GB2085725A - Hand dryers - Google Patents

Abstract

A hand drying appliance comprises a cabinet containing a blower (4) arranged to supply a stream of air from an outlet opening (6), a timing device (8) arranged to cause operation of the blower (4) for a predetermined period of time, a magazine arranged in the cabinet to receive a stack of paper towels, a lower portion of the magazine at the front of the cabinet being of transparent or translucent material, and the magazine having at the bottom an opening through which towels may be withdrawn, a roller extending across the bottom opening of the magazine at least partly to support a stack of towels contained within the magazine, wherein the roller is caused to rotate when a towel is withdrawn through the opening, and a plurality of first electrical contact strips (13) is spaced around the periphery of an end portion of the roller, a plurality of second electrical contact strips (14) is arranged to bear on the said end portion of the roller and arranged to contact the first contact strips as the roller is rotated, the contact strips being connected to the timing device whereby rotation of the roller will initiate operation of the timing device. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hand dryers This invention relates to devices for the drying of the hands of the kind in which a towel of paper or the like can be withdrawn from a cabinet and which, in so doing, automatically initiates the flow of a stream of air from the cabinet.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved device of this character.

According to the invention, there is provided a hand drying appliance comprising a cabinet containing a blower arranged to supply a stream of air from an outlet opening, a timer arranged to cause operation of the blower for a predetermined period of time, a magazine arranged in the cabinet to receive a stack of paper towels, a lower portion of the magazine at the front of the cabinet being of transparent or translucent material and the magazine having at the bottom an opening through which towels may be withdrawn, a roller extending across the bottom opening of the magazine at least partly to support a stack of towels contained within the magazine the said roller being caused to rotate when a towel is withdrawn through the opening, a plurality of first electrical contact strips spaced around the periphery of an end portion of the roller, a plurality of second electrical contact strips arranged to bear on the said end portion of the roller and arranged to contact the first contact strips as the roller is rotated, the said contact strips being connected to the timer whereby rotation of the roller will initiate operation of the timer.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure lisa perspective view of a hand drying device Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views ofthe device with a cabinet thereof removed, and Figure 4 is a circuit diagram.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a hand drying appliance comprises a sheet metal cabinet 1 with a door 2 at the front to provide access to the interior of the cabinet. Below the door 2 at the front of the cabinet 1 is a panel 3 of transparent or translucent material such as a suitable plastics material. The interior of the cabinet has an enclosed compartment containing an electrical blower 4 arranged when switched on to deliver a stream of air through a duct 5 and an air outlet opening 6 at the front of the cabinet. An electrical heater 6 is provided to heat the stream of air produced by the blower. A switch 7 is provided to enable the heater to be rendered inoperable if desired, for example in the summer. Operation of the blower and of the heater is controlled by a timing device 8 so that the blower and the heater can be set in operation for a fixed period of time.A magazine compartment 9 in which a stack of towels, preferably of the C-fold variety can be arranged is provided above the blower 4.

A support roller 10 extends across the opening to provide a partial support for the stack of towels. Preferably, the roller 10 is arranged near the front of the cabinet so as to support the front of the stack and a ledge 11 is provided inside and at the rear of the cabinet to support the rear of the stack. The towels are inserted in the cabinet so that a portion of the lowermost towel protrudes through the opening at the bottom of the magazine 9 and the roller 10 is rotatable so that when the bottommost towel in the stack is withdrawn it will cause the roller to rotate.

In order to reduce the weight of the stack of towels bearing on the roller, a plurality of auxiliary supports (not shown) can be arranged inside the cabinet above the rear ledge 11 to carry the bulk of the weight of the stack of towels above these auxiliary supports. Thus, effectively the only weight bearing on the roller is the weight of the stack below the upper surface of the auxiliary support.

The roller 10 has an end portion which carries a bobbin 12 or the like of insulating material. A plural ity of contact strips 13 extend lengthwise of the bob bin 12 and at spaced intervals around the periphery of the bobbin. The bobbin 12 therefore acts as a commutator. A plurality of electrically-conductive leaf springs 14 which bear on the bobbin 12 so that they can contact the strips 13 on the bobbin when the roller is rotated. The contact springs 14 and contacts on the bobbin are electrically connected to the timer 8. Thus, when the roller 10 is rotated by with drawing a towel through the opening, contact bet ween the contacts 13 on the bobbin 12 and the leaf spring 14 is made after a small amount of rotation and such contact will initiate operation of the timer so that a stream of air is caused to flow through the outlet opening for a predetermined period of time.

If desired, a push button switch 15 can be provided to be accessible from the front of the cabinet to enable the operation of the timer to be initiated without withdrawing a towel from the magazine. A thermostat 16 is provided to switch off the electrical supply automatically if the temperature within the cabinet increases above a predetermined level.

1. A hand drying appliance comprising a cabinet containing a blower arranged to supply a stream of air from an outlet opening, a timer arranged to cause operation of the blower for a predetermined period of time, a magazine arranged in the cabinet to receive a stack of paper towels, a lower portion of the magazine at the front of the cabinet being of transparent or translucent material and the magazine having at the bottom an opening through which towels may be withdrawn, a roller extending across the bottom opening of the magazine at least partly to support a stack of towels contained within the magazine, the said roller being caused to rotate when a towel is withdrawn through the opening, a plurality of first electrical contact strips spaced around the periphery of an end portion of the roller, a plurality of second electrical contact strips arranged to bear on the said end portion of the roller and arranged to contact the first contact strips as the roller is rotated, the said contact strips being con nected to the timer whereby rotation of the roller will initiate operation of the timer.

2. A hand dryer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said first contact strips are arranged lengthwise on the surface of a bobbin of insulating material fitted

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Hand dryers This invention relates to devices for the drying of the hands of the kind in which a towel of paper or the like can be withdrawn from a cabinet and which, in so doing, automatically initiates the flow of a stream of air from the cabinet. An object of the invention is to provide an improved device of this character. According to the invention, there is provided a hand drying appliance comprising a cabinet containing a blower arranged to supply a stream of air from an outlet opening, a timer arranged to cause operation of the blower for a predetermined period of time, a magazine arranged in the cabinet to receive a stack of paper towels, a lower portion of the magazine at the front of the cabinet being of transparent or translucent material and the magazine having at the bottom an opening through which towels may be withdrawn, a roller extending across the bottom opening of the magazine at least partly to support a stack of towels contained within the magazine the said roller being caused to rotate when a towel is withdrawn through the opening, a plurality of first electrical contact strips spaced around the periphery of an end portion of the roller, a plurality of second electrical contact strips arranged to bear on the said end portion of the roller and arranged to contact the first contact strips as the roller is rotated, the said contact strips being connected to the timer whereby rotation of the roller will initiate operation of the timer. In the accompanying drawings: Figure lisa perspective view of a hand drying device Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views ofthe device with a cabinet thereof removed, and Figure 4 is a circuit diagram. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a hand drying appliance comprises a sheet metal cabinet 1 with a door 2 at the front to provide access to the interior of the cabinet. Below the door 2 at the front of the cabinet 1 is a panel 3 of transparent or translucent material such as a suitable plastics material. The interior of the cabinet has an enclosed compartment containing an electrical blower 4 arranged when switched on to deliver a stream of air through a duct 5 and an air outlet opening 6 at the front of the cabinet. An electrical heater 6 is provided to heat the stream of air produced by the blower. A switch 7 is provided to enable the heater to be rendered inoperable if desired, for example in the summer. Operation of the blower and of the heater is controlled by a timing device 8 so that the blower and the heater can be set in operation for a fixed period of time.A magazine compartment 9 in which a stack of towels, preferably of the C-fold variety can be arranged is provided above the blower 4. A support roller 10 extends across the opening to provide a partial support for the stack of towels. Preferably, the roller 10 is arranged near the front of the cabinet so as to support the front of the stack and a ledge 11 is provided inside and at the rear of the cabinet to support the rear of the stack. The towels are inserted in the cabinet so that a portion of the lowermost towel protrudes through the opening at the bottom of the magazine 9 and the roller 10 is rotatable so that when the bottommost towel in the stack is withdrawn it will cause the roller to rotate. In order to reduce the weight of the stack of towels bearing on the roller, a plurality of auxiliary supports (not shown) can be arranged inside the cabinet above the rear ledge 11 to carry the bulk of the weight of the stack of towels above these auxiliary supports. Thus, effectively the only weight bearing on the roller is the weight of the stack below the upper surface of the auxiliary support. The roller 10 has an end portion which carries a bobbin 12 or the like of insulating material. A plural ity of contact strips 13 extend lengthwise of the bob bin 12 and at spaced intervals around the periphery of the bobbin. The bobbin 12 therefore acts as a commutator. A plurality of electrically-conductive leaf springs 14 which bear on the bobbin 12 so that they can contact the strips 13 on the bobbin when the roller is rotated. The contact springs 14 and contacts on the bobbin are electrically connected to the timer 8. Thus, when the roller 10 is rotated by with drawing a towel through the opening, contact bet ween the contacts 13 on the bobbin 12 and the leaf spring 14 is made after a small amount of rotation and such contact will initiate operation of the timer so that a stream of air is caused to flow through the outlet opening for a predetermined period of time. If desired, a push button switch 15 can be provided to be accessible from the front of the cabinet to enable the operation of the timer to be initiated without withdrawing a towel from the magazine. A thermostat 16 is provided to switch off the electrical supply automatically if the temperature within the cabinet increases above a predetermined level. CLAIMS

1. A hand drying appliance comprising a cabinet containing a blower arranged to supply a stream of air from an outlet opening, a timer arranged to cause operation of the blower for a predetermined period of time, a magazine arranged in the cabinet to receive a stack of paper towels, a lower portion of the magazine at the front of the cabinet being of transparent or translucent material and the magazine having at the bottom an opening through which towels may be withdrawn, a roller extending across the bottom opening of the magazine at least partly to support a stack of towels contained within the magazine, the said roller being caused to rotate when a towel is withdrawn through the opening, a plurality of first electrical contact strips spaced around the periphery of an end portion of the roller, a plurality of second electrical contact strips arranged to bear on the said end portion of the roller and arranged to contact the first contact strips as the roller is rotated, the said contact strips being con nected to the timer whereby rotation of the roller will initiate operation of the timer.

2. A hand dryer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said first contact strips are arranged lengthwise on the surface of a bobbin of insulating material fitted on the end of the said roller and wherein the second contact strips are electrically-conductive leaf springs which bear on the bobbin.

3. A hand dryer as claimed in either preceding claim, wherein the blower is connected in an electrical system including a thermostat operable to switch off the electrical system if the temperature within the cabinet rises above a predetermined amount.

4. A hand dryer substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.