Exemplary embodiments of wipes dispensers are disclosed herein. An exemplary wipes dispenser having a self-centering nozzle includes a container, a plurality of wipes contained within the container, a fluid for wetting the plurality of wipes, a receiving member connected to the container, and an outlet nozzle housing for holding an elastomeric outlet nozzle. The nozzle housing is connected to the receiving member so that the nozzle housing is movable between two or more positions. A biasing member is connected to one of the receiving member, the nozzle housing and the elastomeric outlet nozzle. The elastomeric outlet nozzle moves from a centered upright position, the biasing member deflects and biases the outlet nozzle toward a centered position.

Exemplary embodiments of wipes dispensers are disclosed herein. An exemplary wipes dispenser having a self-centering nozzle includes a container, a plurality of wipes contained within the container, a fluid for wetting the plurality of wipes, a receiving member connected to the container, and an outlet nozzle housing for holding an elastomeric outlet nozzle. The nozzle housing is connected to the receiving member so that the nozzle housing is movable between two or more positions. A biasing member is connected to one of the receiving member, the nozzle housing and the elastomeric outlet nozzle. The elastomeric outlet nozzle moves from a centered upright position, the biasing member deflects and biases the outlet nozzle toward a centered position.

A sheet dispensing apparatus to dispense sheets from a sheet material card having a plurality of sheets. The sheet dispensing apparatus includes a door, a door plate, a back plate, and a motor including a motor shaft, wherein the motor is operatively connected to the door plate, and a motor wheel is operatively connected to the motor shaft. The motor wheel is driven by the motor shaft to detach a sheet from the sheet material card. The apparatus further includes a first light pipe having a first end and a second end, wherein a signal transmitted at the first end of the first light pipe is received at the second end if the correct sheet material card is being used. A second light pipe receives a signal at the first end and receives the signal at the second end, if the sheet material card is not present or out of sheets.

A sheet dispensing apparatus to dispense sheets from a sheet material card having a plurality of sheets. The sheet dispensing apparatus includes a door, a door plate, a back plate, and a motor including a motor shaft, wherein the motor is operatively connected to the door plate, and a motor wheel is operatively connected to the motor shaft. The motor wheel is driven by the motor shaft to detach a sheet from the sheet material card. The apparatus further includes a first light pipe having a first end and a second end, wherein a signal transmitted at the first end of the first light pipe is received at the second end if the correct sheet material card is being used. A second light pipe receives a signal at the first end and receives the signal at the second end, if the sheet material card is not present or out of sheets.

A dispenser is disclosed that includes a housing defining an interior volume for receiving a stack of sheet products, an actuator, a dispensing member, a roller, and a support structure for engaging a front face of the stack including opposed shelves for supporting opposed sides of the front face. The actuator is operable by a user to activate a dispensing member to dispense a desired number of sheet products. The actuator includes two or more user interfaces that a user can actuate to transmit to the dispensing member an amount of movement corresponding to different numbers of sheet products being dispensed depending upon which of the user interfaces is actuated. The roller is located between the opposed shelves and engages and grips on the front face of the stack. The actuator imparts a predetermined amount of rotation to the roller depending upon which of the user interface ledges is actuated, which causes the roller to separate one or more sheet products at the front face of the stack in a one-at-a-time fashion.

A dispenser is disclosed that includes a housing defining an interior volume for receiving a stack of sheet products, an actuator, a dispensing member, a roller, and a support structure for engaging a front face of the stack including opposed shelves for supporting opposed sides of the front face. The actuator is operable by a user to activate a dispensing member to dispense a desired number of sheet products. The actuator includes two or more user interfaces that a user can actuate to transmit to the dispensing member an amount of movement corresponding to different numbers of sheet products being dispensed depending upon which of the user interfaces is actuated. The roller is located between the opposed shelves and engages and grips on the front face of the stack. The actuator imparts a predetermined amount of rotation to the roller depending upon which of the user interface ledges is actuated, which causes the roller to separate one or more sheet products at the front face of the stack in a one-at-a-time fashion.

The invention relates to a dispensing nozzle 2 for a container of wipes (not shown). The nozzle 2 features an annular projection 14 the inside of which features inward facing spikes 17. The spikes can be made from a flexible elastomer or a non flexible polypropylene material. The spikes 17 feature slit sections of weakness that enables the spikes to flex upwardly when subjected to upward pressures from say a wipe (not shown) passing though the structure of the dispensing nozzle 2. If downward forces act on the wipe after it has been inserted into the nozzle so as to force the wipe 4 back into its container, two things happen. 1) The spikes 17 or spikes flex back to their original position thereby imposing space restrictions within the annular projection that imped wipe fall back. 2) The ends 20 of the spikes 17 dig into the wipe thereby impeding wipe fall back still further.

The invention relates to a dispensing nozzle 2 for a container of wipes (not shown). The nozzle 2 features an annular projection 14 the inside of which features inward facing spikes 17. The spikes can be made from a flexible elastomer or a non flexible polypropylene material. The spikes 17 feature slit sections of weakness that enables the spikes to flex upwardly when subjected to upward pressures from say a wipe (not shown) passing though the structure of the dispensing nozzle 2. If downward forces act on the wipe after it has been inserted into the nozzle so as to force the wipe 4 back into its container, two things happen. 1) The spikes 17 or spikes flex back to their original position thereby imposing space restrictions within the annular projection that imped wipe fall back. 2) The ends 20 of the spikes 17 dig into the wipe thereby impeding wipe fall back still further.

Methods, systems and apparatus for optically determining the amount of product used and/or remaining in a product dispenser.

Methods, systems and apparatus for optically determining the amount of product used and/or remaining in a product dispenser.