Sheet material dispensing assembly with integrated gear clutch

Abstract

A sheet material dispenser can include a feed roller configured to engage and move the sheet material along a discharge path for dispensing thereof, and a manual dispensing assembly in communication with the feed roller. The manual dispensing assembly can include an engagement portion operatively coupled to the feed roller body for engagement by a user to rotate the feed roller to facilitate dispensing of the sheet material, and an integrated gear clutch configured to control movement of the engagement portion or the feed roller. Other examples also are described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispenser for dispensing a length of a sheet material, comprising:
 a feed roller having a feed roller body with at least one opening formed therein, the feed roller configured to draw the sheet material from a supply of the sheet material upon rotation thereof;   a cutting assembly including a cutting blade extensible from a retracted position through at least one opening formed in the feed roller body to an extended position to engage the sheet material, and at least one cam follower located within the feed roller body and configured to move along a cam track to cause movement of the cutting blade into and out of the at least one opening of the feed roller body upon rotation thereof the feed roller; and   a dispensing assembly in communication with the feed roller, the dispensing assembly comprising:
 an engagement portion operatively coupled to the feed roller and configured to be engaged by a user to cause rotation of the feed roller; and 
 an integrated gear clutch located at least partially within the feed roller and positioned along a side wall of the feed roller and coupled to the engagement portion, wherein the integrated clutch is configured to permit rotational movement of the rotating shaft and allow rotation of the feed roller for dispensing the sheet material when the engagement portion is moved in one direction and engage and substantially prevent the rotational movement of the rotating shaft so as to substantially stop the rotation of the feed roller when the engagement portion is moved in an opposing direction.