United States Patent [19] [11] Patent Number: 5,288,032
Boone et al. [45] Date of Patent: Feb. 22,1994
[21] Appl. No.: 881,132
[22] Filed: May 11,1992
Related U.S. Application Data
[63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 731,064, Aug. 28, 1991.
[51] Int. Q.' B65H 16/06; B65H 19/10
[52] U.S. a 242/55.3; 242/55.53
[58] Field of Search 242/55.53, 55.3;
312/34.22
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
2,530,429 11/1950 Hedenskoog 273/47
3,387,902 6/1968 Perrin et al 312/39
3,589,331 8/1971 Okamura 242/55.3
3,690,580 9/1972 Jespersen 242/55.3
3,700,181 10/1972 Diring et al 242/55.3
3,770,222 11/1973 Jespersen 242/55.3
3,771,739 11/1973 Nelson 242/55.3
3,982,619 9/1976 Sieverin et al 193/31
4,137,805 2/1979 DeLuca et al 83/345
4,142,431 3/1979 Jespersen 83/335
4,180,183 12/1979 Muller 221/194
4,206,858 6/1980 DeLuca et al 225/96
4,222,621 9/1980 Greenlee et al 242/55.53
4,340,195 7/1982 DeLuca 242/55.3
4,522,346 6/1985 Jespersen 242/55.53 X
4,844,361 7/1989 Granger 242/55.3
4,856,724 8/1989 Jespersen 242/55.3
4,944,466 7/1990 Jespersen 242/55.3
5,000,393 3/1991 Madsen 22/55.3
Primary Examiner—Daniel P. Stodola
Assistant Examiner—John P. Darling
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Banner, Birch, McKie &
Beckett
[57] ABSTRACT
A dispenser for flexible sheet material rolls in which a first roll is supported in a dispensing position, a second roll is supported in a reserve position and a roll transfer apparatus is operative to transfer the second roll to the dispensing position upon depletion of sheet material from the first roll with the supporting arrangement for the roll in the dispensing position being rotatable with such roll and thereby subject to significantly reduced friction effects. The described dispenser organization also includes a novel arrangement for retaining the cores and spindles of spent rolls within the dispenser until the closure cover is opened for replenishing the dispenser with fresh rolls whereupon, by opening the cover, the spent residual roll elements are automatically deposited into the opened cover that forms a receptacle from whence the elements can be retrieved for disposal and following which the dispenser organization is automatically returned to its operative condition in a single step upon simply closing the closure cover. In order to retard the fall of a roll to the dispensing position, and thereby avoid injury or unpleasant surprise to a user and reduce noise upon roll transfer, a star wheel may be mounted to be contacted and rotated by a falling roll.
27 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
