Dispenser apparatus for dispensing from a roll of sheet paper product supported by a support arm, a support member pivotally mounted on the support arm and a biasing structure operable to reduce the shock force in the sheet paper product by resisting pivotal movement of the support member.

Some sheet product dispensers disclosed herein are configured to dispense from a sheet product roll that includes a plurality of predetermined portions that are designed for providing a toilet seat cover. A line of perforations separates consecutive portions. A motor operates to drive the drive roller to cause movement of the sheet product along a dispensing pathway to position a leading predetermined portion of the sheet product into a dispensing position such that the trailing edge of the leading predetermined portion is positioned within the housing and the leading edge of the leading predetermined portion is positioned outside the dispensing chute to enable removal of the leading predetermined portion. Staged dispensing is utilized to help maintain hygiene, while still quickly providing the dispense. Perforation tear assist features are provided to aid in proper separation of the line of perforations, such as to help maintain integrity of the dispensed portion.

A wiping material dispenser in the form of a spool from which the material can be unwound in a strip. The dispenser includes a housing and a cutting system for cutting the strip pulled manually by a user. The cutting system includes a flexible blade and at least one tooth mounted on a front side of the housing. The flexible blade includes at least one slot positioned opposite the at least one tooth. The flexible blade can be deformed under the pressure of the strip, when a user pulls on the strip from the front side of the housing, so that the at least one tooth protrudes through the at least one slot, comes into contact with the strip pressed onto the flexible blade and tears the strip at a pre-cut line.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for optimizing performance of a product dispenser are provided herein. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the product dispenser (e.g., the environment, the type or habits of users or individual users, etc.), initial dispensing parameter settings of the product dispenser may be undesirable. Using monitored usage data, optimized dispensing parameters can be determined to achieve more desirable usage of the product dispenser (e.g., decrease waste, power save, increase efficiency, etc.). Additionally, using bounding parameters and/or information from the environment (e.g., nearby product dispensers) can lead to further optimized performance of the product dispenser. User or group specific optimized dispensing parameters can also be determined and used.

A separation unit for separating a web material along preformed lines of weakness. The separation unit has a width direction and includes a first roller having a rotational axis extending in the width direction and a web width extending in the width direction, and a second roller having a rotational axis extending parallel with the rotational axis of the first roller and a web width extending in the width direction. The second roller is positioned at a distance from the first roller. Each of the first and the second rollers is provided with a plurality of protrusion elements being spaced along the rotational axes and protruding perpendicular from the axes. Each of the protrusion elements has a maximum width in the width direction, a maximum radial extension from the rotational axes, an inner portion adjacent to the rotational axes, and an outer portion remote from the rotational axes.

A dispenser for sheet material may include a feed roller with an integrated cutting mechanism that is movable with the feed roller for at least partially cutting or perforating the sheet material during dispensing thereof.

A separation unit for separating a web material along preformed lines of weakness. The separation unit has a width direction and includes a first roller having a rotational axis extending in the width direction and a web width extending in the width direction, and a second roller having a rotational axis extending parallel with the rotational axis of the first roller and a web width extending in the width direction. The second roller is positioned at a distance from the first roller. Each of the first and the second rollers is provided with a plurality of protrusion elements being spaced along the rotational axes and protruding perpendicular from the axes. Each of the protrusion elements has a maximum width in the width direction, a maximum radial extension from the rotational axes, an inner portion adjacent to the rotational axes, and an outer portion remote from the rotational axes.

A dispensing apparatus for strips of coiled flexible material having at regular intervals tear lines to form the strips. The apparatus includes a casing receiving the coil, the casing having a circular opening for the passage and distribution of a strip of coiled flexible material under a tensile stress. The casing also includes at least one washer fixed on the casing concentrically with the distribution opening, wherein the internal diameter of the at least one washer is smaller than the diameter of the opening. The one or more washers are made of an elastomeric material capable of being deformed under the effect of the material distribution through the opening for achieving, concomitantly, a strip cut along a tear line. The one or more washers cooperate with an element manually operable and arranged to reduce the internal diameter of the one or more washers.

A hygienic sheet material dispenser includes a housing with a dispensing opening, a compartment for a sheet material product, a first sensor arranged to assume an active mode in which it scans for the presence of a user, a dispensing motor arranged to drive a driving mechanism, a second sensor for sensing when a piece of said product has been removed, and a microcontroller connected to the first sensor, the second sensor and the dispensing motor, said dispenser also being configured to be switched to a passive mode. The dispenser is arranged to switch to the passive mode after a first predetermined period of time has elapsed in the active mode without detection of a user; wherein, upon entering the passive mode, a length of said product is fed from the dispenser out of the dispensing opening and the first sensor and the microcontroller are substantially deactivated; and wherein the dispenser is arranged to switch back to the active mode when the second sensor senses that said product has been removed.

A dispensing apparatus for strips of coiled flexible material having at regular intervals tear lines to form the strips. The apparatus includes a casing receiving the coil, the casing having a circular opening for the passage and distribution of a strip of coiled flexible material under a tensile stress. The casing also includes at least one washer fixed on the casing concentrically with the distribution opening, wherein the internal diameter of the at least one washer is smaller than the diameter of the opening. The one or more washers are made of an elastomeric material capable of being deformed under the effect of the material distribution through the opening for achieving, concomitantly, a strip cut along a tear line. The one or more washers cooperate with an element manually operable and arranged to reduce the internal diameter of the one or more washers.