DEVICE FOR RECEIVING END OF USE SPOOLS OF WIPING MATERIAL FOR A WIPING MATERIAL DISPENSING APPARATUS

Abstract

A fixed enclosure partially surrounds a drum, leaving, in front, free access for transport, insertion and ejection of wipe material before and after cutting. An outer part of the enclosure constitutes a support surface for a strip of material from a service reel that is nearly used up. The enclosure has oblong openings arranged along the enclosure. Located behind the drum and enclosure, is a receptacle comprising a fixed-position component receiving the reel and a movable component that allows or prevents, depending on its position, access to the fixed component. The movable component has teeth that align with the openings. The teeth, depending on position of the movable component, rest on the strip of material obtained from the reel which itself rests on the enclosure. Depending on whether the strip of material from the reel is present or not, the movable component penetrates or does not penetrate into said enclosure.

Description

The invention relates to the technical field of dispensing machines for wipe materials with automatic or semi-automatic cutting which have applications for paper hand wipes, general-purpose paper wipes, toilet paper and similar wipes.

The Applicant has worked on these types of machines for many years and now holds a large number of French and foreign patents. These machines are of the type comprising a housing that internally accommodates a drum that receives a cutting device which is articulated relative to the drum and during rotation of the latter; the drum is positioned between support side pieces. The reel of material is positioned either resting on the drum or between support side pieces above in the upper part of the housing. A pressure roller is used to press against the drum and allows transport of the strip of material towards the back of the machine in order to allow completely safe cutting of the strip of material, by above-mentioned cutting device, to a predetermined size. The reels of material comprise a core that supports the turns of material tightly wound in accordance with the characteristics of the material and market in question. This type of wipe material dispensing machine is generally installed in areas accessible to the public, in areas for company staff or on premises of public sector or private establishments and it is necessary to provide an adequate maintenance organisation to ensure refilling of dispensing machines when the reel of material is exhausted. Faced with the risk of machines that need to be re-filled being effectively put out of service, the Applicant has, for many years, devised technical solutions making it possible to install a so-called “spare” reel of material before the so-called “service” reel of material is exhausted. In this situation, the service reel of material that is nearly used up is generally moved by the operator tasked with maintenance towards the bottom rear of the machine with mechanisms enabling cutting, depending on the state of the “service” reel, until it is completely used up by controlling the dispensing of a strip of material from the spare reel which in turn becomes the service reel. This is described in the Applicant's patents such as FR 2,547,716, FR 2,703,343, FR 2,713,075, FR 2,731,608, FR 2,739,545, EP 1,083,816, PCT FR 94/00116, EP 889,701.

In some cases, transfer and starting of the spare reel is initiated by monitoring the service reel as its diameter reduces, this diameter, for example, acting on transfer mechanisms. The service reel of material that is nearly used up is simply placed in the rear of the machine by the operator who feeds the hanging end of the strip of material from the service reel into the area where the latter is inserted between the drum and the pressure roller and two thicknesses of material are unwound simultaneously until the first service reel is exhausted. There can therefore be wastage, depending on the lengths of the overlapping strips of material taken off from the service reel and the spare reel.

In the solution described in Patent EP 1,083,816, the spare reel of material has a hanging free end of material facing the insertion area between the drum and the pressure roller. A flap and rod mechanism making it possible to detect and monitor the weight of the core of the exhausted reel relative to the calibration of a spring, triggers the flap functionality in order to insert the strip of material from the spare reel between the drum and the pressure roller, this reel in turn becoming the service reel.

This mechanism is complex and its operation is greatly affected by the particular spring that is chosen to ensure monitoring of the weight of the core of the service reel that is nearly used up.

The Applicant has also described, in Patent EP 889,701, a device for detecting the presence of the strip of material from the service reel when it is nearly used up and when said strip is in contact with the drum. To achieve this, the drum is designed with very wide scalloping so that when the last cut-to-size piece of the service reel escapes, the device swivels, thereby triggering placement of the end of the strip from the spare reel between the drum and the pressure roller. This swiveling of the device takes place inside the drum.

The problem in this situation with this implementation is the fact that the core of the service reel that is nearly used up tends to “jump” and come into contact with the area behind the drum and the pressure component, possibly causing the dispensing machine to be put out of service by inopportune jamming. In practice, this solution involves maintenance problems.

The Applicant's approach was therefore to look for another solution that was more dependable and reliable in terms of functionality.

Another sought-after object of the invention was to ensure an improved storage area for reels that are nearly used up and enable them to be removed easily by the maintenance operative after they are used up.

Another sought-after object of the invention was to monitor depletion of a reel of material that is nearly used up differently and more reliably by monitoring the physical presence of the material from a service reel that is nearly used up and to trigger placement in use of the spare reel simply.

Another sought-after object of the invention was to limit the presence of a double thickness of material taken from the two reels (service reel and spare reel) to a single cut—equivalent to one revolution of the drum.

Another sought-after object of the invention was to monitor the position and movement of the core and the service reel that is nearly used up in order to prevent inopportune movement of the latter and associated risks of the dispensing machine jamming in the event of excessive tensile force being exerted.

Given these objects, the solution devised by the Applicant involved a wide-ranging rethink of the internal layout of the wipe material dispensing machine and the inclusion of new additional means closely involved in correct operation of the machine during the transitional phase of changeover from the service reel to the spare reel.

These objects and others will become apparent from the following description.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the device for receiving reels of wipe material at the end of their service life in a wipe material dispensing machine, the machine being of the type comprising a housing with a back wall and side walls defining, in the upper part, side pieces between which there is a service or standby reel of material and lower side pieces between which there is a drum including its cutting device, a storage area being provided behind the drum in the bottom of the housing in order to receive a service reel when it is nearly used up, is distinctive in that it comprises, around the drum, a fixed enclosure that partially surrounds the drum allowing, in the front part, free access for transport and insertion and ejection of the wipe material before and after cutting, said enclosure ensuring protection of the drum and its associated cutting device, transport of the strip of material during the cutting phase, the outer part of said enclosure constituting a support plane for a strip of material from a service reel that is nearly used up, said enclosure having oblong openings arranged along the enclosure, and in that it comprises, behind the drum and the enclosure, a receptacle device for the strip of material that is in service and nearly used up comprising two components, one fixed-position position component receiving the reel of material that is nearly used up and a component that moves relative to the fixed component and allows or prevents, depending on its position, access to the fixed component and in that the movable component is designed with means in the form of teeth, the number and position of which match the number of openings made on the enclosure, said teeth, depending on the position of the movable component, pressing against the strip of material obtained from the reel that is nearly used up which itself presses on the enclosure and in that, depending whether the strip of material from the reel of material that is nearly used up is present or not, this component penetrates or does not penetrate into said enclosure.

The object of the present invention is described, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wipe material dispensing machine that includes the device according to the invention. In this Figure, the machine comprises a service reel as loaded in the machine.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispensing machine as in FIG. 1 but with a service reel of material placed in a receptacle according to the invention and with the spare reel on standby.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the dispensing machine including the device according to the invention, for loading the spare reel after the service reel is exhausted, and its associated mechanisms.

FIG. 4 is an alternative view of the presentation of the reel of material inside the dispensing machine according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a left-hand side view of the dispensing machine in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a left-hand side view of the dispensing machine in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing the protective enclosure surrounding the drum of the dispensing machine and the receptacle capable of receiving a service reel of material that is nearly used up.

FIG. 8 is a view of the movable component of the receptacle for receiving a service reel of material that is nearly used up.

FIG. 9 is a right-hand side view of the dispensing machine including, before assembly, the mechanism for gripping the end of the strip of material from the spare reel.

FIG. 10 is a side view, as in FIG. 9, of the mechanism that ensures gripping of the reel of material before the spare reel is actuated.

FIG. 11 is a view as in FIG. 10, after actuation of the spare reel and complete exhaustion of the service reel of material located in the receptacle.

FIG. 12 is a partial large-scale view showing the shape of the teeth on the movable component of the receptacle for the service reel that is nearly used up.

FIG. 13 is a view that schematically shows seating of the teeth in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a partial view showing the various support areas of the service reel or the spare reel.

FIGS. 15 to 20 schematically show the operating principle of the device according to the invention and of its associated mechanisms in the dispensing machine.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view showing placement of the service strip of material in the flap device for presentation to the drum.

FIG. 22 is a schematic view as in FIG. 21 after the strip of material has been gripped.

FIG. 23 is a schematic view showing the flap.

FIGS. 24 and 25 are alternative views of FIGS. 10 and 11.

FIG. 26 is an alternative view of FIG. 22.

In order that the object of the invention may more readily be understood, the following description is given, merely by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings.

The wipe material dispensing machine is referred to in its entirety as (A) and comprises a housing (1) with a back wall (1a) and lateral sides defining, in the upper part, side pieces (1b) between which there is a service or standby reel of material (2) and lower side pieces (1c) between which there is, in particular, a drum (3) accommodating the cutting device which is not shown. This drum is articulatedly mounted on the above-mentioned receiving side pieces by the ends of its central shaft.

As indicated in the description of the sought-after objects according to the invention, the invention involves designing the wipe materiel dispensing machine with a storage area (Z) to receive a service reel that is nearly used up whilst allowing exhaustion of the reel in question and presentation of the strip of material from the standby spare reel.

According to the invention, the dispensing machine is designed with a fixed enclosure (10) that partially surrounds the drum over an angle of 180 to 250°, the front part of the drum being freely accessible in order to allow transport and insertion and then ejection of the wipe material before cutting and after cutting. This enclosure is concentric with the drum and leaves, between the enclosure and the drum, a gap for transport of the wipe material. The ends of this enclosure are fixed on the side piece that supports the drum, either by click-in fastening or bonding or some other method. Depending on fabrication and moulding constraints, enclosure (10) in particular may be moulded integrally with the housing. This enclosure performs several functions that will be described in the rest of this description, firstly it protects the drum and its cutting device, thus providing greater safety for the user, and secondly it defines, by above-mentioned gap (I), space for transport and guidance of the material, both these functions relating to the inner part of the enclosure. Externally, wall (10a) of the enclosure is smooth and is used as a support plane for the strip of material from a service reel that is nearly used up. According to another aspect, this enclosure (10) has, over its length, a plurality of oblong openings (10b) that are identical to each other and arranged parallel to each other with a predetermined spacing pitch along the enclosure. These oblong openings are made over a sector angle of the order of 15 to 30° approximately and fulfil a precise function. On the front part of the machine and therefore in front of the drum, two embodiments allowing insertion and ejection of the strip of material are illustrated in the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 for example, three rollers (11, 12, 13) are fitted parallel to each other and have end fingers that penetrate into openings (14) made in the walls of side pieces (1b) that accommodate the rollers. The rollers are advantageously sheathed in a covering made of an elastomer material and are designed with a plurality of concentric discs along their longitudinal central core that make it possible to define corrugations. Upper roller (11) and intermediate roller (12) are adjacent to each other and make it possible to insert the wipe material in a perpendicular plane so that it is guided towards drum (3). Lower roller (13) underneath intermediate roller (12) is of identical design to the previous two rollers and makes it possible to eject the strip of material cut by the cutting device from between the lower roller and the intermediate roller.

In an alternative embodiment and as shown in FIG. 4, the front part of the machine comprises, beyond said enclosure, a single pressure roller (14) which is articulatedly mounted relative to the side pieces of the dispensing machine's housing. In this case, the strip of material wraps round the pressure roller and is then inserted between said roller and the drum so that it wraps round the drum through the gap formed between the drum and the fixed enclosure. The cut strip of material emerges from the lower part of the machine.

The design arrangements of the receptacle device for a service strip of material that is nearly used up are now described below.

A receptacle (R) consisting of two components (17-18) is provided behind the drum and enclosure (10), first component (17) having a fixed position and second component (18) having a movable position. The first component has a curved cradle-like configuration over an angle of approximately 120 to 150° and is oriented with the opening facing towards the top of the machine. Cradle (17) is fixed by click-in fastening, bonding, screw fastening or some other method onto the opposite-facing lower side pieces of the housing. Advantageously, the leading edge of said cradle is tapered. The fixed cradle is intended to receive a service reel of material that is nearly used up. The second movable component (18) is shown more especially in FIGS. 7 and 8 and has a cylinder configuration. The latter has a very special configuration and is located opposite above-mentioned fixed cradle (17). This cylinder has lateral side pieces with extension shafts and is articulatedly mounted by its ends on the internal side pieces of the housing in openings made for this purpose. Longitudinally, this cylinder has an opening (18a) over an angular distance sufficient to allow transport of a service reel of material which is nearly used up in order to allow access and insertion of the latter into the fixed cradle (17). The cylinder has a smooth wall (18b) on which there are protruding teeth (18c) shaped and arranged relative to each other with a spacing pitch identical to that defined for oblong openings (10b) made in protective enclosure (10) of the drum. These teeth are therefore capable of penetrating into said openings (10b) in the particular situation where a service reel of material is exhausted, i.e. after removal of the last cut-to-size piece, as will be explained below. Teeth (18c) have a straight profile as shown in FIG. 8, but preferably a curved profile as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, so that they press against the strip of material more effectively. In fact and according to one distinctive feature of the invention, the strip of material from a service reel which is nearly used up and located in the receptacle exits the latter by resting on outer wall (10a) of enclosure (10) in order to be held between rollers (11-12) on the drum or the pressure roller and the drum, depending on the arrangements of the machine, as indicated previously. Movable cylinder (18) acts as a flap depending on its position relative to the fixed cradle and depending whether or not a strip of material is present. To ensure rotation of the cylinder and control of its position, one of the ends (18f) of the cylinder accommodates, around its end shaft, an elastic positional return means in the form of a hairpin spring (19), one end (19a) of which is attached to opposite-facing lateral side piece (18d) of the cylinder and the other end of which is attached to a notch (1d) made for this purpose on the support side piece. The spring is used in such a way that cylinder (18) swivels forward, i.e. teeth (18c) penetrate into the mechanical openings on the protective enclosure of the drum. The receptacle cannot be accessed and it contains only a core from the exhausted reel or nothing. When the flap is opened, the return means is tensioned and this corresponds to the presence of a strip of material from a service reel that is nearly used up. The cylinder is rotated manually by the operator tasked with maintenance by pressing on a small flat longitudinal bar (18e) along the cylinder wall. The small bar is positioned away from said teeth (18c) at a sufficient distance to be accessible when the cylinder is in the position where the receptacle is closed and teeth (18c) penetrate into the base of protective enclosure (10).

According to another arrangement of the invention, end (18f) of cylinder (18) extends as a shaped cam (20) with a notch (20a) in the shape of a limit stop, the function of which is to control a mechanism for gripping the hanging end of the spare reel of material waiting to be loaded on the drum. This loading mechanism comprises a long flap (21) located at the front of the dispensing machine, this flap being articulated and swiveling. To achieve this, flap (21) comprises a first end (21a) shaped like a finger that penetrates into an opening made on left-hand lateral side piece (1c) that supports the drum. The other end (21b) of flap (21) is fixedly mounted on the end forming a head (22a) of connecting rod (22) located in a plane perpendicular to the flap and laterally parallel to the lower side piece that accommodates the drum and the receptacle. The inner surface of said flap (21) is designed over much of its length with means (21d) in the form of a clip intended to make it possible to retain the end of the strip of material from the spare reel. The lower part of this clip is attached to the flap with a certain degree of elasticity in order to allow insertion and then gripping of the strip of material. Internally, the flap has a flat strip (21e) facing the area where the strip of material is inserted between rollers (11-12) or between the pressure roller (14) and the drum depending on the chosen configuration.

Connecting rod (22) is freely and controllably coupled to another so-called control rod (23) which is capable of cooperating with cam (20). This control rod (23) has a long horizontal arm (23a) arranged parallel and adjacent to connecting rod (22). Connecting rod (23) has, to its rear, a vertical piece (23b) capable of moving opposite notch (20a). The two rods (22-23) are linked to each other, firstly, by two guide fingers (24-25) on the horizontal arm of rod (23) that fit into oblong slots (22c-22d) made in small rod (22) and, secondly, by elastic return means (26) located between rod (22) by attachment finger (27) and finger (28) on piece (23b).

Flap (21) is opened in order for the operator to place the end of the strip of material from the spare reel by actuating head (22a) of rod (22) and positioning it towards the front, thereby causing extension of return means (26). Once said end of the strip is inserted on flap (21) and secured by the clip, release of the flap makes it possible, due to expansion of return means (26), to hold the flap back so as to present the hanging end of the strip of material from the reserve reel towards rollers (11-12) or the pressure roller and the drum, depending on the chosen configuration.

The side piece of the housing has a deep notch (27) to allow free movement of the shaft of flap (21) associated with the small rod during the above-mentioned operations.

Another aspect of the invention that involves using the mechanism for loading the spare reel positioned on the side of the dispensing machine opposite that which accommodates the mechanism for gripping the hanging end of the spare reel is now described below.

To achieve this, the other end of cylinder (18) opposite that which accommodates cam (20) for controlling the gripping mechanism, comprises a disc (28) having a notch (28a) that defines a hook shape (28b) and an outer ramp (28c).

On the internal lateral side piece of the housing, there is a first long lever (29) which is articulated relative to the shaft of the drum. The end of this lever comprises an inwardly oriented perpendicular plate (29a) that constitutes a support plate for the spare reel of material. Lever (29) is articulated relative to a bearing surface (3a) located on the end of the shaft of the drum and in opposition to elastic return means (30), the other end of which is attached to the bottom of the opposite-facing side piece of the housing. A stop pin (31) is located on the outer surface of the side piece of the housing and limits forward swiveling of said lever. There is another lever (32) adjacent to previous lever (29), it is mounted on a swivel pin (33) with the side piece. This swivel pin is associated with lever (29) in order to support a sprocket (34). The lower part of lever (32) has a heel (32a) that presses against protruding shaft (33) of the drum. The upper part of lever (32) has an external protruding shaft (35) that accommodates a small-diameter sprocket (36) that cooperates with sprocket (34) then support roller (37) for the reel of material. Roller (37) is located in the same plane as the piece on the end of lever (29). The lower rear part of lever (32) has a cut-out (32b) and lower ramp-shaped external edge (32c) to cooperate with a plate (38) that partially forms a hook which, in turn, is capable of cooperating with shaped disc (28) located on the end of the shaft of cylinder (18). Plate (38) has a beak (38a) capable of cooperating with disc (28) and its matching shapes. The top front edge of plate (38) has a part forming a head (38b) and ramp (38c) that cooperate with the matching part of lever (32) and its cut-out during various operating phases. An elastic return means (39) links plate (38) to the lateral side piece of the housing, thus controlling limiting of its displacement. Behind this, spring (40) links lever (32) to lever (29).

The operation of the dispensing machine fitted with the device for receiving reels and its associated mechanisms are explained below.

Firstly, the reader should refer to FIGS. 15 to 20 which explain the principle of the device.

In FIG. 15, the service reel of material is full and the hanging strip of material travels between upper roller (11) and intermediate roller (12), goes round the back of the drum in the gap left between it and protective enclosure (10) and then emerges from the machine from between rollers (12 and 13). Receptacle (R) is not in use.

In FIG. 16, the situation is the same apart from the fact that the diameter of the service reel of material has already diminished and it must be transferred into receptacle (R).

In FIG. 17, said service reel of material is transferred into the receptacle after opening the latter by actuating movable component (18). The strip of material will therefore rest on the outside of the protective enclosure of the drum. The operator can, after placement, position the spare reel of material.

In FIG. 18, the dispensing machine is operating, the end of the strip from the spare reel is then on standby and movable component (18) of the receptacle rests on the strip of material from the service reel which continues to be unwound. The teeth (18c) of movable component (18) press on the opposite-facing strip of material which itself rests on enclosure (10).

In FIG. 19, the service reel of material is nearly used up and the final length of material is in the process of being transferred.

In FIG. 20, the final length of material from the used-up service reel is removed. The movable component which no longer has any counterforce swivels so that teeth (18c) penetrate into the openings made in the enclosure. At the same time, swiveling of the movable component triggers, firstly, actuation of the rod mechanism in order to present the flap opposite the gap where the end of the strip of material is inserted between rollers (11-12) or between the pressure roller and the drum depending on the chosen configuration.

In addition, in the plane in which the spare reel is placed, as shown in FIG. 18, the spare reel rests on plate (29a) of lever (29) because the roller associated with lever (32) is retracted. The spare reel cannot rotate around its own axis.

Given the large diameter of the spare reel, levers (29-32) are swiveled but there is no linkage or retention between the plate and disc (28) associated with movable component (18).

In contrast, when the service reel is exhausted, the movable component swivels, the hook shape of the plate is inserted into the notch on the disc and the receptacle is locked in position. The reel of material rests on the roller and can rotate.

As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, flap (21) comprises means (21d) in the form of a clip that is articulated relative to the base of the flap. There is a window (21e) in the flap that allows movement of a thrust finger (41) and an elastic return means (42) is used to move the clip up against the inner surface of the flap. In FIG. 26, elastic means (42) is a hairpin spring fitted in the lower part of the flap to allow the desired articulation.

In FIGS. 24 and 25, the system for swiveling flap (21) is a single connecting rod (43), the rear end (43a) of which cooperates with heel (20a) of cam (20) and the front end (43b) of which cooperates with flap (21). Connecting rod (43) is guided on a single shaft (44) mounted on the side piece with a guide or travel limiting slot (43c). This slot (43c) has one end (43d) for locking in position on shaft (44) in order to lock the connecting rod in position when it is translationally moved forward for opening and placing the free end of the reel of material. Return spring (45) returns the connecting rod to its initial position during locking produced by rotation and actuation of cam (20).

The solution provided by the invention solves all the problems raised by the prior art easily and effectively.

Claims

1. A device for receiving reels of wipe material at the end of their service life in a wipe material dispensing machine comprising a housing with a back wall and lateral sides defining, in an upper part, side pieces between which there is a service or standby reel of material and lower side pieces between which there is a drum accommodating a cutting device, a storage area being provided behind the drum in a bottom of the housing in order to receive a service reel that is nearly used up, further comprising a fixed enclosure partially surrounding the drum and leaving, in a front part, free access for transport and insertion and ejection of the wipe material before and after cutting, said enclosure ensuring protection of the drum and the cutting device, and transport of the strip of material during a cutting phase, an outer part of said enclosure constituting a support surface for a strip of material from a service reel that is nearly used up, said enclosure having oblong openings arranged along the enclosure, and further comprising, behind the drum and enclosure, a receptacle device for the strip of material that is in service and nearly used up comprising a fixed-position component receiving the reel of material that is nearly used up and a movable component that moves relative to the fixed component and allows or prevents, depending on its position, access to the fixed component, and the movable component has teeth, number and position of the teeth match number and position of the openings, said teeth, depending on the position of the movable component, resting on the strip of material obtained from the reel that is nearly used up which reel rests on the enclosure, and, depending on whether the strip of material from the reel of material that is nearly used up is present or not, the moveable component penetrates or does not penetrate into the enclosure.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fixed enclosure partially surrounds the drum over an angle of approximately 180 to 250°, the enclosure is concentric with the drum and leaves, between the enclosure and the drum, a gap for transport of the wipe material,ends of said enclosure are fixed to the lower side pieces that support the drum, the enclosure has, over its length, a plurality of said oblong openings, the openings are identical to each other and arranged parallel to each other with a predetermined spacing pitch along the enclosure,and the oblong openings are made over a sector angle of the order of 15 to 30° approximately and fulfil the function of accommodating the teeth on the movable component after a reel of material that is nearly used up is depleted and exhausted.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, in the front part facing the drum, three rollers fitted parallel to each other and having end fingers that penetrate into openings made in walls of side pieces that accommodate the rollers, the rollers are sheathed in a covering made of an elastomer material and include a plurality of concentric discs along their longitudinal central core that define corrugations,an upper roller and intermediate roller of said three rollers are adjacent to each other and enable insertion of the wipe material in a perpendicular plane so that the wipe material is guided towards the drum,and a lower roller underneath the intermediate roller is identical to the upper and intermediate rollers and enables ejection of the strip of material cut by the cutting device from between the lower roller and the intermediate roller.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, in the front part facing the drum, it a single pressure roller articulatedly mounted relative to the side pieces of the housing, the strip of material wraps round the pressure roller and is then inserted between the drum and the enclosure so that the strip wraps round the drum through the gap formed between the drum and the fixed enclosure,and a cut strip of material emerges from a lower part of the machine.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixed-position component has a curved cradle-like configuration over an angle of approximately 120 to 150° and is oriented with an opening facing towards a top of the machine, the cradle is fixed to the lower opposite-facing side pieces of the housing,the leading edge of said cradle is tapered,and the fixed-position component receives the service reel of material that is nearly used up.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable component has an open cylinder configuration, the cylinder has lateral side pieces with extension shafts and is articulately mounted by its ends on the internal side pieces of the housing,longitudinally, the cylinder has an opening over an angular distance sufficient to allow transport of a service reel of material which is nearly used up in order to allow access and insertion of the service reel into the fixed cradle,and the cylinder has a smooth wall on which there are protruding teeth shaped and arranged relative to each other with a spacing pitch identical to the oblong openings.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein, to ensure rotation of the cylinder and control of its position, one end of the cylinder accommodates, around an end shaft, an elastic positional return means in the form of a hairpin spring, one end of the spring is attached to an opposite-facing lateral side piece of the cylinder and an other end of the spring is attached to a notch made for this purpose on a support side piece, and the spring is used in such a way that the cylinder swivels forward, and the teeth penetrate into the openings.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cylinder is rotated manually by an operator tasked with maintenance by pressing on a small flat longitudinal bar along a cylinder wall, and the small bar is positioned away from said teeth at a sufficient distance to be accessible when the cylinder is in the position where the receptacle is closed and the teeth penetrate into a base of the enclosures.

9. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the one end of the cylinder extends as a shaped cam with a notch as a limit stop, to control a mechanism for gripping a hanging end of a spare reel of material waiting to be loaded on the drum.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a loading mechanism that includes a long flap located at the front of the dispensing machine, the flap being articulated and swiveling relative to side piece of the housing of the machine, said flap being associated with a means of gripping the end of a strip of material of the spare reel, said means of gripping being subjected to the action of a return means.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the flap comprises a first end shaped like a finger that penetrates into an opening in a left-hand lateral side piece that supports the drum, an other end of the flap is fixedly mounted on a head end of a connecting rod located in a plane perpendicular to the flap and laterally parallel to the lower side piece that accommodates the drum and the receptacle, and, internally, the flap has a flat strip facing an area where the strip of material is inserted between rollers or between a pressure roller and the drum.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the connecting rod is freely and controllably coupled to a control rod cooperating with a cam, the control rod has a long horizontal arm arranged parallel and adjacent to the connecting rod,the control rod has, to its rear, a vertical piece capable of moving opposite the notch, and the connecting and control rods are linked to each other, firstly, by two guide fingers on the horizontal arm of the control rod that fit into oblong slots in the connecting rod and, secondly, by elastic return means located between the connecting rod by attachment fingers on the vertical piece.

13. A device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a mechanism for swiveling the flap, the mechanism comprising a single connecting rod, a rear end of the single connecting rod cooperates with a heel of the cam, and a front end of the single connecting rod cooperates with the flap, the single connecting rod is guided on a single shaft mounted on the side piece with a guide or travel limiting slot, the slot has one end for locking in position on the single shaft in order to lock the connecting rod in position when it is translationally moved forward for opening and placing the free end of the reel of material, and a return spring returns the single connecting rod to its initial position during locking produced by rotation and actuation of the cam.

14. A device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a mechanism for loading a spare reel positioned on a side of the dispensing machine opposite that which accommodates a mechanism for gripping a hanging end of the spare reel.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein an end of the cylinder opposite that which accommodates the cam for controlling the gripping mechanism comprises a shaped disc having a notch that defines a hook shape and an outer ramp, and further comprising, on the internal side piece of the housing, a first long lever which is articulated relative to a shaft of the drum, another lever adjacent to the first lever, the another lever being mounted on a swivel pin with the side piece,the swivel pin is associated with the first lever in order to support a sprocket.and the another lever has a cut-out and lower ramp-shaped external edge to cooperate with a plate that partially forms a hook that, in turn, cooperates with the shaped disc.

16. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein an end of the first lever comprises a perpendicular inwardly oriented plate constituting a support plate for the spare reel of material, the first lever is articulated relative to a bearing surface located on an end of the shaft of the drum and in opposition to an elastic return means, an other end of the first lever is attached to a bottom of the opposite-facing side piece of the housing,and a stop pin is located on an outer surface of the side piece of the housing and limits forwards swiveling of said lever.

17. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein a lower part of the another lever has a heel that rests on a protruding shaft of the drum, an upper part of the another lever has an external protruding shaft that accommodates a small-diameter sprocket that cooperates with a sprocket on a support roller for the reel of material,and the support roller is located in a same plane as the plate on the end of the first lever.

18. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the plate has a beak cooperating with the shaped disc and its matching shapes, a top front edge of the plate has a part forming a head and ramp that cooperate with a matching part of the another lever and its cut-out during various operating phases,an elastic return means connects the plate to the lateral side piece of the housing, thus controlling limiting of plate displacement, and a spring links the another lever to the first lever.

19. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the flap comprises a clip articulated relative to a base of the flap, a window in the flap allows movement of a thrust finger and an elastic return means to move the clip up against an inner surface of the flap, and the elastic return means comprises a hairpin spring fitted in a lower part of the flap to allow desired articulation,