Apparatus and methods usable in connection with dispensing flexible sheet material from a roll

• US 7,114,677 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
• Inventors: Formon, John S., Morris, Andrew R., Murphy, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, JOHN QUOC
• Application Number:
  US10/211,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20030168550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• Field of Search: 242/564, 242/564.3, 242/564.4, 226/181, 226/188
• US Class Current: 242/564.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/36 with mechanical dispensing, roll switching or cutting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3612 with drive and pinch rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3625 with electronic control means
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3668 Detection of the presence of a user
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3881 with tearing edges having movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 35/10 from or with devices for breaking partially-cut or perforated webs, e.g. bursters
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9606 using one electrode only per touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/12 With preliminary weakening
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/205 With feed-out of predetermined length from work supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/209 With feed-out of lead-end to aid initial grasping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/232 Plural supply sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/238 With housing for work supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/268 By resiliently engaging package ends or interior of core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/30 Breaking or tearing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/541 Actuation of tool controlled in response to work-sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8822 Edge-to-edge of sheet or web [e.g., traveling cutter]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/889 Tool with either work holder or means to hold work supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/896 Rotatable wound package supply

Abstract

A powered dispenser for dispensing individual sheet segments from a continuous roll of sheet material provided with spaced tear lines comprises a powered feed mechanism, a releasable, powered drive mechanism, a powered transfer mechanism, a pair of web sensing sensors, a capacitive sensing system providing automatic sensitivity adjustment, and control circuitry. A dual power supply system provides a mechanical lock-out functionality, and the control system is protected from electrostatic build-up on the surface of the feed roller. The web sensor, and an antenna plate of the capacitive sensing system, are provided on respective printed circuit boards mounted in overlying relation. Utilizing signals received from the pair of web sensors and the capacitive sensing system, the control circuitry senses the presence of a user to activate the powered drive mechanism, and prevents further dispensing of the sheet material until a previously dispensed segment is separated from the roll. The web sensors detection of a leading edge of the sheet material initiates a predetermined interval of sheet material advancement providing a proper placement of successive tear lines. Various approaches may be utilized to accommodate inadvertent sheet “tabbing” scenarios. The web sensors, together with the control circuitry, are also used to detect the depletion, or absence, of a working roll of sheet material, whereupon the control circuitry controls the powered transfer mechanism to automatically transfer the web feed supply from a depleted working roll to a reserve roll. The powered transfer mechanism may include a motor driven transfer bar, or provide motor driven release of a spring biased transfer bar. Another arrangement allows for ready release of a roll core, and drop of the same into an open dispenser cover for removal.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing flexible sheet material, comprising:

a support for rotatably supporting a roll of sheet material;

a feed mechanism for advancing the sheet material out of the dispenser;

a drive member for driving the feed mechanism, said drive member being movably mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said feed mechanism; and

a hold mechanism for locking said drive member in a first position of engagement with said feed mechanism, said hold mechanism being manually releasable to permit said drive member to be readily moved out of engagement with said feed mechanism to a second position by tool-free finger operation and without detachment of said drive member from its movable mount,

wherein said drive member remains disengaged in said second position without user applied force when said hold mechanism is released.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said drive member is rotatably movable into and out of engagement with said feed mechanism.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said feed mechanism includes a feed roller and a spur gear connected to said feed roller, and said drive member comprises a worm gear for engaging said spur gear.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein absent a jam said feed mechanism is freely rotatable when said drive member is disengaged from said feed mechanism.

5. A method of removing a jam from a dispenser for dispensing flexible sheet material, the method comprising:

detecting a sheet material jam;

disengaging a drive mechanism of said dispenser from a feed mechanism of said dispenser;

clearing said jam from the path of the feed mechanism by rotating said feed mechanism while it is disengaged from said drive mechanism; and

reengaging said drive mechanism with said feed mechanism;

wherein said step of disengaging includes moving a motor and a corresponding drive shaft of said drive mechanism together as a unit to drivingly disengage said drive shaft from a locked position of engagement with said feed mechanism, the motor and drive shaft of said drive mechanism are rotated as a unit to drivingly disengage said drive shaft from said feed mechanism, and the step of disengaging includes manually unclipping a spring arm from a retention clip.

6. A dispenser for dispensing flexible sheet material, comprising:

a support for rotatably supporting a roll of sheet material;

a feed mechanism for advancing the sheet material out of the dispenser;

a drive member for driving the feed mechanism, said drive member being movably mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said feed mechanism; and

a hold mechanism for locking said drive member in engagement with said feed mechanism, said hold mechanism being manually releasable to permit said drive member to be moved out of engagement with said feed mechanism;

wherein said hold mechanism is manually releasable by finger operation and said hold mechanism comprises;

a retention clip; and

a spring arm for selectively snapping into engagement with said retention clip.

7. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein said drive member forms part of a drive mechanism including a motor for driving said drive member, said drive mechanism being movable as a unit into and out of engagement with said feed mechanism.

8. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein said drive mechanism is rotatable as a unit into and out of engagement with said feed mechanism.

9. The dispenser of claim 7, further comprising a carrier retaining said drive mechanism for movement as a unit into and out of engagement with said feed mechanism.

10. The dispenser of claim 7, said motor being fixedly attached to said drive member by a drive shaft.

11. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein said drive member comprises a worm gear.

12. A dispenser for dispensing flexible sheet material, comprising:

a support for rotatably supporting a roll of sheet material;

a feed mechanism for advancing the sheet material out of the dispenser;

a drive member for driving the feed mechanism, said drive member being movably mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said feed mechanism;

a hold mechanism for locking said drive member in a first position of engagement with said feed mechanism, said hold mechanism being manually releasable to permit said drive member to be moved out of engagement with said feed mechanism to a second position of disengagement;

a carrier retaining said drive mechanism for movement as a unit into and out of engagement with said feed mechanism;

wherein said hold mechanism is manually releasable by finger operation, said drive member forms part of a drive mechanism including a motor for driving said drive member, said drive mechanism being movable as a unit into and out of said first position of engagement with said feed mechanism, said carrier being rotatably mounted for rotating said drive mechanism into and out of said first position of engagement with said feed mechanism; and

wherein said drive member remains disengaged in said second position without user applied force when said hold mechanism is released.

13. The dispenser of claim 12, said carrier comprising:

a motor chamber for retaining said motor;

a drive member chamber disposed adjacent to said motor chamber for retaining said drive member; and

a wall structure separating said motor chamber from said drive member chamber.

14. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein said carrier defines a port allowing ingress and egress of at least a portion of said feed mechanism, for engagement of said feed mechanism with said drive member.

15. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein said drive member comprises a worm gear, said feed mechanism includes a feed roller and a spur gear connected to said feed roller, and said spur gear at least partially enters said drive member chamber to engage said worm gear;

wherein said worm gear engages said spur gear in a uni-directional manner to prevent overdrive of said motor.

16. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein said motor includes a drive shaft that extends through said wall structure and is fixedly attached to the drive member.

17. The dispenser of claim 16, further comprising a retaining structure opposed to said wall structure for rotatably supporting said drive shaft, said drive member being retained between said retaining structure and said wall structure.

18. A drive mechanism assembly for selectively engaging with and driving a feed mechanism of a flexible sheet material dispenser, said drive mechanism assembly comprising:

a motor having a drive shaft;

a drive member attached to said drive shaft, for drivingly engaging said feed mechanism while in a first position of engagement and

a carrier retaining therein said motor and drive member, said carrier including a rotatable mounting member for rotatably mounting said motor and drive member to a dispenser chassis for rotation as a unit into and out of said first position of engagement;

a hold mechanism for locking said drive member in said first position of engagement with said feed mechanism, said hold mechanism being manually releasable to permit said drive member to be moved out of said first position of engagement with said feed mechanism to a second position of disengagement;

wherein said hold mechanism is manually releasable by finger operation and said hold mechanism comprises a first engagement member for engaging a corresponding second engagement member.

19. The drive mechanism of claim 18, wherein an axis of rotation of said rotatable mounting member extends substantially orthogonally with respect to said drive shaft.

20. The drive mechanism of claim 18, wherein said drive member comprises a worm gear.

21. The drive mechanism of claim 18, said carrier comprising:

a motor chamber for retaining said motor;

a drive member chamber disposed adjacent to said motor chamber for retaining said drive member; and

a wall structure separating said motor chamber from said drive member chamber.

22. The drive mechanism of claim 21, wherein said carrier defines a port allowing ingress and egress of at least a portion of said feed mechanism, for engagement of said feed mechanism with said drive member.

23. The drive mechanism of claim 22, wherein said drive member comprises a worm gear and said feed mechanism includes a feed roller and a spur gear connected to said feed roller, and said spur gear enters said drive chamber to engage said worm gear in said engagement position.

24. The drive mechanism of claim 21, wherein said motor includes a drive shaft that extends through said wall structure and is fixedly attached to the drive member.

25. The drive mechanism of claim 24, further comprising a clip disposed on the end of said drive shaft for preventing translation of said drive shaft out of said retainer.

26. The drive mechanism of claim 21, further comprising a retaining structure opposed to said wall structure for rotatably supporting said drive shaft, said drive member being retained between said retaining structure and said wall structure.

27. The drive mechanism of claim 18, wherein said first engagement member comprises a spring arm for snapping into and out of engagement with said corresponding second engagement member, said second engagement member comprising a retention clip to releasably hold said motor and drive member in said first position.

28. A method of removing a jam from a dispenser for dispensing flexible sheet material, the method comprising:

detecting a sheet material jam;

disengaging a movably mounted drive mechanism of said dispenser from a locked first position of engagement with a feed mechanism of said dispenser by tool-free finger operation and without detachment of said drive member from its movable mount, to a second position of disengagement in which said drive member remains disengaged in said second position without user applied force when said hold mechanism is released;

clearing said jam from the path of the feed mechanism by rotating said feed mechanism while it is disengaged from said drive mechanism; and

reengaging said drive mechanism with said feed mechanism.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said step of disengaging includes moving a motor and a corresponding drive shaft of said drive mechanism together as a unit to drivingly disengage said drive shaft from said feed mechanism.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the motor and drive shaft of said drive mechanism are rotated as a unit to drivingly disengage said drive shaft from said feed mechanism.