Patent ID: 6412679
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: A47K,Y10T

Abstract:
A dispenser comprising:a housing having a discharge opening; a support within the housing for supporting a continuous strip of sheet material having a plurality of spaced tear lines defining leading and trailing edges of individual removable segments, with an outer segment having a free leading edge and inner segments which in turn become outer segments as adjoining outer segments are removed; a feed mechanism for repeatedly advancing the sheet material to advance, in first and second intervals, successive outer ones of said segments through the discharge opening and out of the housing; a sensor for repeatedly detecting arrival of a said leading edge of the advancing sheet material at a first position defining the end of said first interval and the beginning of said second interval, as the sheet material is repeatedly advanced toward the discharge opening; and a control device for receiving a signal from the sensor indicating a said arrival of a said leading edge at said first position, and for terminating the operation of the feed mechanism when a said leading edge of the sheet material has further advanced from said first position a predetermined amount, to repeatedly place said spaced tear lines at a second position that is variable within a space defined between the feed mechanism and said first position in relation to variations in the lengths of said segments, said second position defining the beginning of a said first interval of advancement for a next adjacent segment, when it is in turn dispensed.