WO2013017780A1 - Apparatus for dispensing wiping material with automatic cutting device incorporating the ability to select formats - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus for dispensing wiping material with an automatic cutting device incorporating the ability to select formats of the type comprising a casing (1) with a hinged lid (2), said casing housing a module (M) which may or may not directly incorporate the roll (B) of material between the endplates (3) of the module, and a drum (4), a press roller (5), a turn roller (6), a transmission belt (7) between the drum and the turn roller (6) and a blade holder (8), is characterized in that it comprises a U‑section thrusting and loading member (9) with a horizontal part (9a) comprising a bearing plane (9b) and lateral arms (9c) articulated from the outside to the endplates (3) of the module, and in that the underside part of the casing has a central cutout allowing the thrusting and loading member to move angularly back and forth in relation to the module, and in that it comprises a set of mechanisms that allow the format of the strip of material to be selected, this set being arranged on the same side of the apparatus from one of the endplates (3) of the module, with part of the mechanism on the outside of said endplate (3) in relation to the module and another part between the interior part of said endplate (3) and the drum (4), action or inaction on the thrusting and loading member (9) allowing these mechanisms selectively to dispense a strip of material in one format or in two or "n" formats.

Description

 APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING WIPING MATERIAL

WITH AUTOMATIC CUTTING DEVICE INCLUDING FORMAT SELECTION CAPACITY

The invention relates to the technical sector of dispensing machines with automatic cutting of wiping paper-type wiping materials for towel, toilet paper, wiping and cleaning applications in general.

The Applicant has developed many devices of this type which usually include a housing, a cover, a cover hinged to the housing and a module snapping on the housing and receiving a drum with integrated cutting blade. Said blade is likely to come out of the operating drum during the pulling of the web of material by the user through means of launching and returning the drum. The lateral flanges of the module are arranged to support the coil of material which comes either in direct support on the drum according to the teaching of French Patent 2,322,215 or in a plane above without contact therewith as described in the patent French Patent 2,799,946. In this embodiment, a pressure roller is mounted between the lateral flanges of the module while resting on the drum and ensures pressure of the strip of material at a given location in addition to a second defined pressure zone. to the cutting area of the material web at the drum. Alternatively, the reel of material may be fixed on the housing which is then arranged with appropriate receiver flanges.

According to French Patent 2,828,084 of the Applicant, the apparatus is described with a base housing and the reception of said module. He is known also to have under the drum a return roller fixed in the lower part of the flanges of the module. The return roller and the drum and the blade holder are arranged in their middle with a recess forming a circular groove allowing the positioning of a transmission belt. This belt is essentially to guide the passage of the strip of material when it leaves the device.

In some cases, it is also possible to use a push and load bar which is used to set up the reel of material and insert it between the drum and the upper pressure roller. This push and load bar is in principle used and reserved for the maintenance operator of this type of device when it is necessary to set up a reel of material, the previous reel being used or being exhausted. . In the latter case, this coil of material in depletion phase is moved to the rear of the module which is arranged with a receptacle for its reception while the new coil positioned between the flanges can be used. In this implementation of the apparatus, the two coils, the new one and the one in the depletion phase, are unwound simultaneously until the coil in question is exhausted. This occurs in practice on a few lengths of material formats to be cut. The push and load bar must therefore be able to ensure the introduction of the two thicknesses of material from the two coils when loading the new coil. The problem lies in the fact that the push bar as the device is currently marketed is accessible to the user. Thus, it was found that it could be actuated successively several times by the user resulting in a material jam inside the dispensing device because the material is no longer tensioned. after the first revolution of rotation of the drum to obtain a format of wiping material. The apparatus is in fact generally designed to deliver only one format of wiping material. Thus, by wanting to facilitate the work of maintenance operators, by having an accessible push and load bar disposed at the front and the center of the device in its lower part, indirectly causes misuse of the device. Indeed, users are not necessarily aware of the exclusive use of the push and load bar for this function and in practice they try to obtain strips of material in a larger format. In practice, for them, the support on the push and load bar has the advantage of obtaining a distribution of wiping material over a greater length of formats. The Applicant's approach was therefore to reflect and seek a solution that obviates this drawback.

At the same time, the Applicant has already had to take an interest in and arrange an automatic or semiautomatic wiper material dispenser with the introduction of a format selector device. In practice, solutions have been proposed by the Applicant described in patents FR 2 867 960, EP 1 740 079. These solutions call for the implementation of complex mechanisms to ensure this functionality. For example, in the patent FR 2 867 960, the device implements a plurality of gears which according to their respective position controlled by a selector device allow the distribution of wiping material in a single format or double format. According to patent EP 1 740 079, there is provided a cam mechanism with a rack and pinion assembly which remains complex to implement. Since the general concept of this type of distributing apparatus is to distribute a material format whose length corresponds to a rotation revolution of the drum, the implementation of the format selection implies for a double format the distribution of a strip of material unwound on two turns in dodging the blade exit at the end of the first turn to avoid cutting the material strip. The aforementioned patents of the Applicant thus describe specific means for this purpose with particular cams, gears and pinions which make it possible to modify the trajectory of the blade holder so as not to ensure the cut after the first revolution of rotation of the drum and thus to achieve obtaining a distribution of a strip of material in double format. It is therefore necessary to refer to these patents to assess their implementation.

However, in any case, the selection of formats is only limited to a simple format or a double format. It is usually selected by the only maintenance operator who defines the conditions of use of the device.

Furthermore, the implementation of the selector device is completely independent of the use of a push bar and loading, the two functions being independent and separate. Moreover, the wipe material dispensing apparatus corresponding to the various patents of the Applicant, and licensed worldwide, never used these two functions simultaneously because the devices designed and marketed were unsuitable to meet this dual need.

From the problematic posed at the origin of the invention, the Applicant's approach was therefore to reconsider the operation of the push bar to avoid the stuffing effect of the material by allowing then unexpectedly the implementation of a variation of format of the band of distributed material.

The solution provided responds perfectly to this need not to block the dispensing device in operation, but goes further by allowing the distribution of the strip of material not only in single format, but also in double format and in a new and unexpected way for the distribution of "n" formats and this by the intervention of the user on the push and load bar. This situation and result are totally new, no distributor of wiping material on the market assuring this ability of infinite selection of formats of the strip of material. The Applicant has over forty years of expertise in automatic and semiautomatic wiping material dispensing apparatuses and has never been aware of or developed to the present invention such automatic cutter having such a capacity to dispense 'n' formats without intermediate cut.

The solution provided by the Applicant results from a very original implementation of the mechanisms ensuring the function of push bar and loading and also selection of formats.

According to a first feature, the wiper material dispenser with automatic cutting device incorporating a format selection capacity of the type comprising a housing with a hinged lid, said housing receiving a module integrating or not directly the reel of material between the flanges of the module, and a drum, a pressure roller, a return roller, a transmission belt between the drum and the return roller and a blade holder, is remarkable in that it comprises a U-shaped pushing and loading member with a horizontal part comprising a support plane and lateral arms arranged hinged externally on the flanges of the module, and in that the part of the underside of the casing has a central cut-out allowing angular displacement from front to rear of the thrust and load member relative to the module, and in that it comprises a set of mechanisms allowing the selection of the format of the strip of material disposed on the same side of the apparatus from one of the flanges of the module, with a portion of the mechanism outside said flange relative to the module and another portion between the inner portion of the said flange and the drum, the action or not on the pushing and loading member allowing the implementation by these mechanisms of a selective distribution of a strip of material on one or two formats or 'n' formats . These and other features will be apparent from the description.

For fixing the object of the invention illustrated in a nonlimiting manner to the figures of the drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a wiper material dispenser with automatic cut and including a push bar (mention 'PUSH'). FIG. 2 is a schematic profile view illustrating the apparatus with its main components and the representation of the strip of material to be cut. Figure 3 is a schematic side view of Figure 2, the cover being removed and the strip of material not shown In this representation, the push bar and loading is not requested.

FIG. 4 is a schematic profile view according to FIG. 3, the push bar being biased according to the arrow "F".

Figure 5 is a partial view illustrating the pushing mechanism and loading in non-solicitation situation and positioning means capable of acting on the cutting lever. This FIG. 5 is in correspondence but in more detail with FIG.

Figure 6 is a partial view complementary to Figure 5 in correspondence with Figure 4, the pushing mechanism and loading has been requested.

Figure 7 is a partial sectional view illustrating the drum and blade holder with a portion of the mechanism for the selection of format.

Figure 8 is a partial perspective view illustrating the rack mounted on the axis of the drum capable of cooperating with the cam associated with the blade holder. Figure 9 is a schematic view illustrating the positioning of the push bar and load relative to the module. FIGS. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 are diagrammatic views illustrating the various phases of positioning of the cam associated with the blade holder with respect to the rack mounted on the axis of the drum during the rotation of the drum in the situation of dispensing web of material in single format.

FIGS. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 are diagrammatic views illustrating the various phases of positioning of the cam associated with the blade holder with respect to the rack mounted on the axis of the drum during the rotation of the drum in dispensing situation of material web in double format or "n" format.

In order to make the object of the invention more concrete, it is now described in a nonlimiting manner illustrated in the figures of the drawings.

The dispensing apparatus for automatically cutting wiping material is referenced as a whole by (A).

 It comprises in known manner a housing (1) with a hinged lid (2), said housing receiving a module (M) which may or may not integrate the material coil (B) disposed between the flanges (3) of the module, or by compared to flanges formed on the housing. The drum is referenced by (4), the presser roller by (5), the return roller by (6), the transmission belt (7) between the drum and the return roller by (6), the blade holder by (8). The drum, the pressure roller, the return roller are mounted on axes of rotation disposed between the flanges of the module.

 The description of the aforementioned means is established in a simplified manner being known from the various prior patents of the Applicant.

According to the invention, the module is designed and arranged to receive a pushing and loading member (9). This push and loading is established in a configuration in 'U' with a horizontal part (9a) which has in its middle a support plane (9b) (PUSH) constituting the zone of pushing by the operator and the user. The horizontal portion (9a) is extended at its ends by two arms (9c) arranged substantially vertically from the outside of the flanges of the module and which are mounted articulated on pins (10) connecting the flanges and said arms. The bottom portion of the casing has a central cutout allowing the angular displacement of the front to the rear of the thrust and loading member to a sufficient amplitude to ensure the operation of the mechanisms described below ensuring the choice of format of distribution of the web of material. The pushing and loading member has on one of its arms a point of attachment of a resilient return means of the spring type (11) whose other end is fixed to the front part of the flange of the facing module. . The forward and backward movement of the thrust and loading member is therefore effected with the temporary tensioning by extension of the abovementioned return means.

The set of mechanisms allowing the selection of the distributed material web format is placed on the same side of the apparatus and more particularly of one of the flanges (3) of the module respectively, for a part outside this flange. relative to the module, and for another part between the inner face of said flange and the drum. More specifically, the flange (3) considered receives in its front portion a profiled guide (12) fixed position and whose outer portion is substantially curvilinear being disposed partially around the end zone of the drum. Said guide (12) is fixed from the outer face of the flange (3) by fastening means (13). The profiled guide (12) is thus disposed on either side of the flange (3) facing. This guide (12) has in its upper rear side drum an extension tab (12a) of curvilinear shape providing a guiding function. On this guide is arranged a stirrup (14) in a 'U' configuration, being articulated with respect to said guide (12). This stirrup (14) is arranged on the front part of the guide by presenting on the outside of the flange (3) a wing (14a) of curvilinear shape, the end of which is raised upwards, and on the other side facing the drum, a tab (14b) curvilinear, but oriented in the opposite direction. This stirrup (14) is pivotable relative to the guide (12) and this against an elastic return means (16) whose ends (16a) (16b) are respectively fixed to the lower part of the guide and on the yoke wing (14a). The curvilinear end of the wing (14a) is capable of constituting a plane of support for a control member (17) arranged from the corresponding lateral arm of the thrusting and loading member (9) as well as it will be specified later. The receiving drum of the cutting blade holder (8) receives at its free end, on the guide side, a pinion (18) which thus comes out of the outer flange (3) of the module. The control member (17) is mounted on the pivot axis (10) of the pushing and loading member. In its front part, this member (17) has a rack-like shape (17a) which is capable of meshing with the aforementioned pinion (18). The rack form (17a) advantageously comprises six teeth, the upper tooth being in contact and resting with the curvilinear wing (14a) formed on the yoke (14) in the normal situation of dispensing a simple format of material. This support is provided when the pushing and loading member (9) is not solicited. The lower part of the control member (17) has at the front a heel (17b) abutting against an overhanging protruding shape (3c) arranged facing the flange (3). The first part of the mechanism disposed on the outside of the flange (3) has thus been described.

 It is therefore appropriate to describe the second part of the mechanism disposed on the inside of the flange (3) facing the drum (4).

Firstly, and as shown in FIG. 8, a profiled support piece (19) is arranged on the flange (3). This one presents in its part central recessed form (19a) forming a slot allowing its engagement on the axis of the drum (4). The support member has a plate (19b) of circular sector configuration and having outer side two fixing notches (19e) on the flange (3) arranged with corresponding receiving openings. The support member (19) further has a rack profile (19c) including five teeth and extending by a rectilinear portion (19d). This support piece is fixed on the flange so that the positioning of its rack profile (19c) is always the same.

 The drum, as shown in FIG. 7, internally has a cut along its entire length to allow positioning and tilting of the cutting blade holder during the various movements generated by the rotation of the drum during the dispensing of a strip of material. wiping. The blade holder (8) is arranged in a very specific manner in the context of the implementation of the invention. It comprises first of all along its length an attached strip (8a) of elastomeric material, for example, capable of constituting a support plane of the strip of material. The blade holder is extended at its end opposite the aforementioned mechanisms with a curvilinear ramp profile (8b) established on an angular amplitude of approximately 15 to 30 ° and being arranged according to the invention in the same plane as the tab (14b ) curvilinear formed on the bracket (14) to cooperate with the latter in some phase of operation of the apparatus. The blade holder then has a cam shape (8c) with a plurality of teeth (8d), this cam shape being attached to the blade holder and being closely connected with the path thereof.

In known manner, a ratchet piece is mounted on the axis of the pressure roller, this pawl being serrated with several teeth and acting on fixed notches formed on the lateral side of the drum to allow the positioning of said drum and, where appropriate, its braking. It is therefore appropriate to describe the two operating situations of the dispensing apparatus with, first of all, a distribution of single-format material webs, and then in a second time with a double or an 'n' format.

 In the first implementation, reference is made to FIGS. 3, 5, 10 to 17 which illustrate the interaction of the various means of the mechanism on the outer side of the flange (3) and on the inside of the flange (3) facing the drum (4). ). In this configuration, the pushing and loading member (9) is not biased so that a simple material strip format is dispensed. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the control member (17) remains in the support position and lifting the stirrup (14). The curvilinear lug (14b) is not supported on the ramp profile (8b) associated with the blade holder. There is therefore no tilting of the blade holder in its movement relative to the rotation of the drum. Referring to FIGS. 10 to 17, the different successive positions of the cam (8c) associated with the blade holder (8) relative to the support member (19) and the meshing situations of the cam (8c) are identified. with the rack part (19c) of the support piece (19). The movements of the cutting blade in the different situations are also shown. We see in particular the progressive movement of the blade holder and the cam (8c) associated therewith. Figures 10 and 17 are identical corresponding to the stop positions in the initial phase of rotation of the drum and in the final phase with a distribution of a material strip format.

In the second implementation, reference is made to FIGS. 4, 6, 18 to 25 which illustrate the interaction of the different mechanisms during the loading of the thrust and loading member (9). When the user acts on the front support portion (9b) of the pushing and loading member, it causes the rearward tilting of the latter. This results in the rearward pivoting of the control member (17) and thus meshing between the pinion (18) and the rack portion (17a) of said member (17). The maximum thrust towards the rear of the thrust and loading member (9) releases the caliper (14) from the exhaust of the rack portion (17a) of the control member (17) by relative to the curvilinear wing (14a) of the stirrup (14). This allows the elastic return of the stirrup (14) under the effect of expansion of its spring (16) associated with the flange (3). The tilting of the stirrup causes the contact of its tab (14b) on the ramp portion (8a) formed at the end of the blade holder. Referring to FIGS. 18 to 25, concerning the distribution of a strip of wiping material according to a double format or 'n' formats, it is distinguished that the action on the pushing and loading member (9) results in the tilting of the blade holder and the teeth of the blade go down into a housing arranged in the drum. The cam (8c) bypasses the notched portion (19c) rack of the support piece, which does not allow the cutting of the material strip at each drum revolution. There is no meshing. In other words, there is no blade output and therefore no cut. Repeated pushing action on the pushing and loading member (9) causes the web of material to be dispensed according to formats. The advantages are apparent from the invention and in particular, it emphasizes the simplicity of the mechanism and the unexpected achievement of a wipe material strip distribution according to the needs of the user without being obliged to cut the strip material in a single format.

In this implementation, the push and load member is then used not only by the operator in maintenance, but also by the user. In this implementation, another advantage lies in the fact that the push and control member no longer participate in the cutting of the web of material and acts as a single function of scrolling the tape in one or n formats, which gives it great reliability.

Claims

R E V E N D I C A T IO N S -1- Apparatus dispensing wiper material with automatic cutting device incorporating a format selection capacity comprising a housing (1) with a cover (2) hinged, said housing receiving a module (M) integrating or not directly the coil of material (B) between the flanges (3) of the module, and a drum (4) receiving a cutting blade holder, a pressure roller (5), a return roller (6), a belt of transmission (7) between the drum and the return roller (6) and a blade holder (8), said receiving drum of the cutting blade holder (8) receiving at its free end, the guide side, a pinion (18) which comes external overflow flange (3) of the module, the control member (17) being mounted on the pivot axis (10) of the pushing and loading member, which has in its front part a rack form (17a) which is capable of meshing with said pinion (18), characterized in that it comprises a body of e thrust and loading (9) for the introduction of a reel of material by inserting it between the drum and the upper pressure roller, said member (9) being profiled in 'U' with a horizontal part (9a) comprising a support plane (9b) and lateral arms (9c) arranged hinged externally on the flanges (3) of the module, and in that the bottom portion of the housing has a central cut-out allowing the angular displacement of the front to the rear of the thrust member and load relative to the module, and in that it comprises a set of mechanisms for selecting the format of the strip of material disposed on the same side of the device from one of the flanges (3) of the module, with a first part of mechanisms outside said flange (3) relative to the module and comprising a guide (12), a stirrup (14), a pinion (18), a control member (17) and a second portion of mechanisms between the inner portion said flange (3) and the drum (4), and including a profiled support piece (19), and in that the action or not on the pushing and loading member (9) allows on the one hand the establishment of a coil of material by inserting it between the upper pressure roller and the drum and secondly the implementation by said mechanisms of a selective distribution of a strip of material on one or two formats or 'n' formats. -2- Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the flange (3) receives in its front portion a fixed position guide (12) whose outer portion is curvilinear being arranged partially around the end zone of the drum , said guide being fixed to the flange (3) being disposed on either side thereof, and in that the guide (12) has in its upper rear side drum a lug in extension (12a) of curvilinear shape providing a guiding function, and in that the stirrup (14) in 'U' configuration is articulated with respect to the guide (12). -3- Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the yoke (14) is disposed on the front portion of the guide having an outer side of the flange (3) a flange (14a) of curvilinear shape whose end is raised from above, and on the other side oriented drum a tab (14b) oriented in opposite direction, said stirrup being pivotally mounted against an elastic return means (16). -4- Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the curvilinear end of the wing (14a) constitutes a bearing plane to a control member (17) disposed from the corresponding lateral arm of the body of thrust and loading (9). -5- Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the receiving drum of the cutting blade holder receives at its free end guide side (12) a pinion (18) overflow outside the flange (3), and in that the a control member (17) pivotably mounted on the pivot axis (10) of the thrust and loading member has a rack-like shape (17a) meshing with the pinion (18) when the thrust member and loading is not requested. -6- Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the flange (3) receives a support piece (19 profiled having a recessed form (19a) forming a slot allowing its engagement on the axis of the drum (4), and what said support piece has a plate (19b) for fixing on the flange (3), and a rack profile (19c) extending by a rectilinear flange (19d). -7- Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the blade holder (8) comprises along its length an attached strip (8a) constituting a support plane of the strip of material and at its end facing the mechanisms with a curvilinear ramp profile (8b) arranged in the same plane as the tab (14b) formed on the stirrup to cooperate with the latter in certain operating phase, and in that the blade holder has a cam shape (8c) with a plurality of teeth (8d), the cam shape attached to the blade holder being connected with the path of the latter.