Automatic napkin dispenser

• US 20060175344A1
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northern Products Development Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Northern Products Development Group, LLC
• Inventors: Treankler, Carl E., Jones, David L., Carter, John E., Skarda, Thomas S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,234,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/258
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/11 Details of cross-section or profile
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/152 Arrangement of roller on a movable frame
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1924 Napkins or tissues, e.g. dressings, toweling, serviettes, kitchen paper and compresses
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 3/0615 reciprocating and rotatable in one direction only
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 3/22 by needles or the like engaging the articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/24 Rotary or oscillatory members

Abstract

An automatic napkin dispenser includes a housing having a rotatable feed roller with protrusions on an outer surface thereof for engaging a topmost napkin on a stack of napkins, and displacing the topmost napkin between a pair of counterrotating nip rollers that dispense the topmost napkin to a customer. The housing includes a motion translating assembly coupled to the feed roller and moving the feed roller back and forth relative to at least one of the nip rollers.

Claims

1. A napkin dispenser comprising:

a housing having a rotatable feed roller with protrusions on an outer surface thereof for engaging a topmost napkin on the stack of napkins and displacing the topmost napkin between a pair of counterrotating, upper and lower nip rollers that dispense the topmost napkin to a customer,

wherein the housing includes a motion translating assembly coupled to the feed roller for rotating the feed roller and moving the feed roller back and forth relative to at least one of the nip rollers.

2. The napkin dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing includes cam track structure for moving the feed roller towards and away from the upper nip roller in order to lift the topmost napkin away from the stack of napkins.

3. The napkin dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a moveable lift plate for holding the stack of napkins in proximity to the feed roller.

4. The napkin dispenser of claim 3, wherein the housing also includes means for selectively moving the lift plate upwardly and downwardly.

5. The napkin dispenser of claim 1, wherein the motion translating assembly includes a translating arm arrangement, and a crank wheel arrangement moveably mounted in the housing.

6. The napkin dispenser of claim 1, wherein at least one of the nip rollers is driven by a first motor disposed in the housing.

7. The napkin dispenser of claim 4, wherein the means for moving the lift plate upwardly and downwardly is driven by a second motor disposed in the housing.

8. The napkin dispenser of claim 5, wherein the crank wheel arrangement is driven by a third motor disposed in the housing.

9. An automatic napkin dispenser comprising:

a housing have a rotatable feed roller with protrusions on an outer surface thereof for engaging a topmost napkin on a stack of napkins and displacing the topmost napkin to a powered nip roller arrangement having a pair of counterrotating upper and lower nip rollers that dispense the topmost napkin upon a dispenser tray,

wherein the housing includes a first swing arm arrangement having a first end pivotably coupled to the housing and a second end, a second swing arm arrangement having a first end pivotably secured to the second end of the first swing arm arrangement, and a second end pivotably connected to the feed roller, a crank wheel arrangement rotatably mounted in the housing, and a powered crank arm arrangement having a first end eccentrically and pivotably joined to the feeder roll, and a second end eccentrically and pivotably attached to the crank wheel arrangement,

whereby rotation of the crank wheel arrangement moves the crank arm arrangement causing the feed roller to progressively rotate and move with the assistance of the pivotable first and second swing arm arrangements along a slotted path structure formed in the housing towards the upper nip roller so that the feed roller lifts the topmost napkin from the stack of napkins and places the topmost napkin between the nip rollers.

10. The automatic napkin dispenser of claim 9, wherein the housing further includes a moveable lift plate for holding the stack of napkins in proximity to the feed roller.

11. The automatic napkin dispenser of claim 9, wherein the housing further includes a smoother plate mounted behind the feed roller for engagement with an upper surface of the topmost napkin.

12. The automatic napkin dispenser of claim 9, wherein the housing further includes a pile height sensor for sensing height of the stack of napkins.

13. The automatic napkin dispenser of claim 9, wherein the upper nip roller is attached by a first drive belt to a nip roller motor mounted in the housing.

14. The automatic napkin dispenser of claim 9, wherein the crank wheel arrangement is attached by a second drive belt to a crank wheel motor mounted in the housing.

15. The automatic napkin dispenser of claim 10, wherein the moveable lift plate is controlled by a hoist lift motor mounted in the housing.

16. The automatic napkin dispenser of claim 9, wherein the housing further includes a guide plate for guiding the topmost napkin between the upper and lower nip rollers.