A wet wipe dispenser for serially dispensing wet wipes includes a tub assembly including a tub and a tub cover having a restricted wet wipe passageway, a mounting bracket, and a support structure hingedly mounted on the bracket for supporting the tub cover and tub allowing manual access through the support structure to a topmost wipe extending through the restricted wet wipe passageway.

A wet wipe dispenser for serially dispensing wet wipes includes a tub assembly including a tub and a tub cover having a restricted wet wipe passageway, a mounting bracket, and a support structure hingedly mounted on the bracket for supporting the tub cover and tub allowing manual access through the support structure to a topmost wipe extending through the restricted wet wipe passageway.

Material roll dispenser devices having adjustable support arms. Exemplary devices include those suitable for dispensing paper products such as toilet paper.

A dispenser for dispensing consumable product having a consumable product storage area configured to store the consumable product within the dispenser; a dispensing mechanism operatively coupled to the consumable product and configured to facilitate a dispensing cycle to dispense a portion of consumable product, and wherein the dispensing cycle creates a vibration event in at least a portion of the dispenser; a vibration sensing device configured to sense a vibrational characteristic of the vibration event, wherein a value of the vibrational characteristic changes as a function of an amount of consumable product remaining in the dispenser; and a data processing device configured to (i) store data describing the vibrational characteristic and (ii) communicate the data to a remote receiver separate from the dispenser.

A dispenser for dispensing consumable product having a consumable product storage area configured to store the consumable product within the dispenser; a dispensing mechanism operatively coupled to the consumable product and configured to facilitate a dispensing cycle to dispense a portion of consumable product, and wherein the dispensing cycle creates a vibration event in at least a portion of the dispenser; a vibration sensing device configured to sense a vibrational characteristic of the vibration event, wherein a value of the vibrational characteristic changes as a function of an amount of consumable product remaining in the dispenser; and a data processing device configured to (i) store data describing the vibrational characteristic and (ii) communicate the data to a remote receiver separate from the dispenser.

A dispensing apparatus comprises a generally cylindrical housing, and attachment means adapted for attaching the housing to a support structure, such as an intravenous tubing line. The housing can contain a plurality of planar, interconnected items that are rolled up into a single roll. The interconnected items can be a plurality of individually packaged items, such as sanitizing wipes, which the each individual package is attached to another individual package along a line of perforation. A rolling mechanism can be mounted in the housing that supports the roll of wipes thereon and facilitates rotation of the roll.

Various dispensing systems with drop-down features are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the dispensing system includes a roll support with a sensor and a piston. The sensor can move as the roll decreases in size (e.g., the outside diameter decreases) and can apply a force to the roll. The piston can move to become less engaged with the roll, such as becoming less received in a roll plug or the hollow core of the roll. When the roll has decreased to a threshold size, the piston substantially or fully disengages from the roll and/or the sensor applies a force to dislodge the roll from the roll support. This results in the roll automatically dropping off the roll support. The roll support is thus available to receive a fresh roll.

A sensor device is provided to detect a filling status of a consumable in a dispenser, the consumable being web material, and the filling status relating to a spatial extension of the consumable in the dispenser. The sensor device includes a capacitive sensor having an elongated and planar sensor area; and a first measurement section configured to measure the filling status of the dispenser. The capacitive sensor includes a first channel and a second channel. The first measurement section is configured to measure the filling status of the dispenser based on changes in capacitance detected by the first channel and the second channel.

A sensor device is provided to detect a filling status of a consumable in a dispenser, the consumable being web material, and the filling status relating to a spatial extension of the consumable in the dispenser. The sensor device includes a capacitive sensor having an elongated and planar sensor area; and a first measurement section configured to measure the filling status of the dispenser. The capacitive sensor includes a first channel and a second channel. The first measurement section is configured to measure the filling status of the dispenser based on changes in capacitance detected by the first channel and the second channel.

A paper towel dispenser including a base; a center shaft vertically mounted on the base; a spool mount tube rotatably disposed around the center shaft; a biasing element engaging the spool mount tube and placing it at an angle in relation to the center shaft, and brake elements disposed between the center shaft and the spool mount tube. When a user pulls a free end of a paper towel roll outwardly ion a defined direction, the spool mount tube tilts and the brake elements disengage, allowing the spool mount tube to rotate and also allowing paper towel sheets to pay out. If the user pulls at an angle relative to the center shaft on the free end of the paper towel roll, the brake elements engage and prevent rotation of the spool mount tube, thus allowing the user to tear off and separate the dispensed paper towel sheets.