EP1223843B1 - Device for distributing wiping material - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to the technical sector of dispensing devices for wiping paper such as fleece, for hand towel applications, toilet paper, wiping and cleaning in general.

The applicant has already developed numerous devices of this type for the aforementioned applications. These devices are of the type comprising a casing (1) with protective cover (2), said casing being arranged to receive internally a drum (3) arranged for positioning and operation of a cutting device (4). A pressing element takes support on the drum, while the coil (B) of wound material is mounted on a reel holder allowing the distribution of the strip of material to the drum for cutting, after manual traction by the operator leaving the housing. Alternatively, the coil can be supported directly on the drum.

An apparatus of this type is described in French patent 2332215, and thus as in French patent 2713075 including the pressure roller.

We know from patent FR 2771620 in the name of the applicant, an appliance wiping paper tape dispenser including a tape spool of paper, a pressure roller coming into contact with the strip on the reel, and a drum with a knife to cut the strip. The roller presser is articulated and pivoted by two tilting levers to come in permanent and pressurized contact with the coil by defining a distance between the stressing zones defined by the contact reel / pressure roller on the one hand, and drum / cutting blade outlet on the other hand, of the order of 25 to 50 cm.

One of the problems encountered lies in the tensioning of the material, between the zones defined by the contact of the pressure roller on the drum and the upper part of the material reel.

The outlet of the cutting blade (4a) near the roller support presser and drum (about two to four centimeters) promotes formation of folds in the strip of material due to a lack of tension between the aforementioned support and the penetration of the blade into the material, so that the cut is not always clean and straightforward. This drawback is found currently in both cases where the dispensing apparatus includes a reel of material in direct contact with the drum, or when the device dispenser includes a roll of suspended material without contact with the drum, but this contact being ensured by the pressure roller pressing on the receiving drum of the cutting device.

Another disadvantage of the devices should also be emphasized. dispensers as described according to the prior art. The distribution of the tape of material is braked as a result of the direct pressing of the pressure roller on the drum in particular, when the blade passes through the housing area blade exit hollow, but also in the case of a deformed drum allowing format adjustment.

The aim sought after according to the invention was to design a new device wiping material distributor which overcomes these drawbacks.

The solution provided consists in a total reconsideration of the dispensing apparatus in order to respond to the problems raised.

According to a first characteristic, the material dispensing device is of the type comprising a casing, a cover, a drum, a cutting blade integrated into the drum, means for launching and drum recall including an eccentric and a spring for launching and reminder arranged from a lateral side of the drum, lateral flanges of the housing arranged to support the material reel, a pressure roller being capable of ensuring a pressure of the strip of material at a location given in addition to a second pressure zone defined towards the zone cutting the strip of material at the drum, the pressure roller being mounted articulated and pivotable by two tilting levers to come in permanent and pressurized contact with the material reel, defining a distance between the stressing zones defined by the coil / pressure roller contact on the one hand, and drum / blade outlet section on the other hand, of the order of 25 to 50 cm, characterized in that the two levers (9-10) are uncoupled from each other and their pivoting is independent, so that the pressure roller (8) can tilt be performed with variations of each of said levers, allowing to match the profile of the material reel.

These characteristics and others will emerge from the description which follows.

• La figure 1 est une vue de profil à gauche de l'appareil distributeur selon l'invention, avec couvercle enlevé, et du côté du dispositif de lancement du tambour.
• La figure 2 est une vue partielle et en coupe et illustrant la liaison entre le tambour et le rouleau presseur.
• La figure 3 est une vue de profil de l'appareil distributeur selon l'invention, en coupe selon la ligne 3-3 de la figure 2 illustrant la trajectoire de la courroie de liaison entre le rouleau presseur et le tambour.
• La figure 4 est une vue en coupe de profil selon la ligne 4.4 de la figure 2 illustrant particulièrement la troisième courroie de guidage de la bande de matériau, et la première courroie de liaison entre le tambour et le rouleau de sécurité.
• La figure 5 est une vue partielle et éclatée avant montage illustrant certains des mécanismes de l'invention, en particulier du rouleau presseur, du rouleau de renvoi et la liaison des mécanismes.
• La figure 6 est une vue en perspective éclatée avant montage illustrant le dispositif de mise en tension selon l'invention avec effet démultiplicateur.
• La figure 7 est une vue partielle et en coupe en face avant de l'appareil distributeur, montrant notamment le montage du dispositif de mise en tension selon la figure 6.

To fix the subject of the invention without however limiting it, in the appended drawings:

• Figure 1 is a side view on the left of the dispensing device according to the invention, with cover removed, and from the side of the drum launching device.
• Figure 2 is a partial sectional view illustrating the connection between the drum and the pressure roller.
• Figure 3 is a side view of the dispensing device according to the invention, in section along line 3-3 of Figure 2 illustrating the path of the connecting belt between the pressure roller and the drum.
• Figure 4 is a sectional profile view along line 4.4 of Figure 2 showing in particular the third guide belt of the strip of material, and the first connecting belt between the drum and the safety roller.
• Figure 5 is a partial exploded view before assembly illustrating some of the mechanisms of the invention, in particular the pressure roller, the deflection roller and the connection of the mechanisms.
• Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view before assembly illustrating the tensioning device according to the invention with reduction effect.
• FIG. 7 is a partial view in section on the front face of the dispensing device, showing in particular the mounting of the tensioning device according to FIG. 6.

In order to make the object of the invention more concrete, it is now described in a nonlimiting embodiment illustrated in the figures of drawings.

The dispensing device referenced as a whole by the reference (A) comprises in known manner a wall fixing housing (1) with a bottom wall (1a), two lateral flanges (1b), an inclined base wall (1c) and a cover (2). The lateral flanges receive the axes with free rotation (3a-3b) of a drum (3) including a cutting blade (4a) of the cut judiciously arranged with a rack assembly (not shown) to be retracted into the drum at rest and to exit the drum for cutting the material pulled manually under the device, according to the teaching of French patents n ° 2332215 and 2779050.

The axis (3a) on one side of the drum cooperates with an operating button (5) accessible from the side for loading, while the other axis (3b) cooperates with an eccentric lever (6) for launching the drum which is connected by a spring (6a) associated with the flange (1b).

Note that under the drum (3) is mounted to rotate freely in one safety roller (RS) connected by belt (C1) to a central slot (3c) of the drum (3), said safety roller preventing the introduction of fingers in the appliance at the cutting blade (4a), while leaving the material exit.

The dispensing device according to the invention is arranged in the manner next. The side flanges (1b) between which the drum is mounted, are extend to the top of the device to allow reception of two end pieces (7) rotatably mounted on supports (7a) integral with the part upper (1b1) of the aforementioned flanges. These tips (7) adapt to inside the material reel core. The two side flanges (1b) have a capacity of separation by elastic deformation to allow insertion of the material reel (B). For this purpose each flange (1b) externally presents a gripping dish (1b2) allowing the operator to set them aside appreciably for the introduction and placement of the coil of material. It should be noted that the said sear dishes are in contact with the inner walls of the hood when it is put on, so that the cover provides a support and tightening function for the flanges (1b) to better resistance of the mechanisms and components of the device.

Underlying the positioning of the reel of material (B) is arranged according to a first characteristic of the invention, a pressure roller (8) which is mounted articulated and pivoting backwards, being in contact permanent and under pressure with the material reel (B). To this end, the flanges (1b) are arranged on their bitter song with a curvilinear shape (1b3) forming a guide ramp and thus allowing movement towards the rear of said pressure roller (8). To this end, said pressure roller (8) comprises a longitudinal axis (8.a) whose ends (8a1-8a2) take support on the curvilinear edge (1b3) respective of the flanges (1b), overflowing substantially of these to be engaged in hook parts (9a-10a) arranged on two tilting levers (9-10) arranged on the side and other of each aforementioned flange (1b), outside the receiving volume drum, pressure roller, and loading spool. Both levers (9-10) are respectively articulated at their base (9b-10b) on an axis pivot (11-12) arranged in the lower part of the flanges (1b). Each lever (9-10) is associated with a return spring (13-14), one of which end (13a - 14a) is in a fixed position on the abovementioned flanges (1b) and the other end (13b-14b) on the lever (9-10).

In one implementation of the invention, the two levers (9-10) are only not coupled together so that the pivoting of the pressure roller (8) can be carried out with differentiated tilting of the two levers. In in this case, the pressure roller can be located with a longitudinal axis (x-x) not parallel to the longitudinal axis (y-y) of the coil (B), or of the axis longitudinal (z-z) of the underlying drum (3). This differentiation allows advantageously to marry all the imperfections of form if there are the reel of wound material thus allowing constant pressure of the pressure roller on the material reel whatever the existing deformations of the coil.

The maximum travel of the pressure roller (8) depending on the diameter of the wiping reel can bring it towards the bottom wall (1a) of the device, thus ensuring an angular movement which can be around 70 to 90 °.

According to an important arrangement, one of the ends (8a) of the axis of the pressure roller (8) comprises a first deflection pulley (15) located on the inner side of the device with respect to the facing flange (1b). This first pulley is capable of receiving and guiding a second belt (16) which is also guided on a second pulley (17) mounted in overflow of the drum axis (3). This second pulley (17) is located thus in the radial extension of the first pulley (15) of the roller presser (8). A third return pulley (18) is arranged at the rear of the device in the same plane as the previous two (16-17). This third pulley (18) is fixed to free rotation in the rear part of the flange facing, support for the spool, the drum and the pressure roller.

This third pulley (18) has the function of retaining the tension regular on this second guide belt (16) during the spacing towards the rear of the pressure roller due to the diameter of the spool, avoiding any rupture of the belt.

In another implementation of the invention, the two levers (9-10) are mated. The maximum travel of the pressure roller (8) remains the same than that described in the first implementation. It is the same in the arrangement of the pressure roller with the various aforementioned pulleys.

Thus according to the invention, by these particular arrangements the roller presser (8) is substantially removed from the drum (3) and thus of the contact zone of the strip of material on the drum at the place of cutting by the cutting device. The distance thus obtained is variable depending on the diameter of the material reel. This distance is of the order of 25 to 50 cm depending on the diameter of said reel of material. The band of material which is therefore tensioned between the different points of contacts (A1-A2) defined on the one hand by the contact (A1) coil-roller presser on the one hand, and contact (A2) drum - cutting blade outlet on the other part, is much more important than before and we see that there is no longer a zone of folds of the material as encountered previously. Said tension distance thus obtained is greater than more than one revolution of the reel when it is full.

Furthermore, a deflection roller (19) is mounted free rotating at the front of the device between the front ends (1b4) of the flanges (1b). This roller is without contact with the drum (3) and it simply allows the guiding and returning the strip of material to the drum and device for chopped off. Said deflection roller (19) has a central notch (19a) allowing the passage of a third transmission belt (20) which will be specified later. On either side of this central notch (19a) are arranged smooth areas (19b) for supporting the strip of material. The position of this deflection roller (19) between the flanges (1b) of the housing can be set variable in two or more zones (21a-21b) by openings made on said flanges (1b) and making it possible to distance or to bring this return roller closer to the drum (3) depending, for example of the diameter of said drum.

According to an additional and important provision, a fourth pulley (22) is disposed in the bottom of the housing while being held by a support (23) integral with the bottom face (1a) of the casing. This fourth pulley (22) is located in the axial extension (P-P) on the one hand of the slot central (3c) arranged on the drum and on the other hand of the notch (19a) formed on the deflection roller (19). The third belt (20) of transmission which connects the deflection roller (19) to the fourth pulley (22) considered causes it to pass over the drum (3) The upper strand (20a) of the belt (20) is above the drum and without contact with this one. The lower strand (20b) of the belt (20) is obliged to partially penetrate the central slot (3c) formed on the drum (3) at about an angle between 100 and 130 ° in depending on the diameter of the pulley (22).

The strip of material from the spool (B) is thus guided in coming towards the front of the device by the deflection roller (19) and entering the gap between said deflection roller (19) and the drum (3), the strip of material then passes under the lower strand (20b) of the third transmission belt while being firmly supported on the drum (3). The lower strand (20b) of said third belt therefore comes to bear in the central slot (3c) of the drum while being in contact with the underlying belt called first belt (C1) which connects the drum (3) with the lower safety roller (RS) located near the exit slot material out of the device.

In other words, the strip of material that comes into contact with the drum to be cut by the cutting device is perfectly maintained due to the function played by the lower strand (20b) of the third belt (20). The support (23) of the fourth pulley (22) has a curvilinear edge (23a) facing the drum to be concentric with the periphery of the drum, and thus accompany the band material to the device outlet.

Due to the arrangement of the various mechanisms of the invention, the distance of tensioning the strip of material pulled between the first contact (A1) resulting from the pressing of the pressure roller on the material reel and the second contact (A2) resulting from the output of the cutting blade from the drum reveals a distance greater than 25 cm, up to 50 cm when the coil is full, either in conditions far superior to art prior.

According to another important provision of the invention and by way of the pressure roller (8) is fitted internally with a specific additional tensioning mechanism. The roller presser is fitted at one end with a span (8b) of larger diameter reduced likely to authorize the engagement of a telescopic axis (24) whose the end (24a) engages in the notch of the rocking lever (9). The spacing of the flanges (1b) allows the disengagement of the roller presser with respect to the telescopic axis. The other end of the roller presser internally has a cylindrical cavity (8c) allowing partial engagement of a nozzle (25). This tip has one end (25a) cooperating and attaching to the corresponding tilting lever (10). The first pulley (15) is arranged on this inner side endpiece, for allow the reception of the second transmission belt as indicated previously.

Said nozzle (25) has at its end a flange (25b) arranged with a projecting element (25c) forming a stop. Said collar (25b) by this stopper comes opposite the transverse face (8d) of the pressure roller (8) also fitted with a projecting shape (8e) constituting a stop. Said end piece (25) extends into the recess (8c) of the pressure roller by a cylindrical bearing surface (25d) which is capable of coming to bear and slight contact in the bottom of said obviously. A return spring (26) is arranged on the cylindrical seat (8d) with a first end (26a) integral with the outer flange (25b) and a second end (26b) secured in the bottom of the recess.

• au moment de la coupe quand la lame de coupe sort du tambour parce qu'il y a un étirage de la bande de matériau en tension entre les deux points de contacts bobine -rouleau presseur d'une part, tambour-sortie de lame d'autre part. Il y a ainsi par la sortie de lame un agrandissement du diamètre du tambour lorsque la lame s'écarte. Le moyen de rappel du rouleau presseur corrige et compense en quelque sorte cet effort en permettant une rotation complémentaire particulière du rouleau presseur à l'encontre du moyen de rappel, cette rotation compensant la tension sur le matériau. Il y a donc un effet de régulation de tension.
• En cas de tirage très fort de la bande de matériau, le rouleau presseur est également sollicité.
• en position détente, et de non sollicitation les butées (8e- 25 c) formées sur la collerette et sur la face transversale du rouleau presseur sont en contact. La rotation complémentaire du rouleau presseur à l'encontre du moyen de rappel éloigne lesdites butées l'une de l'autre. En fin d'efforts, le rouleau presseur reprend sa position initiale par l'effet de détente du ressort jusqu'à la mise en contact des butées.

The pressure roller in contact with the spool is subjected to normal rotation when the strip of material is pulled by the operator. The tensioning mechanism inside the pressure roller is stressed in two cases:

• at the time of cutting when the cutting blade comes out of the drum because there is a stretching of the strip of material in tension between the two points of contact coil-pressure roller on the one hand, drum-output blade somewhere else. There is thus by the blade outlet an enlargement of the diameter of the drum when the blade deviates. The pressing roller return means corrects and somehow compensates for this effort by allowing a particular complementary rotation of the pressing roller against the return means, this rotation compensating for the tension on the material. There is therefore a voltage regulation effect.
• In the event of a very strong pull of the strip of material, the pressure roller is also stressed.
• in the relaxed position, and of non-stressing the stops (8e-25 c) formed on the flange and on the transverse face of the pressure roller are in contact. The complementary rotation of the pressure roller against the return means moves said stops away from one another. At the end of the efforts, the pressure roller returns to its initial position by the effect of relaxation of the spring until the stops are brought into contact.

According to another provision related to the implementation mechanism said voltage, said mechanism is arranged to have an effect multiplier. This specific implementation is then illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. More specifically, said pressure roller is arranged at a end (28a) with a long shoulder span capable of receiving a ring (29) forming a sleeve whose end (29a) is likely to engage in a hook shape of the tilting (9) of the pressure roller.

According to this specific implementation, the other end of the roller presser has a shoulder of great length (28b) capable of to receive the tensioning reduction mechanism. More particularly, the very long litter receives a first ring (30) or internally indented end piece forming a housing for the receiving a return spring (31). This ring has a scope in projection (30a) on one of its lateral faces, facing the support zone of the material on the pressure roller. This surface projection is likely to follow the peripheral contour of a flange (28c) formed on the part fixed the range of the pressure roller. A fixed protrusion point or stop (28d) is arranged on said flange, also allowing the anchoring of a end of the return spring (31).

The other end of said return spring of the first ring is integral with the aforementioned long, fixed span. Adjacent to positioning of said first ring, a sheath (32) is provided with a collar (32a) passing through the first ring and against which comes also in support a second ring (33) capable of being put in rotation against a second elastic return means (34). This second ring or end piece is arranged at the end of a support sleeve (35) which in turn has, in opposition, a pulley (35a) receiving the transmission belt (C2), associated with the device drum distributor. This second ring has a stop projection (33a) and is set in motion during rotation of the drum against its elastic return means, one end of which is fixed to the bottom of the ring and the other end at a fixed point of projection (32b), formed on the collar (32a) of the sleeve (32).

This secondary projection point (32b) is advantageously offset angular with respect to the fixed point of projection (28d) of the first flange. The angular differential is advantageously a few degrees between 5 ° and 10 ° for example. It can be different depending on the amplitude you want give to the tensioning mechanism.

Said secondary projection is mounted integral with the support of the first ring to then allow the training of this one in the conditions set out below.

The operation is as follows:

When the dispenser is loaded with a reel of material, a traction by the user on the strip of material causes the rotation of the drum (3), the output of the cutting blade (4a) for the section of a piece of tape. Said rotation of the drum causes by itself the rotation of the pressure roller (28), thanks to the transmission belt (C2) connecting the drum and pressure roller.

In a normal traction phase, the two rings (30-33) of the material tensioning mechanism are not stressed. Through against, in the hypothesis of a more or less strong traction, even excessive, the second ring (33) integral with the pulley (35a) is rotated relative to the support axis of the pressure roller. This rotation of the ring secondary takes place against the associated return spring (34). The amplitude of this rotation is limited to an angulation of the order of 350 ° until the projecting part (33a) of the ring almost bypasses all of the fixed flange opposite, then comes into abutment and for driving the support of the first tensioning ring (30). This, in turn, is requested to rotate at a maximum angulation 350 ° approximately, until it comes to rest and contact against the projecting part (28d) of the first fixed flange. In this situation, there is successive tension of the two return means against force of traction exerted by the user. When this force is canceled, the return springs expand successively causing in reverse the return of the two rings, driving the strip of material that can find inside the device and thereby remove the loop effect that could have formed. The return of the rings is guaranteed until they come into abutment against the projecting fixed points formed on the collars.

This gives a progressive multiplier effect suitable for all circumstances and tensile forces on the paper strip and others materials. This reduction mechanism can include two rings in the above example, but if necessary, depending on the nature of the material distributed, the pressure roller can be arranged with one or several complementary rings.

In addition, the device includes a front flap fixed front (27) which is snapped onto the lower part of the flanges (1b) of the housing, in appropriate openings (1b6)

A protective plate (28) is also positioned between the part front of the flanges (1b) of the device through an opening (1b7) appropriate. This protective plate extends to the back of the device to separate the receiving area of the drum and the second pulley from the material reel and pressure roller receiving area.

This plate (28) thus has projections (28a) on its rear edge (28b) which snaps into openings (1a2) arranged on one side and on the other side of the support (23) of the fourth pulley (22). The plaque presents also on its longitudinal edge (28c) before projecting fingers (28d) which penetrate into openings (1b8) formed between the flanges.

This protective plate (28) has a notch (28e) for the passage of the third transmission belt.

The drum is arranged in any known manner with a device for retractable serrated cut, as described in the previous patents of applicant, and in particular in patent FR 2332215.

The dispensing device thus described according to the invention has many advantages.

To answer the initial problem,. it allows a very the length of tensioning of the strip of material.

Due to the new positioning of the pressure roller and the modification of functionality of the latter with according to the invention its constant contact with the loading coil, a reduction of the size of the device.

Another advantage lies in the better guiding and holding of the strip of material on the drum to the cutting area. The material strip is in effect maintained by the lower strand (20b) of the third belt according to a large angular distance during rotation of the drum before the exit of the cutting blade. There is therefore no possibility of shifting the strip of material.

As indicated above, the deflection roller can be placed at an adjustable distance from the drum to take account of particular characteristics of this drum. It can indeed be a drum with variable diameter depending on its ability to act as format selector. The drum can be simple that is to say without function selective format but with a different diameter.

We also underline the important advantage residing in the absence coupling of the two levers carrying the ends of the roller presser. The tilting of the levers relative to each other can be differentiated which can be advantageous on the one hand during the implementation of the loading reel and on the other hand allow to marry all forms of said coil and its possible deformations.

Furthermore, said pressure roller can incidentally provide another advantage when installing the new material reel. Account given its weight, the pressure roller due to its elastic mounting and tilting towards the rear of the device can constitute a counterweight for relieve the operator when placing the spool.

The material dispensing apparatus thus described offers an operation very flexible and noiseless. Its construction is simple. It also allows a cut of wiping material of any kind.

The characteristics of the device in its application have been exposed to wiping hands by providing for the positioning of the mechanisms frontal and parallel situation with respect to the bottom face of the casing.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, the dispensing device can be used also in its application of toilet paper distribution. In this case, the different mechanisms are oriented in one position perpendicular to the bottom face of the housing. Two flanges identical to those (1b) described are arranged parallel to the bottom face of the housing. It is simply added a complementary fixing wall for the positioning of the support (23) of the fourth pulley receiving the third transmission belt.

Furthermore, the shape of the drum can be arbitrary since there is no more support and contact with the loading reel or with the roller presser on the drum.

The installation of the cover tends by its contact with the protruding dishes flanges to ensure perfect maintenance of the mechanisms and components of the device. Removing or opening the cover allows the operator to grasp the protruding dishes by causing the elastic spacing of the flanges (1b) to allow reloading of a new reel of material.

The apparatus described thus offers numerous advantages over the art prior. It is particularly silent in its operation.

Claims (23)

1. Apparatus for dispensing wiping material of the type comprising a casing (1), a cover (2), a drum (3), a cutting blade (4a) built into the drum, drum start and return means including an eccentric (6) and a start and return spring (6a) which are arranged from a lateral side of the drum, end plates (1b of the casing, designed to support the roll (B) of material, a press roller (8) being able to exert pressure on the strip of material at a given point complementing a second press region defined near the region at which the strip of material is cut at the drum, the press roller (8) being mounted in an articulated and pivoting manner via two rocking levers (9-10) so that it constantly and under pressure comes into contact with the roll of material (B), defining a distance of the order of 25 to 50 cm between the tensioning regions defined by the roll/press roller contact on the one hand, and the drum/cutting blade exit on the other, characterized in that the two levers (9-10) are uncoupled from one another and their pivoting is independent, so that the press roller (8) can rock with variations in each of the said levers, allowing hugging of the profile of the roll of material.
2. Dispensing apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the press roller (8) and the drum (3) are connected by a transmission belt (16) the path of which can vary according to the rocking and positioning of the press roller, which rocking and positioning are determined by the variation in the diameter of the roll of material.
3. Dispensing apparatus according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the end plates (1b) of the casing of the apparatus are formed on their rear edge faces with a curved shape (1b3) forming a guide ramp and allowing the press roller, which is arranged at its ends (8a1-8a2) to travel along the said edge face, to move backward, and in that the levers (9-10) are arranged in their upper part to form hooks (9a-10a) for housing the ends of the press roller, and the lower parts of which are articulated at their bases (9b-10b) to each of the end plates (1b), each lever being associated with a return spring (13-14) one end of which is fixed to the said end plate (1b).
4. Dispensing apparatus according to either one of Claims 2 to 3, characterized in that the press roller (8) comprises a first turn pulley (15) situated on the inside of the end plates (1b) with reference to the casing, the said first pulley taking a second belt (16) mounted to continue onto a second pulley (17) arranged on the axis of the drum (3), and in that a third pulley (18) is arranged behind the apparatus, fixed with freedom to rotate, the said pulleys (15-17-18) taking the second guide belt, with a variation in path according to the position and the rocking of the press roller (8), the said third pulley having a function of maintaining uniform tension in the second belt.
5. Dispensing apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a freely mounted turn roller (19), rotating at the front of the apparatus and arranged in openings formed in the end plates (1b) of the casing, and in that the turn roller is without contact with the drum (3) and allows the strip of material to be turned towards the drum and its cutting device, and in that the said turn roller (19) has a central notch (19a) for the passage of a third transmission belt (20) which is held to the rear of the apparatus by a fourth pulley (22) situated beyond the drum (3), the said fourth pulley lying in the axial plane (P-P) of the said notch (19a) of the turn roller, of the central slot (3c) in the drum (3).
6. Dispensing apparatus according to Claim 5, characterized in that the upper length (20a) of the belt (20) connecting the turn roller and the pulley (22) makes no contact with the drum (3), while the lower length (20b) of the belt presses firmly against an angular part of the drum (3) in the region of the central notch thereof, and in that the strip of material coming from the roll is introduced after the turn roller (19) into the gap formed by the drum (3) and the length (20b) of the belt (20) so as to be guided towards the cutting device as the drum rotates, the said length (20b) performing a function of temporarily holding the material on the drum.
7. Dispensing apparatus according to either one of Claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the support (23) of the fourth pulley (22) has a curved edge face facing the drum concentric with the periphery of the said drum so as to accompany the strip of paper towards the outlet from the apparatus.
8. Dispensing apparatus according to any one of Claims 5, 6 and 7, characterized in that the turn roller is fixed by its ends to the end plates (1b) in shaped openings, the said turn roller being adjustable in terms of its separation from the drum, according to its position in the aforementioned openings.
9. Dispensing apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the press roller (8) is shaped at one end to collaborate with a mechanism for tensioning the strip of materials, the said mechanism being mounted off the rocking lever (10) .
10. Dispensing apparatus according to Claim 9, characterized in that the press roller (8) is shaped at one end with a cylindrical cavity (8c) allowing the partial engagement of an end-piece (25) resting against the rocking lever (10), the said press roller receiving the guide pulley (15) of the second transmission belt, the said press roller being designed with a flange (25b) comprising a stop element (25c), the said press roller extending into the cylindrical cavity (8c) via a cylindrical bearing surface (8d) on which an elastic return means (26) is arranged, the said elastic means being secured on the one hand to the flange (25b) and, on the other hand, in the bottom of the cavity.
11. Dispensing apparatus according to Claim 10, characterized in that the transverse face (8d) of the press roller has a projection (8e) forming a stop and as the press roller rotates collaborating with the stop (25c) of the end-piece (25) to limit the tensioning of the press roller against the action of the elastic return means (26).
12. Dispensing apparatus according to Claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a step-down tensioning mechanism.
13. Dispensing apparatus according to Claim 12, characterized in that, on one side, the roller has a stepped bearing surface (28b) housing at least two rings (30-33) or end-pieces urged against elastic return means (31-34) in succession as tension is exerted on the strip of material, one of the rings (33) driving the rotation of the other (30), after a rotational travel, and providing a stepping-down and tensioning effect on the material for cutting, the press roller having a function of tensioning the material for cutting.
14. Dispensing apparatus according to Claim 13, characterized in that the long stepped bearing surface (28b) receives the step-down tensioning mechanism, the long bearing surface receiving a first ring (30) or end-piece internally notched and forming a housing to receive a return spring (31), the said ring having a projecting bearing surface (30a) on one of its lateral faces, facing the region in which the material bears against the press roller (8), able to follow the peripheral contour of a flange (28c) formed on the fixed part of the bearing surface of the press roller, a projecting point or fixed stop (28d) being arranged on the said flange also allowing for the anchorage of one end of the return spring (31), and in that the other end of the said return spring (31) of the first ring (30) is secured to the aforementioned long fixed bearing surface.
15. Apparatus according to Claim 14, characterized in that adjacent to the position of the said first ring (30) there is a sleeve (32) with a flange (32a) passing through the first ring (30) and against which there also bears a second ring (33) able to be set in rotation against the action of a second elastic return means (34), this second ring or end-piece being arranged at the end of a supporting sleeve tube (35) which, in its turn, in opposition, has a pulley (35a) receiving a transmission belt (C2) associated with the drum of the dispensing apparatus, and in that this second ring has an abutment projection (33a) and is set in motion as the drum turns against its elastic return means one end of which is fixed in the bottom of the ring and the other end of which is fixed to a fixed projecting point (32b) formed on the flange (32a) of the sleeve (32), the said second ring driving the rotation of the said first ring.
16. Dispensing apparatus according to either one of Claims 14 and 15, characterized in that the secondary projecting point (32b) is advantageously angularly offset with respect to the fixed projecting point (28d) of the first flange.
17. Dispensing apparatus according to Claim 16, characterized in that the said secondary projection is mounted securely on the support of the first ring to allow the latter subsequently to be driven.
18. Dispensing apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the second end of the press roller has a bearing surface (8b) allowing the engagement of a telescopic spindle (24) the end of which engages over the rocking lever (9).
19. Dispensing apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that in its front part it comprises a front flap connected and fixed to the lower part of the end plates of the casing in the openings (1b6) .
20. Dispensing apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a protective plate (28) positioned between the front part of the end plates (1b) of the apparatus, this plate extending backwards and being fixed into openings made in the back face of the casing.
21. Dispensing apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the end plates (1b) are externally configured with a grasping peg (1b2) allowing the operator to part the end plates elastically, and in that the grasping pegs press against the interior face of the walls of the cover when the cover is put in place, thereby holding the mechanisms and components of the apparatus in place.
22. Dispensing apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 21 in its application to the dispensing of paper towels.
23. Dispensing apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 21 in its application to the dispensing of toilet paper.

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