Patent ID: 6224010
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: A47K

Abstract:
Dispenser apparatus for dispensing paper toweling from a roll of paper toweling having two opposed sides and a lead end, said dispenser apparatus comprising, in combination:a dispenser housing defining a housing interior accommodating a roll of paper toweling therein, said paper toweling having two opposed sides and a lead end;a paper toweling feed roller rotatably mounted relative to said dispenser housing having a cylindrically-shaped outer peripheral roller surface free of paper toweling engageable sprocket projections supporting said paper toweling and frictionally engaging one of the sides of said paper toweling adjacent to the lead end of the paper toweling with the lead end unsupported for transporting said paper toweling toward a location external of said dispenser housing without passing said paper toweling through a compressive nip and without tensioning the paper toweling between the paper toweling feed roller and the unsupported lead end of the paper toweling upon rotation of said paper toweling feed roller due solely to frictional engagement between said paper toweling feed roller and the side of said paper toweling engaged thereby, and said paper toweling feed roller comprising the sole means for transporting said paper toweling, no portion of said paper toweling feed roller extending through the paper toweling and said paper toweling feed roller operable to push the paper toweling to locate the unsupported paper toweling lead end at said location external of said dispenser housing;actuator means operatively associated with said paper toweling feed roller to rotate said paper toweling feed roller; anda paper toweling guide having a curved, smooth guide surface fixedly spaced a predetermined distance from said paper toweling feed roller and not engaging said paper toweling feed roller, said paper toweling guide partially surrounding the cylindrically-shaped outer peripheral roller surface of said paper toweling feed roller and extending lengthwise along said cylindrically-shaped outer peripheral roller surface, and said curved, smooth guide surface and said outer peripheral roller surface defining therebetween a unobstructed curved passageway through which said paper toweling passes during transport thereof solely by said paper toweling feed roller from said roll of paper toweling toward said location external of said dispenser housing, said curved, smooth guide surface and said paper toweling feed roller being spaced apart a distance exceeding the thickness of said paper toweling whereby said paper toweling is uncompressed by said paper toweling guide and said paper toweling feed roller when passing through said curved passageway and whereby passage of said paper toweling through said curved passageway is unimpeded by said paper toweling guide, said curved, smooth guide surface of said paper toweling guide engageable with the side of the paper toweling opposed to said paper toweling feed roller without applying frictional forces thereto exceeding the frictional forces exerted on said paper toweling by said paper toweling feed roller when said paper toweling is being transported by said paper toweling feed roller to maintain the paper toweling in contact with the paper toweling feed roller.