Dispensing apparatus for rolled sheet material

A dispensing apparatus for a roll package of sheet material, comprising:

• a generally box-shaped container including side, front, rear, and bottom walls and a removable cover mounted thereon for opening and closing the container;
• means in said container for supporting a roll of sheet material with its axis extending between and substantially perpendicular to the side walls;
• spacer means between said roll and said side walls for slightly compressing said roll to provide a drag thereon as it is unrolled;
• means defining an opening between said front wall and said cover through which a free end of said sheet material may extend;
• a pivotal feeder for said sheet material including an arm mounted on said bottom wall and biased toward said roll of sheet material, said arm including a substantially flat upper surface portion disposed for engagement with the lower surface of said free end portion of said sheet material;
• means defining an opening in said cover, in registry with said flat upper surface portion, the construction and arrangement being such that force applied to urge said sheet material against said flat upper surface portion, and the latter toward said forward opening, pivots said arm away from said roll toward said forward opening while moving said sheet material through said forward opening, release of said force permitting said arm to pivot rearwardly toward said roll;
• and means for severing the extended portion of said sheet material comprising a recessed slot in said cover aligned with and facing the inner top edge of said front wall, and a cutter bar pivotable on said front wall including a cutting edge, said bar being selectively pivotable to move said cutting edge between a retracted position below said inner top edge and an extended position wherein said cutting edge is moved within said slot to sever sheet material extending transversely thereof and through said forward opening.

A dispensing apparatus for a roll package of sheet material, comprising:

• a container having generally planar side and bottom walls, and a cover affording access thereto;
• means for supporting a roll of sheet material within said container;
• means defining a slot between adjacent portions of said cover and one of said walls through which a free end portion of said sheet material may be fed from said roll;
• means in said container operative to provide drag on said roll as sheet material is fed therefrom;
• a pivotal feeder for said sheet material including an arm mounted on said bottom wall, biased toward said roll, and pivotable toward and away from said slot, said arm including an upper surface portion disposed for engagement with a lower surface of said free end portion of said sheet material;
• means defining an opening in said cover in registry with said upper surface portion of said arm, the construction and arrangement being such that force applied to urge said sheet material against said upper surface portion of said arm, and the latter toward said slot, is operative to pivot said arm away from said roll toward said slot while feeding said sheet material from said roll through said slot, removal of said force permitting said arm to pivot rearwardly toward said roll;
• and means on said container for severing the portion of said sheet material fed through said slot comprising a recessed groove in said cover aligned with and facing the inner top edge of said one side wall, and a cutter bar pivotal on said one side wall and including a cutting edge movable between a retracted position below said top edge, and an extended position upon pivotation of said cutter bar wherein said cutting edge moves within said groove to sever sheet material extending transversely thereof and through said forward slot.