APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING SHEET MATERIAL

摘要

Apparatus for dispensing a length of sheet material from a roll (33) eg of paper towels is actuated in response to the proximity of a portion of a band of a user to the apparatus without the hand of a user contacting the apparatus. The dispensing is done by an electrical motor (57) operating for a predetermined time and which can be powered by batteries (61). An LED (50) transmits pulses of light which are sensed by a sensor (52) arranged on the opposite side of a hand receiving open cavity (46q). When the pulses of light are interrupted by the hand a capacitor (88) is enabled to actuate the dispensing mechanism. The housing (31) of the apparatus has a modular frame (46) having a first compartment (46b) for the means for advancing the sheet material and a second compartment (46f) for the means for activating the advancing means. The dispensing apparatus can include means for storing energy (eg., 61) for energizing the advancing means in response to the withdrawal of sheet material from the dispensing apparatus by a user.