Abstract:
A hands-free paper product dispenser has two separate IR emitter and sensor circuits, one to feed paper product through the dispenser and the other to cut it, each interlocked to prevent one from running while the other is in operation. The length of paper dispensed is under complete control of the user. Paper is clamped above and below the cut to assure a clean cut, clamped gently to avoid tearing by wet hands, and released completely after product is taken from the machine to avoid sticking of product to machine surfaces. Dynamic electric braking is used in the circuitry to reduce noise and impact wear on dispenser parts.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   Many consumable products are manufactured in the form of spirally-wound rolls, e.g., paper towels and gift wrap. While these products can be unwound from the roll entirely by hand, there are a number of devices in the prior art to aid in dispensing product from the roll. These range from simple support of the roll, such as a single upright spindle upon which the axis of the roll is vertically installed, to cabinets into which a product roll is placed and which have mechanisms for dispensing product. 
   For simplicity of further discussion, and because the most common product roll dispensed is paper or similar nonwoven web material, the terms “paper”, “paper towel” and “paper towel roll” will be used hereinafter instead of “product” and “product roll”. However, it should be understood that the present invention can be adapted to virtually any spiral-wound sheet product. 
   Recent U.S. patents to Byrd, et al., specifically U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,772,291, 6,105,898 and 6,293,486, disclose electrically-driven paper dispensers incorporating a photocell which causes a motor to unroll paper when an object (such as a human hand) blocks light entering it. One patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,176) combines electrically-actuated unwinding with electrically-actuated cutting; a bi-directional motor moves the paper when turning in one direction and cuts it when turning in the other direction. 
   The prior art does not, however, provide the user separate hands-free control of the amount of paper dispensed and the timing of cutting the paper off. There is a need for this because there are various conceivable circumstances in which the user may not be ready to take the paper as soon as the machine rolls it out to the desired length, or the user may decide after unrolling a certain length to further extend the amount of paper to be cut off. 
   Another problem with the prior art is that either the paper is released before the user is ready to take it, or the user has to pull too hard to take the paper from the machine. The latter can be a problem especially if the user&#39;s hands are wet. 
   Yet another problem with the prior art is that many dispensers are designed to handle only one specific paper, e.g., thin, low-cost hand towels. If other paper grades are used in these types of dispensers, feed and cutting problems may result. There is a need for a dispenser that can be used with all grades of commercial as well as household paper towels. 
   Yet another problem with prior art dispensers is that parts driven at high speed are stopped by surfaces, such as bumpers, in the machine, which leads to excessive noise and impact wear. 
   There is also room for simplifying mechanisms for the holding of the paper by machine parts during and after cutting, which is addressed by the present invention. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   The invention described here is an electric-powered paper towel dispenser that uses one photocell circuit to unroll towel material to a user-defined length, and another photocell circuit to cut the towel material perpendicularly to the direction of unrolling at a time selected by the user. A simple and novel set of weighted clamping plates actuated by the cutter mechanism holds the paper for clean cutting and retains the cut towel until grasped by the user. Infrared emitters and photodetectors are used herein, but it should be understood that emitters of other frequencies of electromagnetic radiation and other types of sensors (e.g., photocells) may be substituted, without limitation. 
   Two embodiments are disclosed, one of which is a more compact version of the other and therefore has additional novel features. 
   An object of this invention is to provide hands-free unrolling and cutting of continuous paper towel sheet from a spiral wound product roll, with the unrolling and cutting steps to be actuated separately at the discretion of the user. 
   A second object of the invention is to allow the user to unroll as long a sheet as desired with a single hand motion or a succession of hand motions, and to cut the sheet off with a single additional hand motion. 
   A third object of the invention is to provide a simple mechanism for clamping the towel material securely for clean and straight perpendicular cutting, while at the same time holding the cut towel material for easy release when the user grasps it. 
   A fourth object of the invention is to provide a towel dispenser that can be used with any roll of commercial or household towel material, and still provide reliable dispensing, a clean cut, and a low incidence of jamming. 
   A fifth object of the invention is to provide a hands-free towel dispenser that uses little electric power and is therefore amenable to the use of batteries in situations where line power is not readily available. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is two perspective views of the first embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective cutaway view of the first embodiment showing the arrangement of paper advancing parts. 
       FIG. 3  is another perspective cutaway view of the first embodiment showing the arrangement of paper cutting parts. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the first embodiment with the front door open. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view from a different angle of the first embodiment with the front door open. 
       FIG. 6  is a left end view of the paper advancing and cutting apparatus showing the position of parts during loading of paper. 
       FIG. 7  is a left end view of the paper advancing and cutting apparatus showing the position of parts during the paper advance cycle. 
       FIG. 8  is a left end view of the paper advancing and cutting apparatus showing the position of parts during the paper cutting cycle. 
       FIGS. 9A through 9D  show the circuit diagram of the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 10  is two perspective views of the second embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the second embodiment with its drawer removed. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the drawer portion of the second embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Following is a detailed description of the invention, referring to the attached drawings, in which like features are referenced by like numerals in each of the drawings. 
     FIG. 1  is two perspective views of the exterior of the first embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 1(   a ), a view from the upper left side of the invention, shows a cabinet  1  having a front door  2  with an optional transparent window  3 . The door is designed to be opened from the front top edge, and a roll of paper product placed inside. 
   Key features of the invention, enabling hands-free control of both paper advance and cutting, are two separate infrared light emitters and sensors with infrared (IR) beams to be interrupted by human hands. Optical sensor recesses are therefore provided at the lower front of the cabinet  1 _within a sensor housing  16 : an advance recess  4  on the right side, and a cut recess  5  on the left. The beams of infrared light are emitted from a sensor emitter box  6 , one toward the right from advance emitter  7  across recess  4  to advance command detector  8 , and one toward the left from cut emitter  9  across recess  5  to cut command detector  10 . In this discussion, the advance emitter/sensor pair is on the right, but the right or left placement of the two recesses and emitter/sensor pairs is immaterial and interchangeable. It is also well to note that this invention can be constructed and operate equally well if left and right are swapped in all parts of this specification and drawings, and that handedness is not meant to be a limitation. 
     FIG. 1(   b ) is a perspective view of the first embodiment from the lower left, showing features on the bottom of the first embodiment. The paper advancing mechanism is actuated by a user breaking the beam of light in recess  4  (to be discussed in greater detail below). Paper is dispensed through discharge slit  11  until the light beam ceases to be broken. Slit  11  is bounded front and rear by two L-shaped clamping plates—lower front clamping plate  12 , and lower rear clamping plate  13 . These two clamping plates are pivotably connected to cabinet  1  at either end so that they can pivot about horizontal axes parallel to the paper sheet. The clamping plates  12  and  13  also have cut into them longitudinal dust discharge slots  14  and  15 , respectively. 
     FIG. 2  is a perspective cutaway view of the first embodiment showing the arrangement of paper product handling parts. A roll of paper  201  (shown in dashed lines because it is a consumable) is suspended from a smooth dowel  202 . The dowel  202  is held at either end by a bracket (not shown here but shown as reference  401  in  FIG. 4 ) on front door  2 . Free end  203  of roll  201  is inserted downward through a loading slot (not shown in this figure but shown as reference  402  in  FIG. 4 ) and suspended between a driven advance roller  205  and an idler, or pinch, roller  206 . An upper clamping plate  204  hangs from pivot points  604  on each side wall of cabinet  1  between the advance roller  205  and the pinch roller  206 , with rectangular holes  211  in it to permit the pinch roller  206  to contact the paper. Behind the paper  210  and below advance roller  205  is fixed cutting blade  207 . When advance roller  205  is actuated by the user breaking the light beam in recess  4 , a paper advance motor (not shown in this view) rotates advance roller  205  clockwise in this view and pulls paper  210  downward past fixed blade  207 . 
   Also visible in this view at the far lower right inside the cabinet  1  is rotary cutter assembly  208 , described in more detail below, in its parked position. In a cut cycle, this cutter assembly moves from right to left, cutting the paper, and eventually back to its parked position. Note for now that in its parked position, assembly  208  is rightward of the right end  209  of upper clamping plate  204 . Note also that lower rear clamping plate  13  is shown, with spacer  212  affixed to its upper right corner. When the cutter assembly  208  is in its parked position, as shown, the lower drive roller  303  of the cutter assembly  208  presses against spacer  212 , thereby urging lower rear clamping plate  204  farther to the rear. The function of these parts will be described in greater detail below. 
     FIG. 3  is a front cutaway view of the invention better showing the rotary cutter assembly  208 . This assembly comprises a circular blade  301  sandwiched between a toroidal upper drive roller  302  and toroidal lower drive roller  303 . The blade and rollers are fixed to a vertical shaft  304  rotatably held at both ends by housing  305  (cutaway here to better show the blade and rollers). This assembly  208  is slidably suspended upon a horizontal traverse rod  306 , and is driven from side to side along this rod by electric cut motor  307 . The cut motor  307  pulls the cutter assembly  208  by means of endless belt  308 , to which assembly  208  is fixed by clamp  309 , and which runs between drive pulley  310  and idler pulley  311 . Idler pulley  311  is adjustably fixed to the cabinet  1  by a tensioner screw (not shown) to permit tension adjustment for belt  308 . 
   Traverse rod  306  is not fixed at its ends to cabinet  1 ; rather, its ends rest on horizontal abutments which are fixed to the right and left walls of cabinet  1 . Right hand abutment  316  is shown. An identical abutment on the other side of the cabinet is not shown because, for drawing clarity, traverse rod  306  is cut away at  320 . Traverse rod  306  is also biased toward the rear of cabinet  1  by springs on either end; spring  317  at its right end and a like spring (not shown for clarity) at its left end. This spring suspension presses upper drive roller  302  on assembly  208  rearwardly against upper clamping plate  204 , assuring that the total rearward force is constant at all points along the traverse rod  306 . It also assures that circular blade  301  is pushed upwardly against edge  318  of fixed blade  207  with an even force at all points along the fixed blade  207 , as explained in further detail below. These constant forces are desirable to assure clean, even cutting and reduce equipment wear. 
   The position of the cutter assembly  208  is governed by three microswitches: left side microswitch  312 ; center microswitch  313 ; and right side microswitch  314 . These microswitches are tripped by foot  315  fixed to the front of cutter assembly  208 . In its normal parked position, assembly  208  is at the far right of the traverse rod, and foot  315  presses right side microswitch  314 . Upper drive roller  302  is rightward of the right end  209  of upper clamping plate  204 , and circular blade  301  is rightward of the right edge  319  of the paper. To begin a cutting cycle, a user breaks the light beam in recess  5 , turning on cut motor  307 . This turns drive pulley  310  clockwise (as seen from the motor) pulling cutter assembly  208  to the left, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Upper drive roller  302  then engages, and rolls leftward onto, upper clamping plate  204 , pushing it against the paper and clamping the paper between it and fixed blade  207 . It also causes lower drive roller  303  to roll leftward off of spacer  212  of lower rear clamping plate  13 , allowing lower rear clamping plate  13  to rotate forward by gravity. Lower drive roller  13  then also rolls onto lower front clamping plate  12 , pushing lower front clamping plate  12  against the paper, thereby trapping the paper between it and lower rear clamping plate  13 . The rolling of drive roller  302  against the upper clamping plate causes the circular blade  301  to revolve and begin to cut the paper right to left against lower edge  318  of fixed cutting blade  207 . 
   Center microswitch  313  does nothing when it is tripped by assembly  208  passing leftward, because the circuit it opens is disconnected by a relay when cut motor  307  is running forward. Accordingly, nothing happens until foot  315  on assembly  208  reaches left microswitch  312  and trips it. This reverses the rotation of cut motor  307  and drives assembly  208  back to the right. The paper has now been cut completely across and is still being held fast by the clamping plates as assembly  208  moves rightward. Assembly  208  continues rightwardly until its foot  315  reaches center microswitch  313 , which stops cut motor  307 . Nothing further happens until the user pulls the paper from between lower front clamping plate  12  and lower rear clamping plate  13 . This allows these two clamping plates to come into contact, closing a low-voltage circuit that starts cut motor  307  again. This moves assembly  208  to its rest position at the far right end of the cabinet, where it trips right microswitch  314 , causing it to stop. When upper and lower drive rollers no longer rest on upper clamping plate  204  and front lower clamping plate  12 , respectively, they separate from the fixed blade  207  and rear lower clamping plate  13 , respectively, ending the cutting cycle. (How they separate is developed more fully in subsequent description.) All of the parts are thus restored to their original positions, leaving a gap through which the next portion of paper can freely descend upon the next actuation of the paper advance roller. 
     FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the first embodiment with the front door  2  open, showing some further cabinet details. Smooth dowel  202  for supporting a roll of paper rests on both ends in bracket  401 , which may, as shown, be composed of clear plastic and molded together with window  3 . A horizontal cabinet slot  402  with end guides  403  (only right end guide visible) is provided to guide the free end of a roll of paper downward into the paper advancing and cutting mechanisms described above. 
   Door  2  is mounted pivotably on cabinet  1 _by pin  404  and, when open, is held in that position by its weight. It is held in the closed position by spring  405  stretching between pin  406  on cabinet  1  and pin  407  on door  2 . These parts, as shown on the left side of the cabinet  1  in this figure, are duplicated symmetrically on the opposite side of the cabinet even though not visible in this view. 
   Note that the left end of axle  408  on pinch roller  206  (see  FIG. 2 ) protrudes through obround slot  409  in the left cabinet wall (likewise on the right side of the cabinet). Axle  408  is held at the upper end of slot  409  by tab  410  on door arm  411  when door  2  is open. This pulls pinch roller  206  (not visible) up and forwardly away from advance roller  205  ( FIG. 2 ) so that paper can be fed between them when door  2  is open. When the door  2  is closed, door arm  410  descends, releasing pinch roller axle  408  so that the pinch roller  206  ( FIG. 2 ) rests against the paper and the advance roller by its own weight. 
     FIG. 5  is a perspective cutaway view of the first embodiment from a different angle showing some parts not duplicated on both sides. In particular, this view shows on the outside of right cabinet wall  501  a paper release microswitch  502 . When door  2  is closed, door arm  411  presses against it, keeping the microswitch open. Whenever door  2  is even slightly opened, microswitch  502  closes and causes cutter assembly  208  (not shown) to move to its parked position. This releases all clamping plates and thus all paper, as shown more fully in subsequent drawings. This view also shows, within cutout “A” inside cabinet  1 , master microswitch  503  fixed to the inside surface of cabinet right wall  501  above pinch roller axle  408 . When door  2  is opened fully, as shown in this figure and in  FIG. 4 , tab  410  lifts axle  408  up to master microswitch  503 , cutting off electric power to the entire unit. The reason paper release microswitch  502  is not used by itself as a master cut off is that it is undesirable to cut off all current until the cutter assembly is indexed fully rightward into its parked position. While it would be possible to arrange the circuitry in such a way as to cause the paper release microswitch  502  to kill all power to the unit only after the right side microswitch  314  is tripped (such as by, for example, using the paper release microswitch  502  to trigger a timer circuit that would allow the machine to run on until the cutter assembly hits the right side microswitch  314 ) it is safer to use a separate master microswitch for this purpose. 
   For additional clarity in understanding how the paper advancing and cutting parts interact,  FIG. 6  is provided of a left end view of these parts inside the cabinet and their relationship to each other when the door (not visible in this figure) is open for addition of a product roll. Note that paper advance motor  601  is now shown, along with worm gear  602  connecting it to a gear (not visible) on the right end of advance roller  205 . 
   When the cabinet door (reference  2  in  FIG. 4 ) is open, axle  408  of pinch roller  206  is raised by a tab on the door (reference  410  in  FIG. 4 ) to the position shown within obround slot  409 . This creates a space  603  between the advance roller  205  and the pinch roller  206  into which paper  210  may be inserted. Upper clamping plate  204  hangs freely from upper pivot points  604  (on opposite walls of the cabinet) because the cutter assembly (behind the page in this figure) is not touching it. Upper clamping plate  204  is spaced away from fixed cutting blade  207  because it is hanging freely. Lower front clamping plate  12  is shown suspended by lower front pivot  605  on each end, and lower rear clamping plate  13  is shown suspended by lower rear pivot  606  on each end. Again because the cutter assembly (not shown) is in its parked position behind the page in this figure, lower front clamping plate  12  is resting by its own weight against front detent  607  on the cabinet wall. (This detent may, if desired, be located on the left face of cutter assembly  208 , not shown.) In these positions, the lower clamping plates are also spaced apart. Thus, a clear path exists for the insertion of paper. Additional space is provided between the lower clamping plates because lower rear clamping plate  13  is urged toward the rear of the cabinet (leftward in this view) by spacer  212 , which in turn is held slightly leftward in this view by lower drive roller  303 . 
     FIG. 7  is an end view of the first embodiment when the cabinet door (not shown) is closed. The parts are in this same relationship when the paper is advancing, as well. With the door closed, door tab (reference  410  in  FIG. 4 ) no longer holds up axle  408 , allowing pinch roller  206  to fall by its own weight, pinching the paper sheet  210  into contact with advance roller  205 . The cutter assembly remains in its parked position (behind the page) and therefore still does not impinge upon clamping plates  204  or  12 . When paper advance is started by the user, advance motor  601  turns worm gear  602 , which in turn drives advance roller clockwise, feeding paper sheet  201  downward and out dispenser slit  11 . 
   After paper advance stops, the user may start the cutting cycle, as shown in  FIG. 8 , at any time. When the cutting cycle begins, cutter assembly  208  leaves its parked position and moves in the out-of-the-page direction, bringing upper cutter drive roller  302  into contact with upper clamping plate  204  and lower drive roller  303  into contact with lower front clamping plate  12 . The clamping plates are thus pushed to the left in this view. The paper sheet  210  is clamped both above and below circular blade  301 , and it begins to be cut as circular blade  301  revolves against edge  318  of fixed blade  207 . An important feature of this invention is the dual clamping of the paper along its entire width both above and below the cut, which creates a repeatably clean and straight cut. Another important feature of the invention is that the diameter of circular blade  301  is greater than either drive roller  302  or  303 , causing the peripheral speed of circular blade  301  to be greater than the translational speed of the cutter assembly along fixed blade  207 . This causes the paper fibers to be sliced through during cutting as well as merely being cut by simple shear. It also creates some self-sharpening action of the circular blade against the fixed blade. Note that all of the parts being pressed to the left by cutter assembly  208  pivot except for fixed blade  207 . This means that the force exerted from right to left in this view by spring-loaded traverse rod  306  is met principally by the reaction of fixed blade  207  against upper drive roller  302 . Thus the entire cutter assembly  208  is urged toward the clockwise direction in this view, but is stopped principally by the periphery of circular blade  301  pressing upwardly against fixed blade edge  318 . This further assures cleanliness of cut. Importantly, it has been found by experimentation that cutter maintenance is minimized when the circular blade  301  is made of softer metal than fixed blade  207 , specifically when the hardness difference is at least 4 Rockwell C units. Specifically, if fixed blade  207  is harder than circular blade  301  by at least this amount, it will tend to sharpen circular blade  301  every time circular blade  301  passes along fixed blade  207 . 
   After the cutting cycle is finished, cutter assembly  208  stops near the center of the paper sheet and maintains the clamping plates  204 ,  12 , and  13  in the positions shown until the user pulls the cut portion of the paper out of the dispenser. When the paper sheet is withdrawn from between lower rear clamping plate  13  and lower front clamping plate  12 , lower rear clamping plate  13  pivots slightly clockwise of its own weight into direct contact with lower front clamping plate  12 . A small electric current is thus permitted to flow between the two plates, triggering the cut motor (not shown) to move the cutter assembly  208  back to its parked position. The weight of the clamping plates  204  and  12  pivot them back to their positions in  FIGS. 6 and 7  by gravity, and lower rear clamping plate  13  is again held farther open by lower drive roller  303 . 
   It is important to note that except during the cutting cycle, there is at all times a gap between clamping plates  12  and  13  and between upper clamping plate  204  and fixed blade  207 . As a result, between uses the machine puts no pressure on the paper at all save for the small weight of pinch roller  206 . This is intentional, for it has been found by experimentation that certain types of paper towel adhere to surfaces over time under pressure and can cause paper feed problems in machines that are not made in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIGS. 9A through 9D  show the circuit diagram of the first embodiment of the invention. Wire connections from one drawing to the next are indicated by lower case letters. This diagram is included here principally to provide additional support for certain claimed features of the invention even though electric parts and circuitry of the entire unit are shown. Specifically novel to the field of product roll dispensing is the employment of completely separate paper advance and paper cutting motors and actuation circuits. Also novel in the field is the use of electronic dynamic braking to prevent paper overrun and prevent impact stress from the oscillating cutter assembly (which moves across the machine at a high rate of speed). Following is a discussion of paper advance and the cutting cycle with reference to the circuitry. The circuit shown is powered by a 24-volt DC power supply. This can be either battery power or stepped-down and rectified AC power. The circuit could also, within the scope of the invention, be adapted readily to other sources of power. 
   Paper advance is initiated by blocking light path  4 , which allows current to flow through the advance motor relay  902  ( FIG. 9B ). If the cabinet door is closed and the cutter assembly (not shown) is parked, the normally open side of the right side microswitch  314  ( FIG. 9B ) is closed, the advance motor brake relay  901  ( FIG. 9B ) is thereby disabled, the advance motor relay  902  is energized, and advance motor  601  ( FIG. 9B ) turns, feeding paper through the machine. This continues uninterrupted until the user pulls his or her hand from light path  4  ( FIG. 9D ). At that time, the advance motor  601  is de-energized and advance motor brake relay  901  is energized, stopping the advance motor with minimal overrun of paper, which might otherwise occur due to mechanism inertia. 
   Initiation of the cut cycle begins with the user blocking light path  5  ( FIG. 9C ). If the cabinet door is closed and the cutter assembly is parked, the cut motor brake relays  903  ( FIG. 9A ) are disabled and the cut motor relay  904  ( FIG. 9A ) is energized. As long as left side microswitch  312  ( FIG. 9A ) is not pressed (which it is not when the cutter assembly is away from the left side of the machine), the cut motor  307  ( FIG. 9A ) starts out turning counterclockwise (seen from above in  FIG. 3 ) and pulls the cutter assembly to the left, cutting the paper. When the cutter assembly (not shown) leaves right side microswitch  314 , the advance motor relay is disabled, so that if the right light path  4  is broken for any reason while the cut cycle is on, no paper will feed. Nothing happens when the cutter assembly contacts center microswitch  313  ( FIG. 9B ) moving from right to left because it is disabled until the polarity of cut motor  307  is reversed by contact with left side microswitch  312 . When the cutter assembly reaches the left side of the machine, left side microswitch  312  is pressed, energizing the cut motor brake relays  903 , stopping the cut motor  307  with minimal impact on any machine parts and reversing current flow through it. The cutter assembly then moves in the opposite direction (left to right in  FIG. 3 ) until it presses center microswitch  313 , which again energizes the cut motor brake relays and de-energizes the cut motor. The cutter assembly is thus stopped in approximately the center of the machine, its drive rollers holding the clamping plates together. 
   If either the cut piece of paper is removed from between the lower clamping plates or the door is opened, the cut motor brake relays  903  are disabled and the reverse operation of the cut motor  307  restarts, sending the cutter assembly to its right side parked position. In the case of a cut piece of paper being removed from the machine, lower front clamping plate  12  ( FIG. 9C ) is grounded through lower rear clamping plate  13  ( FIG. 9C ), allowing current to flow from a 5-volt regulator  906  ( FIG. 9C ) to energize clamping plate relay  905  ( FIG. 9C ). This disables cut motor brake relays  903  and re-energizes cut motor relay  904 , restarting cut motor  307  in the reverse direction and moving the cutter assembly to the right. If door  2  is opened, paper release microswitch  502  ( FIG. 9A ) closes, also disabling cut motor brake relays  903 , re-energizing cut motor relay  904  and causing cut motor  307  to move the cutter assembly to the parked position. When the cutter assembly reaches right side microswitch  314 , cut motor braking again takes place, stopping the cutter assembly in its parked position with minimal impact against machine parts such as the idler pulley (reference  311  in  FIG. 3 ). All clamping plates are opened by the cutter assembly being in its parked position. The only parts remaining energized at this point are the two IR emitters  7  ( FIG. 9D) and 9  ( FIG. 9C ). If door  2  is fully opened, as is necessary for adding a roll of paper or servicing the unit, master microswitch  503  ( FIG. 9A ) is opened, disconnecting all power. 
     FIG. 10  is two perspective views of the second embodiment of the invention, consisting essentially of the same features of the first embodiment except principally that they are arranged in a lower profile. The lower profile allows installation of the invention in spaces of limited vertical extent such as beneath cabinets. Key external differences are a horizontally-elongated cabinet land a removable drawer portion  1001  with pull handle  1002 . 
     FIG. 11  shows the drawer portion  1001  of the second embodiment pulled out of the cabinet  1  to reveal left drawer runner  1101  for insertion into a left runner track (not visible) and right drawer runner (not visible) for insertion into right runner track  1102 . Note also electrical contact strip  1103 , mounted flush in the left side cover plate  1004 , which transmits electricity from a mating contact (not shown) inside the cabinet to all the electrical parts inside drawer  1001 . Thus, paper can be installed and electrical components can be serviced in safety. Hence, the only differences between the electrical circuit of this second embodiment and that of the first embodiment are that a) master microswitch  503  is eliminated in favor of contact strip  1103 , and b) paper release microswitch  502  moves from door actuation to pinch roller axle actuation, as explained further below. 
     FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the drawer portion  1001  of the second embodiment showing additional features distinguishing it from the first embodiment. This portion of the second embodiment contains all of the same parts and functions of the first embodiment, with four exceptions. First, the paper or product roll  201  is mounted behind, rather than above, the advancing and cutting assemblies. Second, The electrical interlock in this embodiment consists of contact strip  1103  instead of master microswitch  503  shown in  FIG. 5 . Third, the means for raising and lowering the pinch roller in the second embodiment is actuated by drawer movement rather than door movement. The left side cover plate (reference  1104  in  FIG. 11 ) of the second embodiment has been removed to show the alternative mechanism for raising and lowering the pinch roller, which, as in the first embodiment, is identical on both left and right sides of the unit. In this embodiment, the axle  408  of the pinch roller is raised within the obround slot  409  by a spring-biased crank plate  1201 . Crank plate  1201  is fastened to drawer  1001  pivotably about pin  1202 , and has one corner  1203  also fastened to drawer  1001  by a spring  1204 . When the drawer is out of the cabinet, spring  1204  biases the crank plate in a counterclockwise sense so as to cause tab  410  to raise pinch roller axle  408  to the top of obround slot  409 . When the drawer  1001  is pushed back into the cabinet, a catch on the upper left inside of the cabinet (not shown) pushes against a tang  1205  on crank plate  1201  in the direction of arrow B, rotating the crank plate  1201  against the spring  1204  and allowing the pinch roller to descend into contact with the advance roller  205 . Thus, when the drawer is out of the cabinet, the paper sheet  210  can be inserted downward past the cutter mechanism as in the first embodiment. The fourth difference between the two embodiments is that the paper release microswitch  502  in  FIG. 5  is moved from below door arm  411  to a position above pinch roller axle  408  (not visible in  FIG. 12 ). Thus, when drawer  1001  begins to be withdrawn, pinch roller axle  408  pushes upwardly against microswitch  502 , moving the cutter assembly (not visible) to its parked position.