Patent ID: 8528851

Claim:
A product dispenser configured to dispense a roll of sheet product comprising: a. At least one drive roller operatively configured to frictionally engage a portion of the sheet product and expel the portion of sheet product when rotated; b. an automatic advance assembly comprising a motor operatively coupled to the drive roller and operatively configured to rotate the drive roller when the motor is activated; c. an object sensor in contact with the automatic advance assembly, the object sensor operatively configured to detect an object proximate to the sensor, before the object physically contacts the sensor; d. a manual advance assembly coupled to the drive roller; the manual advance assembly comprising an engagement surface, the manual advance assembly manually operable by a user to rotate the drive roller; e. a one-way coupling operatively configured to engage the motor to the roll of sheet product when the object sensor engages the automatic drive assembly, and disengage the motor from the roll of sheet product when the user pulls on the leading edge of the sheet product or otherwise engages the manual advance assembly such that the portion of the sheet product is dispensed; and f. wherein the sensor comprises a sensing path in front of the engagement surface of the manual advance assembly and wherein the object sensor is affixed/coupled to the manual advance assembly and electrically coupled to the motor such that the object sensor moves with the engagement surface of the manual advance assembly when the manual advance assembly is utilized.