Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses regarding an improved sheet product dispenser are provided herein. Example sheet product dispensers include a rotatable carriage that holds two full size product rolls. Upon substantial depletion of one of the product rolls, the sheet product dispenser is configured to enable the carriage to rotate to present the depleted product roll to the janitor for easy and intuitive replacement. For example, a carriage with a depleted product roll may be configured to automatically rotate upon opening of the cover. Additional features for intuitive and reliable installation of the product roll are also provided herein, such as roll holder slot guides and a retention mechanism that maintains installation of a product roll during rotation of the carriage. Such example sheet product dispensers help to eliminate product waste, reduce confusion while loading, and reduce the time and effort required to load the sheet product dispenser.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing sheet material from a sheet material dispenser are described. Dispenser embodiments include drive and tension rollers supported within a housing forming a nip therebetween. Pulling of sheet material through the nip and against the drive roller rotates the drive roller. Dispenser embodiments may include a cutting mechanism powered by drive roller rotation with an improved carrier-supported blade permitting highly-efficient dispenser operation. Dispenser embodiments may include a sheet material tail length adjuster which permits the attendant to shorten or lengthen the tail length extending away from the dispenser. Dispenser embodiments may further include a sheet material conservation feature which imposes a delay between dispense cycles encouraging use of a single sheet of material and discouraging sheet material waste.

Abstract: Anti-curl control device for an automatic dispenser of wipe materials, of the type incorporating a housing with lid, fixed end plates supporting a drum incorporating a cutting device, a material reel wound on a core having end fittings and a press roller counter-bearing upon the drum. The anti-curl device comprises a roller having a peripheral surface with protruding griping feature. The roller is freely rotatable relative to supporting plates extending from a reel-holder end plate which is flexible relative to a fixed end plate. The roller is angled obliquely relative to the material reel and comes into localized contact along its generatrix with the last turn of the reel to ensure a braking effect. The roller is linked to rotation of the drum and the reel-holder end plate is elasticly deflected to adjust in position as the reel is unwound.

Abstract: This device for controlling the rotation of the drum in an apparatus for dispensing wiping material being arranged with a profiled lever articulated at its base against the action of an elastic return means. The lever is arranged in the upper part with a support spindle for a pair of pulleys that are mounted to rotate freely. The lever is arranged to be articulated at its base by two spindles arranged in an angular sector concentric with the point and with the spindle of articulation of the drum. The end plate housing the drum is arranged with two oblong slots formed in sectors concentric with the opening and region of housing of the spindle of the drum. The spindles are introduced into and guided in said slots and an upper end of the lever protrudes beyond the upper edge face of the end plate holding the roll, while at the same time facing the outer wall thereof.

Abstract: A dispensing machine includes a housing, a cover, a drum, a cutting blade built into the drum, and a cam and a start and return spring for starting and returning the drum. Lateral end shields of the housing support the reel of material. A pressing roller pushes against the strip of material at a specific point and a second pressure area where the strip of material is cut at the level of the drum. The pressure roller is articulated and pivoted by two swivelling levers so that it presses against the reel of material, thereby defining a distance between the tensioning areas defined by reel/pressure roller contact and drum/cutting blade ejection of about 25 to 50 cm. The two levers are not joined together and pivot independently so that the pressure roller swivels with variations of each of said levers to match the profile of the reel of material.

Abstract: The apparatus for dispensing a wiping material, of the type comprising a housing (2), a cover (3), a drum (4), a cutter device (5-6) built into the drum, and drum cocking and returning means incorporating, arranged on a lateral side of the drum, a crank (7) and a cocking spring (8), the side plates being constructed to support the reel holder, is noteworthy in that it comprises an anti-looping device for preventing looping of the material coming from the reel (B) of material including at least one mechanism acting on the reel holder to lock it in position, this mechanism being arranged on one of the side plates of the housing, and being actuated by a flyweight device (12) built into the movement of the rotating drum and either causing or not causing the reel holder (13) lock to be operated in the case of application of a large force and traction on the strip of material.

Abstract: The invention concerns a control and safety device characterised in that said transmission means (10) consist of a belt mounted between the drum (4) and the shaft (9) in a floating mount, the shaft receiving said belt being arranged in its central part opposite the groove formed on the drum in a twin-wheel configuration (9a), having a dimension greater than the width of the groove (4b) formed on the drum, so as to enable an oblique lateral displacement of the belt, which thus accompanies, according to a limited amplitude a, the longitudinal direction in which the paper strip is being pulled out of the dispenser by the user.

Abstract: The machine comprises a housing (1) with a cover (3), arms (2) which support a reel holder of wipe material, a drum (5) rotatably mounted between end shields (9), an articulated cutting device (6) which protrudes from the drum in order to make a cut, the reel of wipe material pressing against the drum. The device comprises, on one of the end shields (9) and around a ring (9a) through which the locking shaft of the drum passes, a fixed shaped part (12) of one-piece construction together with the body of the end shield, said shape (12) being designed to constitute a guide path for a matching part (13) associated with the blade holder and allowing, when the drum rotates, ejection of the blade and cutting. Said fixed shape (12) and said matching part (13) have protruding shapes (12a-13a) capable of cooperating with each other during rotation of the drum, thereby increasing the amplitude of the movement of lever-shape part (13) when it swivels, thus making the device operate smoothly.

Abstract: A folded/unfolded paper towel dispensing apparatus, includes a housing having a cover, a drum, an associated cutting device incorporated in the drum, and a tensioning device. An eccentric lever and a spring are used to actuate and reverse the direction of the drum, in which the upper part of the housing includes two flanges capable of accommodating a reel of paper towel. The drum and the tensioning device are secured between flanges located at right angles to the rear plane of the housing. The apparatus includes a device for controlling the rotation of the drum, fitted with a shaped lever hinged at its base in opposition to an elastic return spring, the upper part of the lever being fitted with a support shaft, supporting a pair of freely rotatable pulleys. A first pulley is associated through a drive belt with the drum and tensioning device before the paper is cut, and a second pulley is arranged so as to come into contact with the rear of the reel of material.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus including a device for selecting the operating mode of the apparatus so that it operates automatically or semi-automatically. The device includes a first member forming a double lever with opposed arms freely and pivotally mounted in the central portion of the device relative to a fixed point on the flange of the housing of the apparatus. The ends of the double lever are arranged to be functional depending on the operating mode of the apparatus. The device includes a second, handle-like component positioned and pivotally mounted about the pivot axis of the double lever. The handle is pivotable between two end positions counter to a resilient return mechanism enabling, depending on its position, the double lever to be positioned relative to a rotatable drum and the device to be operated in either an automatic or semi-automatic mode.

Abstract: A roll towel dispenser is operative to deliver and sever sheets of web from a roll of towel. The dispenser comprises a housing defining a compartment in which the roll of towel is maintained. A drive roller is supported by a frame attached to the housing. Cutting means interconnected with the drive roller operate to sever a sheet of web from the roll of material in predetermined lengths. First and second guide rollers, each supported by the frame, form respective nips with the drive roller. The drive roller is driven by the action of a user pulling on a tail of the roll, which passes through the nips and extends from the housing. A plurality of guide clips, each attached to the guide rollers at aligned annular grooves defined therein, encircle a peripheral segment of the drive roller. The guide clips function to bias the first and second guide rollers toward the drive roller and assist in threading the roll towel through the nips.

Abstract: A stop mechanism for a feed roller associated with a cutter in a dispenser for flexible rolled web material has a stop lever which provides a substantial mechanical advantage. The increased mechanical advantage permits the vacuum cups of a vacuum cup timer to be effortlessly and reliably set. The stop lever has a long actuating arm which pivots about a pivot point. The long actuating arm creates a substantial mechanical advantage for setting the vacuum cups in vacuum-gripping engagement. The mechanism advantage greatly enhances the low pull force requirement and smooth operation of the dispenser.

Abstract: Cross cuts for forming the ends of a tab on a sheet, for example a glue tab on a corrugated paperboard container blank, are performed by independent rotary cutter units. Each cutter unit has a spirally convoluted blade which, as it rotates, cuts progressively inwards from an outside edge of the sheet towards an opposite outside edge. As the sheet is conveyed along, a downstream cutter unit cuts the leading end of the tab, and an upstream cutter unit cuts the trailing end. After each cut, the cutter remains at rest with its blade in an inoperative position out of the path of any oncoming sheet. A sensor senses the next oncoming sheet and initiates the cutting via a computer. These rotary cutters mitigate skewing of the sheets while being cut.

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.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing discrete lengths of longitudinally corrugated strips of wiping web material from a source of uncorrugated continuous length wiping material. In the device the web material is payed through and between converging longitudinally disposed projections whereby the corrugations are formed. The corrugated web is then fed between cogwheels, then to an egress part of the dispenser through which the web projects for a distance. The cogwheels may be provided with a servering means. To dispense the web projecting from the dispenser it is pulled outwardly resulting in obtaining a desired severed length of wiping material.

Abstract: In a packaging machine of the type in which a "tin-tie" strip is affixed to a bag to allow repeated reclosures of the bag, a machine for cutting a continuous strip of tin-tie material into predetermined lengths and feeding the cut lengths into a bonding station where they are adhesively bonded to the bag proximate its top opening. The machine comprises a frame supporting a pair of electromagnetic clutches, one for selectively coupling a continuously driven shaft to an output shaft to which a tin-tie strip feedwheel is attached and the other for selectively coupling a continuously driven shaft to an output shaft to which a rotary cutting head is secured. Passage of a bag past a sensor triggers the two clutches which function to withdraw a predetermined length of tin-tie material from a supply reel and to sever the strip while feeding the cut length to the bonding station at the same speed as the bag is moving.

Abstract: Mechanism for cutting a web of rolled flexible sheet material in a dispenser having a feed roller and pinch roller between which the web passes is provided with a knife mounted in the feed roller to be projected outwardly beyond the periphery of the feed roller during a web severing cycle wherein engagement of the pinch roller with the web immediately before the knife penetrates it acts to maintain tension in the web ahead of the knife and a high friction surface portion of the feed roller periphery which is in contact with the roll of material maintains tension in the web behind the knife as the web severing cycle proceeds while peripheral protrusions on the feed roller momentarily bump the roll out of contact with the feed roller during feed roller rotation to permit periphery which is in contact with the roll of material maintains tension in the web behind the knife as the web severing cycle proceeds while peripheral protrusions on the feed roller momentarily bump the roll out of contact with the feed roll

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for an electrostatic copying machine includes a fixed blade having a straight cutting edge, a rotary shaft mounted for rotation on the frame of the machine, and a rotary fixed to an carried by the rotary shaft, the rotary blade having a spirally curved cutting edge. A wrap spring clutch is capable of transmitting rotation of a continually rotating gear to the rotary shaft and rotary blade. The wrap spring clutch is prevented from operation by a control cog of a double cog member. An inclinable member operates the double cog member to release the wrap spring clutch to enable rotation of the rotary shaft and rotary blade. The double cog member has a rotation lock cog which stops the wrap spring clutch after a predetermined rotation of the rotary shaft and rotary blade.

Abstract: A dispenser for flexible sheet material having a reserve roll that automatically moves in the dispensing position when the dispensing roll is almost exhausted. The sides of reserve roll guide tracks are angled inwardly to engage the reserve roll spool at an off center point, so the spool is pushed downwardly into contact with a driving roller during rotation. The leading edge of the reserve roll towel engages the remaining portion of the almost exhausted dispensing roll and is moved therewith to be threaded through the dispensing mechanism. The perforating mechanism is assisted through the perforating stroke by a spring mechanism. The sensing roll is halted by a roll stop mechanism including a pivoted stop link and an anti-reverse pawl.

Abstract: A dispenser guides a web from a roll of sheet material over a feed roller to a position to be grasped by the user while roller mounted knife means cuts the web into individual sheets and a manually engagable handwheel, rotatable with the feed roller, provides peripherally spaced finger notches to facilitate manual forward rotation of the roller in dispensing the material. The notches are formed differently in separate circumferential portions of the handwheel such that pawl means, successively engaging the notches incident handwheel rotation, prevents reverse rotation of the feed roller throughout a first portion of each feed roller revolution and biasing means acts to cause reverse rotation throughout a second portion of the feed roller revolution to assure return of the knife means to a safe inaccessible location within the dispenser when the handwheel is released.

Abstract: A mechanism for cutting a web of flexible sheet material which is adapted to be used in a dispenser having a feed roller and a pinch roller between which rollers the web passes. A knife is pivotally mounted in the feed roller to swing about an axis laterally displaced from the plane of a radially outward portion of the knife defining a cutting edge which edge is projected outwardly beyond the periphery of the feed roller to cut the web as it passes over the feed roller and cam followers are carried by the ends of the knife extending beyond the ends of the feed roller with the followers displaced from the pivot mounting axis of the knife. Stationary cams are mounted adjacent the ends of the feed roller with which the cam followers on the knife engage to positively project the knife cutting edge beyond the feed roller periphery and retract the cutting edge upon rotation of the feed roller.

Abstract: A dispenser for flexible sheet material having a reserve roll that automatically moves into the dispensing position when the dispensing roll is almost exhausted. The sides of the reserve roll guide tracks are angled inwardly to engage the reserve roll spool at an off center point, so the spool is motivated to move downwardly toward the dispensing position whenever it is rotated. The leading edge of the reserve roll towel engages the remaining portion of the almost exhausted dispensing roll and is moved therewith to be threaded through the dispensing mechanism. The perforating mechanism is assisted through the perforating stroke by a spring mechanism and is halted by a roll stop mechanism including a pivoted stop link and an anti-reverse pawl.

Abstract: Dispensing apparatus for rolled-up strips of wound sheet material with said sheet material so positioned as to be unwound by means of an abutting rotatable and controllable drum including a cutting device for said stripped material.

Abstract: Matted fibrous material is fed between a rotatable shaft having a chopping blade mounted thereon and a rubber-covered back-up roll cooperable with the blade. Clutch and brake means enable the blade shaft to be rotated intermittently through one turn to chop off a selected length of material. An upper portion of the back-up roll is above the plane of support of feed and discharge conveyors on opposite sides of the back-up roll, and a cam on the blade shaft compresses the material before it is chopped by the blade.