Flexible sheet material dispenser with automatic roll transferring mechanism

A method for dispensing sheet material from a dispenser wherein the sheet material is wrapped in a roll about a core and the sheet material is dispensed from the dispenser through a dispensing mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:

• supporting a first roll of the sheet material in the dispenser in a first supported position with the roll surface of the first roll in contact with a support means;
• dispensing sheet material from the first roll through the dispensing mechanism to diminish the diameter of the first roll in the first supported position until the first roll reaches a first predetermined diameter;
• guiding the first roll downward from the first supported position in contact with the support means to a second supported position upon the first roll reaching a first predetermined diameter so that a free end of its sheet material remains in contact with the support means and threaded through the dispensing mechanism;
• activating a retaining mechanism in response to the first roll being guided from the first supported position to the second supported position;
• loading a second roll into the dispensing mechanism;
• supporting said second roll by the retaining mechanism in a reserve position out of contact with, and vertically above, the support means;
• dispensing sheet material from the first roll through the dispensing mechanism to diminish the diameter of the first roll in the second supported position until the first roll reaches a second predetermined diameter;
• deactivating said retaining mechanism in response to said first roll reaching the second predetermined diameter;
• guiding the second roll downward from the reserve position to said first supported position supported by the support means, upon said retaining mechanism being deactivated;
• and
• dispensing sheet material from the second roll through the dispensing mechanism.

A dispenser for rolls of flexible sheet material wound on cores, the cores having ends extending beyond the sides of the rolls, the dispenser comprising:

• a housing having opposite side walls, each side wall having a guide track for receiving and guiding the core ends of a dispensing roll, each said guide track including an arcuate portion, said housing further having an upper portion and a lower portion;
• a support member supported in said housing for contacting and supporting the dispensing roll during a portion of the dispensing of the sheet material from the dispensing roll, each said arcuate guide track portion having a path being substantially radially spaced from the support member;
• and
• a dispensing mechanism supported in said housing laterally of said support member for dispensing sheet material from the dispensing roll and out of said dispenser, said dispensing roll travels from the upper portion of the housing to the lower portion of the housing upon reaching a predetermined diameter, the core ends of the dispensing roll being guided in said arcuate portions of said guide track as said dispensing roll travels from the upper portion of the housing to the lower portion of the housing, said support member supporting the dispensing roll for at least a portion of its travels within said arcuate portions.

A method for dispensing sheet material from a dispenser wherein the sheet material is wrapped in a roll about a core and the sheet material is dispensed from the dispenser through a dispensing mechanism, said method comprising:

• supporting a first roll by a first supporting member;
• dispensing a first amount of sheet material from said first roll while said first roll is being supported by said first supporting member;
• permitting the first roll to fall by gravity from the first supporting member to a second supporting member upon the first roll reaching a first predetermined diameter;
• supporting the first roll by the second supporting member;
• dispensing a second amount of sheet material from said first roll while said first roll is being supported by said second supporting member;
• permitting the first roll to fall by gravity from the second supporting member to a third supporting member upon the first roll reaching a second predetermined diameter, said second predetermined diameter being smaller than said first predetermined diameter;
• supporting the first roll inside the dispenser by the third supporting member;
• and
• dispensing the remaining amount of sheet material from said first roll until the first roll is depleted.

A dispenser for rolls of flexible sheet material wound on cores, the cores having ends extending beyond the sides of the rolls, the dispenser comprising:

• a housing having opposite side walls, each side wall having a guide track for receiving and guiding the core ends, said guide tracks having an upper end;
• a support means supported in said housing adjacent said guide track for contacting a roll of flexible sheet material during a portion of the dispensing of the sheet material from the dispenser;
• a dispensing mechanism supported in said housing laterally of said support means for dispensing sheet material from the dispensing roll out of said dispenser;
• a reserve roll support pivotally attached to one side wall for movement about a pivot axis, said reserve roll support being movable between a first position in which a reserve roll of flexible sheet material can freely move downward along said guide tracks to be supported by said support means, and a second position located within the guide track of said one side wall for supporting a reserve roll of flexible sheet material at an upper reserve position above said support means, said pivot axis being located adjacent said upper end of the guide track of said one side wall;
• and
• a sensing mechanism for sensing the diameter of the dispensing roll and controlling the movement of the reserve roll support in accordance with the sensed diameter of the dispensing roll.