No touch dispenser for sheet material with automatic advance

• US 7,347,134 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Lewis, Richard Paul, Tramontina, Paul Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Ashley; Boyer D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANDRUM, EDWARD F
• Application Number:
  US10/953,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20060065094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 833/35, 836/49, 836/50, 836/29, 839/49, 225/10, 225/47, 242/564, 242/565, 242/564.1, 242/564.3, 242/564.4, 226/121, 226/127, 226/128, 226/129
• US Class Current: 83/649
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/36 with mechanical dispensing, roll switching or cutting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/365 Triggering mechanism for the blade
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/949 Continuous or wound supply
• 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 83/8844 Gear actuated tool support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/896 Rotatable wound package supply

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing and advancing sheet material is provided. The dispenser includes a frame and a drive roller rotationally mounted to the frame. The drive roller is configured for engagement with sheet material so that rotation of the drive roller causes movement of the sheet material. A segmented gear with first and second drive segments is mounted to the frame and is in communication with the drive roller. A spring is included and is in communication with the segmented gear. The spring is configured so that rotation of the segmented gear causes the spring to store potential energy. Release of potential energy in the spring causes the segmented gear to rotate. A cutting blade is provided and is configured for cutting the sheet material in order to release potential energy. The dispenser allows for a piece of sheet material to be dispensed therefrom and subsequently presents the user with a new piece of sheet material for future removal.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing and advancement of sheet material, comprising:

a drive roller rotationally mounted to a frame;

a sheet material engaging said drive roller such that pulling of said sheet material causes tension in said sheet material and causes said drive roller to rotate;

a segmented gear rotationally mounted to the frame, wherein said segmented gear is in communication with said drive roller, and wherein said segmented gear has a first and second drive segment;

a spring in communication with said segmented gear such that rotation of said segmented gear in a first direction caused by pulling of said sheet material causes said spring to store potential energy; and

a cutting blade in communication with said segmented gear, said cutting blade configured for cutting said sheet material such that tension in said sheet material is released after cutting;

wherein release of tension in said sheet material causes said spring to release potential energy that causes said segmented gear to rotate in a second direction in order to cause said drive roller to rotate and advance said sheet material.

2. The dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cutting blade is stationary with respect to the frame.

3. The dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said spring is a torsion spring.

4. The dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cutting blade is movable relative to the frame in order to engage and cut said sheet material.

5. The dispenser as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:

a cutting blade idler gear rotationally mounted to the frame; and

a cutting blade drive gear rotationally mounted to the frame and in communication with said cutting blade idler gear, wherein said cutting blade is rigidly attached to said cutting blade drive gear.

6. The dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said drive roller is slideably mounted to the frame.

7. The dispenser as set forth in claim 6, wherein said segmented gear defines a cam surface configured for engaging said cutting blade and causing said cutting blade to be moved in order to cut said sheet material.

8. The dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said segmented gear is a segment gear.

9. A dispenser for dispensing and advancement of sheet material, comprising:

a frame;

a drive roller rotationally mounted to said frame and configured for engagement with sheet material such that rotation of said drive roller causes movement of the sheet material;

a segmented gear mounted to said frame, said segmented gear having a first and second drive segment, said first drive seciment in communication with said drive roller such that said seQmented ciear is driven in a first direction by said drive roller;

a spring in communication with said segmented gear and configured such that movement of said segmented gear in said first direction causes said spring to store potential energy and configured such that release of potential energy in said spring causes said secimented pear to move in a second direction and said first drive segment of said segmented gear to move out of communication with said drive roller and said second drive segment to move into communication with said drive roller; and

a cutting blade configured for cutting the sheet material in order to release potential energy in said spring.

10. The dispenser as set forth in claim 9, wherein said cutting blade is stationary with respect to said frame.

11. The dispenser as set forth in claim 9, wherein said spring is a torsion spring.

12. The dispenser as set forth in claim 9, wherein said cutting blade is movable relative to said frame in order to engage and cut the sheet material.

13. The dispenser as set forth in claim 12, further comprising:

a cutting blade idler gear rotationally mounted to said frame; and

a cutting blade drive gear rotationally mounted to said frame and in communication with said cutting blade idler gear, wherein said cutting blade is rigidly attached to said cutting blade drive gear.

14. The dispenser as set forth in claim 9, wherein said drive roller is slideably mounted to said frame.

15. The dispenser as set forth in claim 14, wherein said segmented gear defines a cam surface configured for engaging said cutting blade and causing said cutting blade to be moved in order to cut the sheet material.

16. The dispenser as set forth in claim 9, wherein said segmented gear is a segment gear.

17. A dispenser for dispensing and advancement of sheet material, comprising:

a frame;

a drive roller rotationally mounted to said frame and configured for engagement with sheet material such that rotation of said drive roller causes movement of the sheet material;

a segmented gear mounted to said frame, wherein said segmented gear is in communication with said drive roller, and wherein said segmented gear has a first and second drive segment;

a spring in communication with said segmented gear and configured such that movement of said segmented gear causes said spring to store potential energy and configured such that release of potential energy in said spring causes said segmented gear to move;

a cutting blade configured for cutting the sheet material in order to release potential energy in said spring; and

further comprising a float gear rotationally and slideably mounted to said frame, wherein said float gear places said segmented gear into communication with said drive roller.

18. A dispenser for dispensing and advancement of sheet material, comprising:

a frame;

a drive roller rotationally mounted to said frame and configured for engagement with sheet material such that rotation of said drive roller causes movement of the sheet material;

a segmented gear mounted to said frame, wherein said segmented gear is in communication with said drive roller, and wherein said segmented gear has a first and second drive segment;

a spring in communication with said segmented gear and configured such that movement of said segmented gear causes said spring to store potential energy and configured such that release of potential energy in said spring causes said segmented gear to move;

a cutting blade configured for cutting the sheet material in order to release potential energy in said spring;

wherein said cutting blade is movable relative to said frame in order to engage and cut the sheet material; and

further comprising a cutting blade idler gear rotationally mounted to said frame;

a cutting blade drive gear rotationally mounted to said frame and in communication with said cutting blade idler gear; and

a gear rack rigidly attached to said cutting blade and in communication with said cutting blade drive gear.

19. A dispenser for dispensing and advancement of sheet material, comprising:

a drive roller rotationally mounted to a frame;

a sheet material engaging said drive roller such that pulling of said sheet material causes tension in said sheet material and causes said drive roller to rotate;

a segmented gear rotationally mounted to the frame, wherein said segmented pear is in communication with said drive roller, and wherein said segmented pear has a first and second drive segment;

a spring in communication with said segmented gear such that rotation of said segmented gear caused by pulling of said sheet material causes said spring to store potential energy;

a cutting blade in communication with said segmented gear, said cutting blade configured for cutting said sheet material such that tension in said sheet material is released after cutting;

wherein release of tension in said sheet material causes said spring to release potential energy that causes said segmented gear to rotate in order to cause said drive roller to rotate and advance said sheet material; and

further comprising a float gear rotationally and slideably mounted to the frame, wherein said float gear places said segmented gear into communication with said drive roller.

20. A dispenser for dispensing and advancement of sheet material, comprising:

a drive roller rotationally mounted to a frame;

a sheet material engaging said drive roller such that pulling of said sheet material causes tension in said sheet material and causes said drive roller to rotate;

a segmented gear rotationally mounted to the frame, wherein said segmented gear is in communication with said drive roller, and wherein said segmented gear has a first and second drive segment;

a spring in communication with said segmented gear such that rotation of said segmented gear caused by pulling of said sheet material causes said spring to store potential energy;

a cutting blade in communication with said segmented gear, said cutting blade configured for cutting said sheet material such that tension in said sheet material is released after cutting;

wherein release of tension in said sheet material causes said spring to release potential energy that causes said segmented gear to rotate in order to cause said drive roller to rotate and advance said sheet material; and

wherein said cutting blade is movable relative to the frame in order to engage and cut said sheet material; and

further comprising a cutting blade idler gear rotationally mounted to the frame;

a cutting blade drive gear rotationally mounted to the frame and in communication with said cutting blade idler gear; and

a gear rack rigidly attached to said cutting blade and in communication with said cutting blade drive gear.

21. A dispenser for dispensing and advancement of sheet material, comprising:

a frame;

a drive roller rotationally mounted to said frame;

a sheet material engaging said drive roller such that pulling of said sheet material causes tension in said sheet material and causes said drive roller to rotate;

a segmented gear rotationally mounted to said frame, wherein said segmented gear is in communication with said drive roller such that rotation of said drive roller from pulling on said sheet material causes said segmented gear to rotate in a first direction, wherein said segmented gear has a first and second drive segment, said first drive seciment is in cieared communication with said drive roller to rotate said secimented ciear in said first direction;

a spring in communication with said segmented gear such that rotation of said segmented gear in said first direction from rotation of said drive roller causes said spring to store potential energy; and

a cutting blade configured for movement with respect to said frame and in communication with said segmented gear such that rotation of said segmented gear causes said cutting blade to move and cut said sheet material such that tension is said sheet material is released after cutting;

wherein release of tension in said sheet material causes said spring to release potential energy that causes said segmented gear to rotate in a second direction with said second drive segment in aeared communication with said drive roller to a cause said drive roller to rotate and cause said sheet material to advance.