US3198591A - Towel dispensing cabinet and control mechanism - Google Patents

Description

3, 1965 L. H. KIRKELL 3,198,591

TOWEL DISPENSING CABINET AND CONTROL MECHANISM Filed April 11, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 54 29 INVENTOR.

LEON H. K/RKELL fume. M

A Harneys 3, 1965 H. KIRKELL 3,198,591

TOWEL DISPENSING CABINET AND CONTROL MECHANISM Filed April 11, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LEON H. K/RKELL ifu m mu Attorneys United States Patent '0 3,198,591 TOWEL DISPENSING CABINET AND CONTROL MECHANISM Leon H. Kirkell, Blairsville, Pa, assignor to Blairsville Machine Products Company, Blairsville, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 272,434 7 Claims. (Cl. 312-38) The present invention relates to towel dispensing cabinets of the continuous type, wherein a measured length of toweling is initially exposed and as additional clean toweling is withdrawn, the used toweling is taken up upon a separate roll disposed within the cabinet.

More specifically, the present invention embodies a sturdy, simplified towel measuring and dispensing mechanism having a single pivotally mounted member actuated by a toweling withdrawal movement to measure the length of toweling withdrawn, restrict Withdrawal of soiled toweling and actuate a timing device to prevent rapid successive withdrawals of toweling.

The towel measuring and dispensing mecahnism is assembled as a unit for mounting within and removing from the cabinet. The cabinet has slotted portions permitting mounting and removal of the mechanism by simple vertical movements and the cabinet also provides a fixed member cooperating with a movable mechanism member to lock the mechanism in place, against accidential displacement.

Prior art cabinets and towel dispensing and measuring mechanism have tended to become quite complicated due to the number of moving parts thereof and due to wearing of the parts, ceased to operate or would jam and become inoperable due to the abuse to which they are frequently subjected.

One object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism of the type described which is actuated by withdrawal of a permissive length of toweling moving over the mechanism towel measuring roll.

Another object of the invention is to provide the sim plified strong towel dispensing mechanism with a readily adjustable timing mechanism which is actuated by withdrawal of a length of toweling and after passage of a preselected time interval releases the mechanism for further withdrawal of toweling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, sturdy assembly of cabinet and towel dispensing mechanism, wherein the clean and soiled toweling are separately maintained within the cabinet.

These and other objects of the invention will be made apparent from the following description and the drawing forming a part of thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of the assembled cabinet and mechanism, with the near side wall of the cabinet removed to disclose the interior mechanism and toweling;

FIG. 2 shows a front elevation of the cabinet interior with the cabinet front wall removed;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the towel dispensing mechanism separated from the cabinet;

FIG. 4 shows a side elevation of the towel dispensing mechanism, positioned to permit withdrawal of a measured length of toweling and with the roll drive chain and sprockets removed;

FIG. 5 shows the mechanism of FIG. 4 at the end of the towel withdrawal movement and with the timing mechanism set for passage of a preselected time interval before another measured length of toweling may be withdrawn; 7

FIG. 6 shows a partial side elevation of the mechanism as positioned in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows a partial side elevation of the mechanism as positioned in FIG. 5both FIGS. 6 and 7 omitting the roller drive chain and sprockets for the sake of clarity.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the cabinet of FIGS. 1 and 2 is comprised of a separate rear wall 5 and a wrap around body portion providing a top wall 6 and side walls 7 and 8 which are secured to the rear wall 5 by overlapping flanges, not shown, suitably connected thereto as by welding. Between and extending below the lower edges of the side walls 7 and 8 is a generally U- shaped insert 9 providing the bottom wall 10 of the cabinet. arms offset outwardly and secured to the side walls 7 and 8. The lower edges of the side walls 7 and 8 are intumed and secured to the member, 9. Extending inwardly from rear wall 5 and longitudinally of bottom wall 10 is an opening 11 receiving the soiled toweling as herein after discussed. Pivotally mounted upon the bottom wall 10, at one side of opening 11, so as to extend across opening 11 towards rear wall 5 and inwardly of the cabinet is a member 12 serving to support a roll of clean toweling and to protect it from the incoming soiled toweling. The front of the cabinet is closed by a top member 13 pivotally mounted upon top wall 6 and bottom member 14 pivotally mounted upon bottom wall 10. Members 13 and 14 overly the cabinet side walls and terminate in spaced relation to each other providing a transverse open: ing 15 through which clean toweling is withdrawn.

Within the cabinet, upon the back wall 5 and extending downwardly from adjacent the top wall 6 is a means for detachbly mounting the towel dispensing mechanism within the cabinet. Such means comprise the angular members 16 and 17 secured to rear wall 5 adjacent each side wall. Each member 15 and 17 has a leg portion 16a, 17a attached to the rear wall, an upstanding leg portion 16b, 17b disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to the adjacent side wall and flanges 16c, 17c disposed towards the adjacent side wall. Each member 16 and 1'7 has adjacent each end thereof slots 16d and 17d through and and a portion of 16b and 171). Both 16b and 17b have slots 16e and 17e therein communicating with slots 16d and 17d. Extending transversely of rear wall 5 and between the lower ends of members 16 and 17 is an angular member 18 having a leg 18a secured to members 16, 17 and an upstanding leg 18b. A filler member 19 may be disposed beneath member leg 18a between members 16 and 17 so that the leg 18:: and filler may be welded to said rear wall 5. Suitable openings 20 in the back wall 5 receive fastening adjacent the rear portion of the side plates. Intermediate Patented Aug. 3, 1965 The insert 9 has the upper ends of its side.

a the front and rear portions of the side plates 21 and extending downwardly for a portion of the depth thereof are opposing slots 23.

The mechanism for measuring clean toweling withdrawal and take-up of soiled toweling includes two driven rollers commonly referred to as the measuring roller 24 and the take-up roller 25. Roller 24 has a length less than the spacing between plates 21 and has a shaft integral therewith provided with bearing extensions 26 journaled in suitable openings in plates 21 and extending therethrough. Roller is of similar length and has shaft extensions 27 journaled in plates 21 and extending therethrough. Adjacent the front edges of plates 21 are op posing slots 28 disposed between the plate front edges and the measuring roller shaft extension 26. A pinch roller 29 is mounted between plates 21 so as to have bearing engagement with measuring roller 24 and has shaft extensions 39 journaled in slots 28 for bodily movement therein towards and away from roller 24. A soiled toweling take-up roller 31 is disposed between plates 21 so as to have bearing engagement with take-up roller 25 and has shaft extensions 32 journaled in plate slots 23 for bodily movement therein towards and away from roller 25 to accommodate increase in diameter of the soiled toweling accumulating thereon. Exteriorly of one plate 21 the measuring and take-up roller shaft extensions 26 and 27 have secured thereto driving sprockets 33 and 34 which are connected by a suitable drive chain 35, FIG. 1. These sprockets and chain are spaced outwardly ofthe adjacent plate 21 providing space for mounting of a roller control mechanism adjacent plate 21 as now to be described.

The roller control mechanism stops forward rotation of the measuring roller after a preselected length of toweling has been withdrawn and prevents reverse rotation of the take-up roller to prevent withdrawal of soiled toweling therefrom. Such control mechanism preferably includes a timing mechanism providing a time interval before an additional length of toweling can be withdrawn.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 4 to 7 of the drawings, a lever member 36 is pivotally mounted at 27 adjacent one end thereof upon plate member 21 and extends forwardly across the ends of take-up roller 25 and measuring roller 24. Preferably lever as is a plate-like member narrower at its pivotally mounted end and wider at its opposite end. For convenience, lever 36 is mounted at one end upon take-up roller shaft extension 27 for movement relative to and independently thereof. However, lever 36 may be mounted upon plate 21 in any other suitable manner. The opposite end of lever member 36 is provided with vertically spaced stop surfaces 37 and 38 extending outwardly from the surface of the lever member. Since the end of lever member 36 extends past the measuring roller shaft extension 26, the member 36 has a suitable slotted opening 39 therein for receiving the said extension and for free movement relative thereto.

Mounted upon measuring roller shaft extension 26 for movement concurrent therewith is a camming member 40, having a plate-like central portion and two extensions 41 and 42 respectively for selective engagement with lever 36 stop surfaces 37 and 38. The member 40 has at one side thereof a cam shaped portion 43 extending between extensions 41 and 42 for selective displacement of lever 36 in one direction ,upon rotation of measuring roller 24. Lever 36 has attached thereto a tension spring 44 whose opposite end is connected with plate 21 above the lever 36, for normally maintaining the lever 36 in a position permiting withdrawal of clean toweling only.

Preferably the mechanism of FIGS. 4 to 7 includes a timing device whose function is to maintain lever 36 in a position to prevent rapid successive withdrawals of clean toweling. Any suitable timing device may be employed, preferably one adjustable to provide a variable time interval between clean toweling withdrawals. One such suitable device, now commercially available, is indicated generally at 45 and includes a housing 46 within which are mounted suitable gears, one of which 4-7 projects from the housing. Mounted upon the housing 46 and connected with the said gears, within the housing, is a lever member 48. Advancement of lever 48 in one direction retards the speed of rotation of gear 47 and advancement of the lever in the opposite direction permits faster rotation of gear 47, under a given force applied to gear 47. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the force applied to gear 4'? is from spring 44, placed under tension from movement of lever 36, and this spring acts through the member 4? (FIG. 5) mounted upon lever 36 stop surface 37. As a matter of convenience the spring 44 has one end attached to timer housing 45 at 50, but may be otherwise connected to plate 21 as desired.

Referring now to the method of assembly of the towel dispensing mechanism with the cabinet, threading a roll of clean toweling through the mechanism and removal of the roll of soiled toweling, as well as the mode of operation of the towel dispensing mechanism, reference is made first to FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings. The cabinet may be mounted upon any suitable support (not shown) by engaging the openings 20 (FIG. 1) of the cabinet rear wall 5 over suitable fasteners (not shown) secured to the said support. For this purpose doors 13 and 1d of the cabinet may be open. The mechanism of FIG. 4 may then be mounted within the cabinet by engaging portions 22 of each side plate 21 of the mecha nism with the slots 16d, 17d of members 16 and 17 upon the cabinet back wall 5 and then lowering the mechanism to engage the side plate, portions 22 with the slots 16c and 17e, whereby the mechanism will be held within the cabinet. During the above assembly movements tray 51 (FIG. 3) is withdrawn towards the front of the mechanism, and after assembly is moved inwardly to engage channel 52 of the tray with the outstanding leg 18b of member 18 to lock the mechanism in place.

A roll of clean toweling T as shown by dot and dash lines is mounted within the cabinet upon bottom member 1t and the outer end of the toweling is carried upwardly for insertion. between the measuring roll 24 and the pinch roll 29, then moved over the top of the pinch roll and outwardly of the cabinet where it will protrude. through opening 15 (FIG. 1) after cabinet doors 13 and 14; are closed. Theend of clean toweling is then drawn downwardly to form a loop about 20 inches below cabi-.

net bottom it and then inserted into the cabinet through opening 11 and in back of member 12. The free end of the toweling is then moved upwardly within the cab inet and wound several times upon soiled toweling roll 31. The roll 31 may be moved upwardly within slot '23 for this purpose and then lowered in the slot 23 to contact the toweling thereon with the mechanism take-up roll 25. A thus assembled clean toweling within the mechanism is separated from soiled toweling by shield plate 54 and at the bottom of the cabinet the clean toweling is protected from the soiled toweling by shield plate. member 12. The mechanism is now ready for dispensing clean toweling. It should be noted that here a user. could not intentionally or mistakenly withdraw soiled toweling from the cabinet. To do this would necessitate rotation of camrning member in a counter-clockwise direction causing portion 42 of the camming member (FIG. 4) to abut against lever stop 38 preventing further rotation.

To withdraw a length of clean toweling, the exposed and 25 causes simultaneous rotation of both rollers so that soiled toweling istaken up, upon take-up roll 31, simultaneously withwithdrawal of clean toweling. As shown in FIG. 4, clockwise rotationof camming member 40, mounted upon measuring roller shaft extension 26, first causes extension 41 thereof to move beneath lever 36 stop portion 37 and upon continued rotation engages cam surface 43 with lever stop surface 38 moving lever 36 from the position of FIG. 4 to FIG. 5. After the cam surface 43 moves out of engagement with the lever stop surface 38 the. caming member extension 41 engages lever stop surface 37 (FIG. 5) preventing rotation of the measuring and take-up rollers 24 and 25. Additionally, during movement of lever 36 from the position of FIG. 4 to that of FIG. 5 the spring 44 attached to lever 36 is extended and is now under tension. For so long as the user maintains a pull on the toweling the mechanism will remain as shown in FIG. 5. When the user releases the towel, as for purpose of dryinghands, the pressure from camming member extension upon lever stop surface is released and spring 44 returns lever 36 from the position of FIG. 5 to that of FIG. 4 and the mechanism is again positioned for withdrawal of toweling. Thus a user could maliciously make a plurality of rapid withdrawals of clean toweling, if so disposed, and even withdraw all remaining clean toweling from the roll. To prevent this, or to at least discourage this practice, a timing device is customarily employed to impose a preselected time interval before the lever 36 is moved to release position after tension upon the toweling is discontinued.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the timing device 45 is disposed adjacent and above lever 36. A flexible member 49 attached to lever stop surface 37 moving with lever 36 engages over and between the teeth of gear 47 of the timing device when lever 36 is positioned as in FIG. 5. Thus, after the user stops pulling on the toweling, the spring 44 cannot return lever 36 to the position of FIG. 4 until the spring 44 pulling on lever 36 causes timing device gear 47 to rotate a sufficient distance to cause member 49 to move free thereof. Thereafter the spring 44 returns lever 36 to the position shown in FIG. 4 and an additional length of toweling can be withdrawn as before described. When member 48 of the timing device is to the extreme right, as shown in FIG. 4, the shortest time interval for operation of the mechanism is provided, when moved to the extreme left of the position (FIG. 4) the longest time interval is provided.

After all the clean toweling is withdrawn an attendant can remove the roll of soiled toweling and insert a roll of clean toweling in the manner previously described.

It will be apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5 that the camming member and measuring roll make one complete revolution in moving from one position to another. Thus the length of toweling withdrawable is about the length of the circumference of measuring roller 24. Hence, the length of toweling dispensed may be varied by modifying the diameter of the measuring roller, or otherwise modifying the relationship between the lever 36 and the camming member which actuated it. It Will be further understood that both the lever 36 and camming member may be variously modified as to form, mode of mounting and in the coordinating positions thereof without departing from the invention as disclosed and defined by the appended claims. Also, the drive sprockets and chain controlling movement of the measuring roller 24 and takeup roller 25 may be mounted upon the opposite ends of the respective rollers, from that shown, or may also be mounted between the ends of the rollers and plate 21.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing mechanism, in combination a pair of rollers,

means for eifecting simultaneous rotation of said rollers during each dispensing operation,

a lever pivoted at one end,

a pair of spaced stop surfaces on said lever remote from its pivot,

a camming member mounted on one of said rollers for concurrent rotation therewith,

spaced stop members on said camming member for selective engagement with said lever stop surfaces to selectively restrict rotation of said rollers in opposite directions,

springs means connected with said lever nomally positioning it relative to the camming member to permit only a dispensing movement of said rollers,

said camming member upon an initial rotation of its associated roller during a dispensing operation engaging and moving said lever into a position for a subsequent engagement of a camming member stop with a stop member surface of said lever for termination of simultaneous operation of said rollers.

2. The dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said lever when positioned to permit a dispensing operation of said mechanism provides a stop surface engageable by one of the stops on said camming member restricting reverse operation of the mechanism.

3. The dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said spring means includes a timing device actuated by a dispensing operation of the mechanism to retain the lever stop surface in abutting relation with a camming member stop surface for a predetermined time interval after termination of the dispensing operation.

4. In a towel dispensing mechanism, in combination a pair of mechanism side plates maintained in fixed spaced relation,

a pair of spaced rollers journaled in said side plates for concurrent rotary movement about fixed axes during a towel dispensing operation,

a roller control member pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof upon one of said side plates and having its free end extending towards the axis of rotation of one of said rollers,

a camming member mounted upon said latter roller for movement concurrent therewith,

a pair of spaced projecting surfaces on said caming member,

a cam surface on said camming member extending between said spaced projecting surfaces thereof,

spaced stop surfaces on said roller control member at one side of the pivotal support thereof for selective engagement by said camming member cam surface and projecting surfaces, and

means associated with one end of said roller control member normally positioning the said member for a towel dispensing operation and prevention of a reverse operation of the said rollers,

said camming member cam surface upon rotation of its associated roller during a dispensing operation acting to move said roller control member from a position preventing reverse rotation of said rollers into a position causing engagement of a roller control member stop surface with a camming member projecting surface to terminate simultaneous dispensing operation of said rollers.

5. The towel dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 4, wherein a timing means is associated with said roller control member providing a preselected time interval between termination of a towel dispensing operation of said rollers and the return of the roller control member to a position for a further towel dispensing operation of said rollers.

6. A towel dispensing cabinet comprising, in combination,

a casing having spaced side walls and connecting top and back walls,

a front wall on said casing comprised of a pair of hinged sections having an opening therebetween for passage of toweling,

'2? 8 abottom wall on said casing having an opening therein secure the unit in fixed relation upon said casing for passage of toweling into the casing, back Wall. an angular member secured to the said casing back 7. A toweling dispensing cabinet as in claim 6 wherein wall and extending downwardly from said top wall the means slidable on said unit provides a closure memadjacent each side wall, 5 her separating the dispensing unit from the base portion a toweling dispensing unit disposed within said casing, of said casing. means on said unit and casing back wall angular members for detachably supporting the unit upon said References Cited y the Examlllel' fasing k l, 1 b d UNITED STATES PATENTS a ransversey ex en mg angu ar mem er secure to 10 said casing back wall below said unit, and means on said unit slidably movable towards and away 2,957,636 10/60 Lesavoy 242 55 53 from said transversely extending angular member to I CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN AN DISPENSING MECHANISM, IN COMBINATION A PAIR OF ROLLERS, MEANS FOR EFFECTING SIMULTANEOUS ROTATION OF SAID ROLLERS DURING EACH DISPENSING OPERATION, A LEVER PIVOTED AT ONE END, A PAIR OF SPACED STOP SURFACES ON SAID LEVER REMOTE FROM ITS PIVOT, A CAMMING MEMBER MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID ROLLERS FOR CONCURRENT ROTATION THEREWITH, SPACED STOP MEMBERS ON SAID CAMMING MEMBER FOR SELECTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LEVER STOP SURFACES TO SELECTIVELY RESTRICT ROTATION OF SAID ROLLERS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, SPRINGS MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID LEVER NORMALLY POSITIONING IT RELATIVE TO THE CAMMING MEMBER TO PERMIT ONLY A DISPENSING MOVEMENT OF SAID ROLLERS, SAID CAMMING MEMBER UPON AN INITIAL ROTATION OF ITS ASSOCIATED ROLLER DURING A DISPENSING OPERATION EN-

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