Systems, methods, and apparatuses for dispensing sheets of material

• US 10,638,896 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2019
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• 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): Scott, Jacob S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ojofeitimi, Ayodeji T
• Application Number:
  US16/431,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20190282044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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

A sheet material dispensing apparatus, including a shaft operatively connected to a supply roller and a retracting roller, wherein the retracting roller has a radiused portion and at least one truncated portion; a motor configured to cause the shaft to rotate; an activating cam operatively connected to the supply roller; a microswitch operatively associated with the activating cam, the microswitch being configured to limit operation of the motor; a supporting plate engaged and disengaged by the retracting roller during operation, wherein the disengagement of the radiused portion from the supporting plate causes the supply roller to translate toward a wall of the apparatus; and at least one article of sheet material housed within the apparatus.

Claims

1. A sheet material dispensing apparatus, comprising:

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

a motor configured to cause the shaft to rotate;

an activating cam operatively connected to the supply roller;

microswitch operatively associated with the activating cam, the microswitch being configured to limit operation of the motor;

a supporting plate engaged and disengaged by the retracting roller during operation, wherein the disengagement of the radiused portion from the supporting plate causes the supply roller to translate toward a wall of the apparatus; and

at least one article of sheet material housed within, the apparatus.

2. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising, an electronics box having a counter configured to count a number of dispenses of the at least one article of sheet material.

3. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retracting roller includes three truncated portions.

4. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radiused portion of the supply roller includes a rubber coating.

5. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the engagement of the radiused portion of the retracting roller to the supporting plate causes the supply roller to retract front the wall and away from the at least one article of sheet material.

6. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flexible mounting plate operatively connected to at least one of the supply roller, the retracting roller and the shaft, wherein the flexible mounting plate is configured to deflect or bend about at least one supporting tab during dispensing of the at least one article of sheet material.

7. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 1, Wherein the supply roller has a radius portion and at least one truncated portion.

8. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 7, 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.

9. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 8, whet ein the first and second directions are opposite one another.

10. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising, a sensor configured to activate the motor, wherein the sensor includes one of a capacitive sensor, an infrared sensor, a light sensor, a touch sensor, a microphone, a temperature sensor, an RF 1:

13 reader, and a shock sensor.

11. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a magnetic sensing system configured to sense a magnetic strip.

12. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a sheet material card configured to hold the at least one article of sheet material.

13. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a magnetic strip, wherein the magnetic strip is located at the sheet material card.

14. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power source.

15. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the power source includes one of a battery or an electrical source exterior to the apparatus.

16. A sheet material dispensing apparatus, comprising:

at least one article of sheet material housed within the apparatus and configured to be dispensed therefrom;

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

a motor configured to cause the shaft to rotate;

a sensor configured to activate the motor;

an activating cam operatively connected to the supply roller, the activating earn including a microswitch configured to limit operation of the motor after activation by the sensor;

a supporting plate engaged and disengaged by the retracting roller during operation, wherein the disengagement of the radiused portion from the supporting plate causes the supply roller to translate toward a wall of the apparatus; and

a flexible mounting plate operatively connected to at least one of the supply roller, the retracting roller and the shaft, wherein the flexible mounting plate is configured to deflect or bend about at least one supporting tab during dispensing of the at least one article of sheet material.

17. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the engagement of the radiused portion of the retracting roller to the supporting plate causes the supply roller to retract from the wall and away from the at least one article of sheet material.

18. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

an electronics box having a counter configured to count a number of dispenses of the at least one article of sheet material; and

a power source including one of a battery or an electrical source exterior to the apparatus.

19. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the supply roller has a radius portion and at least one truncated portion, 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.

20. The sheet material dispensing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first and second directions are opposite one another.