With Feed-out Of Lead-end To Aid Initial Grasping Patents (Class 225/14)
  • Patent number: 11478111
    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: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Valve Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Agnew Osborne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10610064
    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 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. Movement of the pawl member to the second position causes a signal to be sent to notify the control circuit that the sheet material has been removed. 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 generated 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 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Valve Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Osborne, Tsu-Ling Chang
  • Patent number: 10150638
    Abstract: Provided is a tape dispenser that easily cuts a tape. A tape dispenser includes a drum mounted with a tape roll, a frame supporting the drum, a guide roller rotatably disposed in the frame and guiding a tape at a front side of the drum, and a cutter blade disposed at a front end of a support of the frame and cutting the tape. Here, the cutter blade includes side ends extending in a tape extending direction from a front end on which a plurality of cutting protrusions are formed, and the front end of the cutter blade inclines with respect to the side ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Inventor: Yong Chul Oh
  • Patent number: 10105020
    Abstract: A dual roll paper towel dispenser, a method of dispensing towel from a dual roll paper towel dispenser, and a method of servicing a dual roll paper towel dispenser are disclosed herein. The dual roll paper towel dispenser can be provided with a dispenser mechanism disposed in a dispenser housing. The dispenser mechanism can include a first drive roller for dispensing paper from an upper first roll of paper and a second drive roller for dispensing paper from a lower second roll of paper. The dispenser mechanism can further include a drive system including a motor for selectively operating the first drive roller and the second drive roller, wherein the drive system powers the motor in a first rotational direction to actuate the first drive roller and powers the motor in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction to actuate the second drive roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Wausau Paper Towel & Tissue, LLC
    Inventors: Ken Carper, Adam Elliott, Mark Henson, Dan Knight, Steven Roy Streicher
  • Patent number: 9895033
    Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing paper toweling from a roll of paper toweling includes a rotary damper resisting formation of overspin slack in the paper toweling resulting from a pulling force applied to the paper toweling. Control mechanism changes the rotary damper from an operative condition to an inoperative condition responsive to reduction of the diameter of the roll of paper toweling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Dispensing Dynamics International, LLC
    Inventors: Joel P. Keily, Charles Parkin Davis, Orlando Pedro Ochoa, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8381957
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bag (30) dispenser comprising a receptacle (10) inside which a supply of bags (30) is located. Said bags (30) form a supply roll (37). The dispenser further comprises a device for accommodating or mounting said roll (37) in a housing (1). The housing (1) has at least one gap (17) through which individual bags (30) can be discharged from the housing (1). One respective tearing mechanism (20) is assigned to said gap (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Inventors: Hugo Bürli, Samuel Bürli
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7913887
    Abstract: An improved desktop tape and spooled material dispenser comprises a tilting-carriage and pinching assembly, which effectively presents the cut end of the tape, making it easy to grab, draw and cut a desired length of tape. In operation, as the exposed tape end is grabbed and drawn by the user, the carriage tilts forward, concurrently releasing pincers formerly retaining the tape. As the tape is drawn further forward and downward and placed against a novel V-shaped cutting blade, the pincers automatically close on the tape for effective shearing against the V-shaped cutting blade. The shearing of the tape releases the carriage to tip rearward, automatically closing the pincers, and effectively exposing and securing the end of the tape, thus presented for subsequent use. This invention is also intended for non-adhesive back rolled materials such as ribbon and string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventor: Witold Siekaj
  • 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: 20100044407
    Abstract: A sheet product dispenser and method of operation is provided. The sheet product dispenser records usage data and stores the data on a storage device. A dispenser controller uses the usage data to create a model that is used to determine a predicted depletion date. The depletion date is provided as feedback to an operator to allow the operator to more efficiently dispatch maintenance personnel. In one embodiment, the feedback is in the form of a display on the front of the dispenser that displays the predicted depletion date.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: GEORGIA-PACIFIC CONSUMER PRODUCTS LP
    Inventor: Craig D. Yardley
  • Patent number: 7540225
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-faced adhesive tape dispenser which does not only include automatic drawing means and cutting means to enhance the convenience of users but also includes guide means to increase the efficiency in using a double-faced adhesive tape. The tape dispenser of the present invention includes a case body having a receptor to receive an adhesive tape therein; a cover; a connecting means; a locking means; a drawing means including a trigger protruded through an opening of the case body, and a pair of drums in contact with a bottom surface of the adhesive tape to draw out the adhesive tape; a cutting means including an operating button, a lever and a cutter to cut the adhesive tape; and a guide means to guide withdrawal of the adhesive tape in the case body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Inventor: Sang Chul Lee
  • Publication number: 20080190982
    Abstract: The present invention is a dispenser that, in one embodiment, includes a support for a roll of web material, a drive roller cooperating with an idler roller to feed web material supported by the roll support, and a mouth through which the web material is dispensed which has a floor but not a roof such that the web material does not jam when dispensed through the mouth. In another embodiment, the mouth is slot shaped. In various embodiments of the invention with either a slot shaped mouth or a wide mouth without a roof, a sensor is provided for selectively activating a drive motor in response to an incursion into a sensing field, wherein the sensor comprises an infrared emitter and receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Paul Omdoll
  • Publication number: 20080017684
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing paper towels in a public restroom. The apparatus comprises a container member disposed one of inside and beneath a sink counter top for holding paper towels, such container member having a first predetermined shape, a first predetermined size and formed of a first predetermined material. A lid member is removably engageable with the container member, such lid member has a second predetermined shape, a second predetermined size and is formed of a second predetermined material. A release port is disposed in the lid member for dispensing such paper towels one at a time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventor: Michelle Digiacomo
  • Patent number: 6892620
    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 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: David Kapiloff
  • 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: 6799412
    Abstract: A cottoner having a wadding section forming station, the station having: a carrier, a holder, and a feed mechanism mounted on a base in series. Moving means on the base reciprocate the a carrier toward and away from the feed mechanism. An operating controller on the base open and close the holder. The carrier has a gripper for gripping a length of wadding material to carry it from the holding means toward the feeding means when the carrier is moved toward the feed mechanism while the holder is open. The carrier releases the length of wadding material when moved away from the feed mechanism while the holder is closed to hold the length of wadding material. The cottoner includes an inserting station for inserting each section of wadding material formed at the wadding section forming station into a container. The cottoner also has a sensing station for sensing if the wadding material has been inserted, and inserted properly, into the container at the inserting station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: NJM/CLI Packaging Systems International
    Inventors: Luc Jalbert, Bruno Jalbert
  • 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: 6553884
    Abstract: An adhesive tape dispenser for dispensing and cutting a length of an adhesive tape. The adhesive tape dispenser comprises an adhesive tape cutting device. The adhesive tape cutting device comprises a) a resting surface to which a tacky side of said adhesive tape can be adhered while the adhesive tape is being cut, b) two lateral webs extending in the same direction from both edges of the resting surface to serve as guides for the adhesive tape, and c) a cutting blade having a blade edge and positioned on an inner side of one or both lateral webs in such a way that the blade edge is inclined at an angle which is oblique relative to the resting surface. The lateral webs have a height from the resting surface which is the same or is higher than each cutting blade. The adhesive tape dispenser is useful to dispense and cut adhesive tapes comprising a backing of biaxially oriented or highly stretched film, such as polyolefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: tesa AG
    Inventors: Bernd Lühmann, Ralf Schliephacke, Jörn Leiber, Andreas Reklau, Hans Hazes, Hansjürgen Linde, Uwe Neumann, Peter Kubasch
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6176409
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an adhesive tape dispenser which includes a gun-shaped case body having a detachable cover, a drawing portion for drawing an adhesive tape from the case body, and having a trigger handle protruded outwardly from one side of the case body and a pair of drums rotating with the trigger handle, and a cutting portion for cutting the adhesive tape which is drawn by the drawing portion from the dispenser, and having a handling member mounted on a gunbarrel portion of the case body, a lever interlocking with the handling member and a cutter mounted at a front end of the lever, so that an user may draw the adhesive tape as long as necessary by pulling the trigger handle without pulling it with hand, an adhesive strength of the adhesive tape is kept in good state, and an adhesion state of the adhesive tape is clean, since the adhesive tape is cut clean by a cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Inventor: Sang-chul Lee
  • Patent number: 5868343
    Abstract: Paper towel dispensing apparatus comprising at least one device for braking (12) the material take-off reel (B), this device being associated with an operating cycle of the apparatus involving rotation of the drum (4) of one revolution so as to dispense a length of material, said braking device being arranged laterally on one side of the drum and hinged relative to the housing (2), directly linked to rotation or non-rotation of the drum and ensuring, depending whether or not the apparatus is operating, braking-action contact on at least one of the lateral sides (B1) of the reel (B) or release of the latter so that it can rotate one cycle, the operation or release of the braking device being controlled by the action performed by the user on the strip of material emerging from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Inventor: Maurice Granger
  • Patent number: 5417783
    Abstract: Linerless labels in a continuous web, in roll form, are dispensed. The roll is mounted for rotation by a vertical shaft, and periodically a drive roller with conveyor tapes wrapped around it is rotated to pull the web from the roll in an amount sufficient to unwind approximately one length of label from the roll. The adhesive face of the web engages the circumferential periphery of the drive roller and the conveyor tapes past the drive roller, the exit roller effecting separation of the leading label from the conveyor tapes. An idler roller engages and tensions the web between the roll and the drive roller, and a knife blade is mounted at about the point that the web leaves the drive roller. The components are disposed so that the web engages at least about 170 degrees of the circumferential periphery of the drive roller, with the adhesive face contacting the drive roller circumferential periphery and conveyor tapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Moore Business Forms, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Boreali, Frank C. DeReu, Thomas P. Nash
  • Patent number: 5257711
    Abstract: In an apparatus for dispensing web sections from a roll the apportioning roll (1) is provided with a friction lining (2) and has a spiral guide (3) for actuating a thrust member (6). The thrust member (6) carries a knife (12) and is held in the spiral guide (3) by a return spring (15). A release anchor (10) is arranged for rotation on the thrust member (6) and includes stopper surfaces (17, 82) which may be in engagement with a stop (18) on the end surface (43) of the apportioning roller (1), providing a lock for preventing further rotation of said apportioning roll. When the paper web (39) is withdrawn across the apportioning roller (1), the apportioning roller (1) is rotated, the knife (12) is moved from its inoperative position into working position, the lock being actuated at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Scott-Feldmuhle GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Wirtz-Odenthal
  • Patent number: 5161723
    Abstract: The dispenser has a housing (42) which comprises a roll holder for the dispenser roll (39) and an outlet opening (55). A stationary knife (12) projects out of the outlet opening (55). An apportioning roller (1) is supported in the housing (42) in the path of the web of material (39) from the dispenser roll (38) to the outlet opening (55); it is adapted for stepwise rotation and to be arrested in a certain angular position by a control lever (15) so as to define a section length of the web of material (39). The knife (12) normally is covered by a cover strip (10) adapted to be moved away from the knife (12) by pulling at the web of material (39). The cover strip (10) is connected to the control lever (15) in such manner that the latter releases the apportioning roller (1) whenever the web of material (39) has been severed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Scott-Feldmuhle GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Wirtz-Odenthal
  • Patent number: 5078033
    Abstract: A towel roll brake is not needed in this "grab and pull" dispenser to prevent the overspun towel from the roll from entering the nip region. An extra idler roll rests on the pinch roll and is counterrotated thereby, and any overspun web resting on the idler roll is kicked to the back of the dispenser. Fingers formed on the inside surface of the dispenser cover are positioned to derfine with the idler roll a gap which is only one-ply wide and through which the toweling must pass to reach the nip region, thereby preventing the overspun web from folding over onto itself. Without the brake tearing or "tabbing" of the soft towel in the user's (wet) hands as he pulls down on it is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
    Inventor: John S. Formon
  • Patent number: 5024349
    Abstract: A dispenser comprising an elongate rigid hollow cylindrical tube including opposed ends and a transverse elongate dispensing slot laterally therethrough at a midpoint along the length thererof. The dispensing slot includes opposed serrated edges with the teeth of each edge overlapping the teeth of the other edge to provide for restricted passage of film bags pulled outwardly through the dispensing slot from the interior of the tube. The opposed ends of the dispensing slot are enlarged and smooth-edged for access to interior bags and cooperation with the serrated edges in providing for projecting leading bag corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventors: Edwin W. Haenni, Hans-Peter Bolz
  • Patent number: 4384664
    Abstract: A device for dispensing serial numbers, which have been attached consecutively in the longitudinal direction on a strip of paper being brought in the shape of a roll, said strip of paper being provided between each two numbers with an incision line formed in such a way that by a transverse portion and two longitudinal portions of it a central lip is obtained which projects from an output edge of the device after the tearing off of a serial number, the tearing means being formed by composing the output edge of a central part parallel to the plane of the strip and transverse to the longitudinal direction of it and two lateral parts connected with the ends of the central part and constituting an angle therewith such that the lateral edges of the strip are pulled on the lateral parts of the output edge and are shifted away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Inventor: Johannes Roos
  • Patent number: 4189077
    Abstract: In a cabinet for manually dispensing sheet material from a roll rotatably mounted within the housing of the cabinet, a combination of a blade having a cutting edge and movable from a first position to a second position relative to the housing when the sheet material is manually pulled against the cutting edge to sever a portion of the sheet material from the remainder of the roll, and sheet delivery means in operative association with the remainder of the sheet material and responsive to movement of the blade from the first position to the second position to deliver the free end of the remainder of the sheet material to a position facilitating manual grasping thereof by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1980
    Assignee: Crown Zellerbach Corporation
    Inventors: Ellsworth A. Hartbauer, Rudolf R. Weis