Paper Towel Dispensing Apparatus and Toweling

Abstract

A wall mounted paper towel dispensing apparatus and an assembly for converting a cloth towel dispensing apparatus into a paper towel dispensing apparatus. A roll of toweling is carried in a towel bin from which the toweling is withdrawn and directed upwardly between a first drive roller and a pinch roller, about the pinch roller and downwardly, forming a depending loop from which the toweling is directed upwardly between a second drive roller and a take-up roller and is rolled about the take-up roller. As the user dries his hands on the loop of toweling and pulls downwardly on the toweling, a limited amount of clean paper toweling is pulled from the roll and an equal amount is wrapped about the take-up roller. The present invention provides both stronger and less expensive paper toweling for use in the dispensing apparatus and improved rollers, alignment and friction guides to direct the paper through the apparatus.

1 . An assembly for converting a cloth towel dispensing apparatus into a paper towel dispensing apparatus wherein the apparatus is of the type employing a wall-mounted cabinet, a roll of toweling disposed in a towel bin within the cabinet from which the toweling is withdrawn and directed upwardly between a first drive roller and a pinch roller, about the pinch roller and downwardly, forming a dependent loop below the cabinet from which the toweling is directed upwardly between a second drive roller and a take-up roller adjacent said second drive roller and is rolled about the take-up roller, the second drive roller being operatively connected to the first drive roller such that pulling on the loop in the drying of one's hands causes a limited amount of toweling to be pulled from the roll and an equal amount wrapped about the take-up roller, said conversion assembly comprising:
 a cylindrical take-up roller having a weight of at least about two pounds;   a pair of replacement drive rollers, each of said drive rollers having a rubber outer cylindrical surface;   a roll of paper toweling of a predetermined width;   a pair of spacing members adapted to be disposed in said towel bin adjacent opposite sides thereof, said spacing members being sized such that upon being disposed in the bin adjacent the sides thereof, said members are spaced apart a transverse dimension of not more than about 8-10 mm greater than the width of the roll of paper toweling; and   a guide and friction assembly adapted to be mounted within the cabinet rearwardly of said take-up roller and configured to define a planar mounting surface, an inclined guide surface terminating at its lower end in a transversely extending horizontal edge, a pair of guide flanges projecting upwardly from lateral portions of said inclined guide surface and a cylindrical roller fixed to and extending between said flanges rearwardly of and above said horizontal edge.   
   
   
       2 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 1  wherein said inclined guide surface is integrally formed with said mounting surface and projects downwardly therefrom at an angle of about 45 degrees. 
   
   
       3 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 1  wherein said planar mounting surface and said pair of guide flanges are integrally formed with said inclined guide surface and wherein said guide surface is inclined with respect to said mounting surface at an angle of about 45 degrees. 
   
   
       4 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 3  wherein said cylindrical roller defines a diameter of about ⅜ of an inch. 
   
   
       5 . An assembly for converting a cloth towel dispensing apparatus into a paper towel dispensing apparatus wherein the apparatus is of the type employing a wall-mounted cabinet, a roll of toweling disposed in a towel bin within the cabinet from which the toweling is withdrawn and directed upwardly between a first drive roller and a pinch roller, about the pinch roller and downwardly, forming a dependent loop below the cabinet from which the toweling is directed upwardly between a second drive roller and a take-up roller adjacent said second drive roller and is rolled about the take-up roller, the second drive roller being operatively connected to the first drive roller such that pulling on the loop in the drying of one's hands causes a limited amount of toweling to be pulled from the roll and an equal amount wrapped about the take-up roller, said conversion assembly comprising:
 a cylindrical take-up roller having a weight of at least about two pounds;   a pair of replacement drive rollers, each of said drive rollers having a rubber outer cylindrical surface;   a roll of paper toweling of a predetermined width; and   a pair of spacing members adapted to be disposed in said towel bin adjacent opposite sides thereof, said spacing members being sized such that upon being disposed in the bin adjacent the sides thereof, said members are spaced apart a transverse dimension of not more than about 8-10 mm greater than the width of the roll of paper toweling; and   a guide and friction assembly adapted to be mounted within said cabinet rearwardly of said take-up roller, said guide and friction assembly including a planar mounting surface for securing said assembly within said cabinet, a transversely extending horizontal edge portion supported by said mounting surface, a pair of laterally spaced guide flanges extending upwardly from, rearwardly of and normal to said edge portion and a roller extending parallel to said edge portion and spaced rearwardly of and above said edge portion.   
   
   
       6 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 5  wherein said roller is fixed to and extends between said flanges. 
   
   
       7 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 5  wherein said guide and friction assembly includes an inclined guide surface disposed between said guide flanges and terminating at its lower end in said edge portion. 
   
   
       8 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 6  wherein said guide and friction assembly includes an inclined guide surface disposed between said guide flanges and terminating at its lower end in said edge portion. 
   
   
       9 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 5  wherein said roll of paper toweling defines lateral edge portions and comprises a plurality of sheets of paper tissue bonded to a scrim, said scrim being comprised of longitudinally extending strands and laterally extending strands, a first plurality of said longitudinally extending strands being disposed within said lateral edge portions of said paper toweling and a second plurality of longitudinally extending strands being disposed between said lateral edge portions, said first plurality of strands collectively having a higher break point per linear inch than said second plurality of strands. 
   
   
       10 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 9  wherein each of said first plurality of strands comprises at least two threads twisted together so as to form a single strand. 
   
   
       11 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 9  wherein said first plurality of strands are more closely spaced than said second plurality of strands. 
   
   
       12 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 10  wherein each of said threads is comprised of polyester. 
   
   
       13 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 12  wherein each of said threads is comprised of polyester and wherein each of said second plurality of longitudinal threads are comprised of nylon. 
   
   
       14 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 13  wherein said transversely extending strands are formed of nylon. 
   
   
       15 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 10  wherein said first plurality of strands have a fineness of about 300 denier, said second plurality of strands have a fineness of about 40 denier and said transversely extending strands have a fineness of about 40 denier. 
   
   
       16 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 11  wherein the individual strands in said first and second pluralities of strands are substantial equal in denier. 
   
   
       17 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 15  wherein said first plurality of strands are comprised of at least two twisted polyester threads and have a break point of at least six times the break point of said second plurality of strands. 
   
   
       18 . A towel dispensing apparatus adapted for use with a roll of disposable paper toweling of a predetermined width, said apparatus comprising:
 a cabinet;   a first drive roller rotatably mounted at a fixed position within said cabinet;   a pinch roller rotatably mounted within said cabinet upwardly adjacent said first drive roller;   a second drive roller rotatably mounted at a fixed position within said cabinet rearwardly of said first drive roller;   a take-up roller rotatably mounted within said cabinet upwardly adjacent said second drive roller and being freely movable in a horizontal disposition along an upwardly inclined path, said take-up roller having a weight in excess of about two pounds;   a towel bin carried by said cabinet below said rollers, said bin defining a transverse dimension of not more than about 8-10 millimeters greater than the width of the roll of paper toweling;   a chain drive mechanism operatively connected between said first and second drive rollers for synchronously rotating said first and second drive rollers upon one pulling downwardly on the paper toweling below said cabinet; and   a guidance and friction assembly adapted to be mounted within said cabinet rearwardly of said take-up roller, said assembly including a planar mounting surface for securing said assembly within said cabinet, a transversely extending horizontal edge portion supported by said mounting surface, a pair of laterally spaced guide flanges extending upwardly from, rearwardly of and normal to said edge portion and a roller extending parallel to said edge portion and spaced rearwardly of and above said edge portion.   
   
   
       19 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 18  wherein said roller is fixed to and extends between said flanges. 
   
   
       20 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 18  wherein said guide and friction assembly includes an inclined guide surface disposed between said guide flanges and terminating at its lower end in said edge portion. 
   
   
       21 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 19  wherein said guide and friction assembly includes an inclined guide surface disposed between said guide flanges and terminating at its lower end in said edge portion. 
   
   
       22 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 18  wherein said roll of paper toweling defines lateral edge portions and comprises a plurality of sheets of paper tissue bonded to a scrim, said scrim being comprised of longitudinally extending strands and laterally extending strands, a first plurality of said longitudinally extending strands being disposed within said lateral edge portions of said paper toweling and a second plurality of longitudinally extending strands being disposed between said lateral edge portions, said first plurality of strands having a higher break point than said second plurality of strands. 
   
   
       23 . A towel dispensing apparatus adapted for use with a roll of disposable paper toweling of a predetermined width, said apparatus comprising:
 a cabinet;   a first drive roller rotatably mounted at a fixed position within said cabinet;   a pinch roller rotatably mounted within said cabinet upwardly adjacent said first drive roller;   a second drive roller rotatably mounted at a fixed position within said cabinet rearwardly of said first drive roller;   a take-up roller rotatably mounted within said cabinet upwardly adjacent said second drive roller and being freely movable in a horizontal disposition along an upwardly inclined path, said take-up roller having a weight in excess of about two pounds;   a towel bin carried by said cabinet below said rollers, said bin defining a transverse dimension of not more than about 8-10 millimeters greater than the width of the roll of paper toweling;   a chain drive mechanism operatively connected between said first and second drive rollers for synchronously rotating said first and second drive rollers upon one pulling downwardly on the paper toweling below said cabinet; and   a guide and friction assembly adapted to be mounted within the cabinet rearwardly of said take-up roller and configured to define a planar mounting surface, an inclined guide surface terminating at its lower end in a transversely extending horizontal edge, a pair of guide flanges projecting upwardly from lateral portions of said inclined guide surface and a cylindrical roller fixed to and extending between said flanges rearwardly of and above said horizontal edge.   
   
   
       24 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 23  wherein said inclined guide surface is integrally formed with said mounting surface and projects downwardly therefrom at an angle of between about 40 to 60 degrees. 
   
   
       25 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 23  wherein said inclined guide surface is integrally formed with said mounting surface and projects downwardly therefrom at an angle of about 45 degrees. 
   
   
       26 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 23  wherein said planar mounting surface and said pair of guide flanges are integrally formed with said inclined guide surface and wherein said guide surface is inclined with respect to said mounting surface at an angle of about 45 degrees. 
   
   
       27 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 26  wherein said cylindrical roller defines a diameter of about ⅜ of an inch. 
   
   
       28 . A paper towel dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a cabinet;   a first drive roller mounted at a fixed position within said cabinet;   a pinch roller rotatably mounted within said cabinet upwardly adjacent said first drive roller;   a second drive roller rotatably mounted at a fixed position within said cabinet rearwardly of said first drive roller;   a take-up roller rotatably mounted within said cabinet upwardly adjacent said second drive roller and being freely movable in a horizontal disposition along an upwardly inclined path;   a towel bin disposed within said cabinet below said rollers;   a roll of disposable paper toweling disposed in said towel bin and extending upwardly therefrom between said first drive roller and said pinch roller, about said pinch roller and downwardly, forming a dependent loop below said cabinet from which the toweling is directed upwardly between said second drive roller and said take-up roller and is rolled about said take-up roller such that pulling on the loop in the drying of one's hands causes a limited amount of said toweling to be pulled from said roll and an equal amount wrapped about said take-up roller, said roll of toweling being no longer than about 125 feet in length;   a drive mechanism operatively connected between said first and second drive rollers for synchronously rotating said first and second drive rollers upon one pulling downwardly on said paper toweling below said cabinet; and   wherein said first and second drive rollers are mounted between opposed side walls within said cabinet such that any linear movement of an end of one of said drive rollers is limited in range to a radius of about 0.010 in. along one of said side walls and about 0.010 in. in an axial direction from one of said side walls whereby a proper alignment of the paper toweling through said dispensing apparatus is maintained.   
   
   
       29 . A paper towel dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a cabinet;   a first drive roller mounted at a fixed position within said cabinet;   a pinch roller rotatably mounted within said cabinet upwardly adjacent said first drive roller;   a second drive roller rotatably mounted at a fixed position within said cabinet rearwardly of said first drive roller;   a take-up roller rotatably mounted within said cabinet upwardly adjacent said second drive roller and being freely movable in a horizontal disposition along an upwardly inclined path;   a towel bin disposed within said cabinet below said rollers;   a roll of disposable paper toweling disposed in said towel bin and extending upwardly therefrom between said first drive roller and said pinch roller, about said pinch roller and downwardly, forming a dependent loop below said cabinet from which the toweling is directed upwardly between said second drive roller and said take-up roller and is rolled about said take-up roller such that pulling on the loop in the drying of one's hands causes a limited amount of said toweling to be pulled from said roll and an equal amount wrapped about said take-up roller;   a drive mechanism operatively connected between said first and second drive rollers for synchronously rotating said first and second drive rollers upon one pulling downwardly on said paper toweling below said cabinet;   a guidance and friction assembly adapted to be mounted within said cabinet rearwardly of said take-up roller, said assembly including a planar mounting surface for securing said assembly within said cabinet, a transversely extending horizontal edge portion supported by said mounting surface, a pair of laterally spaced guide flanges extending upwardly from, rearwardly of and normal to said edge portion and a roller extending parallel to said edge portion and spaced rearwardly of and above said edge portion; and   wherein said first and second drive rollers are mounted between opposed side walls within said cabinet such that any linear movement of an end of one of said drive rollers is limited in range to a radius of about 0.010 in. along one of said side walls and about 0.010 in. in an axial direction from one of said side walls whereby a proper alignment of the paper toweling through said dispensing apparatus is maintained.   
   
   
       30 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 29  wherein said guide and friction assembly includes an inclined guide surface disposed between said guide flanges and terminating at its lower end in said edge portion. 
   
   
       31 . Toweling for use in a dispensing apparatus of the type employing a wall mounted cabinet, a towel bin for carrying a roll of said toweling from which the toweling is withdrawn and directed upwardly between a first drive roller and a pinch roller, about the pinch roller and downwardly, forming a dependent loop below the cabinet from which the toweling is directed upwardly between a second drive roller and a take-up roller adjacent said second drive roller and is rolled about the take-up roller, the second drive roller being operatively connected to the first drive roller such that pulling on the loop in the drying of one's hands causes a limited amount of toweling to be pulled from the roll and an equal amount wrapped about the take-up roller, said toweling defining lateral edge portions and comprises a plurality of sheets of paper tissue bonded to a scrim, said scrim being comprised of longitudinally extending threads and laterally extending threads, a first plurality of said longitudinally extending threads being disposed within said lateral edge portions of said paper toweling and a second plurality of longitudinally extending threads being disposed between said lateral edge portions, said first plurality of threads collectively having a higher break point per liner inch than said second plurality of strands. 
   
   
       32 . The toweling of  claim 31  wherein each of said first plurality of threads comprises at least two threads twisted together so as to form a single thread. 
   
   
       33 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 31  wherein said first plurality of strands are more closely spared than said second plurality of strands. 
   
   
       34 . The toweling of  claim 32  wherein each of said threads is comprised of polyester. 
   
   
       35 . The toweling of  claim 32  wherein each of said threads is comprised of polyester and wherein each of said second plurality of longitudinal threads are comprised of nylon. 
   
   
       36 . The toweling of  claim 32  wherein said transversely extending threads are formed of nylon. 
   
   
       37 . The toweling of  claim 32  wherein said first plurality of threads have a fineness of about 300 denier, said second plurality of strands have a fineness of about 40 denier and said transversely extending strands have a fineness of about 40 denier. 
   
   
       38 . The towel dispensing assembly of  claim 33  wherein the individual strands in said first and second pluralities of strands are substantial equal in denier. 
   
   
       39 . The toweling of  claim 37  wherein said first plurality of threads are each comprised of at least two twisted polyester threads and have a break point of at least six times the break point of each said threads in said second plurality of threads. 
   
   
       40 . Toweling for use in a dispensing apparatus of the type employing a wall mounted cabinet that carries a roll of said toweling and from which the toweling extends in a dependent loop, said toweling defining lateral edge portions and comprising a plurality of sheets of paper tissue bonded to a scrim, said scrim being comprised of longitudinally extending threads and laterally extending threads, a first plurality of longitudinally extending threads being disposed within said lateral edge portions of said paper toweling and a second plurality of longitudinally extending threads being disposed between said lateral edge portions, said first plurality of longitudinally extending threads collectively being substantially stronger than said second plurality of longitudinally extending threads. 
   
   
       41 . The toweling of  claim 40  wherein each of said first plurality of threads comprises at least two threads comprised of polyester and twisted together so as to form a single thread. 
   
   
       42 . The toweling of  claim 40  wherein each of said first plurality of threads define a break point of at least about 4 pounds per inch. 
   
   
       43 . The toweling of  claim 40  wherein said first plurality of threads have a fineness of about 300 denier, said second plurality of strands have a fineness of about 40 denier and said transversely extending strands have a fineness of about 40 denier.