Paper towel dispensers

Abstract

A paper towel dispenser for dispensing paper towels from a roll of paper towels includes a blade configured to cut the paper towels such that a paper towel section can be removed from the paper towel dispenser and a lever configured to move the paper towels away from the blade.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A paper towel dispenser for dispensing paper towels from a roll of paper towels, the paper towel dispenser comprising:
 a blade configured to cut the paper towels such that a paper towel section can be removed from the paper towel dispenser; and   a lever configured to move the paper towels away from the blade.   
     
     
         2 . The paper towel dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the lever is configured to move in a first direction as a paper towel is removed from the paper towel dispenser and a second direction to move the paper towels away from the blade. 
     
     
         3 . The paper towel dispenser according to  claim 2 , further comprising a biasing member configured to move the lever in the second direction. 
     
     
         4 . The paper towel dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein the biasing member is a counterweight. 
     
     
         5 . The paper towel dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first roller configured to move the paper towels through the paper towel dispenser. 
     
     
         6 . The paper towel dispenser according to  claim 5 , further comprising a second roller, and wherein a nip is defined through which the paper towels pass. 
     
     
         7 . The paper towel dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising a roller and a lever assembly coupled to the roller such that the lever assembly is rotatable relative to the roller; and
 wherein the lever assembly includes the lever; and   wherein the lever is configured to move in a first direction as the paper towel section is dispensed from the paper towel dispenser and a second direction to move the paper towels away from the blade.   
     
     
         8 . The paper towel dispenser according to  claim 7 , wherein the lever assembly includes a biasing member configured to move the lever in the second direction. 
     
     
         9 . The paper towel dispenser according to  claim 8 , wherein the biasing member is a counterweight. 
     
     
         10 . The paper towel dispenser according to  claim 8 , wherein the roller extends along a roller axis, and wherein the lever and the biasing member are configured to rotate about the roller axis. 
     
     
         11 . The paper towel dispenser according to  claim 7 , wherein the lever assembly includes an arm that is coupled to the roller. 
     
     
         12 . A paper towel dispenser for dispensing paper towels from a roll of paper towels, the paper towel dispenser comprising:
 a blade configured to cut the paper towels such that a paper towel section can be removed from the paper towel dispenser; and   a lever assembly including a lever and a biasing member;   wherein the lever is configured to be moved from a first lever position to a second lever position when the paper towel section is removed from the paper towel dispenser; and   wherein the biasing member is configured to move the lever from the second lever position toward the first lever position to thereby move the paper towels away from the blade.   
     
     
         13 . The paper towel dispenser according to  claim 12 , further comprising a first roller, a second roller, and a nip therebetween, wherein the nip is configured to permit movement of the paper towels therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . The paper towel dispenser according to  claim 13 , further comprising a first roller configured to move the paper towels through the paper towel dispenser. 
     
     
         15 . The paper towel dispenser according to  claim 13 , wherein the second roller extends along a roller axis, and wherein the lever and the biasing member are configured to rotate about the roller axis. 
     
     
         16 . The paper towel dispenser according to  claim 12 , wherein the lever is configured to move in a first direction when the paper towel section is removed from the paper towel dispenser and a second direction as the biasing member moves the paper towels away from the blade. 
     
     
         17 . The paper towel dispenser according to  claim 12 , wherein the biasing member is a counterweight. 
     
     
         18 . A paper towel dispenser for dispensing paper towels from a roll of paper towels, the paper towel dispenser comprising:
 a blade configured to cut the paper towels such that a paper towel section can be removed from the paper towel dispenser;   a sensor in operable association with the paper towel dispenser, configured to sense vibrations; and   a control system configured to:
 receive, from the sensor, a signal indicative of the vibration sensed by the sensor; and 
 determine, based on the received signal, that a paper towel section has been cut from the paper towels. 
   
     
     
         19 . The paper towel dispenser according to  claim 18 , further comprising an actuator configured to move the paper towels through the paper towel dispenser, and wherein the control system is configured to activate the actuator to move the paper towels through the paper towel dispenser when control system determines based on the received signal that the paper towel section has been cut from the paper towels. 
     
     
         20 . A method for operating a paper towel dispenser for dispensing paper towels from a roll of paper towels, the method comprising:
 sensing, with a sensor, vibrations generated by or applied to the paper towel dispenser;   determining, based on the sensing, that a paper towel section has been cut from the paper towels; and   moving, with an actuator, the paper towels if the towel section has been cut from the paper towels.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein determining that the paper towel section has been cut from the paper towels includes comparing vibration data generated by the sensor to one or more predetermined vibration components.