Patent ID: 6237871
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: A47K

Abstract:
Apparatus for dispensing sheet material from a roll of sheet material, said apparatus comprising, in combination:a housing defining an interior for accommodating a roll of sheet material and additionally defining a sheet material outlet communicating with said interior;a double-ended rotatable sheet material engagement member having an outer surface for engaging sheet material unwound from the roll of sheet material within the housing interior;sheet material feed means positioned adjacent to said rotatable sheet material engagement member including a rotatable sheet material feed roller and a support member supporting said sheet material feed roller, said support member being pivotally mounted relative to said housing to selectively alternatively move said sheet material feed roller toward or away from said rotatable sheet material engagement member;means for rotating said sheet material feed roller to transport sheet material engaged by said rotatable sheet material engagement member and by said sheet material feed roller toward said sheet material outlet after said sheet material feed roller has moved toward said rotatable sheet material engagement member; anda pair of tucker members connected to said rotatable sheet material engagement member, one of said tucker members located at one end of said rotatable sheet material engagement member and the other of said tucker members located at the other end of said rotatable sheet material engagement member, said tucker members defining a space therebetween, said tucker members responsive to rotational movement of said rotatable sheet material engagement member to move toward a location between said sheet material feed roller and said rotatable sheet material engagement member to tuck the lead end of the roll of sheet material between said sheet material feed roller and said rotatable sheet material engagement member.