DISPENSING APPARATUS

• US 3,730,409 A
• Filed: 03/22/1971
• Issued: 05/01/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ferruccio Ratti
• Original Assignee: Ferruccio Ratti
• Inventors: Ratti, Ferruccio
• Primary Examiner(s): Juhasz, Andrew R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gilden, Leon
• Application Number:
  US05/126,533
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 225/10,11,14
• US Class Current: 225/14
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/36 with mechanical dispensing, roll switching or cutting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/365 Triggering mechanism for the blade
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/205 With feed-out of predetermined length from work supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/209 With feed-out of lead-end to aid initial grasping

Abstract

A dispenser comprises a cabinet having a supply roll of paper towel therein and an electric motor-driven dispensing roll frictionally engaging the towel web for advancing it through a dispensing opening past a movable cutter, the cutter being biased to a normal rest position and being movable to a severing position in response to the manual cutting action by a user, a control circuit including a normally closed start switch and a normally open ready switch connected in a series between the motor and an associated power source and a normally open stop switch in parallel with the ready switch, and program apparatus coupled to the cutter and the motor and the control circuit and responsive to movement of the cutter to its severing position for opening the start switch and closing the ready switch, movement of the cutter back to its normal rest position reclosing the start switch to energize the motor, the program apparatus being responsive to operation of the motor for sequentially closing the stop switch then reopening the ready switch and then reopening the stop switch to de-energize the motor.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing a paper web from a supply roll thereof, said dispenser comprising a housing having a dispensing opening therein, roll support means mounted in said housing for rotatably supporting the associated supply roll, the paper web extending along an exit path from the associated supply roll through said dispensing opening and to an exposed position accessible to a user, dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for intermittently advancing a predetermined length of towel web along said exit path, a cutting blade mounted on said housing for movement between a normal rest position and a web severing position, means yieldably biasing said cutting blade toward the normal rest position thereof, a manual cutting action by a user causing engagement of the web with said cutting blade for effecting movement thereof from the normal rest position thereof to the web severing position thereof, and control apparatus coupled to said dispensing apparatus and to said cutting blade and responsive to movement of said cutting blade from the normal rest position thereof to the severing position thereof during a manual cutting action followed by return of the cutting blade to the normal rest position thereof after severing of the web for actuating said dispensing apparatus to advance the web along said exit path, said control apparatus being responsive to operation of said dispensing apparatus in dispensing a predetermined length of web along said exit path for deactuating said dispensing apparatus, whereby severing of the web is automatically followed by the advance of a further predetermined length of web into the exposed position for severing and use.

2. The dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein said dispensing apparatus includes a drive roll rotatably mounted in said housing for frictional engagement with the towel web, and a drive motor coupled to said drive roll for effecting rotation thereof.

3. The dispenser set forth in claim 1, and further including a carriage pivotally mounted in said housing and carrying said cutting blade thereon, pivotal movement of said carriage accommodating movement of said cutting blade between the normal rest position and the web severing position thereof.

4. The dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein said dispensing apparatus is electrically operated, and said control apparatus includes an electric control circuit.

5. A dispenser for dispensing a paper web from a supply roll thereof, said dispenser comprising a housing having a dispensing opening therein, roll support means mounted in said housing for rotatably supporting the associated supply roll, the paper web extending along an exit path from the associated supply roll through said dispensing opening and to an exposed position accessible to a user, an electrically operated dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for intermittently advancing predetermined lengths of towel web along said exit path, a cutting blade mounted on said housing for movement between a normal rest position and a web severing position, means yieldably biasing said cutting blade toward the normal rest position thereof, a manual cutting action by a user causing engagement of the web with said cutting Blade for effecting movement thereof from the normal rest position thereof to the web severing position thereof, a control circuit coupled to said dispensing apparatus and including a normally closed start switch and a normally open ready switch connected in series between said dispensing apparatus and an associated source of electric power for normally maintaining said dispensing apparatus de-energized, and program apparatus coupled to said cutting blade and to said control circuit for controlling the operation thereof, said program apparatus being responsive to movement of said cutting blade to the severing position thereof during a manual cutting action for closing said ready switch and opening said start switch to place said control circuit in a ready condition, said program apparatus being responsive to movement of said cutting blade back to the normal rest position thereof after severing of the web for reclosing said start switch thereby to energize said dispensing apparatus, said program apparatus being responsive to operation of said dispensing apparatus for reopening said ready switch for another dispensing cycle and for de-energizing said dispensing apparatus after a predetermined length of web has been dispensed along said exit path, whereby severing of the web is automatically followed by the advance of a further predetermined length of web into the exposed position for severing and use.

6. The dispenser set forth in claim 5, wherein said start switch includes a resilient actuating arm coupled to said cutting blade for normally biasing said start switch open and urging said cutting blade toward the normal rest position thereof.

7. The dispenser set forth in claim 5, wherein said dispensing apparatus includes a drive roll rotatably mounted in said housing for frictional engagement with the towel web, and an electric drive motor coupled to said drive roll for effecting rotation thereof.

8. The dispenser set forth in claim 5, wherein said dispensing apparatus includes a drive roll rotatably mounted in said housing for frictional engagement with the towel web, and an electric drive motor coupled to said drive roll for effecting rotation thereof, said drive motor being adapted for battery powered operation.

9. A dispenser for dispensing a paper web from a supply roll thereof, said dispenser comprising a housing having a dispensing opening therein, roll support means mounted in said housing for rotatably supporting the associated supply roll, the paper web extending along an exit path from the associated supply roll through said dispensing opening and to an exposed position accessible to a user, an electrically operated dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for intermittently advancing predetermined lengths of towel web along said exit path, a cutting blade mounted on said housing for movement between a normal rest position and a web severing position, means yieldably biasing said cutting blade toward the normal rest position thereof, a manual cutting action by a user causing engagement of the web with said cutting blade for effecting movement thereof from the normal rest position thereof to the web severing position thereof, control circuit coupled to said dispensing apparatus and including a normally closed start switch and a normally open ready switch connected in series between said dispensing apparatus and an associated source of electric power for normally maintaining said dispensing apparatus de-energized, and an actuating member coupled to said ready switch and movable between a set configuration and a run configuration for respectively opening and closing said ready switch, said actuating member being normally biased toward the run configuration thereof, trigger mechanism coupled to said cutting blade and to said start switch and to said actuating member for releasably holding said actuating member in the set configuration thereof when said cutting blade is in the normal rest position thereof with said dispensing apparatus de-energized, said triggeR mechanism being responsive to movement of said cutting blade to the severing position thereof during a manual cutting action for opening said start switch and for releasing said actuating member to the run configuration thereof thereby to close said ready switch, said trigger mechanism being responsive to movement of said cutting blade back to the normal rest position thereof after severing of the web for reclosing said start switch thereby to energize said dispensing apparatus, and reset mechanism coupled to said dispensing apparatus and having a camming surface mounted for camming engagement with said actuating member, said reset mechanism being responsive to operation of said dispensing apparatus for effecting a cammed movement of said actuating member back to the set configuration thereof and for de-energizing said dispensing apparatus after a predetermined length of web has been dispensed along said exit path, whereby severing of the web is automatically followed by the advance of a further predetermined length of web into the exposed position for severing and use.

10. The dispenser set forth in claim 9, wherein said actuating member comprises an elongated arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof and having a bearing surface thereon disposed for engagement with said ready switch, said trigger mechanism including a carriage pivotally mounted in said housing and carrying said cutting blade thereon, said carriage being disposed in engagement with said start switch for opening and closing thereof in response to pivotal movement of said carriage, and a latch lever coupled to said carriage and pivotally movable therewith between a latching position for holding said actuating member in the set configuration thereof and a releasing position for releasing said actuating member from the set configuration thereof.

11. The dispenser set forth in claim 9, wherein said actuating member comprises an elongated arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof and having a bearing surface thereon disposed for engagement with said ready switch, said trigger mechanism including a carriage pivotally mounted in said housing and carrying said cutting blade thereon, said carriage being disposed in engagement with said start switch for opening and closing thereof in response to pivotal movement of said carriage, and a latch lever coupled to said carriage and pivotally movable therewith between a latching position for holding said actuating member in the set configuration thereof and a releasing position for releasing said actuating member from the set configuration thereof, said reset mechanism comprising a cam wheel having a cam member extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said cam member engaging and supporting said actuating member in the run configuration thereof for effecting a cammed movement of said actuating member back to the set configuration thereof as said cam wheel rotates in response to operation of said dispensing apparatus.

12. The dispenser set forth in claim 9, wherein said dispensing apparatus includes a drive roll rotatably mounted in said housing for frictional engagement with the towel web, and an electric drive motor coupled to said drive roll for effecting rotation thereof, said reset mechanism comprising a cam wheel coupled to said drive roll for rotation therewith by said drive motor.

13. The dispenser set forth in claim 9, wherein said actuating member is biased by gravity toward the run configuration thereof.

14. A dispenser for dispensing a paper web from a supply roll thereof, said dispenser comprising a housing having a dispensing opening therein, roll support means mounted in said housing for rotatably supporting the associated supply roll, the paper web extending along an exit path from the associated supply roll through said dispensing opening and to an exposed position accessible to a user, an electrically operated dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for intermittently advancing predetermined lengths of towel web along said exit path, a cutting bLade mounted on said housing for movement between a normal rest position and a web severing position, means yieldably biasing said cutting blade toward the normal rest position thereof, a manual cutting action by a user causing engagement of the web with said cutting blade for effecting movement thereof from the normal rest position thereof to the web severing position thereof, a control circuit coupled to said dispensing apparatus and to said cutting blade and including a normally closed start switch and a normally open ready switch connected in series between said dispensing apparatus and an associated source of electric power and a normally open stop switch connected in parallel with said ready switch all for normally maintaining said dispensing apparatus de-energized, and program apparatus coupled to said cutting blade and to said control circuit for controlling the operation thereof, said program apparatus being responsive to movement of said cutting blade to the severing position thereof during a manual cutting action for closing said ready switch and opening said start switch to place said control circuit in a ready condition, said program apparatus being responsive to movement of said cutting blade back to the normal rest position thereof after severing of the web for reclosing said start switch thereby to energize said dispensing apparatus, said program apparatus being responsive to operation of said dispensing apparatus for sequentially closing said stop switch and then opening said ready switch and then reopening said stop switch for de-energizing said drive motor after a predetermined length of web has been dispensed along said exit path, whereby severing of the web is automatically followed by the advance of a further predetermined length of web into the exposed position for severing and use.

15. The dispenser set forth in claim 14, and further including means biasing said stop switch toward the closed condition thereof, said program apparatus normally holding said stop switch in the open condition thereof against the urging of said stop switch bias means when said dispensing apparatus is de-energized.

16. A dispenser for dispensing a paper web from a supply roll thereof, said dispenser comprising a housing having a dispensing opening therein, roll support means mounted in said housing for rotatably supporting the associated supply roll, the paper web extending along an exit path from the associated supply roll through said dispensing opening and to an exposed position accessible to a user, an electrically operated dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for intermittently advancing predetermined lengths of towel web along said exit path, a cutting blade mounted on said housing for movement between a normal rest position and a web severing position, means yieldably biasing said cutting blade toward the normal rest position thereof, a manual cutting action by a user causing engagement of the web with said cutting blade for effecting movement thereof from the normal rest position thereof to the web severing position thereof, a control circuit coupled to said dispensing apparatus and to said cutting blade and including a normally closed start switch and a normally open ready switch connected in series between said dispensing apparatus and an associated source of electric power and a normally open stop switch connected in parallel with said ready switch all for normally maintaining said dispensing apparatus de-energized, and an actuating member coupled to said ready switch and movable between a set configuration and a run configuration for respectively opening and closing said ready switch, trigger mechanism coupled to said cutting blade and to said start switch and to said actuating member for releasably holding said actuating member in the set configuration thereof when said cutting blade is in the normal rest position thereof with said dispensing apparatus de-energized, said trigger mechanism being responsive to movement of said cutting blade to the seVering position thereof during a manual cutting action for opening said start switch and for releasing said actuating member to the run configuration thereof thereby to close said ready switch, said trigger mechanism being responsive to movement of said cutting blade back to the normal rest position thereof after severing of the web for reclosing said start switch thereby to energize said dispensing apparatus, and reset mechanism coupled to said dispensing apparatus and having two camming surfaces respectively mounted for camming engagement with said actuating member and said stop switch, said reset mechanism being responsive to operation of said dispensing apparatus for sequentially effecting a cammed closing of said stop switch and then a cammed movement of said actuating member back to the set configuration thereof for reopening said ready switch and then a cammed reopening of said stop switch for de-energizing said drive motor after a predetermined length of web has been dispensed along said exit path, whereby severing of the web is automatically followed by the advance of a further predetermined length of web into the exposed position for severing and use.

17. The dispenser set forth in claim 16, wherein said actuating member comprises an elongated arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof and having a bearing surface thereon disposed for engagement with said ready switch, said trigger mechanism including a carriage pivotally mounted in said housing and carrying said cutting blade thereon, said carriage being disposed in engagement with said start switch for opening and closing thereof in response to pivotal movement of said carriage, and a latch lever coupled to said carriage and pivotally movable therewith between a latching position for holding said actuating member in the set configuration thereof and a releasing position for releasing said actuating member from the set configuration thereof.

18. The dispenser set forth in claim 16, wherein said actuating member comprises an elongated arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof and having a bearing surface thereon disposed for engagement with said ready switch, said trigger mechanism including a carriage pivotally mounted in said housing and carrying said cutting blade thereon, said carriage being disposed in engagement with said start switch for opening and closing thereof in response to pivotal movement of said carriage, and a latch lever coupled to said carriage and pivotally movable therewith between a latching position for holding said actuating member in the set configuration thereof and a releasing position for releasing said actuating member from the set configuration thereof, said reset mechanism comprising a cam wheel having a cam member extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said cam member engaging and supporting said actuating member in the run configuration thereof for effecting a cammed movement of said actuating member back to the set configuration thereof as said cam wheel rotates in response to operation of said dispensing apparatus.

19. The dispenser set forth in claim 16, wherein said actuating member comprises an elongated arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof and having a bearing surface thereon disposed for engagement with said ready switch, said trigger mechanism including a carriage pivotally mounted in said housing and carrying said cutting blade thereon, said carriage being disposed in engagement with said start switch for opening and closing thereof in response to pivotal movement of said carriage, and a latch lever coupled to said carriage and pivotally movable therewith between a latching position for holding said actuating member in the set configuration thereof and a releasing position for releasing said actuating member from the set configuration thereof, said reset mechanism comprises a cam wheel having a first cam member extending laterally outwardly therefrom and a second cam member extending laterally inwardly therefrom adjacent to the periphery thereof, said first cam member Engaging and supporting said actuating member in the run configuration thereof for effecting a cammed movement of said actuating member back to the set configuration thereof as said cam wheel rotates in response to operation of said dispensing apparatus, said second cam member normally holding said stop switch open when said dispensing apparatus is de-energized and being movable in response to initiation of rotation of said cam wheel for closing said stop switch, said second cam member reopening said stop switch after one complete revolution of said cam wheel for thereby de-energizing said dispensing apparatus.

20. A dispenser for dispensing a paper web from a supply roll thereof, said dispenser comprising a housing having a dispensing opening therein, roll support means mounted in said housing for rotatably supporting the associated supply roll, the paper web extending along an exit path from the associated supply roll through said dispensing opening and to an exposed position accessible to a user, dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for intermittently advancing a predetermined length of towel web along said exit path, cutting means mounted on said housing and including a member movable between a normal rest position and a web-severing position, means yieldably biasing said movable member toward the normal rest position thereof, a manual cutting action by a user causing engagement of the web with said movable member for effecting movement thereof from the normal rest position thereof to the web severing position thereof, and control apparatus coupled to said dispensing apparatus and to said movable member and responsive to movement of said movable member from the normal rest position thereof to the severing position thereof during a manual cutting action followed by return of the movable member to the normal rest position thereof after severing of the web for actuating said dispensing apparatus to advance the web along said exit path, said control apparatus being responsive to operation of said dispensing apparatus in dispensing a predetermined length of web along said exit path for deactuating said dispensing apparatus, whereby severing of the web is automatically followed by the advance of a further predetermined length of web into the exposed position for severing and use.