US20160088982A1 - Dispenser and method of refilling dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispenser is provided with a reservoir for a stack of sheets of web material and including a housing. The dispenser includes a lid being adapted to face upwardly during use of the dispenser. The dispenser includes a first biasing arrangement for biasing the stack of sheets of web material towards the lid and a dispensing opening therein. A cassette includes the reservoir and is arranged to be moved to a position at least partially outside the housing. The cassette is provided with a refill opening for sheets of web material, the refill opening being accessible when the cassette is in the position at least partially outside the housing. Further, a method of refilling a dispenser with a stack of sheets of web material is provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION
• This application is a §371 National Stage Application of PCT International Application No. PCT/SE2013/050558 filed May 17, 2013, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
• The present disclosure relates to a dispenser for sheets of web material and to a method of refilling a dispenser.
BACKGROUND
• US 2006/273102 discloses a dispenser including a body having four side walls, a base and an opening in a top of the body. A lid is hingedly connected near the top of the body and covers the opening. The lid has a slot therein for sheet material to be dispensed there through. The sheet material is forced by a compression element towards the lid. The lid is opened to refill the dispenser with a stack of sheet material. The forces of the compression element acting on the sheet material may affect the lid when the lid is to be closed after adding the stack of web material to the dispenser.
SUMMARY
• It is desired to provide a dispenser which is adapted for dispensing sheets of web material upwardly, wherein a refilling of the dispenser is uncomplicated.
• According to an aspect, a dispenser provided with a reservoir for a stack of sheets of web material and a housing is disclosed. The dispenser includes a lid being provided with a dispensing opening for sheets of web material. The lid is adapted to face upwardly during use of the dispenser. The dispenser includes a first biasing arrangement for biasing the stack of sheets of web material towards the lid and the dispensing opening. The dispenser includes a cassette. The cassette includes the reservoir and is arranged to be moved to a position at least partially outside the housing. The cassette is provided with a refill opening for sheets of web material, the refill opening being accessible when the cassette is in the position at least partially outside the housing.
• Since the dispenser includes the cassette including the reservoir, which cassette is provided with a refill opening for sheets of web material and the refill opening is accessible when the cassette is in the position at least partially outside the housing, a user may easily refill the dispenser with sheets of web material via the refill opening when the cassette is in the position at least partially outside the housing.
• The dispenser may be a stand-alone unit adapted to be placed on a surface, such as a table, a worktop, or a dressing table. The dispenser may be adapted to be arranged with the stack of sheets of web material extending substantially vertically in the reservoir of the dispenser. That is, the sheets of web material may extend in substantially horizontal planes in the stack. A user may dispense sheets of web material substantially upwardly from the dispenser.
• The sheets of web material in the stack of sheets of web material may include a cellulose material. The web material may be a soft and absorbent sheet of web material, e.g. the sheets of web material may be sheets of web material for general wiping purposes. The sheets of web material may be towels or napkins. Accordingly, the dispenser may be arranged for dispensing sheets of web material for general wiping purposes, or the dispenser may be arranged for dispensing towels or for dispensing napkins. In a stack of sheets of web material adapted for placing in the reservoir of the dispenser, the sheets of web material may be folded sheets of web material which are interleaved. Thus, as each sheet of web material is dispensed from the dispenser, a portion of a following sheet of web material may be exposed for subsequent dispensing at the dispensing opening. Suitably, the portion of the following sheet extends through the dispensing opening for grasping by a user.
• According to embodiments, the lid may be attached to, or may form part of, the cassette, and the dispensing opening and the refill opening may face in substantially perpendicular directions. In this manner, the lid is movable together with the cassette and the refill opening is accessible for refilling the reservoir with sheets of web material from a lateral side of the dispenser.
• According to embodiments, the refill opening may extend over substantially an entire length of the cassette and over substantially an entire width of the cassette. In this manner, substantially an entire side of the cassette may form the refill opening. Thus, the reservoir may easily be accessed and the stack of sheets of web material in the reservoir may easily be refilled.
• According to embodiments, the dispenser may include a second biasing arrangement adapted to bias the cassette in a vertical direction towards the position at least partially outside the housing. In this manner, an ejection of the cassette may be facilitated. At least a first movement of the cassette in relation to the housing thus, may be initiated by the second biasing arrangement.
• According to embodiments, the dispenser may include a securing arrangement for holding the cassette in place in the housing against a biasing force of the second biasing arrangement. In this manner, the cassette may be held in the housing during use of the dispenser.
• According to embodiments, the securing arrangement may be releasable to permit movement of the cassette to the position at least partially outside the housing.
• According to embodiments, the securing arrangement may include a protruding element in the housing, and the protruding element may be arranged to project into a recess provided in the cassette. In this manner, the protruding element may engage with the cassette in the recess to hold the cassette in place in the housing.
• According to embodiments, the protruding element may be biased in a direction towards the cassette. In this manner, it may be ensured that the protruding element engages with the cassette, when the cassette is positioned with the recess at the protruding element.
• According to embodiments, the securing arrangement may be further arranged to hold the cassette in the position at least partially outside the housing. In this manner, the cassette may be held in the position at least partially outside the housing to facilitate access to the refill opening, e.g. for refilling the reservoir with sheets of web material.
• According to embodiments, the protruding element may include a slanted edge arranged to abut against an outer surface of the cassette. In this manner, the protruding element may be moved away from the cassette to release the cassette, e.g. after refilling the reservoir, by applying a downward pressure to the lid. The cassette may then be returned to a position in the housing, for dispensing sheets of web material from the dispenser.
• According to embodiments, the securing arrangement may include a push button connected with the protruding element such that an engagement of the push button releases the protruding element from the recess. In this manner, the securing arrangement, and accordingly the cassette, may be easily released by engaging the push button to permit movement of cassette to the position at least partially outside the housing. The push button may be directly or indirectly connected with the protruding element.
• According to embodiments, the push button may be accessible through the lid. In this manner, the push button may be easily accessible for engagement at an upper side of the dispenser. The lid may be provided with a through hole, through which the push button is accessible.
• According to embodiments, the securing arrangement may include a third biasing arrangement for biasing the protruding element in the direction towards the cassette and for biasing the push button in a direction outwardly from the dispenser. In this manner, it may be ensured that the protruding element engages with the recess while the push button is always returned to an outer position, from which outer position it may be engaged by a user desiring to access the reservoir, e.g. to refill the dispenser.
• According to embodiments, the cassette may include a projection on an outside of the cassette and the housing may be provided with a groove, wherein the projection may be arranged to slide in the groove and along the groove, when the cassette is moved along the housing. In this manner, the cassette may be guided by the projection sliding in and along the groove to ensure that the cassette is not displaced from an intended travel path in the housing.
• According to embodiments, the projection may be elastic and may frictionally engage with the housing in the groove. In this manner, movement of the cassette in the housing may be controlled, e.g. to restrict the effect the second biasing arrangement may have on the cassette. Put differently, the cassette may be less likely to abruptly pop out of the housing when the securing arrangement is released, but will instead slide in a controlled manner in the housing.
• According to embodiments, the housing may include a protuberance arranged in the groove such that the projection may be releasably engaged with the protuberance when the projection is slid past the protuberance in the groove. In this manner, the cassette may be held in a specific position in the housing by the engagement between the protuberance and the projection.
• According to embodiments, the first biasing arrangement may be arranged in the cassette and may include a movable platform for supporting the stack of sheets of web material and a first resilient member abutting against the movable platform from a side opposite to the stack of sheets of web material. In this manner, the stack may be biased towards the lid and the dispensing opening by the movable platform and the first resilient member.
• According to embodiments, the dispenser may include a level indicator for indicating a level of sheets of web material in the reservoir. In this manner, service personnel may see whether the dispenser requires refilling without having to open the dispenser.
• According to embodiments, the movable platform may engage with the level indicator when the movable platform reaches an end portion of the housing near the lid, to displace the level indicator from a first position to at least a second position. In this manner, the movable platform may affect the level indicator while it moves upwardly in the dispenser as sheets of web material are dispensed.
• According to embodiments, the second biasing arrangement may include a second resilient member arranged between the housing and the cassette at an end portion of the housing opposite to the lid.
• It is also desired to provide a method of refilling a dispenser with a stack of sheets of web material, wherein a refilling of the dispenser is uncomplicated and dispensing of sheets from the dispenser after refilling is easy.
• According to an aspect, a method of refilling a dispenser with a stack of sheets of web material is disclosed. The dispenser is provided with a reservoir for the stack of sheets of web material and includes a housing. The dispenser includes a lid being provided with a dispensing opening for sheets of web material, wherein the lid is adapted to face upwardly during use of the dispenser. The dispenser includes a first biasing arrangement for biasing the stack of sheets of web material towards the lid and the dispensing opening. The dispenser further includes a cassette. The cassette includes the reservoir and is arranged to be moved to a position at least partially outside the housing. The cassette is provided with a refill opening for sheets of web material, the refill opening being accessible when the cassette is in the position at least partially outside the housing. The lid, or a portion at an upper end of the cassette, forms an upper constraint of the reservoir. The method includes: moving the cassette upwardly into the position at least partially outside the housing, and refilling the reservoir with sheets of web material by placing a stack of sheets of web material through the refill opening into the reservoir within the formed upper constraint.
• Since the reservoir and the refill opening are easily accessible when the cassette is in the position at least partially outside the housing and the refilling is done within the upper constraint of the reservoir, the dispenser is prevented from being overfilled with sheets of web material. Thus, reliable dispensing of sheets of web material from a newly refilled dispenser may be ensured.
• Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following detailed description. Those skilled in the art will realize that different features of the present invention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The various embodiments of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:
• FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a dispenser of an embodiment with a cassette positioned inside a housing,
• FIG. 2 illustrates the dispenser ofFIG. 1 with the cassette in an upper end position,
• FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section through the dispenser illustrated inFIG. 1,
• FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section through the dispenser ofFIG. 1 with the cassette partially outside the housing,
• FIG. 5 illustrates a cross section through the dispenser ofFIG. 2,
• FIG. 6 illustrates a partial cross section through the dispenser ofFIG. 1,
• FIGS. 7aand7billustrate exploded views of the dispenser ofFIG. 1,
• FIG. 8 illustrates a partial cross section through a dispenser according to an embodiment, and
• FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart showing a method of refilling a dispenser according to an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS
• Embodiments of the invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. However, this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Disclosed features of example embodiments may be combined as readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Well-known functions or constructions will not necessarily be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate adispenser2 according to an embodiment. Thedispenser2 is provided with areservoir6 for a stack of sheets of web material. Thedispenser2 includes ahousing4. Thedispenser2 includes alid10 being provided with a dispensingopening12 for sheets of web material. Thelid10 faces upwardly during use of thedispenser2. Accordingly, a side of thedispenser2 opposite to thelid10 is adapted to form a supporting side of thedispenser2, which supporting side is arranged to face a supporting surface upon which thedispenser2 is placed. The supporting side of thedispenser2 may be provided with one or more friction elements, such as rubber feet or pads of other types. A friction element may include a tacky elastomeric composition arranged for releasable and reusable securing of thedispenser2 to a supporting surface. Accordingly, thedispenser2 forms a stand-alone unit. Thedispenser2 includes acassette16. Thecassette16 includes thereservoir6 for the stack of sheets of web material. Thecassette16 is movable in thehousing4. Thecassette16 is arranged to be moved to a position at least partially outside thehousing4.
• InFIG. 1, thedispenser2 is illustrated with thecassette16 positioned inside thehousing4. InFIG. 2, thedispenser2 is illustrated with thecassette16 in an upper end position, in which upper end position thecassette16 is partially outside thehousing4. Thecassette16 may be arranged in thehousing4 in such a manner that thecassette16 cannot be removed from thehousing4 without disassembling thehousing4. In the upper end position, thecassette16 may be refilled with sheets of web material.
• Thecassette16 is provided with arefill opening18 for sheets of web material. Therefill opening18 is accessible when thecassette16 is in the position at least partially outside thehousing4. A user may thus, easily refill thedispenser2 with sheets of web material via therefill opening18 when the cassette is in the position at least partially outside the housing.
• Thelid10 is attached to, or forms part of, thecassette16. The dispensingopening12 and therefill opening18 face in substantially perpendicular directions. That is, the dispensingopening12 faces upwardly and the refill opening18 faces laterally when thedispenser2 is placed upon a supporting surface. When thecassette16 is positioned in the position at least partially outside thehousing4, therefill opening18 is accessible for refilling thereservoir6 with sheets of web material. A stack of sheets of web material is easily placed in thereservoir6. Therefill opening18 extends over substantially an entire length of thecassette16 and over substantially an entire width of thecassette16.
• Thelid10, or a portion at an upper end of thecassette16, forms an upper constraint of thereservoir6. Thus, when thedispenser2 is refilled with sheets of web material, thedispenser2 is prevented from being overfilled by this constraint. Reliable dispensing of sheets of web material from a newly filleddispenser2 thus, may be ensured. Conversely, a prior art dispenser, which is refilled through an upper opening beneath a lid provided with a dispensing opening, may risk overfilling. This requires the lid to be forced back onto the housing. Dispensing of the first sheets from an overfilled dispenser of this prior art kind may be difficult.
• FIGS. 3-5 illustrate cross sections through thedispenser2 illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2. InFIG. 3, thedispenser2 is illustrated with thecassette16 in a lower end position in thehousing4. Thecassette16 is secured in the housing in this lower end position. In thereservoir6 of thedispenser2, astack8 of sheets of web material is arranged. Sheets of web material may be dispensed through the dispensingopening12 in thelid10.
• InFIG. 4, thedispenser2 is illustrated with a portion of thecassette16 outside thehousing4. Thereservoir6 of thedispenser2 is empty and thus, in need of refilling.
• Thedispenser2 includes afirst biasing arrangement14 for biasing a stack of sheets of web material in thereservoir6 towards thelid10 and the dispensingopening12. Thefirst biasing arrangement14 is arranged in thecassette16 and includes amovable platform60 for supporting a stack of sheets of web material and a firstresilient member62 abutting against themovable platform60 from a side opposite to the stack of sheets of web material. In these embodiments, the firstresilient member62 includes a spring arranged between abottom element63 of thecassette16 and themovable platform60. Since thereservoir6 is empty, theplatform60 is biased into a position at an upper end of thehousing4.
• Provided purely as an example; thereservoir6 may house a stack of sheets of web material having a height of 10-20 cm, or approximately 15 cm. The sheets of web material may have a width of 10-30 cm, or approximately 24 cm and a breadth of 6-15 cm, or approximately 9 cm, in a folded state as provided in thedispenser2. Thefirst biasing arrangement14 may provide a biasing force of 10-12 N when thefirst biasing arrangement14 is fully compressed, i.e. when theplatform60 is in a bottom position in thecassette16.
• Thedispenser2 includes a second biasing arrangement20 adapted to bias thecassette16 in a vertical direction towards the position at least partially outside thehousing4. As illustrated inFIG. 4, the second biasing arrangement20 has moved a portion of thecassette16 outside thehousing4. Thecassette16 may be manually moved further outside thehousing4 from the position illustrated inFIG. 4, to an upper end position. Due to the second biasing arrangement20, thecassette16 is partially ejected from thehousing4 upon release of a securingarrangement22, which will be elaborated on further below. The second biasing arrangement20 includes a secondresilient member73 arranged between thehousing4 and thecassette16 at anend portion74 of thehousing4 opposite to thelid10. More specifically, the secondresilient member73 may include a spring. In these embodiments, the second biasing arrangement20 includes two springs. Provided purely as an example; the second biasing arrangement20 may provide a biasing force of approximately 15 N when the second biasing arrangement20 is fully compressed, i.e. when thecassette16 is in the lower position in thehousing4, as illustrated inFIG. 3.
• InFIG. 5, thedispenser2 is illustrated with thecassette16 in an upper end position. In the upper end position, thereservoir6 may be refilled with sheets of web material. Thecassette16 may be held in the position at least partially outside thehousing4 by a securingarrangement22, which will be elaborated on further below.
• Theplatform60 is in the position at the upper end of thehousing4. In the upper end position of thecassette16, themovable platform60 and thebottom element63 of thecassette16 are close to each other. The firstresilient member62 is compressed. Thus, the entire refill opening18 in thecassette16 is accessible to a user who is about to refill thedispenser2.
• FIG. 6 illustrates embodiments of a securingarrangement22 of thedispenser2 illustrated inFIGS. 1-5. The securingarrangement22 is arranged for holding thecassette16 in place in thehousing4 against the biasing force of the second biasing arrangement20. A corresponding securing arrangement is provided at an opposite side of thedispenser2.
• The securingarrangement22 is releasable to permit movement of thecassette16 to the position at least partially outside thehousing4. When the securing arrangement is released, thecassette16 is partially ejected from thehousing4 by the second biasing arrangement20 to a position as illustrated inFIG. 4. From this position a user may move thecassette16 to the upper end position of thecassette16, as illustrated inFIG. 5.
• The securingarrangement22 is mainly arranged in thehousing4 and includes a protrudingelement30, alink member46, athird biasing arrangement44, and apush button40. Thelid10 is provided with a through hole. Thepush button40 is accessible through thelid10. More specifically, thepush button40 is accessible through the through hole of thelid10. Thelid10 is connected with thecassette16 and thus, movable together with thecassette16. Thelink member46 is rotatable about anaxis47 and includes afirst projection48 and asecond projection49. Thefirst projection48 engages with the protrudingelement30. More specifically, thefirst projection48 extends into anaperture50 of the protrudingelement30. Thepush button40 abuts against thesecond projection49. Thethird biasing arrangement44 includes a torsional spring wound about theaxis47. The torsional spring abuts at one end against thelink member46 and at an opposite end against thepush button40. Thus, thethird biasing arrangement44 biases thepush button40 against aseat52 in thehousing4 and the protrudingelement30, via thefirst projection48, towards thecassette16. Thus, thepush button40 is biased in a direction outwardly from thedispenser2 to an outer position. From the outer position, thepush button40 may be engaged by a user desiring to access thereservoir6.
• The protrudingelement30 is arranged to project into arecess32 provided in thecassette16. Thus, the protrudingelement30 engages with thecassette16 in therecess32 and holds thecassette16 in place in thehousing4, against the biasing force of the second biasing arrangement20. Since the protrudingelement30 is biased in a direction towards thecassette16 it is ensured that the protrudingelement30 will engage with thecassette16 and therecess32 therein.
• Moreover, the securingarrangement22 is arranged to hold thecassette16 in the position at least partially outside thehousing4. This is achieved by the protrudingelement30 extending underneath thecassette16 when thecassette16 is in its upper end position, as illustrated inFIG. 5. Again, the biasing of the protrudingelement30 towards thecassette16 ensures that the protrudingelement30 will be positioned underneath thecassette16. The protrudingelement30 includes a slantededge34 arranged to abut against an outer surface of thecassette16. Thus, a bottom of thecassette16 resting against the slantededge34 of the protrudingelement30 may force the protrudingelement30, against thethird biasing arrangement44, away from thecassette16 when a downward pressure is applied to thelid10 of thedispenser2. When, upon repositioning thecassette16 in thehousing4, thecassette16 reaches the position illustrated inFIG. 4, a user may push on thelid10 to return thecassette16 to the lower end position in thehousing4, in which lower end position thethird biasing arrangement44 will bias the protrudingelement30 into therecess32 in thecassette16.
• When thecassette16 is in its lower end position, as illustrated inFIG. 3, and since thepush button40 is connected to the protrudingelement30 via thelink member46 and its first andsecond projections48,49, an engagement of thepush button40 releases the protrudingelement30 from therecess32, and thecassette16 is ejected by the second biasing arrangement20 to the position illustrated inFIG. 4. The engagement of thepush button40 in these embodiments includes pushing thepush button40 downwardly.
• When thecassette16 is in its upper end position, as illustrated inFIG. 4, engagement of thepush button40 results in release of the securingarrangement22, such thatcassette16 may be moved downwardly to the position illustrated inFIG. 4. From this position, a user may push on thelid10 to return thecassette16 to the lower end position, as illustrated inFIG. 3.
• Alternatively, when thecassette16 is in its upper end position, as illustrated inFIG. 4, a user may push on thelid10 whereby the securingarrangement22 is released, and thecassette16 may be moved downwardly to the position illustrated inFIG. 4. From this position, a user may continue pushing on thelid10 so as to return thecassette16 to the lower end position, as illustrated inFIG. 3.
• FIGS. 7aand7billustrate insides of thedispenser2 illustrated inFIGS. 1-6. InFIGS. 7aand7b, alevel indicator70 for indicating a level of sheets of web material in thereservoir6 is shown. Thelevel indicator70 is movable in a vertical direction, seen when thedispenser2 is placed on a surface with itslid10 facing upwardly. Thelevel indicator70 is visible from an outside of thedispenser2 through apeep hole72. Asurface74 of thelevel indicator70 facing thepeep hole72 is differently coloured at its upper and lower portions. For instance, the upper portion of thesurface74 may be coloured green and the lower portion of thesurface74 may be coloured red. Thus, the green colour is visible through thepeep hole72 when thelevel indicator70 is in a lower position, as illustrated inFIG. 7a, and the red colour is visible through thepeep hole72 when thelevel indicator70 is in an upper position, as illustrated inFIG. 7b.
• Themovable platform60 in thecassette16 engages with thelevel indicator70 when themovable platform60 reaches an end portion of thehousing4 near thelid10, and displaces thelevel indicator70 from a first position to at least a second position, e.g. from the lower position to a position closer to the upper position.
• In its lower position, thelevel indicator70 is supported by aledge76 arranged on an inside of thehousing4. Themovable platform60 is provided with aprotuberance78. Theprotuberance78 engages with thelevel indicator70 when themovable platform60 has been moved towards thelid10 by thefirst biasing arrangement14, as the stack of sheets of web material in thereservoir6 decreases.
• FIG. 8 illustrates a partial cross section through adispenser2 according to embodiments. Thedispenser2 may include features as discussed in connection with the embodiments ofFIGS. 1-7b. Acassette16 of thedispenser2 includes aprojection80 on an outside of thecassette16 and ahousing4 of thedispenser2 is provided with agroove82. Theprojection80 is arranged to slide in thegroove82 and along thegroove82 when thecassette16 is moved along thehousing4. Thus, thecassette16 is guided by theprojection80 sliding along thegroove82. Theprojection80 is elastic and engages frictionally with thehousing4 in thegroove82.
• Thehousing4 includes aprotuberance84 arranged in thegroove82 such that theprojection80 may releasably engaged with theprotuberance84 when theprojection80 is slid past theprotuberance84 in thegroove82. Thus, thecassette16 may be held in a specific position in thehousing4 by the engagement between theprotuberance84 and theprojection80. For instance, the engagement between theprotuberance84 and theprojection80 may hold thecassette16 in a position at least partially outside thehousing4 for refilling areservoir6 in thecassette16 with sheets of web material, as illustrated inFIG. 8. Thedispenser2 may additionally include a securingarrangement22 as discussed in connection withFIG. 6.
• FIG. 9 illustrates embodiments of a method of refilling a dispenser with a stack of sheets of web material. The dispenser may be adispenser2 as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the method is further illustrated e.g. inFIGS. 3-5 wherein different positions of acassette16 in ahousing4 of thedispenser2 are disclosed. The dispenser is provided with a reservoir for the stack of sheets of web material and includes the housing. The dispenser includes a lid being provided with a dispensing opening for sheets of web material, wherein the lid is adapted to face upwardly during use of the dispenser. The dispenser includes a first biasing arrangement for biasing the stack of sheets of web material towards the lid and the dispensing opening. The cassette includes the reservoir and is arranged to be moved to a position at least partially outside the housing, wherein the cassette is provided with a refill opening for sheets of web material, the refill opening being accessible when the cassette is in the position at least partially outside the housing. The lid, or a portion at an upper end of the cassette, forms an upper constraint of the reservoir. The method includes: moving100 the cassette upwardly into the position at least partially outside the housing, and refilling102 the reservoir with sheets of web material by placing a stack of sheets of web material through the refill opening into the reservoir within the formed upper constraint.
• According to embodiments, the dispenser may include a second biasing arrangement adapted to bias the cassette in a vertical direction towards the position at least partially outside the housing. The moving100 may include: ejecting104 the cassette from the housing by the second biasing arrangement towards the position at least partially outside the housing. In this manner, a partial movement towards the position at least partially outside the housing may be achieved by the second biasing arrangement. A full movement to the position at least partially outside the housing, in which the dispenser may be refilled, may be achieved by a user moving the cassette form the ejected position to the position at least partially outside the housing.
• According to embodiments, the dispenser may include a securing arrangement for holding the cassette in place in the housing against a biasing force of the second biasing arrangement. The moving100 may include: releasing106 the securing arrangement to permit movement of the cassette to the position at least partially outside the housing. In this manner, the cassette may not be ejected from the housing by the second biasing arrangement towards the position at least partially outside the housing until the releasing106 the securing arrangement.
• According to embodiments, the securingarrangement22 may include apush button40, and the moving100 may include engagement of thepush button40 to release the securingarrangement22.
• According to embodiments, the method may include: repositioning108 the cassette in the housing. In this manner, the cassette may be returned into the housing after refilling the reservoir with a stack of sheets of web material and sheets of web material may be dispensed from the dispenser through its dispensing opening.
• According to embodiments, the dispenser may include a securingarrangement22 for holding the cassette in place in a position at least partially outside the housing, and therepositioning108 may include releasing the securingarrangement22 to permit movement of the cassette towards the position in the housing.
• According to embodiments, the securingarrangement22 may include a push button, and the repositioning may include engagement of thepush button40 to release the securingarrangement22.
• According to alternative embodiments, the repositioning108 may include pushing the cassette towards the housing to release the securingarrangement22 to permit movement of the cassette towards the position in the housing.
• According to embodiments, the refilling102 may include: placing110 a stack having a height of 10-20 cm in the reservoir.
• Example embodiments described above may be combined as understood by a person skilled in the art. Thehousing4 may include two side elements, which are secured to each other, and a bottom portion attached to the side elements, e.g. by screws. Thehousing4 may include a sheet metal cladding. The sheet metal cladding may extend around outer sides of the two side elements. The sheet metal cladding may be attached to the side elements e.g. by means of glue or double-stick tape. At thepeep hole72, the sheet metal cladding may be provided with a slot to expose thepeep hole72. Although the invention has been described with reference to example embodiments, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art.
• Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of various example embodiments and that the invention is defined only by the appended claims.
• As used herein, the term “comprising” or “comprises” is open-ended, and includes one or more stated features, elements, steps, components or functions, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, steps, components, functions or groups thereof.

Claims (28)

1. A dispenser (2) provided with a reservoir (6) for a stack (8) of sheets of web material and comprising a housing (4), wherein the dispenser (2) comprises a lid (10) being provided with a dispensing opening (12) for sheets of web material, wherein the lid (10) is adapted to face upwardly during use of the dispenser (2), and wherein the dispenser (2) comprises a first biasing arrangement (14) for biasing the stack (8) of sheets of web material towards the lid (10) and the dispensing opening (12), characterized in that the dispenser (2) comprises a cassette (16), which cassette (16) comprises the reservoir (6) and is arranged to be moved to a position at least partially outside the housing (4), wherein the cassette (16) is provided with a refill opening (18) for sheets of web material, the refill opening (18) being accessible when the cassette (16) is in the position at least partially outside the housing (4).

2. The dispenser (2) according toclaim 1, wherein the lid (10) is attached to, or forms part of, the cassette (16), and wherein the dispensing opening (12) and the refill opening (18) face in substantially perpendicular directions.

3. The dispenser (2) according toclaim 1 or2, wherein the refill opening (18) extends over substantially an entire length of the cassette (16) and over substantially an entire width of the cassette (16).

4. The dispenser (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispenser (2) comprises a second biasing arrangement (20) adapted to bias the cassette (16) in a vertical direction towards the position at least partially outside the housing (4).

5. The dispenser (2) according toclaim 4, wherein the dispenser (2) comprises a securing arrangement (22) for holding the cassette (16) in place in the housing (4) against a biasing force of the second biasing arrangement (20).

6. The dispenser (2) according toclaim 5, wherein the securing arrangement (22) is releasable to permit movement of the cassette (16) to the position at least partially outside the housing (4).

7. The dispenser (2) according toclaim 5 or6, wherein the securing arrangement (22) comprises a protruding element (30) in the housing (4), the protruding element (30) being arranged to project into a recess (32) provided in the cassette (16).

8. The dispenser (2) according toclaim 7, wherein the protruding element (30) is biased in a direction towards the cassette (16).

9. The dispenser (2) according to any one ofclaims 5-8, wherein the securing arrangement (22) is further arranged to hold the cassette (16) in the position at least partially outside the housing (4).

10. The dispenser (2) according to any one ofclaims 7-9, wherein the protruding element (30) comprises a slanted edge (34) arranged to abut against an outer surface of the cassette (16).

11. The dispenser (2) according toclaim 7 or8, or according toclaim 9 or10 when dependent onclaim 7 or8, wherein the securing arrangement (22) comprises a push button (40) connected with the protruding element (30) such that an engagement of the push button (40) releases the protruding element (30) from the recess.

12. The dispenser (2) according toclaim 11, wherein the push button (40) is accessible through the lid (10).

13. The dispenser (2) according toclaim 11 or12, wherein the securing arrangement (22) comprises a third biasing arrangement (44) for biasing the protruding element (30) in the direction towards the cassette (16) and for biasing the push button (40) in a direction outwardly from the dispenser (2).

14. The dispenser (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cassette (16) comprises a projection (80) on an outside of the cassette (16) and the housing (4) is provided with a groove (82), and wherein the projection (80) is arranged to slide in the groove (82) and along the groove (82), when the cassette (16) is moved along the housing (4).

15. The dispenser (2) according toclaim 14, wherein the projection (80) is elastic and frictionally engages with the housing (4) in the groove (82).

16. The dispenser (2) according toclaim 15, wherein the housing (4) comprises a protuberance (84) arranged in the groove (82) such that the projection (80) is releasably engaged with the protuberance (84) when the projection (80) is slid past the protuberance (84) in the groove (82).

17. The dispenser (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first biasing arrangement (14) is arranged in the cassette (16) and comprises a movable platform (60) for supporting the stack (8) of sheets of web material and a first resilient member (62) abutting against the movable platform (60) from a side opposite to the stack (8) of sheets of web material.

18. The dispenser (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispenser (2) comprises a level indicator (70) for indicating a level of sheets of web material in the reservoir (6).

19. The dispenser (2) according toclaims 17 and18, wherein the movable platform (60) engages with the level indicator (70) when the movable platform (60) reaches an end portion of the housing (4) near the lid (10), to displace the level indicator (70) from a first position to at least a second position.

20. The dispenser (2) according toclaim 4, or according to any one ofclaims 5-19 when dependent onclaim 4, wherein the second biasing arrangement (20) comprises a second resilient member (73) arranged between the housing (4) and the cassette (16) at an end portion of the housing (4) opposite to the lid (10).

21. A method of refilling a dispenser (2) with a stack (8) of sheets of web material, the dispenser (2) being provided with a reservoir (6) for the stack of sheets of web material and comprising a housing (4), wherein the dispenser (2) comprises a lid (10) being provided with a dispensing opening (12) for sheets of web material, wherein the lid (10) is adapted to face upwardly during use of the dispenser (2), and wherein the dispenser (2) comprises a first biasing arrangement (14) for biasing the stack (8) of sheets of web material towards the lid (10) and the dispensing opening (12), the dispenser (2) further comprising a cassette (16), which cassette (16) comprises the reservoir (6) and is arranged to be moved to a position at least partially outside the housing (4), wherein the cassette (16) is provided with a refill opening (18) for sheets of web material, the refill opening (18) being accessible when the cassette (16) is in the position at least partially outside the housing (4), and wherein the lid (10), or a portion at an upper end of the cassette (16), forms an upper constraint of the reservoir (6), the method comprising:

moving (100) the cassette (16) upwardly into the position at least partially outside the housing (4), and

refilling (102) the reservoir (6) with sheets of web material by placing a stack (8) of sheets of web material through the refill opening (18) into the reservoir (6) within the formed upper constraint.

22. The method according toclaim 21, wherein the dispenser (2) comprises a second biasing arrangement (20) adapted to bias the cassette (16) in a vertical direction towards the position at least partially outside the housing (4), and wherein the moving (100) comprises:

ejecting (104) the cassette (16) from the housing (4) by the second biasing arrangement (20) towards the position at least partially outside the housing (4).

23. The method according toclaim 22, wherein the dispenser (2) comprises a securing arrangement (22) for holding the cassette (16) in place in the housing (4) against a biasing force of the second biasing arrangement (20), and wherein the moving (100) comprises:

releasing (106) the securing arrangement (22) to permit movement of the cassette (16) to the position at least partially outside the housing (4).

24. The method according toclaim 23, wherein the securing arrangement (22) comprises a push button (40), and the releasing (106) of the securing arrangement (22) comprises engagement of the push button (40).

25. The method according to any one ofclaims 21-24, comprising:

repositioning (108) the cassette (16) in the housing (4).

26. The method according toclaim 25 in combination withclaim 24 orclaim 23, wherein the securing arrangement (22) is arranged to hold the cassette (16) in the position at least partially outside the housing (4), and wherein the repositioning (108) comprises:

releasing the securing arrangement (22) to permit movement of the cassette (16) towards the position in the housing (4).

27. The method according toclaim 26, wherein the securing arrangement (22) comprises a push button (40), and the releasing of the securing arrangement (22) comprises:

engagement of the push button (40).

28. The method according to any one ofclaims 21-27, wherein the refilling (102) comprises:

placing (110) a stack (8) having a height of 10-20 cm in the reservoir (6).

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