Vacuum based napkin dispenser

Abstract

The invention provides a novel system for dispensing paper products, particularly paper napkins. The system includes a moveable napkin carrier platform and a vacuum roller that picks up and dispenses a paper product.

1 . A dispenser for paper products, said dispenser comprising: 
 i. a housing;    ii. a tubular vacuum roller positioned in the housing and controlled by a vacuum blower and a rotator motor;    iii. a carrier for holding a stack of paper products and;    iv. a mechanism for positioning the carrier to an outermost paper product in the stack to the vacuum at a predetermined distance from the longitudinal surface of the vacuum roller.    
     
     
         2 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is a motor driven pulley system.  
     
     
         3 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is automatically actuated by a sensor.  
     
     
         4 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is actuated by a start button.  
     
     
         5 . A dispenser according to  claim 3  wherein the sensor is situated in the chute and detects when a product is removed.  
     
     
         6 . A dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein the sensor is situated to detect a gap between the outermost product and the vacuum roller.  
     
     
         7 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of the vacuum roller is adapted to dispense a folded paper napkin.  
     
     
         8 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum blower is time controlled.  
     
     
         9 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the vacuum roller is time controlled.  
     
     
         10 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum roller is positioned above the stack of paper products.  
     
     
         11 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum roller is positioned below the stack of paper products.  
     
     
         12 . A dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein the vacuum roller is positioned beside the stack.  
     
     
         13 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , comprising at least one actuator on the housing that controls rotation of the roller and vacuum within the roller.  
     
     
         14 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the roller and vacuum within the roller are controlled by a sensor in the dispensing chute.  
     
     
         15 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum roller surface comprises a plurality of apertures through which the vacuum is applied.  
     
     
         16 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum roller surface comprises a web.  
     
     
         17 . A dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein the vacuum roller surface comprises a grid.  
     
     
         18 . A dispenser according to  claim 12 , wherein the vacuum pressure is constant over the entire surface of the roller when the blower is activated.  
     
     
         19 . A dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein the vacuum pressure on the surface of the roller varies.  
     
     
         20 . A dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein the mechanism is a rack and pinion system.  
     
     
         21 . A dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein the mechanism is a gravity feed mechanism.  
     
     
         22 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is a hydraulic mechanism.  
     
     
         23 . A method of dispensing a paper product, said method comprising: 
 i. placing a stack of paper products a predetermined distance from a vacuum roller;    ii. activating the vacuum roller for a predetermined time period whereby it rotates and has sufficient vacuum at its surface to pick up an edge of a paper product and pull the paper product over the circumference of the roller as it rotates and then release the product; and    iii. repositioning the stack to close the gap left by the dispensed product.