Dispenser With Improved Dispensing Mechanism

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing sheet material from one or more rolls of sheet material is provided. The dispenser includes a housing having an interior volume and a dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing to dispenser sheet material. The dispensing mechanism includes a drive roller and a pressure roller biased against the drive roller forming a nip through which sheet material is dispensed. The pressure roller and/or drive roller includes a center portion defining a center diameter D 1, a first end defining an end diameter D 2, and a second end defining an end diameter D 3. The ratio of D 1 to D 2 and/or D 1 to D 3 is from about 5:1 to about 1.1:1.

1 . A dispenser for dispensing sheet material from one or more rolls of sheet material, comprising:
 a housing having an interior volume so as to retain a first roll of sheet material; and   a dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing to dispense sheet material, the dispensing mechanism including a drive roller and a pressure roller biased against the drive roller forming a nip through which sheet material is dispensed, the pressure roller and/or drive roller having a center portion defining a center diameter D 1 , a first end defining an end diameter D 2 , and a second end defining an end diameter D 3 , wherein a ratio of D 1  to D 2  and/or D 1  to D 3  is from about 5:1 to about 1.1:1 such that the center diameter D 1  is larger than either end diameter D 2  or end diameter D 3 , wherein the pressure roller has an outer surface extending circumferentially around the pressure roller and also extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end of the pressure roller or wherein the drive roller has an outer surface extending circumferentially around the drive roller and also extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end of the drive roller, wherein the outer surface of the pressure roller and/or the driver roller curves from the first end to the second end, wherein the pressure roller or the driver roller centers the sheet material as it passes through the nip.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the drive roller comprises a first end coupled to the housing and a second end coupled to a motor. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the first end comprises a spindle having a gasket material disposed thereon, wherein the gasket material is disposed between the first end and the housing to provide cushioning between the first end of the drive roller and the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein a gasket material is disposed between the second end of the drive roller and the motor. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the gasket material is disposed within an interior of the drive roller. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the gasket material is disposed between a portion of the drive roller and a gear. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a front cover coupled to a back plate, the front cover being movable from a closed position to an open position. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the back plate comprises a slot having a first end and a second end, wherein the front cover comprises a tab configured to be disposed in the slot. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein a back plate magnet is disposed on the second end of the slot and a front cover magnet is disposed on the tab such that when the front cover is moved from the closed position to the open position, the back plate magnet and front cover magnet are oriented with the same polarity facing each other to stop the front cover. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein a metal tube is disposed along the slot of the back plate and a front cover magnet is disposed on the tab, such that when the front cover is moved from a closed position to an open position the front cover magnet moves within the metal tube to stop the front cover. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the second end of the slot comprises a second back plate magnet, such that when the front cover is moved from the closed position to the open position, the second back plate magnet and front cover magnet are oriented with the same polarity facing each other to stop the front cover. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , comprising a roll retaining device for holding the roll of sheet material disposed on a backplate of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the roll retaining device comprises:
 a first arm assembly having one or more gear teeth thereon;   a second arm assembly having one or more gear teeth thereon; and   a gear coupled to the backplate, the first arm assembly, and the second arm assembly, such that rotation of the gear moves the first arm assembly and the second arm assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the first arm assembly and second arm assembly are spring-loaded. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the roll retaining device comprises:
 a first arm assembly and a second arm assembly coupled together by a first scissor arm and a second scissor arm, wherein actuation of the first scissor arm and second scissor arm moves the first arm assembly and the second arm assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , comprising a sensor to detect an object placed within a detection zone of the sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 17 , comprising control circuity configured with the sensor and the dispensing mechanism to initiate a dispense cycle upon detection of an object by the sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , comprising a dispensing opening through which sheet material is dispensed from the interior volume. 
     
     
         20 . A method of dispensing sheet material comprising dispensing sheet material from the dispenser of  claim 1 .