Dispenser and method of dispensing

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing sheets of web material from a stack of sheets of web material is provided. The dispenser includes a biasing arrangement arranged to bias the stack towards a dispensing opening of the dispenser, and a stopper element associated with the dispensing opening, the stopper element being adapted to prevent the stack from being ejected through the dispensing opening by the biasing arrangement. A stack space in the dispenser is arranged to house the stack. Near the dispensing opening a first plane extends in a first plane direction directed towards the dispensing opening and a second plane extends in a second plane direction directed towards the dispensing opening. An opening portion has an opening width and is substantially aligned with the stack space such that the first and second plane directions extend uninterruptedly through the opening portion. Further a method of dispensing a bundle including at least two sheets of web material is provided.

1 . A dispenser for dispensing sheets of web material from a stack of sheets of web material, comprising:
 a housing;   a dispensing opening;   a web material reservoir for the stack arranged in the housing;   a biasing arrangement arranged to bias the stack towards the dispensing opening; and   a stopper element associated with the dispensing opening, the stopper element being adapted to prevent the stack from being ejected through the dispensing opening by the biasing arrangement,   wherein the web material reservoir defines a stack space arranged to house the stack, the stack space being at least partially delimited between a first plane and a second plane, substantially parallel to and spaced a first distance from the first plane,   wherein near the dispensing opening, the first plane extends in a first plane direction directed towards the dispensing opening and the second plane extends in a second plane direction directed towards the dispensing opening, and   wherein the dispensing opening comprises an opening portion having an opening width corresponding to the first distance, the opening portion being substantially aligned with the stack space such that the first and second plane directions extend uninterruptedly through the opening portion.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing opening extends in an opening plane and a normal of the opening plane extends in a direction substantially parallel with the first and second plane directions. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser according to  claim 2 , wherein the web material reservoir is arranged to house the stack with edge portions of the sheets of web material in the stack extending in parallel with the first and second planes, and with planes of the sheets extending substantially perpendicularly to the first and second planes and in parallel with the opening plane. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the stopper element is arranged in a middle portion of the dispensing opening and extends substantially perpendicularly to the first and second planes. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the stopper element comprises two stopper element portions extending substantially perpendicularly to the first and second planes, each stopper element portion being arranged at opposed ends of the dispensing opening. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser according to  claim 4 , wherein the stopper element comprises a fixed surface arranged to abut against the stack. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser according to  claim 2 , wherein the stopper element comprises at least one roller arranged to abut against an outer sheet of web material of the stack of web material, the roller being arranged to rotate about a rotation axis, wherein the rotation axis extends parallel to the opening plane. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one roller has a substantially cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one roller has a substantially spherical shape. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser according to  claim 2 , wherein the stopper element extends in the opening plane with an abutment surface portion of the stopper element arranged substantially in the opening plane. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the web material reservoir has a rectangular inner cross-section. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the web material reservoir comprises a first delimiting element extending at least partially in the first plane and a second delimiting element extending at least partially in the second plane. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the web material reservoir is adapted to house a stack comprising a plurality of bundles, wherein each bundle comprises at least two substantially coextensive sheets of web material, and wherein in the stack, the bundles of said plurality of bundles are alternatingly offset in relation to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser according to  claim 13 , wherein the opening portion of the dispensing opening is arranged to expose an edge portion of an outermost bundle of sheets of web material in the stack, for a user to grasp around the edge portion of the outermost bundle of sheets of web material. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser according to  claim 13 , wherein each sheet of web material has an extension along a first direction, and wherein the bundles are alternatingly offset along the first direction. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser according to  claim 13 , wherein each bundle of said plurality of bundles comprises sheets of web material. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein each sheet of web material forms a napkin. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein each sheet of web material comprises a cellulose material comprising new and/or recycled cellulose fibers. 
     
     
         19 . A method of dispensing a bundle comprising at least two sheets of web material from a dispenser comprising a stack of sheets of web material, the stack comprising a plurality of bundles, each bundle comprising at least two coextensive sheets of web material, wherein the bundles of said plurality of bundles are alternatingly offset in relation to each other, the method comprising:
 biasing the stack towards a dispensing opening of the dispenser;   biasing the stack against a stopper element arranged in connection with the dispensing opening;   exposing an edge portion of an outermost bundle in the dispensing opening;   grasping the outermost bundle about the edge portion; and   removing the outermost bundle from the dispensing opening and the stopper element.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the dispenser comprises:
 a housing;   a dispensing opening;   a web material reservoir for the stack arranged in the housing;   a biasing arrangement arranged to bias the stack towards the dispensing opening; and   a stopper element associated with the dispensing opening, the stopper element being adapted to prevent the stack from being ejected through the dispensing opening by the biasing arrangement,   wherein the web material reservoir defines a stack space arranged to house the stack, the stack space being at least partially delimited between a first plane and a second plane, substantially parallel to and spaced a first distance from the first plane,   wherein near the dispensing opening, the first plane extends in a first plane direction directed towards the dispensing opening and the second plane extends in a second plane direction directed towards the dispensing opening, and   wherein the dispensing opening comprises an opening portion having an opening width corresponding to the first distance, the opening portion being substantially aligned with the stack space such that the first and second plane directions extend uninterruptedly through the opening portion.