DISPENSER INSERT FOR DISPENSING SHEET PRODUCTS

Abstract

A dispenser insert for being mounted in an existing cabinet, the dispenser insert including a frame configured to be mounted in the cabinet, a dispensing mechanism mounted to the frame, the dispensing mechanism including a magazine part for accommodating a stack of sheet products and a dispensing part for dispensing the sheet products, the magazine part having a refilling access at its bottom, wherein the dispensing part is at least translationally movable relative to the magazine part into a refilling position.

Claims

1. A dispenser insert for being mounted in an existing cabinet, the dispenser insert comprising: a frame configured to be mounted in the cabinet, a dispensing mechanism mounted to the frame, the dispensing mechanism comprising a magazine part for accommodating a stack of sheet products and a dispensing part for dispensing the sheet products, the magazine part having a refilling access at its bottom, wherein the dispensing part is translationally and rotationally movable relative to the magazine part into a refilling position.

2. The dispenser insert according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing part is rotatably mounted on a carriage, the carriage being translationally movable relative to the magazine part.

3. The dispenser insert according to claim 1, wherein an end of the magazine part opposite to the refilling access is rotatably attached to the frame.

4. The dispenser insert according to claim 3, wherein the frame has a guide slot and the dispensing part has a pin engaged with the guide slot, whereby the magazine part is rotated relative to the frame upon rotation of the dispensing part relative to the magazine part.

5. The dispenser insert according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing part comprises a guide configured to be supported on a slanted surface of the cabinet and to assist the translational and rotational movement of the dispensing part relative to the magazine part.

6. The dispenser insert according to claim 5, wherein the guide comprises a rotatable wheel.

7. The dispenser insert according to claim 1, wherein the magazine part comprises a body and a support configured to support the stack of sheet products, the support being translationally movable relative to the body upon translational movement of the dispensing part relative to the magazine part.

8. The dispenser insert according to claim 1, further comprising a holding mechanism configured to temporarily hold the dispensing part in the refilling position.

9. The dispenser insert according to claim 8, wherein the holding mechanism comprises a friction brake configured to inhibit the movement of the dispensing part upon movement into the refilling position, whereby the dispensing part is temporarily held in the refilling position.

10. The dispenser insert according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing part is arranged below the refilling access.

11. The dispenser insert according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser insert is configured for being mounted in a recessed cabinet as the existing cabinet.

12. A method for refilling a dispenser comprising a dispensing mechanism having a magazine part for accommodating a stack of sheet products and a dispensing part for dispensing the sheet products, the magazine part having a refilling access at its bottom, the method comprising the steps of: i) translationally moving the dispensing part relative to the magazine part in a first translational direction, ii) rotationally moving the dispensing part relative to the magazine part in a first rotational direction, iii) refilling the magazine part with the sheet products.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: iv) rotationally moving the dispensing part relative to the magazine part in a second rotational direction being opposite to the first rotational direction, v) translationally moving the dispensing part relative to the magazine part in a second translational direction being opposite to the first translational direction.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the translational and rotational movements of steps i) and ii) at least overlap.

15. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0080] FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a recessed dispenser cabinet.

[0081] FIG. 2 is a side view of an upper portion of the recessed dispenser cabinet of FIG. 1.

[0082] FIG. 3 is a perspective front view of a dispenser insert according to an embodiment mounted in the recessed cabinet of FIG. 1.

[0083] FIG. 4 is a side view of the dispenser insert of FIG. 3.

[0084] FIG. 5 is a side view of the dispenser insert of FIG. 3, wherein the dispensing part is in an upper position compared to the situation in FIG. 4.

[0085] FIG. 6 is a side view of the dispenser insert of FIG. 3, wherein the dispensing part is in the refilling position.

[0086] FIG. 7 is a perspective rear view of a part of the dispenser insert of FIG. 3.

[0087] FIG. 8 is a perspective front view of the dispenser insert of FIG. 3, wherein the dispensing part is in the refilling position.

[0088] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional top view of the friction brake of the dispenser insert of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PARTICULAR EMBODIMENT

[0089] Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in order to describe the disclosure using illustrative examples. Further modifications of certain individual features described in this context can be combined with other features of the described embodiments to form further embodiments of the disclosure.

[0090] Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements.

[0091] FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a recessed dispenser cabinet 2 in which the dispenser insert 1 of the present disclosure can be mounted. The recessed cabinet 2 comprises a first side wall 26, a second side wall 27 opposing the first side wall 26 and a rear wall 28 extending between the first side wall 26 and the second side wall 27. Moreover, the recessed cabinet 2 is provided with an abutting portion 29 which is configured to abut on the wall when the cabinet 2 is installed in the wall. The recessed cabinet 2 comprises a bottom wall 16 which is attached to the cabinet and in which a dispensing opening 17 is provided. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the recessed cabinet 2 further comprises a bin 18 which is for disposal of used sheet products.

[0092] FIG. 2 is a side view of an upper portion of the recessed dispenser cabinet 2 of FIG. 1. As seen from the side, the bottom wall 16 has a slanted or curved surface extending from a lower rear position of the cabinet 2 to an upper front position of the cabinet 2.

[0093] FIG. 3 is a perspective front view of the dispenser insert 1 according to the embodiment mounted in the recessed cabinet 2 of FIG. 1. The dispenser insert 1 comprises a frame 3 which is mounted in the cabinet 2 by means of a mounting structure 21 which is fastened to the rear edge of the dispensing opening 17 of the bottom wall 16 of the cabinet 2 by means of clips 22.

[0094] The dispenser insert 1 further comprises a dispensing mechanism mounted to the frame 3 wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a magazine part 4 for accommodating a stack of sheet products and a dispensing part 5 for dispensing the sheet products. In the embodiment, the frame 3 comprises left and right side walls to which the magazine part 4 and the dispensing part 5 are respectively mounted. The magazine part 4 comprises a front wall 23 configured to prevent the stacks of sheet products from tilting out of the magazine part 4. A refilling access 6 for refilling the stacks of sheet products into the magazine part 4 is located at the bottom of the magazine part 4. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the dispensing part 5 is arranged below the refilling access 6.

[0095] The dispensing part 5 further comprises a handle 19 which enables a user to easily move the dispensing part 5 relative to the magazine part 4 into a refilling position.

[0096] FIG. 4 is a side view of the dispenser insert 1 of FIG. 3. As can be seen, the dispenser insert 1 is arranged completely within the recessed cabinet 2. As previously explained, the frame 3 of the dispenser insert 1 is mounted in the cabinet 2 by means of the mounting structure 21. As can be seen, a lower portion of the frame 3 is connected to the mounting structure 21 and, in turn, the mounting structure 21 is connected to the bottom wall 16 with clips 22. Moreover, the dispensing part 5 is closely arranged at the dispensing opening 17 defined in the bottom wall 16 of the cabinet 2. With this configuration, a protruding part of the leading sheet is easily graspable through the dispensing opening 17 by a user.

[0097] The dispensing part 5 further comprises a guide 10 which is configured to be supported on the slanted surface of the bottom wall 16 and to assist the translational and rotational movement of the dispensing part 5 relative to the magazine part 4. In the embodiment, the guide 10 comprises rotatable wheels 11 which are rotatably mounted on the dispensing part 5.

[0098] FIG. 5 is a side view of the dispenser insert 1 of FIG. 3, wherein the dispensing part 5 is in an upper position compared to the situation in FIG. 4. More specifically, in comparison to the position of the dispensing part 5 in FIG. 4, the dispensing part 5 in FIG. 5 has been moved relative to the magazine part 4 from a lower rear position in the cabinet 2 to an upper front position in the cabinet 2. This is possible because, according to the embodiment, the dispensing part 5 is translationally and rotationally movable relative to the magazine part 4.

[0099] More specifically, as more clearly shown in FIG. 7, the dispensing part 5 is rotatably mounted with its side surfaces 24 on a carriage 7, while the carriage 7 is translationally mounted on the magazine part 4. The movement of the dispensing part 5 can be described by a combination of a translational movement of the dispensing part 5 relative to the magazine part 4 in an upward direction and an upwardly rotational movement of the dispensing part 5 relative to the magazine part 4 about an axis of rotation R, i.e. away from the rear wall of the cabinet 2.

[0100] According to the embodiment, this movement is assisted by the rotatable wheels 11. This is because when a user pulls the handle 19 in a front direction, the rotatable wheels 11 roll over the slanted surface of the bottom wall 16 of the cabinet 2, thereby automatically urging the dispensing part 5 in a front and upward direction. Without the provision of the rotatable wheels 11, a user would at first need to pull the handle 19 in a strictly upward direction in order to move the dispensing part 5 away from the bottom wall 16 and subsequently pull the handle 19 in a front direction in order to rotate the dispensing part 5 into the refilling position. This would require more attention from a user. Hence, with the configuration according to the embodiment, the dispensing part 5 can be brought into the refilling position more easily.

[0101] FIG. 6 is a side view of the dispenser insert 1 of FIG. 3, wherein the dispensing part 5 is in the refilling position. As can be seen, in the refilling position, the magazine part 4 is pivoted out of the frame 3 toward the front direction such that the refilling access 6 is completely exposed from the bottom wall 16 of the cabinet 2.

[0102] Starting from the position of the dispensing part 5 shown in FIG. 5, the dispensing part 5 is brought into the refilling position by pulling the handle 19 further upwards. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the dispensing part 5 is rotatable relative to the magazine part 4 about the axis of rotation R which passes through the side surfaces 24 of the dispensing part 5. Furthermore, the dispensing part 5 comprises a pin 9 which is respectively arranged on each side surface 24 of the dispensing part 5 at a position which is located closer to a front edge of the side surface 24 than the position where the axis of rotation R passes through the side surface 24. In other words, the pin 9 is arranged eccentric from the axis of rotation R.

[0103] Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the pin 9 is engaged with a guide slot 8 which is formed in a front portion of the frame 3, respectively in both side walls of the frame 3. As a result, when the dispensing part 5 is rotationally moved relative to the magazine part about the axis of rotation R, since the pin 9 is eccentrically arranged on the dispensing part 5 and engaged with the slot 8 formed in the frame 3, the magazine part 4 is moved relative to the frame 3. Further, since the magazine part 4 is rotatably attached to the frame 3 at an end of the magazine part 4 opposite to the refilling access 6, i.e. at an upper rear end of the magazine part 4, the magazine part 4 is rotated or pivoted relative to the frame 3 upon rotation of the dispensing part 5 relative to the magazine part 4 into the refilling position.

[0104] In the refilling position of the dispensing part 5, which is also shown in FIG. 8 in a perspective front view of the dispenser insert 1, the dispensing part 5 is temporarily held in the refilling position by means of a holding mechanism 14 which, in the embodiment, comprises a friction brake 15. The friction brake 15 is respectively located at a position where the dispensing part 5 is connected via the carriage 7 to the magazine part 4.

[0105] The mechanism of the friction brake 15 is shown in the cross-sectional top view of the friction brake 15 in FIG. 9. In the embodiment, the dispensing part 5 is connected to the carriage 7 via a bushing 20. The bushing 20 may have an oval shape and be rotatably mounted on the carriage 7. When the dispensing part 5 is rotated relative to the magazine part 4, the bushing 20 is rotated relative to the carriage 7. The bushing 20 is mounted on the carriage 7 such that end portions of the bushing 20 which, due to the oval shape of the bushing 20, are located further away from the center of the bushing 20 than other end portions thereof, press against respective movable portions 25 of the carriage 7. In turn, the movable portions 25 of the carriage 7 press against respective portions of the magazine part 4 which, in turn, inhibits the movement of the dispensing part 5 upon movement into the refilling position. Also the translational movement of the carriage 7 relative to the magazine part 4 is inhibited by this mechanism of the friction brake 15.

[0106] In the refilling position, the force exerted by the friction brake 15 acting on the dispensing part 5 is sufficiently strong such that the dispensing part 5 can be temporarily held in the refilling position. Hence, a user does not need to hold the dispensing part 5 with his hands while refilling the magazine part 4 with stacks of sheet products.

[0107] As shown in FIG. 8, the magazine part 4 comprises a body 12 and supports 13 configured to support the stack of sheet products. The supports 13 are respectively provided at a lower end portion of the side wall of the magazine part 4. In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the supports 13 are respectively connected to the carriage 7. Therefore, the supports 13 are translationally movable relative to the body 12 upon translational movement of the dispensing part 5 relative to the magazine part 4. When the dispensing part 5 is moved relative to the magazine part 4 into the refilling position, initially, the dispensing part 5 is translationally moved in an upward direction. Therefore, the supports 13 are translationally moved in an upward direction as well. As a result, the distance in the up-down direction between the supports 13 and a top end of the magazine part 4 is shortened, thereby reducing the interior space of the magazine part 4 in this direction. Hence, when the dispensing part 5 is in the refilling position, the interior space of the magazine part 4 is reduced, thereby allowing only a reduced number of sheet products to be refilled in the magazine part compared to a situation in which the supports 13 are not positioned in an upper position.

[0108] After refilling the magazine part 4, when the dispensing part 5 is moved back into the recessed cabinet 2, the supports 13 are translationally moved relative to the body 12 in a lower position, thereby enlarging the interior space in the magazine part 4 in the up-down direction. As a result, even if the stacks of sheet products are densely packed during refilling of the magazine part 4, when the supports 13 return in the lower position upon moving the dispensing part 5 back into the recessed cabinet 2, the interior space of the magazine part 4 is enlarged, which reduces the density of the packing of the stacks of sheet products. Accordingly, with this configuration, overfilling of the magazine part 4 with sheet products can be prevented.

[0109] Next, a method for refilling the dispenser insert 1 according to the embodiment will be described.

[0110] In the first step, the dispensing part 5 is translationally moved upward relative to the magazine part 4. In the second step, the dispensing part 5 is rotationally moved relative to the magazine part 4 in a front upward direction, i.e. away from the rear wall of the recessed cabinet 2. The movements of the first and the second step may also at least overlap, i.e. at least partially take place at the same time. In the third step, the magazine part 4 is refilled with stacks of sheet products. In the fourth step, the dispensing part 5 is rotationally moved relative to the magazine part 4 in a down rearward direction, i.e. toward the rear wall of the recessed cabinet 2. In the fifth step, the dispensing part 5 is translationally moved downward relative to the magazine part 4 until the rotatable wheels 11 touch the bottom wall 16 of the cabinet 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0111] 1 dispenser insert [0112] 2 existing cabinet [0113] 3 frame [0114] 4 magazine part [0115] 5 dispensing part [0116] 6 refilling access [0117] 7 carriage [0118] 8 guide slot [0119] 9 pin [0120] 10 guide [0121] 11 rotatable wheel [0122] 12 body [0123] 13 support [0124] 14 holding mechanism [0125] 15 friction brake [0126] 16 bottom wall [0127] 17 dispensing opening [0128] 18 bin [0129] 19 handle [0130] 20 bushing [0131] 21 mounting structure [0132] 22 clip [0133] 23 front wall (of the magazine part) [0134] 24 side surface (of the dispensing part) [0135] 25 movable portion (of the carriage) [0136] 26 first side wall (of the cabinet) [0137] 27 second side wall (of the cabinet) [0138] 28 rear wall (of the cabinet) [0139] 29 abutting portion (of the cabinet) [0140] R axis of rotation (rotation of the dispensing part relative to the magazine part)