Dispenser for Sheets from Stacks of Interfolded Sheets

The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing sheets of cellulose material. Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a dispenser for interfolded sheets.

Tissue paper napkins and handkerchiefs are often packaged in the form of stacks or packs of interfolded sheets, i.e. sheets folded in two or more parts, and stacked so that a folded flap of a sheet is inserted between two folded flaps of the adjacent sheet. These packs or stacks of sheets are dispensed through dedicated dispensers. They are often used instead of the more traditional tissue paper rolls, especially towel and handkerchief rolls. Examples of dispensers for interfolded sheets are disclosed in US2015/0327735 and EP0276662.

Current dispensers are not workable and have many drawbacks, comprising a low capacity, which is a problem for the dispensers used in public premises. This requires frequent replenishments by the relevant personnel.

In order to overcome or alleviate the limitations and problems of the prior art dispensers, a dispenser is disclosed herein comprising an openable housing, inside which two parallel seats are provided, adjacent to each other along a longitudinal direction and configured so that each seat accommodates a respective stack of interfolded sheets. Each seat ends with a dispensing opening that extends longitudinally in the direction along which the two seats are adjacent to each other. A slider is provided in front of, and below, the dispensing openings, adapted to take a closing position for closing one or the other of the dispensing openings alternatively. The dispenser is provided with blocking members that prevent the slider from sliding depending on the presence of folded sheets in the dispenser seats, in order to optimize the consumption of two packs or stacks of sheets housed in the two seats. A dispensing mouth is associated with each dispensing opening, positioned above the dispensing opening. Each dispensing mouth comprises two sheet guiding and retaining elements, arranged opposite each other and aligned in the longitudinal direction of extension of the respective dispensing opening. The guiding and retaining elements essentially form a narrowing relative to the dispensing opening, and hold the sheets of the overlying stack of interfolded sheets, preventing the sheets from accidentally passing through the dispensing opening, for example due to their weight. In this way it is possible to insert, in each seat, a heavy stack containing many interfolded sheets without the risk that the sheets accidentally fall through the dispensing opening.

Further advantageous features and embodiments of the dispenser will be described below with reference to the drawing, and in the attached dependent claims.

The dispenser, indicated as a whole with reference number, comprises a housing, in which two seats are provided, for two stacks or packs of interfolded sheets. Alternatively, the packs can consist of a continuous web material, which is folded and perforated to be subdivided into individual sheets that, at the time of use, can be separated by tearing along the perforation line. The seats are indicated with reference numbersA andB. When mounted and ready to use, the dispenseris in vertical position, with the seatsA,B extending in the vertical direction. The dispensercan be fastened to a vertical wall or other bearing structure extending vertically.

In the present description and the attached claims, the term “vertical” refers to a direction parallel to the direction of the force of gravity, and the term “horizontal” refers to a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “vertical direction” and “horizontal direction” refer to the position of the dispenser when in use. Unless otherwise indicated, also the terms “front”, “back” and the like refer to the position of the dispenser when in use.

Each seatA,B contains a stack or pack PA, PB () of folded sheets, preferably interfolded sheets. The two seatsA,B, which extend vertically, are separated from each other by an intermediate partition wall, so that the two packs of sheets housed in the two seats do not interfere with each other. Retaining members are fastened to the intermediate partition wall for retaining the stacks of interfolded sheets housed in the two seats. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining members comprise plates orthogonal to the intermediate partition wallA,B. In practice, the plates form vertical supports that prevent the packs PA, PB, inserted in the two seats, from accidentally falling forward. In practice, the plates increase the stability of the sheet packs when the housingof the dispenseris open. This facilitates loading of sheet packs into the dispenser.

The intermediate partition wallextends orthogonally from a back wall, which forms part of a back portionA of the housing. The back portionA of the housingis hinged to a front portionB of the housing that forms an openable and closable lid.

In the illustrated embodiment, the portionsA,B of housingare hinged to each other around an upper horizontal axis that is embodied by hinges. In other embodiments, not shown, the portionsA,B of the housing are hinged to each other around a vertical axis.

The back wallhas attaching members for attaching to a bearing structure, not shown, e.g. a vertical wall. The attaching members comprise holesfor hooks or screws, not shown, for fastening to the wall.

In the illustrated embodiment, just by way of example, the two portionsA,B of the housingare in the form of a shaped shell, so that the housing, when closed, has an approximately cylindrical shape with elongated, i.e. not rectangular, cross section.

The front portionA of the housingcomprises an inspection windowA,B for each seatA,B, the window consisting, for example, of a holeA,B and a closure plateA,B, for example made of transparent plastic. The inspection windowsA,B allow to check the quantity of paper contained in each seatA,B. Advantageously, the inspection windows have a vertically elongated shape to allow a better view of the interior.

The front portionA of the housinghas a seatfor a lockwith a key or other locking system. This is especially useful if the dispenser shall be installed in public premises or workplaces, as avoids fraudulent misappropriation of the sheet stock from inside the dispenser.

An openingA,B is provided at the bottom of each seatA,B. The openingsA,B are elongated in the direction F along which the two seatsA,B for the stacks PA, PB of interfolded sheets are adjacent to each other. The openingsA,B are formed in a bottom wallof the housing. In the illustrated embodiment, the shape of the two openingsA,B is enlarged in the center, to facilitate taking the sheets from the stack or pack PA, PB.

A dispensing mouth is provided above the bottom wall, in front of each openingA,B. The dispensing mouths are indicated with the reference numbersA andB. In some embodiments, the dispensing mouthsA,B are removable and interchangeable, for example based on the features of the sheets to be dispensed.

In the illustrated embodiment, each dispensing mouthA,B comprises a pair of sheet guiding and retaining elements. The guiding and retaining elements are indicated with reference numbersA,B for the mouthA and the mouthB, respectively. The guiding and retaining elementsA,B are opposite each other and aligned along the longitudinal extension of the openingsA,B (direction F). The packs of sheets that are arranged in the seatsA,B are held at the bottom by the pairs of guiding and retaining elementsA,B that form striction areas in front of the openingsA,B. In practical embodiments, each striction element comprises a surface sloping downward and toward an intermediate position of the respective dispensing opening, that is, from the longitudinally opposite ends toward the center of the dispensing opening. Therefore, the sloping surfaces of the two guiding and retaining elements associated with each dispensing opening converge with each other downward. This arrangement is useful to hold the packs of sheets, ensuring that the sheets are dispensed one at a time, avoiding that more sheets are simultaneously taken, or anyway reducing the possibility of this happening.

In order that the user uses all the sheets of a stack PA, PB housed in a seatA) orB before starting to use the stack in the adjacent seat, in advantageous embodiments the dispensercomprises a slider, which is mounted to close selectively either of the openingsA,B. Gripping projectionsare provided for gripping more easily the sliderand causing it to slide in the direction of the double arrow F.

Advantageously, the slideris attached to the outside of the bottom walland has two side tabsA,B provided with appendagesC,D, that slidingly engage slots,, arranged on the back walland on a front portionA of the bottom wall. With this arrangement, the cursor can be easily moved from one to the other of two alternative positions. By engaging the sliderthrough the gripping projections, it is easy to control the sliding of the sliderin one or the other direction of the double arrow F so as to position it in front of the openingA, thus avoiding that the sheets from the stack PA arranged in seatA are dispensed, or in front of the openingB, thus avoiding that the sheets from the stack PB arranged in the seatB are dispensed.

In this way, the users shall use the entire pack or stack PA arranged in the seatA before accessing the pack or stack PB arranged in the seatB, or vice versa. This facilitates the replenishment of the dispenser and makes the interventions for restoring the paper stock in the two seats more efficient. In particular, taking into account that each seat is sized to hold an integer number of sheet packs (e.g.,,or), it is advisable that at the time of replenishment, the seat is completely empty. The use of the slider avoids that the seats are partially or almost totally empty, but not totally free, which would require splitting the sheet packs before inserting them into the seatsA,B.

To prevent the user from deliberately sliding the sliderfrom one position to the other, a blocking device can be provided, which prevents the sliding of the sliderin front of the openingA orB when there is still a stack of sheets in the seatA or seatB.

In the illustrated embodiment, a blocking member is provided in each seatA,B. The blocking members, indicated with the reference numbersA,B, are shown especially in. Each blocking memberA,B is configured to move to a slider stop position when there are still sheets in the seat.

In the illustrated embodiment, each blocking memberA,B has a foilA,B, hinged around a horizontal axis B-B and extending downward from the axis B-B. When the seatA,B is empty, the respective foilA,B is stressed into a sloping position at a certain distance from the inner surface of the back wall. In such a position, the foil does not hinder the movement of the slider. Instead, the presence of sheets in the seatA orB presses the respective foil against the back wall, so as to cause an interference between the foil and the appendagesC of the slider, which engage the guide slotand protrude from the inner surface of the back walltoward the inside of the housing.

In the illustrated embodiment, each foilA,B has a flat spring,A,B, which rests on the back walland holds each foilA,B rotated forward, spaced away from the back wall. In practice, the flat springA,B and the respective foilA,B can be made from a single component, for example of polymeric material.

If in the seatA,B there are no sheets, the flat springA,B holds the respective foilA,B raised from the back wall, so that the appendagesC of the slidercan freely slide in the direction F inside the guide slot, passing behind the foilsA,B, without interfering with them. Conversely, when in the seatsA,B there is a pack or stack PA, PB of folded sheets, as shown in, the weight of the packs presses the respective foilA,B against the back wall, against the force of the respective flat springA,B. The foilA,B, pushed by the pack PA, PB against the inner surface of the back wall, goes to interfere with the appendagesC of the slider. Therefore, the slider can no longer slide freely due to the impact of the appendagesC against either of the foilsA,B.

Specifically, fromit is clear that the slidercan be translated from right to left, freeing the lower openingB of the seatB, only when the sheet pack PA in the seatA is exhausted. The same occurs when the cursoris in front of the openingA and the seatB is full or partially full with sheets: the cursor can be translated from left to right only when the sheet pack PB is exhausted.

In all cases, whatever its initial position, the slidercan be translated to the other position only when the initially accessible pack has been completely consumed.

This results in an efficient, large-capacity dispenser that therefore requires few replenishment interventions, with an efficient system of sequentially exhausting one and then the other of the two stacks or packs PA, PB. This streamlines and simplifies the replenishment intervention and allows saving material.