With Feed-out Of Predetermined Length From Work Supply Patents (Class 225/10)
  • Patent number: 11935352
    Abstract: A touchless food dispenser. The touchless food dispenser includes one or more packets of food stored therein. The touchless food dispenser also includes one or more apertures. The touchless food dispenser is configured to dispense the food through the one or more apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventors: Bryan Hakim, George Hakim, Gabe Hakim, Christian Haller
  • Patent number: 11864695
    Abstract: A sheet material dispenser can include a dispenser housing that supports one or more supplies of sheet material, and a feed roller configured to engage and feed the sheet material from the dispenser housing. The dispenser also can include a sheet material loading assembly including a cover that is rotatably connected the dispenser housing and movable between a closed position and an open position. The sheet material loading assembly further can include a roller that is rotatably connected to the cover and configured to be coupled to a portion of sheet material from one of the supplies, with the cover in its open position, and to press the portion of sheet material into engagement with the feed roller body, with the cover in its closed position, to initiate dispensing of the at least one supply from the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Valve Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Agnew Osborne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11191397
    Abstract: Embodiments of the innovation relate to a wipe dispensing system that includes a wipe supply, a drive assembly disposed in operational communication with the wipe supply, a fluid dispensing assembly, and a wipe dispensing controller disposed in electrical communication with the drive assembly and the fluid dispensing assembly. The wipe dispensing controller is configured to receive a wipe criterion which defines a characteristic of a wipe to be provided by the wipe dispensing system, dispose a portion of the wipe supply between a first position and a second position relative to the fluid dispensing assembly via the drive assembly and based upon the wipe criterion, and apply a fluid to the portion of the wipe supply via the fluid dispensing assembly based upon the wipe criterion to generate the wipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: HyResults, LLC
    Inventors: Charles R Sperry, Vincent A Piucci, Jr., Dennis F McNamara, Jr., Lawrence Pillote, Jose Antonio Ramirez, Grayson Martin
  • Patent number: 10441117
    Abstract: An electronic dispenser for dispensing flexible sheet material. A control circuit receives a plurality of signals and controls dispensing of the sheet material. A tear bar is mounted within the housing for severance of the sheet material. A pivotally mounted pawl member is located proximate to the tear bar such that movement of the sheet material into the tear bar for severance pivots the pawl member from a first position to a second position, such movement causing a signal to be sent to the control circuit. The dispensing mechanism is operative in a first mode to be responsive to a signal from a proximity sensor to dispense a sheet of material, and is operative in a second mode to dispense a next sheet in response to the signal activated by movement of the pawl member to the second position in response to dispensed sheet material being removed from the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Valve Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Agnew Osborne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10221006
    Abstract: A lottery ticket dispenser array includes ticket bins, with each bin defined by a housing for receipt of a supply of interconnected lottery tickets. Each bin has an electronic drive mechanism that dispenses the lottery tickets therefrom. A slot is defined in the back side of each bin housing through which the lottery tickets are dispensed from the internal space, and a separation device is adjacent the slot. A calibration field is located relative to the slot such that the lottery tickets pass alongside the calibration filed in a travel path of the lottery tickets through the slot. An optical scanner is disposed internal to the housing at a location to read the marks in calibration field. Based on a position of a forward edge of a ticket in the calibration field, a control system determines an adjustment to a predefined length of the leading ticket to advance in a subsequent dispense cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Scientific Games International, Inc.
    Inventors: Sten Hallundbaek Mejenborg, Mark Andrew Thompson
  • Patent number: 10071847
    Abstract: A lottery ticket dispenser array includes ticket bins having a respective housing for receipt of a supply of interconnected lottery tickets, wherein each ticket in the supply has a calibration mark defined on a longitudinal side edge thereof. An electronic drive mechanism dispenses the lottery tickets through a slot defined in the back side of each bin housing. A calibration field is located relative to the slot such that the lottery tickets pass alongside the calibration field in a travel path of the tickets through the slot. An optical scanner is disposed internal to the housing at a location to read the marks in calibration field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Scientific Games International, Inc.
    Inventor: Sten Hallundbaek Mejenborg
  • Patent number: 9596964
    Abstract: A towel dispenser includes a housing mounted to a wall and defining an interior space for receiving toweling comprising a roll of towels, the interior space comprising a curved surface configured to receive the roll of towels in floating engagement therewith such that the roll of towels rolls and slides on the curved surface during unwinding of the roll of towels. The towel dispenser further includes a loading door configured to rotate relative to the main body, when the main body is mounted to a wall, between a closed position in which the loading door extends over a top of and closes off the interior space of the main body in which toweling is received, and an open position, in which the housing is configured to receive toweling therein without obstruction by the loading door, with the loading door extending upwardly above and over a top of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: INNOVIA INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, LLC
    Inventors: William Bryant Troutman, William Bryant Troutman, II
  • Patent number: 9480370
    Abstract: Dispensing towels includes, using a motor assembly configured to cause a leading edge of the toweling to be extended from a housing of the dispenser and to cause the toweling to be subsequently retracted back into the housing, (a) the step of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user; and (b) subsequent thereto, the steps of (1) retracting the toweling into the housing using the motor assembly; (2) sensing a leading edge of the toweling, using a sensor, while retracting the toweling; and (3) ceasing retracting of the toweling into the housing using the motor assembly as a function of sensing the leading edge of the toweling using the sensor. The toweling is advanced by the motor assembly such that a line of perforations in the toweling, along which the user tears the toweling, is located downstream of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: INNOVIA INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, LLC
    Inventors: William Bryant Troutman, William Bryant Troutman, II, Ian D. Kovacevich, Thomas James Philpott, Christopher Hoy, Lawrence Ober
  • Patent number: 9408507
    Abstract: A paper sheet material dispenser operated by a DC motor has dynamic braking structure electrically braking the motor to provide more accurate positioning of the paper sheet material tail portion leading end when DC power to the DC motor is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Dispensing Dynamics International
    Inventor: Richard Dale Brannan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9282855
    Abstract: A towel dispenser includes a housing for receiving toweling. The housing includes a main body; a loading door that is configured to rotate relative to the main body between a closed position and an open position; and a guide system that includes a first roller attached to the main body and a second roller attached to the loading door. The towel dispenser may include a motor for driving dispensing of the toweling from the housing and an associated sensor. The towel dispenser can be mounted to an underside of a cabinet. In an aspect, the front wall of the main body and a lip of the loading door collectively define a gap to which the guiding system guides the toweling and through which towels are dispensed when the loading door is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: INNOVIA INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, LLC
    Inventors: William Bryant Troutman, William Bryant Troutman, II
  • Patent number: 8875968
    Abstract: A multi-use dispenser for roll mourned bags includes a planar base with at least one mounting feature and a bag roll support. The support is attached to the base and is spaced upwardly there from. First and second core guides, spaced apart by at least a width of a bag roll, extend upwardly adjacent first and second ends of the bag roll support. A pair of primary bag roll retainers includes a first side guard and a second side guard mounted orthogonally to the first and second core guides, orthogonally to a long axis of the bag roll support, and spaced apart by at least the width of the bag roll. The side guards have angled brackets at their outer ends. The side guards constrain ejection of a bag roll. At least one snagging device is mounted to engage a central portion of a bag attached to the bag roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventor: Daniel Brian Tan
  • Publication number: 20140319193
    Abstract: The present invention provides a printer comprising a housing (3); an openable top cover (7) disposed at the top of the housing (3); a printing unit (5) disposed in the housing (3), the printing unit (5) comprising a printing portion (5a) fixedly mounted within the housing (3) and a roll portion (5b) fixed to the openable top cover (7); and a paper channel (9) defined between the printing portion (5a) and the roll portion (5b); and a paper outlet (11) defined between a top portion (3a) of the housing (3) and the openable top cover (7), the paper channel (9) leading to the paper outlet (11); characterized in that the printer (1) further comprises a movable paper-tearing mechanism (17) disposed in the paper outlet (11), the movable paper-tearing mechanism (17) moving away from the paper outlet (11) when the openable top cover (7) is opened and moving into the paper outlet (11) and overlapping partly the openable top cover (7) when the openable top cover (7) is closed, so that an extension (9a) of the paper chan
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Gao Jian Liu
  • Publication number: 20140231484
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing self-adhesive film sheets includes a film dispenser that provides a film strip with at least one carrier film and a film for use that is self-adhesive on at least one side. A conveying device conveys the film strip from the film dispenser together with the carrier film on a guide track to a removal station, at which the film for use is removed from the carrier film. The removal station has a carriage with a separating edge over which the carrier film can be drawn by the conveying device. An actuator displaces the carrier film along the guide track. The removal station includes a gripper for gripping a film sheet located in front of the separating edge and holding the film sheet stationary while the carriage is displaced on the guide track by the actuator counter to the conveying direction of the carrier film. Simultaneously, the carrier film is drawn away over the separating edge for detachment from the film sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: ASYS AUTOMATISIERUNGSSYSTEME GMBH
    Inventors: Achim Arnold, Klaus Oppelt
  • Patent number: 8800415
    Abstract: A dispenser for sequentially dispensing rolls of sheet material is described. The dispenser has an automatic transfer mechanism for transferring a reserve roll into a dispensing position once a primary roll has been depleted. The automatic transfer mechanism includes a diameter sensing member and a blocker rotatably coupled to the dispenser housing and biased to rotate in a opposite directions. The diameter sensing member and block cooperate with one another in order to block the reserve roll from contacting a drive roller until the primary roll has been depleted. The reserve roll held in the dispenser by two pivoting arms that are biased to rotate towards the drive roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Solaris Paper, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Agnew Osborne
  • Patent number: 8607472
    Abstract: A hand dryer is equipped with a hand insertion area (10), having a width that is able to accommodate hands, a high-pressure air generator (2), which generates a high-pressure airflow, discharge nozzles (N1, N2), which are disposed in the upper surface of the hand insertion area (10) and blow the high-pressure airflow, an exhaust duct (4), which is connected between the exhaust side of the high-pressure air generator (2) and the discharge nozzles (N1, N2), an ejection port (23), which opens to the space surrounding the hand dryer, a switching damper (24), which opens a portion of the exhaust duct (4) and is connected to the ejection port (23), and an ion generator (22), which generates ions having sterilization action into the high-pressure airflow passing through the exhaust duct (4) on the upstream side of the switching damper (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hikoya Ishii, Hisaharu Yagi
  • Publication number: 20120312853
    Abstract: An electronic dispenser for dispensing flexible sheet material. A control circuit in the housing receives a plurality of signals and controls dispensing of the sheet material from the housing. A tear bar is mounted within the housing for severance of sheet material by the user. A pivotally mounted pawl member is located proximate to the tear bar such that movement of sheet material into the tear bar for severance pivots the pawl member from a first position to a second position. A signal means associated with the pawl member is located such that movement of the pawl member to the second position causes the signal means to send a signal to notify the control circuit that the sheet material has been removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: CHARLES A. OSBORNE, Tsu-Ling Chang
  • Patent number: 8186551
    Abstract: A powered dispenser tor 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Andrew R. Morris, Michael A. Susi
  • Publication number: 20120125968
    Abstract: A hybrid towel dispenser is provided that can be operated in an automatic dispensing mode and a manual dispensing mode. The dispenser includes a drum having a retractable knife that extends out of the drum when the drum rotates past a selected position and severs a towel segment from a towel sheet. The dispenser also includes a motor, a manual advance assembly, and a one-way rotational coupling that couples the motor to the drum such that the motor rotates the drum in the automatic dispensing mode and a user can rotate the drum in the manual dispensing mode separately from the motor, using the manual advance assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Dispensing Dynamics International Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthew Friesen, John Friesen, Brad Friesen, Andrew Jackman, Alex Trampolski
  • Patent number: 8074549
    Abstract: A drum comprises a longitudinal central core corresponding to a length of the drum and extending from its ends, end discs, a plurality of intermediary discs provided with notches defining a housing zone of a cutting device and one or several sleeves made of an elastomeric material and braced around the discs. The sleeves at the initial state have a diameter substantially greater than a diameter of the drum and a certain degree of elasticity to deformation. A brace pushes and maintains the sleeves at the bottom of the notches causing an elastic deformation of the sleeves which grip the upper edges of the intermediary discs and an end disc producing pleats between consecutive intermediary discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Inventor: Maurice Granger
  • Publication number: 20110132955
    Abstract: The invention concerns a paper towel dispenser for dispensing rolled paper web sheet by sheet. The dispenser includes an electrically driven machinery for feeding the paper for displaying a sheet length after the previous length is torn off against a blade at the display opening of the dispenser. Devices are included to command the paper feeding machinery. The devices for commanding the paper feeding machinery include a vibration sensor connected to the blade and generating an electrical signal requesting a further sheet length from the paper feeding machinery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventor: Kim ACHTON
  • Publication number: 20110108598
    Abstract: A device to restrain the unwinding of a roll of paper for use in combination with a paper dispenser is disclosed. The paper dispenser includes a back plate mountable upon a wall, a pair of opposed side plates extending from the back plate for rotatably supporting a roll of paper having a depending lead sheet. The restraining device comprises a base portion mountable to the wall and a support arm extending laterally from the base portion over the roll of paper. The support arm includes a collar located at its free end, the collar including a central opening. The roll braking arm is oriented substantially vertically and extends through the central opening of the support arm. The roll braking arm contacts and applies its weight as a braking force against the roll of paper to restrain the roll of paper from unwinding unnecessarily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventor: Mates A. Bruner
  • Publication number: 20100243696
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a dispenser which in one form is a motorized electric dispenser, designed to be a low-cost device having a reduced footprint. The dispenser electromechanically dispenses a pre-determined length sheet of material to the user, without the requirement of a touchless sensor, or the user needing to directly touch any part of the dispenser while the hygienic portion is functioning properly. In the event that the hygienic portion is not functioning properly, a manual advance assembly may also be utilized. One objective of the device in one form is to provide a variably determined sheet of material to the user in accordance with industry standards, without the use of the standard “touchless” sensors. In another form, the entire roll of material remains sanitary and enclosed within the dispenser until it is dispensed. In one form, there is no “tail” projecting from the dispenser that may be a source of cross-contamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Matthew Friesen, Andy Jackman, Michael Severyn, Alex Trampolski, Lockland Corley, Brad Friesen, John Friesen, Richard Lalau, Andrew Ng
  • Patent number: 7795584
    Abstract: An automatic electrically powered dispenser for dispensing a product stored in the dispenser includes an active IR sensor system for detecting a user. The IR sensor system includes at least one IR emitter and at least one IR receiver. The IR sensing system is arranged to scan for the presence of a possible user at a certain scanning rate. A sensor control system supplies the active IR emitter(s) with a first current which is constant during one or more single scans and is altered to a different, second current for further scanning. The first and second currents are determined on the basis of a signal strength of the average received IR which is received by the IR receiver(s) during a number of previous single scans. In a simplified system, the average value of the most recently received IR values may be compared to a standard value set in the control system to alter the current supplied to the IR emitter(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Kin Lun Mok, King Lun Mok, Hong Ng
  • Patent number: 7748585
    Abstract: An automatic sensing and outputting device for an object mainly includes a housing, a control portion and an output unit. The housing has a surface on which a fixing rod is disposed, and accommodates a driving mechanism. The control portion is disposed at a predetermined position in the housing. A control circuit board in the control portion includes a sensor and a zeroing sensor for object output sensing. The output unit includes a reel, which engages with and moved by the driving mechanism in the housing, and a pressing plate, which normally and slightly presses against the reel through an elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Shek
  • Publication number: 20100102101
    Abstract: Toweling dispenser apparatus including a toweling support roller carrying a movable cutter blade. A switch is actuated after a user pulls on toweling to rotate the toweling support roller and transport the toweling. After some rotation of the roller has occurred, an electric switch is closed and energizes an electric motor to drive the roller and reduce the force required by the user to rotate the roller and actuate the cutter blade to sever a towel from the toweling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Joel P. Keily, Niko Anthony Cvjetkovic, Patrick C. Perrin, Michel Morand
  • Publication number: 20100078459
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing sheet product includes a housing, a proximity sensor operative to detect a presence of a user's hand at a predetermined location near the dispenser, and a dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing, the dispensing mechanism including an electronic controller operably coupled to a drive motor that is operably coupled to a feed roller to dispense the sheet product. The dispensing mechanism is operative in a first mode to be responsive to a signal from the proximity sensor to dispense the sheet product, and is operative in a second mode to dispense a next sheet product in response to an existing sheet product being torn from the dispenser. The controller is responsive to a switch adapted and configured to set an adjustable time delay between sheet feeds when the dispensing mechanism is operating in at least one of the first mode and the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: GEORGIA-PACIFIC CONSUMER PRODUCTS LP
    Inventors: Christopher M. Reinsel, Daniel J. Geddes, William J. Kane
  • Patent number: 7637452
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a repositionable adhesive note paper from a roll includes a housing defining an interior and a discharge opening. A drive system of the dispenser includes a roller rotatably mounted within the housing interior and a motor engaging the roller to rotate the roller with respect to the housing about a central axis of the roller. A pressure member is located within the housing and is preferably movable with between an engaged position where it urges the paper into contact with the roller and a disengaged position where it is separated from the roller to permit loading of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Rex Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Maurice Kanbar, Albert Kolvites
  • Patent number: 7527215
    Abstract: The automatic tissue dispenser apparatus provides for user-determined tissue length dispensed. The motion sensor activates and deactivates dispensing to provide user control. A cutting edge is provided for tearing tissue as chosen. A hand crank is optionally provided to negate dysfunction in the event of power or component failure. A stanchion with base is optionally provided for a free-standing dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Inventor: Zafar A. Siddiqui
  • Publication number: 20080164368
    Abstract: An automatic sensing and outputting device for an object mainly includes a housing, a control portion and an output unit. The housing has a surface on which a fixing rod is disposed, and accommodates a driving mechanism. The control portion is disposed at a predetermined position in the housing. A control circuit board in the control portion includes a sensor and a zeroing sensor for object output sensing. The output unit includes a reel, which engages with and moved by the driving mechanism in the housing, and a pressing plate, which normally and slightly presses against the reel through an elastic member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Michael Shek
  • Patent number: 7347134
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Paul Lewis, Paul Francis Tramontina
  • Patent number: 7341170
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Operations LLC
    Inventor: Bruce T. Boone
  • Patent number: 7059794
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for bursting perforated paper stock are provided. A feed mechanism is provided for feeding perforated paper stock in a feed direction along a paper path in a printer. The perforated paper stock has sections separated by perforations. A loop area is provided in the printer for accumulating one of the sections of the perforated paper stock. A burst element is provided for bursting a perforation of the accumulated section. In order to burst the perforation of the accumulated section, the feed direction is reversed to draw the perforation of the accumulated section against the burst element, thereby separating the section from the perforated paper stock. A paper dispensing mechanism is provided for advancing the separated section out of the loop area and dispensing the section from the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: TransAct Technologies Incorporated
    Inventors: David E. Weeks, Bruce Harris, Steven P. Hilsdorf
  • Patent number: 6871755
    Abstract: A storage, display and dispensing apparatus for tickets of various sizes that accounts for the tickets dispensed during a selected time period. The apparatus includes a bin housing for storing a pack of tickets, a ticket dispensing assembly through which the tickets are dispensed and includes a friction wheel assembly that is actuated as tickets pass through the ticket dispensing assembly. An optical sensing element is also employed to sense indicia on the tickets to coact with the friction wheel assembly to provide a ticket count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Schafer Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas E. DeVries, Trevor E. Meyer, Kevin A. Jankowski, Daniel J. Fahrion, Scott A. Bottorf
  • Patent number: 6820785
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical roll towel dispenser includes a housing with a roll carrier disposed therein to rotationally support a roll of towel material. An electro-mechanical feed mechanism is disposed in the housing to dispense measured sheets of the towel material. The feed mechanism operates in a first mechanical operational mode wherein the towel sheets are dispensed by a user grasping and pulling on a tail of the towel material extending from the housing, and a second electrical operational mode wherein a measured length of a next sheet is automatically and electrically fed out of the housing to define the tail for the next user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: David Kapiloff
  • Patent number: 6745927
    Abstract: A powered dispenser for dispensing individual paper towel segments from a continuous roll of paper provided with spaced lines of tearing comprises a housing, a support for the roll of paper, a feed mechanism, and a control device. The control device senses the presence of a user to activate the feed mechanism, controls the amount of material which is dispensed from the housing for any one cycle, and prevents further dispensing of the paper until the previous segment is separated from the roll. The control device detects the leading edge of the paper to initiate monitoring of the length of paper to be dispensed to prevent any cumulative error in dispensing the segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Formon, Andrew R. Morris, James H. Murphy
  • Patent number: 6742689
    Abstract: A powered dispenser for dispensing individual paper towel segments from a continuous roll of paper provided with spaced lines of tearing comprises a housing, a support for the roll of paper, a feed mechanism, and a control device. The control device senses the presence of a user to activate the feed mechanism, controls the amount of material which is dispensed from the housing for any one cycle, and prevents further dispensing of the paper until the previous segment is separated from the roll. The control device detects the leading edge of the paper to initiate monitoring of the length of paper to be dispensed to prevent any cumulative error in dispensing the segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Formon, Andrew R. Morris, James H. Murphy
  • Patent number: 6669071
    Abstract: A lottery ticket dispensing machine includes a ticket dispensing mechanism for advancing a continuous strip of lottery tickets therethrough and subsequent separation of the selected number of tickets from the continuous strip. The machine includes a framing assembly for housing the dispensing mechanism which is controlled by a computer driven printed circuit board for determining the distance that the continuous strip of tickets will travel. The dispensing mechanism is powered by a motor for rotation of a set of pinch rollers and forward feed advancement of the continuous strip of lottery tickets therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Instant Technologies, Incorporated
    Inventor: Louis P. Menna
  • Publication number: 20030019899
    Abstract: A separation device of a paper towel includes a housing provided with two roll sets each having at least two rolls that may be driven by a power member to rotate relative to each other at an equal speed, so that a continuous paper towel may pass between the rolls of the two roll sets and may be pulled downward. The paper towel is provided with sensing marks at a predetermined length, so that when the sensing mark of the paper towel passes through a detection member, the detection member may detect passage of the sensing mark of the paper towel, and may send a signal, so that a rotation speed difference is produced between the rolls of the two roll sets, and the paper towel passing between the rolls of the two roll sets may be torn off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: Yen Sun technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chien-Jung Chen, Ming-Chung Lin
  • Patent number: 6419136
    Abstract: A powered dispenser for dispensing individual paper towel segments from a continuous roll of paper provided with spaced lines of tearing comprises a housing, a support for the roll of paper, a feed mechanism, and a control device. The control device senses the presence of a user to activate the feed mechanism, controls the amount of material which is dispensed from the housing for any one cycle, and prevents further dispensing of the paper until the previous segment is separated from the roll. The control device detects the leading edge of the paper to initiate monitoring of the length of paper to be dispensed to prevent any cumulative error in dispensing the segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: George-Pacific Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Formon, Andrew R. Morris, James H. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20020088837
    Abstract: A powered dispenser for dispensing individual paper towel segments from a continuous roll of paper provided with spaced lines of tearing comprises a housing, a support for the roll of paper, a feed mechanism, and a control device. The control device senses the presence of a user to activate the feed mechanism, controls the amount of material which is dispensed from the housing for any one cycle, and prevents further dispensing of the paper until the previous segment is separated from the roll. The control device detects the leading edge of the paper to initiate monitoring of the length of paper to be dispensed to prevent any cumulative error in dispensing the segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Formon, Andrew R. Morris, James H. Murphy
  • Patent number: 6412655
    Abstract: The invention relates to a towel dispenser (10) such as a paper towel dispenser comprising a housing (12) in which a paper roll and an issuing device (50) are arranged. Said issuing device can AC be controlled by a sensor (38). In order to simplify the operation and to increase the reliability of the towel dispenser, the invention provides that the sensor (38) is configured as a capacitive sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Inventors: Michael Stuetzel, Andreas Heub-Schneider
  • Patent number: 6412679
    Abstract: A powered dispenser for dispensing individual paper towel segments from a continuous roll of paper provided with spaced lines of tearing comprises a housing, a support for the roll of paper, a feed mechanism, and a control device. The control device senses the presence of a user to activate the feed mechanism, controls the amount of material which is dispensed from the housing for any one cycle, and prevents further dispensing of the paper until the previous segment is separated from the roll. The control device detects the leading edge of the paper to initiate monitoring of the length of paper to be dispensed to prevent any cumulative error in dispensing the segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Formon, Andrew R. Morris, James H. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20020000488
    Abstract: A dispenser for strip materials, e.g. hook and loop fastener material, which automatically finds formations in a continuous fastener strip during its dispensing and, at that point in the dispensing procedure, produces a resistance to the remaining supply, that enables parting of the lead unit from the remaining supply, thus dispensing a discrete unit. The dispenser has a receptacle to hold the supply of fastener strip material; it employs a retarding device to provide light drag against the motion of the strip as the leading strip unit moves from the dispenser in response to pull by a user. A detent downstream of the retarding device engages a corresponding formation in the strip material to resist movement of the remaining strip material, so that the strip ruptures along a line of weakness under a user's tension. Also disclosed are dispensable fastener strips of various forms, some advantageously formed by use of needled bat, and methods of forming the fastening strips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Applicant: Velcro Industries B. V., Netherlands, Antilles corporation
    Inventors: William H. Shepard, Paul R. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20010017309
    Abstract: A powered dispenser for dispensing individual paper towel segments from a continuous roll of paper provided with spaced lines of tearing comprises a housing, a support for the roll of paper, a feed mechanism, and a control device. The control device senses the presence of a user to activate the feed mechanism, controls the amount of material which is dispensed from the housing for any one cycle, and prevents further dispensing of the paper until the previous segment is separated from the roll. The control device detects the leading edge of the paper to initiate monitoring of the length of paper to be dispensed to prevent any cumulative error in dispensing the segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: JOHN S. FORMON, ANDREW R. MORRIS, JAMES H. MURPHY
  • Publication number: 20010006181
    Abstract: Lottery ticket dispensing housings are provided with a hinged, transparent rear and top cover, a hinged front wall, and a powered ticket drive and separator module. A relatively tall embodiment of the dispenser with a small footprint is fitted onto the countertop of a check-out counter of a retail store. The top of the housing is flat so as to provide a convenient place for customers to write checks with the tickets being displayed immediately below being highly visible to the customer. A display of relatively flat and short dispensers is provided wherein a rack or housing supports the dispensers one a top of the other in a vertical array. In such a rack or housing the units are connected together electrically in a daisy-chain manner and one control device (point-of-sale terminal, computer or on-line terminal) operates all connected dispensers. The dispensers are shifted laterally with respect to one another to as to give greater viewability of the contents of each of the dispensers to a customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: On Point Technology Systems
    Inventors: Brian J. Roberts, David B. Petch
  • Patent number: 6250530
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a web from a roll of paper includes a housing and a cover connected thereto to provide access to the housing interior. The dispenser has mechanism for supporting a paper roll and a drive roller and tension roller operatively associated therewith which urges paper from the paper roll into contact with the drive roller for dispensing a length of paper from the paper roll. Actuator mechanism operates the drive roller and extends across substantially the entire housing at the bottom thereof. A roller frame assembly is mounted within the housing and carries the tension roller and a transfer roller. The transfer roller releasably holds the free end of a first paper roll while paper from the second roll is dispensed upon actuation of the actuator to rotate the drive roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Alwin Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Kenneth H. LaCount, Diane L. Stephan, Todd G. Welsch, Alan J. Pierquet, Alan P. Paal
  • Patent number: 6213343
    Abstract: A novel bandage dispenser is disclosed for dispensing bandages from a roll of sterilized, individually wrapped bandages. Several bandage feeding mechanisms are disclosed, to serially dispense a bandage and simultaneously strip off the liner surrounding the bandage, upon depression of a hand actuated switch. Also disclosed is an improved roll of bandages suitable for use in the bandage dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: Gerry Damikolas
  • Patent number: 6065519
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic drawing and cutting device for an adhesive tape dispenser. The adhesive tape dispenser includes a case body for containing an adhesive tape and having a detachable cover, a drawing means for automatically drawing the adhesive tape from the case body in a desired length, and a cutting means for automatically cutting the adhesive tape drawn by the drawing means. According to this automatic drawing and cutting device for an adhesive tape dispenser, the adhesive tape may be automatically drawn from the adhesive tape dispenser in a desired length by pulling a handle of the drawing means with a user's finger cutting the drawn adhesive tape by only sliding forward a sliding member of the cutting means, thus improving the convenience of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventor: Sang-Chul Lee
  • Patent number: 5950898
    Abstract: A lottery ticket dispensing machine includes a ticket dispensing mechanism for advancing a continuous strip of lottery tickets therethrough and subsequent separation of the selected number of tickets from the continuous strip. The machine includes a framing assembly for housing the dispensing mechanism which is controlled by a computer driven printed circuit board for determining the distance that the continuous strip of tickets will travel. The dispensing mechanism is powered by a motor for rotation of a set of pinch rollers and forward feed advancement of the continuous strip of lottery tickets therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Instant Technologies, Incorporated
    Inventor: Louis P. Menna
  • Patent number: 5904283
    Abstract: A note paper sheet dispenser adapted to supply a user with a note paper sheet whose dimensions are determined by the user. The dispenser includes a rectangular base above whose rear end is mounted for rotation a strip paper roll in which the underside of the paper strip is coated with a longitudinal band of low-tack pressure-sensitive adhesive. Mounted above the base is an endless conveyer belt which runs between a motor-driven roller adjacent the paper roll and an idler roller adjacent the front end of the base. When the motor is energized, the belt then draws paper strip from the roll along the belt to a length depending on the time period during which the motor is energized. A tear-off blade above the belt and adjacent the roll permits the length of paper strip lying in the belt to be torn off to provide a note paper sheet of the desired length that can be written on and then temporarily adhered to a document or other object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Inventor: Maurice S. Kanbar