A dispenser is disclosed that facilitates loading of new rolls of material and the removal of empty cores. The dispenser includes a cradle roller spaced from a pair of abutment rollers. As a roll of material is dispensed, the diameter of the roll reduces causing the roll to drop from the cradle roller to a collection device. A transfer assembly pivots with the roll so that the sheet material continues to be dispensed from the dispenser without interruption. Once the roll of material drops to the collection device, a new roll of material can be loaded into the dispenser for automatic transfer to the new roll once the first roll of material has been completely depleted.

A paper dispenser includes a paper input area and a paper output area; the paper input area including a holder for a paper roll and including a paper input unit provided to displace paper from the paper roll towards the paper output area, the paper output area including a paper output unit which is adapted to dispense paper to an outside of the dispenser, the dispenser further including a paper cutting unit arranged between the paper input unit and a paper output unit, which paper cutting unit is adapted for cutting the paper, wherein the paper output unit is operationally connected to the paper input unit to dispense the paper at a dispensing speed that is at least as large as a displacing speed of the paper input unit.

A sheet material dispenser can include a dispenser housing that supports one or more supplies of sheet material, and a feed roller configured to engage and feed the sheet material from the dispenser housing. The dispenser also can include a sheet material loading assembly including a cover that is rotatably connected the dispenser housing and movable between a closed position and an open position. The sheet material loading assembly further can include a roller that is rotatably connected to the cover and configured to be coupled to a portion of sheet material from one of the supplies, with the cover in its open position, and to press the portion of sheet material into engagement with the feed roller body, with the cover in its closed position, to initiate dispensing of the at least one supply from the dispenser.

A dispenser for sheet materials is disclosed. The dispenser includes indexing mechanism and stop release member for dispensing a selected size of sheet material. The indexing mechanism includes an extension spring for dispensing a tail of sheet material from the dispenser. In embodiments, the dispenser includes a drive roller capable of rotating the indexing mechanism when a user removes the sheet material from the dispenser. The drive roller is prevented from rotating when the stop member engages stop release member.

A dispenser for sheet materials is disclosed. The dispenser includes indexing mechanism and stop release member for dispensing a selected size of sheet material. The indexing mechanism includes an extension spring for dispensing a tail of sheet material from the dispenser. In embodiments, the dispenser includes a drive roller capable of rotating the indexing mechanism when a user removes the sheet material from the dispenser. The drive roller is prevented from rotating when the stop member engages stop release member.

A cartridge system comprising a carrier reel, distal and proximal take-up reels, a main guide post adapted to engage the main guide support, a first strip guide post, a second strip guide post, and a packaging strip. The packaging strip comprises first and second strip portions detachably secured to define a plurality of item chambers. At least one item is enclosed within each of the item chambers. The carrier reel is adapted to store the packaging strip. The distal take-up reel is operatively connected to the first strip portion. The proximal take-up reel is operatively connected to the second strip portion. Rotation of the distal and proximal take-up reels unwinds the packaging strip from the main wheel such that the first strip portion is wound onto the distal take-up reel, and the second strip portion is wound onto the proximal take-up reel.

A cartridge system comprising a carrier reel, distal and proximal take-up reels, a main guide post adapted to engage the main guide support, a first strip guide post, a second strip guide post, and a packaging strip. The packaging strip comprises first and second strip portions detachably secured to define a plurality of item chambers. At least one item is enclosed within each of the item chambers. The carrier reel is adapted to store the packaging strip. The distal take-up reel is operatively connected to the first strip portion. The proximal take-up reel is operatively connected to the second strip portion. Rotation of the distal and proximal take-up reels unwinds the packaging strip from the main wheel such that the first strip portion is wound onto the distal take-up reel, and the second strip portion is wound onto the proximal take-up reel.

A dispensing system for items comprises a main housing and a cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly comprises a carrier reel, distal and proximal take-up reels, and a packaging strip comprising first and second strip portions detachably secured to define a plurality of item chambers, where at least one item is enclosed within each of the item chambers. The main housing assembly defines a dispensing opening and comprises a drive system. The drive system is operatively connected to the proximal and distal take-up reels. Operation of the drive system rotates the distal and proximal take-up reels such that operation of the drive system rotates the distal and proximal take-up reels such that the packaging strip is unwound from the main wheel, the first strip portion is wound onto the distal take-up reel, the second strip portion is wound onto the proximal take-up reel, and the items are dispensed through the dispensing opening.

A dispensing system for items comprises a main housing and a cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly comprises a carrier reel, distal and proximal take-up reels, and a packaging strip comprising first and second strip portions detachably secured to define a plurality of item chambers, where at least one item is enclosed within each of the item chambers. The main housing assembly defines a dispensing opening and comprises a drive system. The drive system is operatively connected to the proximal and distal take-up reels. Operation of the drive system rotates the distal and proximal take-up reels such that operation of the drive system rotates the distal and proximal take-up reels such that the packaging strip is unwound from the main wheel, the first strip portion is wound onto the distal take-up reel, the second strip portion is wound onto the proximal take-up reel, and the items are dispensed through the dispensing opening.

A system and control method are provided for determining an amount of a product dispensed from or added to a product formation. At defined intervals, a mark is projected with a light source imager onto an aspect of the product formation that changes as the amount of product is depleted or added to the product formation. A digital image is taken of the aspect of the product formation that captures the projected mark and is transmitted to a digital imager processor, wherein a feature of the projected mark is analyzed that changes as the product formation decreases or increases in size as the product is dispensed or added. The analyzed feature is compared with a predetermined value of the feature at a predefined size of the product formation to determine an actual amount of the product on the product formation, or amount of product depleted from or added to the product formation.