Systems, methods, and apparatuses for dispensing sheets of material

• US 10,149,583 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2016
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Tranzonic Companies
• Original Assignee: The Tranzonic Companies
• Inventors: Vuylsteke, Kenneth F., Blanchard, Michael Duane, Rist, Atilla, Van Reenen, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Waggoner, Timothy R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ojofeitimi, Ayodeji T
• Application Number:
  US15/313,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20180049609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 271117-119, 221 42- 43, 221277
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/424 dispensing from the bottom part of the dispenser A47K10/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/44 with mechanical dispensing means for prehension of the next sheet to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 13/165 Dispensers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 17/003 Dispensers or holders for protecting covers for toilet bowls, seats or covers combined with seats A47K13/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3668 Detection of the presence of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/00 Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for dispensing sheets of material are provided. In one embodiment, a sheet material dispensing apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising: a cover; a rear wall connected to the cover; a mounting plate operatively connected to the cover; a shaft, wherein the shaft is connected to the mounting plate; a supply roller connected to the shaft, wherein the supply roller has a radiused portion and at least one truncated portion; and a retracting roller connected to the shaft, wherein the retracting roller has a radiused portion, and at least one truncated portion.

Claims

1. A sheet material dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a cover;

a rear wall connected to the cover;

a mounting plate operatively connected to the cover;

a shaft, wherein the shaft is connected to the mounting plate;

a supply roller connected to the shaft, wherein the supply roller has a radiused portion and at least one truncated portion;

a retracting roller connected to the shaft, wherein the retracting roller has a radiused portion, and at least one truncated portion; and

a supporting plate engaged and disengaged by the retracting roller during operation;

wherein, the radiused portion of the supply roller is directed in a first direction and the radiused portion of the retracting roller is directed in a second direction, the first direction being different from the second direction;

further wherein, the disengagement of the retracting roller from the supporting plate causes the supply roller to translate toward the rear wall.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one article of sheet material oriented between the cover and the rear wall.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is flexible.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retracting roller includes three truncated portions.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radiused portion of the supply roller includes a rubber coating.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power source.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a motor, wherein the motor is operatively connected to the shaft.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a capacitive sensor configured to activate the motor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a code reader, wherein the code reader is at least one of an RFID reader and a magnetic sensing system.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising at least one article of sheet material oriented between the cover and the rear wall, and wherein at least one of the sheet material and a sheet material card includes at least one of an RFID tag and a magnetic strip.

11. A sheet material dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a cover;

a rear wall connected to the cover;

a flexible mounting plate operatively connected to the cover;

a shaft, wherein the shaft is connected to the mounting plate;

a motor operatively connected to the shaft;

a supply roller connected to the shaft, wherein the supply roller has a radiused portion and at least one truncated portion; and

a retracting roller connected to the shaft, wherein the retracting roller has a radiused portion, and at least one truncated portion; and

a supporting plate engaged and disengaged by the retracting roller during operation;

wherein, the disengagement of the retracting roller from the supporting plate causes the supply roller to translate toward the rear wall.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising at least one article of sheet material oriented between the cover and the rear wall.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the retracting roller includes three truncated portions.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a capacitive sensor configured to activate the motor.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the radiused portion of the supply roller includes a rubber coating.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a power source.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a code reader, wherein the code reader is at least one of an RFID reader and a magnetic sensing system.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising at least one article of sheet material oriented between the cover and the rear wall, and wherein the at least one of the sheet material and a sheet material card includes at least one of an RFID tag and a magnetic strip.

19. A sheet material dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a cover;

a rear wall connected to the cover;

a mounting plate operatively connected to the cover;

a shaft, wherein the shaft is connected to the mounting plate;

a supply roller connected to the shaft, wherein the supply roller has a radiused portion and at least one truncated portion;

a retracting roller connected to the shaft, wherein the retracting roller has a radiused portion, and at least one truncated portion; and

a supporting plate engaged and disengaged by the retracting roller during operation, wherein the disengagement of the retracting roller from the supporting plate causes the supply roller to translate toward the rear wall.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising at least one article of sheet material oriented between the cover and the rear wall.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the mounting plate is flexible.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the retracting roller includes three truncated portions.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the radiused portion of the supply roller includes a rubber coating.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a power source.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a motor, wherein the motor is operatively connected to the shaft.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a capacitive sensor configured to activate the motor.

27. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a code reader, wherein the code reader is at least one of an RF1D reader and a magnetic sensing system.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising at least one article of sheet material oriented between the cover and the rear wall, and wherein at least one of the sheet material and a sheet material card includes at least one of an RFID tag and a magnetic strip.