Sheet material dispenser with transfer system and method
First Claim
1. A dispenser for dispensing sheet material, said dispenser comprising:
- a housing defining an interior for accommodating first and second sources of sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material is dispensed;
a first rotatable roller in the housing, a portion of the sheet material being in contact with the first roller prior to being dispensed through the opening; and
a transfer mechanism configured to transfer dispensing of sheet material from a first mode wherein sheet material is dispensed from the first source to a second mode wherein sheet material is dispensed from the second source, said transfer mechanism including a second rotatable roller having a slot passing completely through the second roller to retain a free end portion of the sheet material from the second source when the sheet material is dispensed in the first mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dispenser having a transfer mechanism for transferring between a first source and a second source of sheet material, and a method for transferring between the first source and the second source. Dispensing is transferred from a first source to a second source upon an absence of sheet material from the first source. The transfer mechanism includes a transfer roller with a slot to receive a free end of sheet material from the second source. The transfer roller also includes a plurality of raised portions, the raised portions are free to rotate through a dispensing roller when there is an absence of sheet material from the first source. This rotation introduces the free end of sheet material from the second source to the dispensing roller, and allows dispensing from the second source. Afterwards, the transfer roller is set to receive sheet material from a new source of sheet material.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A dispenser for dispensing sheet material, said dispenser comprising:
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a housing defining an interior for accommodating first and second sources of sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material is dispensed; a first rotatable roller in the housing, a portion of the sheet material being in contact with the first roller prior to being dispensed through the opening; and a transfer mechanism configured to transfer dispensing of sheet material from a first mode wherein sheet material is dispensed from the first source to a second mode wherein sheet material is dispensed from the second source, said transfer mechanism including a second rotatable roller having a slot passing completely through the second roller to retain a free end portion of the sheet material from the second source when the sheet material is dispensed in the first mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A dispenser for dispensing sheet material, said dispenser comprising:
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a housing defining an interior for accommodating first and second sources of sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material is dispensed; a first rotatable roller in the housing, said first roller having at least one recessed portion, a portion of the sheet material being in contact with the first roller prior to being dispensed through the opening; and a transfer mechanism configured to transfer dispensing of sheet material from a first mode wherein sheet material is dispensed from the first source to a second mode wherein sheet material is dispensed from the second source, said transfer mechanism including a second rotatable roller having a retainer to retain a free end portion of sheet material from the second source when the sheet material is dispensed in the first mode, said second roller having at least one first raised portion aligned with said recessed portion, said recessed portion and said raised portion being configured such that, when sheet from said first source covers said recessed portion, said transfer mechanism does not transfer dispensing from said first mode to said second mode. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A dispenser for dispensing sheet material, said dispenser comprising:
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a housing defining an interior for accommodating first and second sources of sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material is dispensed; a first rotatable roller in the housing, the first rotatable roller having a plurality of recessed portions, a portion of the sheet material being in contact with the first rotatable roller prior to being dispensed through the opening; and a transfer mechanism configured to transfer dispensing of sheet material from a first mode wherein sheet material is dispensed from the first source to a second mode wherein sheet material is dispensed from the second source, said transfer mechanism comprising a second rotatable roller comprising a slot passing completely through the second rotatable roller to retain a free end portion of the sheet material from the second source when the sheet material is dispensed in the first mode, and a plurality of raised portions configured to be aligned with the recessed portions of the first rotatable roller.
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Specification