Dispenser for sheet material containing a dispensing port incrementally variable within a range
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsRichard Paul Lewis, Cleary Efton Mahaffey, Paul Francis Tramontina
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dispenser adapted to dispense sheet material therefrom is provided and includes a housing configured to support a sheet material product therein which has an exit port. The dispenser also includes at least an iris diaphragm for controlling the movement of sheet material from the housing through the exit port.
Claims48
A dispenser adapted to dispense sheet material, the dispenser comprising:
- a housing formed to include at least an exit port and configured to support sheet material therein;
- and
- an iris diaphragm including at least three iris blades positioned on the housing and supported for movement to form an opening having a diameter incrementally adjustable within a range, the iris diaphragm configured to be adjusted to any one of a plurality of opening diameters within the range, the iris diaphragm configured to permit the diameter of the opening to be adjusted for each product-type of sheet material positioned in the dispenser to provide controlled dispensing of the sheet material through the exit port.
An apparatus adapted for use with a dispenser housing for sheet material, the apparatus configured to cooperate with an opening formed in the dispenser housing to control the flow of sheet material disposed in the dispenser housing and extending through the opening therein, the apparatus comprising:
- a platform formed to include an exit port;
- and
- an iris diaphragm including a plurality of iris blades positioned on the platform and supported for movement to form an opening having a diameter incrementally adjustable within a range, the iris diaphragm configured to be adjusted to any one of a plurality of opening diameters within the range, the iris diaphragm configured to permit the diameter of the opening formed therein to be adjusted for each product-type of sheet material positioned in a dispenser housing to provide controlled dispensing of the sheet material from the apparatus and through the exit port.
A method of installing a sheet material product into a dispenser, the method comprising:
- accessing a platform provided in a housing of a dispenser having an exit port, the housing including an iris diaphragm having an opening pre-adjusted to dispense an effective number of sheet material products through the opening and the exit port;
- moving a portion of a slide assembly positioned in the dispenser at least partially away from the dispenser, the slide assembly operatively engaged to at least a portion of the iris diaphragm such that movement of the slide assembly moves the iris diaphragm thereby increasing the diameter of the opening to provide a loading position adjacent the exit port;
- disposing a sheet material product onto the platform, the platform formed to include an opening positioned at least partially below the product, the opening in communication with the opening formed by the iris diaphragm and the exit port forming a channel for the movement of sheet material therethrough;
- pushing a leading edge of the sheet material through the channel and the exit port;
- and
- moving the portion of the slide assembly toward the dispenser, the slide assembly moving the iris diaphragm such that the diameter of the opening formed thereby is reduced to its pre-adjusted diameter providing a dispensing position.
A method of adjusting sheet material flow from a dispenser, the method comprising:
- providing a dispenser housing configured to support sheet material therein, the dispenser housing having an iris diaphragm and an exit port;
- and
- incrementally adjusting the diameter of an opening formed by the iris diaphragm such that the opening is sized to permit an effective amount of sheet material to be dispensed through the opening and the exit port so that the sheet material is neither excessively dispensed nor under dispensed.
A dispenser adapted to dispense sheet material, the dispenser comprising:
- a housing including a platform and having an exit port therein, the housing configured to support sheet material therein;
- and
- means positioned adjacent the housing for controlling the movement of sheet material disposed in the housing through the exit port, the controlling means including an iris diaphragm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.