Abstract

A dispenser for sequentially dispensing web material from a plurality of rolls includes a carousel (12) rotatably mounted in a dispenser body (1). The carousel includes a plurality of roll holders (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) that extend parallel to an axis of rotation (17) of the carousel. The carousel includes a sensor (10) that senses whether a roll of web material on one of roll holders is depleted or substantially depleted. A movable trigger latch (9) blocks rotation of the carousel until the roll of web material on the current roll holder is depleted or substantially depleted; at that point, the carousel rotates by gravity in a first direction.

IPC Classes  ?

• A47K 10/38 - Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means the web being rolled-up

Abstract

A braking assembly used in a dispenser that dispenses a continuous supply of material such as paper. The braking assembly includes a support structure. A first fixed gear is rotatably connected to the support structure. A movable chassis is also connected to the support structure. A second movable gear is held by the chassis and moves with the chassis. Teeth of the first gear and teeth of the second gear intermesh with each other and allow the paper to pass therethrough. The chassis maintains the teeth of the first and second gears in contact with each other while enabling a distance between gears to be adjustable. The assembly further includes a braking mechanism that varies an amount of force required to rotate the gears.

IPC Classes  ?

• A47K 10/38 - Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means the web being rolled-up

Abstract

A dispensing system that removes individual napkins from a stack of interfolded napkins in a manner that allows the number of napkins dispensed to be easily counted and controlled so that an appropriate number of napkins are dispensed. The counted napkins are collected in an easily manageable form and presented to a user.

IPC Classes  ?

• A47K 10/44 - Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked with mechanical dispensing means

Abstract

A hands-free dispenser for dispensing lengths of absorbent sheet products, includes: a dispenser body containing a dispensing mechanism; a hand sensor for detecting the presence of a user's hand in the vicinity of the dispenser; an elongated metallic conductive element having a proximate end in electrical communication with at least one metal surface of the dispenser positioned at a first location relative to the hand sensor, and a distal end in electrical communication with at least one charge receiver positioned at a second location relative to the hand sensor, the second location being at a greater distance from the hand sensor than the first location.

IPC Classes  ?

• A47K 10/36 - Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means with cutting devices
• A47K 3/02 - Baths
• H05F 3/02 - Carrying-off electrostatic charges by means of earthing connections

Abstract

Expected battery consumption by non-hard wired paper towel dispensers is calculated and compared as a way to help sell dispensers. The information is provided on a real-time basis not only for each type of dispenser a salesperson is attempting to sell, but also for competitive dispensers so that the customer can make an informed decision as to which dispenser (s) best meets his needs.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 11/30 - Monitoring

Abstract

A system used to rotatably support a roll of absorbent material within a dispenser. The system includes a plug pre-packaged only in one end of a core of a roll of absorbent material to be dispensed from the dispenser. The other end of the core is insertable into a boss extending from a wall of the dispenser. The plug mates with a hub member having a complimentary shape to that of the plug. The hub member is rotatably supported within an arm connected to a wall of the dispenser.

IPC Classes  ?

• A47K 10/38 - Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means the web being rolled-up

Abstract

A two-roll toilet paper dispenser automatically transfers a new roll into dispensing position once the previous roll is spent or nearly spent. A spring-loaded plate senses the decreasing diameter of the first roll, and once it reaches a predetermined minimum, actuates a linkage that permits a mandrel carrying the two rolls to drop down within the dispenser body and position the second roll for dispensing. The mandrel and track structure permits reloading the dispenser without removing the mandrel. The rolls of toilet paper have adapter plugs in one end only, to ensure that the rolls are placed in the correct orientation within the dispenser.

IPC Classes  ?

• A47K 10/24 - Towel dispensersToilet paper dispensers

Abstract

A dispenser has a cover (15) and a housing body (12). Within the housing body is a pair of rollers (2, 5) having a nip area therebetween. When the cover is open, a disengagement mechanism (19) may be manually depressed to increase the space between one end of the rollers, while the space between an opposing end of the rollers remains substantially unchanged to facilitate the removal of a jam in the nip area of the dispenser.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65H 16/10 - Arrangements for effecting positive rotation of web roll
• B65H 20/02 - Advancing webs by friction roller
• B65H 19/29 - Securing the trailing end of the wound web to the web roll

Abstract

A hands-free dispenser has a body and a cover connected to the body. A sensor element is attached to the body. The cover has an opening that enables the sensor to protrude through the cover and extend beyond a plane of the cover when the cover is closed.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65H 61/00 - Applications of devices for metering predetermined lengths of running material

Abstract

An apparatus that dispenses a sheet of absorbent material from a roll of absorbent material includes a housing and a drum in the housing. A cutting device is incorporated in the drum. A one-way bearing on a shaft of the drum enables the drum to rotate only in one direction upon activation of the drum. A tensioning device provides tension to a strip of paper material passing between the tensioning device and the drum. The apparatus also includes a supply roll surface drive that controls rotation of the roll of absorbent material. The supply roll surface drive includes two independently rotatable pulleys and a belt wrapped around the pulleys. The belt contacts the roll of paper towels along a plurality of contact points to control rotation of the roll of absorbent material.

IPC Classes  ?

• B23D 25/02 - Flying shearing machines

Abstract

A dispenser includes a body having four side walls, a base and an opening in a top of the body. The base has end walls extending substantially parallel to the side walls so that the dispenser is substantially double walled. A lid is hingedly connected near the top of the body and covers the opening. The lid has a slot therein for sheet material to be dispensed therethrough. The dispenser also includes a platform that supports the sheet material. The platform is movable against forces of a compression element from a first position adjacent the lid to a second position spaced apart from the lid. The end walls have a plurality of ribs extending therefrom. The ribs engage a plurality of corresponding grooves in the platform so that the platform is slidably guided within the body along the ribs.

IPC Classes  ?

• A47K 10/42 - Dispensers for paper towels or toilet-paper dispensing from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked