Dispenser for flexible sheet material

A dispenser for a plurality of dispensing rolls of flexible sheet material having spindle means extending beyond opposite ends thereof, comprising:

• a chassis having a sheet dispensing opening in one face thereof;
• a dispensing roll transfer structure including mutually spaced guide track members forming substantially vertically extending, open ended guide channels on opposite sides of said chassis for reception of said spindle means and for gravitationally induced guided movement therealong between an elevated reserve position and a subjacent sheet-dispensing position;
• and
• a gauging roll extending between opposite sides of said chassis substantially parallel to the axis of said dispensing rolls, said gauging roll being journalled for rotation on a substantially fixed axis and being disposed with respect to said guide channel-forming means to engage only a dispensing roll in its sheet material dispensing position to provide vertical support therefor when said dispensing roll contains sheet material thereon and to permit passage of the supported dispensing roll from said guide channel forming means when said sheet material is depleted therefrom;
• at least one of said guide track members being mounted for pivotal movement to place the upper end thereof in a position of subjacent vertically supporting engagement with a spindle means of a dispensing roll in said reserve position when said spindle means of said dispensing roll is retained in said sheet dispensing position by said gauging roll and a release position displaced from said position of engagement when said spindle means of said dispensing roll moves by gravity from said sheet dispensing position to fall from the open lower ends of said guide channels.

A dispenser for sheet material from dispensing rolls having residual elements for disposal following dissipation of said sheet material from said rolls, said dispenser comprising:

• a chassis having a dispensing roll transfer structure from which residual elements of dissipated dispensing rolls are discharged, when spent;
• means forming a compartment in the bottom of said chassis for receiving said discharged residual roll elements;
• a closure cover pivotally attached to said chassis for movement between an open and a closed position thereon;
• a door movable independently of movement of said closure cover operably connected to said chassis for releasably closing said compartment;
• a releasable latch for holding said door in its compartment-closing condition;
• and
• first means on said closure cover for impacting said door to release said latch for opening said door upon moving said closure cover to its open position.

A method for dispensing sheet material in a dispenser from rolls in which said sheet material is wound on a core, said dispenser including a movable closure cover enclosing said rolls and a collection area closed by releasably latched door movable independently of the movement of the closure cover, comprising the steps of:

• supporting a first roll in a dispensing position and a second roll in a reserve position;
• dispensing sheet material from said first roll;
• upon depletion of sheet material from said first roll, releasing the core thereof to a collection area and said second roll to said dispensing position;
• dispensing sheet material from said second roll;
• upon depletion of sheet material from said second roll releasing the core thereof to said collection area in said dispenser;
• and
• moving said closure cover toward a position for replenishing said rolls and thereby impacting said door for releasing a latched connection between said door and said dispenser to effect movement of said door to an open condition for discharging said cores from said collection area.