Patent ID: 7832679

Claim:
A dispenser for dispensing sheet material, the dispenser comprising: a housing defining an interior for accommodating a source of the sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material is dispensed: at least one rotatable roller in the housing, at least a portion of the sheet material being in contact with the roller when the sheet material travels from the source to the outlet; a brake configured to brake rotational movement of the roller, and a controller configured to selectively activate the brake; and a rotation monitor configured to monitor the amount of rotation of the roller to thereby determine the amount of sheet material traveling downstream from the roller, wherein the rotation monitor comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being configured to move in response to rotation of the roller and the second portion being configured to contact the first portion and provide a signal indicative of rotation of the roller; wherein the roller comprises a rotational shaft, the first portion comprises a first wheel disposed at one end of the rotational shaft, and configured to rotate along with the rotational shaft; the brake comprises a second wheel disposed at an opposite end of the rotational shaft, and configured to rotate along with the rotational shaft; and the brake further comprises an engaging member configured to engage the second wheel to selectively brake rotation of the roller.