A sensing arrangement for indicating the depletion of a coreless roll of absorbent paper web material in a dispenser, the sensing arrangement includes a roll support for supporting an inner circumference of the coreless roll, the roll support extending along a longitudinal center axis, the roll support comprising at least one roll expanding portion extending over a part of the roll support length and having a maximum radial extension defining a first radius from the center axis, and at least one sensing portion, extending longitudinally over another part of the roll support length and having a maximum radial extension defining a second radius from the center axis, wherein the first radius is greater than the second radius by a sensing offset length, and a sensing element arranged to sense at the sensing portion the amount of web material remaining on the roll when arranged over the roll support length.

A dispenser assembly facilitating selective dispensing of sheet material from a plurality of supplies of sheet material can be provided. The dispenser assembly can include a drive system to facilitate dispensing of the sheet material from the plurality of supplies of sheet material from the dispenser. The drive system can include a plurality of driven rollers each configured to engage and move sheet material from a respective supply of sheet material, and a drive mechanism driving the plurality of driven rollers and connected thereto by a belt driven transmission. When the drive mechanism is driven in one direction, one of the plurality of driven rollers is rotated to dispense sheet material from one of the plurality of supplies of sheet material, and when the drive mechanism is driven in the opposite direction, another one of the plurality of driven rollers is rotated to dispense sheet material from another supply of sheet material.

Dispenser for dispensing web material from a roll, the dispenser including a housing and a spindle intended to rotatably support a roll of web material during dispensing. The spindle is movable between a loading position and a dispensing position. The dispenser further includes a deflecting member being movable between a protruding position protruding towards the spindle in dispensing position and a retracted position retracted into the housing away from the spindle in dispensing position. The deflecting member is connected to a blocking member moving in response to the movement of the deflecting member.

Some example product dispensers that accommodate two full paper towel rolls are provided herein. The product dispenser may employ separate dispensing mechanisms for each product roll and may include roll holders that articulate out from the housing to facilitate easy loading and access to replacement and loading of the other product roll. A roll partition may be utilized to separate the web paths of the two product rolls and enable rotation of front roll holders. Example funnel covers and nip covers can aid with intuitive installation. Example roll holders with retention mechanisms help prevent unintentional dropping of the installed product roll. Other beneficial features include utilizing motor operation sensing to dispense a desired sheet length, automatic/assisted loading into the dispensing mechanism, automatic switching between dispensing of product rolls, and always dispensing from the smaller product roll first. Many other features/structures of example product dispensers are also described herein.

An apparatus for dispensing consumable material can include a housing, first and second support frames, a mandrel, and a lever. The mandrel can be movably mounted to the support frames between upper and lower positions and configured to hold upper and lower rolls. In some embodiments, when the mandrel is in the upper position, only the lower roll is accessible, and when the mandrel is in the lower position, both of the upper and lower rolls are accessible. The lever can be operatively connected to the first support frame and moveable between first and second positions. In some embodiments, when in the first position, a portion of the lever presents a physical interference that inhibits the mandrel from moving from the upper position to the lower position and, when moved to the second position, the physical interference is removed, thereby allowing the mandrel to move.

Dispenser for dispensing web material from a roll, the dispenser including a housing defining an interior of the dispenser and an arm hinged at a hinge point to a support member. The arm is adapted to pivot about the hinge point. The dispenser further includes a spindle attached perpendicular to the arm. The spindle is adapted to rotatably support a roll during dispensing. The arm is pivotable between a first position in which the spindle is arranged in a dispensing position within the housing of the dispenser and a second position in which the spindle is arranged in a loading position outside the housing of the dispenser in order to allow loading of a roll onto the spindle.

A dispensing unit for a bathroom that can be mounted on or encased into a wall, has a body comprised of a front panel, two lateral sides, a back side, a bottom side, an openable top lid, a removable bin and a porthole for accessing toilet paper wherein there is a lever for actuating a toilet paper releasing mechanism. A plurality of silos located along the length of the back panel wherein at least one of the plurality of silos is configured and sized for holding a plurality of toilet paper roll. A lever slit and an opening for passing the activation lever are also present on the front panel. The toilet paper releasing mechanism further comprised of a pair of modules wherein each module is a mirror image of the other module and each module shares a single bar which is itself actuated by a lever actuated by an intended user wherein when the bar is lowered it pushes down push members which push nipples which entrain casters attached to a plank guided by tracks diagonally downward to a lowered position so as to move pins laterally and downwardly such that a roll of toilet paper and a core portion are released. The core portion falling into a bin by way of a bin opening while simultaneously, another roll is released and falls down to be trapped by the pins.

A sheet product (e.g., napkin) dispenser may include an example calibration system and method for a product depletion curve for accurately determining a product level. An example sheet product dispenser includes a housing, a roll holder, a dispensing mechanism, a sensor, and a controller. The sensor is configured to emit a signal toward the product roll and receive a return signal. The controller is configured to receive a calibration product roll and operate the sensor to emit the signal and receive the return signal. The controller determines a brightness value of the return signal and determines a calibration value associated with the determined brightness value. The determined brightness value is within a range of brightness values associated with the calibration value. The controller adjusts a product depletion curve based on at least the determined calibration value and the determined brightness value. Additionally, example product level notification systems are provided herein.

An example sheet product dispenser includes a housing, a first roll holder, and a second roll holder. A first roll of sheet product is positioned on the first roll holder and assigned as a primary roll and a second roll of sheet product is positioned on the second roll holder and assigned as a secondary roll. A dispensing mechanism is configured to dispense sheet product from at least one of the first roll and the second roll. A sensor is configured to sense measurement data associated with the primary roll, including sensing when the primary roll rotates to dispense and measuring the diameter of the primary roll. A data communication device is in communication with the sensor and configured to transmit the measurement data. A controller is configured to determine situational information regarding the sheet product dispenser and provide corresponding alerts to users regarding the situational information and measured data.

A web material dispenser includes a housing and a pivotable roll support assembly provided therein. A first mandrel is provided at a first attachment location of the roll support assembly to support a first roll of web material. A second mandrel is provided at a second location of the roll support assembly to support a second roll of web material. The web material dispenser permits one-handed operation to replace the rolls of web material and to change positions of the mandrels within the dispenser. The roll support assembly may have a linkage arm and/or a roll support arm. Positions of the first and second mandrels relative to the dispenser's opening can be switched by pivoting the linkage arm relative to the housing and by pivoting the roll support arm relative to the linkage arm. A method for switching positions of rolls in the web material dispenser is also provided.