Paper-towel dispenser

Details Paper-towel dispenser Paper-towel dispenser

1996-12-13

2000-04-25

Noland, Kenneth

Article dispensing

Concurrent separation and distortion of flexible article

With casing or support

225 43, A47K 1024

Patent

active

060533552

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a paper-towel dispenser according to the preamble of Claim 1.
In known paper-towel dispensers of this generic type (DE-A 21 32 756 and DE-A 28 36 709), a roller, which may be made up of a plurality of disks, is fastened on a spindle body which is mounted in lateral walls of a housing in a rotatable manner. Fastened at one end of the spindle body is a lever which is connected to the housing by a spring. The spring may be a tension spring (DE-A 2132756) or a spiral spring (DE-A 2836709) and, in both cases, has the purpose of rotating the roller into a rest position after it has been rotated through a specific angle as a piece of paper is drawn off a roll. The angle of, for example, 720.degree. through which the roller can be rotated is determined by a gear mechanism which is made up of cam disks, levers and further components and also controls lifting movements of a severing device. In one of these paper-towel dispensers (DE-A 28 36 709), one end region of the spindle body has wound around it a plurality of coils of a helical spring which has one spring end fixed to the housing and, as a friction brake, is evidently intended to prevent a really quick rotation of the roller.
The object of the invention in the case of a paper-towel dispenser having a roller which determines the length of the web sections which can be drawn off a roll is to ensure in a simpler manner sufficiently accurate delimitation of the angle of rotation of the roller and restoring of the latter.
The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of Claim 1.
The spring end section formed according to the invention by spring coils resting against the spindle body in a closed-fitting manner can be produced and mounted particularly simply; the spring as a whole is simply pushed onto the spindle body, and there is no need for any further measures in order to make it possible for the spring coils wound around the spindle body in a close-fitting manner at one end section of the spring to act as a directional lock. This means that the spring can only rotate in one direction relative to the spindle body; in the opposite direction, in contrast, friction acts between the close-fitting spring coils and the spindle body such that said spring coils enclose the spindle body in an even more close-fitting manner and consequently prevent relative rotation between the spring and spindle body. The spring is coiled according to the invention such that the directional lock formed by the close-fitting spring coils executes a locking action in the direction of forwards rotation of the roller. Consequently, a forwards rotation of the roller results in the main part of the spring being subjected to stressing, in which case its spring coils come to fit more closely until, finally, they too rest against the spindle body in a close-fitting manner and consequently prevent any further forwards rotation of the roller.
As soon as the paper web which has drawn off around the roller, the latter having been driven by said paper web, has been torn off or cut off, the roller is rotated back by the spring. However, according to the invention, this does not mean that the rest position finally assumed by the roller is precisely predetermined; in contrast, the backwards rotation of the roller has the effect of making the spring coils temporarily widen beyond their original diameter. This applies both to the spring coils of the main part and to the spring coils which normally rest against the spindle body in a close-fitting manner, it then being possible for these to slide on the spindle body during backwards rotation of the roller. Consequently, the backwards rotation of the roller is not terminated abruptly, but smoothly, the spring being subjected only to moderate loading in all of its regions. As a result, there is no need for the spring to be of particularly sturdy dimensions in order for it to have a long service life.
The advantage of the further configuration of the invention described in Claim 2 is that the main part of the spring c

REFERENCES:
patent: 3128024 (1964-04-01), Downham

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Paper-towel dispenser does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Paper-towel dispenser, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Paper-towel dispenser will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-986633