A system including a roll formed from a web having at least one characteristic mark of the roll, and a dispenser which has an element for identifying this mark in order to determine whether a new roll installed in the dispenser is a compatible roll. The mark is present on a free end section of the new roll. This marked free end section is followed by at least one section that does not have a characteristic mark of the roll.

Various consumable material dispensing apparatus including automatic roll transfer features are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the apparatus includes a housing, a roll support assembly, a motor, a roll sensor mechanism, and a controller. The housing can include a cabinet, an interior, and an opening. The roll support assembly can support a plurality of rolls. The motor can rotate the roll support assembly from a first position where a first roll is proximate the opening to a second position where a second roll is proximate the opening. The roll sensor mechanism can detect whether a diameter of the first roll is less than a threshold value when the roll support assembly is in the first position. In response, the controller can instruct the motor to rotate the roll support assembly from the first position to the second position.

Methods, systems and apparatus for determining or identifying the type of product in a dispenser based at least in part on the length of rolled product dispensed and/or the radial measurement.

Methods, systems and apparatus for determining or identifying the type of product in a dispenser based at least in part on the length of rolled product dispensed and/or the radial measurement.

Various consumable material dispensing apparatus including automatic roll transfer features are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the apparatus includes a housing, a roll support assembly, a motor, a roll sensor mechanism, and a controller. The housing can include a cabinet, an interior, and an opening. The roll support assembly can support a plurality of rolls. The motor can rotate the roll support assembly from a first position where a first roll is proximate the opening to a second position where a second roll is proximate the opening. The roll sensor mechanism can detect whether a diameter of the first roll is less than a threshold value when the roll support assembly is in the first position. In response, the controller can instruct the motor to rotate the roll support assembly from the first position to the second position.

Methods, systems and apparatus for determining or identifying the type of product in a dispenser based at least in part on the length of rolled product dispensed and/or the radial measurement.

A sheet material dispensing apparatus, including a cover; a rear wall connected to the cover; a flexible mounting plate operatively connected to the cover; a shaft connected to the mounting plate; a motor operatively connected to the shaft; a supply roller connected to the shaft, the supply roller having a radiused portion and at least one truncated portion; and a microswitch activating cam extending from a side of the supply roller, the microswitch activating cam being operable to contact a microswitch fixed on the mounting plate to stop the motor, wherein the apparatus further includes: a retracting roller connected to the shaft, wherein the retracting roller has a radiused portion, and at least one truncated portion; and a supporting plate engaged and disengaged by the retracting roller during operation, wherein the disengagement of the radiused portion from the supporting plate causes the supply roller to translate toward the rear wall.

A dispenser for storing and dispensing multiple rolls of sheet material is described. The rolls are held in place within the interior space of the housing by a pair of spindle holders. The housing front cover has an opening and a slidable door disposed therein to provide access to the rolls. A restricting member is movably coupled to the housing interior and biased to move in a direct towards an outmost winding of a roll. As the roll is dispensed, the restricting member moves out of the pathway of the door, eventually allowing a user to slide the door across the opening so that a second roll may be accessed.

A sheet dispensing apparatus for dispensing sheets from a sheet material card having a plurality of sheets. The sheet dispensing apparatus includes a sensor, a motor including a motor shaft, a supply roller operatively connected to the motor, an indicator, and a controller operatively connected to the proximity sensor and to the indicator. The controller includes a processor and a memory configured to store program instructions. The processor is configured to execute the stored program instructions to: detect a first presence of an object with the sensor; move the supply roller into contact with one sheet of the plurality of sheets in response to the detecting the first presence of the object; rotate the motor shaft a first time to move the supply roller a predetermined angle of rotation to dispense the one sheet; and stop the motor shaft when the predetermined angle of rotation has been completed.

A sheet material dispensing apparatus, including a cover; a rear wall connected to the cover; a flexible mounting plate operatively connected to the cover; a shaft connected to the mounting plate; a motor operatively connected to the shaft; a supply roller connected to the shaft, the supply roller having a radiused portion and at least one truncated portion; and a microswitch activating cam extending from a side of the supply roller, the microswitch activating cam being operable to contact a microswitch fixed on the mounting plate to stop the motor, wherein the apparatus further includes: a retracting roller connected to the shaft, wherein the retracting roller has a radiused portion, and at least one truncated portion; and a supporting plate engaged and disengaged by the retracting roller during operation, wherein the disengagement of the radiused portion from the supporting plate causes the supply roller to translate toward the rear wall.