ACCOMMODATING RETRACTION OF EXCESS TOWELING BACK INTO HOUSING OF AUTOMATIC TOWEL DISPENSER

1 . A method of dispensing towels from toweling with a dispenser, comprising:

(a) extending the toweling exterior of a housing of the dispenser for grasping by a user; and subsequent thereto,

(b) retracting the toweling into the housing;

(c) wherein the toweling comprises a roll of paper towels and the dispenser is configured to unwind roll of paper towels during extension of toweling from the housing but not rewind the roll of paper towels during subsequent retraction of toweling into the housing, and

(d) wherein a back side of the housing includes an opening that is configured such that excess toweling gathering within the housing may fall as a result of retraction of toweling back into the housing.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising waiting a predetermined period of time after said step of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user and before performing said step of retracting the toweling into the housing; and, while waiting, performing the additional step of retracting the toweling to compensate for additional extension of the toweling resulting from the grasping of the toweling by the user.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises, while waiting, continuously performing the additional steps of:

(a) using the motor assembly, attempting retraction of the toweling in response to detected further extension of the toweling resulting from grasping of the toweling by the user; and

(b) ceasing retraction of the toweling using the motor assembly in response to detected retraction of the further extension of the toweling resulting from grasping of the toweling by the user.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said step of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by the user comprises extending the toweling a predetermined unit length.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising setting the predetermined unit length, by which the toweling is extended, in a length learn sequence comprising the steps of,

(a) retracting the toweling until a leading edge of the toweling is sensed by the sensor;

(b) advancing the toweling a preset extended length, the preset extended length being greater than at least a distance between immediately adjacent lines of perforations in the toweling;

(c) retracting the toweling until a leading edge of the toweling is sensed by the sensor while measuring a length by which the toweling is retracted; and

(d) determining the difference between the preset extended length and the measured retracted length, the difference being the predetermined unit length.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising the step of initiating the length learn sequence of the dispenser by installing a roll of paper towels in the dispenser; by moving a loading door of the dispenser, through which a roll of paper towels is received, to a closed position; or by moving a loading door of the dispenser, through which a roll of paper towels is received, to a closed position with a length of the toweling draped over and extending from the loading door.

7 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising waiting a predetermined period of time after said step of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user and before performing said step of retracting the toweling into the housing; and, while waiting, performing the additional step of retracting the toweling to compensate for additional extension of the toweling resulting from the grasping of the toweling by the user.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises, while waiting, continuously performing the additional steps of:

(a) using the motor assembly, attempting retraction of the toweling in response to detected further extension of the toweling resulting from grasping of the toweling by the user; and

(b) ceasing retraction of the toweling using the motor assembly in response to detected retraction of the further extension of the toweling resulting from grasping of the toweling by the user.

9 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

(a) using a motor assembly configured to cause a leading edge of the toweling to be extended from a housing of the dispenser and to cause the toweling to be subsequently retracted back into the housing, performing said steps of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user and subsequent thereto, retracting the toweling into the housing;

(b) using a sensor for sensing a leading edge of the toweling, sensing a leading edge of the toweling while retracting the toweling;

(c) ceasing retracting of the toweling into the housing using the motor assembly as a function of sensing the leading edge of the toweling by the sensor;

(d) wherein the housing comprises,

(i) a main body, and

(ii) a loading door that is configured to rotate relative to the main body between,

(A) a closed position, in which the housing is configured to extend toweling there from, and

(B) an open position, in which the housing is configured to receive toweling therein,

(iii) a guide system that is configured to guide the toweling within the housing during extension from and retraction into the housing of the toweling, the guide system comprising a first roller attached to the main body and having a first toothed surface, and a second roller attached to the loading door and having a second toothed surface that is configured to mesh with the first toothed surface, at least one end of the first roller being configured to move such that an axis of rotation of the first roller moves relative to the main body of the housing;

(e) wherein the loading door comprises a towel carrier having a curved surface defining a cavity within which toweling comprising a roll of paper towels is received and retained in floating engagement therewith, the roll of paper towels rolling and sliding on the curved surface when unwinding during said step of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user, and toweling gathering within the housing during retracting of the toweling into the housing and not being wound back onto the roll of paper towels; and

(f) wherein the method further comprises the step of moving the loading door into the closed position after loading toweling within the dispenser, with the first roller being urged into engagement with the second roller when the loading door enters the closed position and the second roller acting on the first roller so as to displace at least one end of the first roller when the loading door enters the closed position.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said step of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by the user comprises extending the toweling a predetermined unit length.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising setting the predetermined unit length, by which the toweling is extended, in a length learn sequence comprising the steps of,

(a) retracting the toweling until a leading edge of the toweling is sensed by the sensor;

(b) advancing the toweling a preset extended length, the preset extended length being greater than at least a distance between immediately adjacent lines of perforations in the toweling;

(c) retracting the toweling until a leading edge of the toweling is sensed by the sensor while measuring a length by which the toweling is retracted; and

(d) determining the difference between the preset extended length and the measured retracted length, the difference being the predetermined unit length.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of initiating the length learn sequence of the dispenser by installing a roll of paper towels in the dispenser; by moving a loading door of the dispenser, through which a roll of paper towels is received, to a closed position; or by moving a loading door of the dispenser, through which a roll of paper towels is received, to a closed position with a length of the toweling draped over and extending from the loading door.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising waiting a predetermined period of time after said step of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user and before performing said step of retracting the toweling into the housing; and, while waiting, performing the additional step of retracting the toweling to compensate for additional extension of the toweling resulting from the grasping of the toweling by the user.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises, while waiting, continuously performing the additional steps of:

(a) using the motor assembly, attempting retraction of the toweling in response to detected further extension of the toweling resulting from grasping of the toweling by the user; and

(b) ceasing retraction of the toweling using the motor assembly in response to detected retraction of the further extension of the toweling resulting from grasping of the toweling by the user.

15 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

(a) using a motor assembly configured to cause a leading edge of the toweling to be extended from a housing of the dispenser and to cause the toweling to be subsequently retracted back into the housing, performing said steps of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user and subsequent thereto, retracting the toweling into the housing;

(b) using a sensor for sensing a leading edge of the toweling, sensing a leading edge of the toweling while retracting the toweling;

(c) ceasing retracting of the toweling into the housing using the motor assembly as a function of sensing the leading edge of the toweling by the sensor;

(d) wherein the housing comprises,

(a) a main body, and

(b) a loading door that is configured to rotate relative to the main body between,

(i) a closed position, in which the housing is configured to extend toweling there from, and

(ii) an open position, in which the housing is configured to receive toweling therein;

(e) wherein the loading door comprises a towel carrier having a curved surface defining a cavity within which toweling comprising a roll of paper towels is received and retained in floating engagement therewith, the roll of paper towels rolling and sliding on the curved surface when unwinding during said step of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user, and toweling gathering within the housing during retracting of the toweling into the housing and not being wound back onto the roll of paper towels; and

(f) wherein the housing comprises extension walls located proximate opposite exterior sides of the housing that extend above a top side of the housing, and wherein the method further comprises a preliminary step of mounting the dispenser to the underside of a fixture, including removing a portion of each extension wall along a score line so as to adjust the distance from the underside of the fixture below which the top side of the housing is mounted.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises,

(a) a main body, and

(b) a loading door that is configured to rotate relative to the main body between,

(i) a closed position, in which the housing is configured to extend toweling there from, and

(ii) an open position, in which the housing is configured to receive toweling therein,

(iii) a guide system that is configured to guide the toweling within the housing during extension from and retraction into the housing of the toweling, the guide system comprising a first roller attached to the main body and having a first toothed surface, and a second roller attached to the loading door and having a second toothed surface that is configured to mesh with the first toothed surface, at least one end of the first roller being configured to move such that an axis of rotation of the first roller moves relative to the main body of the housing;

(c) wherein the loading door comprises a towel carrier having a curved surface defining a cavity within which toweling comprising a roll of paper towels is received and retained in floating engagement therewith, the roll of paper towels rolling and sliding on the curved surface when unwinding during said step of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user, and toweling gathering within the housing during retracting of the toweling into the housing and not being wound back onto the roll of paper towels;

(d) wherein the method further comprises the step of moving the loading door into the closed position after loading toweling within the dispenser, with the first roller being urged into engagement with the second roller when the loading door enters the closed position and the second roller acting on the first roller so as to displace at least one end of the first roller when the loading door enters the closed position; and

(e) wherein the housing comprises extension walls located proximate opposite exterior sides of the housing that extend above a top side of the housing, and wherein the method further comprises a preliminary step of mounting the dispenser to the underside of a fixture, including removing a portion of each extension wall along a score line so as to adjust the distance from the underside of the fixture below which the top side of the housing is mounted.

17 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

(a) using a motor assembly configured to cause a leading edge of the toweling to be extended from a housing of the dispenser and to cause the toweling to be subsequently retracted back into the housing, performing said steps of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user and subsequent thereto, retracting the toweling into the housing;

(b) using a sensor for sensing a leading edge of the toweling, sensing a leading edge of the toweling while retracting the toweling;

(c) ceasing retracting of the toweling into the housing using the motor assembly as a function of sensing the leading edge of the toweling by the sensor;

(d) wherein the housing comprises,

(i) a main body, and

(ii) a loading door that is configured to rotate relative to the main body between,

(C) a closed position, in which the housing is configured to extend toweling there from, and

(B) an open position, in which the housing is configured to receive toweling therein, and

(iii) a guide system that is configured to guide the toweling within the housing during extension from and retraction into the housing of the toweling, the guide system comprising a first roller attached to the main body and having a first toothed surface, and a second roller attached to the loading door and having a second toothed surface that is configured to mesh with the first toothed surface, at least one end of the first roller being configured to move such that an axis of rotation of the first roller moves relative to the main body of the housing;

(e) wherein the method further comprises the step of moving the loading door into the closed position after loading toweling within the dispenser, with the first roller being urged into engagement with the second roller when the loading door enters the closed position and the second roller acting on the first roller so as to displace at least one end of the first roller when the loading door enters the closed position; and

(f) wherein the housing comprises extension walls located proximate opposite exterior sides of the housing that extend above a top side of the housing, and wherein the method further comprises a preliminary step of mounting the dispenser to the underside of a fixture, including removing a portion of each extension wall along a score line so as to adjust the distance from the underside of the fixture below which the top side of the housing is mounted.

18 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

(a) using a motor assembly configured to cause a leading edge of the toweling to be extended from a housing of the dispenser and to cause the toweling to be subsequently retracted back into the housing, performing said steps of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user and subsequent thereto, retracting the toweling into the housing;

(b) using a sensor for sensing a leading edge of the toweling, sensing a leading edge of the toweling while retracting the toweling;

(c) ceasing retracting of the toweling into the housing using the motor assembly as a function of sensing the leading edge of the toweling by the sensor;

(d) wherein the housing comprises,

(i) a main body, and

(ii) a loading door that is configured to rotate relative to the main body between,

(A) a closed position, in which the housing is configured to extend toweling there from, and

(B) an open position, in which the housing is configured to receive toweling therein,

(iii) a guide system that is configured to guide the toweling within the housing during extension from and retraction into the housing of the toweling, the guide system comprising a first roller attached to the main body and having a first toothed surface, and a second roller attached to the loading door and having a second toothed surface that is configured to mesh with the first toothed surface, at least one end of the first roller being configured to move such that an axis of rotation of the first roller moves relative to the main body of the housing;

(e) wherein the loading door comprises a towel carrier having a curved surface defining a cavity within which toweling comprising a roll of paper towels is received and retained in floating engagement therewith, the roll of paper towels rolling and sliding on the curved surface when unwinding during said step of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user, and toweling gathering within the housing during retracting of the toweling into the housing and not being wound back onto the roll of paper towels;

(f) wherein the method further comprises the step of moving the loading door into the closed position after loading toweling within the dispenser, with the first roller being urged into engagement with the second roller when the loading door enters the closed position and the second roller acting on the first roller so as to displace at least one end of the first roller when the loading door enters the closed position; and

(g) wherein the housing comprises extension walls located proximate opposite exterior sides of the housing that extend above a top side of the housing, and wherein the method further comprises a preliminary step of mounting the dispenser to the underside of a fixture, including removing a portion of each extension wall along a score line so as to adjust the distance from the underside of the fixture below which the top side of the housing is mounted.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said step of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by the user comprises extending the toweling a predetermined unit length.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising setting the predetermined unit length, by which the toweling is extended, in a length learn sequence comprising the steps of,

(a) retracting the toweling until a leading edge of the toweling is sensed by the sensor;

(b) advancing the toweling a preset extended length, the preset extended length being greater than at least a distance between immediately adjacent lines of perforations in the toweling;

(c) retracting the toweling until a leading edge of the toweling is sensed by the sensor while measuring a length by which the toweling is retracted; and

(d) determining the difference between the preset extended length and the measured retracted length, the difference being the predetermined unit length.