Sheet roll dispenser

Abstract

A sheet roll dispenser includes a case for receiving an associated sheet roll, a roller for unwinding the associated sheet roll from the case, a motor operatively engaging the roller to rotate the roller to unwind the associated sheet roll, a battery compartment for receiving an associated battery, and electrical contacts for supplying an electrical connection from the associated battery to the motor. The roller is disposed in the case. The motor and the battery compartment are disposed inside the roller. The electrical contacts are disposed within the battery compartment.

1 . A sheet roll dispenser comprising:
 a case for receiving an associated sheet roll;   a roller disposed in the case for unwinding the associated sheet roll from the case;   a motor disposed inside the roller and operatively engaging the roller to rotate the roller to unwind the associated sheet roll;   a battery compartment inside the roller for receiving an associated battery; and   electrical contacts disposed within the battery compartment electrically connected to the motor for supplying electrical current from the associated battery to the motor.   
   
   
       2 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a slidable door connected to the case, the door being slidable between an open position and a closed position, the door retracting into the case when moving from the closed position towards the open position. 
   
   
       3 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the door in the closed position and the case define a discharge slot for the associated sheet roll. 
   
   
       4 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 3 , further comprising a movable flap covering the discharge slot, the flap being movable between an open position and a closed position. 
   
   
       5 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 4 , further comprising a cam cooperating with the movable flap, contact by the roller against the cam results in the flap moving from the closed position towards the open position. 
   
   
       6 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the cam and the flap are an integrally formed single piece. 
   
   
       7 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one seal contacting the door and the case for sealing an internal compartment of the case to avoid evaporation where the associated sheet roll includes moist sheet roll material. 
   
   
       8 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the case includes a first opening through which the battery compartment is removable from the case. 
   
   
       9 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 8 , further comprising a switch button and a retainer, the switch button operating a switch electrically connected to the electrical contacts for controlling delivery of electrical power to the motor, the retainer being configured to retain the roller in the case, wherein the case includes a second opening aligned with the first opening, the switch button and the retainer being configured to be received in either opening and connect to the case to provide for a right-hand configuration or a left-hand configuration. 
   
   
       10 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the roller is removable from the case when the retainer and the switch button are disconnected from the case. 
   
   
       11 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a transmission operatively connected with the motor and the roller, the transmission being disposed within the roller and including compression rollers. 
   
   
       12 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 11 , further comprising a power drive housing received in the roller, the motor and the battery compartment received in the power drive housing, the power drive housing including slots through which components of the transmission extend to engage the roller. 
   
   
       13 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 12 , further comprising a seal connected to the power drive housing for preventing ingress of moisture into the battery compartment. 
   
   
       14 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the electrical contacts and the motor, the controller being disposed within the roller, the controller being configured to perform at least one of the following operations: (i) count rotations of the roller for measuring the length of sheet roll material being dispensed from the associated sheet roll and (ii) deliver current to the motor in a first direction resulting in the motor rotating the roller in a first rotational direction and to deliver current to the motor in a second direction resulting in the motor rotating the roller in a second rotational direction. 
   
   
       15 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 14 , further comprising a switch button connected with the case and a switch operated by the switch button and in electrical communication with the electrical contacts, wherein the controller is configured to deliver current to the motor in the second direction after the switch button has been released. 
   
   
       16 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising radial flexible fingers extending from an outer surface of the roller. 
   
   
       17 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 16 , further comprising a door connected to the case, the door being movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the door or the case includes a protuberance for deflecting the fingers to retain the associated sheet roll against the deflected fingers and the protuberance. 
   
   
       18 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising fenders in the case for axially locating the associated sheet roll in the case. 
   
   
       19 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotating support in the case spaced from the roller for spacing the associated sheet roll from the case. 
   
   
       20 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 19 , wherein the support is spaced from the roller so that a rotational axis of the associated sheet roll is equidistant from a location where the sheet roll contacts the rotating support and a location where the sheet roll contacts the roller. 
   
   
       21 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a peeler in the case, the peeler engaging a free end of the associated sheet roll to direct the sheet roll toward a discharge slot of the dispenser. 
   
   
       22 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 21 , wherein the peeler includes a blade that is biased toward the associated sheet roll. 
   
   
       23 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 21 , wherein the peeler includes a blade that is urged toward the associated sheet roll by the weight of the associated sheet roll. 
   
   
       24 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 21 , wherein the peeler includes a peeler roller that catches a free end of the associated sheet roll to direct the free end towards the discharge slot of the dispenser. 
   
   
       25 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a sheet roll urging device in the case for urging the associated sheet roll towards the roller. 
   
   
       26 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 25 , wherein the sheet roll urging device includes a biased hub configured to be received in a core of the associated sheet roll, wherein the hub is biased toward the roller. 
   
   
       27 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 25 , wherein the sheet roll urging device includes a biased wheel that engages the associated sheet roll, the biased wheel being biased towards the roller. 
   
   
       28 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 27 , further comprising a door and an axle, the door being connected to the case and movable between an open position and a closed position, the wheel being connected to the axle for rotation about the axle, wherein the door engages the axle to move the wheel as the door moves from the open position toward the closed position. 
   
   
       29 . The sheet roll dispenser of  claim 25 , wherein the sheet roll urging device includes a table supported by an axle connected to the case, the axle being offset from a rotational axis of the associated sheet roll in a direction away from the roller, the table pivoting about the axle to urge the associated sheet roll towards the roller. 
   
   
       30 . A sheet roll dispenser comprising:
 a case for receiving an associated sheet roll;   an electrically driven unwinding assembly disposed in the case for unwinding the associated sheet roll from the case;   a switch in the case for controlling delivery of electrical power to the unwinding assembly; and   a switch button on the case operating the switch, wherein the unwinding assembly and the switch button are removable from the case and the case includes at least two mounting locations for the switch button on opposite sides of the case to provide a left-hand configuration and a right-hand configuration for the dispenser.   
   
   
       31 . A sheet roll dispenser comprising:
 a case for receiving an associated sheet roll;   a roller disposed in the case for unwinding the associated sheet roll from the case, the roller including flexible fingers extending from an external surface of the roller for engaging the associated sheet roll, each finger being substantially aligned with a radius emanating from a rotational axis of the roller; and   a motor disposed in the case and operatively engaging the roller to rotate the roller to unwind the associated sheet roll.