EP0376152B1 - Hand towel dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The hand towel dispenser (11) is driven by an electric motor (36) which is constructed as a roller motor and is accommodated in a winding-up roller for used hand towel. It drives the winding-off roller (30) via a free wheel (43) and a worm gear (47, 48), whereas the winding-up roller (27) also carries out a return winding-off movement to form a sufficient hand towel loop (33) in addition to the winding-up movement. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a towel dispenser that outputs a towel in the form of a loop and retracts. The towel web is thus led out of the device from a supply of towel webs, usually a roll, and wound up again at the end of a loop that is freely sagging in use on a roll that is also in the device.

FR-A-2 169 295 shows a towel dispenser in which an electric motor drives a winding roller and, via a clutch, also an unwinder roller. In a version with two motors, these are arranged next to the towel rolls on the side of the housing and drive the rollers via worm wheels.

From DE-A 36 02 734 a motor-operated towel dispenser has become known, the unwinding and winding-up means of which are each driven by a separate low-voltage motor. This requires two motors, a transformer designed for the total output and additional space for the side mounting of the motors.

The object of the invention is to provide a towel dispenser which has improved use properties with little construction and space.

This object is solved by claim 1.

The fact that the motor is designed as a geared motor, which is arranged in a drive roller, for example in a winding roller, makes it possible to build a motor-driven device with a space requirement, in particular in the width dimensions, which corresponds to the conventional hand-operated devices and not must be much larger than the width of the towel rail. This is a great advantage not only because of the possibility of mounting in confined spaces, but also because of the standardization of components, for example covers, basic housing parts, etc. The drive rollers have a certain base diameter anyway, which is ideally used by such a roller motor.

The drive can advantageously be, for example, a single motor operated with mains voltage. Both the unwinding and the winding means, which usually consist of roughened rollers, which drive the towel web frictionally, can be driven by it. Since in such devices the use loop of the towel web is advantageously drawn in until it is in contact with the device, in the sense of saving towels it is favorable if not only fresh towels are dispensed when the towels are dispensed, but also a certain proportion of the used, previously self-made towel is also output so that the front fresh towel section which is presented to the user connects without loss to the used section which forms the rear part of the loop. The invention enables the gear means, which advantageously couple through the unwinding and winding means, which, when the towel web is being unwound, drive the winding and unwinding means for returning a previously drawn-in towel web section and, when winding up, only drive the winding means.

This can advantageously be done by means of a freewheel device contained in the gear means and preferably a device that self-locks against reverse drive, such as a worm gear. This also prevents the towel from being pulled by hand, which would enable the freewheel alone.

Another feature of the invention is promoted in particular by the mains voltage operation and the single-motor arrangement, according to which the control can be carried out by electronic control means, preferably by a programmable integrated electronic component, and the control means, including mechanical, contactless or remote-controllable control switches, are operated at low voltage can. The control of the winding and unwinding process can be done via easily adjustable or programmable timers respectively. The motor can be controlled via suitable power switching elements, for example relays or electronic switches, for example triac's.

Remote control, display and / or setting means can be connectable to the control means. Since all functions of the device can be controlled with great reliability via the control means, any type of contactless switches, such as proximity switches, can be used for triggering in addition to switches that can be actuated directly on the device or in the vicinity thereof, for example foot switches. A coupling with other devices, for example with water fittings, light switches or the like, the actuation of which automatically triggers a towel cycle is also provided as an inventive idea. Furthermore, the invention also proposes to provide a remote display for towel apparatus, which is preferably connected to the control means and which, for example in a caretaker's office, at the counter of a restaurant or the like, indicates the end of the towel supply. This can be triggered by the retraction of the rear end of the towel, but a counter could also be connected to the control means, which indicates a last section of the towel, for example by adding up the length of the towel (compared to the motor runtime in the unwinding direction) compared to the standard -Roll length. A display of the remaining stock could also advantageously be provided on the dispenser itself, for example a digital display for remaining drying cycles. A sensor with direct or indirect scanning of the winding diameter of the towel rolls could also be provided. Via such a remote connection, which could also be done wirelessly, it would also be possible to set the input and output lengths, the dwell times between dispensing and retracting the towel loop and similar parameters in a building or toilet complex, for example, in order to optimally adjust the devices to the expected demand. Furthermore, prior to certain events, for example a larger event, a towel roll change could be prepared centrally in the area of the toilet complex, in which devices with an insufficient roll stock are automatically "emptied" by automatic successive actuation, so that the rolls can then be exchanged immediately and without wasting time.

The invention also includes a towel dispenser in which a switch-off device is designed and arranged in such a way that it responds to the contact of the towel rail with a device part. This can preferably be done by pulling the towel loop through the winding device onto a lower housing part, for example the receptacle for the towel roll to be unwound. This also creates a security against pinching the hand because a hand that gets under the towel loop automatically actuates the large-scale shutdown device. For the retraction of the free towel end when the roll is used up, an additional time control can be provided, which ends the winding process after a set time because the free end does not actuate the normal switch-off device. Also particularly preferred is an inventive feature according to which the switch-off device in response to a forced stopping of the towel rail in a position remote from the housing is formed. This prevents overloading the motor and the mechanics. This can be accomplished in that the described or an additional switch-off device also responds when the towel web is tightened to the front, for example by pressing the receptacle forward.

Another, advantageous in the described, but also usable in other towel dispensers inventive feature is created by a smoothing device for the towel web to be wound, which is arranged between the towel loop and the winding means and depending on the direction of travel of the towel web can be controlled such that it is only at Winding is effective and can run freely through the towel web when unwinding. This avoids that when the previously wound up towel is moved back, it remains in the dispenser and jams there, but on the other hand a smoothing effect is achieved in order to be able to wind up the towel without wrinkles. In the aforementioned DE-A-36 02 734, a driven roller was provided on the towel inlet, which, however, additionally requires a drive. Due to the dependence on the direction of travel, this device can also be used with programmable towel lengths, whereas, for example, when actuated via a control disk, one would always be bound to a certain retraction or re-dispensing length. The smoothing device can be actuated particularly easily via a slip clutch seated on a drive part, which, depending on the drive direction, pivots the smoothing device, for example a strip-shaped finger, into or out of engagement with the towel rail.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a towel dispenser of the type described or of another type with coupling means for the control means in order to couple a group of at least two towel dispensers, preferably arranged next to one another, such that, for example, each time only one actuating button is actuated on one of the towel dispensers or separately attached one of the group's donors is activated and the other is only used after the supply of towels has been used up. Such a group arrangement solves the tiresome problem of the used towel roll and difficulties with complicated changing mechanisms and also ensures that the second one remains fully functional even if one device fails for other reasons. Such an emergency actuation can be provided in the coupling device.

Fig. 1

einen schematischen Vertikalschnitt durch einen Handtuchspender,

Fig. 2

eine (in Fig. 1 von rechts gesehene) Rückansicht des oberen Teils des Handtuchspenders, ohne Rückwand gesehen,

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt nach der Linie III in Fig. 1 und

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung von Getriebebauteilen.

These and further features of preferred developments of the invention are evident from the claims and also from the description and the drawings, the individual features being implemented individually or in groups in the form of subcombinations in the embodiment of the invention and in other fields, and can represent advantageous and protectable versions for which protection is claimed here. Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. The drawings show:

Fig. 1

a schematic vertical section through a towel dispenser,

Fig. 2

2 shows a rear view (seen from the right in FIG. 1) of the upper part of the towel dispenser, without a rear wall,

Fig. 3

a section along the line III in Fig. 1 and

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of transmission components.

The drawing shows a towel dispenser 11, which has a housing base part 12 on which all mechanical components are provided. The base part 12 comprises a rear wall 13, which can be attached to a room wall 14, and projecting lateral mounting cheeks 15, which carry the functional components between them.

These cheeks, like the front and top of the dispenser, are covered by a hood 16, which is pivotably and removably arranged so that it can be swiveled about a pivot axis 17 lying close to the wall. As a result, all functional parts are covered by a uniform hood, so that the base part 12 of the housing can only be produced according to functional and not according to optical aspects and can be injected, for example, from plastic regenerate. The folded hood forms when replacing the Towel rolls a shelf, and due to the easy removal of the hood by means of the hook-shaped latching pivot axis nipple 17, the hood can be easily replaced.

In the housing 18 formed from the base part 12 and hood 16, a storage space 19 for a new towel roll 21 is delimited in the lower part, which is free on a receptacle 20 which is pivotable and vertically displaceable in the housing by means of journal 70 and slot 71, i.e. without special inclusion of their winding axis. In the upper part of the housing, a receiving space 22 for a roll 23 of used towel is delimited, which is wound onto a winding axis 24, which is guided on the cheeks 15 in a substantially vertical, but oblique guide 25. The drive of the roller 23, i.e. the winding of a used towel web 26 is carried out by winding means 27, which comprise a winding roller 28, which runs at the lower boundary of the receiving space 22 almost over the entire width of the dispenser, so that the outer circumference of the roller 23 lies on it and is driven by it .

The unwinding of fresh towels from the supply roll 21 takes place via unwinding means 29, which consists of a driven unwinding roller 30 and a pressure roller 31 resting thereon. The towel web 26 runs around the unwinding roller (30), then down through the gap between the rollers (30, 31). A cover 35 lying above the deflecting roller separates the receiving space 22.

From there, the towel web runs vertically down behind the hood and out through the lower hood opening 32, where it can form a loop 33 of adjustable length and runs back into the dispenser at the rear area of the hood opening near the wall, through a smoothing device 34 there again gets up into the receiving space and on the roller 23.

The device is driven by a single motor 36, which is designed as a tubular or roller motor. It is one with mains voltage, i.e. e.g. 220 volt alternating current operated, reversible electric motor, which forms a relatively elongated cylindrical structural unit of small diameter with a planetary reduction gear. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the motor 36 is arranged inside the hollow take-up roller 28, which has a sleeve-like shape. The outer stator of the motor stands still and is held by a plug-shaped connecting piece 37, with the outer circumference of which the roller forms a plain bearing. The connector 37 is held in a square bracket 38 of a side cheek. The output shaft 39 protruding from the motor is non-rotatably connected to the bottom 40 of the sleeve-shaped winding roller 28, rotatably mounted in a bearing 44 of a housing cheek 15 and carries gear means 41, namely a bevel gear 42.

The transmission means 41 includes a connecting shaft 45 (see FIGS. 1 and 4) which is mounted on a housing cheek and has a bevel pinion 46 which interacts with the bevel gearwheel 42 and has a worm 47 near its other end. This works with a worm wheel 48 together, which sits at one end of the unwinding roller 30 which is rotatably mounted in the cheeks 15 and drives it. A one-way clutch 43 is installed in the connecting shaft 45. The unwinding roller is composed of individual segments. The drive connection between the winding and unwinding roller 28, 30 is such that when the winding roller 28 is driven in the winding direction (arrow 49), in FIG. 1 clockwise, the freewheeling is effective, ie the winding roller 30 is stationary and is also blocked by the self-locking worm gear . On the other hand, when the take-up roller is driven in the opposite direction (counterclockwise), the take-off roller also runs, also clockwise, and unwinds the towel web (arrow direction 50).

A drive segment 51 for the smoothing device 34 is connected to the output shaft 39, specifically via an intermediate slip clutch 52 (FIG. 3). Fig. 1 shows the actuating device for the smoothing device. The segment 51, which is pivotally mounted about the axis of the take-up roller 28 via the slip clutch, is articulated via a lateral arm 53 to a double-armed lever 54 which is pivotable about an axis 55. The lever 54 actuates with its lower end a smoothing bar 56 which is pivotably mounted on the receiving trough 20, so that it engages in the effective state in a horizontal groove 57 between two ribs of the rear wall 13 and forms a deflection for the towel web 26 passing there.

The drive of the towel dispenser is controlled by electronic control means 60, which mainly consist of an electronic control device, the basic component of which is a digital process computer, which is acted upon by input signals and immediate setting via micro-input buttons or switches. Together with a power supply for these low-voltage components and a circuit breaker for controlling the power supply to the motor 36 at the mains voltage level (relay or triac), the control means are located in a control box 61 on the upper part of the rear wall 13. They are protected there and nevertheless easily accessible. Several microswitches are provided for signaling, they work with low voltage and are therefore easy to install and protect. In the example shown, the towel dispenser is actuated via a pushbutton 63 mounted on the lower part of the hood, which acts on an actuation switch 65 via a pivotable lever 64. When swiveling the hood, the actuation option is automatically interrupted, so that no operation can take place when the device is open. In addition, a hood fuse is provided via the switch 67, which interacts with a counterpressure point on the hood 16 and gives a reset signal.

A shutdown device 66 for the winding process contains the microswitch 68 in the example shown, which reacts to movements of the receiving trough 20. He reacts on the one hand to a vertical lifting of this tub by a predetermined amount and on the other hand to a swiveling this tub, especially towards the front 70. For this purpose, he works with an actuating cam on the receiving trough 20.

In front of the front, lower part of the receiving trough 20, but hidden under the hood 16, there is a switching strip 72 which is actuated by the retracted towel loop 33a and acts via a switching lever on a microswitch 73 which is connected in series with the switch 68 .

The towel dispenser according to the invention works according to the following procedure:
When the towel rolls 21, 23 are inserted and the towel sheet 26 is guided according to the drawing, the towel loop is normally in contact with the dashed line 33a in FIG. When the actuation button 63 and thus the actuation switch 65 or another actuation element (foot switch, proximity switch or the like) is actuated, the motor 36 is rotated via the control means 60 counter to the winding direction 49, ie counterclockwise in FIG. 1. The unwinding roller 30 is also rotated via the then locking freewheel 43 and the remaining gear means 41, in the unwinding direction 50, since the worm gear 47, 48 does not itself lock in this drive direction. Accordingly, in a ratio determined by the gear ratio and the roller diameters, fresh towel from supply roll 21 and used towel are pulled off roll 23 and over conveyed their webs drawn in Fig. 1 down out of the dispenser, where they form the free hanging loop 33. The ratio can, for example, be such that the ratio of fresh towel to used 1: 2, so that only the front area of the towel reached by the user consists of fresh towel. The length of the loop that is output depends on the running time of the motor and is programmed in an adjustable manner in the control means. During the dispensing process, due to the left rotation of the motor 36, the drive segment 51 was pivoted clockwise from its illustrated position via the slip clutch 52, so that the lever 54 assumed the vertical position indicated by dash-dotted lines. As a result, the smoothing strip 56 was moved out of the groove 57, so that the towel in this area could run essentially vertically straight through and the towel could fall out under its gravity.

After a dwell time which can be set in the control means and which corresponds to the average drying process, the motor is operated to wind up the used towel by pulling in the loop 33 in the opposite direction of rotation, ie in the direction of arrow 49 (clockwise). The freewheel 43 is effective and the entire unwinding means, including the associated gear part, stand still and remain blocked by the self-locking of the worm drive. This prevents not only that fresh towels are pulled during the winding process, but also that the user manually pulls towels, which is undesirable and would interfere with the process.

The roller 23 is rotated counterclockwise and winds up the towel web 26. By rotating the motor clockwise, the drive segment 51 pivots in the same direction of rotation in the position shown in Fig. 1, so that the lever assumes the oblique position shown in solid lines and the smoothing bar 56 actuated thereby engages in the groove 57, so that the towel one Deflection and at the same time also undergoes braking, which ensures that any wrinkles present in the towel from drying out are "ironed out" and the towel winds itself cleanly on the roll 23. The resistance creates a tight wrap. When the loop 33 has been drawn in so far that it lies against the underside of the receiving trough 20 (dash-dotted line 33a), the trough is raised somewhat and actuates the switch 68 by releasing its button, which stops the motor via the control means 60. The control is thereby activated for a new cycle, but only when the switch 73 is also actuated, which only happens when the loop is fully drawn in (cf. 33a).

A shutdown also occurs if the towel is held in a forward-pulled position during the winding process, for example because the user has not yet finished drying after the predetermined time. Even then, the tub is pivoted slightly and the switch 68 then released switches off the winding process. The program control then waits again before trying the rewinding process again. But since the switch 73 is then not actuated, no new one can be actuated even when the actuation key 63 is actuated Towel to be issued. The same shutdown device takes effect when the user has his hand under the towel loop while winding. The motor also stops there immediately when the hand presses against the receiving trough 20 from below. Instead of the receptacle, another part that is as large as possible can be used here, which triggers the switching function.

A time control interrupts the winding process if it exceeds a certain time, which occurs, for example, when the towel roll has ended and the free end is drawn in. After any further "pull-in attempts" under the program control have expired, the control is set to the "towel used" state, any further actuation is prevented and, if provided, a signal is sent to an operating center or displayed on the dispenser. This state is ended (reset) by actuation of the switch 67, which indicates that the hood has been opened and possibly also sets a length counter as if it were at zero.

It can be seen that the invention provides numerous advantages. One of the main advantages is the small size and the low construction costs with highly effective, reliable, mass-produced components, the drive with low currents and therefore small cable cross-sections and the versatile control options. The gear means designed with a freewheel and self-locking worm gear enable a small and space-saving construction, but can also be replaced by other components that, if possible, both transmit Allow the motor to rotate on the winding and unwinding means only in one direction of rotation and, as far as possible, lock the unwinding roller outside the actual unwinding process. This can also be done by snarling, ratcheting, braking or the like. The formation of the winding and unwinding means is also possible in other ways than by rolling, for example by tape guides, remote drive or the like. It is essential that the side cheeks, which support and store the mechanical components, such as the rollers, a distance have in front of each other, which is not much larger than the possible towel width, and that outside of these cheeks only covered by the hood no more assemblies need to be accommodated. You therefore determine the overall width.

In the embodiment described, in which the control means 60 of two adjacent apparatuses are coupled to one another so that they consume their supply one after the other, provision can also be made for the two apparatuses to be structurally combined with one another, for example with a common hood and a common one Actuation button to be provided. This arrangement is also possible in the case of towel dispensers with a manual drive by means of the towel which has been pulled off by hand, in particular if the triggering takes place there by an electrically operated locking and releasing device.

The device is also ideal as a built-in device behind mirror walls, cladding or the like. Because no part has to be accessible during operation and the signal line can be easily laid for actuation.

1 shows that the receiving trough 20 can be pivoted about its axis 70 by means of a spring bolt 80 supported on the housing in such a way that it is resiliently supported on the rear wall 13 of the housing via stop ribs. As a result, the smoothing strip 56 attached to the receiving trough is held in a position with a constant passage gap, which enables optimal smoothing. When going through a fault in the towel rail, e.g. seam, the smoothing strip can spring back with the receptacle, thus preventing the towel rail from getting caught or overloading.

Claims (11)

1. Towel dispenser, which delivers and then draws in again a towel web (26) in the form of a loop (33, 33a), with a drive by means of an electric motor (36), characterized in that the motor (36) is a geared motor, which is located in a drive roller, preferably a winding roller (28).
2. Towel dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive is a mains voltage-operated, reversible electric motor (36), which drives unwinding and winding means (27, 29) and/or gear means (41) coupling the unwinding and winding means (27, 29), which on unwinding the towel web (26) bring about the drive of the unwinding means (29) and for the reverse delivery of a previously drawn in towel web portion also the winding means, but on winding up only drive the winding means (27).
3. Towel dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that the gear means (41) contain a slip coupling (43) and preferably a device locking against return drive, such as a worm gear (47, 48), the gear means (41) preferably containing a bevel gear (42, 46) with an integrated slip coupling (43).
4. Towel dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control takes place by electronic control means (60), which preferably contain a programmable electronic component, which, together with control switches or the like, are operated with low voltage, contain adjustable timing elements for controlling the winding and unwinding process and operate the electric motor (36) by means of a circuit breaker element and preferably remote operation, indicating, display and/or setting means can be connected to the control means.
5. Towel dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a disconnecting device (66) for the winding process and which is optionally provided with an additional time control, responding to the engagement of the towel web (26) on an apparatus part, preferably a lower apparatus part, such as a holding trough (20) for the towel roll (21) to be unwound.
6. Towel dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the disconnection device (66) is constructed for responding to a forced stopping of the towel web (26) in a casing-remote position, preferably an apparatus part (20) belonging to the disconnection device being optionally movably mounted in multiaxial manner and in particular forms a base part of the towel dispenser (11).
7. Towel dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a smoothing device (34) for the towel web (26) to be wound up, which is located in the path of the towel web (26) between a towel loop and a winding roll (23) for the used towel and is controllable as a function of the running direction of the towel web (26) in such a way that it only acts on winding up and during unwinding allows the towel web (26) to pass through freely and preferably the smoothing device (34) is operable in rotation direction-dependent manner by the drive, preferably by a slip clutch (52).
8. Towel dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by coupling means for control means of a group of at least two, preferably juxtaposed towel dispensers (11), which in each case only operate one towel dispenser (11) of the group on actuating a common or a random triggering device of the dispenser group and after using up its fresh towel supply switches over to another towel dispenser of the group.
9. Towel dispenser according to one of the claims 4 to 8, characterized by a counting device connected to the control means (60) and optionally provided with a display and which by means of the motor running times determines the delivered towel length and preferably brings about a display of the remaining towel length.
10. Towel dispenser according to one of the claims 4 to 9, characterized in that there is a device (73) distinguishing the drawn-in state with drawn-in towel loop (33, 33a) from the state of a towel position stopped outside the dispenser (11) and which only releases a new delivery cycle following the drawn-in state.
11. Towel dispenser according to one of the claims 8 to 10, characterized in that part (56) of a smoothing device (34) is located on a resiliently pivotably mounted support, which is supported in a smoothing position, preferably of a holding trough (20) for the towel roll to be unwound and can spring back from this position when there is a disturbance in the towel passage.

Images