AU2013384387A1

AU2013384387A1 - Sheet product dispenser

Info

Publication number: AU2013384387A1
Application number: AU2013384387A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jeffrey J. Brickl; Christina M. Miller; Edward A. Raleigh; Matthew T. Woerpel
Original assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
Current assignee: Essity Hygiene and Health AB
Priority date: 2013-03-28
Filing date: 2013-03-28
Publication date: 2015-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-28
Also published as: AU2013384387B2; PL2978351T3; MX2015013643A; EP2978351B1; US20160029857A1; EP2978351A1; CN105431069A; CA2900142A1; ES2624868T3; WO2014154284A1; RU2015146060A; RU2619546C2

Abstract

A dispenser, comprising a housing defining an interior volume for receiving a stack of sheet products. The dispenser comprises an actuator and a dispensing member, wherein the actuator is operable by a user to activate a dispensing member to dispense a desired number of sheet products. The actuator includes two or more user interfaces that a user can actuate to transmit to the dispensing member an amount of movement corresponding to different numbers of sheet products being dispensed depending upon which of the user interfaces is actuated. The dispenser comprises a support structure for engaging a front face of the stack including opposed shelves for supporting opposed sides of the front face of the stack. A roller of the dispensing member is located between the opposed shelves and engages and grips on the front face of the stack. The actuator imparts a predetermined amount of rotation to the roller, which causes the roller to separate one or more sheet products at the front face of the stack, in a one-at-a-time fashion. A different amount of rotation is imparted to the roller depending upon which of the user interface ledges is actuated, thereby allowing selection of different numbers of sheet products to be dispensed.

Description

WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 1 Sheet product dispenser Technical Field [0001] T'he present disclosure relates te a dispenser configured to 5 contain and dispense a stack of sheet products. e a e product dispensers in which sheet products are dispensed fIrm a product housing through a dispensing opening. Examples of types of sheer products that are knewn are hand towels, 0 telttsse akis evieteadehrwpn rdcsi shet frm. A persistent problem with such dispensers is that users may take more than is required, causing waste. [00031 To that end, dispensers are known that dispense a predetermined number of sheet products. Dispensers of this tye, 5 however, rely on precise settings, depending on the thickness of the sheetprodcts nd/orthe evelof copresion f theFsak Further, dispensers of this type require difficult adjustments to be made in order to vary the predetermined number of sheet products to be dispensed, and ar therefore often used so as to always dspens 0 the same number of sheet products. [00041 It would be desirable to provide a sheet product dispenser that is able to tolerate sheet products with different numbers of folds and to also tolerate stacks with differing stack compression 5 levels, without necessarily requiring adjustment to the components of the dispenser. [0005] It would also be desirable to provide a dispenser in which the number of sheet products dispensed by the dispenser can be 0 easily selected. [00061 Lastly, it would be desirable to provide a dispenser that yields a more controlled and tidy sheet product presentation than avai lable with conventional dispensers. 5 [0007] The present disclosure addresses the above and other shortcomings of sheet product dispensers, and provides advantages WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 and improvements that will become clear the following general and specific description of embodiments o te invention. 5 [COOS] In a first aspect, a dispenser is provided comprising a housing for a stack o sheet products and a dispensing opening, the dispenser comprising a d i spensing member for engaging a face of a shoot adjacent the dispensing opening, the dispensing member being moveable and adapted for gripping the sheet, whereby movement of the O dispensing member causes the gripped sheet to slide relative to en underling sheet face in the stack to separate a sheet product adjacent the dispensing opening from the stack. [0009] According to the f irst aspect, the dispensing member grips 5 a sheet product adjacent the dispensing opening and causes it to slide relative to an underlying sheet product to allow the gripped sheet product to be moved relative to, and separated from, the remaining stack. The stack is enae at a face of the stack adjacent the dispensing opening adso does not rely on precise 0 picking of a predetermined number of sheets. A thickness of each sheet product from the edge side changes depending upon compression, and the compression changes depending upon weight or depth of the remaining stack. The number of sheets can be controlled by setting an amount of movement of the dispensing member to dispense one sheet 5 product and repeating this amount of movement for each further sheet product to be dispensed. The amount a sheet is required to slide relative to en underlying sheet does not change depending on the number of sheet products in the remainder of the stack. Thus, the first aspect allows a desired number of sheets to be dispensed in a O consistent manner. [S010] Ianembodiment, the dispenser housing is configured for holding the stack of sheet products in an inteio vo-ume thereof so that the front face of the stack is adjacent the dispensing opening. 5 The dispensing member is positioned to engage the front face of the stack and may protrude into the interior volume . Th d aispensin member is positioned to press into the front face of th e st'ack rn WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 the stacking direction, so that the frontmost sheet product in the stack is gripped and moved while being pressed against underlying sheet products in the stack. This causes the front-most sheet product at the location at which it is gripped to rub against 5 underlying sheets in the stack as it is moved relative to the underlying sheets. The stack may be weighted against or otherwise biased against the dispensing member. [0011] In an embodiment, the dispensing member s configured for 0 moving a fold or edge of a sheet product by gripping and moving a taco of the sheet product adjacent the fold or edge. 10012] In an embodiment, the dispensing member is configured for moving a foid or edge of a sheet product adjacent the dispensing opening along a face of an underlying sheet in the stack to separate 100131 In an embodiment, the dispensing member is configured for moving the sheet product past a barrier so that once the harrier is 0 c-lare, the sheet product passes through the dispensing openng. In an embodiment, the dispensing member itself serves as the harrier that has to be cleared f or the sheet product to be passed through the dispensing opening. 5 [0014] In an embodiment, the arrangement is such that the sheet product gripped by the dispensing member rubs against an underlying sheet product as it is moved by the dispensing member, but the frictioal interaction of one face of the sheet product with the dispensing member is greater than the fictional force between the 0 opposed face of the sheet product and the underlying shoet product in the stack, thereby allowing the gripped sheet product to move relative to a remaider of the sac in a sI ding annr. [00151 The dispensing member has a suitably chosen surface that 5 interacts with the surface of a sheet product adjacent the dispensing opening. The surface is selected so as to achieve a relatively high fictional force with the shot product.F WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 xamp e, and without the surface of the dispensing member may be made of an elastomeric material, it may be ta - to the touch, it may be textured such as by way of grooves aligned with the direction of movement or cross grooves, hatching, dimples or the 5 like. ''eskilled person would be able to suiabyt~ select the fr and material of the dispensing member to ensure sufficiently high grip on the sheet products. [00161 In an embodiment, the dispenser comprises a supt LO structure against which the dispensing face of the stack is supported. T support -ruct ur may cnfig urged to hold the stack in position against a weight of the stack (e.g., in a gravity feed dispenser) or for holding the stack in position against a biasing member acting on the stack (e.g., in an in-counte, o counte or L5 tabletop dispenser). The dispensing face of the s-ack is pressed against the support structure by virtue of the weight of the stack or the urging provided by the biasing member. -I an embodiment, the support structure includes at least one wall. In an embodiment, the support structure reveals nart of the dispensing .0 dispensing member is positioned to engage the revealed part of the dispensing face of the stack. The dispensing member is configured to move the sheet being gripped of f the support structure to separate the sheet product from a remainder of the stack for dispensing from the dispensing opening. [001] In an embodiment, the dispenser comprises a housing defining an interior volume in which the stack is disposed. Tho stack includes a front face and a back face and four sidewalls extending there between. The four sidewalls are made up of folds or edges of the sheet products in the stack, whereas the front face is 0 made up of a major surface of the front-most sheet product or products and the back face is made up of a major surface of the back-most sheet product or products. The dispensing member is positioned to operate on the front face of the stack. It is the front-most sheet product or products chat are gripped by the 5 dispensing member and moved relative to underlying sheets in the stack to dispense the sheet product.

WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 [0018] In an embodiment, the dispenser camprises a support strfg supperting a fof the stack adjacent, in a stacking direction, the dispensing opening. The dispensing member is positioned se as to engage the front face of 5 the ak at or- :t: support structure in the stacking direction. In this way, both the support structure and the dispensing member have the front face of the stack pressed thereon by virtue of the weight of the stack (i.e., by virtue of gravity) or by a biasing member. The support structure in that embodiment is 0 configured for engaging opposed margin areas of the front face of the stack. The dispensing member is positioned in the space between the opposed margin areas to also engage the front face of the stack. The dispensing opening is located between the part of the support structure engaging one of the margin areas and the dispensing 5 member. The dispensing member is operable to move a sheet product that it grips and engages into the dispensing opening. [0019 In an embodiment, the support structure and the dispensing member are arranged so that one side of the sheet product is moved 0 ler of the support structure into the dispensing opening, wile another side of the sheet product remains supported by the support structure. This is particularly useful in a gravity feed dispenser disp opening for grasping by a e the other side 5 remains pinched between the support structure and the remainder of the stack to keep the dispensing tidy. An embodiment in which part of the sheet product is held by the support structure and another part is moved clear of the support structure by the dispensing member is discussed further below with respect to the third aspect. C These features may be combined with the first aspect. [0020] ln an embodiment, one or more shelves are included to support the dispensing face of the stack adjacent the dispensing opening. Thu dspensing member is positioned adjacent the shelf and 5 is configured for moving the sheet off the shelf to separate a sheet product from the remainder of the stack for dispensing through the dispensing opening.

WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 [0021[ In an embedment, the dispensing mr t to provide the movement required to slide the sheet to separate the sheet product from the remainder of the stack. An axis about which the 5 dispensing :momber turns is disposed parallel to faces of the sheet proct in the stack. The axis may also be aligned with a margin portion of the front face of the stack that the shelf or support structure engages. 0 In an e :iment, te dspn's rmemer is provided as a r Iler engaging the face of a sheet product adjacent the dispensing opening. In that embodiment, a peripheral surface of grips the face of the adjacent sheet product. 5 [00231 The roller may define a cylindrical outer profile for engaging the sheet product or it may have a lobed outer profile. The lobed outer profile may be useful for moving the gripped sheet product by a set amount as defined by the protruding portion of a lobe of the outer profile, while allowing relative rotation between 0 the roller and the relatively recessed part of the lobed profile. The lobed outer profile may have one, two, three, four or more lobes. The roller may be configured for dispensing one sheet product per lobe. The cylindrical outer profile allows greater tolerance in dispensing a predetermined number of sheet products 5 because it does not require lobe registration. [00241 In an embodiment, the dispensing me : is positioned closer to one edge of the front face of the stack than to an opposed eoge. The dispensing member is configured for moving the closer 0 edge of a sheet product adjacent the dispensing openg g into the dispensing opening for grasping by a user. This asymmetrical positioning of the dsensing mebe redcesthe likelihood of slippage since there is a reduced dito to die sheet product. 5 [0025] In an embodiment, the dispenser comprises an actuator that is user-operable to cause the dispensing member to move relative to WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 the sheet products in the stack to dispense one or more shoot products. The actuator may be as described below with respect to the second aspect. In an embodiment, the actuator may include a rotatale knob or it may include a button. In an embodiment, tho 5 rotatable knob can bo rotated a different amount (e.g., a different number of turns or half-turns) to move the dispensing member by a different amount to dispense a different number of sheet products. In another embodiment, the actuator includes a plurality of buttons Lhat may be selectively actuated to cause the dispensing member to .0 move respective different amounts to thereby dispense different resectve umbrsof sheet products. [0026] In an embodiment, the dispensing member is moveable to move a sheet product adjacent the dispensing opening into or through the .5 dispensing opening. As the preceding sheer is cleared by moving it into the dispensing opening, the dispensing member engages and grips o succeeding sheet for moving the succeeding sheet into or through the dispensing opening for grasping by a user. Specifically, the dispensing member is arranged to operate on the front face of a 0 sheet product adjacent the dispensing opening so that when that sheet product moves into the dispensing opening and is clear of the dispensing member, the succeeding sheet product in the stack is engaged by the dispensing member. 5 [0027] According to a second aspect, a dispenser is provided that comprisea a housing for a stack of sheet products, a dispensing opening, a dispensing member for dispensing a selected number of sheet products through the dispersing opening . The dispenser also includes an actuator operatively coupled to the dispensing member 0 that is user- operable to selectively cause the dispensing member to dispense a firat predetermined number of sheet products and that is also user-operable to selectively cause the dispensing member to dispense a second, different (e.g., greate) ne of sheet products 5 [0020] The second aspect allows a user to operate an actuator to selectively cause one of at least two different numbers of sheet WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 products to be dispensed. In this way, different dispensing requirements can be met in an easy to operate way. (0029) In an embodiment, the actuator is user-operable to 5 selectively cause the dispensing member to dispense a third r different from (e.g., greater than' the second number, of sheet products. In thiswa small, medium and large sheet requirements can be met. 0 [0030] In an embodiment, the dispensing member moves to segregate a different number of sheet products from the remainder of the stack depending upon operation of the actuator to dispense the different number of sheet products. 5 [00l 1 ] In an embodiment, the dispensing is configured to turn relative to the stack, with the amount of turning differing depending upon operation of the actuator to dispense the different number of sheet products. In an embodiment, the dispensing member is a roller and the amount of rotation or number of revolutions of 0 the roller differing depending upon operation of the actuator to dispense the different number of sheet products. [0032] In an embodiment, the dispensing member causes sliding movement of a sheet product adjacent the dispensing opening against 5 an underlying sheet product in the stack. This, in turn, moves the sheet product relative to the remainder of the stack and into or through the dispensing opening. In an embodiment, the dispensing member engages a succeeding sheet product after dispensing the preceding sheet product so as to be able to move the succeeding 0 sheet product into or through the dispensing opening by sliding against an underlying sheet in the stack. 3tI] In an embodiment, the dispensing member is abl .to -- engagea succeeding sheet product in the stack once a sheet product adjacent 5 the dispensing opening has been moved clear of the dispensing member so that both, the adjacent sheet product and the succeeding sheet product, may be dispensed.

WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 [0034] In an embodiment, the dispensing member moves ba first amount to thereby dispense the first number of sheer products and moves by a second, greater, amount to dispense the second number of 5 sheet products. The moveen*-a be rotation. In an embodiment, a particular amount of movement, e.g. , rotation, dispenses one sheet product and an integer multiple of the particular amount of movement dispenses a corresponding integer multiple number of sheet products. L0 [0035] In an embodiment, the actuator includes different user interfaces for actuating the different numbers of sheet products for dispensing. The user interfaces may be, for example, buttons, levers, indexes, or electronic buttons. T~he actuator and the dispensing member cooperate to dispense the number of sheet produt L5 depending upon the user interface operated. The different user interfaces may be independently operable by a user to cause the different number of sheet products to be dispensed. In an embodiment, the different user interfaces are push buttons. In an embodiment, the different user interfaces are pressed by a user 20 through an actuation stroke. [0036] In an embodiment, the actuator comprises a converter for converting between types of motion so that the motion of a user interface part of she actuator in one direction is changed to motion 5 in another direction or in another sense (i.e., linear to rotation or vice versa) of the dispensing member. 'The converter may additionally or alternatively include mechanical advantage transmission. In an embodiment, the converter converts linear motio of an moveable part of the actato-.-rtt ing motion ofth ~0 dispensing member that is configured for engaging ard moving ore or more sheer products into or through the dispensing opening. [0037] in on embodciment th-:tutr comprises a gear asml providing transmission between a user interface part or parts of the 5 actuator and a dispensing member. In an embodiment, the gear assembly is configured so that an actuation stroke of different user interface parts causes the dispensing member to respectively WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 dispense the different number of is, the gear assembly is configured to trnmt different amounts of movement te the dispensing member despite the same length actuation stroke being applied to different user interface parts of the actuator. 5 0038] In an of the actuator described above with respect to the first and second aspects, an adjuster may be provided to allow adjustment in the amount of resulting movement of the dispensing member in a stroke of the actuator s itas 0 compensation for different degrees of slippage encountered between the dispensing member and sheet products having different slip properties. [0039] In an embodiment, the actuator has a defined stroke length 5 defned between a moveable part of the actuator and a finger stop of a stationary part of the actuator. In an embodiment, the stroke length differs depending upon which user actuation interface is pressed. More specifically, in that embodiment, different stroke lengths correspond to different lengths of the path travelled by the ~0 moveable part to the finger stop. In an embodiment, an adjuster is provided to allow the user to change the stroke length. [0040According to a third aspect, a dispenser is provided that comprises a housing defining an interior volume for supporting a ! stack of sheet products, with the interior having a maximum depth in the stacking direction of the stack, and a maximum area perpendicular to the stacking direction. The dispenser has a dispensing opening and stack support structure around the dispensing 0 area on one side of the front face and orn another side of the front face, and a dispensing member for releasing a sheet product at the one side of the front face of the stack to extend through the dispensing opening while the sheet product remains supported by the support structure at the other side of the front face of the stack. 5 [00411 The third aspect provides a dispenser in hic shee products such as napkins are present in a tidy and ready-to-grasp WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 manertotheosr. The dispens ing member reaes at -l_.-at one sheet product from one side, but does nor release the ether side, so that the sheet product is able to extend through or hang through the dispensing opening held or suspended from the other side. The user 5 can the reach into a grasping area of the dispenser adjacent the dispensing I to take the at lea- o= seeot proitwo step, tidy dispensing process provides certainty as to the number of napkins dispensed, and prevents users from simply reaching in and grabbing an undetermined (typically large) number of napkins.. o Further, this aspect alse provides a support structure around the dispensing opening that can be made small in size to minimize the risk of teai. [0042 he housing, the support structure and the dispensing 5 opening of the thid aspect are applicable to any of the preceding aspects and embodiments. In particular, the dispensing member may be a dispensing member according to the first aspect, with the dispensing member having the above releasing functionality whileth support structure holds a side of the sheet product. Further,th 0 dispensing member of the third aspect and its functionality with the support structure and dispensing opening may be combined with the second aspect so that the actuator is operable by a user to actuate dispensing member. 5 [0043] In an embodiment, the one side and the other side are opposed sides of the stack. In ar embodiment, the maximum area is defined by a maximum x and a maximum y dimension (perpendicular x and y, as is conventional), wthe one side and the other side arein y irein and the dispensing opening takes on 0 the x dimension for at least part, optiolly most, and optionally all, of tne way between the one side and the other side. This allows the sheet product dispensing opening substantially uncompressed on either x side and aso ol sheet product to extend through the dispensing opening in a free, 5 easy-to-grasp and visually pleasing style.

WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 00 - [i n an embodiment, the dispensing member is configured to engage and operate on t o face of the stack to move the one side of the shoot product of f the support structure. In an embodiment, the dispensing member separates the engaged sheet 5 product from the support at the one si: and _t the dispensing opening to clear the sheet product from the dispensing member so that the dispensing member engages an underlying sheet product. The dispensing member is operable to subsequently release the underlying sheet product for extension through the dispensing 0 opening in an embiment, the d pending member ina roller L i -n to e - frot fa sck and rotate to move the sheet product relative to the support structure on the one side to release the one side of the adjacent sheet product and to :stio that sheet prthe dispensing opening. .5 (0045] In an embodiment, the dispensing member is configured to release a plurality of sheet products at the one side while the plurality of sheet products remains secured at the other side so that a plurality of sheet products extends through the dispensing S opening. Ihe dispensing member may be configured to release the sheet products in a one-at-a-time fashion, [0046] In an embodiment, the dispensing member is configured to grip the sheet product and the dispensing member is operable to 5 release the sheet product from the dispensing member to allow the sheet product to extend through the dispensing opening while being secured at the other side. [004!] In an embod imet, the dispenser is configured so that the 0 stack is pressed against the support structure. T'his could be by way of gravitational force (gravity feed dispenser) or by way of spring force (table top, countertop or in-counter dispenser) or the urging force ef some other biasing member. The support structure and the interior volume is such that the other side of the sheet product is 5 pinched between the support structure and the remainder of the stack.

WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 [0048 In an embodiment, the dispenser is a gravity feed dispenser in which the interior volume is adapted to be positioned abeve the dispensing opening. In such an embodiment, the released sheet product hangs with the other side suspended by the support 5 srcue 'he dispenser may comprise a sheet product support for supporting a hanging part of the sheet pod be th dispensing opening. The sheet product support may include a peripheral cut-out to allow a user to grasp the hanging sheet product from opposing faces thereof. LO [0049] In an embodiment, the support structure at the one side and/or at the other side is able to be adjusted and/or the dispensing member is able to be adjusted to move tho front face of the sheet products into stronger or weaker engagement with the L5 dispensing member. This adjustment allows the dispensing member to be operable on different types of sheet products such as sheet products being more or less slippery, [00501 According to a fourth aspect, a method is provided for 0 uppyig a stack of sheet products for loading in tee housing of the dispenser of any of the embodiments and aspects described herein. [00511 The fourth as is appiae to all of the aspects and 5 embodiments disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the method comprises loading a stack of sheet products in the dispenser. The sheet products supplied are interrelated to the dispensing member described aoein that the dispensing member must work with th particular type of sheet product so as to dispense the sheet product 0 or the desired number of sheet products. in particular, shee products from different suppliers may have different slippage properties relative to the dispensing member, so that the amount of movement (e~g., rotation) of the dispensing member is somewhat dependent on of product. in an embodiment, the 5 method comprises adjusting the dispensing member or the relationship between the sheet product and the dispensing member depending upon proper- t- of Lh articular type of shee rod - in the dispenser.

WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 Brief descriptionof the figures [0052] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a dispenser according to 5 one embodiment of the present invention. The dispenser comprises a Losing defining an interior volume for receiving a stack of shoot products. The dispenser comprises an actuator and a dispensing member, wherein the actuator is operable by a user to activate a dispensing member to dispense a desir-ed number of sheet products. O The actuator includes two or more user interfaces, which are in the form .e ledges in the shown em, that a user can sele ly press to transmit to the dispensing member an amount of movement corresponding to different number of sheer products being dispensed depending upon which of th us-:r Intaefaces is pressed . :n th a 5 particular embodiment, the stroke length of the actuator is different for each of the different user interfaces, in order to transmit different amounts of movement to the dispensing member for dispensing different numbers of sheet products. 0 [0053] Fig. 2 shows various parts of the dispensing member and actuator in greater detail. Fig. 2 also shows a support structure for a front face of the stack including opposed shelves for supporting opposed sides of the front face of the stack. In between the opposed shelves, a roller of the dispensing member is located, 5 which engages and grips on the front face of the stack. The actuator imparts a predetermined amount of rotation to the roller, which causes the roller to engage and separate one or more sheet products from the front face of the stack in a one-at-a-time fashion. A different amount of rotation is imparted to the roller 0 depending upon which of the user interface ledges is pressed, thereby allowing different numbers of sheet products to be selectiely dis pensed 0054] Fig. 3 shows a cross-ection of the dispensing member and 5 actuator through a central axis of the roller to reveal a rack and pinion device defining the interaction between the actuator and the dispensing memberT. That interaction is such that linear movement of the actuator causes rotational movement of the roller.

WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 [0055] Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectin n whi a vertical relationship (the vertical direction being the stacking direction) between the roller and proximal and distal shelves of the support 5 structure (with the proximal shelf being closer to the user) The proximal shelf is positioned so that the stack has to bond around the dispensing roller, while the distal shelf i positioned more level with the roller. 0[00561 Fig. 5 shows a more detailed view of the rack and pinion device for converting linear motion of a moveable actuator part of the actuator to rotational motion of the roller. One end of a stroke of the moveable actuator part is defined by abutment against a r -ion of a stationary actuator part. The end of the 5 stroke of the moveable actuator part is defined by a user's fingers extending from one of the user interface ledges of the moveable actutrpart and a finger- stop on the s oar atuor art against which a user's finger will abut. 0 [0057] Fig. 6 shows plural images showing how sheet products are presented to a user during dispensing. In parti cular, the roller operates relatively closely to a poial side of the front face of the stack so as to release the proximal side of one or more sheet products from the proximal shelf. The dIstal side of the released 5 sheet products are securely held, pinched between the distal shelf of the support structure and the remainder of the stack, to thereby provide a suspension location from which the one or more sheet products hang. The dispenser comprises a support chute that comes into contact and supports the one or more hanging sheet products to 0 relieve tension required to suspend the distal side of the hanging sheet products. The support chute includes a peripheral cut-out or recess for allowing a user to grasp the hanging sheet products on opposing faces. 5 [0058] Fig. 7 shows an exemplary construction for the roller and a number of alternative constructions. The illustrated exemplary construction for the roller defines a circular cross-section, whereas the alternative embediments have one or more lobes, paddles WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 or fins or the like for engaging the front face of the stack of sheer products. [00591 Fig. 8 shows an indexing device for use with a lobed, 5 paddled, finned or the like roller of the dispensing member. [0060] Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of the dispenser with a mod-me stand including a catch chute for catching any sheet products t fall from the support chute . The catch chute inc::_ es rtaning 0 tabs as the end of the catch chute surface. The catch chute also includes a recess so thas sheet products supported on she catch chute surface are graspable by a user on opposing faces. [0061] Fig. 10 discloses an alternative embodiment of the actuator 5 in wich a rotatable handle is used to transmit rotational motion to a roller that is not shown. 100621 Fig. 11 discloses an alternative actuator including separate push buttons associated with different rack and pinion 0 devices for selectively applying different amounts of rotation so the roller for respectively dispensing different numbers of sheet products. [0063] Fig. 12 shows a first alternative embodiment of the 5 actuator in which, instead of inear motion of the actuator ing converted to rotational moslon of she roller, she push buttons follow a rotational path that s transmitted to rotational motion of teroller. 0 [00641 Fig. 13 shows an embodiment of an adjustable stop feature that permits adjustment of the location of one end of the actuation stroke. That feature permits adjustm of the abutment or stop posi moveable actuator part la to she station actuator part for defining different stroke lengths. This 5 adjustment feature allows a user to adjust the stroke length, which may be useful so compensate for different slip properties associated with the different types of sheet product used with she dispenser.

WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 Detailed description of embodiments of_ the invention [0065] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a dis:nse 1. The dispenser 1 includes a housing 40 defining an interior volume for containing a 5 stack of sheet products 10. The sheet products may be interfolded and may be napkins . More generally, the sheet products have a wiping function. The housing 40 is provided atop a stand 5 having feet for positioning on a horizontal surface such as a counter top. Te housing 40 includes a distal wall dining supporting surface 0 for the stack 10, sidewalls for laterally containing the stack 10, and a proximal wail 8 for preventing the stack 10 from spilling toward a user. The front wall 8 in the illustrated embodiment includes a door that opens about hinges 7 in order to allow the stack 10 to be loaded. In an alternative embodiment, instead of a 5 door, the front wail may alternatively include a passage extending in the stacking direction to allow a user to reach into the interior volume defined by the housing 40. The housing 40 is open at the top (or the rear in the stacking direction) in order to allow the housing 40 to be top-loaded from above. When the feet 0 5 are positioned on a horizontal surface, the surface of the distal wall of housing 40 that supports the edges or folds in the stack is, in this exemplary embodiment, inclined backwards relative to verti cal. 5 [00666] he housing A0 and the stand 5 in this shown embodiment are structured to define a gravity feed dispenser. The aspects and embodiments described above, and which are explained in further detail below, are broadly applicable to dfeettpso dispensers, s as, and without limitation, t pn 0 dispensers, folded bath tissue dispensers, hand towel folded or interfolded dispensers, countertop napkin dispensers, or in-counter nakndispnrs r: As seated above , the sheet products are generally used for wiping, and may be folded and/or may be tissue-based sheet products. 5 [0067] Fig. 1 shows an actuator 2 that is mounted to a side of the housing 40 and which is operatively coupled to a dispensing 3 WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 in order to cause one or more sheer products so be dispensed. he actuator 2 includes different user interfaces 27, 28 that deine different stroke lengths of rho actuator 2 so thereby permit the user to select one of dif ferent numbers of sheer products available 5 for dispensing by the dispensing member 3. [0068] Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the dispensing member 3 and tho actuator 2 with various parts separated, for ease of understanding. A support structure 12 mounts at a front end or at a 0 bottom end of the housing 40. Te support structure 12 defines shelves 21, 22 (see also Fig. 4) that interface with a front face of the stack 10 of sheet products. The frons face of the stack of sheet products 10 is defined by a surface of the front-mosr sheet or sheers in the stack 10. 5 [00691 In the illustrated gravity feed dispenser embodiment, the front face of the stack rests on rho shelves 21, 22 and supports a majority of the weighof f stack 10. The rear a of the housin 40 in takes up a relatively mnor component 0 of the weight of the stack 10. The shelves 21, 22 contact opposed margins of the front face of the stack of sheet products and define a dispensing opening 41 in the space between the shelves 21, 22. The support structure 12 further includes walls surrounding the shelves 21, 22 for supporting fold or edge faces of a front portion 5 of the stack 10. [0070] A roller l5 of the dispensing 3 is rosatably mounted to the support structure 12 in a position adjacent a proxmal shelf 22 (see Fig. 4) , where she proximal shelf 22 is the shelf closest to 0 she user, in use. The roller 15 is made up of a core or central shaft 14 made of a relatively rigid material, and an ad-in portion 1 that may be injection- molded or extruded and may have greater gripping characteristics relative so the material of rho sheet products, at least on the outer surface of sne cladding 5 portion 13, than does the central shaft 14. The central shaft 14 protrudes through at ist one side - sprstru e for coupling with the auar 2, in WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 extension of the central she support 12 can be seen in Fig. 3. [00711 The dispensing member 3 further includes a circular gear 23 5 and a one-way clutch 24 mounted to the central shaft 14 of the roller 15. The circular gear 23 serves as a pinion component that interacts with a rack component 25 of the actuator 2 described in further detail below. The one-way clutch 24 ensures that the roller 15 is only able to be rotated by actuation of the actuator 2 in the o dispensing direction, since reverse rotation may be detrimental to the dispensing operation in the illustrated embodiment . [0072] The actuator 2 can be further understood with reference to Figs. 2 and 5. The actuator 2 includes a moveable actuator part 19 5 and a stationary actuator part 18. The stationary actuator part 18 is mounted to a side of the housing 40 and a side of the support structure 21, while the moveable actuator part 19 is mounted to the statioary actuator part 1_ro ovn linearly, relative thereto. The moveable actuator part 19 includes the rack component 25, in the 0 form of a gear in the illustrated embodiment, that meshes with the circular gear 23 of the dispesin membr 3 to form a rack and p ini on arrangement . 'u r a a jpin:on arrangement converts linear movement of the moveable actuator part 19 into rotational movement of the rollen l5 5 [00/3] The moveable actuator part 19 includes a plurality of user interface ledges .2/, 28 that are proximally positioned on the dispenser 1 and which are sized for contact by the user's forefinger and middle finger. A user is able to push down on the ledges, in 0 order to impart linear movement to the moveable actuator part 19 and thus to impart rotational motion to the roller 15. A stroke length of the moveable actuator part 19 defines the degree to which the roller 13 is moved and consequently the number of sheet products that are dispensed. 5 -00731 The stationary act a-tor par 18 of actuator 2 includes a finger stop 29 against which the user's fingers will abut when pushing on one of the user interface ledges 2/, 28. In that regard, WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 rhoeigrsop2 eie a sopnpint for thesrk of the moveabl actuat-or t 19, The lower user interface ledge 27 has a shorter distance to move, before aligning with the finger stop 29, than does the upper user interface ledge 28. The two distances 5 thereby rs ively def shorter and longer near movements for the rack component 25, which in turn correspond respectively to smaller and larger amounts of rotation of the roller 15. The user interface ledges 27, 28 respectively define a first number of sheet products for dispensing and a second, larger, number of sheet 0 products for dispensing. Fot example, the first user interface ledge 27 may correspond to dispensing of one individual she product or it may correspond to dispensing of one fold of interfolded sheet products, which would for example thus yield/dispense two individual sheet products. The second user 5 interface ledge 28 may dispense twice this number, so it may dispense two individual sheet products or two folds of interfolded sheet products, specifically four individual sheet products. [0075] The moveable actuator part 19 abuts against an abutment 0 portion 42 that defines a rest position of the moveable actuator part 19 relative to the stationary actuator part 18. Although not shown, the moveable actuator part 19 is biased to return to the starting position defined by the moveable actuator part 19 abutting against the abutment portion 42 of the stationary actuator part 18, 5 such as by way of a spring. The one-way clutch 24 allows rotation of the circular gear 23 to be transferred to the central shaft 14 of roller 15 when the user imparts linear motion to the rack component 25 by moving the moveable atuatL ar . However, when the spring returns the meaeocutrpt1.bckto rntses 0 position with the abutment portion 42, the oneway clutch 27 causes the circular gear 23 to disengage so as not to impart further rototional movement to the central shaft 14 or any other portion of roller 15. 5 [0076] Referring to Fig. 4, that figure shows the relative positions of the proximal shelf 22, the distal shelf 21 and the roller 15. n particular, that figure snows the shelves 21, 22 WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 the outer surface of the roller 15 being positioned generally in alignment with respect to the stacking diecion, so the front face of the stack 10 contacts and is supported on the distal support shelf 21, the roller 15 and the proximal support shelf 22 The 5 roller 15 is position a-aen the prim uort s f 2 a dispensing opening 41 is dfndin the gap between tedsa support shelf 21 and the roller 15. At least a portion of the outer surface of the roller 15 is positioned above the proximal support shelf 22 to cause the front face of the stack 10 to curve around the LO roller l5 to some degree, so as to ensure a large contact area and also sufficient pressure between the front-most sheet product and the roller 15, to avoid or at least minimize slippage. [00771 The roller 15 functions to grip a ma-jor surface of part of 5 a sheet product at the front of the stack, and to move it off the proximal shelf 22 by sliding same relative to an underlying sheet in the stack. The roller 15 tnen passes the sheet product into the dispensing opening 41 once the fold or edge of the gripped sheet product is moved beyond the roller 1.5. Once a particular sheet 0 product has been moved into/through the dispensing opening 41, the succeeding sheet in the stack will rest against the roller l5. [00781 The roller 15 in this embodiment has a circular cross section. The outer surface of the roller 15 is required to grip the 5 material of the sheet product. Accordingly, the outer surface of the roller 15 may include sandpaper, may be textured, or may include dimples or ribs, or may be mode of a material that has a high frictional relationship with the material defining the sheet product, such as an elastomeric material. The outer surface may 0 additionally or alternatively include a grooved or raised pattern such as a hatching pattern to increase grip. In other grip enhancing alternatives, the outer surface of the roller 15 may be provided by axialiy or radially extending teeth, with the teeth being angled toward or against the direction of rotation when 5 dispensing a sheet product, or they may have a rectangular or sharp r-of lie.

WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 The roller 15 rotates so that the outer surface thereof moves in the direc-t away from the proximal shelf 22 and towards the distal shelf 21 at the location of engagement with the front face of the stack 10. This causes the sheet product to move away 5 fro-m sh proximal shelf 22 and toward the distal shel-f 21. The roller 15 thus does not cause the sheet product to move off the distal shelf 21, 1 that the proximal part of she sheet product moves into/through the dispensing opening -41, while a distal margin of she sheet product remains supported on the distal shelf 21, LO pinched between the remainder of the stack and the distal shelf 21, As such, the sheet product gripped by the roller 15 will be released into/through the dispensing opening 41 to hang suspended a distal margin at the distal shelf 21. L5 [0080 Referring to figure 4, the support structure 12 may include proximal ribs extending in the stacking direction at the proximal shelf 22 for engaging a proxima side of a front portion of the stack 10 to ensure that the stack is suitably urged toward the 15. .0 [00811 It is not just the degree of grip between the roller 15 and the sheet product, but also the height of the proximal self 22 and the angle of inclination of the housing 40 relative to the vertical, that serves to control pressure between the front-most sheet in the 5 stack 10 and the roller 15 in this embodient. The height of the proximal shelf 22 in the stacking direction may be adjusted, for example by a user operable adjuster, in order to relieve or increase this pressure so that the configuration of the support structure 12 is optimized to ensure that the correct number of sheet products is 0 dispensed according to a user's choice at she actuatur 2. (00821 TIhe extent so which the housing 40 is filled by she stack of sheet products may influence the resulting pressure on the roller 15. In ono embodiment, a fill line 6 (Fig. i) indicates to a user a 5 stack level that should be maintained for desired function of the dispenser. Alternatively, a weight could be applied in addition to the stack weight to ensure suitable pressure on the roller i5. In WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 yet another alternative embodiment, a biasing element, such as a spring, could push the stack onto the roller 15. [00834 Referring to Figs. 1 and 6c, a support chute 4 is provided 5 that is positioned beneath the dispensing opening 41.- The support chute 4 is located beneath the distal shelf 21 so that sheet products hanging in the dispensing opening 41, suspended at the distal margin, lie en the support chute 4. The support chute functions to relieve some of the weight of the sheet product tendng o to pull that sheet product away from the distal she 21, whic would result in undesirable complete or uncontrolled release of tho sheet products from the support structure 12. The support chute 4 includes a peihral cut -nut 30 posi tindso that the hanging sheet product or products l ie ever the cut-onut 30, thereby allowing 5 a user to grasp the hanging sheet product(s) from both sides, one side through the cut-out 30. A recess instead of a cut-out could provide a similar function. The support chute 4 is angled so as to cure te fod or edges of the hanging sheet prdcstoward a user for ease of grasping and quality of presentation purposes. The 0 support chute 4 thus provides an angled slide intercepting direct vertical hanging of the sheet products. [00841 Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 in conjunction with Fig. 6, an exemplary operation of the dispenser will now be described. In 5 order to dispense a desired number of sheet products, such as napkins, a user presses on the user interface ledge 27 or on the user interface ledge 28 with fingers, depending on whether a smaller or larger number of sheet products is required. For example, if the dispenser 1 is located at a drive-through window, the user interface 0 ledge 27 could be associated with a small food order and the user interface ledge 28 could be associated with a large food order, Of course, further user interfaces could be provided to provide a greater range of numbers of sheet products that can be dispensed. The moveable actuator part 19 moves linearly under direction of the 5 user pressing on one of the user interface ledges 27, 28. Linear motion of the moveable actuator part 19 is converted to rotational motion of the roller 15 by way of the rack and pinion device.

WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 [0085] The stack 10 is disposed in the housing 40 and rests against the distal and proximal shelves 21, 22. A front face of the stack 10 curves partially around the roller 15 as a result of the relative positioning of the distal and proximal shelves 21, 22. The 5 roller 15 is pressed into the front face of the stack of sheet products to engage a front-most sheet product, rather than edges or folds which would be the case with engagement of te side faces of the stack. Rotation of the roller 15 causes the front-most sheet product of the stack 10 in engagement therewith to retract relative 0 to the proximal shelf 22 in a manner that involves sliding against an underlying sheet in the sak T Th grip between the outer surface of roller 15 and the front-most sheet product is greeter than a corresponding frictional force between the front sneet product and the underlying sheet product in the stack 10 so that it 5 is able to be slid or moved relative thereto. Once the front-most sheet product is moved off the proximal shelf 22, continued rotation of the roller 15 results in an edge of the gripped sheet product moving beyond the roller 15 and into the dispensing opening 41. 0 [0086] Once the sheet product has been released by the roller 15, the sheet product will, in the illustrated gravity feed embodiment, fall from the proximal edge or fold into a hanging position extending through the dispensing opening 41. A distal margin ofth sheet product is not acted on by th roller 15 and as 5 pinched between the proximal shelf 21 and the remainder of the stack 10 to provide a suspension point a lowing the sheet product to hang. 87] Depending upon which of the user interface ledges 27, 28 is pthe above-described dispensing process will be repeated by 0 rotation of the dispensing roller 1 by a diferent amount so that one or a plurality of sheet products is/are hanging through the hanging sheet products will lay to some extent on the underlying support chute 4, ready to be grasped by a user. A user may then 5 reach in and grasp from both sides of the hanging sheet products, by making use of the cut-out 30 in she support chute 4, and pull them to release the hanging sheet products from the pinch at the distal WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 shelf 2 The Theet prodcts can then be ba or immediately used f or wiping . 10083] Referring to Fig. 6b, it can be seen that the hanging shoot 5 products define a tail 44 that extends beyond the support chute 4. This may result from the use of the roller 15in an intorfoldod sheet product arrangement. Referring to Fig. Ga, an initial position of the tail 44 can be seen before the roller 15 has boon operated to release the sheet product associated with the tail 44. 0 This tail 44 is not pinched at a distal margin between the romainder of the stack and the distal shelf 21, so that when the roller 15 is rotated, tho tall 44 hangs beyond the folded sheet products that are still susponded at the distal shelf 21. Imagining a user grasping on the hanging shoot products shown in Fig. Oh, this would pull out 5 a now tall of the front-most sheet product in the stack, thereby producing a suceeding shoot product arrangement as shown in Fig. 6a. This tail 44 is folded behind the hanging sheet products b a user when grasping them, thereby maing urthe use of the peihea cu-out 30of tho support- chut 44.t' 0 [00891 A number of alternatives or additions could be provided by the skilled person to the abov~e embodiment. [0090] In the above embodiments, the cross-section of the roller 5 15 Is generally circular, as shown in, for example, Figs . 4 and 71. Figs. 7a to 7h show yet further alternatives in which the cross section is different from that of exemplary roller 15. In these alternative embodiments, the profile of the roller includes fins, paddles or lobes. Between the fins, paddles or lobes are relatively 0 recessed parts of the profile that will slip, e.g., slide or not contact, with respect to the front face of the stack 10. The slip parts of the alternative roller designs allow a front-most sheet to be dispensed without disturbing a succeeding sheet, whereby the slip part of the roller is positioned in registration with the succeeding 5 shoot. It is only when the roller is farther rotated such that the next fin, paddle or lobe engages and grips tho succeeding sheet, that a succeeding sheet begins to be dispensed.

WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 [00911 An indexing system may be applied in association with non circular alternatives of the roller, to promote an intended starting position for a particular fin, paddle or lobe thereby ensuring that 5 the dispensing process selected by the user at the actuator 2 is properly implemented. The non-symmetrical configuration of the roller designs of Figs. 7a to 7h include a particular starting position for the roller in the dispensing process of engaging, gripping and moving a front-most sheet of the stack 10 into the o dispensing opening 41 as a result of a set amount of movement in the actuator 2. An oxompiarv indexing system 45 is shown in Fig. 8. [0092) In figure 8, a cam wheel 46 is mounted to, and rotates the central shaft 14 of the roller. The cam wheel 46 may be mounted on the other side of tho support structure 12 to the actuator 2. A cam follower 47 is urged by a torsion spring 49 onto an outer profile of the cam wheel 46. The outer profile of the cam wheel 46 includes recessed portions 48 that are registered with starting or finishing points, as defined by at least one fin, paddle .0 or lobe of the roller. n this way, if the dispensing cycle does not finish so as to eject a sheet product into the dispensing opening 41, the biasing force to which the cam follower 47 is subjected will tend to force or at least bias registration of the cam follower 47 arid the recessed portion 40 of the cam wheel 46. 25 Fot example, if a user does not complete an actuation stroke, the indexing system 45 i able to complete this actuation stroke to ensure that the required number of sheet products is dispensed and to also ensure that the desired starting point for the roller in the dispensing cycle is provided for the next use. 0093 herring to Fig. 9, an alternative embodiment is shown. modification, a catch chute 50 is provided that is located between foot of tho stand 5 and positioned so as to catch any sheet products that fall from the dispensing opening 41 and the support chute 4. The catch chute 50 provides a sloped surface as a downward slide for any sheet products that have fallen, and also includes tabs 53 to stop movement of the falen sheet products so as to hold WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 them supported on the slide surface. The catch chute 50 further comprises a recessed portion 51 that is generally centrally located and recessed relative to the slide surface of the catch chute 50 and which provides an opening at the tabs 53 to allow a user to grasp 5 the sheet products from both faces. [0094] Fig. 9 provides a further modification, which was mentioned as a possibility in the description above, of a further user i52, so tha a t , yet larger number of 0 products may be dispensed. ' Em im - is first, son and third user interface ledges 27, 28 and 52 for allowing a user to select between small, medium and large numbers of sheet products, wh may correspond to small, medium and large food es at, for example, a fast-food drive-through window. Each of the user 5 interface ledges 27, 28 and 52 defines different stroke lengths for the maveable actuator part 19, which correspond te different respective amounts of rotation of the roller 15. As an example, the first user interface ledge 27 could cause the roller 15 to rotate an amount sufficient to dispnse one fold of interfolded sheet 0 products, thereby providing two individual sheet products. Likewise, the second user interface ledge 28 could be associated with dispensing four individual sheet pirdcts and the tird user interface ledge 52 could dispense; six individual sheet products. 5 [00951 Referring to Jig. 10, an embodiment of the first and third aspects is shown, in wich the actuator is in the form of a geared rotation knob that meshes with a gear fixed to the central shaft 14 of the roller 15. In this alternative the actuator 0 transmits rotational Fovement imparted by a ser cause rotational movement of the roller 15. 0 Fig. 11 shows altetive e - wt there are provided three separate push buttons 61 62, 63 that are 5 moveable through the same actuation stroke, but respectively impart differing amounts of ro ion on therol 15 so as to cause different numbers of product nd.

WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 specific embodiment, each of the push buttons 61, 62, 63 is respectively associated with a rack gear that engages a compound gear 65. The compound gear 65 meshes with a gear 64 associated with the roller 15. The compound gear 65 has gear components of 5 different sizes respectively meshing with one of the rack gears associated with the push buttons 61, 62, 63. The compound gear 65 thus transmits different amounts of rotation to the gear 64 so as to impart a different amounts of rotation to the roller 15 depending upon which of the push buttons 61, 62, 63 is pressed. Further, in 0 the embodiment of Fig. 11, the push buttons 61, 62, 63 arc moved perpendicularly to : the stacking directi, rather than parallel to the stacking direction as with the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 9, to cause rotation of the roller 15, A yet further alternatvembodiment of the actuator is shown in Fig. 12. In Fig. 12, the actuator includes three different push buttons 66, 67, 68 that impart different amounts of rotation to the roller 15 using the same stroke length. n particular, a compound gear 69 is provided that has different gear size portions 0 that mesh with sector gears 70, 71, 72, respectively associated with the first to third push buttons 66, 67, 68. Like in the previous alternative embodiment of Fig. 11, the stroke length associated with each of the push buttons 66, 67, 68 is the same, while respectively dispensing different numbers of sheet products, which s enabled by 5 way of the compound gear 69 having differing gear size portions. In the alternative embodiment of Fig. 12, each of the push buttons 66, 67, 68 moves along an arc, rotating about a pivot 73, in order to effect the dispensing process. Thus, the various embodiments support linear motion along different axes, arc-like motion, and 0 rotational motion for the user actuation interface. [0098] Fig. 13 shows one exemplary moofication in which the actuator includes an adjustable stop /5 allowing the start and finish point of the actuation stroke to be adjusted in order to 5 calibrate the length of the actuation stroke to ensure the desired number of sheet products is dispensed. In particular, different sheet properties (such as calliper, embossing depth and/or WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 ata, ) of the shoot products may cause a slight vacation _ reatonhip between amuto-rtto f th or and the ume of sheet products dispensed. Accordingly, the actuator or the dispensing device maw include an adjuster in order to compensate for 5 changes in that relationship for differt typs of sheet product.. In the embodiment of Fig. 13, the stop -5 can be adjusted to shorten or increase the stroke length, thereby changing the amount of rotation of the dispensing roller for each of the user interface lnee 27, 28. 0 [00993 In another alternative embodiment, the actuator could be electronic. In particular, an electric motor could be provided to turn the dispensing roller. [Further, one or more actuation buttons could be utilized to dispense the desired number of sheet products. 5 In one particular form of the electronic implementation of the actuator, respective control buttons could be provided that cause the electric motor to rotate the dispensing roler by a different amount in order to respectively dispense different numbers of sheet products. 0 [00100] Referring to Pig. 4, the shelves 21, 22 are pr d as planar ledges, although alternative forms of the shelves are also contemplated. For pea rod or rods be used in place of the proximal shelf 22 and/or the distal shelf 21. Such a rod or 5 rods would still be shelf-like and support a margin of the front face of th stack, allowing thmto be dese red ahev. [001011 In another alternative embodiment, and with reference to figure 2, the roller 15 could be oriented in alignment with a short 0 side of the stack, rather thar with a long side of the stack, in such an embodiment, the shelves 21, 22 could also be arranged at opposed short sides of the stack for contacting margins of the short sides of the front of the stack, rather than the long sides as shown. 5 [00102] Embodiments described herein also contemplate an alternative dispensing process that obviates the user operating the actuator. Turning to figure 6(a), the user could simply grab the WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 tail 44 to dis pee rho f ront-mot sheer product. In one alterrative, tho user graspg te tal 44 could disponsor a frst number of sheot products (e.g., two) and the actuator may be configured to cause the dispensing member to dispense second and 5 third greater numbers of sheet products (e.g., -r and six, respectively). [001031 In another alternative embodiment, a dispenser includes more than one dispensing roller. Referring to figure 4, the 0 dispenser may include a plurality of dispensing rollers that engage the front face of the stack and which are moveable to dispense one or more sheet products. For example, the dispensing rollers could move in conjunction or separately. In one form, operation of the ctuator cold cau d r to in conjunction 5 to dispense one or more sheet products. In an alternative version, the actuator may operate on different dispensing rollers depending upon which user interface is activated. The different dispensing rollers may be configured, e.g., sized, to dispense different respect--v- nuribers of shee products. 0

Claims

1. Dispenser comprising a housing for a stack of sheet products, a dispensing opeolng, a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a selected number of sheet products through the dispensing opening, and an vacation mechanism for the dispensing mechan that is user operable to cause the dipensing mechanism to dispense first nuor of sheet products and that is user operable to cause the dispensing mechanism to dispense a second, greater, O number of sheet products, wherein the actuation mechanism includes different user interfaces for actuating the differing numbers of sheer products for dispeng. 5 2. A pser accodn to cli hI erein the cuto mechanism is user operable to cause the dispensing mechanism to dispel a third number, greater than the second number of sheet products. 0 3. A dipeser ac ong to claim 1 or 2, wherein -he dispensing mechanism includes a dispensing member that moves to segregate a differing number of sheet products from the ac depending upon operation of the actuaLi to the differing number of Theet products. 5

4. A dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the dispensing mechanism includes a dispensing member that turns relative to the stack and an amount of turning differs depending upon operation of the actuating mechanism to dispense the differing number of sheet 0 products.

5. A dispenser according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the dispensing member is a roller and an amount of rotation or number revolutions differs depending upon operation of the actuating 5 mechanism to dpense the differing number of sheet products, WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719

6. A dispenser according to claim 3, 4 or 5, hrei:n th dispensing member is arranged to engage a front face of the stack adjacent the dispensing opening to move the sheet product into the dispensing opening, preferably to slide a sheet of a sheet product 5 adjacent the dispensing opening against an underlying sheet in the stack to move the sheet product relative to the remainder of the

7. A dispenser according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein O the dispensing member is arranged to engage a sheet of a succeeding shoot product after dispensing a preceding sheet product so as to be a.be to move the succeeding sheet product into the dispensing opening, preferably by sliding against an underlying sheet in the stack. 5

8. A dispenser according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the dispensing member is able to engage a sheet of a succeeding sheer product in the stock once a sheer product adjacent the dispensing opening has been moved clear of the dispensing member, so 0 that both the adjacent sheet product and the succeeding sheet product are dispensable.

9. A dispenser according any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the dispensing member moves a first amount to dispense the first number 5 of sheet products and moves a second, greater, amount to dispense the second number of sheet products.

10. A dispenser according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein a certain amount of movement of the dispensing member is configured 0 to dispense one sheet product and an integer multiple of the certain amount dispenses that integer multiple of sheet products.

11. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the 5 actuation mechanism and the dispensing mechanism cooperate to dispense the number of sheet products depending upon the user interface operated. WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719

12. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a conversion mechanism for converting between types of motion so that the motion of a user interface part 5 of the actuation mechanism in one direction is changed to motion in another direction or in another sense in the dispensing mechanism.

13. A dispenser according to claim 12, wherein the conversion mechanism is for converting linear motion of an actuating part to 0 rotating motion of a dispensing member of the dispensing mechanism that is configured for engaging and moving one or more sheet products into the dispensing opening.

14. A dispenser according tO any preceding claim, wherein the 5 actuation mechanism comprises a gear mechanism providing transmission between a user interface part or parts of the actuation mechanism and a dispensing member of the dispending mechanism. 15A dispenser according to claims I w gear mechanism 0 is configured so that an actuation stroke of differing user interface parts causes a driving member of the dispensing mechanic to dispense the differing number ot sheet products.

16. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein there 5 is a relationship between the amount of movement of a dispensing member of the dispensing mechanism and an actuation stroke of a moving part of the actuation mechanism that varies depending upon sheet product properties, the dispenser comprising an adjustment means for the dispensing mechanism or the actuation mechanism to 0 compensate for any variation n the relationship to ensure the desired number of sheet products are dispensed.

17. A dispenser accorigtocam17, wherei -: the adustmen means changes the length of the actuation stroke. 5

18. A dispenser according to any precedng claim the actuation mechanism has a defined stroke length betwena stop WO 2014/154284 PCT/EP2013/056719 between a stationary part and a moveable part of the actuation mechanism and a finger stop.

19. A dispenser according to claim 18, wherein the stroke 5 length differs depending upen wich of the plurality of user actuation interfaces is pressed as a result of a differing length of path to the fi stop.

20.dispenser according o any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein Sa stroklength of the actuation mechanism differs depending upon which of the plurality of user actation intrfaces are -peat-ed by a user or wherein transmission of an actuation stroke differs depending upon whit of the plurality of user actuation interfaces are operated by a user, so that the differing number of sheet 5 product are dipensed.

21. A method of supplying a stack of sheet products for loading in the housing of the dispenser of any preceding claim. 0