Paper dispenser

Claim 2

A dispenser for feeding and severing segments of sheets from a roll of sheet material such as towels or the like comprising, a cabinet having opposite side walls and longitudinally extending walls including a front wall, means forming an elongated passage at said front wall, means positioned intermediate said side walls for supporting a roll of sheet material on its axis with the leading edge adapted to project through said elongated passage, means pivotally securing said front wall along one edge thereof to one of said longitudinally extending walls with said passage formed between said front wall and a longitudinally extending wall, an electric motor means connecting said motor to said rollsupporting means for rotating said roll and feeding said sheet through said passage, a cutting eleMent comprising a blade having an upwardly projecting edge, a block supporting said blade, a longitudinally extending guide bar supported at said front wall for guiding said block across said dispenser, a lever, means interengaging said lever with said motor and said cutting element whereby actuation of said lever causes sequential operation of said motor and said cutting element, means for actuating said motor in response to movement of said lever in one direction and means for actuation of said cutting element in response to movement of said lever in a second direction, and means for stopping said motor on movement of said lever from a motor-actuating position in said second direction.

Claim 3

A dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for actuating said cutting element includes spring means tensioning said block in a transverse direction, means interconnecting said block and lever for moving said block against said spring tension in a direction opposite said transverse direction on movement of said lever in said one direction.

Claim 4

A dispenser as set forth in claim 2 wherein said lever is pivotally secured at one end of said dispenser for vertical movement, said means interengaging said lever and motor including switch means positioned to be engaged by said lever on movement thereof in said one direction.

Claim 5

A dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means connecting said motor to said roll includes, a pair of rolls including a drive roll, means supporting said pair of rolls in parallel, closely spaced relation with said pair of rolls adapted to engage opposite sides of said leading edge, a gear train interconnecting said motor and one of said pair of rolls, and means supporting one of said rolls on said front wall and the other of said rolls to other of said walls.

Claim 6

A wall dispenser as set forth in claim 1 having means hinging said front wall along a longitudinal edge to one of said other longitudinally extending walls, said elongated passage formed between the upper edge of said front wall and one longitudinally extending wall and including a longitudinally extending guide bar having an upwardly open channel formed therein, support means resiliently tensioning said guide bar toward said one longitudinally extending wall while securing it to said forward wall whereby said passage is normally constricted, a drive roll and idler roll means supporting said rolls within said cabinet with said rolls parallel to one another and to said passage, said means connecting said motor to said roll of sheet material including a gear train having a gear at one end connected to said motor and a gear at the other end connected to said drive roll, said drive roll adapted to frictionally engage the leading end of said roll of sheet material, said cutting element comprising a blade having an upwardly projecting edge, a block supporting said blade and positioned within said channel of said guide bar for movement longitudinally therein, said means for actuating said cutter comprising spring means tensioning said block in a transverse direction, means interconnecting said block and lever for moving said block against said spring tension in a direction opposite said transverse direction on movement of said lever in one direction, and switch means for actuating said motor positioned to be operatively engaged by said lever on movement of said lever in said one direction and disengaged on movement of said lever in a direction opposite to said one direction.

Claim 7

A dispenser for feeding and severing segments of sheets from a roll of sheet material such as towels or the like comprising, a cabinet having opposite side walls and longitudinally extending walls one of which comprises a front wall, said front wall having a fixed portion and a pivotable portion with an elongated passage defined therebetween, means positioned intermediate said side walls for supporting a roll of sheet material on its axis with the leading edge adaptEd to project through said elongated passage, means pivotally securing said pivotable portion of said front wall to a second of said longitudinally extending walls and said fixed portion of said front wall to a third of said longitudinally extending walls, a cutting element, means supporting said cutting element on said front wall, means for actuating said cutting element including components at least in part supported on said front wall.

Claim 8

A dispenser for feeding and severing segments of sheets from a roll of sheet material such as towels or the like comprising, a cabinet having opposite side walls and longitudinally extending walls one of which comprises a front wall, said front wall having a fixed portion and a pivotable portion with an elongated passage defined therebetween, means positioned intermediate said side walls for supporting a roll of sheet material on its axis with the leading edge adaptEd to project through said elongated passage, means pivotally securing said pivotable portion of said front wall to a second of said longitudinally extending walls and said fixed portion of said front wall to a third of said longitudinally extending walls, a cutting element, means supporting said cutting element on said front wall, means for actuating said cutting element including components at least in part supported on said front wall.

Claim 9

A dispenser as set forth in claim 6 having sheet material engaging means, means supporting said sheet material engaging means in said elongated passage for resiliently engaging severed segments of said sheet whereby severed segments of said sheet may be supported at one end in said cabinet.

Claim 10

A dispenser for dispensing and segmenting sheets from a roll of material comprising, a container for said roll, means defining an elongated aperture through which the leading edge of said roll may be fed, means for unrolling said roll and feeding variable lengths thereof through said aperture, means for severing the lengths of said roll including a rotatable blade, carriage means supporting said rotatable blade and means forming an elongated channel parallel to said aperture for guiding said carriage means as said blade is cutting, and means for selectively locking said rotatable blade in said carriage whereby said blade may be secured against rotation when said carriage is drawn lengthwise of said aperture.

Claim 11

A dispenser for dispensing and segmenting sheets from a roll of material comprising, a container for said roll, means defining an elongated aperture through which the leading edge of said roll may be fed, means for unrolling said roll and feeding variable lengths thereof through said aperture, means for severing the lengths of said roll including a rotatable blade, carriage means supporting said rotatable blade and means forming an elongated channel parallel to said aperture for guiding said carriage means as said blade is cutting, and means for selectively locking said rotatable blade in said carriage whereby said blade may be secured against rotation when said carriage is drawn lengthwise of said aperture.

Claim 12

A dispenser as set forth in claim 8 wherein said blade is removably secured to said carriage.

Claim 13

A dispenser as set forth in claim 8 comprising means for opening and closing said aperture.

Claim 14

A dispenser as set forth in claim 10, wherein said means forming an elongated channel forms at least in part said means for opening and closing said aperture and said means for opening and closing said aperture comprises a guide bar secured to a wall of said container and said means for closing said aperture comprises spring means engaging said guide bar urging toward a position closing said aperture.

Claim 15

A dispenser for dispensing and segmenting sheets from a roll of material comprising: a container for said roll, means defining an elongated aperture through which the leading edge of said roll may be fed, means for unrolling said roll and feeding variable lengths thereof through said aperture, means of severing the lengths of said roll, wherein said container has a wall, a guide bar extending lengthwise of said wall and adapted to be moved to close said aperture, said means for severing comprising a cutting element, means supporting said cutting element on said guide bar for movement longitudinally thereof, means for biasing said bar toward said closed position, means for moving said bar against said bias to a position in which aid aperture is open, and means for sequentially actuating said means for unrolling and said means for severing.

Claim 16

A dispenser for dispensing and segmenting sheets from a roll of material comprising: a container for said roll, means defining an elongated aperture through which the leading edge of said roll may be fed, means for unrolling said roll and feeding variable lengths thereof through said aperture, means of severing the lengths of said roll, wherein said container has a wall, a guide bar extending lengthwise of said wall and adapted to be moved to close said aperture, said means for severing comprising a cutting element, means supporting said cutting element on said guide bar for movement longitudinally thereof, means for biasing said bar toward said closed position, means for moving said bar against said bias to a position in which aid aperture is open, and means for sequentially actuating said means for unrolling and said means for severing.

Claim 17

A dispenser as set forth in claim 12 including means for sequentially moving said guide bar against the bias of said means for biasing before said means for unrolling is actuated and means for allowing said means for biasing to move said bar before said cuttting element is moved in said longitudinal direction.

Claim 18

A dispenser for dispensing and segmenting sheets from a roll of material comprising: a container for said roll, means defining an elongated aperture through which the lending edge of said roll may be fed, means for unrolling said roll and feeding variable lengths thereof through said aperture, and means for severing the lengths of said roll fed through said aperture from the roll to form segmented sheets, wherein said means for unrolling said roll includes a pair of rollers, means supporting said rollers parallel to one another and adjacent said aperture for rotation in opposite directions, one of said rollers having at least one annular segment of greater diameter than the major Portion of the roller and having a surface on said annular segment adapted to frictionally engage sheets passing through said aperture, and coact with the other of said rollers to pass said sheets through said aperture, resilient finger means extending between said rollers and extending away from said one roller whereby sheets passing between said rollers will be deflected by said fingers, and means for opening and closing said aperture and wherein said fingers are each secured at one end to a wall of said container and the other end extends toward said aperture with said other end adapted to be deflected by said means for opening and closing said aperture.

Claim 19

A dispenser for dispensing and segmenting sheets from a roll of material comprising: a container for said roll, means defining an elongated aperture through which the lending edge of said roll may be fed, means for unrolling said roll and feeding variable lengths thereof through said aperture, and means for severing the lengths of said roll fed through said aperture from the roll to form segmented sheets, wherein said means for unrolling said roll includes a pair of rollers, means supporting said rollers parallel to one another and adjacent said aperture for rotation in opposite directions, one of said rollers having at least one annular segment of greater diameter than the major Portion of the roller and having a surface on said annular segment adapted to frictionally engage sheets passing through said aperture, and coact with the other of said rollers to pass said sheets through said aperture, resilient finger means extending between said rollers and extending away from said one roller whereby sheets passing between said rollers will be deflected by said fingers, and means for opening and closing said aperture and wherein said fingers are each secured at one end to a wall of said container and the other end extends toward said aperture with said other end adapted to be deflected by said means for opening and closing said aperture.

Claim 20

A dispenser as set forth in claim 14 having means for resiliently supporting said other roller in biased emgagement with said annular segment.

Claim 21

A dispenser for dispensing and segmenting sheets from a roll of material comprising: a container for said roll, means defining an elongated aperture through which the leading edge of said roll may be fed, means for unrolling said roll and feeding variable lengths thereof through said aperture, said means for unrolling said roll includes a pair of rollers, one of which has at least one annular groove in the surface thereof, finger means disposed in said groove whereby sheets passing between said rollers will be deflected by said finger means from said one roller, means for opening and closing said aperture wherein said finger means are secured at one end and the other end is adapted to guide said sheet through said aperture when said aperture is open, and means for severing the length of said roll fed through said aperture from the roll to form segmented sheets when said aperture is closed.

Claim 22

A dispenser for dispensing and segmenting sheets from a roll of material comprising: a container for said roll, means defining an elongated aperture through which the leading edge of said roll may be fed, means for unrolling said roll and feeding variable lengths thereof through said aperture, said means for unrolling said roll includes a pair of rollers, one of which has at least one annular groove in the surface thereof, finger means disposed in said groove whereby sheets passing between said rollers will be deflected by said finger means from said one roller, means for opening and closing said aperture wherein said finger means are secured at one end and the other end is adapted to guide said sheet through said aperture when said aperture is open, and means for severing the length of said roll fed through said aperture from the roll to form segmented sheets when said aperture is closed.

Claim 23

A dispenser is set forth in claim 16, having means for resiliently supporting said other roller in biased engagement with said annular segment.

Claim 24

A dispenser as set forth in claim 16, wherein said finger means includes a plurality of fingers each secured at one end to a wall of said container and said one roller has a plurality of grooves formed by a series of longitudinally aligned sleeves coaxially mounted on a shaft at spaced intervals with said fingers arranged one each between adjacent sleeves.

Claim 25

A dispenser for dispensing and segmenting sheets from a roll of material comprising: a container for said roll, means defining an elongated aperture through which the leading edge of said roll may be fed, means for unrolling said roll and feeding variable lengths therof through said aperture, means for severing the lengths of said roll including a moving cutting element, carriage means supporting said cutting element, means forming an elongated channel parallel to said aperture for guiding said carriage means as said cutting element is severing, and motor means coupled to said carriage means for drawing said carriage in one direction and spring means for moving said carriage means in the opposite direction.

Claim 26

A dispenser for dispensing and segmenting sheets from a roll of material comprising: a container for said roll, means defining an elongated aperture through which the leading edge of said roll may be fed, means for unrolling said roll and feeding variable lengths therof through said aperture, means for severing the lengths of said roll including a moving cutting element, carriage means supporting said cutting element, means forming an elongated channel parallel to said aperture for guiding said carriage means as said cutting element is severing, and motor means coupled to said carriage means for drawing said carriage in one direction and spring means for moving said carriage means in the opposite direction.

Claim 27

A dispenser as set forth in claim 19, wherein said spring means comprises a helical spring connected at its outer end to said carriage means and a cylindrical member supported at the other said channel about which said helical spring is wound.

Claim 28

A dispenser for dispensing and segmenting sheets from a roll of material comprising: a container for said roll, means in part including a front wall of said container defining an elongated aperture through which the leading edge of said roll may be fed, means for unrolling said roll and feeding variable lengths thereof through said aperture, means for severing the lengths of said roll fed through said aperture from the roll to form segmented sheets, said front wall and said container including an elongated recess having an arcuate cross-section integral with one and an elongated bead pivotally mated with said recess and integral with the other of said front wall and container to form a hinge.

Claim 29

A dispenser for dispensing and segmenting sheets from a roll of material comprising: a container for said roll, means in part including a front wall of said container defining an elongated aperture through which the leading edge of said roll may be fed, means for unrolling said roll and feeding variable lengths thereof through said aperture, means for severing the lengths of said roll fed through said aperture from the roll to form segmented sheets, said front wall and said container including an elongated recess having an arcuate cross-section integral with one and an elongated bead pivotally mated with said recess and integral with the other of said front wall and container to form a hinge.

Claim 30

A dispenser as seT forth in claim 21, wherein said bend is formed of a segmented portion of a cylinder and wherein said container includes means for limiting the movement of said front wall.

Claim 31

A dispenser as set forth in claim 6, including means for operatively disengaging said means for actuating said cutting element when said pivotale portion of said front wall is open.

Claim 32

A dispenser as set forth in claim 18, wherein said means for opening and closing said aperture includes an elongated guide bar, means for moving said guide bar parallel to its longitudinal axis toward a closed position, lever means for moving said guide bar from said closed position, said lever means including means for actuating said means for unrolling.

Claim 33

A dispenser as set forth in claim 24, including means forming a channel longitudinally in said guide bar, means supporting siad severing means for movement lengthwise in said channel and means actuatable by movement of said lever means for causing movement of said severing means in said channel.