Patent ID: 7874509

Claim:
A device for dispensing a user-defined, variable length of a material from a roll web of the material having a plurality of laterally extending, longitudinally spaced lines of perforation, comprising: a frame for supporting the rolled web such that lengths of the web are removed from the roll in a direction of advancement as the roll rotates; a pair of infeed rollers rotatably mounted on said frame providing a nip therebetween for receiving said web from said roll; a first electric motor coupled to said infeed roller pair for moving the web forward in the direction of advancement; a pair of delivery rollers rotatably mounted on said frame in spaced relation with said first pair of rollers, said second pair of rollers receiving said web from said first roller pair and providing a nip therebetween; a second electric motor coupled to said delivery rollers for moving the web in the direction of advancement; control means for initiating and continuing dispensation of the roll web until the user-defined length of material exits from the device, and then ceasing dispensation; and means for reducing power to the infeed roller motor during advancement of the web by said delivery rollers to create increased tension in the web sufficient to tear the web between the infeed and delivery rollers along a roll perforation; wherein the user-defined length of material is severed between the infeed and delivery rollers, solely by tension and without optical detection, along the first roll perforation positioned between the infeed and delivery rollers after power to the infeed rollers has been reduced, and is then dispensed from the apparatus by the delivery rollers.