Hybrid towel dispenser

Abstract

A hybrid towel dispenser is provided that can be operated in an automatic dispensing mode and a manual dispensing mode. The dispenser includes a drum having a retractable knife that extends out of the drum when the drum rotates past a selected position and severs a towel segment from a towel sheet. The dispenser also includes a motor, a manual advance assembly, and a one-way rotational coupling that couples the motor to the drum such that the motor rotates the drum in the automatic dispensing mode and a user can rotate the drum in the manual dispensing mode separately from the motor, using the manual advance assembly.

1 . A paper towel dispenser comprising
 (a) a pinch roller;   (b) a rotatable roller drum that advances a paper towel sheet when the paper towel sheet is between the pinch roller and the drum, in frictional contact with the drum, and when the drum rotates;   (c) a gear assembly comprising at least one toothed member;   (d) a motor coupled to the drum by the gear assembly and automatically operable to rotate the drum in an advancing direction when a motor shaft of the motor rotates in a first direction, such that the paper towel sheet is dispensed during operation of the motor;   (e) a manual advance assembly mechanically coupled to the drum and having a user interface that is manually movable by a user to rotate the drum in the advancing direction such that the paper towel sheet is dispensed;   (f) a first one-way coupling which couples the motor shaft and the toothed member, the first one-way coupling arranged to transfer rotational movement from the motor shaft to the toothed member when the motor shaft rotates in the first direction such that the drum is driven in the advancing direction, the first one-way coupling allowing the drum to be driven in the advancing direction by the manual advance assembly without rotating the motor shaft while the toothed member rotates, and the first one-way coupling allowing the drum to be driven in the advancing direction by a user pulling on the paper towel sheet without rotating the motor shaft while the toothed member rotates; and   (g) a means for severing a portion of the sheet advanced by the rotation of the drum such that the sheet portion is dispensed.   
     
     
         2 . A paper towel assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the user interface of the manual advance assembly is movable in an advance direction and in an opposite return direction, and the paper towel assembly further comprising a second one-way coupling which couples the manual advance assembly to the drum, the second one way coupling arranged to transfer movement in the advance direction by the user interface to the drum such that the drum is driven in the advancing direction and to allow the user interface to move in the return direction without driving the drum. 
     
     
         3 . A paper towel dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the second one-way coupling is a floating ratchet. 
     
     
         4 . A paper towel dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the manual advance assembly further comprises at least one of a push bar and a rotary dial rotationally coupled to the drum, and wherein the user pushes the push bar or rotates the dial to operate the manual advance assembly. 
     
     
         5 . A paper towel dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a sensor for detecting the user, a controller communicative with the sensor and motor and programmed to activate the motor when the sensor detects the user. 
     
     
         6 . A paper towel dispenser as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising a motor off switch communicative with the controller and wherein the controller is programmed to stop the motor when the motor off switch detects the drum passing a top dead centre position. 
     
     
         7 . A paper towel dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first one-way coupling is a one-way bearing. 
     
     
         8 . A paper towel dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the means for severing are cutting teeth provided at a paper slot of the dispenser. 
     
     
         9 . A paper towel dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a DC power supply electrically coupled to the motor. 
     
     
         10 . A paper towel dispenser as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the power supply includes at least one battery. 
     
     
         11 . A paper towel dispenser as clamed in  claim 9  wherein the power supply comprises an electrical connector for connecting to an external AC power outlet, and an inverter electrically coupled to the electrical connector and to the motor.