Dispenser for expandable slit sheet material

Abstract

A dispenser for a sheet material roll of sheet material having expandable slits. The dispenser including side support members, an input roller, an output roller, at least one roller support member and a drive system configured to couple rotation of the input roller and the output roller such that a velocity ratio of output roller to input roller is greater than 1.1 to expand slits in the sheet material. The dispenser may be unpowered or powered.

1 . A dispenser for a sheet material roll of sheet material having expandable slits, the dispenser comprising:
 side support members including a first side support member and a second side support member, each defining a material support interface configured to guide a material support member from an insertion position to a loaded position;   an input roller rotatably coupled to the side support members and extending along a width direction, the input roller positioned to engage the sheet material when the material support member engages the sheet material roll;   an output roller rotatably coupled to the side support members and extending along the width direction, the output roller spaced from the input roller along a draw direction orthogonal to the width direction, the output roller positioned to engage unrolled sheet material from the sheet material roll extending from the input roller;   at least one roller support member slidably coupled to the side support members and extending along the width direction, the at least one roller support member positioned relative to the input roller or output roller to engage the unrolled sheet material when the unrolled sheet material is engaged with the respective input roller or output roller, the at least one roller support member configured to apply a loading force onto the unrolled sheet material toward the respective input roller or output roller, wherein the at least one roller support member is slidable relative to the side support members in a direction orthogonal to the width direction; and   a drive system configured to couple rotation of the input roller and the output roller such that a velocity ratio of the output roller to the input roller is greater than 1.1 to expand slits in the sheet material.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the input roller is positioned to engage an outer surface of a sheet material roll. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the input roller is positioned to engage the unrolled sheet material from the sheet material roll. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one roller support member comprises an output roller support member rotatably coupled to the side support members. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one roller support member comprises an input roller support member and an output roller support member, each rotatably coupled to the side support members. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein drive system comprises a rotary transfer element coupled to the input roller and the output roller. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein circumferences of the input roller and the output roller cooperatively provide the velocity ratio. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the drive system comprises at least one controller operatively coupled to at least one motor, the at least one motor coupled to the input roller, the output roller, or both, wherein the controller is configured to command the at least one motor to drive the input roller, the output roller, or both. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one motor comprises a first motor coupled to the input roller and a second motor coupled to the output roller. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 8 , further comprising a rotary transfer element coupled to the input roller and the output roller, wherein the at least one motor comprises only one motor coupled to at least one of the input roller, the output roller, and the rotary transfer element. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the velocity ratio is between 1.5 and 2. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising the material support member configured to extend concurrently through both material support interfaces of the side support members and releasably coupled to the side support members. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the material support member is configured to provide input loading force on the sheet material roll toward the input roller when engaged with an inner surface of the sheet material roll. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one friction reduction element positioned between the side support members and one of more of: the input roller, the output roller, the material support member, and the at least one roller support member. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the input roller and the output roller are configured to rotate in response to a user exerting a pull force in the draw direction on the unrolled sheet material. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein a Minimum Pull Force Per Meter to initiate rotation of the drive system is less than or equal to 45 N/m. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface configured to accept user input to initiate rotation of the drive system. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 17 , wherein the user interface comprises:
 a crank or pedal configured to drive rotation of the drive system; or a button or pedal operatively coupled to at least one controller configured to command at least one motor to drive rotation of the drive system.   
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the input roller comprises a plurality of spaced apart wheels, each wheel comprising a plurality of protrusions spaced around a circumference of the wheel. 
     
     
         21 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the output roller comprises a plurality of bristles configured to extend through the expandable slits in the sheet material. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled)