, only the second sending roller  142  continues rotating as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5B.  
     [0034] Though not shown, a sending portion  1   a  of the toilet paper  1  is pressed downward by the pressing flat surface of the front portion  12   a  of the top cover  12  and brought into contact with the outer surfaces of the first and second sending rollers  141  and  142 . Thus, the tensile strength is exerted on the sending end portion  1   b  of the toilet paper  1  in its longitudinal direction, and the portion  1   b  is automatically cut off. If the second timer contact TC 2  turns off at time t4 that is later than time t3 by a given time period TS of about one second, the second motor  122  stops rotating. Consequently, the toilet paper  1  whose sending end portion  1   b  has been cut off is sent out to the paper receiving tray  13 , as shown separately by arrow Z and circle S. If the self-releasing contact TC 4  turns off instantaneously at time t5, the timer  113  is disconnected from the power supply  114  and thus returned to the initial state.  
     [0035]FIGS. 6A to  6 F illustrate a process of using the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus  10 .  
     [0036] First, a user puts a roll of toilet paper  1  in the roll holding section  14  as indicated by arrow P in FIG. 6A. Then, the user pulls out the leading edge of the toilet paper  1  and puts its sending portion  1   a  on the sending rollers  141  and  142  as shown in FIG. 6B. After that, the user closes the top cover  12  as shown in FIG. 6C. The apparatus is therefore completely set.  
     [0037] If the user turns on the start switch  15 , the toilet paper  1  is sent out to the paper receiving tray  13  as illustrated in FIG. 6D. When a given length of toilet paper  1  is sent out and the timer  113  reaches the set time, the sending end portion  1   b  of the toilet paper  1  is automatically torn off according to a difference in the timing of stop of rotation between the first and second rollers  121  and  122 , as shown in FIG. 6E. Thus, a given length of toilet paper is folded and supplied onto the paper receiving tray  13  as available paper  2 , as shown in FIG. 6F. If the supplied available paper  2  is not sufficient for the user, he or she has only to turn on the start switch  15  again.  
     [0038] (Second Embodiment)  
     [0039]FIG. 7A is a schematic front view of an automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7B is a sectional view of the automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus. The automatic toilet supply apparatus of the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that it comprises a start switch  15 A which turns on and a stop switch  15 B which turns off in response to a user&#39;s instruction, first and second motors  121  and  122  which start rotating when the start switch  15 A turns on and which stop rotating when the stop switch  15 B turns off, and a cutter  170  which is actuated to cut the sending end portion  1   a  of the toilet paper  1  when the stop switch  15 B turns off. The cutter  170  is so configured that its edge portion  172  can be moved up and down by an electromagnetic solenoid  171 .  
     [0040] According to the second embodiment, when the start switch  15 A is turned on, the first and second motors  121  and  122  start rotating as shown in FIG. 8A and both the first and second sending rollers  141  and  142  rotate in the same direction as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 8A. Therefore, the toilet paper  1  is sent out to the paper receiving tray  13  as indicated by arrows X and Y. When the stop switch  15 B is turned off with any given timing, the cutter  170  is actuated and the sending end portion  1   a  of the toilet paper  1  is cut off as illustrated in FIG. 8B. Almost simultaneously with this, the first and second motors  121  and  122  are disconnected from the power supply  114 . Thus, the first and second motors  121  and  122  continue rotating by their inertia and then stop rotating. Consequently, a given length of toilet paper  1  whose sending end portion  1   b  is cut off is sent out to the paper receiving tray  13 , as shown separately by arrow Z and circle S. The apparatus is then returned to the initial state.  
     [0041] (Features of the Embodiments)  
     [0042] [1] An automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises:  
     [0043] a paper holder  11  which holds a roll of toilet paper  1  such that a roll axis  1 X becomes horizontal and which has a paper sending section  11   a  that sends out the toilet paper  1 ;  
     [0044] a paper receiving tray  13  provided close to the paper sending section  11   a  of the paper holder  11 ; and  
     [0045] a paper sending mechanism  100  which sends out a given length of the toilet paper  1  to the paper receiving tray  13  in response to a user&#39;s instruction,  
     [0046] the paper sending mechanism  100  including:  
     [0047] a motor ( 121 ,  122 ) which rotates for a given period of time and then stops rotating in response to a user&#39;s instruction;  
     [0048] a sending roller ( 141 ,  142 ) which is rotated by the motor ( 121 ,  122 ) to send out the toilet paper  1  to the paper receiving tray  13 ; and  
     [0049] means for automatically cutting a sending end portion  1   b  of the toilet paper  1  when the sending roller ( 141 ,  142 ) stops as the motor ( 121 ,  122 ) stops.  
     [0050] In the automatic toilet paper sending apparatus  10  described above, if a user has only to touch the start switch  15 , a roll of toilet paper  1  is automatically sent out by a given length and its sending end portion  1   b  is automatically torn off at user&#39;s request. Thus, the user can easily obtain the given length of toilet paper  1  even though he or she has trouble with his or her hand.  
     [0051] [2] An automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises:  
     [0052] a paper holder  11  which holds a roll of toilet paper  1  such that a roll axis  1 X becomes horizontal and which has a paper sending section  11   a  that sends out the toilet paper  1 ;  
     [0053] a paper receiving tray  13  provided close to the paper sending section  11   a  of the paper holder  11 ; and  
     [0054] a paper sending mechanism  100  which sends out a given length of the toilet paper  1  to the paper receiving tray  13  in response to a user&#39;s instruction,  
     [0055] the paper sending mechanism  100  including:  
     [0056] first and second motors  121  and  122  which rotate for a given period of time and then stop rotating in response to a user&#39;s instruction;  
     [0057] first and second sending rollers  141  and  142  which are rotated by the first and second motors  121  and  122  and which are arranged adjacent to each other in a sending direction to send out the toilet paper  1  to the paper receiving tray  13 ; and  
     [0058] means for automatically cutting a sending end portion  1   b  of the toilet paper  1  by stopping rotation of the second sending roller  142  after the first sending roller  141  stops rotating.  
     [0059] [3] An automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises:  
     [0060] a paper holder  11  which holds a roll of toilet paper  1  such that a roll axis  1 X becomes horizontal and which has a paper sending section  11   a  that sends out the toilet paper  1 ;  
     [0061] a paper receiving tray  13  provided close to the paper sending section  11   a  of the paper holder  11 ; and  
     [0062] a paper sending mechanism  100  which sends out a given length of the toilet paper  1  to the paper receiving tray  13  in response to a user&#39;s instruction,  
     [0063] the paper sending mechanism  100  including:  
     [0064] a start switch  15  which turns on in response to a user&#39;s instruction;  
     [0065] a first timer circuit  111  which sends an output from time t1 when the start switch  15  turns on to first time t3;  
     [0066] a first motor  121  which rotates by the output of the first timer circuit  111 ;  
     [0067] a second timer circuit  112  which sends an output from time t1 when the start switch  15  turns on to second time t4 that is later than the first time t3 by a given period of time;  
     [0068] a second motor  122  which rotates by the output of the second timer circuit  122 ; and  
     [0069] first and second sending rollers  141  and  142  which are rotated by the first and second motors  111  and  112  and which are arranged adjacent to each other in a sending direction to send out the toilet paper  1  to the paper receiving tray  13 .  
     [0070] [4] The automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus  10  according to one of the above items [1], [2] and [3], further comprises means (e.g., a top cover  12 ) for pressing a sending portion  1   a  of the toilet paper  1  on a top surface of each of the sending rollers  141  and  142 .  
     [0071] [5] The automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus  10  according to the above items [1] to [4], further comprises a cutter  170  which is actuated to cut a sending end portion  1   a  of the toilet paper  1  when the sending roller ( 141 ,  142 ) stops.  
     [0072] [6] An automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises:  
     [0073] a paper holder  11  which holds a roll of toilet paper  1  such that a roll axis  1 X becomes horizontal and which has a paper sending section  11   a  that sends out the toilet paper  1 ;  
     [0074] a paper receiving tray  13  provided close to the paper sending section  11   a  of the paper holder  11 ; and.  
     [0075] a paper sending mechanism  100  which sends out a given length of the toilet paper  1  to the paper receiving tray  13  in response to a user&#39;s instruction, the paper sending mechanism  100  including:  
     [0076] a start switch  15 A which turns on and a stop switch  15 B which turns off in response to a user&#39;s instruction;  
     [0077] a motor ( 121 ,  122 ) which starts rotating when the start switch  15 A turns on and which stops rotating when the stop switch  15 B turns off;  
     [0078] a sending roller ( 141 ,  142 ) which is rotated by the motor ( 121 ,  122 ) and which sends out the toilet paper  1  to the paper receiving tray  13 ; and  
     [0079] a cutter  170  which is actuated to cut a sending end portion  1   b  of the toilet paper  1  when the stop switch  15 B turns off.  
     [0080] (Modifications)  
     [0081] The automatic toilet paper feeding apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention can be modified as follows:  
     [0082] A pair of pressure rollers can be formed in contact with the tops of the sending rollers  141  and  142 . The pressure rollers press the sending portion  1   a  of the toilet paper  1  on the sending rollers  141  and  142 .  
     [0083] The second motor  122  can be provided with a current falling delay circuit. When the stop switch  15 B turns off, the second motor  122  stops rotating slightly after the first motor  121  does.  
     [0084] An infrared proximity sensor can be used as the start switch  15 .