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US 12,121,187 B2Granted
Dispenser for rolled sheet materials
OwnerCharles Agnew Osborne, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dispenser having a feed roller that at least partially engages sheet material to facilitate dispensing thereof, and a cutting mechanism disposed within a chamber defined by a body of the feed roller. The cutting mechanism including a cutting blade and at least one movable support connected thereto. The at least one support further is operatively connected to the body of the feed roller and is actuated with rotation thereof to move the cutting blade into and out from one or more openings defined along the body of the feed roller to at least partially cut or perforate a selected portion of the sheet material as the sheet material is dispensed.
Claims18
A dispenser for dispensing sheet material, comprising:
- a supply of the sheet material;
- a feed roller rotatably arranged relative to the supply, the feed roller having a feed roller body with an exterior surface, wherein the sheet material is engaged against the exterior surface of the feed roller body for feeding the sheet material along at least a portion of a discharge path, and a cavity being defined within the feed roller body;
- a cutting assembly at least partially disposed within the cavity of the feed roller body, the cutting assembly including:
- a cutting blade configured to at least partially cut, score, or perforate the sheet material during dispensing of the sheet material;
- and
- at least one support connected to the cutting blade and the feed roller body, the at least one support being configured to actuate with rotation of the feed roller to move the cutting blade through at least one opening defined in the feed roller body as the feed roller rotates;
- and
- at least one pair of biasing members disposed within the cavity of the feed roller body, each biasing member of the at least one pair of biasing members including one end mounted to the feed roller body so that the one end of each biasing member of the at least one pair of biasing members rotates with the feed roller body, and each biasing member of the one or more biasing members further including an opposite end connected to a cam member, wherein the feed roller body is rotatable about the cam member;
- and
- wherein the biasing members of the at least one pair of biasing members are configured to provide a biased assistance to assist rotation of the feed roller.
7 more elements
A dispenser, comprising:
- a feed roller having a feed roller body, the feed roller body configured for feeding a sheet material along at least a portion of a discharge path, and a cavity being defined within the feed roller body, wherein the feed roller body is rotatably mounted on a bearing;
- a cutting assembly at least partially disposed within the cavity of the feed roller body, the cutting assembly including at least a cutting blade and a support connected to the cutting blade, wherein the support is pivotably coupled to the feed roller body such that the support is pivoted to move the cutting blade through at least one opening defined in the feed roller body as the feed roller rotates;
- and
- one or more biasing members disposed within the feed roller body, each biasing member of the one or more biasing members including one end fixedly connected to the feed roller body, and each biasing member of the one or more biasing members further including an opposite end rotatably connected to a cam member, the cam member mounted at least partially within the cavity of the feed roller body and rotatably coupled to the feed roller body such that the feed roller is rotatable about the cam member, the cam member including a cam surface;
- a cam follower coupled to the support, wherein the cam follower is configured to engage and move along the cam surface of the cam member during rotation of the feed roller body to cause the support to move the cutting blade through the at least one opening;
- and
- wherein the one or more biasing members are configured to apply a biasing force to the feed roller such that the one or more biasing members urge the feed roller body to rotate toward a rest position and assist in returning the cutting blade to a position at least partially retracted into the cavity of the feed roller body.
4 more elements
A dispenser, comprising:
- a dispenser housing;
- at least one supply of sheet material;
- a feed roller having a feed roller body, the feed roller body having an exterior surface and at least one opening defined through the feed roller body, wherein the feed roller is configured to feed at least a portion of the sheet material along a discharge path defined through the dispenser housing;
- a cutting assembly at least partially received within the feed roller body, the cutting assembly including:
- a cutting blade configured to at least partially cut, score, or perforate the sheet material;
- a support having one end fixedly connected to the cutting blade and having another end pivotally connected to the feed roller body along an inner wall of the feed roller body, the support including a cam follower and being adapted to pivot with respect to the feed roller body during rotation of the feed roller body to move the cutting blade through the at least one opening toward and away from engagement with the sheet material;
- at least one cam member including at least one protrusion, protuberance, or extending portion configured to be engaged by the cam follower during rotation of the feed roller body to move the cutting blade into and out of the at least one opening;
- and
- at least two biasing members, each biasing member of the at least two biasing members having one end fixed to the inner wall of the feed roller body and an opposite end pivotally connected to the at least one cam member;
- and
- wherein the at least two biasing members are configured to assist rotation of the feed roller body and movement of the cutting blade through the one or more openings.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.