Electronic roll towel dispenser

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a dispenser which in one form is a motorized electric dispenser, designed to be a low-cost device having a reduced footprint. The dispenser electromechanically dispenses a pre-determined length sheet of material to the user, without the requirement of a touchless sensor, or the user needing to directly touch any part of the dispenser while the hygienic portion is functioning properly. In the event that the hygienic portion is not functioning properly, a manual advance assembly may also be utilized. One objective of the device in one form is to provide a variably determined sheet of material to the user in accordance with industry standards, without the use of the standard “touchless” sensors. In another form, the entire roll of material remains sanitary and enclosed within the dispenser until it is dispensed. In one form, there is no “tail” projecting from the dispenser that may be a source of cross-contamination.

1 . A hygienic dispenser for dispensing a length of product from a roll, the dispenser comprising:
 a. a dispenser housing;   b. a surface defining an engagement opening in the dispenser housing;   c. a dispensing slot;   d. a button mechanism adjacent the engagement opening   e. a product path defined as the path product will take from the product roll to the dispensing slot; and   f. wherein the product path passes between the engagement opening and the button mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The hygienic dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a. a pressure roller adjacent the drive roller; and   b. the pressure roller is operatively configured to provide frictional engagement between the product being dispensed and the drive roller.   
     
     
         3 . The hygienic dispenser of  claim 2  further comprising;
 a. a front casing;   b. a rear casing;   c. wherein the front casing is rotatably coupled to the rear casing; and   d. wherein the pressure roller is coupled to the front casing.   
     
     
         4 . The hygienic dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a manual advance assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The hygienic dispenser of  claim 4  further comprising a one-way-rotational device operatively configured to allow a user to manually operate the manual advance mechanism in only one direction. 
     
     
         6 . The hygienic dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispenser is operatively configured to dispense a length of product at each operation of the button mechanism greater than the distance along the paper path from the engagement opening to the dispensing slot. 
     
     
         7 . The hygienic dispenser of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a. a cutting edge coupled to the dispenser housing; and   b. wherein the length of product dispensed at each operation of the button mechanism is greater than the distance along the paper path between the engagement opening and the cutting edge.   
     
     
         8 . The hygienic dispenser of  claim 7  wherein the length of product dispensed at each operation of the button mechanism is greater than the distance along the paper path between the upper edge of the engagement opening and the cutting edge. 
     
     
         9 . The hygienic dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a. a drive motor coupled to a drive roller;   b. wherein the drive roller is operatively configured to engage the product being dispensed;   c. circuitry coupled between the drive motor and the button mechanism; and   d. wherein the button mechanism is operatively configured to activate the drive motor when the button mechanism is engaged.   
     
     
         10 . The hygienic dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a product roll support within the dispenser housing. 
     
     
         11 . A hygienic dispenser for dispensing a length of product from a roll, the dispenser comprising:
 a. a dispenser housing;   b. a surface defining an engagement opening in the dispenser housing;   c. a dispensing slot;   d. a button mechanism adjacent the engagement opening;   e. wherein a portion of the product is positioned between the engagement opening and the button mechanism prior to exiting the dispenser.   
     
     
         12 . The hygienic dispenser of  claim 11  wherein the dispensing slot is positioned adjacent the bottommost surface of the dispenser. 
     
     
         13 . The hygienic dispenser of  claim 11  wherein the surface defining an engagement opening is positioned at the front surface of the dispenser. 
     
     
         14 . A towel dispenser configured to dispense a towel therefrom, the towel dispenser comprising:
 a. a casing comprising an interior chamber portion, the interior chamber portion configured to house a towel roll;   b. the casing comprising a rearward portion and a forward portion, the forward portion comprising a perimeter surface defining an engagement opening;   c. a towel dispensing portion configured to dispense a portion of the towel therefrom;   d. an activator member;   e. the activator member positioned in proximity to the engagement opening of the casing;   f. the towel configured to be interposed between the activator member and the engagement opening of the casing to be visible therethrough;   g. the engagement opening comprising a distance from a towel dispensing slot which is less than the length of the towel that is disbursed when the activator member is activated, ejecting a portion of the towel therefrom.   
     
     
         15 . The towel dispenser as recited in  claim 14  configured such that when a user depresses a portion of the towel through the opening to activate the activator member, the portion of the towel depressed by the user is dispensed through the towel dispensing portion. 
     
     
         16 . The towel dispenser as recited in  claim 15  where the towel is a cloth based towel. 
     
     
         17 . The towel dispenser as recited in  claim 16  where the towel is a cloth towel configured for a cloth recirculation towels system. 
     
     
         18 . The towel dispenser as recited in  claim 15  where the towel is disbursed on a roll and is a paper-based towel configured to be torn once a portion of the towel is disbursed from the dispensing slot.