Dispenser for flexible sheet material

• US 4,137,805 A
• Filed: 04/29/1977
• Issued: 02/06/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
• Original Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
• Inventors: Jespersen, Paul W., DeLuca, Raymond F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meister, J. M.
• Application Number:
  US05/792,308
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 83/649, 83/650, 83/175, 83/345, 226/91, 226/92, 226/108, 226/110, 242/55.3, 242/55.53, 242/58, 242/58.6
• US Class Current: 83/345
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3643 by pulling the paper
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3687 with one or more reserve rolls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/4836 With radial overlap of the cutting members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/896 Rotatable wound package supply

Abstract

A dispenser for flexible sheet material having a reserve roll that automatically moves into the dispensing position when the dispensing roll is almost exhausted. The sides of the reserve roll guide tracks are angled inwardly to engage the reserve roll spool at an off center point, so the spool is pushed downwardly into contact with a driving roller during rotation. The leading edge of the reserve roll towel engages the remaining portion of the almost exhausted dispensing roll and is moved therewith to be threaded through the dispensing mechanism. The perforating mechanism is assisted through the perforating stroke by a spring mechanism. The sensing roll is halted by a roll stop mechanism including a pivoted stop link and an anti-reverse pawl.

Claims

1. A dispenser for flexible sheet material, comprising:

(a) a chassis having a front wall and a rear wall;

(b) means operatively connected to said chassis for rotatably supporting an initial roll of flexible sheet material and a reserve roll of flexible sheet material;

(c) means operatively connected to said chassis for guiding a web of flexible sheet material to a position to be grasped by a user so that the user may pull the web out of the dispenser;

(d) a rotatable perforating mechanism operatively connected to said chassis for perforating said web at intervals therealong to divide said web into individual sheets; and

(e) means to feed automatically the web of said reserve roll of said sheet material to said rotatable perforating mechanism after said initial roll of said sheet material has been exhausted a predetermined amount, said automatic feed means including means for engaging the leading edge of the web of said reserve roll to cause said web to buckle, said means for engaging the leading edge being so located as to cause said buckled portion to be urged toward said perforating mechanism.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for engaging the leading edge of the web of said reserve roll comprises at least one inwardly projecting portion affixed to said chassis.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein one of said inwardly projecting portions is affixed to said rear wall of said chassis and another of said inwardly projecting portions is affixed to the front wall of said cabinet.