Patent ID: 8297160
Filing Date: 2012-10-30
Classification: A47K,B26D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A paper towel dispenser comprising a pinch roller; a rotatable drum that advances a paper towel sheet when the paper towel sheet is between the inch roller and the drum and in frictional contact with the drum and when the drum rotates; a gear assembly comprising at least one toothed member; a motor coupled to the drum by the gear assembly and automatically operable to rotate the drum in an advancing direction when a motor shaft of the motor rotates in a first direction, such that the paper towel is dispensed during operation of the motor; a manual advance assembly mechanically coupled to the drum and having a user interface that is manually movable by a user to rotate the drum in the advancing direction; a one one-way coupling coupling the motor shaft and the toothed member, the one one-way coupling is arranged to transfer rotational movement from the motor shaft to the toothed member when the motor shaft rotates in the first direction such that the drum is driven in the advancing direction, the one one-way coupling allows the drum to be driven in the advancing direction by the manual advance assembly without rotating the motor shaft while the toothed member rotates, and the one one-way coupling allows the drum to be driven in the advancing direction by a user pulling on the paper towel sheet without rotating the motor shaft while the toothed member rotates; and a means for connecting the user interface to the drum such that movement of the user interface in a first direction results in advancement of the drum and movement of the user interface in a second direction, opposite the first direction, does not result in rotation of the drum.