US 12,268,340 B2
Paper product dispenser with improved dispensing
Richard P. Lewis, Fort Myers, FL (US)
Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US)
Appl. No. 17/796,667
Filed by Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US)
PCT Filed Jan. 31, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/016148
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 31, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/154286, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 5, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0056982 A1, Feb. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. A47K 10/36 (2006.01)
CPC A47K 10/36 (2013.01) [A47K 10/3656 (2013.01); A47K 2010/3668 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dispenser for dispensing web material from a roll of web material, the dispenser comprising:
a housing comprising a back panel and a front cover and having an internal volume to house the roll of web material;
a tear bar at least partially in the housing;
a dispensing mechanism, at least partially in the housing, comprising a pressure roller and a drive roller, which define a nip therebetween, wherein the dispensing mechanism is configured to dispense the web material, a dispense length, from the roll of web material in response to a user request, and wherein during the dispense the web material being dispensed first passes through the nip and then passes the tear bar and then out of the housing such that a leading edge of the web material being dispensed is external to the housing;
a jam sensor configured to detect a jam condition during or after the dispense of the web material; and
wherein, in response to a jam condition, the dispensing mechanism is configured to (i) retract the web material to place the leading edge of the web material between the nip and the tear bar and (ii) then dispense the web material to place the web material past the tear bar.