CA1127602A - Multiple wound roll dispenser and cutter mechanism for use therein - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
A dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material, such as, paper towels, toilet tissue or the like has inwardly facing tracks on the opposite inner side walls of the dispenser housing to receive therein outwardly projecting spindles carried by wound rolls to be dispensed for the rolls to move in succession downwardly relative to the tracks with section of the lower end of each track slanting away from a feed roller mounted adjacent the lower end of the dispenser housing and each track having at such lower end section a pivotally mounted roll rotation driving guide biased toward the track center to form the lower side of each track section slanting away from the feed roller. A pressure roller is biased into rotating engagement with the feed roller for flexible sheet material to drivingly pass therebetween with the pressure roller having at least one resiliently deformable segment that is eccentric to the pressure roller axis to pick up the leading free end of sheet material on a full roll and lead it into the nip between the feed roller and pressure roller this pressure roller also has axially spaced conical resilient portions along the length thereof with the conical portions facing from the opposite ends of the pressure roll inwardly toward the mid-point of the pressure roll to promote spreading out the sheet material passing between the feed roller and the pressure roller. A serrated cutting knife is pivotally mounted within the feed roller to sever the sheet material, the serrations on the knife being spaced to accommodate therebetween the deformable eccentric segment and the conical portions on the pressure roller during initial projection of the knife from within the feed roller in severing the sheet material. The cutting knife swings about an axis laterally displaced from the plane of a radially outward portion of the knife and cam followers are carried by the ends of the knife extending beyond the ends of the feed roller with the followers displaced from the pivot mounting axis of the knife. Stationary cams are mounted adjacent the ends of the feed roller with which the cam followers on the knife edge engage to positively project the knife cutting edge beyond the feed roller periphery and retract the cutting edge upon rotation of the feed roller.

Description

1~276~Z

MULTIPLE ~YOUND ROLL DISPENSER AND CUTTER MEC~IANISM FOR
USE THEREIN

This invention relates to dispensers for wound rolls of flexible ~heet material ~nd particularly to dispensers for rolls of paper towels, tissue paper, and the like, wherein each roll has supporting spindles projecting outwardly from the ends of the core of the roll. More S specifically, the dispensers to w hich the instant invention relates, are concerned with dispensing a web of flexible sheet material from wound rolls wherein multiple rolls can be retained for dispensing from each roll in succession with precision in unwinding the material from each roll and assurance that the leading free end on the exterior of each 10 wound roll will feed into the dispensing mechanism with reliability so tinat the user ~Yill have accessibility to the sheet rnaterial exteriorly of the dispenser housing. Importantly, the invention also involves a mechanism adapted to be used within dispensers for cutting a web of flexible sheet material into individual lengths of the material ~umProus web dispensing constructions are known in the prior art and employed in commercisl use where a paper towel dispenser, for example, is mounted on a wall in Q location where towel availability is desired. Considering the large number of such dispensers employed in ntsny commercial installations such as factories, office buildings~
20 institutionsS etc., more and more attention has been devoted to considerstion of the substantial expense in time nnd labor required in replenishing thc exhaustcd wound rolls in such dispensers, particularly where a single roll is thc limit of cnpability to be housed within ench d~spenser unit.

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Accordingly, many structures have been developed to accommodate multiple rolls of wound shect material so that the individual dispenser need only be replenished ~lhen the entire ao~?le~nt of rolls within the dispenser has been exhausted, namely, where a first roll has been used 5 up and a reserve roll is available within the dispenser to move into the dispensing position and feed out the sheet material from such reserve roll. Obviously, this reduces the time and expense required in replenishing roUs in the multitude of dispensers in a commercial establishment so that the labor cost is correspondingly reducedO
Whereas the single roll dispenser can be easily loaded with a roll by an attendant and the free leading web end on the roll threaded in and through the dispensing mechanism to be available to a user externa~ly of the dispenser housing, the advent of dispensers accommodating multiple rolls gave rise to particular problems in providing a construction which 15 effectively enables the leading free web end on the exterior of a reserve roll to be piclced up by the dispensing mechanism in the dispenser and reliably fed out of the dispenser once an initial roll has been exhausted.
The problem is to assure that this pick up and feeding from the reserve roll is effectively and accurately carried out automatically in the absence 20 of an attendant having to return to the dispenser to start the leading free end of the reserve roll out through the feeding mechanism. Of course, this would defeat the purpose of multiple roll dispensers.
The prior - art has propo~sed numerous ideas, constructions and mechanisms to carry out this pick up of the leading free end on a 25 reserve roll. Each hopefully aims at getting automatic and accurate feeding of the end of the new roll into the feeding mechanism so that the multiple roll dispenser can continue operating and supply its web of sheet material to the prospective users of the dispenser. Whereas attempts in development of multiple roll dispensers have sought to 30 achieve the ultimate, there have been numerous defects and failings in achieving assurance that the web of paper on the reserve roll is properly picked up, properly fed to the dispensing mechanism and properly available to the prospective users exteriorally of the dispenser housing.
- These problems call for structures that are simple and yet effective 35 if the dispenser is to be readily understood and adaptable to easy loadir.g 76~Z

by attendants who could become confused with structures involving complicated dispensing mechanisms where threading of even the lead end of the initial wound roll may be overly complicated. With complex dispensers, proper loading and assurance that the lead end on a reserve 5 roll will be picked up may be beyond the comprehension of attendants who are assigned the task of loading numerous multiple roll dispensers in commercial establishments that employ a great number or even small number of multiple roll dispensers.
In the prior art perforating or severing mechanisms used in towel 10 dispensers have included a rotatably mounted knif e and a cooperating rotatably mounted roller having a slot therein for receiving the radially outward portion of the knife ~s the knife rotates past the roller. The { web of flexible sheet material is passed between the roller and the knife to be perforated or severed when the radially outward knife portion 15 enters the slot in the roller.
Such perforating or severing mechanisms are satisfactory for perforating or severing relatively unstretchable flexible sheet materials such as uncreped paper toweling. Howe-~er, with the increased use of relatively stretchable flexible sheet materials, such as embossed or creped 20 paper toweling, the prior art perforating and severing mechanisms have proved unsatisfactory because the web of sheet material tends to stretch about the cutting edge of the knif e instead of being perforated or severed thereby. Althoughprecisi~rotary shears are also known which could be employed for obviating this problem, such shears are much too

2 5 expensive to be used in flexible sheet material dispensers designed for installation to be used in both commercial and private washrooms.
The wound roll dispenser of the present invention is particularly adaptable for multiple rolls held within the dispenser housing on supporting spindles projecting outwardly from both roll core ends. Inwardly facing 30 tracks on the opposite inner side walls of the dispenser housing receive the outwardly projecting spindles fixedly held in a roll core, either in the form of core end caps or a mandrel, specifically constructed to promote rotation of the rolls as they move downwardly within the tracks.
The lowermost roll engages and is driven by a rotatably mounted feed 35 roller dQposed Qdjacent the bottom ends of the t Qoks.

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Adoitionally~ as nrl import~nt pnrt of the invention, n pressure roller, rotAtnbly mounted in thc clispenser housirg, is nssociated in driven relation with the feed roller. This pressure roller is formed with eccentrically disp~-sed axially spnced resilient segments that serve, upon 5 rotation of the prc~ssure roller, to pick Up the leading free end of sheet material on the exterior of a full roll and feed it into the nip between the feed roller and pressure roller, thereby assuring that the web material from a roll in the bottoin position of the tracks resting on the feed roller is fed between the rollers and thence out of the dispenser for 10 access by a user. The pressure roller also is provided with axially spaced cylindrical resilient conical portions that press against the feed roller as the sheet material passes between the nip of the rollers.
The above referred to inwardly facing tracks, within which the spindles extending from the roll core ends are supported, have a lower 15 end section of each track slanting away fro n the longitudinal axis of the main length oî the track ~nd generally slanting toward a position tangent to the perimeter of the feed roller. This lower end section of each track is provided with a pivotally supported guide that is biased inwardly toward the center line of the track~ this guide being disposed 20 on the lower side of the sl~nting track section. The biased guides promote rotation of the wound roll passing down the tracks by pressing ~gainst the periphery of the spindles at opposite ends of the rollO This action rotates the roll during its downward moYement within the tracks.
The lower end section of each track need not necessarily be slanted as 25 above r.lentioned but should have the inwardly biased guide disposed on the side of the track disposed in the direction that the sheet material will be drawn off of the roll when it is engaging the feed roller and pressure roller while being drawn out of the dispenser.
As for the above mentioned pressure roller, the resiliently 30 deformable segments on the pressure roller project eccentricnlly outwardly throughout R part of the periphery of the pressure rollcr and are positioned so that n full roll at the bottom of the dispenser tracks will not only engage the feed roller but also engage the pressure roller. A
the pressure roller rotates with the feed roller the deformnble eccentric 35 segments will move against the lending free end of sheet materinl on '76~

the roll cau ;ing it to buckle downwardly into the nip betwecn the two rollers. ~Iso, thc axially spnced resilient cylinclrical portions on the feed roller promote driving of the two rollers by each other as the sheet material is drawn between the nip. These resilient portions 5 preferably are conical in configuration with each conical portion facing inwardly toward the mid-point of the pressure roller so as to promote spreadinOv out of the sheet material along the width of the nip between the rollers. The disper~ser of the invention embodying the above described features also preferably is provided with a mechanism for stopping 10 rotation of the feed roller and pressure roller and thus arresting moYement of the sheet material so that an individual sheet of material which has been severed from the web of material unwound from the roll has its free end immediately accessible to a user.
Also, a ca m ac luated knif e pivotally mounted within the feed 15 roller is projected through an elongated opening in the feed roller wall as the feed roller is rotated with the sheet material overlying its surface. The cam action is constructed to positively project and retract the knif e relative to the opening in the feed roller and the activating cams are stationarily mounted such that the knife, which has serrations ~0 therealong, initially projects outwardly imrnediately before the web of material reaches the nip of the feed roller and pressure rollerO There serrations are spaced to enter between the eccentric segments and conical resilient portions carried by the pressure roller to start perforation o the web adjacent the nip of the rollers.
Further, the invention provides a cutting mechanism comprising a chassis and a rotatably mounted feed roller on the chassis over which the web of material passes. A knife is pivotally mounted in the feed roller, to swing about an axis which is laterally displaced from the plane of the knife, radially outwardly with a portion of the knife defining a 30 cutting edge for the web. This edge is projected outwardly through an opening in the feed roller beyond the periphery of the feed roller to cut the web flS it passes over the feed roller. The knife carries cam followers displaced frnm the pivot mounting axis of the knife and stationary cams are mounted adjacent the ends of the fced roUer with 35 which the cam followers on the knife engage to positively project and 1~276~2 retract the knife cutting edge ~on rotation of the feed roller.
With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of an aspect of the present invention to provide a flexible sheet material dispenser having imprnved mnunting for wou~ld rolls carried within the dispenser to assure rotation of the rolls in promoting the dispensing action.
An object of an aspect of the invention is to provide for inter-engaging feed and pressure rollers with the pressure roller especially configured to promDte pick up of a leading end of sheet material on the exterior of a full wound roll.
An object of an aspect of the invention is to provide a pressure roll in accordance with the above object wherein resilient means are carried spaoed along the length of the roll to promote, incident r~ta-tion of the pressure roller, spreading out of the sheet material across the width of the nip between a feed roller and pressure roller.
An object of an aspect of the invention is to provide a dispen-ser having opposite inwardly facing tracks to receive the spindles of rolls to be dispensed from the dispenser where a lower end section of each track carries a guide means which is biased inwardly toward the oenter of the track to offer a friction surface along which the peri-phery of a nnll spindle within the track will engage to prom~te roll rotatian.
It is also an object of an aspect of the instant invention, in ~ccordance with the above object, to employ a slanting lower end section of each track which slants away from the axis of a feed roller 25 with the biased guide means of each track being located on the lower side of each slanting track section.
An object of an aspect of the invention is to provide a dis-penser in acoordance with the above abjects wherein one roll spindle has a peripheral groove spaoe d inwardly from the outernost end of the 30 spindle and one track has flange means through which the groove passes when the spindle is lowered into the dispenser tracks such ~hat proper loading directian-wise for the r~ll within the dispenser is assured.
An object of an aspect of the invention is to provide a flex-~ble sheet material dispenser having a mechanism for effectively cut-ting a web of flexible sheet material being rem~ved from a rDll with-n t~e dispenser.
An object of an aspect of t~e invention is to provide a ilZ7~'~2 -7~
~echanism including a knife within a feed roller where the knife is pro-jected outwardly beyond the periphery of the feed roller to cut the web as it passes over the feed roller.
Further to the above two objects, the cutting knife is pivotally mDunted within a feed roller and stationary cams external of the feed r~ller operate to positively project and retract the cutting knife inci-dent rotation of the feed roller, as a further object of an aspect of the invention.
It is an object of an aspect of the invention to provide a flex-ble sheet ~aterial dispenser having a web cutting mechanism which dis-penser is oompact, rugged and economical to manufacture and that is ideally suited for both co~ rcial and private installations.
In accordance with one aspect of this invention there is provided a dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material comprising; a dispes er housing to receive the rolls to be dispensed having meas for supporting a roll therein in a position for sheet material dispe s ing, a feed roller rotatably m~unted within said dispenser housing, a pres-sure roller rotatably engaging said feed roller for the sheet material to pass between the nip of said rollers, and means for leading sheet material leaving said nip out of said dispenser housing to a user;
characterized by said pressure roller having resiliently deformable means disposed eccentric to the axis of said pressure roller to pick up the leading free end of sheet material on the outer surface of a roll engaging said pressure roller to car~y this free end into said nip.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention there is pro-vided a dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material comprising;
a housing, means mounted within said housing for rotatably supporting a roll therein, a feed roller rotatably mounted within said housing, a pressure roller rotatably mounted within said housing and engaging said feed roller, said feed and pressure rollers defining a nip therebetween through which the sheet material passes, a knife operably mounted within said feed roller and having an outer cutting edge for severing the sheet material as the material passes in proximity to said nip, said feed roller having an opening therein for the projection of said cutting edge therethrough, and operating means associated with said knife for projecting said cutting edge outwardly of said feed roller through said spening and severing the sheet material; characterized by said pressure roller having resiliently deformable means disposed -7.~

eccentric to the ;~is of said pressure roller to pick up the leading free end of sheet material on the outer surface of a roll engaging said pressure roller to carry this free end into said nip and by said pressure roller including a plurality of axially spaced elements rotatably engaging said feed roller, said operating means projecting said cutting edge outwardly of said feed roller through said opening in timed relationship to the rotation of said feed and pressure rollers so that a cylinder of revolution defined by said cutting edge about the rotational axis of said feed roller when the cutting edge is fully projected outwardly of said feed roller through said opening intersects a cylinder of revolution defined by said pressure roller elements about the rotational axis of said pressure roller, and the shape of said cutting edge being related to the shape and axial positions of said pressure roller elements to preclude said edge from.contacting said lS elements during rotation of said feed and pressure rollers.
In accordan oe with another aspect of this invention there is provided a dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material com-prising; a housing, means m~unted within said housing for rotat~bly supporting a roll therein, a feed roller rotatably m~unted within said housing, and a pressure roller rotatably mounted within said housing and engaging said feed roller, said feed and pressure rollers defining a nip therebetween through which the sheet ma erial passes; character-ized by said pressure roller including means for picking up the lead-ing free end of the sheet material on the outer surfaoe of a full roll engaging said pressure roller to car~y said free end into said nip.
The foregoing and other objects of the invention will beco~e apparent upon consideration of the detailed description of a preferred enbcdim~nt of the invention given in connection with the following des-cribed drawings which form a part of this invention.
Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the wound roll dispenser for flexible sheet material of this invention with the front cover broken away to expose conponents within the interior of the dispenser housing.
Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a view, partly in section, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a roll mounting . ~.

' 1~2~7~;~2 --7b ~pLndie relati~ to one of the inwardly facing tracks which are located on ~he opposite inner side walls of the dispenser housing.
Figure 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1 with the cover side wall of the dispenser housing rem~ved to expose the mechanism for S =eeding flexible sheet material.
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the dispenser mechanism in a position where web material dispensing is in progress.
Figure 7 is a sectional view through the front cover, back and bottom of the dispenser housing shcwing positions of wound rolls rela-tive to a feed roller, cam activated cutting knife and pressure rollerdisposed within the housing.
Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the feed roller, pressure r~ller, material cutting knife and one stationary cam for actuating the ," ~

1~'7 knife from within thc feed rollcr.
Figure 9 is an end view, with portions shown in phantom, illustrating the action of cammillg the material cutting knife from within the feed roller sllo~vn in Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a partial end view showing the relationship of the feed roller and pressure roller to a full wound roll of material as the pressure roller approaches picking up the leading free web end of a full roll.
Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 but showing the pressure roller buckling the free end of the web material on a full roll to be fed betwecn the nip of the feed roller and the pre~sure ro11er.
Figure 12 is a view also similar to the showing in Figure 10 showing the lead end of the full roll being fed downwardly between the nip of the feed and pressure rollers.
Figure 13 is a perspective view showing a resiliently deformable segment which is eccentric to the pressure roll axis to pick up the leading edge of sheet material on a full roll.
Figure 14 is a perspective view o an alternative embodiment for a resiliently deformable eccentric segment to that shown in Figure 13.
Figure 15 is a sectional view of the front portion of the dispenser showing the cutting mechanism within the chassis in relation to a roll of flexible sheet material.
Figure 16 is a sectional view taken on line 16-16 of Figure lSo Figure 17 is an elevational view taken on line 17-1. of Figure 16.
Figure 18 is a perspective view of the cutting knife thnt is mounted in the feed roller shown in Figures 15 and 16.
Figure 19 is a view partly in section showing the over-center means for driving the feed roller through a portion of each rotation, and Figure 20 is an elevational view showing the over-center means and anti-reversing pawl engaging notches spaced nround the periphery of the feed wheel.
The complete wound roll dispenser is shown in Figure 1 ss a multiple roll dispcnser provided with ~ housing 10 mflde up of a cover 12, the lower portion being removed to e~;pose thc inner workings of :~iZ'7f~
_ 9 _ the dispcnscr, a chnssis 14 which provides inner sidc wDlls lfi and 18 ~nd a back wall 20. A bottom wnll 22 is ulso providcd by chassis 14 as part of thc dispenser housingr 10, as best scen in Figure 7. f~n elongated opening 24 ncross a major portion of the width of the dispenser housing S is provided at the forward end of the bottom wall 22 of cllassis 14 to provide means for leading thc dispensed sheet material to access to a user.
In the embodiment shown, each of the opposite inner side walls 16 and 18 is provided with a vertical track 26, these being shown in 10 section on Figure 2 and one track, sllown in perspective on Figure 4, as carried by side wall 18. Side wall tracks 26 face inwardly to receive therein the spindles projecting outwardly from the core C of wound roll R of flexible sheet material.
A forward portion 28 of the back wall of each track 26 is inclined 15 inwardly toward the interior of the dispenser housing lO. These inwardly inclined portions 2S of the tracks 26 engage the ends of the spindle extending outwardly from the ends of the core C of roll R adjacent the forward periphery of each spindle end as seen in Figure 2. Thus~
as a roll R moves down within tracks 26, engagement of the forward ~O end portions of tlle spindles by inclined portions 28 tends to rotate the roll R in the direction that the sheet material will eventually be unwound from the roll. However, in a cabinet where multiple ro~ls are positioned within the tracks the presence of the lowermost roll while being dispensed frorn the dispenser with the reserve roll resting thereon will prevent 25 the rotation of an upper reserve roll from unwinding its sheet material prior to the lowermost roll being substantially exhausted and moving into discard pocket P for spent roll cores. Then the reserve roll moves down into position to have the free leading end of its web of sheet material fed outwardly from the dispenser to the user.
In the embodiment illustrated, as bcst shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the core C of roll R carries a mandrel 30 frictionally held within the core CO Mandrel 30 h~s a nange 32 at one cnd thereof and fins 34 extending outwardly from the cylindrical surfncc of mandrel 30 These fins 34 mate with slots formed extending outwnrdly through the 35 roll core C into the wound sheet materinl to kcy thc mandrcl 30 and .6Q;~

roll R positively toL~ethcr. A Inrge cylindric~l spindle 36 is provided extendin~ ou~wQrdly from core C on mnndrel 30 at onc end of thc mandrel whilc thc ol~ositc cnd of the mandrel hns a spindle 38. Spindle 38 is formed with n pcriphersl groove lO inwnrdly of its outermost end.
5 One channel 26 has flanges 42 extending along both inner edges thereof at the upper end of this chnnnel. Flanges 42 overlie a portion of this track 26 with the flanges extending into the groove 40 of spindle 38 when the roll ~ is being loaded into the dispenser. The advantage of having groove 40 to permit spindle 38 to enter the channel passing through the track having flsnges 42 is that proper loading of the roll within th~ dispenser is assured so that only one mandrel end, namely, the proper end of the roll, passes downwardly into this track 26. Spindle 36 without a groove 40, at the opposite end of the roll would not be able to enter the track 26 having flanges 42 and thus the roll must be inserted in loading the dispenser with spindle 38 only in the track 26 carried by wall 16. The keying by means of fins 34 in the s!ots formed in core C and roll R is important in operation of the dispenser so that the track driving action to rotate the roll is positively transmitted to the roll for dispensing in the manner as will be described.
The lower end section of each track 26 slants away from the longitudinal axis of the main length of the track as shown in Figures

3 and 4. These lower end sections of the two tracks are slanted rearwardly within the dispenser housing 10 and slant away from the axis of the feed roller described below such that the slanting section of each track lies on a line that is generally tangent to the periphery of the feed roller.
Each slanting section of a track 26 is formed by a stationary upper wall 44 and a pivotally mounted driving guide 46 pivotally mounted nt 48 to the lower end of the track. Each driving guide 46 provides a friction surface 50 forming the lower track wall of the slanting section guide 46, as a whole, slanting away from the msin track length. The upper end of friction surface 50 on each guide 46 hns a projection 52 with an inclined cam area 54 extending thereabove. Each guide 46 is biased inwardly toward the center of the track 26 by a spring 56 mounted on a suitable stationary stud 58. One end of spring 56 presses 13 ~7~2 agair~;t fl stationary wall of the pnrt forming track 2fi while thc other end of spring 56 engnges in nnd presses ~gAin~;t thc outer wall of guide 46 and is held in n re~ainer 60 on guide 46. The bottom end wall 45 below stationary ~vall 44 is inclined rearwardly at n steeper angle. This 5 wall 45 allows the spindle to pass between the feed roUer and waU 45 into discard pocket P at the rear of the dispenser housing once the roll is substantially exhausted of sheet material, as will bc described in more detail hereinaftcr.
- The driving guide 46 is normally biased by spring 56 to pivot 10 about pivot point 48 such that the guide is moved inwardly toward the center of the track 26. In this position, the inclined cam area 54 is disposed such that as the spindle moves down within track 26 it will engage this cam area, camming the driving guide 46 forwardly and allowing the spindle to move over projection 52 and into the space 15 between friction surface 50 and stationary upper wall ~4. In this position tlle spindle rides against the friction surface 50 so that it is encouraged to rotate in a direction to unwind the sheet material from the roll.
To promote this rotation of the roll under the action of the perimeter of a spindle riding down along friction surface 50, the surface may be 20 provided with a coating providing a higher co-efficient of friction to more positively drive a roll spindle and roll carried thereby.
Alternatively, a material haYing a high co-efficient of friction may be used in making the driving guide 46 to provide n higher co-efficient of friction for the surface 50.
The pivotally mounted driving guide 46 associated with each track 26 is preferably and advantageously pivoted on the side of the track which is in the direction toward which the web of sheet material will be drawn off of the roll incident dispensing rotation of the feed roller mounted adjacent the lower ends of tracks 26. ~'here the lower sections 30 of the tracks are slnnted, as illustrated and described in the preferred embodiment, the inclined friction surf~ce 50, forming the lower side of the slanted track section, in nnd of itself, promotes the perimeter of the spindles to press ~Irmly against this surface 50 and rotate. The pressure of the spindles agninst the stationary slanted wnll 44, which is 35 the upper wall of the slnnted trnck section is lesscned in such 76~Z

construction.
Thc force of pulling thc web of sheet material off of a roll in the dispcnsing opcrntion adds a further force drfl~ing tl)e spindles which carry the roll ~Irmly ~gainst the inclined surface 50. Thus this force S further also drivcs thc roll and its spindles in moving down the inclined slanted friction surface 50 to promote rotntion of the roll. Again, withdrawal of sheet ma~erial from the roll incident dispensing, while pressing the spindles more fiFmly against the surface of driving guides 46, lightens or even frees engagement of the spindle perimeter from 10 the stationary wall 44.
E Yen where the track is straight throughout its length, without a - slanted lower section, the action of a spring biased driving guide pivotally mounted in the track lower section adjacent the upper end of the feed roller is advantageous. By reason of its locating such guide on the side 15 of the track 26 which is in the direction in which the web of sheet material is to be withdrawn from the roll the web withdrawing force presses the spindle against the pivotally mounted biased drivir.g guide at the lower section of the track. This lessens or releaves the force against the opposite wall of the track which is stationary. Again, the 2û urging toward rotation of the spindles and the roll carried thereby in the direction in which the web is to be unwound from the roll during dispensing contributes to effective and easy dispensin~ of sheet material - from the roL
A feed roller 62 is rotatably mounted within the dispenser housing 25 10 adjacent the lower end thereof for a roll to engage ~nd be driven by the feed roller in dispensing sheet material from the roll. As shown, roller 62 is mounted generally beneath the main length of tracks 26 and is made up of several axially spaced cylindrical sections including a center section 64 and two end sections 66, the lfltter having their 30 outer ends closed by end caps 67. Each of the fecd roller sections has a cavity therein to provide an interior space within flnd along the length of the feed roller 62 which accommodutes a serr~ted cutting knife 68. Feed rollcr sections 6~ and 66 are slotted to provide an elongated external opening 7Q on thc periphery of the feed roller 62.
35 Shaft ends 72 proJect from the opposite end caps 67 of feed rollcr 62 76~Z

to rotatably support the feed roller by each shaft end 72 engaging in a bore 74 provided in a stationarily mounted cam block 76. It is to be understood that a cam bloclc 76 is stationarily mounted at each end of the feed roller 62, these cam blocks being affixed to and facing 5 inwardly from the opposite inner side walls 16 and 18 of chassis 14 which form a part of the dispenser housing lO.
The cam block 76 provides a plate cam therein consisting of a cam pocket 78, opening, in the case of each cam block 76, toward the end of feed ro31er 62 with which it is associated. This pocket 78 has 1 0 a partly-cylindrical portion with its center of curvature corresponding with the axis of bore 74 that receives shaft end ~2 and also has an - outwardly curved portion extending away from the axis of the feed roller 62. This latter portion is joined at its ends with the ends of the par~cylindrical portion to form pocket 78 into an endless cam l 5 configurationO
The serrated cutting knife 68 is carried on a member 79 located within the interior space in feed roller 62, such member having cylindrical studs 80, one at each end of knife 68 and member 79, providing a pivot axis which is displaced from the plane of the cutting knife 68. The 20 stubs 80 are engaged in apertures provided in the opposite end caps 67 of the feed roller 62. The knife lso has at each end thereof, disposed in the plane of the cutting knife 68 a cam foUower 82, one such cam follower extending through an opening in each end cap 67 of the feed roller 62. The cam follower at each end of roller 62 fits into the 25 pocket ~8 of a stationary cam block 76 and thus is propelled to control extension and retraction of the cutting knife 68 out of and back into the feed roller 62 as the roller rotates in dispensing sheet material from a wound roL Incident this rotation of rol1er 62, knife 68 projects outwardly, piercing the web of sheet material and severing it for removal 30 of a length of the material from the dispenser through opening 24.
More detailed description of the action of the stationary cam block 76 in controlling~ through cam followers 82, the projection and ~etraction of knife 68 will be given by referring to Figures 15-20. It should be mentioned at this point that the disposition of the cam pocket 35 78 and the stationary cam block 76 at each end of feed roller 64 is, l~Z7~Z

in the instmlt invention, disposed to obtain a preferred action relative to other components of the structure which will now be described.
For ease in description of the specific structure illustrated in Figures 15-20 the reference numerals have been given from a 100 or 5 100' series.
Referring to Pigure 15 the dispenser 110' has a chassis 112', only a part of which is shown in Figure 15. The chassis has an opening 114' at its lower forward end through which the web W of flexible sheet material, such as paper toweling, passes to be available to the user.
10 The web W is taken from a roll R mounted in the dispenser on a suitaMe supporting shaft 116'. The web W as withdrawn from roll R
passes over a rotatably mounted feed roller 118~ and then down and out through opening 114'. A pinch roller 120' mounted on a shaft 122' is ~; ~spring biased into engagement with the exterior of feed roller 118' with 15 the web W of flexible sheet material passing between the pinch ro~ler and the feed roller.
The feed roller 118' is rotatably mounted within the chassis 112' of the dispenser on stub shaft 124 and 126 with stub shaft 126 carrying at its outer end a feed wheel 128. The feed wheel is secured to rotate 20 with the feed roller and function in a manner to be described in the dispersing and eutting of a length of web W removed from the roll R.
The feed roller ~18' has pivotally mounted there within a knife 130, the structure of the knife being shown in Figure 18. The knife is mounted to swing about an axis which is laterally displaced from the ( 25plane of the cutting edge 134 of the knife. The feed roller 118' has an opening 132 formed in the periphery of the feed roller so that the cutting edge 134 of the knif e can be projected beyond the exterior of the feed roller 118' and retracted back into the feed roller. Broken line L on Figure 15 shows the path of the projection of this cutting 30edge 134 beyond the periphery of feed roller 118' as the roller rotates so that the web is effectively severed to enable removal of the flexible sheet material by the user.
Referring to the structure of knife 130 as best seen in Figure 18, the pivotal mounting is provided by stubs 136, one being disposed on 35 each end of the knife 130 providing a pivot axis which is displaced from , the plane of knifc cutting edge 134. The knife also has at each end, disposed in the plane of the knife cutting edge, cam followers 138.
The pivot stubs 136 are mounted in the end walls 140 of the feed roller 118' to support the knife 130 so as to be swingable about an axis 5 which is laterally displaced from the plane of the knife cutting edge 134. The control of movement of the knife to project from opening 132 and be retracted back into the feed roller 118' is achieved by the cam followers 138 engaging i;l stationary plate cams 142, one such cam being mounted within the chassis 112' adjacent each end of feed roller 1 0 118'.
The configuration of each plate cam 142 is shown in Figure 17.
It has a pocket 144 of substantially uniform width throughout its length to receive one cam follower 138. In each case the pocket 144 opens toward the end of the feed roller 118' as shown in Figure 16. The 15 pocket 144 in each plate cam 142 has a~ cylindrical portion 146 with its center of curvature corresponding with the axis of the feed roller 118' provided by the stub shafts 124 and 126. The pocket 144 also has an outwardly curved portion i48 extending away from the axis of the feed roller 118'. This latter portion is joined at its ends with the ends 20 of the Earay-cylindrical portion 146 to form pocket 144 into an endless cam configuration to actuate one cam follower 138 upon rotation of feed - roller ~18'.
On ~igure lS broken line circle C shows the path of movement of the mounting stubs 136 of knife 130 as the feed roller ~18' rotates.
25 This figure also illustrates four successive positions for the axis of stubs 136 and movement of cam fo~lowers 138 within the pockets 144 of plate cams 142. As previously mentioned, the broken line L on Figure 15 shows the pattern of movement of the cutting edge 134 of knife 13~
caused by the cam followers 138 being guided within the pockets 144 of 30 the plate cams 142. From thi~s path of movement it will be seen that the cutting edge 134 starts to project beyond the periphery of feed roller 118' immediately beyond the point of engagement of pinch roller 120' with feed roller 118'.
Referring to Figures 19 and 20, the feed wheel 128 is shown 35 mounted on the outer end of stub shaft 126. The feed wheel is provided 7~;~Z

with notches 150 spaced around its perimeter and anti-reversing pawl 152 is mounted on the chassis ~12' to be freely pivotal into engagement with notches 150 to prevent reverse rotation of the feed wheel 128 and likewise feed roller ~18'.
The feed roller 118' is driven through a portion of each rotation by an over-center means including a spring 156 connected to the chassis 112' by fastener 158 and to the feed wheel 128 by screw 160, such screw 160 being off-center from the rotation axis of feed wheel 128 and feed roller 118'. It will be readily understood that during rotation of feed wheel 128 and feed roller 118' in the direction of arrow A on Figure 20, the spring 156 is initially tensioned as it approaches the position of link 15~ shown on Figure 20. When the screw 160 passes beyond alignment of link 162 with stub shaft 126 the over-center means is energized to its maximum, therefore, the spring uses its stored energy to assist further rotation of the feed wheel 128 and feed roller 118' to activate the knife so that the web is severed and additional flexible sheet material is fed into position for the next use of the dispenser.
It will be noted that the center section 64 of feed roller 62 is spaced at each of its ends from the inner ends of the two end sections 20 66 of such roller. These spaces, as shown more clearly on Figures 1 and 8, are provided for a purpose which will be made clear hereinafter.
Concerning the cylindrical sections 64 and 66, making up the feed roller 62, these sections may all have the peripheral surfaces thereof provided with a high friction surfacing material up to the outer ringed 25 ends and end plates 67 of the end sections 66, as shown in Figures 1 and 8. For good driving characteristics in moving the wound roll within the dispenser and feeding the sheet material off of the roll to the dispenser outlet opening 24 j the center section 64 may have a rubber surface. The exterior cylindri~al surfaces of all feed ro~ler sections 30 may be made of rubber for good feeding characteristics of the sheet material.
In the instant invention, the cam pockets 78 in the stationary cam blocks ~6, one at each end of the feed roller 62, preferably have their configuration disposed such that the action on cam followers 82 35 which drive the knife out ~nd retraet it ù~ck within the roller 1i2 ~' ,, ~Z'7~

function to projcct thc knifc 68 in thc pattcrn of movcmcnts shown on Fi~ure 7. 'I`llus, in the i~stunt invcntion, thc knifc 68 as it is initially cnmmed out tllro~h thc opening 70 commences nt a point immediately before the nip of fccd roller 62 formeà in conjunction with a pressure 5 roller 84~ As rotntion of feed rollcr 62 procecds relative to the stntionary cflm pockets 78 in cam blocks 76, thc serrated knife edge projects further and further out of thc interior space within roller 62 to progress throogh the several projected stages as shown in phantom lines 011 Figure 7, While the knife is quickly projected out through the 10 opening 70 of roller 62 to effectively sever the web ~1 of sheet material the knife is also rapidly withdrawn or retracted back into the roller 62 as it moves through the positions under the control of the configuration o~ cam pockets 73 witllin which the cam follo~vers 82 foIlow.
The construction of the pressure roller 84 may best be seen in 15 the perspective view of Figure 8. Roller 84 is rotatnbly mounted in bearing blocks 86, one such bearing block receiving an end of roller 8~
at each of the roller ends. Each bearing block 86 is slideably mounted in n slot (not shown) provided in the side wa~ls 16 and 18 of the chassis 14 forming a part of the dispenser housing 10. The slots in the side 20 walls 16 and 18 are oriented generally radially relative to the rotation axis of feed roller 62, such that the pressure roller 84 may move toward and auray from the axis of roller 62 provided by the ends of shaft 72 mounting such feed roller. The pressure roller 84 is spring biased toward the cylindrical surface of îeed roller 62 by the bearing bloclcs 86 at 25 each end of roller 84 being engaged by springs 88, one at each of the pressure rollers 841 as shown in Figure 8. One end of each spring 88 presses against a bearing block 86 to urge it and pressure roller 84 carried thcreby towflrd the surface of feed roller 62. The opposite end of each spring 88 engages a stationary abutment 90, one carried by 30 each of walls 16 and 18 while the mid-portion of each spring 88 is suitably supported on a stud 92, also carried by each wall 16 and 18 ~see Figures 5 and 6).
Secured to pressure roller 8~ are n pair of spaced resiliently ~eformable se~ments 94. Each scgmcnt is ecccntric and resiliently 35 dcforrnable relative to the roller 84 axis. In thc cmbodiment illustrated ;0;~

in ~ rc~s 8 nnd 13t thc rcsilient scgrnent is formcd hy n plurality of rndiE~tin.~ rcsilient fin~crs 9f,. It will be sccn that thcse elements, rotating with pressulc rvller 84, movc with such roller so that the outwflrdly projectin~r resilicllt scgments 94, which nre cccentric with thc 5 axis of rolter 84, rmny pass within the spaces provided between each end of section 64 and end sections 66 of the feed roller fi2.
Whereas in Figures 7, 8 and 10-13 thc resiliently deformable segment 94 have been shown formed by the radiating resilient fingers 96, another embodiment which may be employed is shown in Figure 14.
10 In this embodimcnt the resiliently deformable segment is formed by an outwardly projecting arcuate waU 98 which is bowed outwardly from the portion of the element secured to pressure roller 84 to form the eccentric resilient deformable segment. This arcuate wall 98 provides a surface to engage and pick up the leading free end of sheet material upon the 15 exterior of an outer roll surface in the same manner as the resilient generally radiating fingers 98 function for the embodiment shown in Figure 13. This will be described in more detail with reference to the action shown being carried out in Figures 10, 11 and 12. As further shown on Fig~lre 1~1, the outwardly projecting arcuate wall 98 may be 20 reinforced by providing radial webs 100 extending outwardly from the axis of pressure roller 84 to the underside of arcuate wall 98.
It will be understood that the embodiments shown in Figure 13 and 14 may be appropriately made of any rubber like material which not only will give the desired frictional characteristics for the function 25 of the eccentric segments in picking up the leading free end of sheet material from the exterior of a roll, but also this will give the desired resiliency and deformability for effective action in use of the dispenser in feeding sheet material from a wound roll.
The pressure roller 84 also has axially spaced therealong, resilient 30 conical portions 102. Each conical portion 102 on roller 84 provides a cylindrical perimeter which presses against the feed roller 62 surface to define a nip between these two rollers. As seen from Figure 8, the two center conical portions 102 ride against the center section 64 of the feed roller while the conicnl sections outwardly of the cccentric 35 segmcnts 94 ride on the end sections 66 of feed rollcr G2. An importnnt il2~ Z

feRture of the locntiorl and posi~ionitlF of thc conicnl portions 102 rotE~tir with prcssure roller a~ is thnt cflch conicul portion faces inwnrdly towflrd thc mid-point of pres~sllre roller 8~. This pcrforms u pnrticular function in ncting to spread out the sheet mllterinl along the length of the nip 5 bctwec1l feed rollcr G2 and pressure roller ~4. Under the nction of springs 88 at each cnd of pres~sure roller 84 the conical portions 102 tend to be deflected at the nip bctween the rollers so that ~he cylindrical perimeter is bent some-vhdt laterally nway from the mid point of roller 84. By reason of thc conical portions facing inwardly toward the mid-10 point of pressure roller 84 this de~lection of the cylindrical perimetersof the portions 102 moves the perimeters axiaUy outwardly which acts on the sheet material passing between the nip of the rollers to spread it outwardly toward the ends of pressure roller 84 thus encouraging the sheet material to pass between feed roller 62 and pressure roller 84 in 15 a fully sprend out, taut position.
Betore considering othcr structures employed in effectively leading the sheet material leaving the feed roller out of the dispenser housing to be accessable to a user, discussion may be provided concerning the function of the eccentric segments 94 forming a part of pressure roller 20 8~ as best shown on Figures ~, lû, 11 and 12.
- Referring to Figure 7, a substantially exhausted initial roll ER isshown within a discard pocl~et P at the rear portion of the chassis 14 in front of rear wall 20 and above bottom wal1 22. This roll ER would have been the lo-vermost roll loaded into the dispenser with a reserve 25 roll still located above the lowermost roll and resting on the lowermost roll surface in readiness to move into position once the lowermost roll has become substantially exhausted. Thus, roll ER, with a limited amount of sheet material still wound thereon, has moved down through the tracks 26 and, after becoming substantially exhnusted, its spindles 30 have moved bcneath the inclined walls 45 at the lower ends of tracks 26 and over thc surface of feed roller 62 to drop into the discard pocket P. The web of sheet material is still being fed over the top of fced roller 62 and bctween the nip of feed roller 62 and pres~sure roller 84 with the web ~Y exiting through thc dispcnser housing opening 35 24.

llZ7~2 It will of course be understoo(3 that while the ~eed roller 62 continucs its rotntion undcr the action of withdruwing web W from the opening 21 of thc dispcnser housing 10, the camming action under the driving force of stntionary cam pockets 78 on cam îollowers 82 will 5 project and retract the knife 68 in accordance with the movements illustrated on Figurc 7. The projecting action of knife 68 will serve to sevcr a length of web ~V for each rotation of feed roller 62 so that the cut off length of sheet material may be withdrawn from the dispenser cabinet by the intending user.
The structure of pressure roller 84, incorporating spaced eccentric segments ~ and conical portions 102, also is advantageous in cooperating with the serr~tions of cutting knife 68. These knife serrations are spaced to accommodate therebetween not only the eccentric segments 94 but also the conical resilient portions 102. This may be seen from l 5 the phantom shown position of pressure roller 84 in Figure 1. By this relationship between the cutting knife serrations and the eccentric segments ~4 and conical portions 102, it is possible to initiate camming of the knife through the opening 70 in feed roller 62 commencing at a point immediately before the nip of the feed and pressure rollers.
20 This is of course advantageous in that wheIl the web of sheet material is located between the two rollers, the conical portions 102 are acting to spread the sheet material along the length of the pair of rollers and the nip between the rollerj holds the sheet material firmly in this spread condition. As shown in Figure 7, the projection of the knife through 25 the opening 70 immediately before the nip of the rollers permits the outermost ends of the knife serrations to pass into the web of sheet material and initially perforate it along the length of the pair of rollers.
At this time the rollers act to firmly hold the web of sheet material against displacement. As the sheet material passes on through the nip, 30 the c~m action on cam followers 82 continues to move the knife G8 outwardly. ~Yhen it passes the nip between roll ers 62 and 84 it is rapidly projected to complete severing of thc web of sheet material for removal from the dispensing cabinct. As previously mcntioned, the knife9 under the control of the stationary cam pockct 78, is then rapidly 35 retracted back into thc feed rollcr ~2 in rendiness, on thc nc~t revolution 76~2 of such roller? to perform a subsequent web cutting action.
At this point, shown in Figure 7, the roll that was disposed upwardly in the track as a reserve roll has moved down until in its full position its spindles are engaging with the friction surfaces 50 of 5 the driving guides 46 on the opposite side waUs 16 and 18 of the chassis 14. The diameter of this reserve roll, which is now in readiness for removal of sheet material therefrom and is thus in the dispensing position, is such that it not only rests and drivingly engages with the surface of feed roller 62 but it also is of a sufficien$ diameter that 10 it wiU b~ engaged by the eccentric segments 94 on the pressure roller 84 as such roller rotates along with the feed roller 62. As the remaining s~eet material continues to be withdrawn from the substantially exhausted roll ER in the discard pocket P~ it continues to rotate the rollers in passing through the nip therebetween, the withdrawing action occuring 15 either under the pull of a prospective user externally of the dispenser or manually operated by the manual hand wheel 104 as will be described subsequently.
The rotation of pressure roller 84 will carry the resiliently deformable segments 94 around to bring them into frictional contact 20 with the exterior of the fresh full roll in dispensing position which was ~rly disposed upwardly in the dispenser cabinet as a reserve roll~
The surface engagement of this new full roll in the dispensing position with the feed roller 62 and with rotation encouraged by its spindles frictiona~ly engaging with the surfaces 50 on the driving guides 46 within ?5 the lower section of the tracks 26 causes rotation in a direction to feed the loose free end of the sheet material onto the resilient segments 94 of the pressure roller 84.
Referring to Figures 10, 11 and 12, the action of the eccentric segments 94 on the pressure roller 84 will follow the action shown.
30 The feeci roller 62 is rotating countercloekwise while pressure ro~ler 84 is rotating clockwise with the web of sheet material passing between the nip of these two rollers. The clockwise rotation~ as shown in Figures 10-12, has the effect as the eccentric segments 94 on the pressure ro~ler 84 move into frictional engagement with the outer free layer of 35 roD R of buckdng ths free end ss rotstion progres es between the three i i~Z7~Z

elements, ns shown in Figure U. Thc web ~Y at this point is still bcing withdrawn from the substnntially cxhnustcd roll ER in the discard pocket P so that withdrnwnl of the web by R user tends to ns~sure continued rotntion of the clemcnts, as shown in Figures l0 and ll. The buckling 5 flction created by the eccentric scgments 9~, performing by use of rcsilicnt fin~ers 96 in the embodiment shown in Figures l0 and ll, carries the buckling action to n point where thc buckled sheet material web is drawn positively and firmly into the nip bctween feed roller 62 and pressure roller 8~. ~s this action proceeds, the outer free end on the 10 new full roll is carried in double thickness bctween the rollers and fed out through opening 2~ in the dispenser housing 10. If the first brush or frictional engagement of the eccentric segments 94 on pressure roller ~4 does not effectively pick up the leading free end of the fresh new full roll R, the elements will continue their rotation and successive 15 brushes or frictional engagements between the segments 94 and the outer layer of sheet material on roll R will be repeated as the remainder of sheet material is being withdrawn from the nearly exhausted roll ER in discard pocket P.
Once the leading free end of web sheet material on the new roll ~0 in dispensing position is picked up, several thicknesses of sheet material may be fed from the dispenser for a period of time until the web sheet material on roll ER is fully exhausted. Also there may be a period where the double thickness coming from the buckled surface layer of sheet materi~l off of full roll R as sho~Yn in Figure 12 may be fed out 25 of the dispenser along with the remaining material on roll ER. Elowever, the action of eccentric segments 94 will effectively and positively pick up and feed sheet material into ~he nip between the feed roller and pressure roller from the new roll. Thus, this roll will be brought into operation for dispensing from the unit.
The dispenser functions in such a manncr that, at the end of each cycle the leading end of the sheet material extends outwardly of the dispenser cabinet, in ordcr to be graspcd by thc uscr. The mechanism for dispcnsing sheet material hns means for mensuring the length of each segmcnt of such material thnt is dispensed and stopping the 35 dispcnsing action at thc end of this desircd length. Also, manu~l fecding z is providcd. Thc m~nunl fccdh~g mechani~m and associated components are bcst shown on Figures 5 and 6.
The mechnnism includcs n manual feed wheel 104 mounted on the ~nd of feed roller 62 as shown more clearly in section on Figure 1.
S Thus, a screw 106 is threaded into the end of feed roller 62 to securely fasten the feed wheel 104 to rotate with such roller. The periphery of feed wheel 104 is provided with alternating recesses 108 and projections 110 to facilitate its rotation by the fingers of a user. Rotation of the feed wheel 104 causes the feed roller 62 to rotate and cam the knife 10 68 outwardly and inwardly as previously described. A link 112 is pivotally connected to a screw 11~ threaded into the feed wheel 104 at a point radial~y offset and therefore eccentric to the axis of rotation of the wheel formed by securing screw 106. A spring 116 is secured to the opposite end of link 1l 2 while the upper end of spring 116 is fastened 15 at 118 to the side wall 16 of the chassis 14.
An anti-reverse pawl 120 is pivotally mounted on a screw 122 threaded into side wa~l 16 of the chassis 14. This pawl rides in the recesses 108 of feed wheel 104 and prevents the feed wheel from rotating clockwise as shown in Figure S and 6.
The spring ~16, act;ng through link 112, pivotally connected by screw 114 eccentrically of the rotation a~cis of feed wheel 104, provides a force assist to sever the sheet material so that the act of severing - the material is accomplished without the need of a user increasing his pull upon the sheet material coming from the dispenser. During the 25 first part of rotation of feed wheel 104, the spring 116 is tensioned as the wheel moves counterclockwise as shown in Figures 5 and 6. After - the screw 114 passes the lowermost point, opposite its position shown in Figure 5 or 180 from the position shown in Figure 5, the spring 116 pulls upwardly, thus helping to rotate manual feed wheel 104 with roller 3~ 62 and cam cutter 68 outwardly and then inwardly to perform the sheet material severin~ operation.
The foregoing sets forth a detailed description of the dispenser for wound roll fle:~ible sheet material of the invention, whcrein multiple rolls of such material may be londed into the dispenser and each roll 35 in succession have its web of sheet material picked up and fed from 1127~61 Z

the dispenser. Also, fl detailed description of the cutting mechanism of the invention has been set forth, this mechanism being adapted to be used in the disclosed dispenser although it is not restricted to use solely therein. It certainly is to be recognized that various m~difications S of both the dispenser and the cutting mechanism of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS:

1. A dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material comprising; a dispenser housing to receive the rolls to be dispensed having means for supporting a roll therein in a position for sheet material dispensing, a feed roller rotatably mounted within said dispenser housing, a pressure roller rotatably engaging said feed roller for the sheet material to pass between the nip of said rollers, and means for leading sheet material leaving said nip out of said dis-penser housing to a user; characterized by said pressure roller having resiliently deformable means disposed eccentric to the axis of said pressure roller to pick up the leading free end of sheet material on the outer surface of a roll engaging said pressure roller to carry this free end into said nip.

2. A dispenser as recited in claim 1 wherein said resiliently deformable means comprises at least one deform-able segment secured to rotate with said pressure roller, said segment being resilient and projecting outwardly throughout a peripheral part of the pressure roller circum-ference.

3. A dispenser as recited in claim 2 wherein said seg-ment is formed by generally radiating resilient fingers projecting generally radially outwardly of the axis of said pressure roller.

4. A dispenser as recited in claim 2 wherein said seg-ment is formed by an outwardly projecting arcuate resilient wall which is eccentric to the axis of said pressure roller and provides a curved wall surface to engage and pick up the leading free end of sheet material upon the outer roll surface.

5. A dispenser as recited in claim 2 wherein said pressure roller carries axially spaced resilient portions along the length thereof with each providing a cylindrical perimeter pressing against the feed roller surface to define the nip between said rollers.

6. A dispenser as recited in claim 5 wherein said axial-ly spaced resilient portions on said pressure roller are conical in configuration with each conical portion facing inwardly toward the mid-point of said pressure roller to promote spreading out the sheet material passing through the nip of said rollers.

7. A dispenser as recited in claim 5 wherein said feed roller includes axially spaced cylindrical sections which engage with said pressure roller, at least two of said sections being spaced to accommodate passage therebetween of said resiliently deformable segment on said pressure roll incident rotation of said pressure roller.

8. A dispenser as recited in claim 5 wherein said feed roller has a serrated cutting knife pivotally mounted there-within, said feed roll has an elongated external opening for projection of said knife therethrough stationary cam means is mounted relative to said feed roller to cam said knife out through said opening incident rotation of said rollers to sever the sheet material, and the serrations on said knife are spaced to accommodate therebetween said resiliently deformable segment on said pressure roller.

9. A dispenser as recited in claim 1 wherein said resiliently deformable means comprises resiliently deform-able eccentric segments spaced along said pressure roller, axially spaced conical resilient portions are spaced along the length of said pressure roller disposed on opposite sides of said eccentric segments, each said conical portion facing inwardly toward the mid-point of said pressure roller, said feed roller has a serrated cutting knife pivotally mounted therewithin with an elongated external opening in said feed roller for projection of said knife therethrough, and stationary cam means is mounted relative to said feed roller to cam said knife out through said opening incident rotation of said rollers to sever the sheet material.

10. A dispenser as recited in claim 9 wherein said stationary cam means is operatively positioned relative to said pivotally mounted knife to initiate camming of said knife out through said opening immediately before the nip of said rollers, and the serrations on said knife are spaced to accommodate therebetween said eccentric segments and said conical resilient portions.

11. A dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material comprising; a housing, means mounted within said housing for rotatably supporting a roll therein, a feed roller rotatably mounted within said housing, a pressure roller rotatably mounted within said housing and engaging said feed roller, said feed and pressure rollers defining a nip therebetween through which the sheet material passes, a knife operably mounted within said feed roller and having an outer cutting edge for severing the sheet material as the material passes in proximity to said nip, said feed roller having an opening therein for the projection of said cutting edge therethrough, and operating means associated with said knife for projecting said cutting edge outwardly of said feed roller through said opening and severing the sheet material; characterized by said pressure roller having resiliently deformable means disposed eccentric to the axis of said pressure roller to pick up the leading free end of sheet material on the outer surface of a roll engaging said pressure roller to carry this free end into said nip and by said pressure roller including a plurality of axially spaced elements rotatably engaging said feed roller, said operating means projecting said cutting edge outwardly of said feed roller through said opening in timed relationship to the rotation of said feed and pressure rollers so that a cylinder of revolu-tion defined by said cutting edge about the rotational axis of said feed roller when the cutting edge is fully projected outwardly of said feed roller through said opening intersects a cylinder of revolution defined by said pressure roller elements about the rotational axis of said pressure roller, and the shape of said cutting edge being related to the shape and axial positions of said pressure roller elements to preclude said edge from contacting said elements during rotation of said feed and pressure rollers.

12. A dispenser for wound rolls of flexible sheet material comprising; a housing, means mounted within said housing or rotatably supporting a roll therein, a feed roller rotatably mounted within said housing, and a pressure roller rotatably mounted within said housing and engaging said feed roller, said feed and pressure rollers defining a nip therebetween through which the sheet material passes;
characterized by said pressure roller including means for picking up the leading free end of the sheet material on the outer surface of a full roll engaging said pressure roller to carry said free end into said nip.