Pullthru paper towel dispenser

A device for dispensing paper towel sheets from a web of sheets arranged in a roll having a cylindrical tube with an inner wall disposed substantially centrally therein and separated by rows of perforations, the device comprising:

• a base member adapted to support a roll of sheets for rotation about an axis, the base member including arms extending outwardly therefrom respectively disposed at opposite ends thereof, the arms respectively having first pivoting structures disposed on respective outside surfaces thereof;
• a first guide bar transversally carried by the arms and extending substantially parallel to the axis and spaced from the axis a first distance greater than a maximum radius of the roll of sheets;
• and
• a second guide bar having extensions at respective ends thereof, the extensions respectively having second pivoting structures disposed thereon for respective pivotal engagement with the first pivoting structures to accommodate pivotal movement of the second guide bar, relative to the first guide bar, between a loading position facilitating loading of the roll onto the base member and a dispensing position spaced from the first guide bar by a narrow gap through which a leading end of the roll may be freely received, the second guide bar spaced a second distance from the axis, the second distance being greater than the first distance when the second guide bar is in the dispensing position.

A method of dispensing paper towel sheets from a web of sheets arranged in a roll having and separated by rows of perforations, the method comprising:

• providing a base member adapted to support the roll of sheets for rotation about an axis;
• providing a first guide bar fixedly carried by the base member and extending parallel to the axis and spaced from the axis a first distance greater than a maximum radius of the roll of sheets;
• providing a second guide bar extending substantially parallel to the axis and carried by the base for movement, relative to the first guide bar, between a loading position facilitating loading of the roll onto the base member and a dispensing position spaced from the first guide bar by a narrow gap, the second guide bar spaced a second distance from the axis, the second distance being greater than the first distance when the second guide bar is in the dispensing position;
• disposing a leading end of the roll through the narrow gap;
• causing a generally pulling force to be applied to the leading end until a desired number of paper towel sheets have extended beyond the second guide bar;
• and
• causing a generally outwardly directed force to be applied by the paper towel sheets against the second guide bar, whereby causing the perforation adjacent to the second guide bar to tear.