Sheet product dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10470622-B2
Application number	US-201715812345-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2017
Priority date	May 8, 2009
Publication date	Nov 12, 2019
Grant date	Nov 12, 2019

Abstract

A sheet product dispenser includes a transfer bar, a roller assembly, a motor, a sensor, and a controller. The transfer bar is movable between first and second positions. The roller assembly, disposed proximate the transfer bar second position, has a drive roller and a pinch roller that define a nip. The motor is in operable communication with the transfer bar to move the transfer bar between the first and second positions. The sensor is in operable communication with the dispenser cover. The controller is in operable communication with the sensor and the motor, and is responsive to executable instructions to facilitate actuation of the motor in response to a signal from the sensor to cause the transfer bar to move between the first position and second positions. The transfer bar includes at least one finger that drives an end of a roll of sheet product towards the nip upon actuation of the transfer bar from the first position to the second position.

First claim

We claim:

1. A sheet product dispenser for dispensing sheet product from a roll of sheet product, the sheet product dispenser comprising:
a housing;
a roll holder positioned within the housing and configured to rotatably support the roll of sheet product for dispensing;
a chassis frame positioned at least partially within the housing and coupled to the housing, the chassis frame comprising an aperture along a first sidewall;
a roller assembly positioned at least partially within the chassis frame and coupled to the chassis frame, the roller assembly comprising a drive roller and a pinch roller configured to rotate relative to the chassis frame to dispense sheet product from the roll of sheet product;
an isolator member abutting the chassis frame and formed of an elastomeric material, the isolator member comprising a protrusion that is disposed in the aperture; and
a drive motor assembly coupled to the chassis frame such that the isolator member is positioned between a portion of the drive motor assembly and the chassis frame, the drive motor assembly coupled to the drive roller and configured to rotate the drive roller.

2. The sheet product dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the chassis frame further comprises a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall, wherein the isolator member abuts the first sidewall, and wherein the drive motor assembly is coupled to the first sidewall.

3. The sheet product dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the roller assembly is positioned at least partially between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

4. The sheet product dispenser of claim 2 , wherein a first portion of the drive motor assembly is positioned between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and wherein a second portion of the drive motor assembly is positioned outside of the chassis frame.

5. The sheet product dispenser of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the drive motor assembly extends through a chassis opening defined in the first sidewall.

6. The sheet product dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the isolator member has an annular shape defining a central opening extending therethrough.

7. The sheet product dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the isolator member comprises:
an annular body defining a central opening extending therethrough; and
wherein the protrusion extends from the annular body.

8. The sheet product dispenser of claim 7 , wherein the chassis frame further comprises a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall, wherein the drive motor assembly is coupled to the first sidewall, and wherein the annular body and the protrusion engage the first sidewall.

9. The sheet product dispenser of claim 7 , wherein the chassis frame further comprises a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall, wherein the drive motor assembly is coupled to the first sidewall, wherein the annular body surrounds a chassis opening defined in the first sidewall, and wherein the protrusion engages the first sidewall at a location spaced apart from the chassis opening.

10. The sheet product dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric material is a rubber based polymer having a hardness in the range of Shore A scale.

11. The sheet product dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the drive motor assembly comprises an electric motor, and wherein the isolator member is positioned between the electric motor and the chassis frame.

12. The sheet product dispenser of claim 11 , wherein the drive motor assembly further comprises a pair of pulleys and a belt, and wherein the electric motor is coupled to the drive roller via the pair of pulleys and the belt.

13. A method for dispensing sheet product from a roll of sheet product via a sheet product dispenser, the method comprising:
rotatably supporting the roll of sheet product for dispensing with a roll holder positioned within a housing of the sheet product dispenser;
rotatably supporting a roller assembly with a chassis frame positioned at least partially within the housing and coupled to the housing, the roller assembly positioned at least partially within the chassis frame and coupled to the chassis frame, and the roller assembly comprising a drive roller and a pinch roller;
activating a drive motor assembly coupled to the drive roller to rotate the drive roller relative to the chassis frame and dispense sheet product from the roll of sheet product, the drive motor assembly coupled to the chassis frame;
inhibiting transmission of vibrations from the drive motor assembly to the chassis frame with an isolator member positioned between a portion of the drive motor assembly and the chassis frame, the isolator member abutting the chassis frame and formed of an elastomeric material, wherein the isolator member comprises a protrusion that is disposed in an aperture formed in a sidewall of the chassis frame.

14. A sheet product dispenser for dispensing sheet product from a roll of sheet product, the sheet product dispenser comprising:
a housing;
a roll holder positioned within the housing and configured to rotatably support the roll of sheet product for dispensing;
a chassis frame positioned at least partially within the housing and coupled to the housing, the chassis frame comprising an aperture along a first sidewall;
a drive roller positioned at least partially within the chassis frame and coupled to the chassis frame, the drive roller configured to rotate relative to the chassis frame to dispense sheet product from the roll of sheet product;
an isolator member abutting the chassis frame and formed of an elastomeric material, the isolator member comprising a protrusion that is disposed in the aperture;
an electric motor coupled to the chassis frame via the isolator member, the electric motor coupled to the drive roller and configured to rotate the drive roller.

15. The sheet product dispenser of claim 14 , wherein the chassis frame further comprises a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall, wherein the isolator member abuts the first sidewall, and wherein the electric motor is coupled to the first sidewall.

16. The sheet product dispenser of claim 15 , wherein the drive roller is positioned at least partially between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, wherein a first portion of the electric motor is positioned between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and wherein a second portion of the electric motor is positioned outside of the chassis frame.

17. The sheet product dispenser of claim 16 , wherein a portion of the electric motor extends through a chassis opening defined in the first sidewall.

18. The sheet product dispenser of claim 14 , wherein the isolator member comprises:
an annular body defining a central opening extending therethrough; and
wherein the protrusion extends from the annular body.

19. The sheet product dispenser of claim 18 , wherein the chassis frame further comprises a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall, wherein the electric motor is coupled to the first sidewall, and wherein the annular body and the protrusion engage the first sidewall.

20. The sheet product dispenser of claim 18 , wherein the chassis frame further comprises a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall, wherein the electric motor is coupled to the first sidewall, wherein the annular body surrounds a chassis opening defined in the first sidewall, and wherein the protrusion engages the first sidewall at a location spaced apart from the chassis opening.

Assignees

• Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Goeking Harold
• Cornell Robert W
• Zosimadis Panagiotis
• Mcneely James Noah

Classifications

• A47K10/3612

  with drive and pinch rollers · CPC title

• A47K10/3625

  with electronic control means · CPC title

• A47K10/26

  Mechanically-driven towel dispensers (A47K10/28 takes precedence; for paper towels or toilet-paper from a web A47K10/34; for paper towels or toilet paper from a store of single sheets, e.g. stacked, A47K10/44) · CPC title

• A47K10/38 Primary

  the web being rolled-up · CPC title

• A47K10/3687

  with one or more reserve rolls · CPC title