Dispensing device for dispensing a sheet-like flat product

Abstract

Dispensing device (1) for dispensing a web-shaped sheet product (2), in particular made of paper, comprising at least one dispensing opening (3) through which the web-shaped sheet product (2) can leave the dispensing device (1), and at least one rotatable conveying roller (4) with which the web-shaped sheet product (2) can be conveyed to the at least one dispensing opening (3), wherein the at least one conveying roller (4) comprises at least one cutting element (5) with which, in at least one cutting rotation position (SD) of the at least one conveying roller (4), a section can be cut from the web-shaped sheet product (2) and / or the web-shaped sheet product (2) can be perforated, wherein at least one energy storage device (6) is provided which is connected to the at least one conveying roller (4) in such a way that it is charged in at least a first rotational angular range (7) separate from the at least one cutting rotation position (SD), and is located in at least a second,the rotation angle range (8) encompassing at least one cutting rotation position (SD).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing a web-shaped flat product, in particular made of paper, comprising at least one dispensing opening through which the web-shaped flat product can leave the dispensing device, and at least one rotatable conveying roller with which the web-shaped flat product can be conveyed to the at least one dispensing opening, wherein the at least one conveying roller comprises at least one cutting element with which, in at least one cutting rotation position of the at least one conveying roller, a section can be cut off from the web-shaped flat product and / or the web-shaped flat product can be perforated.

[0002] The state of the art includes DE 10 2014 106146 A1, CA 2 541 645 A1 and US 4 122 738 A.

[0003] Such dispensing devices are already known in the art. A disadvantage of these devices is that a force peak occurs when the web-shaped material is cut and / or perforated. This is perceived as particularly disadvantageous by the user when manually pulling on the web-shaped material. In this case, the force required increases abruptly when the cutting rotation position is reached, giving the user the impression that they have to tug on the web-shaped material to feed it further. This may also create the mistaken impression of a malfunction. Such a malfunction can subsequently occur if the user pulls on the web-shaped material with excessive force, resulting, for example, in an uncontrolled tearing of a section of the material.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved dispensing device compared to the prior art, in which a force peak occurring during the separation and / or perforation of the web-shaped sheet product is weakened and / or smoothed.

[0005] This problem is solved by the features of claim 1.

[0006] Therefore, at least one energy storage device is provided which is connected to the at least one conveyor roller in such a way that it is charged in at least a first rotational angular range separate from the at least one cutting rotational position, and discharges in at least a second rotational angular range encompassing the at least one cutting rotational position.

[0007] In this way, at least one energy storage device can provide targeted additional power support when at least one conveyor roller moves into at least one cutting rotation position. This reduces the force that a user has to exert when pulling on the web-shaped sheet product to cut and / or perforate it.

[0008] At the same time, another effect plays a role, namely the fact that at least one energy storage device must be charged in the first rotational angle range. This means that an increased force must be applied in the first rotational angle range and a reduced force in the second rotational angle range, which, overall, balances or smooths out the force required for rotation of at least one conveyor roller.

[0009] The cutting rotation position can be defined as the rotation position of the at least one conveyor roller in which the at least one cutting element exerts a maximum cutting force on the web-shaped surface product.

[0010] It should be noted that post-feed energy storage devices are known from the prior art that interact in a similar manner with the at least one feed roller. However, these serve to convey a portion of the web-shaped surface product out of the dispensing opening after a section has been removed, thus enabling a user to remove another section of the web-shaped surface product from the dispensing device. These post-feed energy storage devices are therefore effective when the feed roller rotates at a completely different time or within a completely different angular range, which does not include the at least one cutting position.

[0011] Such a feed energy storage device can also be provided in the present invention. This can be a separate energy storage device or one and the same energy storage device according to the invention, which discharges in the second rotational angular range encompassing at least one cutting rotational position. In the latter case, the second rotational angular range includes not only the at least one cutting rotational position, but also the rotational angular range of the at least one feed roller in which a feed of the web-shaped sheet product takes place.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the at least one energy storage device comprises a spring, preferably a tension spring, which is connected on one side to the at least one conveying roller via at least one point of application and on the other side to a stationary bearing point, which is preferably formed on a housing of the dispensing device. This embodiment is particularly characterized by its technical simplicity and reliability, even in continuous operation.

[0013] It has proven advantageous to provide at least one counter roller, preferably exactly two counter rollers, over which the web-shaped material product can be pressed against the at least one conveying roller. This allows the web-shaped material product to be guided precisely along the at least one conveying roller. Furthermore, it ensures that the web-shaped material product is in frictional contact with the at least one conveying roller and can be conveyed further by it.

[0014] According to the invention, the at least one conveying roller has a contact point in which the web-shaped area product first contacts the at least one conveying roller, and a lifting point in which the web-shaped area product can be lifted off the at least one conveying roller, wherein the contact point and the lifting point essentially correspond to the transitions between the first rotation angle range and the second rotation angle range, preferably wherein the at least one cutting rotation position is arranged between the contact point and the lifting point.

[0015] It has proven advantageous that at least one conveyor roller can be contacted by the web-shaped sheet product in the second rotation angle range. This allows the web-shaped sheet product to be cut and / or perforated in a particularly efficient manner using at least one cutting element.

[0016] A particularly advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the at least one conveyor roller has at least one opening in a cylindrical surface, the at least one cutting element is arranged substantially inside the at least one conveyor roller, and a movement mechanism is provided by means of which the at least one cutting element can be extended and retracted from the cylindrical surface at least once during a rotation of the at least one conveyor roller by 360°, wherein the at least one cutting element can be extended and retracted from the cylindrical surface in the second rotation angle range.

[0017] The movement mechanism by which the at least one cutting element can be extended and retracted at least once from the cylindrical surface during a rotation of the at least one conveyor roller by 360° can be designed in different ways, for example in accordance with the manner disclosed in EP 2 279 684 A2 or WO 97 / 40731 A1.

[0018] It has proven advantageous that the at least one energy storage device is connected to the at least one conveyor roller in such a way that the discharge of the at least one energy storage device begins after the at least one cutting element has been extended from the cylindrical surface and before a maximum cutting force has been reached.

[0019] At least one cutting element can include at least one blade strip.

[0020] It is advantageous to provide at least one drive device with which the at least one conveyor roller can be set in rotation, preferably wherein the at least one conveyor roller is connected to the at least one drive device only on one side.

[0021] This can be a manually operated drive device and / or a drive device comprising an electric motor, the invention having proven particularly advantageous in an embodiment in which both a manually operated drive device and a drive device comprising an electric motor are provided.

[0022] In this case, the output device can be operated in hybrid mode.

[0023] Further advantageous embodiments are defined in dependent claims 7 to 14.

[0024] Further details and advantages of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures and the drawings. These show: Fig. 1 shows a dispensing device in a schematically illustrated perspective view, Fig. 2a)-f) shows a sequence of rotary positions of a conveying roller, each in a schematically illustrated side view, and Fig. 3a)-d) shows different schematically illustrated views of an arrangement consisting of a conveying roller, drive devices for driving the conveying roller, two counter rollers and a roller with the web-shaped area product.

[0025] The Figure 1Figure 1 shows a dispensing device 1 for dispensing a web-shaped sheet product 2, in particular made of paper, comprising a dispensing opening 3 through which the web-shaped sheet product 2 can leave the dispensing device 1, and a rotatable conveying roller 4 with which the web-shaped sheet product 2 can be conveyed to the dispensing opening 3, wherein the conveying roller 4 comprises at least one cutting element 5 with which, in at least one cutting rotation position SD of the conveying roller 4, a section can be cut from the web-shaped sheet product 2 and / or the web-shaped sheet product 2 can be perforated (see also the following figures). A power storage device 6 is provided, which is connected to the conveying roller 4 in such a way that it is charged in a first rotational angular range 7 separate from the at least one cutting rotational range SD, and discharges in a second rotational angular range 8 encompassing the at least one cutting rotational range SD.

[0026] As in the Figures 3a) to 3d As shown in the figure, the output device 1 can comprise a drive device 18 with which the at least one conveying roller 4 can be set into rotation, wherein the drive device 18 comprises an actuating element 20 and a rotatable coupling element 21 with a lever arm 22, the coupling element 21 is in engagement with the conveying roller 4, the actuating element 20 is designed as a linear slide and the drive device 18 comprises a conversion device 23 for converting a linear movement of the linear slide into a rotary movement of the coupling element 21.

[0027] This can, as in Figure 1 As shown, the dispensing device 1 comprises a housing 10, with a rear side 24 for mounting the dispensing device 1 on a wall or the like and a bottom side 25 pointing downwards when mounted, wherein the linear slider is mounted to be linearly displaceable on the bottom side 25 of the housing 10.

[0028] As in the specific case shown, guides 26 for guiding the linear slide and two stop elements 27, 28 can also be provided to limit the linear movement of the linear slide. The linear slide is movable in a depth direction 29 of the dispensing device 1 and includes an angled handle element 30.

[0029] The dispensing device 1 comprises an openable lid 49, through which an interior of the dispensing device 1 is accessible in an open position, e.g. for refilling the web-shaped area product 2 to be dispensed and / or for maintenance purposes.

[0030] The Figures 2a) to 2fFigures 1 and 2 each show an arrangement with a rotatable conveying roller 4, a first counter roller 11 over which a web-shaped area product 2 is fed to the conveying roller 4, and a second counter roller 12 over which the web-shaped area product 2 is again guided away from the conveying roller 4. The web-shaped area product 2 is exemplified in the Figure 2a ) shown. Figures 2a) to 2f ) show a sequence of successive rotational positions of the conveyor roller 4.

[0031] A power storage device 6 in the form of a spring, specifically a tension spring, is provided, which is connected on one side to the conveyor roller 4 via an attachment point 48 and on the other side to a stationary bearing point 9, which is formed, for example, on a housing 10 of the dispensing device 1. Depending on the rotational position of the conveyor roller 4, the power storage device 6 is charged or discharged to varying degrees.

[0032] The web-shaped area product 2 can be pressed against the conveyor roller 4 via the counter rollers 11, 12.

[0033] The conveyor roller 4 has a contact point 13, where the web-shaped area product 2 first contacts the conveyor roller 4, and a lifting point 14, where the web-shaped area product 2 can be lifted from the conveyor roller 4, wherein the contact point 13 and the lifting point 14 essentially correspond to the transitions between the first rotation angle range 7 and the second rotation angle range 8, wherein the cutting rotation position SD is arranged between the contact point 13 and the lifting point 14 (compare Figure 2b )).

[0034] The conveyor roller 4 is contacted by the web-shaped surface product 2 in the second rotation angle range 8.

[0035] The conveyor roller 4 has a cylindrical surface 16 and an opening 15 in the cylindrical surface 16. A cutting element 5 is provided, which is essentially located inside the conveyor roller 4. Furthermore, a movement mechanism 17 is provided by means of which the cutting element 5 can be extended and retracted from the cylindrical surface 16 once during a rotation of the conveyor roller 4 through 360°, and the cutting element 5 can be extended and retracted from the cylindrical surface 16 in a second rotational angle range 8.

[0036] The operating principle is as follows: Energy storage unit 6 is fully charged ( Fig. 2a )). The cutting element 5 is located entirely inside the conveyor roller 4.

[0037] By rotating the conveyor roller 4 in the direction of the cutting rotation position SD, a dead center of the energy storage device 6 is passed and the energy storage device 6 begins to discharge. This drives the conveyor roller 4 with the force escaping from the energy storage device 6, possibly in addition to a manual and / or motor drive. The cutting element 5 is moved out of the conveyor roller 4 and thereby pierces the web-shaped area product 2 in a cutting rotation position SD ( Fig. 2b )).

[0038] As the conveyor roller 4 continues to rotate, the cutting element 5 is moved back into the interior of the conveyor roller 4 ( Fig. 2c) and Fig. 2d )).

[0039] Finally, the energy storage device 6 is completely discharged. At approximately this time, the cutting element 5 is again fully positioned inside the conveyor roller 4. With continued rotation of the conveyor roller 4, e.g., by manually pulling on the web-shaped surface product 2, the energy storage device 6 is recharged ( Fig. 2e) and 2f )).

[0040] Then the process starts again from the beginning ( Fig. 2a )).

[0041] The Figures 3a) to 3d Figures 1 and 2 show different views of an arrangement consisting of a conveyor roller 4, a manual drive device 18, a motorized drive device 19 for driving the conveyor roller 4, two counter rollers 11 and 12, and a roller 47 on which the web-shaped area product 2 is wound. The figure 3 shows... Figure 3a ) a first side view, which Figure 3b ) a side view from the opposite side, which Figure 3c ) a front view and the 3D figure ) a rear view.

[0042] As can be seen in particular from the Figure 3c As can be seen from the figure, the cutting element 5 in the illustrated embodiment comprises a knife strip.

[0043] The drive devices 18, 19 can set the conveyor roller 4 in rotation. The conveyor roller 4 is connected to the drive devices 18, 19 only on one side.

[0044] The drive device 18 comprises an actuating element 20 and a rotatable coupling element 21 with a lever arm 22, wherein the coupling element 21 engages with the conveyor roller 4, the actuating element 20 is designed as a linear slide, and the drive device 18 comprises a conversion device 23 for converting a linear movement of the linear slide into a rotary movement of the coupling element 21.

[0045] The drive device 18 and / or the conveyor roller 4 comprises a freewheel device 31, which is designed such that when the linear slide moves in a first direction 32, the conveyor roller 4 can be set into rotation, and when the linear slide moves in a second direction 33 opposite to the first direction 32, the conveyor roller 4 can be decoupled from the movement of the linear slide, wherein the freewheel device 31 is arranged on a hub 34 of the conveyor roller 4 and between the conveyor roller 4 and a gear element 36 rotatably connected thereto, the gear element having a toothed ring 35.

[0046] The coupling element 21 is permanently engaged with the conveyor roller 4 and comprises a toothed ring section 37, which engages with the toothed ring 35. The coupling element 21 is rotatably mounted about a pivot axis 38 on a housing 10 of the dispensing device 1. The distance 39 between one end of the lever arm 22 of the coupling element 21 and the linear slide can be changed during the rotational movement of the coupling element 21.

[0047] The conversion device 23 for converting a linear movement of the linear slide into a rotary movement of the coupling element 21 comprises a bolt-shaped driver 40 and a engagement 41 for the driver 40, wherein the engagement 41 is designed as a guide track in which the driver 40 is mounted for limited movement. The guide track can, for example, be designed as an elongated slot. The guide track provides compensating clearance for the driver 40 during its rotary movement. The driver 40 is arranged at one end of the lever arm 22 of the coupling element 21. The distance 39 between the end of the lever arm 22 or the driver 40 and the linear slide changes during the rotary movement of the coupling element 21. The compensating clearance provided by the guide track is intended to compensate for this change in distance 39.

[0048] The driver 40 can also be arranged on the linear slide and the engagement 41 on the lever arm 22 of the coupling element 21.

[0049] The second drive device 19 comprises a motor 42, with gear elements 43, 44, 45 arranged between the motor 42 and the conveyor roller 4 to transmit torque. The second drive device 19 is permanently coupled to the conveyor roller 4, even when it is manually set in rotation via the actuating element 20. In this case, it is advantageous to operate the motor 42 as a generator and to store the electrical energy thereby generated in at least one energy storage device.

[0050] At least one of the two drive devices 18, 19 and / or conveyor roller 4 comprises at least one freewheel device 31, which is designed such that when the conveyor roller 4 is driven by means of the second drive device 19, the linear slide can be decoupled from the movement of the conveyor roller 4, so that the linear slide does not move when the motor 42 drives the conveyor roller 4.

[0051] The freewheel device 31 fulfills a dual function, a first function being that the linear slide can be moved back to the starting position without moving the conveyor roller 4 and the associated web-shaped area product 2, and a second function being that the conveyor roller 4 can be driven by the second drive device 19 without moving the linear slide.

[0052] A bearing point 46 is provided for the roller 47, on which the web-shaped area product 2 is wound, wherein the web-shaped area product 2 can be conveyed from the bearing point 46 via the conveying roller 4 to the discharge opening 3. The web-shaped area product 2 is shown in the figures only up to the counter roller 11. It continues as shown in Figure 3a ) indicated by a dashed line throughout the arrangement.

Claims

1. A dispensing device (1) for dispensing a sheet-like flat product (2), in particular of paper, comprising at least one dispensing opening (3), via which the sheet-like flat product (2) can leave the dispensing device (1), and at least one rotatable conveying roller (4), by means of which the sheet-like flat product (2) can be conveyed to the at least one dispensing opening (3), wherein the at least one conveying roller (4) comprises at least one cutting element (5), by means of which in at least one cutting rotational position (SD) of the at least one conveying roller (4) a section can be separated from the sheet-like flat product (2) and / or the sheet-like flat product (2) can be perforated, wherein at least one force accumulator (6) is provided, which is connected to the at least one conveying roller (4), such that in at least one first rotation angle range (7) distinct from the at least one cutting rotational position (SD) it is loaded and discharges in at least one second rotation angle range (8) comprising the at least one cutting rotational position (SD), characterized in that the at least one conveying roller (4) has a contact point (13) in which the sheet-like flat product (2) contacts the at least one conveying roller (4) for the first time, and a lifting point (14) in which the sheet-like flat product (2) can be lifted off from the at least one conveying roller (4), wherein the contact point (13) and the lifting point (14) substantially correspond to the transitions between the first rotation angle range (7) and the second rotation angle range (8), preferably wherein the at least one cutting rotational position (SD) is arranged between the contact point (13) and the lifting point (14).

2. The dispensing device (1) according to claim 1, wherein - the at least one force accumulator (6) comprises a spring, preferably a tension spring, which is connected on the one hand via at least one point of application (48) in a movement-coupled manner to the at least one conveying roller (4) and on the other hand to a stationary bearing point (9), which is preferably formed on a housing (10) of the dispensing device (1), and / or - at least one counter-roller (11, 12), preferably exactly two counter-rollers (11, 12), are provided, by means of which the sheet-like flat product (2) can be pressed against the at least one conveying roller (4).

3. The dispensing device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one conveying roller (4) can be contacted by the sheet-like flat product (2) in the second rotation angle range (8).

4. The dispensing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one conveying roller (4) has at least one opening (15) in a lateral area (16), the at least one cutting element (5) is arranged substantially inside the at least one conveying roller (4), and a movement mechanism (17) is provided by means of which the at least one cutting element (5) can be extended and retracted at least once out of the lateral area (16) in the course of a rotation of the at least one conveying roller (4) through 360°, wherein the at least one cutting element (5) can be extended and retracted out of the lateral area (16) in the second rotation angle range (8), preferably wherein the at least one force accumulator (6) is connected to the at least one conveying roller (4) such that the energy accumulator (6) begins to unload after the at least one cutting element (5) has been extended from the lateral area (16) and before a maximum cutting force has been reached.

5. The dispensing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one cutting element (5) comprises at least one blade strip.

6. The dispensing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one drive device (18, 19) is provided with which the at least one conveying roller (4) can be set in rotation, preferably wherein the at least one conveying roller (4) is connected to the at least one drive device (18, 19) only on one side.

7. The dispensing device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the at least one drive device (18) comprises at least one actuating element (20) and at least one rotatable coupling element (21) having at least one lever arm (22), the at least one coupling element (21) being in engagement with the at least one conveying roller (4), the at least one actuating element (20) being designed as a linear slider and the at least one drive device (18) comprising a conversion device (23) for converting a linear movement of the linear slider into a rotary movement of the at least one coupling element (21).

8. The dispensing device (1) according to claim 7, wherein - the dispensing device (1) comprises a housing (10), with a rear side (24) for mounting the dispensing device (1) on a wall or the like and a lower side (25) pointing downwards in the mounted state, wherein the linear slider is mounted linearly displaceably on the lower side (25) of the housing (10), and / or - at least one guide (26) is provided for guiding the linear slider, and / or - at least one stop element (27, 28), preferably exactly two stop elements (27, 28), are provided in order to limit the linear movement of the linear slider, and / or - the linear slider is movable in a depth direction (29) of the dispensing device (1), and / or the linear slider comprises at least one, preferably angled, grip element (30).

9. The dispensing device (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the at least one drive device (18) and / or the at least one conveyor roller (4) comprises at least one freewheel device (31) which is designed in such a way that, when the linear slider is moved in a first direction (32), the at least one conveyor roller (4) can be set in rotation and, when the linear slider is moved in a second direction (33) opposite to the first direction (32), the at least one conveyor roller (4) can be decoupled from the movement of the linear slider, preferably wherein the at least one freewheel device (31) is connected to a hub (34) of the at least one conveyor roller (4) and / or is arranged between the at least one conveyor roller (4) and a gear element (36) rotatably connected thereto, preferably having a toothed rim (35).

10. The dispensing device (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the at least one coupling element (21) - permanently engages with the at least one conveyor roller (4), and / or - comprises a toothed rim section (37) which is in engagement with a toothed rim (35) arranged on the at least one conveying roller (4), and / or - is rotatably mounted on a housing (10) of the dispensing device (1) about an axis of rotation (38), and / or - a distance (39) between one end of the lever arm (22) of the at least one coupling element (21) and the linear slider can be changed during the rotational movement of the at least one coupling element (21).

11. The dispensing device (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the at least one conversion device (23) comprises, for converting a linear movement of the linear slider into a rotary movement of the at least one coupling element (21), at least one, preferably bolt-shaped, driver (40) and at least one engagement (41) for the at least one driver (40), preferably wherein the at least one engagement (41) is designed as a guide track in which the at least one driver (40) is mounted so as to be movable to a limited extent.

12. The dispensing device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the at least one drive device (19) comprises at least one motor (42), preferably wherein - at least one gear element (43, 44, 45) is provided, which is arranged between the at least one motor (42) and the at least one conveyor roller (4) for transmitting a torque, and / or - the at least one drive device (19) is permanently coupled to the at least one conveyor roller (4).

13. The dispensing device (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 11 and according to claim 12, wherein at least one first drive device (18) according to any one of claims 7 to 11 and at least one second drive device (19) according to claim 12 are provided, wherein at least one of the two drive devices (18, 19) and / or the at least one conveying roller (4) comprises at least one freewheel device (31) which is designed in such a way that, when the at least one conveying roller (4) is driven by means of the at least one second drive device (19), the linear slider can be decoupled from the movement of the at least one conveying roller (4).

14. The dispensing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein at least one storage location (46) is provided for a roller (47) on which the sheet-like flat product (2) is rolled up, wherein the sheet-like flat product (2) can be conveyed from the at least one storage location (46) via the at least one conveying roller (4) to the at least one dispensing opening (3).

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