US1057973A - Apparatus for dispensing towels, napkins, and the like. - Google Patents

Description

P. G. MBRRITT.

APPARATUS FOR DISPBNSING TOWELS, NAPKINS, AND THB LIKE.

Y APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1912.

1,057,973. Patented Apr.1,1913.

. *f l 1% 1 m :S51-mii? f4 "f active position so that the roll next to the `desired and the rolls fed to an operative one being unrolled will not contact therewith, and in order that the lowermost roll in a plurality of rolls may be cut out as position, one at a time, there is provided a suitable cut out and retaining mechanism comprising a pair of levers 25 pivotally mounted at 26, which levers at their upper ends are provided with curved arms 27, andv at their lower ends with the reversely extending hooks 28. The hooks 28 support the ends of the roller 14 of the roll of towels next adjacent to that roll being unrolled, until such time as it is desired to release this second roll of towels and permit it to drop into operative position. When it is desired to secure this result, the levers 25 are rocked to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3; thus the hooks 28 are withdrawn from beneath the roller 14 and permits this second roll of towels to `drop into the position for dispensing the articles contained thereon.

It is desired that only one roll be dropped at a time, and therefore, as willbe shown from Fig. 3, the withdrawal of the hooks 28 from engagement with the ends of the roller 14 of the second roll in the line of rolls, simultaneously causes the curved arms 27 to be interposed beneath the ends of the roller 14 of the top roll, as shown in Fig. 3; After the roll is dropped to operative position, the levers 25 will be swung in the reverse direction to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thus throwing the hooks y28 into position to catch and support the top roller in an intermediate position, and the curved arms 27 ,simultaneously releases the top roller, permitting it to drop. l

ln order to swing the levers 25 and their retaining arms and hooks, there are provided links 30 which are pivotally connected at 31 to the curved arms 27 of the levers 25, and also pivotally connected at 32 to the crank arms 33 of a rock shaft`34-which supports the swinging shelf 21. At one end, one of the cran arms 33 is provided with a laterally projecting arm 35 assing through' a slotted plate 36 in the si e wall 5 of the casing, and provided upon the outside of the casing with a handle 37, whereb the rock shaft may. be turned and the lin 30 operated to rockv the shelf 21I andthe levers 25 to discharge an emptied roller into the lower chamber 10, and to release and drop into operative position, a full roller as hereinbefore set forth. The slot in the plate 36 at its l'ower end is provided with a notch or shoulder 38 with which thearm 35 may be remera engaged to hold the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2.

In operation, assuming that the apparatus has been provided with a plurality of rolls of towels or napkins, (the one shown in the drawing having a capacity of three of such rolls), the rolls will be supported in vertical alinement with each other with the rollers 14 fitting the space between the guides 15 and 16, and as shown in Fig. 2, the lowermost roller will rest upon the pivoted shelf 21 with the leading towel passing over the said shelf and projecting as shown at 5. The second. roll will be supported by the hooks 28 assuming that the first roller has been reduced in diameter by the withdrawal of towels. As the towels are drawn 0E of the lowermost roller 14, it will drop downward toward the pivoted shelf 21, and when emptied, it will rest in the lposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. At this time, an upward movement of the links 30 will lift the shelf 21 at its forward end and depress it at its lower end, permitting the roller which has been emptied to pass through the opening 19 at the back of the shelf 4, and drop into the chamber 10, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Simultaneously with the upward movement of the forward end of the shelf 21, the levers 25 will be rocked to the position shown in Fig. 3, thus releasing the roller of the middle roll of towels, and permitting it to drop to the lowermost position, while at the same time, the curved arms 27 will engage the ends of the roller 14 ofthe top roll and prevent its dropping.

`After the new roll has fallen into position,

the shelf 21 is turned to the position shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the top roll of towels will be released by the curved arms 27, and will drop to the intermediate position supported by the hooks 28, and the apparatus is again equipped for a further operation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a. casing having guideways, a plurality of rollsl of towels or napkins disposed in the guideways of the casing one above the other, and means for supportingthe roll next to the lowermost one out of contact therewith and releasing the same to allow it to move to operative position when thel towels or napkins have been drawn off from the sald lowermost roll.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a casin having guideways, a plurality of rolls o towels or napkins disposed 1n the guideways of the casing one above the other, and means for alternately supporting and releasing the two rolls next above the lowermost roll.

3, In an apparatus of the Iclass described, a, casing having vertical guideways, a pluv rality of rolls of towels or napln'ns disposed in the guideways one above the other, a swinging shelf u on which the lowermost roll rests, means or alternately supporting and releasing the two rolls next above the lowermost roll, and a connection between the said means and shelf.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination, a chamber, vertical 'des located atop osite ends of said cham er, a plurality of rolls of towels supported in vertical alinement with each other in said guides, a swinging shelf supported at the lower end of said guides, and a pair of levers having at their lower ends detaining 15 hooks, and at their upper ends curved guides, and means connecting the swinging shelf with the pair of levers whereby the Ashelf and levers are simultaneously operated. v

In testimony whereof I have signed my 20 name to this specification in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

PAUL RENVILLE MERRITT.

Witnesses:

L. EARIEBEILANDE, Jos. F. WAI/10N.

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