TOWEL DISPENSER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a towel dispenser according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Towel dispensers that allow the portion-wise dispensing of a towel from a towel roll have been known for some time, for example from European patent EP 1 191 872 B1 or WO 01 / 01835 A1.

[0003] However, with the well-known towel dispensers there is a risk that the towel dispenser will become blocked shortly before the end of the towel is reached, which must be remedied by special interventions by the cleaning specialists or even by the repair service personnel.

[0004] This blocking can have several causes. 1. Cause: When conveying the cloth, it is accelerated abruptly. The last 2 to 4 wraps of the fabric roll end are then no longer unwound and this remaining wrap ( Fig. 2 ) can be used at various bottlenecks ( Fig. 3 ) can be trapped, leading to the towel dispenser failing. 2. Cause: The fabric roll is inserted the wrong way round when filling the dispenser ( Fig. 4 ), the blocking is already pre-programmed. Due to the direction of pull of the cloth, the end of the cloth rolls with the last windings over the tub-shaped holder of the fresh cloth roll, jumps over the deflection roller and then jams as in Figure 5 shown.

[0005] The invention aims to remedy this situation. The invention is based on the object of preventing the described blockage of the towel in a towel dispenser with a simple and safe device.

[0006] The invention solves the problem with a device having the features according to claim 1.

[0007] The advantages achieved by the device according to the invention are essentially that the annoying blocking of the towel in the towel dispenser is prevented; and for the trouble-free function of the towel dispenser, it is irrelevant how the fresh towel roll is inserted into the towel dispenser (with a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation).

[0008] The device according to the invention can be integrated in the area of ​​the tub-shaped fresh cloth holder, into which the fresh cloth roll 3 is inserted ( Fig.1 ). The two rollers of the double roller each have a laterally mounted drive means, which are rotatably coupled to one another via a coupling means (e.g. a gear wheel, friction wheel or toothed belt) cooperating with both drive means; so that the two rollers of the double roller can only rotate in the same direction, clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0009] The prevention of blocking due to the first cause mentioned above is based on the Figures 8 and 9 as follows: The fresh cloth is inserted into the tub-shaped fresh cloth holder of the towel dispenser as specified. When the fresh cloth is pulled, the remaining winding of the cloth end is pulled towards the two rollers of the double roller. The remaining winding of the fresh cloth roll rotates counterclockwise. The fresh cloth drives the lower roller clockwise. Since the upper roller rotates in the same direction as the lower roller, the remaining winding is stopped at point A ( Fig. 9 ) is driven counterclockwise. This prevents the fresh tissue from accidentally getting caught in a narrow part of the towel dispenser and blocking the fresh tissue transport.

[0010] The prevention of blocking due to the second cause mentioned above is based on the Figures 10 and 11as follows: The fresh towel is inserted into the tub-shaped fresh towel holder contrary to the specifications. When the fresh towel is pulled, the remaining winding of the cloth end is pulled towards the two rollers of the double roller. The remaining winding rotates clockwise. The fresh towel drives the upper roller counterclockwise. Since the lower roller rotates in the same direction as the upper roller, the remaining winding is driven clockwise at point B. This prevents the towel from accidentally getting caught in a narrow section of the towel dispenser and blocking the transport of the fresh towel. The device according to the invention not only prevents the fresh towel from becoming blocked in the towel dispenser, but also gives the user the option of inserting the fresh towel roll in either direction of rotation.

[0011] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the drive means for the two rollers of the double roller and the coupling means are realized in the form of intermeshing gears ( Fig. 6 ). The drive means, implemented as gears, advantageously have 14-21 teeth each, preferably 15-18 teeth each. The gear ratio of the drive means implemented as gears is expediently 1:1.

[0012] In another embodiment of the invention, the drive means for the two rollers of the double roller and the coupling means can be realized in the form of friction wheels or toothed belts cooperating with one another.

[0013] The gap width S between the two rollers of the double roller is advantageously in the range of 2 - 6 mm, preferably 3.5 - 4.5 mm, so that a fresh cloth of thickness D in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 mm can be guided between the two rollers.

[0014] In a further embodiment, the surfaces of the two rollers of the double roller are provided with a number of elevations or protuberances ( Fig. 7 This improves the adhesion between the rollers and the fresh cloth. The protuberances expediently have a maximum height of 1.5 mm, preferably a maximum height of 1.0 mm. The protuberances expediently have a height of at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 0.7 mm.

[0015] In a further embodiment, the outer surfaces of the two rollers of the double roller have a coating made of an elastomer, preferably a thermoplastic elastomer.

[0016] The drive means of the double roller are preferably made of a thermoplastic, preferably POM.

[0017] The coupling agents advantageously consist of a thermoplastic, preferably PA.

[0018] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the number of teeth of the drive means realized as gearwheels is prime to the number of teeth of the coupling means realized as gearwheel.

[0019] The invention and further developments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the partially schematic representations of an embodiment.

[0020] They show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of the interior of a towel dispenser according to the invention; Fig. 2 a longitudinal section through a towel dispenser according to the state of the art with a correctly inserted fresh towel roll with only a few remaining turns; Fig. 3 a longitudinal section through a towel dispenser according to Fig. 2 with the remaining coils of the fresh cloth roll that have fallen over the fresh cloth support and are blocking the transport of the fresh cloth; Fig. 4a longitudinal section through a towel dispenser according to the state of the art with a fresh roll inserted in the wrong direction of rotation; Fig. 5 a longitudinal section through a towel dispenser according to Fig. 4 with the remaining coils of the fresh cloth roll that have fallen over the fresh cloth support and are blocking the transport of the fresh cloth; Fig. 6 a partial side view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention in the area of ​​the double roller and the additional gear; Fig. 7 a partial front view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention in the area of ​​the double roller and the additional gear; Fig. 8 shows a schematic side view with a correctly inserted fresh cloth roll with the fresh cloth inserted between the two rollers of the double roller; Fig. 9 shows the same schematic side view as Fig. 8 but with the remaining winding of the fresh cloth roll pulled towards the double roller; Fig. 10shows a schematic side view with a fresh cloth roll inserted in the wrong direction of rotation with the fresh cloth inserted between the two rollers of the double roller; Fig. 11 shows the same schematic side view as Fig. 10 but with the remaining winding of the fresh cloth roll pulled towards the double roller;

[0021] The Fig. 1The illustrated embodiment of the towel dispenser according to the invention has a trough-shaped holder 2 for a fresh towel roll 3, a mechanism for unwinding fresh towel 1 from the fresh towel roll 3 in portions and, after use, winding it onto a used towel roll 5. The fresh towel 1, which has a width of 180 mm, is guided by a double roller 6;7 arranged after the fresh towel roll 3. The two rollers of the double roller 6;7 have a diameter of 24 mm and a width of 210 mm (i.e., they are 30 mm wider than the fresh towel 1 in order to compensate for any lateral offset of the fresh towel 1 and thereby prevent the fresh towel 1 from jamming laterally).

[0022] As in the Figs. 6 and 7As shown, the two rollers of the double roller 6,7 each have a gear 8:9, which are coupled to one another via an additional gear 10 that meshes with both gears 8;9 and can thus be driven. The gears 8,9 are made of POM and both have exactly 17 teeth. The base bodies of the two rollers of the double roller 6,7 are made of a thermoplastic, with the cylindrical outer surface of the two rollers acting as a friction surface consisting of a thermoplastic elastomer. The surfaces of the two rollers also have a large number of 1 mm high protuberances to improve the adhesion of the fresh cloth to the roller surface.

[0023] The additional gear 10 ( Fig. 6 ) has 20 teeth, a diameter of 33 mm, and is made of PA. The additional gear 10 ensures that the two rollers of the double roller 6;7 can only rotate in the same direction, either clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0024] After the fresh cloth 1 has passed through the two rollers of the double roller 6,7, it is guided over the deflection roller 11 ( Fig. 1 ) down to the cloth dispenser.

[0025] The scope of this invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Towel dispenser with a receptacle (2) for a fresh towel roll (3) and with a mechanism for unwinding fresh towel (1) from the fresh towel roll (3) in portions and winding it onto a used towel roll (5) after its use, wherein (i) there is a double roller (6; 7) arranged downstream of the fresh cloth roll (3), through which the fresh cloth (1) is guided in the operating state, each of the two rollers of the double roller (6; 7) being provided with a laterally mounted drive means (8; 9); and (ii) the two rollers of the double roller (6;7) which can be driven by the drive means (8;9) are rotatably coupled to one another by means of a coupling means (10) in such a way that (iii) the two rollers of the double roller (6;7) can only be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise in the same direction.

2. Towel dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive means (8; 9) for the two rollers of the double roller (6; 7) and the coupling means (10) are realized in the form of intermeshing gear wheels.

3. Towel dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive means (8; 9) for the two rollers of the double roller (6; 7) and the coupling means are realized in the form of mutually cooperating friction wheels or toothed belts.

4. Towel dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the gap width S between the two rollers of the double roller (6; 7) is in the range from 2 - 6 mm, preferably from 3.5 - 4.5 mm.

5. Towel dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the surfaces of the two rollers of the double roller (6; 7) are provided with a number of elevations or protuberances.

6. Towel dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lateral surfaces of the two rollers of the double roller (6; 7) have a coating of an elastomer, preferably a thermoplastic elastomer.

7. Towel dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the drive means (8; 9) of the double roller (6; 7) consist of a thermoplastic, preferably of POM.

8. Towel dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the coupling means (10) is made of a thermoplastic, preferably PA.

9. Towel dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is equipped with a fresh towel (1) of thickness D in the range from 0.5 to 1.5 mm.

10. Towel dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that the number of teeth of the drive means (8; 9) implemented as gear wheels is unequal to the number of teeth of the coupling means (10) implemented as a gear wheel.

11. Towel dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by a fresh towel roll (3) accommodated in the holder (2)12. Towel dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the two rollers of the double roller (6; 7) are arranged in close proximity to one another, preferably at a maximum distance of 6 mm.

13. Method for operating a towel dispenser according to one of claims 1 - 12, characterized in that a fresh towel roll (3) is accommodated in the receptacle (2) and fresh towel (1) is unwound from it and passed between the two rollers of the double roller (6; 7).

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the fresh cloth (1) is brought into contact with only one of the two rollers at a time as it passes through the two rollers of the double roller (6; 7).

15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the roller of the double roller (6; 7) contacted in each case by the fresh cloth (1) is frictionally driven by the fresh cloth (1).