Paper towel dispenser

Abstract

A paper towel dispenser having a drive mechanism, comprising a bi-directional gear and a drive roller, which is activated by a lever and/or button. As the lever is depressed by a user the bi-directional gear of the drive mechanism is engaged and a length of paper towel is dispensed. When the user releases the lever, the bi-directional gear is returned to its start position by a spring. On the return stroke the spring drives the bi-directional gear and dispenses an additional length of paper towel.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A paper towel dispenser comprising a drive roller, a user operated actuator, and a bi-directional gear, said bi-directional gear coupled to said drive roller and to said user operated actuator and operative to rotate said drive roller in a single direction of rotation to discharge said paper towel material, wherein one full cycle of said bi-directional gear is made up of a 1 st  stroke and a return stroke, both said 1 st  stroke and said return stroke operative to rotate said drive roller in said single direction, said 1 st  stroke being driven by a force exerted by a user on said actuator and said return stroke being driven by a biasing element.  
     
     
         2 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said drive roller is constantly engaged with said paper towel throughout said cycle of said bi-directional gear such that consumption of said paper towel is controlled.  
     
     
         3 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said bi-directional gear comprises two unidirectional gears.  
     
     
         4 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said bi-directional gear comprises one traveling gear.  
     
     
         5 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said bi-directional gear comprises two traveling gears.  
     
     
         6 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said bi-directional gear is sealed such that fibers from said paper towel cannot penetrate said bi-directional gear.  
     
     
         7 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said roll of paper towel is supported on said drive roller.  
     
     
         8 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said user operated actuator comprises a lever for transferring said force exerted by said user to said bi-directional gear.  
     
     
         9 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising stroke-length adjustment means operative to limit lengths of said 1 st  and return strokes.  
     
     
         10 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said biasing mechanism comprises a coil spring.  
     
     
         11 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising an idle roller in contact with said drive roller.  
     
     
         12 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said bi-directional gear is in the form of a cassette, which is inserted into the paper towel dispenser.  
     
     
         13 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said bi-directional gear includes gears of unequal sizes.  
     
     
         14 . A drive mechanism for a paper towel dispenser having a drive roller and a user operated actuator, said drive mechanism comprising a bi-directional gear couplable to said drive roller and to said user operated actuator and operative, when so coupled, to rotate said drive roller in a single direction of rotation to discharge paper towel material, wherein one full cycle of said bi-directional gear is made up of a 1 st  stroke and a return stroke, both said 1 st  stroke and said return stroke operative to rotate said drive roller in said single direction, said 1 st  stroke being driven by a force exerted by a user on said actuator and said return stroke being driven by a biasing element.  
     
     
         15 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 14 , wherein said drive roller is constantly engaged with said paper towel throughout said cycle of said bi-directional gear such that consumption of said paper towel is controlled.  
     
     
         16 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 14 , wherein said bi-directional gear comprises two unidirectional gears.  
     
     
         17 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 14 , wherein said bi-directional gear comprises one traveling gear.  
     
     
         18 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 14 , wherein said bi-directional gear comprises two traveling gears.  
     
     
         19 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 14 , wherein said bi-directional gear is sealed such that fibers from said paper towel cannot penetrate said bi-directional gear.  
     
     
         20 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 14 , wherein said roll of paper towel is supported on said drive roller.  
     
     
         21 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 14 , wherein said user operated actuator comprises a lever for transferring said force exerted by said user to said bi-directional gear.  
     
     
         22 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 14 , further comprising stroke-length adjustment means operative to limit lengths of said 1 st  and return strokes.  
     
     
         23 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 14 , wherein said biasing mechanism comprises a coil spring.  
     
     
         24 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 14 , further comprising an idle roller in contact with said drive roller.  
     
     
         25 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 14 , wherein said bi-directional gear is in the form of a cassette, which is inserted into the paper towel dispenser.  
     
     
         26 . A paper towel dispenser according to  claim 14 , wherein said bi-directional gear includes gears of unequal sizes.