Abstract: A cutlery utensil dispenser has a housing that includes a first zone for holding a utensil to be dispensed, a second zone for receiving the utensil during dispensing, and a third zone for delivering the dispensed utensil to a user. The first, second and third zones are cooperatively configured and adapted to maintain, and present to the user, one end of the utensil ahead of an opposing end of the utensil during a dispensing operation.

Abstract: A sheet product dispenser includes a sheet product feed mechanism coupled to an electric motor, the sheet product feed mechanism moving a sheet product out of the dispenser during a dispense cycle; and a control unit controlling the sheet product feed mechanism or electric motor or both to move the sheet product with an increasing speed or acceleration or both during a portion of the dispense cycle.

Abstract: A roller for a sheet product dispenser includes a roller shaft, a roller frame molded onto the roller shaft, and a plurality of flexible rubber portions overmolded onto the roller frame and spaced along a length of the roller frame. The rubber portions are configured to contact a sheet product for dispensing from the sheet product dispenser. A dispensing mechanism for a sheet product dispenser includes a chassis and a roller positioned within and coupled to the chassis. The roller includes a roller shaft, a roller frame molded onto the roller shaft, and a plurality of flexible rubber portions overmolded onto the roller frame and spaced along a length of the roller frame. The rubber portions are configured to contact a sheet product for dispensing from the sheet product dispenser.

Abstract: A dispensing mechanism for a sheet product dispenser includes a chassis, a roller positioned within and coupled to the chassis, and a spring configured to bias the roller into contact with a sheet product. Another dispensing mechanism for a sheet product dispenser includes a chassis, a roller positioned within the chassis, a pair of plugs, and a pair of springs. The roller is coupled to the chassis via the plugs, and the springs are configured to bias the roller into contact with a sheet product. Still another dispensing mechanism for a sheet product dispenser includes a chassis, a first roller positioned within and coupled to the chassis, a second roller positioned within and coupled to the chassis, and a spring configured to bias the first roller toward the second roller and into contact with a sheet product.

Abstract: A utensil dispensing tray that cooperates with a dispenser. The tray includes at least one feature that causes the utensil, such as a knife, fork, spork, or spoon, to rotate from a first orientation to a second orientation for presentation as the utensil drops into the tray. The tray also includes one or more features that result in the utensil being consistently positioned in its second orientation within a dispensing area of the tray.

Abstract: A dispensing mechanism for a sheet product dispenser includes a chassis, a roller positioned within and coupled to the chassis, and a spring configured to bias the roller into contact with a sheet product. Another dispensing mechanism for a sheet product dispenser includes a chassis, a roller positioned within the chassis, a pair of plugs, and a pair of springs. The roller is coupled to the chassis via the plugs, and the springs are configured to bias the roller into contact with a sheet product. Still another dispensing mechanism for a sheet product dispenser includes a chassis, a first roller positioned within and coupled to the chassis, a second roller positioned within and coupled to the chassis, and a spring configured to bias the first roller toward the second roller and into contact with a sheet product.

Abstract: A roller for a sheet product dispenser includes a roller shaft, a roller frame molded onto the roller shaft, and a plurality of flexible rubber portions overmolded onto the roller frame and spaced along a length of the roller frame. The rubber portions are configured to contact a sheet product for dispensing from the sheet product dispenser. A dispensing mechanism for a sheet product dispenser includes a chassis and a roller positioned within and coupled to the chassis. The roller includes a roller shaft, a roller frame molded onto the roller shaft, and a plurality of flexible rubber portions overmolded onto the roller frame and spaced along a length of the roller frame. The rubber portions are configured to contact a sheet product for dispensing from the sheet product dispenser.

Abstract: A cutlery utensil dispenser having at least one utensil compartment and a dispensing mechanism is disclosed. Each utensil compartment is so dimensioned and configured to house a stack of utensils. The dispensing mechanism includes a drive member in operable communication with at least one driven member, each driven member being associated with a respective one of the compartments. Actuation of the drive member causes simultaneous actuation of each driven member that causes a utensil to be dispensed from each compartment in repeatable succession one at a time. Also disclosed is a cutlery utensil dispenser having an electric motor in operable communication with the dispensing mechanism, and a controller in operable communication with the motor. The controller includes a processing circuit responsive to computer executable instructions which when executed on the processing circuit facilitates dispensing of a utensil from the utensil compartment by operation of the motor on command.

Abstract: A cutlery utensil dispenser has a dispensing tray with a floor and a region housing a cutlery utensil. The cutlery utensil has first and second portions and is moved by an engagement portion of an actuator from a first orientation to a second orientation. In the first orientation, the cutlery utensil rests on the floor in the region and is within the cutlery utensil dispenser, inaccessible to a user. In the second orientation, the second portion of the cutlery utensil projects from the cutlery utensil dispenser and is accessible to the user. A wall of the region has a fulcrum end dimensioned to engage the cutlery utensil. The cutlery utensil rotates about the fulcrum end responsive to the engagement portion toward an exit of the dispenser.

Abstract: A sheet product dispenser includes a cover, a pair of arms supporting a roll of sheet product within the cover, and a baffle. The roll of sheet product rotates upon activation of the dispenser during a dispense cycle. The baffle is adapted to deflect upon contact with the roll of sheet product and remain engaged against the roll of sheet product during at least a significant portion of a roll life.

Abstract: A cutlery utensil dispenser has a housing that includes a first zone for holding a utensil to be dispensed, a second zone for receiving the utensil during dispensing, and a third zone for delivering the dispensed utensil to a user. The first, second and third zones are cooperatively configured and adapted to maintain, and present to the user, one end of the utensil ahead of an opposing end of the utensil during a dispensing operation.

Abstract: A utensil dispensing tray that cooperates with a dispenser. The tray includes at least one feature that causes the utensil, such as a knife, fork, spork, or spoon, to rotate from a first orientation to a second orientation for presentation as the utensil drops into the tray. The tray also includes one or more features that result in the utensil being consistently positioned in its second orientation within a dispensing area of the tray.

Abstract: A sheet product dispenser includes a sheet product feed mechanism coupled to a DC stepper motor, the mechanism moving a sheet product out of the dispenser during a dispense cycle; and a control unit controlling the DC stepper motor to move the sheet product with a gradually increasing acceleration during a portion of the dispense cycle.

Abstract: An electrically powered dispenser for paper towels uses a special roller bracket to provide not only proper positioning and support for the drive and pinch roller shafts, but also tension and grounding between the drive and pinch rollers, thereby producing a dispenser that is both reliable to operate and simple to assemble. The mounting bracket is integrally formed from a single sheet of conductive material and preferably includes a pair of side plates connected by a mounting bar which includes an integrally formed tear bar portion for cutting the material after it has been transported past the rollers. Each side plate incorporates a flexible bridge (arm) portion for biasing each of the two shafts against a respective bearing portion to thereby complete a static discharge path from the rollers to the mounting bar without requiring any separate springs, contacts or wires.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a power system for a plurality of dispensers comprises an AC transformer to receive a line voltage and generate an output voltage of about 2 volts AC to about 50 volts AC; a plurality of dispensers, each housing at least one electrical component operatively configured to dispense product through a dispensing aperture, each of the dispensers comprising a battery compartment; and a plurality of power converters adapted to be at least partially disposed within the battery compartments such that at least one power converter is associated with each dispenser, the converters disposed in communication with the AC transformer such that the power converters receive the output voltage and provide a DC voltage to one or more electrical components housed within the dispensers.

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.

Abstract: A cutlery utensil dispenser has a dispensing tray with a floor and a region housing a cutlery utensil. The cutlery utensil has first and second portions and is moved by an engagement portion of an actuator from a first orientation to a second orientation. In the first orientation, the cutlery utensil rests on the floor in the region and is within the cutlery utensil dispenser, inaccessible to a user. In the second orientation, the second portion of the cutlery utensil projects from the cutlery utensil dispenser and is accessible to the user. A wall of the region has a fulcrum end dimensioned to engage the cutlery utensil. The cutlery utensil rotates about the fulcrum end responsive to the engagement portion toward an exit of the dispenser.

Abstract: A cutlery utensil dispenser having at least one utensil compartment and a dispensing mechanism is disclosed. Each utensil compartment is so dimensioned and configured to house a stack of utensils. The dispensing mechanism includes a drive member in operable communication with at least one driven member, each driven member being associated with a respective one of the compartments. Actuation of the drive member causes simultaneous actuation of each driven member that causes a utensil to be dispensed from each compartment in repeatable succession one at a time. Also disclosed is a cutlery utensil dispenser having an electric motor in operable communication with the dispensing mechanism, and a controller in operable communication with the motor. The controller includes a processing circuit responsive to computer executable instructions which when executed on the processing circuit facilitates dispensing of a utensil from the utensil compartment by operation of the motor on command.

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.

Abstract: A sheet product dispenser includes a housing adapted to house sheet products therein, the housing having an arching wall, a first planar wall disposed in contact with the arching wall, and a second planar wall disposed in contact with the arching wall and the first planar wall; an opening disposed in the first planar wall or the second planar wall, the opening having a size sufficient to allow dispensing of the sheet products there-through; and an access panel forming a portion of the arching wall.