Claims
- 1. A dispenser for dispensing material from the outer surface of a roll having a diameter, the dispenser comprising:a cabinet; a trough inside the cabinet for supporting the roll, the trough being defined by a ramp having a front edge and a front-most portion, and a drive roller rotatably mounted in the cabinet and having an outer surface, the front-most portion and the outer surface defining a linear dimension therebetween so that when the diameter is greater than the linear dimension, the outer surface of the roll rests in the trough, directly on the outer surface of the drive roller and on the front edge of the ramp; and a pocket below the trough so that the roll automatically drops into the pocket between the front-most portion of the ramp and the outer surface of the drive roll when the diameter is less than the linear dimension; wherein material can be dispensed from the outer surface of the roll when the roll is supported in the trough and when the roll is in the pocket.
- 2. A dispenser as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a pressure roller rotatably mounted in the cabinet so that the material passes between the drive roller and the pressure roller.
- 3. A dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein the roll is gravity-biased toward the ramp to prevent the roll from being pulled over the drive roller.
- 4. A dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pocket includes a bottom wall for supporting the roll in the pocket.
- 5. A dispenser as set forth in claim 4, wherein the pocket includes a partition wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall.
- 6. A dispenser as set forth in claim 4, further including a catch mechanism beneath the bottom wall, the catch mechanism communicating with the pocket via a slot in the bottom wall.
- 7. A dispenser as set forth in claim 6, wherein a portion of the bottom wall is slanted toward the slot to urge the roll toward the slot and into the catch mechanism.
- 8. A dispenser for dispensing material from the outer surface of a roll having a diameter, the dispenser comprising:a cabinet; a trough within the cabinet for supporting the roll, the trough being defined by a support ramp having a front edge and a front-most portion, and a drive roller rotatably mounted in the cabinet and having an outer surface, the front-most portion and the outer surface defining therebetween an opening in the trough; and a pocket below the opening and having a bottom wall for supporting the roll in the pocket when the roll automatically drops into the pocket through the opening; wherein the roll automatically drops into the pocket after a sufficient amount of material is dispensed from the outer surface of the roll while the roll is supported in the trough; and wherein material continues being dispensed from the outer surface of the roll after the roll drops into the pocket.
- 9. A dispenser as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a pressure roller rotatably mounted in the cabinet so that the material passes between the drive roller and the pressure roller.
- 10. A dispenser as set forth in claim 8, wherein the roll is gravity-biased toward the support ramp to prevent the roll from being pulled over the drive roller.
- 11. A dispenser as set forth in claim 8, wherein the pocket includes a partition wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall.
- 12. A dispenser as set forth in claim 8, further including a catch mechanism beneath the bottom wall, the catch mechanism communicating with the pocket via a slot in the bottom wall.
- 13. A dispenser as set forth in claim 12, wherein a portion of the bottom wall is slanted toward the slot to urge the roll toward the slot and into the catch mechanism.
- 14. A dispenser for dispensing material from the outer surface of a roll having a diameter, the dispenser comprising:a cabinet; a trough inside the cabinet for supporting the roll, the trough being defined by a ramp having a front edge and a front-most portion, and a drive roller having an outer surface, wherein the front-most portion and the outer surface define a linear dimension therebetween so that when the diameter is greater than the linear dimension, the outer surface of the roll rests in the trough, directly on the outer surface of the drive roller and on the front edge of the ramp; a pocket below the trough and having a bottom wall for supporting the roll in the pocket when the diameter is less than the linear dimension and the roll automatically drops into the pocket; and a pressure roller rotatably mounted in the cabinet such that the material passes between the drive roller and the pressure roller to be dispensed from the outer surface of the roll both when the roll is supported in the trough and when the roll is supported in the pocket.
- 15. A dispenser as set forth in claim 14, wherein the pocket includes a partition wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall.
- 16. A dispenser as set forth in claim 14, further including a catch mechanism beneath the bottom wall, the catch mechanism communicating with the pocket via a slot in the bottom wall.
- 17. A dispenser as set forth in claim 16, wherein a portion of the bottom wall is slanted toward the slot to urge the roll toward the slot and into the catch mechanism.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit under 37 C.F.R. §119 of prior filed, co-pending Provisional Application No. 60/076,289, filed on Feb. 27, 1998.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/076289 |
Feb 1998 |
US |