AUTOMATIC TOWEL DISPENSER

Abstract

A towel dispenser includes a housing for receiving toweling. The housing includes a main body; a loading door that is configured to rotate relative to the main body between a closed position and an open position; and a guide system that includes a first roller attached to the main body and a second roller attached to the loading door. The towel dispenser may include a motor for driving dispensing of the toweling from the housing and an associated sensor. The towel dispenser can be mounted to an underside of a cabinet. In an aspect, the front wall of the main body and a lip of the loading door collectively define a gap to which the guiding system guides the toweling and through which towels are dispensed when the loading door is in the closed position.

Claims

1-22. (canceled)

23. A sheet material dispenser for dispensing sheet material from a roll of sheet material, the sheet material dispenser comprising: a housing comprising: a main body; a loading door movable between a closed position and an open position relative to the main body; and a guide system comprising at least one roller, wherein the at least one roller is configured to operate to guide the sheet material during dispensing out of the main body; wherein the loading door comprises a loading door body defining an area within which the roll of sheet material is positioned when the roll of sheet material is received by the housing, wherein the main body and the loading door define a gap through which sheet material is dispensed when the loading door is in the closed position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The subject matter that is regarded as the invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a towel dispenser according to one embodiment of the present invention showing the dispenser in a typical application;

[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the towel dispenser shown in FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 3 is a side cut-away schematic view of a portion of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1 showing a first toweling path;

[0034] FIG. 4 is a side cut-away schematic view of a portion of the towel dispenser shown in FIG. 1 showing a second toweling path;

[0035] FIG. 5 is a perspective schematic view of a portion of the dispenser in an open position for receiving a roll of toweling; and

[0036] FIG. 6 is a partial perspective schematic view of a portion of the dispenser during operation of one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views, FIG. 1 shows a towel dispenser 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The dispenser 10 is for automatically dispensing conventional pre-perforated paper towels such that they can be separated at a perforation 16. Therefore the dispenser 10 can be mounted where consumer paper towels are typically made available such as under a household cabinet 18 and above a counter 19 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0038] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, dispenser 10 includes a housing 20 that includes a main body 22 and a loading door 24. The main body 22 includes side walls 26 and a front wall 28. The main body 22 defines a cavity 32 that is dimensioned to receive toweling 12. In this regard, tabs 34 are positioned within cavity 32 on opposite sides of cavity 32 for supporting the toweling 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the cavity 32 is dimensioned to receive the toweling 12 in the form of a roll 14 of standard consumer paper toweling but it should be appreciated that the toweling 12 could be accordion folded or the like. A perforation 16 (as shown in FIG. 6) is formed within the toweling 12 of roll 14. The perforation 16 is dimensioned to define an edge of an individual towel and to assist separation of individual towels from the roll 14. Roll 14 will typically contain many perforations 16. It should be appreciated that, alternatively, the toweling 12 could be accordion folded or otherwise provided. One edge of front wall 28 defines a separation device 36 for further assisting the separation of individual towels from roll 14.

[0039] As used herein, the term toweling refers to any sheet or web material that is suitable for wiping or drying. By way of example and not limitation, toweling 12 can be formed of paper, a synthetic material (such as a polymeric film), woven textile, or a non-woven textile material. As used herein, the term perforation refers to the point of separation between individual sheets within the toweling 12 and can be defined by a score, a opening or row of openings formed in toweling 12 such that an individual towel can be separated from the toweling 12.

[0040] The loading door 24 is pivotally attached to the main body 22 and movable between a closed first position and an open second position. When in the closed first position, the door 24 covers an opening 38 that is formed in the main body 22. When in the open second position, the door 24 provides for access to the cavity 32 through the opening 38. Position indicating sensors (not shown) are provided for generating a signal indicative of the position of the door 24. The door 24 includes a curved body 42, a lip 44, and two bracket walls 46 that are disposed generally perpendicularly to the lip 44 and at opposite sides thereof. As can be seen in FIG. 1, when the door 24 is in the closed first position, lip 44 of door 24 and the front wall 28 define a gap 45.

[0041] Referring now to FIG. 5, a guide system 50 is positioned within the housing 20 and includes a plurality of guiding members. The guide system 50 defines a path P as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The path P can contact the guide bar 53 as shown in FIG. 3 or can bypass the guide bar 53 as shown in FIG. 4. The guide system 50 is configured such that when the roll 14 of toweling 12 is positioned within the cavity 32, toweling 12 extends along path P through the gap 45.

[0042] A first set of guiding members are attached to the main body 22 and include a drive roller 52 and a guide bar 53. The drive roller 52 extends between side walls 26 and is positioned between cavity 32 and front wall 28. Guide bar 53 also extends between side walls 26 and is positioned between the drive roller 52 and the cavity 32. A second set of guiding members includes a rotatable sensor roller 54 and rotatable a pinch roller 58 that each extend between the two bracket walls 46 and are movable with the door 24.

[0043] Continuing to refer to FIG. 5, the sensor roller 54 is generally cylindrical and is connectable to a motor 62 via a transmission and that includes a gear 66 that is attached to the sensor roller 54. In the illustrated embodiment, the sensor roller 54 is configured to be driven such that it has a slower surface speed that the drive roller 52. In this manner, tension is created in toweling 12 between the sensor roller 54 and the drive roller 52 such that the perforation 16 can be expanded. Alternatively, the sensor roller 54 is not attached to the motor 62 but is configured to be rotated by contact with the toweling 12.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, the sensor roller 54 has a centrally formed circumferential ridge 55 disposed between two end sections 56. The end sections 56 have a first diameter and the ridge 55 has an second diameter. The second diameter of the ridge 55 is greater than the first diameter and is for expanding the perforation 16 as it passes over the sensor roller 54. Alternatively, the sensor roller 54 could have a consistent diameter across its full length and could be straight or bowed for expansion of the perforation 16.

[0045] As can be seen in FIG. 5, the sensor roller 54 is positioned generally parallel to the pinch roller 58. The pinch roller 58 is generally cylindrical and of uniform diameter and includes a plurality of sub-rollers 59. The pinch roller 58 is also connectable to motor 62 via the transmission.

[0046] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the motor 62 is mounted on one of the side walls 26 and is configured to be powered by a battery 68. The motor 62 is mechanically connected to the drive roller 52 by the transmission. In the illustrated embodiment, the transmission includes a plurality of gears. As used herein, the term gears refers to a device having a toothed surface that is configured to interlock with another toothed surface. Alternatively the transmission could include a belt and pulley, wheels, or other such power transmitting structure.

[0047] Referring now to FIG. 3, a perforation sensor 80 is included in the housing 20 and is configured to generate a signal indicative of the presence of a perforation 16 in the toweling 12, i.e., a perforation signal. In the illustrated embodiment, the perforation sensor 80 is a photo-electronic device and includes a light source 82 positioned on one side of path P and a photo-conductive receiver 84 positioned on an opposite side of path P and is operable to detect light from the light source 82. The sensor 80 is configured to generate a signal when it receives light from the light source 82. In this regard, light from the light source 82 is normally blocked by the toweling 12 between the light source 82 and the receiver 84. However, if a perforation 16 is positioned between the light source 82 and the receiver 84, then the light passes through the perforation 16 to the receiver 84 and the sensor 80 generates the perforation signal. In the illustrated embodiment, the light from the light source 82 is directed at a relatively small portion relative to the width of the toweling 12. In other embodiments the light source 82 and the receiver 84 can be configured such that the light source 82 emits light that is directed to more of the toweling 12, up to the full width of the toweling 12.

[0048] Alternatively, the light source 82 and the receiver 84 could be positioned on the same side of the path P and a reflector (not shown) positioned on the opposite side of the path P. It should also be appreciated that the sensor 80 can be based on other known technologies such as the following: The sensor 80 can be capacitive and use a capacitive coupled sensor. The sensor 80 can be based on mechanical detection and detect a perforation 16 through movement of a micro-switch that mechanically changes states when a perforation 16 moves past the sensor 80. The sensor 80 can be based on the hall effect and be configured to sense a marker on the toweling 12 such as a metal flag. The sensor 80 could be configured to detect a perforation 16 based on a change in radio frequency.

[0049] A proximity sensor 92 is mounted on main body 22 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The proximity sensor 92 is configured to generate a signal that is indicative of the presence of a hand or other object. An alternative on switch 94 is positioned on the housing 20 and is operable to close an electrical circuit. An emergency off switch 96 is positioned on the housing 20 and is operable to close an electrical circuit.

[0050] A controller 98 is mounted within the housing 20, as shown in FIG. 3, and is electrically connected to the perforation sensor 80, the motor 62, the battery 68, the emergency off switch 96, the proximity sensor 92, the position indicating sensors of the loading door 24, and the on switch 94. The controller 98 is configured to activate the motor 62, based on a signal from the proximity sensor 92 or the off switch 96 and to deactivate the motor 62 after the perforation signal is generated by perforation sensor 80. In the illustrated embodiment, the controller 98 is configured to deactivate the motor 62 a predetermined time after the perforation signal is generated such that the perforation 16 is positioned near the separation device 36. The controller 98 is also configured to activate the motor 62 when the on switch 94 is closed and to deactivate the motor 62 when the emergency off switch 96 is closed.

[0051] The present invention can be better understood with respect to the operation of the dispenser 10 as follows. Prior to dispensing towels, the roll 14 is placed within the housing 20 and a length of the toweling 12 extending from roll 14 is threaded along path P so that the toweling 12 extends from roll 14 through gap 45. Dispensing of a towel is initiated by moving an object such as a person's hand such that it is detected by the proximity sensor 92. The controller 98 activates the motor 62 in response to a signal generated by the proximity sensor 92 and toweling 12 is dispensed through gap 45. When a perforation 16 is detected by the perforation sensor 80, it generates the perforation signal that is then received by the controller 98. The controller 98 deactivates the motor 62 after the perforation 16 has passed through the gap 45. In this regard, the perforation 16 is positioned outside of the housing 20 and a towel can easily be removed by tearing the toweling 12 at the perforation 16 either free from separation device 36 or by engaging separation device 36 with the toweling at the perforation 16.

[0052] Referring now to the detection of perforation 16 by the perforation sensor 80, as can be seen in FIG. 6, each opening of the perforation 16 has a first diameter D prior to reaching the sensor roller 54. In the illustrated embodiment, each opening of the perforation 16 is expanded to have a second diameter D2 between the sensor roller 54 and the drive roller 52. Each opening of the perforation 16 is further expanded to have a third diameter D3 if the opening passes over or near ridge 55 of the sensor roller 54. The third diameter D3 is greater than the second diameter D2 which is greater than the first diameter Dl. Alternatively, the sensor roller 54 and the drive roller 52 are not configured to expand the openings of the perforation 16 prior to detection of the perforation 16 by the perforation sensor 80. In this alternative, perforation sensor 80 is configured to detect the perforation 16 when the opening 38 has the first diameter D1.

[0053] The present invention also provides a method for loading the towel dispenser 10. The loading door 24 is moved to its open second position such that opening 38 is accessible and the sensor roller 54 and the pinch roller 58 are moved clear of path P. The roll 14 is inserted into the housing 20 through the opening 38 and positioned on tabs 34. A length of toweling 12 is extended from the roll 14 across the loading door 24 such that it extends over the sensor roller 54 and the pinch roller 58. The loading door 24 is moved to the closed first position such that the sensor roller 54 and the pinch roller 58 are moved up into position to define path P. In this manner, the toweling 12 that was extended over the sensor roller 54 and the pinch roller 58 is threaded along path P. The pinch roller 58 traps the toweling 12 against the drive roller 52. In one embodiment, upon closing of the loading door 24, the controller 98 activates the motor 62 to dispense an individual towel as described above.

[0054] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a user interface (not shown) which is configured to provide for selection of a quantity of perforations to be detected before the motor 62 is deactivated. In this manner, the user can select the number of paper towels to be dispensed during one dispensing cycle. The number selected can be displayed on display 99 as can the number of towels actually dispensed per cycle.

[0055] The foregoing has described a towel dispenser 10 capable of dispensing toweling 12 until a perforation 16 within the toweling 12 is detected. While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation.