US3853363A

US3853363A - Towel dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3853363A
Application number: US00399750A
Authority: US
Inventors: O Frederiksen
Original assignee: Steiner Company Lausanne SA
Current assignee: Steiner Company Lausanne SA
Priority date: 1972-02-04
Filing date: 1973-09-21
Publication date: 1974-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-10

Abstract

A continuous towel dispenser cabinet includes a housing provided with a hingedly mounted cover movable between open and closed conditions and having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into the housing, a generally cylindrical clean towel supply receptacle mounted beneath the housing within the loop of towel so as to be substantially concealed thereby, the receptacle having a towel breaker thereon and being movable between a retracted position wherein the breaker cooperates with a fixed towel breaker on the housing to smooth the towel along the return path and an extended position accommodating loading of clean towel into the dispenser, a door on the receptacle slidably movable between open and closed positions, the dispenser having a loading configuration with the cover and the door open and the receptacle extended, and latch mechanism for holding the dispenser in a dispensing configuration with the cover and the door closed and the receptacle retracted.

Description

[451 Dec. 10, 1974 TOWEL DISPENSER Primary Examiner.iames C. Mitchell Attorney, Agent, or FirmPrangley, Dithmar, Vogel, Sandler & Stotland [75] Inventor: Ole Frederiksen, Frederikssund,

Denmark [57] ABSTRACT A continuous towel dispenser cabinet includes a hous- [73] Assignee: Steiner Company Lausanne S.A.,

Lausanne, Switzerland Sept. 21, 1973 ing provided with a hingedly mounted cover movable [22] Filed:

between open and closed conditions and having asso- [21] Appl. No.: 399,750

ciated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an Related 0.5. Application Data 7 V [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 223,444, Feb. 4,

exit path to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into the housing, a

generally cylindrical clean towel supply receptacle abandmed mounted beneath the housing within the loop of towel so as to be substantially concealed thereby, the receptacle having a towel breaker thereon and being movable between a retracted position wherein the breaker [52] US. [51] Int.

[58] Field of Search 312/38, 39, 309, 310; coop r s with fixed towel reaker on the housing to smooth the towel along the return path and an extended position accommodating loading of clean towel into the dispenser, a door on the receptacle slidably movable between open and closed positions, the dispenser having a loading configuration with the cover 312/38 and the door open and the receptacle extended, and latch mechanism for holding the dispenser in a dispensing configuration with the cover and the door closed and the receptacle retracted.

16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,765,631 6/1930 Steiner et 2,899,251 8/1959 3,574,43l 4/l97l Henderson............................

TOWEL DISPENSER CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation of my co-pending application, Ser. No. 223,444, filed Feb. 4, 1972, and now abandoned, and entitled TOWEL DISPENSER.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to improvements in dispensing cabinets and specifically to improvements in the operation of cloth towel dispensing cabinets of the continuous type.

Cloth towel dispensing cabinets of the continuous type are well known in the prior. art, but difficulty has been experienced in loading clean toweling into the prior art cabinets and in threading the clean toweling through the dispensing and take-up mechanisms thereof. For example, US. Pat. No. 1,765,631, issued to F. M. Steiner and G. Olson, discloses such a towel cabinet, wherein it is necessary to open at least three members including the door 9, the panel 26 and the door 34 in order-to place clean toweling therein and to thread the clean toweling through the dispensing mechanism, which threading even then is accomplished only with difficulty.

US. Pat. No. 2,889,251, issued to R. G. Birr discloses a towel cabinet wherein a receptacle 29 for a roll of clean toweling is provided, the receptacle being pivotally mounted about the pivot screws 34 to facilitate loading of the clean towel thereinto upon opening of the front cover 18. Despite this improved structure, difficulty still was experienced in use in loading clean toweling into the dispensing cabinet and threading the clean toweling through the dispensing mechanism.

US. Pat. No. 3,574,431, issued to C. A. Henderson, disclosed yet another approach to the method of loading clean toweling, wherein two

doors

24 and 33 must be opened to gain access to two vertically spaced apart compartments for the clean toweling and soiled toweling, respectively, in order to place clean toweling therein. Despite this arrangement, difficulty still is experienced in attempting to load the clean toweling into the dispensing cabinet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides dispensing cabinet for continuous cloth toweling which permits ready loading of clean toweling into the cabinet, and threading of the free end of the clean toweling through the dispensing mechanism with ease and certainty.

This is accomplished in the present invention, and it is an object of the present invention to accomplish these desired results, by providing a towel dispenser wherein the clean toweling receptacle is suspended exteriorly of and beneath the housing containing the towel dispensing apparatus and the loop take-up means, there being cooperating guide members on the housing and the receptacle suspending the receptacle from the housing for accommodating transverse sliding movement of the receptacle between a towel dispensing position disposed immediately below the housing and a towel servicing position spaced forwardly of the housing and from the towel dispensing position.

It is another object of the invention to provide a towel dispenser of the type set forth, wherein the receptacle for clean towel is shaped and dimensioned conformably with a supply of clean towel and is substantially disposed within the lateral edges of the associated loop of towel so as to be substantially concealed thereby, whereby the size of the towel dispenser is minimized by location of the receptacle exteriorly of the housing while the receptacle is substantially concealed from view to afford a compact appearance for the towel dispenser.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of the invention to provide the receptacle of a transparent plastic material, thereby further to minimize the apparent size of the towel dispenser.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a towel dispenser of the type set forth wherein at least a portion of the receptacle is movable downwardly away from the housing when the receptacle is movable downwardly away from the housing when the receptacle is in the towel servicing position thereof, further to accommodate easy loading of a roll of clean towel into the receptacle.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of the invention to provide a towel dispenser, wherein the receptacle includes a part-cylindrical side wall anda pair of end walls respectively closing the ends of the side wall, the movable portion being a door part-cylindrical in shape and arranged essentially coaxially with the end walls and having a longitudinal extent substantially equal to the side wall, the door being slidably movable with respect to the side wall and the end walls between a closed position and an open position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a towel dispenser of the type set forth, wherein the housing has a cover movable between open and closed positions, the cover in the closed position thereof holding the towel receptacle in the towel dispensing position thereof and the cover in the open position permitting transverse sliding movement of the receptacle to the towel servicing position.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a towel dispenser of the type set forth, wherein a fixed towel breaker is mounted on the housing and a movable towel breaker is mounted on the receptacle, the towel breakers cooperating to smooth the towel along the return path of the loop, movement of the receptacle to the towel servicing position separating the towel breakers to facilitate threading of the clean towel.

Still another object of the invention is to provide on the housing bias means engaging the receptacle to urge the receptacle from the towel dispensing position thereof toward the towel servicing position thereof.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the parts of the compact towel dispenser whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features hereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation together with further features and advantages thereof will best be understood with reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a compact towel dispenser constructed in accordance with and embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the towel dispenser of FIG. 1, with portions of the housing broken away to more clearly illustrate the mechanism housed therein;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged view in vertical section taken along the line 33 in FIG. 1 with the dispenser shown in the dispensing configuration thereof, and illustrating the movement of the housing cover between the open and closed conditions thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical section, similar to FIG. 3, with the receptacle shown in the extended position thereof and the receptacle door shown in the open position thereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one of the receptacle track members as viewed from the inside of the housing, and diagrammatically illustrating the movement of the receptacle between an installation position and the retracted position thereof;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the receptacle taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the receptacle taken along the line 77 in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings, there is shown a towel dispensing cabinet or housing, generally designated by the numeral 20, constructed in accordance with and embodying the features of the present invention. The housing includes a flat rectangular rear wall 21 and a cover, generally designated by the numeral 30, the rear wall 21 being preferably constructed of sheet metal and being provided at the upper end thereof with a flange 22 extending forwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto along the entire width thereof. Integral with the rear wall 21 at the bottom edge thereof and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom along the entire width thereof is a breaker flange 23, the distal end of which is folded back upon itself to form a rounded breaker edge 24. Secured to the inner surface of the rear wall 21 a predetermined distance above the bottom edge thereof is a breaker member, generally designated by the numeral 25, which is generally in the form of a right angle bracket running the width of the rear wall 21 and includes an attachment flange 26 disposed against the inner surface of the rear wall 21 substantially parallel thereto and secured thereto by suitable means such as welding. Integral with the attachment flange 26 at the bottom edge thereof and extending forwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto is a breaker flange 27, the distal end of which is folded back upon itself to form a rounded breaker edge 28 disposed substantially in vertical alignment with the breaker edge 24 of the breaker flange 23. Secured to the outer surface of the rear wall 21 and extending outwardly therefrom are a plurality of mounting lugs 29 adapted to abut against a support wall or other support surface 39 and preferably being formed with openings therein to accommodate therethrough suitable fasteners for securing the rear wall 21 to the support wall 39.

The cover 30 is generally in the shape of a box open at the rear and bottom thereof, and includes a flat top wall 31, a flat front wall 32 disposed substantially normal to the top wall 31, and a pair of opposed side walls 33 disposed substantially parallel to each other and normal to the top wall 31 and the front wall 32. Preferably, the cover 30 comprises a single piece, the

walls

31, 32 and 33 all being integral with one another. Secured to the top wall 31 along the rear edge thereof is one plate of a hinge 35, the other plate of the hinge 35 being secured to the top flange 22 of the rear wall 21, for pivotally mounting the cover 30 on the rear wall 21. The cover30 is pivotally movable between a closed condition, illustrated in solid line in FIG. 3, and an open or raised condition (not shown) with the top wall 31 being disposed substantially parallel to the rear wall 21, a condition intermediate the open and closed conditions being illustrated in broken line in FIG. 3. If desired, suitable latch means may be provided for holding the cover 30 in the open condition thereof.

It will be noted that the walls of the cover 30 are so dimensioned that, when the cover 30 is disposed in the closed condition thereof, it cooperates with the rear wall 21 to define a box-like open-bottom housing for the dispenser. Integral with the front wall 32 of the cover 30 along the bottom edge thereof and extending inwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto along the entire width thereof in a short front flange 34. Secured by suitable means to the inner surface of the front flange 34 substantially parallel thereto is a flat breaker plate 36, the distal end of which extends inwardly beyond the inner edge of the flange 34 and is folded back upon itself to define a rounded breaker edge 37,for a purpose to be described more fully below. Secured to the inner surface of the cover front wall 32, adjacent to the lower end thereof is a lock assembly, generally designated by the numeral 41, and provided with a lock arm 42.

Mounted within the housing 20 is a dispensing and take-up assembly, generally designated by the numeral 40, the construction of which is described in detail in the US. Pat. No. 2,899,251, issued to R. G. Birr on Aug. 1 l, 1959, the disclosure of which patent is incorporated herein by reference. Accordingly, only so much of the dispensing and take-up assembly as is necessary for a complete understanding of the present invention will be described herein. More particularly, secured to the inner surface of the rear wall 21 are two spaced-apart mounting brackets 44, respectively disposed adjacent to the lateral side edges of the rear wall 21. Respectively secured to the mounting brackets 44 by means of suitable fasteners 43 are a pair of generally rectangular parallel side plates 45, respectively spaced a predetermined distance laterally inwardly from the adjacent side edge of the rear wall 21 substantially normal thereto. Each of the side plates 45 is provided with an inclined rear guide flange 46 extending substantially from the top to the bottom thereof and an angular front guide flange 47, spaced forwardly from the rear guide flange 46 and cooperating therewith in a manner to be described mre fully below. Formed in each of the side plates 45 adjacent to the lower front edge thereof is an opening (not shown) for accommodating the ends of the lock arm 42 therein for locking the housing 20 in a manner to be described below.

Integral with the bottom edge of the side plates 45 and extending outwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto along the entire length thereof is a short support flange 48 spaced a predetermined distance above the bottom edge of the rear wall 21, the purpose of which flange 48 will be explained in greater detail below. The lateral extent of each flange 48 is less than the lateral distance between the adjacent side plate 45 and the cover side wall 33 so as not to interfere with opening and closing of the cover 30.

Mounted between the side plates 45 toward the front of the housing 20 is a measuring roll 50, the outer surface of the measuring roll 50 being covered with a suitable friction material 52 such as sandpaper, emery cloth or the like to provide improved frictional engagement of the surface of the measuring roll 50 with the towel to be dispensed, as will be described more fully hereinafter. The measuring roll may be supported at the opposite ends thereof by a shaft 51 extending longitudinally therethrough coaxially therewith. Mounted between the side plates 45 adjacent to the measuring roll 50 and slightly forwardly thereof is a pinch roll 55, supported at the opposite ends thereof by a coaxial shaft 56 disposed in complementary bearing members (not shown) which are adapted to respectively slide vertically in oppositely disposed corresponding guide members on the inner surfaces of the side plates 45. In use, the pinch roll 55 is held in engagement with the surface of the measuring roll 50 by gravity.

A take-up drive roll 60 is rotatably mounted by a coaxial shaft 61 extending between the side plates 45 rearwardly of the measuring roll 50 and is provided on the outer surface thereof with suitable frictional material 62 such as sandpaper, emery cloth or the like for providing improved frictional engagement with the towel, as will be described more fully hereinafter. Rotatably mounted on a coaxial shaft 66 extending between the side plates 45 above the drive roll 60 is a soiled towel take-up roll 65, held in engagement with the drive roll 60 by gravity for winding the soiled towel into a coil 95. Also disposed along the inner surface of each of the side plates 45 are a rear guide member 46 and a front guide member 47, converging toward the top of the housing 20. In use, the opposite ends of the take-up roll 65, are disposed between the

guide members

46 and 47 for permitting vertical movements and limited forward and rearward movements of the takeup roll 65, as the diameter of the coil 95 increases with the accumulation of soiled towel thereon. More particularly, with the rear and

front guide members

46 and 47 spaced apart as shown in FIG. 3, the take-up roll 65 is free to roll over the upper surface of the take-up drive roll 60 from a normal rearward position with the ends of the shaft 66 in engagement with the rear guide members 46 to a second forward position with the ends of the shaft 66 in engagement with the front guide members 47. As the diameter of the coil 95 increases due to the winding of used towel thereon, the distance that the take-up roll 65 may travel from its normalfirst position to its second position is gradually reduced.

The foregoing arrangement, which permits the takeup roll 65 to rotate over the surface of the take-up drive roll 60 between first and second positions, is provided to take up any excess towel that is drawn into the cabinet at the end of a particularly violent stopping action of the take-up drive roll 60. In other words, the take-up roll 65 rotates in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in H6. 3, to take up the used towel as the take-up drive roll 60 rotates in a counterclockwise direction during a dispensing operation. When the takeup drive roll 60 is suddenly stopped at the end of a dispensing operation, the momentum of the take-up roll 65 is absorbed by permitting the take-up roll 65 to rotate and roll forwardly over the rough surface of the take-up drive roll 60 from the normal first position to the second position described above. Thus, the excess towel that is drawn into the cabinet as a result of the suddenly stopped take-up drive roll 60 will be wound onto the take-up roll 65.

During the next dispensing operation, the take-up drive roll 60 will again rotate in the counterclockwise direction and during the initial phase of the operation it will carry the take-up roll 65 from the second position in engagement with the front guide members 47 to the normal first position in engagement with the rear guide members 46 without winding any soiled towel in the take-up roll 65. However, the normal amount of towel will be dispensed from the cabinet during the return movement of the take-up roll 65 from its second to its first position. Thus, the excess amount of towel that has been wound onto the take-up roll 65 resulting in a temporary shortening of the towel loop below the cabinet is replaced by the dispensing operation of the clean towel during the period in which the take-up roll 65 moves from its second position back to its first position without winding any of the used towel thereon. As soon as the take-up roll 65 again reaches the normal take-up position in engagement with rear guide 46, the process of taking up the used towel and winding it onto the take-up roll 65 will be resumed. It is apparent that, as the diameter of the used towel wound onto the coil 95 increases, the distance that the take-up roll 65 must travel from its normal first position to its second position in order .to wind up the same amount of towel is correspondingly decreased. It is for this reason that the rear guides 46 and the front guides 47 converge toward the top of the housing 20.

The measuring roll 50 is preferably smaller in diameter than the take-up drive roll 60. This permits rotation of the measuring roll 50 through more than one revolution during each revolution of the take-up drive roll 60, while at the same time dispensing substantially the same amount of clean towel from the cabinet as is taken up under control of the take-up drive roll during each dispensing operation, for purposes best described in the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 2,899,251. Supported between the side plates 45 is a roller shield, generally designated by the numeral 70, having two spaced-apart front and rear

arcuate sections

71 and 72, respectively conforming substantially to the contours of the measuring roll 50 and the take-up drive roll 60, and spaced a slight distance therebelow. The front edge of the roller shield is preferably cut away at the center portion thereof to provide two spaced-apart towel guides and an upturned lip (not shown) to guide the clean towel as it is fed upwardly between the measuring roll 50 and the pinch roll 55, as explained in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 2,899,251. The roller shield 70, in addition to serving as a brace between the side plates 45, also functions to partially close the bottom of the housing 20. Preferably, the entire dispensing and take-up assembly 40 forms a unit which is demountably supported in the housing 20, as explained in detail in the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 2,899,251.

The housing 20 is also provided with a pair of guide channels, generally designated by the numeral 80, and respectively mounted on the flanges 48 of the side plates 45. Each of the guide channels is generally U- shaped in transverse cross section and includes spacedapart horizontally extending top and

bottom flanges

81 and 82 disposed substantially parallel to each other and interconnected along the outer edges thereof by a substantially vertically extending bight portion 83. In use, the top flange 81 of each guide channel 80 is disposed above the adjacent side plate flange 48 and parallel thereto and is secured thereto by suitable means such as welding, the lower flange 82 being spaced a predetermined distance below the associated side plate flange 48 and cooperating therewith to define a guide track groove or channel 49 for a purpose to be described below.

Referring now also to FIGS. 4 through 7 of the drawings, there is provided a clean towel receptacle, generally designated by the numeral 100, depending from the lower end of the housing 20 for accommodating therein a roll 90 of clean towel. The receptacle 100 is generally cylindrical in shape and includes a pair of generally circular end caps 105 constructed as mirror images of each other and supporting therebetween a rear wall member 110 and a front door member 120. Each of the end caps 105 includes a part-circular end wall 102 truncated along a chord thereof to form a straight upper edge 101 disposed in use substantially horizontally. The end wall 102 is provided with a generally annular flange 103 integral therewith along the periphery thereof and extending inwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto. Each end cap 105 is also provided with an elongated support flange 104 extending outwardly from the end wall 102 adjacent to the straight upper edge 101 and substantially parallel thereto. Disposed adjacent to each annular flange 103 and extending circumferentially of the wall 102 is a bearing ridge or shoulder 106 projecting laterally inwardly of the end wall 102. The radially outermost portion of the shoulder 106 has an annular recess or groove 107 formed in the inner surface 109 thereof and extending circumferentially thereof along substantially the entire periphery thereof, the recess 107 being generally rectangular in transverse cross-sectional outline. The inner surface 109 of the shoulder 106 is further recessed immediately radially inwardly of the groove 107 to define a second groove 108 which extends circumferentially along the rear and bottom of the end cap 105 (the left-hand side and bottom as viewed in FIG. 4) and communicates with the groove 107, the groove 108 also being generally rectangular in transverse cross-sectional outline.

The rear wall member 110 includes a substantially semi-cylindrical wall plate 111, the trailing edge ofthe plate 111 (top left-hand edge as viewed in FIG. 4) being provided with an attachment flange 114 integral therewith and extending substantially radially outwardly therefrom. Extending outwardly from the plate 111 adjacent to the attachment flange 114 is a short stop lug 113 for a purpose to be described below. The lateral side edges of the cylindrical plate 111 are respectively received in the circumferential grooves 108 in the end caps 105 (see FIG. 6) and are secured thereto by suitable means such as an appropriate cement or other adhesive to form a rigid unit with the attachment flanges 114 disposed adjacent to the rear ends of the straight top edges 101.

The front door member 120 is constructed similarly to the rear wall member 110 and includes a part cylindrical plate 121 preferably extending along an arc of about 120 and provided along each of the lateral side edges thereof with a laterally extending tongue or flange 122 shaped and dimensioned complementary to the grooves 107. The leading edge of the plate 121 (right-hand edge as viewed in FIG. 4) is provided with an out-turned lip or flange 124, while the trailing edge thereof defines a flat substantially radially extending abutment surface 123. In use, the door plate 121 is disposed between the end caps 105 with the side tongues 122 being respectively disposed in the grooves 107 of the end caps 105 for sliding engagement therewith. It will be observed with reference to FIG. 6, that when the rear wall member 110 is secured in place between the end caps 105, the outer surface thereof is substantially coplanar with the inner Wall 1070 (FIG. 7) along the front portion of the groove 107 and cooperates with the inner surface 103a of the annular flange 103 to define the rear portion of the annular groove 107. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the front door member 120 is attached for sliding movement along the outer surface of the rear wall plate 111 between a closed position illustrated in FIG. 3, with the lip 124 disposed adjacent to the front end of the top edge 101, and an open position illustrated in FIG. 4 with the lip 124 disposed front upper ends thereof.

In use, the end caps 105 are respectively disposed adjacent to the side plates 45, with each support flange 104 being disposed in the track or groove 49 formed by the adjacent guide channel and flange 48 for supporting the receptacle while accommodating sliding movement thereof forwardly and rearwardly of the housing 20 along the track grooves 49 between an extended position illustrated in FIG. 4 and a retracted position illustrated in FIG. 3. Secured to the attachment flange 114 by suitable means such as screws or bolts 117 and extending rearwardly therefrom is a breaker plate 115, the distal end of which is folded back upon itself to define a rounded breaker edge 118. The breaker plate is disposed in use substantially parallel to the breaker flange 27 of the breaker member 25 and is vertically positioned substantially midway between the

breaker flanges

23 and 27 when the receptacle 100 is slidably mounted in the track grooves 49.

Respectively secured to the front lip 124 of the wall plate 121 adjacent to the opposite ends thereof are two generally U-shaped attachment channels 126, each having secured thereto a substantially rectangular bearing plate 127 which extends upwardly or forwardly from the front lip 124 closely adjacent to the inner edge "*'of the associated end cap annular flange 103, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Respectively mounted on the inner surfaces of the side plates 45 adjacent to the lower rear ends thereof are two ejector springs, generally designated by the numeral 130, each of the ejector springs 130 including a center coil portion 131 mounted on a mounting stud 132 projecting inwardly from the adjacent side plate 45, the free ends of the coil 131 extending tangentially outwardly therefrom to define two spring leaves 133 and 134. In use, the rear one of the spring leaves 133 is disposed in engagement with the attachment flange 26 of the breaker member 25 for anchoring the ejector spring 130, the forward one of the leaves 134 being disposed in engagement with the rear edge of the support flange 104 of the adjacent end cap 105. The leaves 134 resiliently urge the adjacent support flanges 104, and thereby the receptacle 100, forwardly along the guide channels 80 toward the extended position shown in FIG. 4.

The operation of the improved towel dispenser of the present invention will now be described. In the ordinary process of loading a clean towel supply into the dispenser, the housing cover is unlocked and is pivoted upwardly and outwardly on the hinge to the open condition thereof. The receptacle 100 will be urged forwardly to the extended position thereof, illustrated in FIG. 4, by urging of the ejector springs 130, whereby the front portion of the receptacle 100 will project forwardly of the measuring roll so as to prevent obstruction thereby of the loading process. The

front door member 120 of the receptacle 100 is then slidably moved downwardly and rearwardly to the open position thereof, illustrated in FIG. 4, thereby to provide an access opening into the interior of the receptacle 100. A supply roll 90 of clean towel may then be placed in the receptacle 100 so that the roll 90 will rotate in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, as the leading edge of the towel web 91 is drawn up? wardly. The leading edge of the web 91 of the clean towel is then fed from the receptacle 100 upwardly in front of the measuring roll 50. In order to feed the web 91 between the surfaces of the measuring roll 50 and the pinch roll 55, the pinch roll is raised upwardly a slight distance in the manner set forth in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 2,899,251. The web 91 may then be passed behind the pinch roll 55 and then wrapped forwardly therearound.

After the web 91 is wrapped around the pinch roll 55 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, it is then pulled downwardly in front of the receptacle 100 to form a depending loop 93 which extends beneath the receptacle 100 and then upwardly therebehind. It will be noted that since the receptacle 100 is disposed forwardly in its extended position under the urging of the ejector springs 130, sufficient clearance is provided between the breaker edge 118 and the breaker edges 24 and 28 to pass the web 91 therebetween and back upwardly to the interior of the housing 20. More particularly, the return path of the web 91 to the interior of the housing 20 extends rearwardly of the breaker edge 118 and forwardly of the breaker edges 24 and 28, and thence upwardly to the take-up roll 65. For purposes of winding the leading end of the towel web 91 around the take-up roll 65, the take-up roll 65 is preferably raised out of engagement with the take-up drive roll 60, after which the web 91 is manually wound in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, around the take-up roll 65. when the web 91 is thus securely wrapped around the take-up roll 65, the take-up roll 65 is lowered into place on the take-up drive roll in the normal first position thereof, with the ends of the shaft 66 disposed in engagement with the rear guides 46, as previously described.

The amount of towel forming the loop 93 below the receptacle 100 is determined at this time and remains constant as towel is taken up by the take-up mechanism supported in the housing 20. The front door member 120 may now be slidably returned to its closed position, and the receptacle 100 may be slidably moved back along the guide channels to the retracted position thereof, illustrated in FIG. 3, against the urging. of the ejector springs 130. The cover 30 is now lowered to the closed condition thereof while the receptacle is manually held in its retracted position, whereupon the lock mechanism 41 is actuated to engage the lock arm 42 in the corresponding openings in the side plates 45 and lock the cover 30 in its closed condition.

The dispenser mechanism will now be disposed in a dispensing configuration, illustrated in FIG. 3, for dispensing of clean towel from the receptacle 100. Preferably, actuation of the lock mechanism 41 to lock the cover 30 in its closed condition effects movement of the lock arm 42 laterally outwardly into the corresponding opening in the adjacent side plates 45. In this locked condition, the lock arm 42 will be disposed immediately in front of the bearing plate 127 on the front door member 120, the front edge 128 of the bearing plate 127 being urged into engagement with the lock arm 41 by the action of the ejector springs 130. In this configuration, the receptacle will be prevented from being moved to its extended position by the ejector springs 130, and the door member 120 will be prevented from moving to its closed position, since this latter movement requires a forward motion as well as a downward motion of the bearing plates 127. Thus, it will be appreciated that the lock mechanism 41 serves not only to lock the cover 30 in its closed condition, but also serves to lock the receptacle 100 in its retracted position and to lock the front door member 120 in its closed position.

When the receptacle 100 is thus disposed in its retracted position, illustrated in FIG. 3, the breaker plate will extend between the

breaker flanges

23 and 27 and will cooperate therewith to define a sinuous portion of the return path of the towel web 91, with the breaker edges 24, 28 and 118 all contacting the soiled towel along the return path and effecting smoothing thereof to facilitate rewinding thereof on the take-up roll 65.

The measuring roll 50 and the take-up drive roll 60 are interconnected (by means not shown) to effect simultaneous rotation thereof. Further, appropriate control means are provided in the housing 20 for controlling the rotation of the measuring roll 50 and the takeup drive roll 60. This control means limits rotation of the measuring roll 50 to a predetermined distance for each dispensing operation and includes time delay means to lock the measuring roll 50 against further rotation until a predetermined time has elapsed. The construction and operation of all of this connecting and controlling apparatus is disclosed in detail in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 2,899,251.

When a user pulls down on the portion of the web 91 of clean towel forming the front of the exposed loop 93, the downward pull thus applied causes the pinch roll 55 to revolve in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, and simultaneously to press down on the surface of the measuring roll 50 with the towel web 91 therebetween, thereby causing the measuring roll 50 to revolve in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3. Due to the interconnection between the measuring roll 50 and the take-up drive roll 60, the latter roll is simultaneously rotated in a counterclockwise direction. Since the take-up roll 65 is resting on the upper surface of the take-up drive roll 60, it rotates in a clockwise direction to take up substantially the same amount of towel as is dispensed from the supply roll 90 by the measuring roll 50 during each dispensing operation. The control mechanism limits the length of towel which may be dispensed in a single operation to a predetermined amount and locks the dispensing apparatus against further dispensing until a predetermined time has elapsed, after which another dispensing operation may be performed.

It is a significant feature of the present invention that the receptacle 100 is shaped and dimensioned conformably to the supply roll 90 of clean towel, so as to occupy as little space as possible. Furthermore, the receptacle 100 is laterally centered within the exposed loop of towel 93 and extends only a slight distance beyond the lateral edges thereof so that, when viewed from the front by a user, the receptacle 100 is substantially concealed by the front portion of the exposed loop 93. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment of this invention, the receptacle 100 is constructed of transparent material which may, for example, be a medium impact-resistant acrylic, whereby even the portions of the end caps 105 which may extend a slight distance beyond the lateral edges of the exposed towel loop 93 will be substantially invisible to a user. In addition, the construction of the receptacle 100 of transparent material permits a service attendant to readily determine the amount of clean towel remaining in the receptacle so as to know when to replenish the clean towel supply, without the necessity of opening the dispenser housing. Furthermore, it will be observed that, since the clean towel supply roll 90 has been removed to a position suspended below the housing 20, the only mechanism remaining in the housing is the dispensing and take-up apparatus 40, whereby the housing 20 may be appropriately reduced in size, thereby affording a more compact and streamlined appearance for the dispenser. Since the receptacle 100 is formed of transparent material and is substantially hidden from view within the exposed towel loop 93, the only portion of the dispenser readily visible to the user is the reduced size compact housing 20.

When the supply of clean towel within the receptacle 100 has been exhausted, if it is desired to insert a new supply roll 90, the lock mechanism 41 is disengaged, thereby permitting raising of the cover back to its open condition. Immediately upon release of the lock mechanism and movement of the cover 30 to its open condition, the receptacle 100 will be automatically ejected forwardly to the extended position thereof by the action of the ejector springs 130. Thus, upon sliding of the front door member 120 back down to its open position, the dispenser will be disposed in a loading configuration best illustrated in FIG. 4, whereupon a new clean towel supply roll 90 may be inserted into the receptacle 100 in the manner described above. It will be observed that the roller shield will normally be effective to prevent soil particles from falling from the soiled towel along the return path into the receptacle 100 and contaminating the clean towel supply. However, in this regard, it whould be noted that, as is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 5, the receptacle 100 may be completely withdrawn from the guide channels and the housing 20, when the dispenser is disposed in its loading configuration, to facilitate such cleaning or other servicing of the receptacle as may be desirable.

While in the preferred embodiment described above, the receptacle 100 is constructed of a transparent material, it will be appreciated that the receptacle 100 could also be constructed of other suitable material such as sheet metal or the like. Similarly, while the housing 20 has been disclosed as preferably being constructed of sheet metal, it will be appreciated that it could also be constructed of other suitable material such as plastic.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided an improved towel dispenser of the continuous type which affords a small, compact and streamlined appearance without reduction or elimination of any of the operative mechanism of the dispenser.

More particularly, there has been provided a compact towel dispenser which includes a housing containing thereon only the dispensing and take-up apparatus, and further including a clean towel receptacle suspended below the housing within the exposed loop of towel so as to be substantially concealed thereby without detracting from the compact appearance of the housing.

In addition, there has been provided a clean towel receptacle which is slidably movable between extended and retracted positions, the receptacle having a door therein slidably movable between open and closed positions.

In addition, there has been provided an improved dispensing cabinet having a pivotally movable cover, and including lock mechanism effective for simultaneously locking the cover in the closed condition thereof and the receptacle in its retracted position and the receptacle door in its closed position, to thereby define a dispensing configuration for the dispenser.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A towel dispenser of the continuous loop type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path out of said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from a supply thereof into said housing and from said housing into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said towel dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing in said housing soiled towel from the return path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, a receptacle suspended exteriorly of and beneath said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel exteriorly of said housing, and cooperating guide members on said housing and said re ceptacle suspending said receptacle from said housing for accommodating transverse sliding movement of said receptacle between a towel dispensing position disposed immediately below said housing and a towel servicing position spaced forwardly of said housing and from said towel dispensing position.

2. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein said receptacle is formed of transperent plastic material.

3. The towel dispenser set forth in claim ll, wherein one of said cooperating guide members is carried by said housing adjacent to the lower end thereof and the other of said cooperating guide members is carried by said receptacle and disposed in sliding engagement with said one guide member.

4. A towel dispenser of the continuous loop type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path out of said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from a supply thereof into said housing and from said housing into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said towel dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing in said housing soiled towel from the return path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, a receptacle suspended exteriorly of and beneath said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel exteriorly of said housing, and cooperating guide members on said housing and said receptacle suspending said receptacle from said housing for accommodating transverse sliding movement of said receptacle between a towel dispensing position disposed immediately below said housing and a towel servicing position spaced forwardly of said housing and from said towel dispensing portion, said receptacle being shaped and dimensioned conformably with a supply of clean towel and being substantially disposed within the lateral edges of the associated loop of towel so as to be substantially concealed thereby, whereby the size of said towel dispenser is minimized by location of said receptacle exteriorly of said housing while said receptacle is substantially concealed from view to afford a compact appearance for said towel dispenser.

5. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 4, wherein said receptacle is substantially cylindrical in shape and conforms to the dimensions of an associated supply roll of clean towel.

6. A towel dispenser of the continuous loop type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path out of said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from a supply thereof into said housing and from said housing into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said towel dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing in said housing soiled towel from the return path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, a receptacle suspended exteriorly of and beneath said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel exteriorly of aid housing, cooperating guide members on said housing andsaid receptacle suspending said receptacle from said housing for accommodating transverse sliding movement of said receptacle between a towel dispensing position disposed immediately below said housing and a towel servicing position spaced forwardly of said housing and from said towel dispensing position, and at least a portion of said receptacle being movable downwardly away from said housing when said receptacle is in the towel servicing position thereof to accommodate easy loading of a roll of clean towel into said receptacle.

7. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 6, wherein said portion of said receptacle is a door movable with respect to the remainder of the receptacle between a closed position adjacent to said housing and an open position disposed away from said housing.

8. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 6, wherein said door is mounted for sliding movement between the closed position and the open position thereof.

9. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 6, wherein said receptacle includes a part-cylindrical side wall and a pair of end walls respectively closing the ends of said side wall, and said movable portion is a door partcylindrical in shape and arranged essentially coaxially with said end walls and having a longitudinal extent substantially equal to said side wall, said door being slidably movable with respect to said side wall and said end walls between a closed position and an open position.

10. A towel dispenser of the continuous loop type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path out of said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from a supply thereof into said housing and from said housing into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said towel dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing in said housing soiled towel from the return path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled bya user, a cover mounted on said housing and being movable between an open position providing access to the interior of said housing and a closed position covering said housing, a receptacle suspended exteriorly of and beneath said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel exteriorly of said housing, and cooperating guide members on said housing and said receptacle suspending said receptacle from said housing for accommodating transverse sliding movement of said receptacle between a towel dispensing position disposed immediately below said housing and a towel servicing position spaced forwardly of said housing and from said towel dispensing'position, said cover in the closed position-thereof holding said receptacle in the towel dispensing. position thereof and said cover in the open position thereof permitting transverse sliding movement of said receptacle to the towel servicing position thereof.

11. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 10, and further including lock mechanism for locking said cover in the closed position thereof.

'12. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 10, wherein said cover is hingedly mounted on said housing adjacent to the upper end thereof for pivotal movement between the closed position thereof and the open position thereof.

13. A towel dispenser of the continuous loop type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path out of said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from a supply thereof into said housing and from said housing into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said towel dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing in said housing soiled towel from the return path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, a cover mounted on said housing and being movable between an open position providing access to the interior of said housing and a closed position covering said housing, a receptacle suspended exteriorly of and beneath said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel exteriorly of said housing, cooperating guide members on said housing and said receptacle suspending said receptacle from said housing for accommodating transverse sliding movement of said receptacle between a towel dispensing position disposed immediately below said housing and a towel servicing position spaced forwardly of said hous-.

ing and from said towel dispensing position, at least a portion of said receptacle being movable downwardly away from said housing when said cover is in the open position thereof and said receptacle is in the towel servicing position thereof to accommodate easy loading of a roll of clean towel into said receptacle, and said cover in the closed position thereof holding said receptacle and the movable portion of said receptacle in the towel dispensing position thereof and said cover in the open position thereof permitting transverse sliding movement of said receptacle to the towel servicing position thereof and downward movement of the movable portion of said receptacle to the towel servicing position thereof.

14. A towel dispenser of the continuous loop type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path out of said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from a supply thereof into said housing and from said housing into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said towel dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing in said housing soiled towel from the return path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, a receptacle suspended exteriorly of and beneath said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel exteriorly of said housing, cooperating guide members on said housing and said receptacle suspending said receptacle from said housing for accommodating transverse sliding movement of said receptacle between a towel dispensing position disposed immediately below said housing and a towel servicing position spaced forwardly of said housing and from said towel dispensing position, a fixed towel breaker mounted on said housing adjacent to the return path of the loop of towel, and a movable towel breaker mounted on said receptacle for movement therewith, said movable towel breaker in the towel dispensing position of said receptacle cooperating with said fixed towel breaker for smoothing the soiled towel as it moves to said loop take-up means, said movable towel breaker in the towel servicing position of said receptacle being spaced from said fixed towel breaker to facilitate threading of the free end of the towel onto the loop take-up means.

15. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 14, wherein said fixed towel breaker includes two spaced apart breaker members disposed respectively above and below said movable towel breaker when in the towel dispensing position thereof.

16. A towel dispenser of the continuous loop type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path out of said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from a supply thereof into said housing and from said housing into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said towel dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing in said housing soiled towel from the return path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, a receptacle suspended exteriorly of and beneath said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel exteriorly of said housing, cooperating guide members on said housing and said receptacle suspending said receptacle from said housing for accommodating transverse sliding movement of said receptacle between a towel dispensing position disposed immediately below said housing and a towel servicing position spaced forwardly of said housing and from said towel dispensing position, bias means mounted on said housing and engaging said receptacle when in the towel dispensing position thereof and urging said receptacle from the towel dispensing position thereof toward the towel servicing position thereof, and lock mechanism for holding said receptacle in the towel dispensing position thereof against the urging of said bias means.

Patent No. 3, 853, 363

Invent0r(S) Ole Fredeir iks en It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 17, after "receptacle" delete is movable downwardly away from the housing when the receptacle";

Column 2, line 57, "hereof" should be --thereof--;

Column 4, line 60, after "of" insert -each of--'-;:

Column 5, line 36,v after "the" insert shaft 66 respectively extending :Erom the Opposite ends of the-e;

Claim 2, column l3, line 2, "transperent" should be -transparent- Claim 4, column 13., line 32, "portion" should be -position-; Claim 6, column 13 line 60', "aid" should be --s aid--; and

Claim 10, Column 14, line 27, after "along" insert -a- Signed and sealed this 11th day of February 1975.

(SEAL) Attest: v

' C. MARSHALL DANN- RUTH C MASON c mmissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks )RM PO-105O (10-69) v USCOMM.D 0375.5:59 1% u.s. GOVERNMENT PRQNTING OFFICE i969 0-366-334,

Claims

1. A towel dispenser of the continuous loop type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path out of said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from a supply thereof into said housing and from said housing into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said towel dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing in said housing soiled towel from the return path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, a receptacle suspended exteriorly of and beneath said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel exteriorly of said housing, and cooperating guide members on said housing and said receptacle suspending said receptacle from said housing for accommodating transverse sliding movement of said receptacle between a towel dispensing position disposed immediately below said housing and a towel servicing position spaced forwardly of said housing and from said towel dispensing position.

3. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said cooperating guide members is carried by said housing adjacent to the lower end thereof and the other of said cooperating guide members is carried by said receptacle and disposed in sliding engagement with said one guide member.

6. A towel dispenser of the continuous loop type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path out of said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from a supply thereof into said housing and from said housing into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said towel dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing in said housing soiled towel from the return path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, a receptacle suspended exteriorly of and beneath said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel exteriorly of aid housing, cooperating guide members on said housing and said receptacle suspending said receptacle from said housing for accommodating transverse sliding movement of said receptacle between a towel dispensing position disposed immediately below said housing and a towel servicing position spaced forwardly of said housing and from said towel dispensing position, and at least a portion of said receptacle being movable downwardly away from said housing when said receptacle is in the towel servicing position thereof to accommodate easy loading of a roll of clean towel into said receptacle.

10. A towel dispenser of the continuous loop type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path out of said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from a supply thereof into said housing and from said housing into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said towel dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing in said housing soiled towel from the return path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, a cover mounted on said housing and being movable between an open position providing access to the interior of said housing and a closed position covering said housing, a receptacle suspended exteriorly of and beneath said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel exteriorly of said housing, and cooperating guide members on said housing and said receptacle suspending said receptacle from said housing for accommodating transverse sliding movement of said receptacle between a towel dispensing position disposed immediately below said housing and a towel servicing position spaced forwardly of said housing and from said towel dispensing position, said cover in the closed position thereof holding said receptacle in the towel dispensing position thereof and said cover in the open position thereof permitting transverse sliding movement of said receptacle to the towel servicing position thereof.

12. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 10, wherein said cover is hingedly mounted on said housing adjacent to the upper end thereof for pivotal movement between the closed position thereof and the open position thereof.

13. A towel dispenser of the continuous loop type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path out of said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from a supply thereof into said housing and from said housing into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said towel dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing in said housing soiled towel from the return path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, a cover mounted on said housing and being movable between an open position providing access to the interior of said housing and a closed position covering said housing, a receptacle suspended exteriorly of and beneath said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel exteriorly of said housing, cooperating guide members on said housing and said receptacle suspending said receptacle from said housing for accommodating transverse sliding movement of said receptacle between a towel dispensing position disposed immediately below said housing and a towel servicing position spaced forwardly of said housing and from said towel dispensing position, at least a portion of said receptacle being movable downwardly away from said housing when said cover is in the open position thereof and said receptacle is in the towel servicing position thereof to accommodate easy loading of a roll of clean towel into said receptacle, and said cover in the closed position thereof holding said receptacle and the movable portion of said receptacle in the towel dispensing position thereof and said cover in the open position thereof permitting transverse sliding movement of said receptacle to the towel servicing position thereof and downward movement of the movable portion of said receptacle to the towel servicing position thereof.