Washrooms in commercial and residential buildings typically include products such as toilet tissue or paper towels. These products are typically housed by a dispenser and are dispensed as needed by the user. Indeed, there are a number of manual, semi-automatic, and automatic dispensers capable of dispensing said products. The cost of dispensers can vary greatly depending on the complexity of the apparatus. For example, many semi-automatic and automatic dispensers include motorized parts for automatically dispensing material. Automatic dispensers can include sensors for automatically dispensing a portion of product when a user is within range of the dispenser. However, these motorized parts and sensors can significantly increase the cost of the dispenser. Similar to the semi-automatic or automatic dispensers, restrictive manual dispensers can be needlessly complex containing knives in drums with over molded materials and complex mechanisms. Non-restrictive manual dispensers allow users to take excessive amounts of product which is costly to the facility.
Additionally, certain dispensers can also require numerous parts housed within the dispenser, which can increase the cost of the dispenser. Such dispensers include several internal components that may breakdown more frequently, which causes the dispenser to be incapable of dispensing product. Breakdown of the dispenser is frustrating for restroom users given that no product is capable of being dispensed when the user accesses the dispenser. Further, breakdown of the internal components of the dispenser can require tedious repair or costly replacement by restroom maintenance personnel.
In view of the above, a need exists for a dispenser having an improved design that is functional and can be achieved at a reduced cost.
In general, the present disclosure is directed to a dispenser for a sheet material, such as paper towels, that includes a drive roller, indexing mechanism, and stop release member capable of dispensing a selected size of sheet material. Further, the dispenser includes an extension spring configured to the indexing mechanism such that upon the user tearing the selected sized sheet of material, the dispenser is capable of dispensing a portion of sheet material so that the next user can easily access the sheet material.
In one embodiment, for instance, the present disclosure is directed to a dispenser for sheet material, such as paper towels, bath tissue, and the like. The dispenser includes a housing having an interior volume so as to retain at least one roll of sheet material. The dispenser further includes a dispensing mechanism contained within the housing for dispensing the sheet material.
In accordance with the present disclosure, dispensing mechanism includes a drive roller configured to an indexing mechanism. The indexing mechanism includes a spring attachment mechanism having an extension spring attached thereto. The dispensing mechanism also includes a stop release member having a first end associated with a tear member and a second end configured to engage a stop member configured to the indexing mechanism. The rotation of the drive roller and indexing mechanism is stopped upon the stop member engaging the second end of the stop release member. Tearing of the sheet material by the user moves the first end of the stop release member such that the second end of the stop release member disengages the stop member. Once the stop release member disengages the stop member, energy stored in the extension spring is capable of moving the indexing mechanism and the drive roller such that a portion of sheet material can be dispensed.
In one embodiment, the indexing mechanism includes a drive wheel configured to the drive roller and a driven wheel configured to the drive wheel. An extension spring is configured to the driven wheel. Removal of the sheet material from the dispenser by the user causes the drive roller to rotate, which in turn rotates the drive wheel, which rotates the driven wheel. Rotation of the drive roller, drive wheel, and driven wheel is stopped when a stop member configured to the driven wheel comes into engagement with a stop release member. Upon tearing of the dispensed sheet material by the user, the stop release member disengages from the stop member allowing energy stored in the extension spring to at least partially rotate the driven wheel, which rotates the drive wheel and the drive roller to dispense a portion of sheet material.
In embodiments, the dispenser can include an access opening configured to allow a user to access the sheet material. The access opening can include one or more tear members for tearing selected sizes of the sheet material from the roll.
In embodiments, the dispensing mechanism includes a pressure roller configured to the drive roller. The sheet material can be dispensed via a dispensing path that is formed between the drive roller and the pressure roller. The drive roller is rotated by the sheet material as the sheet material is moved along the dispensing path.
In embodiments, the stop member is attached to a disk that is configured to the indexing mechanism. For example, the disk can be configured to the driven wheel such that the stop member rotates in the same manner as the driven wheel.
In embodiments, stop release member is configured with a first end and a second end. The first end of the stop release member is configured such that in order for the sheet material to access the tear member(s) the sheet material comes into contact with the first end of the stop release member causing the stop release member to pivot about a pivot point and causing the second end of the stop release member to disengage from the stop member.
In addition to functionality, the dispenser provided herein can be manufactured at a lower cost as compared to other manual, semi-automatic, or automatic dispensers.
Other features and aspects of the present disclosure are discussed in greater detail below.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present disclosure is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.
It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure is generally directed to a dispenser for sheet materials and/or to a dispenser assembly. The dispenser of the present disclosure allows for the dispensing of a sheet material utilizing a dispensing mechanism that can be manufactured at lower costs as compared to other dispensers. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to a dispenser for sheet materials with a dispensing mechanism capable of providing a portion of sheet material (a “tail”) after each use of the dispenser. The tail of sheet material is capable of being dispensed without requiring any automated components. Thus, the dispenser is a “hands-free” dispenser capable of dispensing a tail without requiring the user to touch the components of the dispenser.
In one embodiment, the dispenser includes a dispensing mechanism having a drive roller, a indexing mechanism, an extension spring, and a stop release member. In one embodiment, the dispenser further includes a stop member configured to engage the stop release member. In certain embodiments, the indexing mechanism includes a drive wheel and a driven wheel. The driven wheel is configured to be attached to an extension spring, such that upon disengagement of the stop member from the stop release member, energy stored in the extension spring can rotate the driven wheel, which rotates the drive wheel and the drive roller to dispense a portion of sheet material, such as a tail.
Referring particularly to
The operational components of the dispenser 10 may be mounted directly to the housing 16 or can be part of a module or insert that is received within the housing 16. For example, the operational components can be part of a module that may be readily removable from the housing for servicing and/or replacing components without the necessity of having to remove the entire dispenser 10 from its support surface.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In embodiments where the Geneva wheel 110 includes four equi-angularly spaced slots, each full rotation of the driving cam wheel 112 rotates the slotted Geneva wheel 110 90°. The slotted Geneva wheel 110 can be configured such that each rotation of the Geneva wheel 110 corresponds to a certain amount of sheet material. For example, the dispenser 10 can be configured such that each 90° rotation of the slotted Geneva wheel 110 dispenses a three-inch sheet of sheet material. Accordingly, in some embodiments, as the user removes the sheet material from the dispenser 10, the slotted Geneva wheel 110 is capable of rotating 270° before the stop member 70 engages the stop release member 80.
Indeed, the driven wheel 54 can be configured such that a certain amount of rotation of the driven wheel 54 corresponds to the dispenser dispensing a desired amount of sheet material 12. While certain described embodiments reference a three-inch sheet of material, the dispenser provided herein is not so limited. For example, the size of the drive roller 60, drive wheel 52, and driven wheel 54 can be adjusted such that increased or lesser amounts of sheet material 12 are capable of being dispensed. For example, if a larger amount of sheet material is desired, the drive roller 60, drive wheel 52, and driven wheel 54 can be configured such that select amount of rotation of the driven wheel 54 dispenses at least a three-inch sheet of material, such as at least a four-inch sheet of material, such as at least a 5-inch sheet of material, etc.
In certain embodiments, the drive wheel 52, driven wheel 54, and the drive roller 60 all rotate in the same direction. For example, in embodiments, where the drive wheel 52 and driven wheel are teethed gears, both the drive wheel 52 and the driven wheel 54 can rotate in the same direction. In other embodiments, the drive wheel 52 may rotate in a different direction from the driven wheel 54, such as in an opposite direction. For example, in embodiments where the driven wheel 54 rotates in a clockwise motion the drive wheel 52, in turn, rotates in a counterclockwise motion.
Referring now to
As shown in
As shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
Accordingly, the drive roller 60, drive wheel 52, and driven wheel 54 can each be configured such that a certain number of rotations of the drive roller 60 or drive wheel 52 correspond to a selected amount of sheet material 12. For example, in certain embodiments, the drive roller 60 and the drive wheel 52 are configured to complete one or more 360° rotations in order to dispense a desired amount of sheet material. In some embodiments, the drive wheel 52 and the drive roller 60 can be configured to rotate multiple 360° rotations in order to dispense the desired amount of product. In such embodiments, the circumference of the drive roller is smaller than the desired sheet length. For many manual dispensers, the circumference of the drive roller must be equal to the desired sheet length. For example, to dispense a twelve-inch sheet length from other dispensers, the drive roller would require a twelve-inch circumference. However, the drive roller 60 of the present dispenser 10 is capable of having a circumference that is smaller than the desired sheet length. The present drive roller 60 is configured to complete multiple 360° rotations to dispense the desired amount of sheet material. As such, the present drive roller 60 does not require a circumference that is equal to the desired sheet length. In certain embodiments, the drive roller 60 has a circumference of from about 2.5 inches to about 4 inches, such as about 3.4 inches, such as about 3.82 inches. In some embodiments, the drive roller 60 has a diameter of from about 0.5 inches to about 1.5 inches, such as about 0.80 inches, such as about 1.30 inches.
The dispenser 10 can be configured such that as the user grabs a tail of sheet material from the dispenser 10, the driven wheel 54 is capable of rotating a specific amount corresponding to a desired amount of sheet material before being stopped by the stop member 70. For example, in order to dispense a twelve-inch sheet of material 12, the driven wheel 54 can be configured such that each 90° rotation of the driven wheel 54 corresponds to a three-inch portion of sheet material 12. In such an embodiment, the user grabs a three-inch hanging tail of material and begins to remove the sheet material, which rotates the drive roller 60, thus turning both the drive wheel 52 and the driven wheel 54. The driven wheel 54 can rotate 270° to dispense a nine-inch portion of sheet material, which including the three-inch tail, equals a twelve-inch sheet.
Further, the drive wheel 52 and the drive roller 60 can be configured to complete one or more full rotations in order to dispense the desired amount of sheet material. For example, the drive wheel 52 and the drive roller 60 can complete two or more 360° rotations, such as three or more 360° rotations, such as four or more 360° rotations. Once the drive wheel 52 and the drive roller 60 have completed the desired amount of rotations corresponding to the selected amount of sheet material, the stop member 70 engages the second end 84 of the stop release member 80.
These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged both in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention so further described in such appended claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2020/034695 | 5/27/2020 | WO |