U.S. patent application number 10/242217 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-18 for dispenser for rolled paper.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.. Invention is credited to Green, Jonathan, Oberdorf, Joseph Elisabeth, Tjaden, Bastiaan Roelof.
Application Number | 20040050994 10/242217 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31991355 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040050994 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Green, Jonathan ; et
al. |
March 18, 2004 |
Dispenser for rolled paper
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus for dispensing
rolled sheet material, the apparatus including a housing defining
an interior adapted to rotatably support rolled sheet material and
having a dispensing opening sized to allow sheet material to be
dispensed therefrom. The apparatus further includes a nip within
the housing such as, for example, may be formed by first and second
rollers. In addition, the apparatus includes a sheet material
dispensing surface proximate the dispensing opening, the sheet
material dispensing surface comprising at least one protrusion.
Inventors: |
Green, Jonathan;
(Warlingham, GB) ; Oberdorf, Joseph Elisabeth;
(Rotterdam, NL) ; Tjaden, Bastiaan Roelof;
(Leiden, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
401 NORTH LAKE STREET
NEENAH
WI
54956
|
Assignee: |
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
31991355 |
Appl. No.: |
10/242217 |
Filed: |
September 12, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
242/580 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 10/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
242/580 |
International
Class: |
B65H 075/28 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An apparatus for dispensing rolled sheet material comprising: a
housing defining an interior adapted to rotatably support rolled
sheet material and having a dispensing opening sized to allow sheet
material to be dispensed therefrom; a nip within the housing; and a
sheet material dispensing surface proximate the dispensing opening,
the sheet material dispensing surface comprising at least one
protrusion.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sheet material dispensing
surface comprises a fixed member located between the nip and the
dispensing opening.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the fixed member is positioned
between the nip and the dispensing opening to allow sheet material
to travel along a circuitous path.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sheet material dispensing
surface is at least partially concave in shape.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sheet material dispensing
surface is at least partially convex in shape.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sheet material dispensing
surface comprises at least one concave portion.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the sheet material dispensing
surface comprises at least one flat portion.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sheet material dispensing
surface comprises at least one convex portion.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the nip comprises at least one
roller.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the nip is pressurized.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the nip is pressurized by at
least one spring.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sheet material dispensing
surface at least partially defines the dispensing opening.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sheet material dispensing
surface at least partially extends into the path between the nip
and the dispensing opening.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising first and second sheet
material dispensing surfaces proximate the dispensing opening, the
first sheet material dispensing surface at least partially
extending into the path between the nip and the dispensing opening
from below, and the second sheet material dispensing surface at
least partially extending into the path between the nip and the
dispensing opening from above.
15. An apparatus for dispensing rolled sheet material comprising: a
housing defining an interior adapted to rotatably support rolled
sheet material and having a dispensing opening sized to allow sheet
material to be dispensed therefrom; a roll of sheet material having
a plurality of zones of weakness that substantially extend across
the width of the sheet material; a nip within the housing; and a
sheet material dispensing surface proximate the dispensing opening,
the sheet material dispensing surface comprising at least one
protrusion; wherein said sheet material is dispensed along a path
that extends from the roll of sheet material, through the nip,
across the sheet material dispensing surface, and through the
dispensing opening.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said protrusion concentrates
force on the portion of the sheet material that contacts the
protrusion when the sheet material is pulled across the sheet
material dispensing surface and through the dispensing opening.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the rolled sheet material
comprises inner and outer layers of sheet material, the layers of
sheet material comprising a plurality of offset zones of weakness
that substantially extend across the width of the sheet
material.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the sheet material dispensing
surface comprises at least one concave portion.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the sheet material dispensing
surface comprises at least one flat portion.
20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the sheet material dispensing
surface comprises at least one convex portion.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for no-touch
dispensing of sheet material from a roll of sheet material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] No-touch dispensers, i.e., dispensers that do not require
the patron to touch any part of the dispenser, are desired for many
reasons. No-touch dispensing reduces the chance of transferring
disease-causing bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms.
No-touch dispensing also makes the process of obtaining a sheet
simpler and quicker.
[0003] Single-sheet dispensers, i.e., dispensers that dispense a
consistent, fixed quantity of sheet material, are also desired for
many reasons. They tend to reduce the quantity of sheet material
used by an individual patron, thereby saving on material costs,
disposal costs, and costs associated with the frequency whereby the
dispensers must be refilled.
[0004] No-touch, single-sheet dispensers for folded, interleaved
sheets are known, however the manufacturing processes associated
with providing the folded, interleaved sheets are more expensive
and complex than the process associated with providing roll
products.
[0005] No-touch, single-sheet dispensers utilizing knives or other
cutting devices to cut sheet material from a roll of sheet material
are known, but knives and other cutting devices may present a
danger to either a patron or an individual refilling the
dispenser.
[0006] No-touch, single-sheet dispensers for rolled products via
zones of weakness are known, but if the sheet material tears before
the next zone of weakness emerges from the dispenser, the next
patron has no sheet material to grasp.
[0007] No-touch, single-sheet dispensing of double rolled products
via offset zones of weakness is also known, but dispensers for
these products still have disadvantages that have yet to be
overcome. As an example, these dispensers can be difficult to load.
As another example, if the force applied by a patron to remove the
sheet material from the dispenser is distributed evenly across the
width of the sheet material, the zones of weakness may not
separate, causing more than one sheet to be removed from the
dispenser. The features of the dispenser disclosed herein overcome
these and other disadvantages of prior art dispensers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The aforesaid needs are fulfilled and the problems
experienced by those skilled in the art overcome by the apparatus
for dispensing rolled sheet material of the present invention. In
one embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing defining an
interior adapted to rotatably support rolled sheet material and
having a dispensing opening sized to allow sheet material to be
dispensed therefrom. The apparatus further includes a nip within
the housing such as, for example, may be formed by first and second
rollers. In addition, the apparatus includes a sheet material
dispensing surface proximate the dispensing opening, the sheet
material dispensing surface comprising at least one protrusion. By
way of nonlimiting example, the sheet material dispensing surface
may include portions that are partially flat, convex, concave,
curved, rounded, bowed, arched, warped, crenellated, crenulated, or
dished in shape, and so forth, and combinations thereof. Desirably,
the sheet material dispensing surface at least partially extends
into the path between the nip and the dispensing opening.
Optionally, the sheet material dispensing surface may at least
partially define the dispensing opening.
[0009] In one embodiment, the sheet material dispensing surface
comprises a fixed member located between the nip and the dispensing
opening. Desirably, the fixed member is positioned between the nip
and the dispensing opening such that the sheet material is allowed
to travel along a circuitous path.
[0010] In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing
defining an interior adapted to rotatably support rolled sheet
material and having a dispensing opening sized to allow sheet
material to be dispensed therefrom, a nip within the housing, and a
roll of sheet material having a plurality of zones of weakness that
substantially extend across the width of the sheet material. The
apparatus further includes a sheet material dispensing surface
proximate the dispensing opening, the sheet material dispensing
surface comprising at least one protrusion. The sheet material is
dispensed along a path that extends from the roll of sheet
material, through the nip, across the sheet material dispensing
surface, and through the dispensing opening. Desirably, the
protrusion concentrates force on the portion of the sheet material
that contacts the protrusion when the sheet material is pulled
across the sheet material dispensing surface and through the
dispensing opening.
[0011] Desirably, the roll of sheet material comprises one or more
layers of sheet material having zones of weakness therein. Even
more desirably, the layers of sheet material comprise a plurality
of offset zones of weakness that extend substantially across the
width of the sheet material.
[0012] Other features and aspects of the present invention are
discussed in greater detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser of this
invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view depicting the
interior of the dispenser of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view depicting the
interior of an alternate embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the dispenser of
FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an exemplary dispensing
surface for the dispenser of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 4B is a front view of the dispensing surface of FIG.
4A.
[0019] FIGS. 4C-4E are cross-sectional side views of the dispensing
surface of FIG. 4A.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a dispenser of this
invention.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view depicting the interior of the
dispenser of FIG. 5.
[0022] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view depicting the
interior of the dispenser of FIG. 5.
[0023] FIGS. 8A & 8B are fragmentary perspective views
depicting the guide roller within the dispenser of FIG. 5.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional side elevation view
of the dispenser of FIG. 5.
[0025] FIG. 10A is a perspective view of an exemplary dispensing
surface for the dispenser of FIG. 5.
[0026] FIG. 10B is a front view of the dispensing surface of FIG.
10A.
[0027] FIGS. 10C-10E are cross-sectional side elevation views of
the dispensing surface of FIG. 10A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Reference will now be made in detail to the various
embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are
illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of
explanation of the invention and is not meant as a limitation of
the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as
part of one embodiment or figure can be used on another embodiment
or figure to yield yet another embodiment. It is intended that the
present invention include such modifications and variations.
[0029] The present invention provides an apparatus for dispensing
rolled sheet material. Exemplary sheet materials for which the
present invention is suitable include, but are not limited to,
absorbent sheet materials such as towels, wipers, tissue, and so
forth. Suitable sheet materials are disclosed, by way of
non-limiting examples only, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,589 to Cook et
al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,412 to Sudall et al., U.S. Pat. No.
5,674,590 to Anderson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,845 to
Farrington, Jr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,971 to Anderson et al.,
U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,212 to Anderson et al., and U.S. Pat. No.
6,273,996 to Hollenberg et al., the entire contents of which are
herein incorporated by reference. The sheet materials for which the
present invention is suitable are desirably wound around a core,
yet may, for other embodiments, be coreless. The sheet materials
for which the present invention is suitable desirably have
regularly spaced zones of weakness extending substantially across
the width of the sheet material. The zones of weakness are used to
separate the sheet material into individual sheets and may be, for
example, defined by a series of perforations. The sheet material
having regularly spaced zones of weakness substantially extending
across its width is desirably double wound into a roll having inner
and outer layers of sheet material wherein the zones of weakness
for the inner and outer layers are offset as is taught in U.S. Pat.
No. 3,770,172 to Nystrand, herein incorporated by reference in its
entirety. Double wound sheet material having offset zones of
weakness allows the sheet material to tear within the dispenser
while still providing a tail of sheet material extending from the
dispenser to be grasped by the next patron.
[0030] An embodiment of the dispenser of the present invention is
depicted in FIG. 1 at 10. The dispenser 10 includes a housing 12
that comprises a first housing section 14 and a second housing
section 16. When the first housing section 14 and the second
housing section 16 are in the closed position (as depicted in FIG.
1), the first housing section 14 and the second housing section 16
together define a dispensing opening 22, a first angled slot 24,
and a second angled slot on the opposite side wall (not depicted).
Sheet material 26 is dispensed through the dispensing opening 22.
Optionally, there may be a window 11 defined in one of the housing
sections to allow viewing of the interior of the dispenser 10. The
window 11 may be open, or may be constructed of a transparent or
translucent material that permits viewing of the interior of the
dispenser 10.
[0031] Referring now to FIG. 2 that depicts the inside of the
dispenser 10, the first housing section 14 has a top edge 18, while
the second housing section 16 has a bottom edge 20. The top edge 18
and the bottom edge 20 fit together to form the housing 12. The top
edge 18 and the bottom edge 20 are configured such that the first
housing section 14 and the second housing section 16 will not
separate during the dispensing operation. However, when it is
necessary to reload the dispenser, the first housing section 14 and
the second housing section 16 are readily separated. Methods of
removably attaching parts in this manner are well known to those
skilled in the art. Nonlimiting examples include snaps, latches,
buckles, locks, hooks, buttons, pins, cotter pins, and so
forth.
[0032] Within the housing 12 is a dispensing roller 28 that is
adapted to support a roll of sheet material 29 having a central
aperture 31. The dispensing roller 28 has a dispensing roller body
30, a first dispensing roller end 32, and a second dispensing
roller end 34. The dispensing roller body 30 is desirably
cylindrical, but may be any other shape that will support the
weight of the roll of sheet material 29. It is contemplated that
the dispensing roller 28 may support the roll of sheet material 29
from within the central aperture 31 or, alternatively, may support
the roll of sheet material 29 through contact with the outside
surface of the roll of sheet material 29. The first and second
dispensing roller ends 32, 34 are slidingly engaged by the first
and second angled slots 24, 25 that form when the first housing
section 14 and the second housing section 16 are closed together.
The first and second dispensing roller ends 32, 34 may be fixed
with respect to the dispensing roller body 30 or may,
alternatively, rotate independently from the dispensing roller body
30. The first and second dispensing roller ends 32, 34 are
desirably cylindrical, but may be any other shape that will
slideably engage the first and second angled slots.
[0033] Alternatively, referring now to FIG. 2A, the dispensing
roller 28 of FIG. 2 may be replaced by first and second mobile roll
supports 28A. This embodiment may be particularly desirable if the
roll of sheet material is a coreless roll such as, for example, is
taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,985 to Cohen et al. and U.S. Pat. No.
6,070,821 to Mitchell. The mobile roll supports 28A have mobile
roll support ends 32A that slideably engage the angled slots 24,
25. The mobile roll supports 28A also have an engaging member 28B
adapted to engage one side of a roll of sheet material 29A. The
engaging member 28B can have any one of numerous shapes. Desirably,
the engaging member 28B further includes a chamfered surface 28C.
In other embodiments, the engaging member 28B may be adapted to
extend into the interior of the rolled sheet material 29A.
[0034] Referring again to FIG. 2, in one embodiment the roll of
sheet material 29 may rotate independently from the dispensing
roller body 30. In this embodiment, the roll of sheet material 29
will rotate around the dispensing roller body 30 as the sheet
material 26 is dispensed. In another embodiment, the entire
dispensing roller 28 including the dispensing roller body 30 and
the dispensing roller ends 32, 34 may rotate with the roll of sheet
material 29 as the sheet material 26 is dispensed. In a further
embodiment, the dispensing roller body 30 may rotate with the roll
of sheet material 29 while the dispensing roller ends 32, 34 remain
fixed in the angled slots 24, 25 with respect to the rotating
dispenser roller body 30 and roll of sheet material 29. In another
embodiment, some combination of the aforementioned relationships
between the angled slots 24, 25, the dispensing roller 28, and the
roll of sheet material 29 may be used to effectively dispense the
sheet material 26.
[0035] As the sheet material 26 is dispensed and the diameter of
the sheet material roll 29 decreases, the dispensing roller ends
32, 34 travel down the angled slots 24, 25. As depicted in FIG. 2,
the angled slots 24, 25 may be formed between the first housing
section 14 and the second housing section 16. Alternatively, in
other embodiments the first and second angled slots 24, 25 may be
defined entirely within the sides of the first housing section 14,
may be defined entirely within the sides of the second housing
section 16, or may cross over from the first housing section 14 to
the second housing section 16. It is desirable that the angled
slots 24, 25 be open to the housing section edges 18, 20 to
facilitate placement of the dispensing roller 28 in the angled
slots 24, 25.
[0036] The angled slots 24, 25 have the added benefit of providing
a window through which it is possible to detect how much sheet
material 26 remains on the roll of sheet material 29 inside the
housing 12. However, other embodiments may have tracks on the
inside of the first housing section 14 and/or second housing
section 16 with which the dispensing roller ends 32, 34 slidingly
engage. As the roll of sheet material 29 is depleted, the
dispensing roller ends 32, 34 travel within the tracks.
[0037] Referring again to FIG. 2, within the housing 12 is a feed
roller 36 that provides further support to the roll of sheet
material 29. The feed roller 36 has a feed roller body 38, a first
feed roller end 40, and a second feed roller end 42. The first feed
roller end 40 engages a first feed roller aperture 44 in the side
of the first housing section 14. The second feed roller end 42
engages a second feed roller aperture 46 in the opposite side of
the first housing section 14. The first and second feed roller
apertures are positioned wherein the outer surface of a roll of
sheet material 29 on the dispensing roller 28 will rest against the
feed roller 36 as the roll of sheet material 29 is dispensed.
[0038] In one embodiment, the entire feed roller 36, including the
feed roller body 38 and ends 40, 42, may rotate with the roll of
sheet material 29 as the sheet material 26 is dispensed. In another
embodiment, the feed roller body 38 may rotate with the roll of
sheet material 29 while the feed roller ends 40, 42 remain fixed in
the feed roller apertures 44. In a further embodiment, some
combination of the aforementioned relationships between the roll of
sheet material 29, the feed roller body 38, and the feed roller
ends 40, 42 may be used to effectively dispense the sheet material
26.
[0039] Within the housing 12 is a guide roller 48 having a guide
roller body 52, a first guide roller end 54, and a second guide
roller end 56. The first guide roller end 54 engages a first guide
roller slot 57 in the side of second housing section 16. The second
guide roller end 56 engages a second guide roller slot 59 in the
opposite side of the second housing section 16. Referring now to
FIG. 3, the guide roller 48 forms a nip 50 with the feed roller 36.
The nip 50 has an entrance side 50A and an exit side 50B. Referring
again to FIG. 2, the first and second guide roller slots 57, 59 are
positioned in the sides of the second housing section 16 wherein
the nip 50, shown in FIG. 3, is formed between the guide roller
body 52 and the feed roller body 38 when the second housing section
16 is closed against the first housing section 14. The guide roller
48 is biased or pressurized against the feed roller 36 by first and
second springs 58 having first and second spring ends 60, 62. The
first spring ends 60 are connected to hooks 61 that hook over the
first and second guide roller ends 54, 56. The second spring ends
62 engage first and second pegs 66 attached to the inside of the
second housing section 16. The guide roller slots 57 allow the
guide roller 48 to move and the first and second springs 58 to
compress as the first and second housing sections 14, 16 are closed
together. Alternatively, other mechanisms known to those skilled in
the art may be used for biasing or pressurizing the guide roller 48
against the feed roller 36.
[0040] The force exerted by the guide roller 48 against the feed
roller 36 must be such that the tension required to be applied to
the sheet material to pull it through the nip 50 exceeds the
breaking strength of the zones of weakness in the sheet material
yet does not exceed the breaking strength of the remainder of the
sheet material 26. Therefore, force applied to the sheet material
26 extending from the dispensing opening 22 will advance the sheet
material 26 until a zone of weakness emerges from the nip 50
between the guide roller 48 and the feed roller 36. At that point
the zone of weakness will break, providing a single sheet to the
patron, and leaving an extended tail of sheet material 26 for the
next patron to grasp. A detailed description of the desired force
balance can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,770,172 to Nystrand.
[0041] In one embodiment, the entire guide roller 48, including the
guide roller body 52 and first and second guide roller ends 54, 56,
may rotate as the sheet material 26 is dispensed. In another
embodiment, the guide roller body 52 may rotate with the movement
of the sheet material 26 while the guide roller ends 54, 56 remain
fixed in the guide roller slots 57. In a further embodiment, some
combination of the aforementioned relationships between the guide
roller apertures 57, the guide roller 48, and the feed roller 38
may be used to effectively dispense the sheet material 26.
[0042] Referring again to FIG. 3, within the housing 12 and
situated between the dispensing opening 22 and the exit side 50B of
the feed nip 50, a sheet material dispensing surface 70 is
positioned wherein during the dispensing operation the sheet
material 26 travels over and upon the sheet material dispensing
surface 70. In FIG. 3 the sheet material dispensing surface 70 is
depicted beneath the path of the sheet material 26, but in other
embodiments the sheet material dispensing surface 70 may
alternatively be positioned above the path of the sheet material
26, or there may be first and second dispensing surfaces 70
positioned both above and below the path of the sheet material 26.
Referring now to FIGS. 2, 4A, and 4B, the sheet material dispensing
surface 70 has at least one protruding area 74 that contacts the
sheet material 26 as the sheet material 26 is dispensed. The sheet
material dispensing surface 70 also has at least one depressed area
76 that contacts the sheet material 26 with less force than does
the protruding area 74, or not at all, during dispensing. Desirable
shapes for the sheet material dispensing surface 70 include, but
are not limited to, partially flat, convex, concave, convex,
concave, curved, rounded, bowed, arched, warped, dished,
crenellated, crenulated, and so forth, and combinations thereof. An
exemplary profile for the dispensing surface 70 is depicted in
FIGS. 4C-4E.
[0043] While the inventors do not wish to be held to a particular
theory, it is thought that the dispensing force applied by a user
to the sheet material 26 extending from the dispensing opening 22
is distributed to the areas of the sheet material 26 where the
protruding area 74 contacts the sheet material 26 as it is
dispensed. By concentrating the applied force in this manner,
separation of individual sheets at the zones of weakness is more
likely to occur.
[0044] An alternate embodiment is depicted in FIGS. 5-10E.
Referring to FIG. 5, the dispenser 10A includes a housing 12A that
comprises a first housing section 14A and a second housing section
16A. When the first housing section 14A and the second housing
section 16A are in the closed position (as depicted in FIG. 5), the
first housing section 14A and the second housing section 16A
together define a dispensing opening 22A through which sheet
material 26 is dispensed.
[0045] Referring now to FIG. 6 that depicts the inside of the
dispenser 10A, the first housing section 14A has a top surface 100
to which is attached a first latch 102, while the second housing
section 16A has a rim 104 to which is attached a second latch 106.
The rim 104 fits around and over the first housing section 14A to
form the housing 12A. The first latch 102 and the second latch 106
are configured to removably attach upon closing of the second
housing section 16A such that the first housing section 14A and the
second housing section 16A will not separate during the dispensing
operation. However, when it is necessary to reload the dispenser,
the first housing section 14A and the second housing section 16A
are readily separated. Methods of removably attaching parts are
well known to those skilled in the art. Nonlimiting examples
include snaps, latches, buckles, locks, hooks, buttons, pins,
cotter pins, and so forth. With respect to the particular
embodiment depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first housing section 14A
and the second housing section 16A are hingedly attached by first
and second hinges 17. The hinges 17 allow the housing 12A to be
opened without complete separation of the first and second housing
sections 14A, 16A.
[0046] In reference to FIG. 7, within the housing 12A is a
dispensing roller 28 that is adapted to support a roll of sheet
material 29 having a central aperture 31. The dispensing roller 28
has a dispensing roller body 30, a first dispensing roller end 32,
and a second dispensing roller end 34. The dispensing roller body
30 is desirably cylindrical, but may be any other shape that will
support the weight of the roll of sheet material 29. It is
contemplated that the dispensing roller 28 may support the roll of
sheet material 29 from within the central aperture 31 or,
alternatively, may support the roll of sheet material 29 through
contact with the outside surface of the roll of sheet material 29.
The first and second dispensing roller ends 32, 34 are slidingly
engaged by the first and second angled tracks 124, 125. The first
and second dispensing roller ends 32, 34 may be fixed with respect
to the dispensing roller body 30 or may, alternatively, rotate
independently from the dispensing roller body 30. Similarly, as
sheet material 26 is dispensed, the roll of sheet material 29 may
be fixed with respect to the dispensing roller body 30, or may,
alternatively, rotate independently from the dispensing roller body
30. As the sheet material 26 is dispensed and the diameter of the
sheet material roll 29 decreases, the dispensing roller ends 32, 34
travel down the angled tracks 124, 125.
[0047] Also within the housing 12A is a feed roller 36 that
provides further support to the roll of sheet material 29. The feed
roller 36 has a feed roller body 38, a first feed roller end 40,
and a second feed roller end 42. The first feed roller end 40
engages a first feed roller aperture 144 in the side of the first
housing section 14A. The second feed roller end 42 engages a second
feed roller aperture 145 in the opposite side of the first housing
section 14A. The first and second feed roller apertures are
positioned wherein the outer surface of a roll of sheet material 29
on the dispensing roller 28 will rest against the feed roller 36 as
the roll of sheet material 29 is dispensed. As the sheet material
26 is dispensed, the feed roller body 38 rotates with the roll of
sheet material 29. The feed roller body 38 may be fixed with
respect to the first and second feed roller ends 40, 42, in which
case the first and second feed roller ends 40, 42 rotate within the
first and second feed roller apertures 144, 145. Alternatively, the
feed roller body 38 may rotate independently from the first and
second feed roller ends 40, 42.
[0048] Additionally, referring also now to FIGS. 8A and 8B, within
the housing 12A is a guide roller 48 having a guide roller body 52,
a first guide roller end 54, and a second guide roller end 56. The
first and second guide roller ends 54, 56 engage first and second
guide roller bushings 150, 152 having first and second guide roller
bushing ends 154, 156. The first and second guide roller bushing
ends 154, 156 slidingly engage first and second guide roller
bushing slots 158, 160 in first and second guide roller arms 162,
164 attached to the inside of the second housing section 16A.
[0049] The guide roller 48 is biased or pressurized between the
second housing section 16A and the feed roller 36 by first and
second springs 170 having first and second spring ends 172, 174.
The first spring ends 172 engage first and second pegs 176 attached
to the inside of the second housing section 16A. The second spring
ends 174 engage first and second spring caps 178 against which rest
the first and second guide roller bushings 150, 152. Referring now
to FIG. 9, the guide roller 48 forms a nip 50 with the feed roller
36. The nip 50 has an entrance side 50A and an exit side 50B. The
first guide roller arm 162 (not shown), and the second guide roller
arm 164, attached to the inside of the second housing section 16A,
are positioned wherein the nip 50 is formed between the guide
roller 48 and the feed roller 36 when the second housing section
16A is closed against the first housing section 14A. As described
above, the force exerted by the guide roller 48 against the feed
roller 36 must be such that the tension required to be applied to
the sheet material to pull it through the nip 50 exceeds the
breaking strength of the zones of weakness in the sheet material
yet does not exceed the breaking strength of the rest of the sheet
material 26.
[0050] Referring now to FIG. 9, within the dispenser 10A and
situated between the dispensing opening 22A and the exit side 50B
of the feed nip 50, a sheet material dispensing surface 70A is
positioned such that, during the dispensing operation, the sheet
material 26 travels over and upon at least a portion of the sheet
material dispensing surface 70A. In FIG. 9 the sheet material
dispensing surface 70A is depicted beneath the path of the sheet
material 26, but in other embodiments the sheet material dispensing
surface 70A may alternatively be positioned above the path of the
sheet material 26, or there may be first and second dispensing
surfaces 70A positioned both above and below the path of the sheet
material 26. Referring now to FIGS. 7, 10A, and 10B, the sheet
material dispensing surface 70A has at least one protruding area
74A that contacts the sheet material 26 as the sheet material 26 is
dispensed. The sheet material dispensing surface 70A also has at
least one depressed area 76A that contacts the sheet material 26
with less force during dispensing than does the protruding area
74A. Desirable shapes for the sheet material dispensing surface 70A
include, but are not limited to, partially flat, convex, concave,
curved, rounded, bowed, arched, warped, dished, crenellated,
crenulated, and so forth, and combinations thereof. An exemplary
profile for the dispensing surface 70A is depicted in FIGS.
10C-10E.
[0051] While the inventors do not wish to be held to a particular
theory, it is thought that the dispensing force applied by a user
to the sheet material 26 extending from the dispensing opening 22A
is increased in the areas where the protruding area 74A contacts
the sheet material 26 as it is dispensed. By concentrating the
force in this manner, separation of individual sheets at the zones
of weakness is more likely to occur.
[0052] While the invention has been described in detail with
respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to
those skilled in the art that various alterations, modifications
and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention. It is therefore intended that all
such modifications, alterations and other changes be encompassed by
the claims.
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