Patent ID: 7883161
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: A47K

Abstract:
1. A device for dispensing predetermined length segments of a continuous web of material for a processing operation comprising in combination: a base member adapted for mounting on a surface, said base member having a top and a bottom; an outer housing having top portion, a bottom portion, side portions, and a front portion adapted to be connected to said base member to form an enclosure; a shelf member positioned on said base member to form an upper compartment to receive a supply of continuous web material within said outer housing; a lower compartment having a bottom portion, side portions and a front portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion of said lower compartment, said lower compartment positioned at the bottom of said base member to receive segments of web material therein; said upwardly extending lower compartment front portion forming with said outer housing front portion an unobstructed open slot adjacent the bottom of said outer housing front portion and an unobstructed web material vertical passageway extending downwardly from said shelf member to said unobstructed open slot; web material take up means mounted in said lower compartment for retracting web material into said compartment; web material feeding means positioned adjacent the front edge of said shelf member to feed web material from a continuous supply thereof, when placed in said compartment, over said front edge to cause said web material to cascade freely down through said unobstructed vertical passageway and out of said outer housing through said unobstructed open slot forming a depending loop of unprocessed web material when the distal end of said web material is connected to said web material take up means; said web material take up means being positioned in said lower compartment to retract said depending loop of web material back up through said unobstructed open slot and completely into said lower compartment until all web material is fully withdrawn into said outer housing and away from said unobstructed open slot upon retracting operation thereof; feeding and take up motor means operatively connected to said web material feeding means and said web material take up means; sensing means for indicating when a requirement for feeding of web material out of said housing is required and when retracting of said web material into said housing is required; control means for operating said motor means in accordance with the indication of said sensing means; and power means for supplying operating power to said motor, sensing, and control means mounted within said housing; wherein a segment of said continuous web material may be dispensed from within said outer housing through said unobstructed open slot for use and thereafter completely retracted through said unobstructed open slot into said device entirely removing all web material from the exterior of said housing.