Abstract: An automatic web transfer mechanism in a flexible sheet material dispenser includes a web-sensing member operatively coupled with a transfer arm. The member senses the absence of web from a stub roll at a pre-feed portion between the stub roll and a feed roll nip to activate a transfer of feed to the web of a reserve roll. The transfer is initiated by a transfer arm that advances the reserve web into the proximity of the feed roller nip. In a second aspect, a movable front shield opens automatically upon opening of the outer dispenser cover, presenting an opening for pre-transfer placement and retention of a leading edge of web material from the reserve roll. Upon closure of the dispenser cover, the front shield returns to a closed position placing the transfer arm in a pre-transfer set position.

Abstract: An automatic web transfer mechanism in a flexible sheet material dispenser includes a web-sensing member operatively coupled with a transfer arm. The member senses the absence of web from a stub roll at a pre-feed portion between the stub roll and a feed roll nip to activate a transfer of feed to the web of a reserve roll. The transfer is initiated by a transfer arm that advances the reserve web into the proximity of the feed roller nip. In a second aspect, a movable front shield opens automatically upon opening of the outer dispenser cover, presenting an opening for pre-transfer placement and retention of a leading edge of web material from the reserve roll. Upon closure of the dispenser cover, the front shield returns to a closed position placing the transfer arm in a pre-transfer set position.

Abstract: An automatic web transfer mechanism in a flexible sheet material dispenser includes a web-sensing member operatively coupled with a transfer arm. The member senses the absence of web from a stub roll at a pre-feed portion between the stub roll and a feed roll nip to activate a transfer of feed to the web of a reserve roll. The transfer is initiated by a transfer arm that advances the reserve web into the proximity of the feed roller nip. In a second aspect, a movable front shield opens automatically upon opening of the outer dispenser cover, presenting an opening for pre-transfer placement and retention of a leading edge of web material from the reserve roll. Upon closure of the dispenser cover, the front shield returns to a closed position placing the transfer arm in a pre-transfer set position.

Abstract: A feed mechanism for feeding a web of rolled flexible sheet material, such as soft paper towels, out of a dispenser. The mechanism includes a feed roller within the dispenser and a web cutting blade in the feed roller and projectable and retractable therewith as the feed roller rotates. A contoured cam is attached to an end of the feed roller, and a spring-loaded cam follower presses against the contoured cam. The cam follower, through the cam, controllably assists in the rotation of the feed roller during the feed roller cycle when the blade cuts the web and thereafter to feed a free end of the material to an accessible position outside of the dispenser. The needed maximum pull forces by the user on the material to cut and withdraw the material from the dispenser are thereby significantly minimized, and the likelihood of the soft towel material tearing off in the user's wet hands is accordingly reduced.

Abstract: A dispenser for rolls of flexible sheet material has a feed roller with a pair of pinch rollers spaced around the feed roller periphery to guide a web of the material from a supply roll to the dispenser exit. A cutting blade is slidably mounted within the feed roller to move in a path parallel to and offset from a radius of the feed roller with cam followers movable with the blade and extending beyond the ends of the feed roller disposed to reciprocate along this radius. Stationary cams are mounted adjacent the ends of the feed roller engaged with the cam followers, respectively, to positively project the blade cutting edge beyond the feed roller periphery to cut the web and retract such edge as the feed roller is rotated by drawing on the web at the dispenser exit.

Abstract: A dispenser for multiple rolls of web material such as paper toweling that is provided with dispensing mechanism to lead a web of material out of the dispenser to the user has supports for rotatably supporting rolls in primary and reserve positions, respectively, with transfer mechanism interactive with such roll supports and the dispensing mechanism to automatically transfer web feed from one roll to the other under predetermined sensed conditions.

Abstract: End caps are pressed into the opposite ends of cores of wound rolls of paper, such as toilet tissue, paper towels and the like, by transferring end caps in succession from a rotating drum feeder located at each side of the path of movement along which the rolls are moved to end cap holders mounted to move in an endless course at each side of the roll path wherein each holder picks up an end cap from its adjacent feeder and moves it in synchronism with movement of the rolls along the roll path. The endless course of the end cap holders at each side of the roll path has a portion thereof which travels along a line that approaches the center line of the roll path so that the end cap holders each press an end cap into an end of the roll core and release the cap to the roll.