IP Library Granted Patent US 10,149,583
Granted Patent B2
US 10,149,583 · App. 15/313,495 · Granted Dec 11, 2018

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for dispensing sheets of material

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,149,583
App. No.
15/313,495
Granted
Dec 11, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for dispensing sheets of material are provided. In one embodiment, a sheet material dispensing apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising: a cover; a rear wall connected to the cover; a mounting plate operatively connected to the cover; a shaft, wherein the shaft is connected to the mounting plate; a supply roller connected to the shaft, wherein the supply roller has a radiused portion and at least one truncated portion; and a retracting roller connected to the shaft, wherein the retracting roller has a radiused portion, and at least one truncated portion.

Claims (53)

1. A sheet material dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a cover;

a rear wall connected to the cover;

a mounting plate operatively connected to the cover;

a shaft, wherein the shaft is connected to the mounting plate;

a supply roller connected to the shaft, wherein the supply roller has a radiused portion and at least one truncated portion;

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 radiused portion of the supply roller is directed in a first direction and the radiused portion of the retracting roller is directed in a second direction, the first direction being different from the second direction;

further wherein, the disengagement of the retracting roller from the supporting plate causes the supply roller to translate toward the rear wall.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one article of sheet material oriented between the cover and the rear wall.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate is flexible.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retracting roller includes three truncated portions.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radiused portion of the supply roller includes a rubber coating.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a power source.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a motor, wherein the motor is operatively connected to the shaft.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a capacitive sensor configured to activate the motor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a code reader, wherein the code reader is at least one of an RFID reader and a magnetic sensing system.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising at least one article of sheet material oriented between the cover and the rear wall, and wherein at least one of the sheet material and a sheet material card includes at least one of an RFID tag and a magnetic strip.

11. A sheet material dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a cover;

a rear wall connected to the cover;

a flexible mounting plate operatively connected to the cover;

a shaft, wherein the shaft is connected to the mounting plate;

a motor operatively connected to the shaft;

a supply roller connected to the shaft, wherein the supply roller has a radiused portion and at least one truncated portion; and

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 retracting roller from the supporting plate causes the supply roller to translate toward the rear wall.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising at least one article of sheet material oriented between the cover and the rear wall.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the retracting roller includes three truncated portions.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a capacitive sensor configured to activate the motor.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the radiused portion of the supply roller includes a rubber coating.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a power source.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a code reader, wherein the code reader is at least one of an RFID reader and a magnetic sensing system.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising at least one article of sheet material oriented between the cover and the rear wall, and wherein the at least one of the sheet material and a sheet material card includes at least one of an RFID tag and a magnetic strip.

19. A sheet material dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a cover;

a rear wall connected to the cover;

a mounting plate operatively connected to the cover;

a shaft, wherein the shaft is connected to the mounting plate;

a supply roller connected to the shaft, wherein the supply roller has a radiused portion and at least one truncated portion;

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 retracting roller from the supporting plate causes the supply roller to translate toward the rear wall.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising at least one article of sheet material oriented between the cover and the rear wall.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the mounting plate is flexible.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the retracting roller includes three truncated portions.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the radiused portion of the supply roller includes a rubber coating.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising a power source.

25. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising a motor, wherein the motor is operatively connected to the shaft.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising a capacitive sensor configured to activate the motor.

27. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising a code reader, wherein the code reader is at least one of an RF1D reader and a magnetic sensing system.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 , further comprising at least one article of sheet material oriented between the cover and the rear wall, and wherein at least one of the sheet material and a sheet material card includes at least one of an RFID tag and a magnetic strip.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME NO. 045362/0336 Recorded Aug 13, 2022
From: NXT CAPITAL, LLC
To: THE TRANZONIC COMPANIES
Reel/Frame 061165/0457 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2022
From: THE TRANZONIC COMPANIES
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST
Reel/Frame 060794/0383 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2018
From: VUYLSTEKE, KENNETH F.; BLANCHARD, MICHAEL DUANE; RIST, ATILLA; REENEN, HANS VAN
To: TRANZONIC COMPANIES
Reel/Frame 046652/0017 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2018
From: PNC BANK
To: THE TRANZONIC COMPANIES; TRANZONIC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS; TZ ACQUISITION CORP.
Reel/Frame 045396/0542 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2018
From: THE TRANZONIC COMPANIES
To: NXT CAPITAL, LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 045362/0336 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,390,057