Dispenser with automatic stub roll drop down
AssigneeDispensing Dynamics International
InventorsJoel P. Keily, Victor Landa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various dispensing systems with drop-down features are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the dispensing system includes a roll support with a sensor and a piston. The sensor can move as the roll decreases in size (e.g., the outside diameter decreases) and can apply a force to the roll. The piston can move to become less engaged with the roll, such as becoming less received in a roll plug or the hollow core of the roll. When the roll has decreased to a threshold size, the piston substantially or fully disengages from the roll and/or the sensor applies a force to dislodge the roll from the roll support. This results in the roll automatically dropping off the roll support. The roll support is thus available to receive a fresh roll.
Claims20
A dispensing system that is configured to dispense tissue from a roll, the dispensing system comprising:
- a casing;
- a dispensing mechanism in the casing;
- a roll support in the casing and configured to support an end of the roll, the roll support comprising:
- a sensor configured to engage an outside of the roll, the sensor configured to extend in response to a decrease in a size of the roll;
- a biasing member that biases the sensor such that the sensor applies a force against the outside of the roll;
- and
- a piston configured to be received inside a hollow core or a roll plug of the roll, the piston operably connected with the sensor such that the piston progressively retracts out of the hollow core or roll plug as the sensor extends;
- the roll support configured such that, when the roll reaches a threshold size, the roll automatically drops off the roll support at least partially by force of gravity.
A dispensing system that is configured to dispense tissue from a roll, the dispensing system comprising:
- a casing;
- a dispensing mechanism in the casing;
- a first roll support and a second roll support, the first and second roll supports configured to support the roll within the casing and to allow the roll to rotate about an axis of rotation, the first roll support comprising:
- a frame;
- a sensor connected to the frame and configured to detect a size of the roll, the sensor being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, the sensor biased toward the extended position;
- and
- a piston connected to the frame, the piston being movable between a protruding state and a withdrawn state, wherein in the protruding state the piston is received inside a hollow core or a roll plug of the roll and in the withdrawn state the piston is substantially or completely withdrawn from the hollow core or the roll plug;
- the piston and sensor being operably connected such that, as the sensor moves from the retracted position to the extended position, the piston moves from the protruding state to the withdrawn state.
A dispensing system that is configured to dispense tissue from a roll, the size of the roll progressively decreasing as the roll is dispensed, the dispensing system comprising:
- a casing;
- a dispensing mechanism in the casing;
- a first roll support and a second roll support, the first and second roll supports configured to support the roll within the casing and to allow the roll to rotate about an axis of rotation;
- the first roll support comprising a sensor that is configured to apply a force to an outside of the roll and a piston that is receivable within the roll;
- the first roll support configured such that, as the size of the roll decreases:
- the sensor transitions from applying the force to an axial end of the roll to an outside diameter of the roll;
- and
- the piston withdraws at least partly from inside the roll.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.