Automatic dispenser of pre-cut and Z-wrapped or folded web materials

• US 4,648,530 A
• Filed: 01/09/1986
• Issued: 03/10/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maurice Granger
• Original Assignee: Maurice Granger
• Inventors: Granger, Maurice
• Primary Examiner(s): BARTUSKA, FRANCIS JOHN
• Application Number:
  US06/816,998
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 221/34, 221/44, 221/45, 221/46, 221/63, 221/307, 221/309, 221/310, 221/267, 221/48-55, 221/155, 206/409, 225/106
• US Class Current: 221/34
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/34 dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3809 with roll spindles which are not directly supported
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3827 with a distribution opening which is parallel to the rotation axis
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3253 with one or more reserve rolls

Abstract

An automatic dispenser for pre-cut Z-folded web materials wherein the dispenser comprises a holder or support having an orifice through which the web materials are pulled. The orifice has outwardly rounded edges so that the web can be pulled with unequal pulling forces and from different directions. In some embodiments the orifice is provided with an obturator having two opening elements that are elastically coupled to one another. The obturator has round edges through which the web passes wherein one of the edges can be separated from the other.

Claims

1. An automatic dispenser for precut materials folded into a Z-shaped configuration, comprising a support means (1, 8 or 12) for the material having one wall having at least one rigid, non-deformable orifice (2, 3, 4, 7, 9a or 15) with a selected dimension, through which the material is pulled, so that at each pull of the material the pulled portion of the material is automatically detached, leaving a new portion of the material extending out of the orifice, the orifice is characterized in that in order to systematically assure the detachment of the pulled portion and extension of the new portion from whatever pulling force and pulling direction, the orifice extends outside of the support means, opposite the folded material, and is provided with an entry section adjacent to the folded material, an exit section opposite the entry section outside the support means, and a median section located between the entry and exit sections, the orifice has very broadly rounded and flared out entry and exit sections, while the median section is formed solely as a function of the type of material used, the support means comprises a wall attachment plate (11) to which a hood (12) having inclined faces and a bolting lock is articulated, the hood is provided with at least one orifice for the passage of at least one roll of folded material, further characterized in that the hood accommodates a plurality of rolls of folded material, the hood is provided with a straight bottom (12a) for support one roll and grooves (12b) having removable spokes (16) which support the other rolls of folded material, and whereby each roll is provided with a separate orifice (15) wherein each orifice not provided with a roll of material passing therethrough is obturated by transparent plugs which allow the filling level to be checked.

2. An automatic dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the orifice is formed by an opening (20a or 26a) of fixed dimension located in the wall of the support means, the orifice is provided with an obturator device (22 or 27) having two facing opening elements elastically connected to one another in order to exert a resistance force on the material at rest to permit a correct dispensing when the material is pulled by having one of the two elements separating from the other element.

3. An automatic dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that the two opening elements of the obturator device have broadly dimensioned rounded edges (22c, 22d or 27c, 27d) on their facing surfaces which are oriented towards the folded material.

4. An automatic dispenser according to claim 3, characterized in that the two opening elements comprise two semicircular parts (27a, 27b).

5. An automatic dispenser according to claim 3, characterized in that the two opening elements are rectangular parts (22a, 22b).

6. An automatic dispenser according to claim 3, characterized in that the orifice is provided with an obturator holder (25 or 26) having another opening of fixed dimension that is adapted to hold the obturator device.

7. An automatic dispenser according to claim 6, characterized in that the another opening of the obturator holder has a wide rounded edge outside the support means to allow the material extending past the another opening to spread out freely while the opening of the support means has a wide rounded edge adjacent the folded material to prevent catching of the material.

8. An automatic dispenser according to claim 6, characterized in that the obturator is provided with a T-shaped recess having stop faces for one of the opening elements of the obturator device to allow the movement of the other opening element.

9. An automatic dispenser according to claim 2 wherein the obturator device is housed in a T-shaped recess in the wall of the support means, wherein the T-shaped recess has stop faces for one of the opening elements of the obturator device to allow movement of the other opening element.

10. An automatic dispenser according to claim 6, characterized in that the obturator is provided with a collar (28e) cooperating to semi-release the opening parts of the obturator device and constituting a stop for one of the opening elements.

11. An automatic dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that one of the two opening elements of the obturator device is provided with a bent extension to provide a manual actuator to separate the opening elements.

12. An automatic dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that the two elastically connected opening elements of the obturator device are elastically connected by an elastic ring means having two ends that are connected together by a screw (23b) to regulate the tension of the ring means.

13. An automatic dispenser according to claim 6, characterized in that the obturator holder is provided with a cover (24 to 28) that is secured to the obturator holder for holding the obturator device.

14. An automatic dispenser according to claim 13, characterized in that the orifice is a circulate regulatable orifice, and the cover of the obturator holder is provided with indexing means so that the opening elements of the obturator device can be released by the sliding of a bent extension of one of the opening elements.

15. An automatic dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the wall of the support means is provided with a boss (20b) having an opening for the passage of the material, characterized in that the boss provides a recess (20h) in which an eyelet is fixed in a removable manner having widely rounded edges wherein the dimensions of the orifice for the passage of material can be regulated by interchanging eyelet of different dimensions.