DISPENSER AND METHOD OF DISPENSING

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing sheets of web material from a stack of sheets of web material is provided. The dispenser includes a biasing arrangement arranged to bias the stack towards a dispensing opening of the dispenser, and a stopper element associated with the dispensing opening, the stopper element being adapted to prevent the stack from being ejected through the dispensing opening by the biasing arrangement. A stack space in the dispenser is arranged to house the stack. Near the dispensing opening a first plane extends in a first plane direction directed towards the dispensing opening and a second plane extends in a second plane direction directed towards the dispensing opening. An opening portion has an opening width and is substantially aligned with the stack space such that the first and second plane directions extend uninterruptedly through the opening portion. Further a method of dispensing a bundle including at least two sheets of web material is provided.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a dispenser for dispensing sheets of web material from a stack of sheets of web material. The present disclosure further relates to a method of dispensing a bundle of sheets of web material from a dispenser including a stack of web material.

BACKGROUND

Dispensers for dispensing sheets of web material from a stack of sheets of web material are well known. Commonly, the stack in a relevant dispenser is biased towards a dispensing opening of the dispenser such that a user may grasp a sheet of web material and dispense it from the dispenser through the dispensing opening. The stack may be biased towards the dispensing opening by means of gravity or a resilient biasing arrangement.

In some applications a dispenser is arranged for dispensing only one sheet at a time from the dispenser. For instance, this is a typical property of dispensers for napkins used in restaurants where a restaurant customer himself dispenses napkins for use. By permitting dispensing only one napkin at a time, overconsumption of napkins may be avoided.

However, such dispensers are not suited for efficiently and orderly providing more than one sheet of web material. The provision of more than one sheet of web material is called for in take-away and drive-through restaurants where restaurant staff provides more than one napkin with restaurant orders. Thus, dispensing a controlled amount of more than one napkin from a dispenser is desirable in a dispenser for such so-called back-of-the-house use.

US2006/118568 discloses a napkin dispenser comprising a container body for holding a stack of napkins, and a pair of interchangeable face plates each connectable to the container body. One of the face plates has a first elongated dispensing opening exposing a bottom region of the napkin stack, for one-by-one dispensing, and the other face plate has a second elongated dispensing opening exposing an edge region of the napkin stack, for dispensing a plurality of napkins simultaneously. The face plate arranged for one-by-one dispensing is provided with a dispensing opening through which a part of only one napkin projects. The interior of the face plate is provided with ribs for supporting edge/side portions of the napkins in the stack. From FIG. 1, it is also apparent that the face plate is provided with portions supporting an end surface of the stack around the dispensing opening, the end surface extending parallel to the napkins of the stack. Accordingly, the napkin has to wrinkle up to some extent in order to pass through the dispensing opening along a normal extending from the end surface of the stack. The face plate for dispensing a plurality of napkins is provided with a lateral dispensing opening exposing an edge region of several napkins at a side of the stack. Accordingly, the end surface of the stack is supported by the face plate and the napkins are dispensed in a direction parallel to the end surface of the stack.

There exists a need for an alternative dispenser for dispensing more than one sheet of web material at a time.

SUMMARY

It is desired to provide a dispenser for dispensing more than one sheet of web material at a time.

According to an aspect, a dispenser for dispensing sheets of web material from a stack of sheets of web material is provided. The dispenser includes: a housing, a dispensing opening, a web material reservoir for the stack arranged in the housing, a biasing arrangement arranged to bias the stack towards the dispensing opening, and a stopper element associated with the dispensing opening. The stopper element is adapted to prevent the stack from being ejected through the dispensing opening by the biasing arrangement. The web material reservoir defines a stack space arranged to house the stack. The stack space is at least partially delimited between a first plane and a second plane, substantially parallel to and spaced a first distance from the first plane. Near the dispensing opening, the first plane extends in a first plane direction directed towards the dispensing opening and the second plane extends in a second plane direction directed towards the dispensing opening. The dispensing opening includes an opening portion having an opening width corresponding to the first distance, the opening portion being substantially aligned with the stack space such that the first and second plane directions extend uninterruptedly through the opening portion.

Since the opening portion of the dispensing opening has a width corresponding to the first distance between the first and second planes and the opening portion is aligned with the stack space such that the first and second plane directions extend uninterruptedly through the opening portion, the dispenser is arranged to expose, in the opening portion, an entire width of an outer sheet of web material of a stack of web material in the dispenser, to permit dispensing a bundle including at least two sheets of web material in a direction parallel with the first and second planes from the dispenser. A user may thus grasp around an edge portion of an outermost bundle of sheets of web material to dispense at least two sheets of web material from the dispenser.

Moreover, since the opening portion of the dispensing opening has a width corresponding to the first distance between the first and second planes and the opening portion is aligned with the stack space such that the first and second plane directions extend uninterruptedly through the opening portion, edge portions of the outermost sheets of a stack in the dispenser, and two corner portions bordering to each edge portion, may extend into or through the dispensing opening in the opening portion. A user may thus grasp around an edge portion of an outermost bundle of sheets of web material to dispense at least two sheets of web material from the dispenser.

The dispenser may be a stand-alone unit or a unit arranged to be built into a counter or a worktop. The dispenser may be adapted to be arranged with the stack extending substantially horizontally or substantially vertically. If the dispenser is arranged with the stack extending vertically, the dispensing opening of the dispenser may suitably face upwardly. The definition that the first and second plane directions extend uninterruptedly through the opening portion entails that there is a free passage from the stack space through the opening portion of the dispensing opening. The sheets of web material in the stack of sheets of web material may include a cellulose material. The sheets of web material may be sheets of web material for general wiping purposes. More specifically, the sheets of web material may be napkins. Accordingly, the dispenser may be arranged for dispensing sheets of web material for general wiping purposes, or the dispenser may be arranged for dispensing napkins.

The dispenser may be arranged to hold, in its stack space, a stack including a plurality of bundles of substantially coextensive sheets of web material in the stack space. Each bundle may include at least two sheets of web material. In the stack, the bundles of the said plurality of bundles may be alternatingly offset in relation to each other. Such offset between the bundles may facilitate for, a user to easily grasp around an edge portion of an outermost bundle of the stack, the edge portion of the outermost bundle including edges of all the coextensive sheets of the outermost bundle. Substantially coextensive sheets of web material of a bundle entail that the sheets of web material are substantially aligned along edges of the sheets of web material. The outermost bundle of the stack is a bundle at a top of the stack, i.e. the outermost bundle is the bundle to be dispensed next from the dispenser.

According to embodiments, the dispensing opening may extend in an opening plane and a normal of the opening plane may extend in a direction substantially parallel with the first and second plane directions.

According to embodiments, the web material reservoir may be arranged to house the stack with edge portions of the sheets of web material in the stack extending in parallel with the first and second planes, and with planes of the sheets extending substantially perpendicularly to the first and second planes and in parallel with the opening plane.

According to embodiments, the stopper element may be arranged in a middle portion of the dispensing opening and extends substantially perpendicularly to the first and second planes. In this manner, a stack in the dispenser being biased towards the dispensing opening may be prevented from being ejected through the dispensing opening by the stopper element. The placement of the stopper element in the middle portion of the dispensing opening forms an advantageously positioned counterpart to the biasing arrangement providing an even distribution in the stack of a biasing force of the biasing arrangement. In these embodiments, the opening portion of the dispensing opening is provided beside the stopper element.

According to embodiments, the stopper element may include two stopper element portions extending substantially perpendicularly to the first and second planes, each stopper element portion being arranged at opposed ends of the dispensing opening. In this manner, a stack in the dispenser being biased towards the dispensing opening may be prevented from being ejected through the dispensing opening by the stopper element. The two stopper element portions form together a counterpart to the biasing arrangement. In these embodiments the opening portion of the dispensing opening is provided between the stopper element portions.

According to embodiments, the stopper element may include a fixed surface arranged to abut against the stack. In this manner, the stopper element may frictionally engage with at least one sheet of web material of the stack.

According to embodiments, the stopper element may include at least one roller arranged to abut against an outer sheet of web material of the stack of web material, the roller being arranged to rotate about a rotation axis, wherein the rotation axis extends parallel to the opening plane. In this manner, the roller of the stopper element may rotate about the rotation axis to facilitate dispensing a bundle of sheets of web material from the dispenser.

According to embodiments, the at least one roller may have a substantially cylindrical shape.

According to embodiments, the at least one roller may have a substantially spherical shape.

According to embodiments, the stopper element may extend in the opening plane with an abutment surface portion of the stopper element arranged substantially in the opening plane. In this manner, an outer sheet of web material of the stack in the dispenser may be positioned at the dispensing opening by the biasing arrangement biasing the stack to abut against the abutment surface portion.

According to embodiments, the web material reservoir may have a rectangular inner cross-section.

According to embodiments, the web material reservoir may include a first delimiting element extending at least partially in the first plane and a second delimiting element extending at least partially in the second plane. In this manner, the first and second delimiting elements may contribute to define the stack space in the dispenser. Examples of delimiting elements are for instance walls, and portions of ridges arranged in the reservoir.

According to embodiments, the first and second delimiting elements may border to the opening portion of the dispensing opening. In the opening portion, the dispensing opening may be defined by the first and second delimiting elements.

According to embodiments, the web material reservoir may be adapted to house a stack including a plurality of bundles, wherein each bundle may include at least two substantially coextensive sheets of web material, and wherein in the stack, the bundles of the said plurality of bundles may be alternatingly offset in relation to each other.

Substantially coextensive sheets of web material of a bundle entail that the sheets of web material are substantially aligned along edges of the sheets of web material. An edge of a sheet of web material may either include one or more free edges of web material or one or more folded edges of web material. As arranged in the stack, each sheet of web material may be an unfolded sheet of web material, or a folded sheet of web material. The web material may be a soft and absorbent sheet of web material, e.g. a sheet for general wiping purposes, or a napkin for use by restaurant customers. Due to the width of the opening portion of the dispenser, a user may easily grasp around an edge portion of an outermost bundle of the offset bundles of the stack in order to dispense the outermost bundle from the dispenser and the stack. The edge portion of the outermost bundle includes edges of all the coextensive sheets of the outermost bundle.

According to embodiments, the opening portion of the dispensing opening may be arranged to expose an edge portion of an outermost bundle of sheets of web material in the stack, for a user to grasp around the edge portion of the outermost bundle of sheets of web material.

According to embodiments, each sheet of web material may have an extension along a first direction, and wherein the bundles may be alternatingly offset along the first direction. That is, edge portions of two adjacent bundles are offset in relation to each other along the first direction.

According to embodiments, each bundle of the said plurality of bundles may include 2-10 sheets of web material, or 2-6 sheets of web material.

According to embodiments, each sheet of web material may form a napkin.

According to embodiments, each sheet of web material may include a cellulose material including new and/or recycled cellulose fibres.

Each sheet of web material may include wet creped web material, and/or dry creped web material, and/or TAD web material, and/or ATMOS web material. Each sheet of web material may include an embossed surface structure. The surface of each sheet of web material may be printed on. Each sheet of web material may include one or more layers of web material, typically 1-3 layers of web material. The layers may be glued together, or may be commonly embossed to connect the layers to each other, e.g. by edge embossing. Embossing may be provided in portions of the entire surface of a sheet. Each layer may be separately embossed. If a sheet of web material includes more than one layer of web material, the different layers may be of the same kind or they may form combinations of the different kinds of web material mentioned above. Each of the one or more layers of web material in a sheet of web material may have a weight of 15-30 gsm (gram per square meter). An example sheet of web material forming a napkin may be formed from 2 layers of web material, each layer having a weight of 17 gsm.

A stack according to embodiments may have a height of 10-60 cm and may include 100-1500 sheets of web material.

It is also desired to provide a method for dispensing more than one sheet of web material at a time.

According to a further aspect, provided is a method of dispensing a bundle including at least two coextensive sheets of web material from a dispenser a stack of sheets of web material, the stack including a plurality of bundles, each bundle including at least two coextensive sheets of web material, wherein the bundles of the said plurality of bundles are alternatingly offset in relation to each other. The method includes:

biasing the stack towards a dispensing opening of the dispenser,biasing the stack against a stopper element arranged in connection with the dispensing opening,exposing an edge portion of an outermost bundle in the dispensing opening,grasping the outermost bundle about the edge portion, andremoving the outermost bundle from the dispensing opening and the stopper element.

According to embodiments, the method of dispensing may be performed from a dispenser according to aspects and embodiments disclosed herein.

Further features of, and advantages with, embodiments of the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following detailed description. Those skilled in the art will realize that different features of the present invention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of embodiments of the invention, including particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate schematically embodiments of a stack including a plurality of sheets of web material,

FIGS. 3 a-3c illustrate sheets of web material according to embodiments,

FIGS. 4 a and 4b illustrate schematically expanded side views of embodiments of bundles of substantially coextensive sheets of web material,

FIGS. 5 a and 5b illustrate schematically embodiments of stacks including a plurality of sheets of web material,

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of dispensing a bundle including at least two sheets of web material from a stack including a plurality of sheets of web material,

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate schematically embodiments of dispensers for dispensing sheets of web material from a stack of sheets of web material, and

FIG. 10 illustrates a method of dispensing a bundle 6 including at least two coextensive sheets of web material from a dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. However, the invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Disclosed features of example embodiments may be combined as readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Well-known functions or constructions will not necessarily be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically embodiments of a stack 2 including a plurality of sheets 4 of web material. The sheets of web material may be sheets for general wiping purposes or napkins. In the stack 2 the sheets of web material are arranged in a plurality of bundles 6. Each bundle 6 includes at least two sheets 4 of web material. For instance, each bundle 6 may include 2-10 sheets 4 of web material, or 2-6 sheets 4 of web material. In each bundle 6, the sheets 4 of web material are arranged substantially coextensively. The bundles 6 are alternatingly offset in relation to each other in the stack 2. A user, desiring to dispense sheets of web material from the stack 2, may easily grasp an outermost bundle 6′ from the stack 2, i.e. a bundle at a top of the stack 2. In particular, a user may easily grasp around an edge portion 8 of the outermost bundle 6′. Since the sheets of web material of each bundle are substantially coextensive, the edge portion 8 of the outermost bundle 6′ includes edge portions of all sheets of web material in the outermost bundle 6′. The same goes for each bundle 6 of the stack 2. The dispensed outermost bundle 6′ includes orderly arranged sheets of web material, which may be orderly provided with restaurant food orders; in the case the sheets of web material form napkins. The stack 2 is suitable for placing in a dispenser of the kind discussed below, for dispensing the bundles of sheets of web material.

Each sheet 4 of web material has an extension along a first direction 10. The bundles 6 are alternatingly offset along the first direction 10. Edge portions of two adjacent bundles 6 may be offset 0.5-5 cm in relation to each other, or 1-3 cm, along the first direction 10. In FIG. 1, reference number 12 indicates the offset. Each sheet 4 of web material, in the form as arranged in the stack 4, is rectangular. Each bundle 6 in the stack 2 includes a same number of sheets 4 of web material. The stack 2 may have a height of 10-60 cm and may include 100-1500 sheets 4 of web material.

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically embodiments of a stack 2 including a plurality of sheets 4 of web material. The sheets 4 of web material may be sheets for general wiping purposes or napkins. In the stack 2, the sheets of web material are arranged in a plurality of bundles 6. Each bundle 6 includes at least two coextensive sheets 4 of web material. The bundles 6 are alternatingly offset in relation to each other in the stack 2. Each sheet 4 of web material in the stack 2 has four straight edge portions. Two opposite of the four straight edge portions of each sheet 4 of web material in the stack 2 are aligned along two parallel planes in the stack 2. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the two parallel planes extend in parallel with the plane of the drawing.

The stack 2 includes a wrapping 14 provided around the stack 2 for holding the sheets 4 of web material together. The wrapping 14 is removed upon the stack 2 being placed in a dispenser. The wrapping 14 may for instance be opened along a joint 16 of the wrapping 14. The stack includes six sides. The wrapping 14 is provided around four sides of the six sides of the stack 2. Two sides of the four sides extend along the above-mentioned two parallel planes. Alternatively, as indicated by broken lines and with curved arrows, the wrapping 14 may be provided around the six sides of the stack 2.

When the wrapping 14 is provided around only four sides of the stack 2, the warping 14 may be as wide as the stack 2, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the wrapping 14 may be narrower than the stack 2.

FIGS. 3 a-3c illustrate sheets 4 of web material according to embodiments. Each of the sheets 4 may be arranged in a bundle 6 of a stack 2 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. A sheet 4 of web material may include a cellulose material including new and/or recycled cellulose fibres. The sheet 4 of web material is soft and absorbent. The sheet 4 of web material may include wet creped web material, and/or dry creped web material, and/or TAD web material, and/or ATMOS web material.

Each of FIGS. 3a-3c illustrates a sheet 4 of web material as it may be formed when arranged in a relevant bundle of a stack. FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate dashed lines forming folding lines, and folding directions with arrows. Thus, folding the sheets 4 along the folding lines in the direction of the folding arrows in FIGS. 3a and 3b will result in a sheet 4 as illustrated in FIGS. 3b and 3c, respectively. FIG. 3a illustrates an unfolded sheet 4 of web material. FIG. 3b illustrates a sheet 4 of web material which has been folded once. FIG. 3c illustrates a sheet 4 of web material which has been folded twice. A sheet 4 of web material may thus have free edges 18 and folded edges 20.

FIGS. 3 b and 3c illustrate two ways of folding a sheet 4 of web material. There are numerous alternative ways of folding sheets 4 of web material. The sheets 4 of web material of FIGS. 3b and 3c have been folded symmetrically. Alternatively, a sheet 4 of web material may be folded asymmetrically, i.e. one or more folding lines may be asymmetrically located along the sheet 4.

FIGS. 4 a and 4b illustrate schematically expanded side views of embodiments of bundles 6 of substantially coextensive sheets 4 of web material. A number of such bundles 6, arranged alternatingly offset, form a stack of sheets 4 of web material. The bundle 6 illustrated in FIG. 4a includes three sheets 4 of web material. Each sheet 4 of web material is folded. The sheets 4 are interleaved in the bundle 6. The bundle 6 illustrated in FIG. 4b includes four sheets 4 of web material. Each sheet 4 of web material is asymmetrically folded. The sheets 4 of web material are arranged in the bundle 6 with short panels of the asymmetrically folded sheets 4 arranged such that the bundle 6 has an even thickness. Each sheet 4 of web material in the bundles of FIGS. 4a and 4b is a separate sheet of web material.

FIGS. 5 a and 5b illustrate schematically further embodiments of stacks 2 including a plurality of sheets 4 of web material. The sheets 4 of web material may be sheets for general wiping purposes or napkins. In each stack 2, the sheets 4 of web material are arranged in a plurality of bundles 6. Each bundle 6 includes at least two coextensive sheets 4 of web material. The bundles 6 are alternatingly offset in relation to each other in each stack 2.

In the FIG. 5a, only a top end of a stack 2 of sheets 4 of web material is illustrated. Each sheet 4 of web material has an extension along a first direction 10. The bundles 6 are offset along the first direction 10. In these embodiments, the first direction 10 extends across a short direction of the rectangular sheets 4, as opposed to the embodiments of FIG. 1 wherein the first direction 10 extends across a long direction of the rectangular sheets 4. Two adjacent bundles 6 may be offset 0.5-5 cm, or 1-3 cm, along the first direction 10. Each sheet 4 of web material in the stack 2 has four straight edge portions. Two opposite of the four straight edge portions of each sheet 4 of web material in the stack 2 are aligned along two parallel planes 22, 22′ in the stack 2. In these embodiments, the two parallel planes 22, 22′ extend along short ends of the stack 2.

In the FIG. 5b embodiments, each sheet 4 of web material has an extension along a first direction 10 and an extension along a second direction 24. The bundles 6 are offset along the first direction 10 and along the second direction 24, i.e. edge portions of two adjacent bundles are offset in relation to each other along both the first and second directions 10, 24.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of dispensing a bundle 6 including at least two sheets 4 of web material from a stack 2 including a plurality of sheets 4 of web material. The stack 2 is suitably a stack 2 according to aspects and/or embodiment disclosed herein, e.g. as disclosed in connection with FIGS. 1, 2, 5a and 5b. The method includes:

biasing 100 the stack 2 towards a dispensing opening of a dispenser,biasing 102 the stack 2 against a stopper element arranged in connection with the dispensing opening,exposing 104 an edge portion 8 of an outermost bundle 6′ in the dispensing opening,grasping 106 the outermost bundle 6′ about the edge portion 8, andremoving 108 the outermost bundle 6′ from the dispensing opening and the stopper element.

The method may be performed in connection with a dispenser according to aspects and embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates schematically embodiments of a dispenser 30 for dispensing sheets of web material from a stack of sheets of web material. The dispenser 30 is arranged to hold a stack including a plurality of bundles of substantially coextensive sheets of web material. Each bundle includes at least two sheets of web material. In the stack, the bundles are alternatingly offset in relation to each other. Each sheet of web material may include a cellulose material including new and/or recycled cellulose fibres. The sheets of web material may be sheets for general wiping purposes or napkins. The stack may be e.g. a stack 2 as disclosed herein in connection with FIG. 1. The dispenser 30 includes a housing 32 and a web material reservoir 34 for the stack, in the housing 32. The dispenser 30 further includes a dispensing opening 36 for dispensing sheets of web material there through, a biasing arrangement (not-shown) arranged to bias the stack towards the dispensing opening 36, and a stopper element 38 associated with the dispensing opening 36. The stopper element 38 is adapted to prevent the stack from being ejected through the dispensing opening 36 by the biasing arrangement.

The web material reservoir 34 defines a stack space 40 arranged to house the stack of sheets of web material. The web material reservoir 34 has a rectangular inner cross-section. The stack space 40 is at least partially delimited between a first plane 42 and a second plane 42′. The second plane 42′ is substantially parallel to and spaced a first distance from the first plane 42. Near the dispensing opening 36, the first plane 42 extends in a first plane direction 44 directed towards the dispensing opening 36 and the second plane 42′ extends in a second plane direction 44′ directed towards the dispensing opening 36. The dispensing opening 36 includes an opening portion 46 having an opening width W corresponding to the first distance. The opening portion 46 is substantially aligned with the stack space 40 such that the first and second plane directions 44, 44′ extend uninterruptedly through the opening portion 46. Thus, the dispenser 30 is arranged to expose in the opening portion 46, an entire width of an outer sheet of web material of a stack of web material arranged in the stack space 40. A bundle of at least two sheets of web material may thus be dispensed in a direction parallel with the first and second planes 42, 42′ from the dispensing opening 36.

The dispensing opening 36 extends in an opening plane 48. A normal N of the opening plane 48 extends in a direction substantially parallel with the first and second plane directions 44, 44′. The web material reservoir 34 includes a first delimiting element extending at least partially in the first plane 42 and a second delimiting element extending at least partially in the second plane 42′. In these embodiments, the first and second delimiting elements are formed by wall portions 35, 35′ of the housing 32. The first and second delimiting elements border to the opening portion 46 of the dispensing opening 36. In the opening portion 46, the dispensing opening 36 is defined by the first and second delimiting elements.

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically embodiments of a dispenser 30 for dispensing sheets of web material from a stack 2 of sheets 4 of web material. The stack 2 includes a plurality of bundles 6 of substantially coextensive sheets 4 of web material. Each bundle 6 includes at least two sheets 4 of web material. For instance, each bundle 6 may include 2-10 sheets 4 of web material, or 2-6 sheets 4 of web material. In the stack 2, the bundles 6 are alternatingly offset in relation to each other. The sheets 4 of web material may be sheets for general wiping purposes or napkins. The dispenser 30 is similar to the dispenser 30 described in connection with FIG. 7. The main difference between the FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 embodiments lies in the design of the stopper element 38. Thus, not all features of the dispenser 30 are repeated below in the description relating to the FIG. 8 embodiments.

The stack 2 is housed in a stack space of a web reservoir of the dispenser 30. The stopper element 38 prevents the stack 2 from being ejected through the dispensing opening 36 by a biasing element arranged in the dispenser 30. Again, the stack space is at least partially delimited between a first plane and a second plane arranged at a first distance from each other. The first and second planes extend in a respective first and second plane direction towards the dispensing opening 36, as discussed above. The dispensing opening 36 includes an opening portion 46 having an opening width W corresponding to the first distance. The opening portion 46 is substantially aligned with the stack space such that the first and second plane directions extend uninterruptedly through the opening portion 46. Thus, in the opening portion 46, an entire width of an outer sheet of web material of the stack 2 of web material is exposed. Edge portions of the outer sheets of the stack and two corner portions bordering to the edge portions extend into or through the dispensing opening in the opening portion 46. A bundle 6 of at least two sheets 4 of web material may thus be dispensed in a direction parallel with the first and second planes from the dispensing opening 36. A user may thus grasp around an edge portion of the outermost bundle 6 of sheets 4 of web material to dispense at least two sheets 4 of web material from the dispenser 30. Thus, the dispensing opening 36 is arranged to expose an edge portion of an outermost bundle 6 of sheets 4 of web material in the stack 2, for a user to grasp around the edge portion of the outermost bundle 6 of sheets 4 of web material.

The dispenser 30 may be used as a stand-alone unit adapted to be placed on a surface, such a counter or worktop in e.g. a restaurant. Alternatively, the dispenser 30 may be placed in a counter or a worktop. For the latter, the dispenser includes a flange 50 arranged around the dispensing opening 36. The flange 50 is arranged to abut against the counter or the worktop around an opening in the counter or the worktop. For instance, the dispenser 30 may be arranged horizontally in a counter with its dispensing opening 36 facing sideways, or vertically in a worktop with its dispensing opening 36 facing upwardly.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8, the stopper element is arranged in a middle portion of the dispensing opening 36. The stopper element 38 extends substantially perpendicularly to the first and second planes 42, 42′. The stopper element 38 includes at least one roller 52, 54 arranged to abut against an outermost sheet of web material of the stack 2 of web material. The roller 52, 54 is arranged to rotate about a rotation axis 56. The rotation axis 56 extends parallel to the opening plane 48. The roller 52, 54 of the stopper element 38 is rotatable about the rotation axis 56 to facilitate dispensing a bundle 6 of sheets 4 of web material from the dispenser 30. In the embodiments of FIG. 8, the at least one roller 52 has a substantially cylindrical shape. In the embodiments of FIG. 7, the at least one roller 54 has a substantially spherical shape. In the FIG. 7 embodiments, the stopper element 38 includes a further spherical roller 54′. According to further embodiments, more than two spherically shaped rollers may be used. Also in embodiments including cylindrical rollers, two, three or more individual rollers may be used. In embodiments including more than one roller 52, 54, the rollers may be arranged along one rotation axis 56, as illustrated. Alternatively, the rollers may be arranged to rotate about two or more rotation axes arranged in parallel with each other. According to further embodiments, the stopper element arranged in the middle portion of the dispensing opening 36 may include one or more fixed surfaces arranged to abut against an outermost sheet of web material of the stack 2 of web material, i.e. the stopper element does not include any roller 52, 54.

The dispensers 30 of the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8 include a non/shown biasing arrangement, e.g. as discussed in connection with FIG. 9 below.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-section through embodiments of a dispenser 30 for dispensing sheets of web material from a stack 2 of sheets 4 of web material. Again, the stack 2 includes a plurality of bundles 6 of substantially coextensive sheets 4 of web material. Each bundle 6 includes at least two sheets 4 of web material. In the stack 2, the bundles 6 are alternatingly offset in relation to each other. The sheets 4 of web material may be sheets for general wiping purposes or napkins. The dispenser 30 is similar to the dispensers 30 described in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8. The main difference between the FIG. 9 embodiments and the FIGS. 7 and 8 embodiments lies in the design of the stopper element 38. Thus, not all features of the dispenser 30 are repeated in the description below in relation to the FIG. 9 embodiments. Similarly, features apart from the stopper element 38 described below may be applicable in dispensers 30 according to the FIGS. 7 and 8 embodiments.

The dispenser 30 includes a biasing arrangement 58 for biasing the stack 2 towards a dispensing opening 36 of the dispenser 30. A stopper element 38, arranged at the dispensing opening 36 prevents the stack 2 from being ejected through the dispensing opening 36 by the biasing arrangement 58. A web material reservoir 34 of the dispenser 30 defines a stack space 40 arranged to house the stack 2 of sheets of web material. The stack space 40 is at least partially delimited between a first plane and a parallel second plane. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the first and second planes extend in parallel with the plane of the drawing. Near the dispensing opening 36, the first plane extends in a first plane direction 44 directed towards the dispensing opening 36 and the second plane extends in a second plane direction 44′ directed towards the dispensing opening 36.

The stopper element 38 includes two stopper element portions 60, 60′ extending substantially perpendicularly to the first and second planes. Each stopper element portion 60, 60′ is arranged at opposed ends of the dispensing opening 36. The two stopper element portions 60, 60′ form together a counterpart to the biasing arrangement 58. The stopper element 38 includes a fixed surface arranged to abut against the stack 2. More specifically, each stopper element portion 60, 60′ includes a fixed surface 62, 62′. Each of the fixed surfaces 62, 62′ engages frictionally with a sheet of web material of the stack 2.

The second plane is spaced a first distance from the first plane. The dispensing opening 36 includes an opening portion having an opening width corresponding to the first distance. In FIG. 9, the opening width extends perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing. The opening portion of the dispensing opening is substantially aligned with the stack space 40 such that the first and second plane directions 44, 44′ extend uninterruptedly through the opening portion. An outermost bundle 6 of the stack 2, frictionally engaged with one of the fixed surfaces 62, 62′ thus, may be grasped by a user to dispense the bundle 6 in a direction parallel with the first and second planes from the dispensing opening 36. Thus, the dispensing opening 36 is arranged to expose an edge portion of an outermost bundle 6 of sheets 4 of web material in the stack, for a user to grasp around the edge portion of the outermost bundle 6 of sheets 4 of web material. The two outermost bundles 6 of sheets 4 of web material in the stack 2 abut each against one of the two stopper element portions 60, 60′.

The biasing arrangement 58 includes a movable wall portion 64 and a spring 66. The movable wall portion 64 abuts against a rear end of the stack 2. The spring 66 is arranged to push the movable wall portion 64 in a direction towards the dispensing opening 36. Thus, the stack 2 is biased towards the dispensing opening 36, by the biasing arrangement 58, to abut against the stopper element 38.

Provided purely as an example, the spring 66 may provide a biasing force of 0.25−0.6 N/cm. The spring 6 may be fully extended when the dispenser 30 is empty, and thus, may provide no force when the dispenser is empty. For example, when a dispenser 30, having a stack space 40 of 50 cm length, is arranged to be used horizontally, the spring 66 may provide a force of about 6-10 N when the spring 69 is fully compressed. A further example is a dispenser 30, being arranged to be used vertically with the dispensing opening facing upwardly and having a stack space 40 of 50 cm length which may house a stack weighing approximately 1.5 kg, wherein the spring 66 may provide a force of about 15 N when the spring 69 is fully compressed.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 8 and 9, the stopper element 38 extends in the opening plane 48 with an abutment surface portion of the stopper element 38 arranged substantially in the opening plane 48.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 7-9, the web material reservoir 34 is arranged to house the stack 2 with edge portions of the sheets 4 of web material in the stack 2 extending in parallel with the first and second planes 42, 42′. Planes of the sheets 4 extend substantially perpendicularly to the first and second planes 42, 42′ and in parallel with the opening plane 48.

To fill the dispenser 30 with a stack 2 of sheets 4 of web material the stopper element 38 may be removed or pivoted aside for introducing the stack 2 through the dispensing opening 36. Alternatively, the dispenser 30 may be provided with a refilling opening for accessing the web material reservoir 34 and the stack space 40. According to some embodiments, a rear wall element of the housing 32 and the biasing arrangement 58 may be removed for refilling the dispenser 30.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method of dispensing a bundle 6 including at least two coextensive sheets 4 of web material from a dispenser 30 including a stack 2 of sheets 4 of web material, the stack 2 including a plurality of bundles 6, each bundle 6 including at least two coextensive sheets 4 of web material, wherein the bundles 6 of the plurality of bundles 6 are alternatingly offset in relation to each other. The method includes:

biasing 110 the stack 2 towards a dispensing opening 36 of the dispenser 30,biasing 112 the stack 2 against a stopper element 38 arranged in connection with the dispensing opening 36,exposing 114 an edge portion of an outermost bundle 6 in the dispensing opening 36,grasping 116 the outermost bundle 6 about the edge portion, andremoving 118 the outermost bundle 6 from the dispensing opening 36 and the stopper element 38.

The method of dispensing may be performed from a dispenser 30 according to aspects and embodiments disclosed herein.

Example embodiments described above may be combined as understood by a person skilled in the art. Although the invention has been described with reference to example embodiments, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of various example embodiments and that the invention is defined only by the appended claims.

As used herein, the term “comprising” or “comprises” is open-ended, and includes one or more stated features, elements, steps, components or functions but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, steps, components, functions or groups thereof.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing sheets of web material from a stack of sheets of web material, comprising: a housing;a dispensing opening;a web material reservoir for the stack arranged in the housing;a biasing arrangement arranged to bias the stack towards the dispensing opening; anda stopper element associated with the dispensing opening, the stopper element being adapted to prevent the stack from being ejected through the dispensing opening by the biasing arrangement,wherein the web material reservoir defines a stack space arranged to house the stack, the stack space being at least partially delimited between a first plane and a second plane, substantially parallel to and spaced a first distance from the first plane,wherein near the dispensing opening, the first plane extends in a first plane direction directed towards the dispensing opening and the second plane extends in a second plane direction directed towards the dispensing opening, andwherein the dispensing opening comprises an opening portion having an opening width corresponding to the first distance, the opening portion being substantially aligned with the stack space such that the first and second plane directions extend uninterruptedly through the opening portion.

2. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing opening extends in an opening plane and a normal of the opening plane extends in a direction substantially parallel with the first and second plane directions.

3. The dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the web material reservoir is arranged to house the stack with edge portions of the sheets of web material in the stack extending in parallel with the first and second planes, and with planes of the sheets extending substantially perpendicularly to the first and second planes and in parallel with the opening plane.

4. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the stopper element is arranged in a middle portion of the dispensing opening and extends substantially perpendicularly to the first and second planes.

5. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the stopper element comprises two stopper element portions extending substantially perpendicularly to the first and second planes, each stopper element portion being arranged at opposed ends of the dispensing opening.

6. The dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the stopper element comprises a fixed surface arranged to abut against the stack.

7. The dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the stopper element comprises at least one roller arranged to abut against an outer sheet of web material of the stack of web material, the roller being arranged to rotate about a rotation axis, wherein the rotation axis extends parallel to the opening plane.

8. The dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the at least one roller has a substantially cylindrical shape.

9. The dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the at least one roller has a substantially spherical shape.

10. The dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the stopper element extends in the opening plane with an abutment surface portion of the stopper element arranged substantially in the opening plane.

11. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the web material reservoir has a rectangular inner cross-section.

12. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the web material reservoir comprises a first delimiting element extending at least partially in the first plane and a second delimiting element extending at least partially in the second plane.

13. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the web material reservoir is adapted to house a stack comprising a plurality of bundles, wherein each bundle comprises at least two substantially coextensive sheets of web material, and wherein in the stack, the bundles of said plurality of bundles are alternatingly offset in relation to each other.

14. The dispenser according to claim 13, wherein the opening portion of the dispensing opening is arranged to expose an edge portion of an outermost bundle of sheets of web material in the stack, for a user to grasp around the edge portion of the outermost bundle of sheets of web material.

15. The dispenser according to claim 13, wherein each sheet of web material has an extension along a first direction, and wherein the bundles are alternatingly offset along the first direction.

16. The dispenser according to claim 13, wherein each bundle of said plurality of bundles comprises sheets of web material.

17. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein each sheet of web material forms a napkin.

18. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein each sheet of web material comprises a cellulose material comprising new and/or recycled cellulose fibers.

19. A method of dispensing a bundle comprising at least two sheets of web material from a dispenser comprising a stack of sheets of web material, the stack comprising a plurality of bundles, each bundle comprising at least two coextensive sheets of web material, wherein the bundles of said plurality of bundles are alternatingly offset in relation to each other, the method comprising: biasing the stack towards a dispensing opening of the dispenser;biasing the stack against a stopper element arranged in connection with the dispensing opening;exposing an edge portion of an outermost bundle in the dispensing opening;grasping the outermost bundle about the edge portion; andremoving the outermost bundle from the dispensing opening and the stopper element.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the dispenser comprises: a housing;a dispensing opening;a web material reservoir for the stack arranged in the housing;a biasing arrangement arranged to bias the stack towards the dispensing opening; anda stopper element associated with the dispensing opening, the stopper element being adapted to prevent the stack from being ejected through the dispensing opening by the biasing arrangement,wherein the web material reservoir defines a stack space arranged to house the stack, the stack space being at least partially delimited between a first plane and a second plane, substantially parallel to and spaced a first distance from the first plane,wherein near the dispensing opening, the first plane extends in a first plane direction directed towards the dispensing opening and the second plane extends in a second plane direction directed towards the dispensing opening, andwherein the dispensing opening comprises an opening portion having an opening width corresponding to the first distance, the opening portion being substantially aligned with the stack space such that the first and second plane directions extend uninterruptedly through the opening portion.