Patent US3628743A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3628743A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dispensing cabinet for sheet material
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Tissue Co
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Filing: 1969-11-04
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Granted: 1971-12-21
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Expires: 1989-11-04
Abstract
Abstract A dispensing cabinet for sequentially dispensing sheet material from first and second rolls of spirally wound sheet material, incorporating a mechanism which monitors the diameter of a first roll of sheet material and, when the diameter decreases to a predetermined level representative of the sheet material remaining from a second roll. The arrangement of components in the cabinet enables the rolls to be unwound in either direction without affecting the operation of the cabinet.
Inventors
- 👤 Lehyman J Bastian
- 👤 Clyde W Shuman Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:09
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47K; A47K10/00; A47K10/24; A47K10/32; A47K10/34; A47K10/36; A47K10/3687; B; B65; B65H; B65H19/00; B65H19/10; A47K10/3631; A47K10/3637
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
In combination in a dispensing cabinet for sequentially dispensing sheet material from first and second rolls of spirally wound sheet material, a frame having a dispensing opening through which sheet material is to be dispensed, said frame being adapted to hold said first and second rolls of sheet material in spaced-apart and substantially parallel positions, feed means including two rollers which form a nip through which said sheet material passes prior to being dispensed follower means adapted to engage the surface of said first roll and to move in response to changes in the diameter of said first roll resulting from unwinding said sheet material therefrom, and transfer means operably connected to said follower means and adapted to introduce into said feed means an unwound portion of the sheet material running from said second roll in response to movement of said follower means so as to commence the dispensing of sheet material from said second roll, said follower means and said transfer means being arranged so that the sheet material from said first and second rolls may be unwound in either direction without affecting the operation of said dispensing cabinet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
In combination in a dispensing cabinet for sequentially dispensing sheet material from first and second rolls of spirally wound sheet material, a frame having a dispensing opening through which sheet material is to be dispensed, said frame being adapted to hold said first and second rolls of sheet material in spaced-apart and substantially parallel positions, feed means including two rollers which form a nip through which said sheet material passes prior to being dispensed follower means adapted to engage the surface of said first roll and to move in response to changes in the diameter of said first roll resulting from unwinding said sheet material therefrom, and transfer means operably connected to said follower means and adapted to introduce into said feed means an unwound portion of the sheet material running from said second roll in response to movement of said follower means so as to commence the dispensing of sheet material from said second roll, said follower means and said transfer means being arranged so that the sheet material from said first and second rolls may be unwound in either direction without affecting the operation of said dispensing cabinet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
107 words
The combination in a dispensing cabinet according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing cabinet has a bottom surface and a rear surface, and wherein said first wound roll of sheet material is disposed in a position where it contacts said bottom surface and said rear surface Such that when the sheet material is unwound from said roll, the lower surface of said roll moves toward the front of said cabinet, said combination including guide means to prevent said roll from moving upwardly beyond a predetermined point due to frictional contact between the surface of the roll and said rear surface as the sheet material is unwound therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination in a dispensing cabinet according to claim 2, wherein said guide means comprise a rotatable element disposed in a position spaced apart from said rear surface toward the interior of said cabinet, said element being adapted to contact the surface of said first roll when it moves a sufficient distance above said bottom surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination in a dispensing cabinet according to claim 1, including spring biasing means arranged to press one of the rollers of said feed means into contact with the other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
100 words
The combination in a dispensing cabinet according to claim 1, including linkage means interconnecting said follower means with said transfer means, said linkage means comprising two upstanding members disposed in spaced-apart relation and pivotably attached at one of their ends to said frame, a movable elongate member having each of its ends pivotably connected to one of said upstanding members so that upon movement of one upstanding member, said elongate member transmits a corresponding movement to the other upstanding member, said follower means being carried by one of said upstanding members and said transfer means being carried by the other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
The combination in a dispensing cabinet according to claim 5, wherein a portion of the sheet material running from said second roll is initially disposed between said transfer means and said feed means, and wherein said linkage means are arranged so that upon movement of said follower means to a predetermined point, said transfer means are arranged to crowd the sheet material between said two rollers of said feed means so as to cause the sheet material from said second roll to fold and to be drawn into said feed means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination in a dispensing cabinet according to claim 6, including means for engaging the leading end of the sheet material running from said second roll so as to promote the formation of a fold in a succeeding portion of the sheet material from said second roll when said transfer means crowd said sheet material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination in a dispensing cabinet according to claim 5, including spring biasing means operably connected to said follower means and adapted to urge said follower means into engagement with the surface of said first roll during the unwinding of sheet material therefrom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
The combination in a dispensing cabinet according to claim 8, wherein said cabinet includes a front door, sand said linkage and said transport means are arranged so that a portion thereof protrudes into a position of interference with said front door when it is closed, said cabinet including detent means for releasably holding said linkage means in said protruding position while counteracting the force from said biasing means until said front door is closed, whereby the loading of new rolls of sheet material in said dispensing cabinet is facilitated when the front door is opened, and the linkage is returned to its operative position when the front door is closed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination in a dispensing cabinet according to claim 1, wherein one of the two rollers of said feed means has a surface having a higher coefficient of friction than does the surface of the other roller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination in a dispensing cabinet according to claim 10, wherein said roller having a surface with a higher coefficient of friction is adapted to be driven.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination in a dispensing cabinet according to claim 10, wherein said roller having a surface with a higher coefficient of friction is arranged to run in engagement with the sheet material from said first roll when the sheet material from said second roll is introduced into said feed means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
The combination in a dispensing cabinet according to claim 10, wherein said second roll of sheet material is disposed relative to said first roll of sheet material and to said feed means such that the sheet material from said second roll runs in contact with the sheet material from said first roll and the surface of said other roller upon actuation of said transfer means by said follower means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
187 words
In combination in a dispensing cabinet, two rotatably mounted rollers disposed generally parallel and adjacent to each other so as to form a nip, one of said rollers comprising a feed roller and the other comprising a pressure roller, said feed roller being adapted to be driven, the surface of said feed roller having a higher coefficient of friction than the surface of said pressure roller, a first sheet material running from a first roll through said nip, sheet material engagement means disposed near said pressure roller, a second sheet material running from a second roll of said engagement means, the leading end of said second sheet material being secured to said engagement means, and a transfer roller disposed on the side of said second sheet material opposite said rollers, said transfer roller being mounted for movement toward said feed roller and adapted to press said second sheet material into contact with said feed roller or said first sheet material moving thereover so as to release said second sheet material from said engagement means and to commence the feeding of said second sheet material through said nip.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
187 words
In combination in a dispensing cabinet, two rotatably mounted rollers disposed generally parallel and adjacent to each other so as to form a nip, one of said rollers comprising a feed roller and the other comprising a pressure roller, said feed roller being adapted to be driven, the surface of said feed roller having a higher coefficient of friction than the surface of said pressure roller, a first sheet material running from a first roll through said nip, sheet material engagement means disposed near said pressure roller, a second sheet material running from a second roll of said engagement means, the leading end of said second sheet material being secured to said engagement means, and a transfer roller disposed on the side of said second sheet material opposite said rollers, said transfer roller being mounted for movement toward said feed roller and adapted to press said second sheet material into contact with said feed roller or said first sheet material moving thereover so as to release said second sheet material from said engagement means and to commence the feeding of said second sheet material through said nip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-20 | 1975-06-21 | 1975-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-20 | 1979-06-21 | 1979-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-20 | 1983-06-21 | 1983-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |