System and method for dispensing paper towel

A method of dispensing paper toweling from a paper towel dispenser adapted for use within a wall having a planar exposed surface, the cabinet having an upper cabinet defining a cavity for holding paper products, the upper cabinet having a door that, when closed, is substantially coplanar with the planar exposed surface of the wall and that encloses the paper towel dispenser within the cavity, the method comprising:

• actuating a dispensing mechanism to advance a free end of the paper toweling out from the upper cabinet upon the application of an upward force to an actuator located beneath the paper towel dispenser;
• cutting a length of the paper toweling;
• and
• removing the length of paper toweling from the dispenser.

A paper towel dispenser, comprising:

• a back frame defining a vertical orientation;
• first and second side plates connected to the back frame, the first and second side plates defining tracks;
• first and second pairs of paper roll supports supported by the first and second side plates and configured to mount rolled paper towel having a central axis of rotation in a horizontal orientation;
• a dispensing mechanism supported by the frame, the dispensing mechanism configured to engage the paper towel and advance the paper towel through the dispensing mechanism;
• a manual actuator operable from vertically below the dispensing mechanism to actuate the dispensing mechanism to advance the paper towel;
• and
• a transfer mechanism engaged with the tracks of the first and second side plates, the transfer mechanism being configured to engage paper towel mounted to the second pair of paper roll supports;
• wherein the tracks of the first and second side plates are vertically oriented to direct the transfer mechanism down toward the dispensing mechanism.

A method of installing a paper towel dispenser within a cabinet recessed within a wall, the wall having a planar exposed surface, the cabinet defining a cavity for holding paper towel, the cabinet having a cabinet door that, when placed in a closed position, is substantially coplanar with the planar exposed surface of the wall, the method comprising:

• opening the cabinet door of the cabinet into a position such that the cabinet door extends out from the planar exposed surface of the wall;
• providing a bottom plate defining a hole sized to have a manual actuator pass there through;
• inserting the paper towel dispenser within the cabinet after opening the cabinet door;
• extending a manual actuator through the hole in the bottom plate;
• installing paper toweling in the paper towel dispenser, including:
• sliding a transfer bar of the paper towel dispenser within vertical slots defined by the dispenser to a position above a first pair of roll supports;
• inserting a first roll of paper towel between the first pair of roll supports;
• and
• inserting a second roll of paper towel between a second pair of roll supports;
• and
• closing the cabinet door of the cabinet after inserting the paper towel dispenser to return the cabinet door to a position substantially coplanar with the planar exposed surface of the wall.

A paper towel dispenser, comprising:

• a frame including a first paper roll support to which a first paper roll mounts;
• a dispensing mechanism that engages a free end of a first paper roll mounted to the first paper roll support, the dispensing mechanism being constructed to advance paper from the first paper roll out of the dispenser;
• and
• a manual actuator having an actuator bar that extends downward from and out of the dispenser, the manual actuator being configured to advance the paper out of the dispenser upon the application of an upward force to the actuator bar.