Dispenser for flexible sheet material

A dispenser for dispensing sheet material from a first roll retaining therein at least one reserve roll from which sheet material may be dispensed when said first roll is depleted, comprising:

• a chassis;
• and
• a dispensing roll transfer structure attached to said chassis, said transfer structure comprising:
• opposed guide channels formed on opposite sides of said chassis operative to receive axial ends of said first roll in a sheet dispensing position where dispensing from the roll will begin and a second dispensing roll in a reserve position thereabove, both said dispensing rolls being movable by gravity downwardly in said guide channels;
• and
• a rotatable member positioned above said sheet dispensing position to be contacted and rotated by an axial end of a roll moving downwardly between said guide channels, whereby downward movement of the roll toward the dispensing position is retarded by rotational resistance of the rotatable member.

A dispenser for dispensing sheet material from a plurality of dispensing rolls of 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 the chassis for reception of said spindle means and for gravitationally induced guided movement of a roll between said guide channels from an elevated reserve position to a sub-adjacent sheet-dispensing position where dispensing from the roll will begin;
• and
• a rotatable member positioned above said sheet dispensing position to be contacted and rotated by a spindle means of a roll moving downwardly between said guide channels, whereby downward movement of the roll toward the sheet-dispensing position is retarded by rotational resistance of the rotatable member;
• and
• a gauging roll journalled for rotation between opposite sides of said chassis and arranged to (1) vertically support a dispensing roll in said sheet-dispensing position and locate the spindle means thereof in said guide channels for so long as said supported dispensing roll is not depleted of sheet material, and (2) allow passage of said spindle means from lower open ends of said guide channels when the supported dispensing roll becomes depleted of sheet material;
• wherein at least one of said guide track member is mounted for pivotal movement to place an upper end thereof in (1) a position of subadjacent 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 (2) 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.