Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Unwinding – With drive mechanism
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-22
2001-05-01
Nguyen, John Q. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Unwinding
With drive mechanism
C242S560100, C242S560300, C242S564200, C242S566000, C226S191000, C226S196100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224010
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to dispenser apparatus for dispensing paper toweling from a roll of paper toweling and also to a method of dispensing paper toweling from a roll of paper toweling.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many dispenser systems are known in the prior art for dispensing paper toweling from rolls thereof. In some cases the paper toweling is comprised of individual paper towel segments separated by perforated tear lines, and in others the toweling has no perforated tear lines formed therein, the user severing or cutting individual sheets from the toweling by some suitable means incorporated in the dispenser.
Some commonly employed paper dispensers provide for removal of the toweling from the roll as a result of a consumer manually grasping the lead end of the toweling and pulling it through an opening in the towel dispenser cabinet. Employing such an approach, tabbing or breaking of pieces from the end most towel segment can and does occur, particularly when a consumer's hands are wet when grasping the towel, as is often the case. Such arrangements may require use of special “high strength” toweling and expensive mechanism to operate properly.
It is also well known to employ drive mechanisms in paper towel dispenser cabinets associated with levers, knobs or the like which are actuated by a consumer (usually by manual contact) to advance the toweling. These latter arrangements conventionally incorporate one or more rollers forming a compressive nip through which the toweling passes during the dispensing operation.
It is also well known in the prior art to provide mechanical arrangements of various types in paper towel dispenser cabinets to effect transfer from one roll of toweling to another when a roll is at or near depletion. Such mechanisms are often characterized by their relative complexity and expense. Furthermore, some of the transfer systems are not as reliable or effective as one might wish. The more complex prior art transfer mechanisms can be prone to misalignment and even failure after time.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to dispenser apparatus for dispensing paper toweling from a roll of paper toweling. The dispenser apparatus is characterized by its relative simplicity with regard to both structure and use as compared to many prior art devices. The invention will work with both conventional paper toweling rolls having cores and coreless rolls.
Furthermore, the dispenser apparatus disclosed and claimed herein provides for the dispensing of toweling from a roll of paper toweling which does not require the consumer to contact the toweling to cause toweling advancement and unwinding of the roll.
In the subject dispenser apparatus advancement of the paper toweling is accomplished by a feed roller rotated by mechanism operated by the consumer. However, advancement of the paper toweling by the feed roller is accomplished without the paper toweling having to pass through a compressive nip.
The dispenser apparatus of the present invention also incorporates a simple, reliable approach for transferring between one towel roll upon depletion thereof to another towel roll.
The dispenser apparatus disclosed and claimed herein is for dispensing paper toweling from a roll of paper toweling. The dispenser apparatus includes a dispenser housing defining a housing interior for accommodating a roll of paper toweling therein.
A paper toweling feed roller is rotatably mounted relative to the dispenser housing having an outer peripheral roller surface for frictionally engaging paper toweling extending from a roll of paper toweling within the housing interior and for transporting the paper toweling toward a location external of the dispenser housing upon rotation of the paper toweling feed roller. Transport is due to frictional engagement between the toweling and the rotating paper toweling feed roller.
Actuator means is operatively associated with the paper toweling feed roller to rotate the paper toweling feed roller.
The dispenser apparatus also includes paper toweling guide means having a curved guide surface spaced from the paper toweling feed roller and not engaging the paper toweling feed roller. The paper toweling guide means partially surrounds the outer peripheral roller surface of the paper toweling feed roller and the curved guide surface and the outer peripheral roller surface define a curved passageway with the paper toweling feed roller through which the paper toweling passes during transport thereof by the paper toweling feed roller from the roll of paper toweling toward the location external of the dispenser housing.
The present invention also includes a method of dispensing paper toweling from a roll of paper toweling.
The method includes the step of supporting a first roll of paper toweling at a first location spaced from a rotatable paper toweling feed roller.
A paper toweling guide member having a curved guide surface is positioned at a second location spaced from the rotatable paper toweling feed roller to form a curved passageway.
The method also includes the step of placing paper toweling from a first roll of paper toweling into contact with the rotatable paper toweling feed roller in the curved passageway.
The paper toweling feed roller is rotated while the paper toweling is in contact therewith to transport the paper toweling through the curved passageway while not compressing the paper toweling.
After a segment of the paper toweling has passed through the curved passageway, the segment is separated from the remainder of the paper toweling.
Other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1161456 (1915-11-01), Crowder
patent: 1860668 (1932-05-01), Gillet
patent: 3034692 (1962-05-01), Busch
patent: 3089659 (1963-05-01), Perrin
patent: 3294460 (1966-12-01), Wooster et al.
patent: 3853256 (1974-12-01), Shaffstall
patent: 4846412 (1989-07-01), Morand
patent: 5765719 (1998-06-01), Upham et al.
Lampe Thomas R.
Nguyen John Q.
Perrin Manufacturing Company
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