TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

The present disclosed subject matter relates to a sheet-material dispenser.

The term sheet-material is used herein the specification and claims in its broad sense and includes single or multi-layered sheets of material, integrated into uniform layer, or several at least partially overlapping layers. The sheet-material may be of any size, thickness and shape, and may be made of any material, homogeneous or non- homogeneous material. Examples of sheet-material are shopping bags, wrapper sheets, and the like. BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

Dispensers of sheet-material are broadly used. For example, it is common to provide at a cashier counter in different shops a bag dispenser, such as for example a nylon bag. In other locations a sheet dispenser may be provided for dispensing paper towels or wrapping sheets, and the like.

WO12014210A discloses a sheet-material dispensing devise for automatic dispensing one sheet-material at a time out of a stack of sheet-material items, comprising a housing fitted with one or more service panels and accommodating a sheet-material support configured with an inverted U-shaped sheet-material tray, a sheet-material stack holding mechanism, a sheet-material pressure mechanism for retaining substantially constant pressure of the stack of sheet-material against a roller- type sheet-material dispensing mechanism and a control system for dispensing a duty sheet-material readily presented through a dispensing opening formed in the housing for collecting by an individual.

Acknowledgement of the above reference herein is not to be inferred as meaning that this is in any way relevant to the patentability of the presently disclosed subject matter.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The present disclosed subject matter is concerned with a sheet-material dispenser comprising a housing configured with a sheet-material stack holder suited for detachably supporting a stack of sheet-material, said housing further comprising a sheet-material dispensing opening, a loading port for loading a stack of unitary sheet- material items over said sheet-material stack holder and a biasing mechanism for biasing the stack of unitary sheet-material items towards said sheet-material dispensing opening.

According to a particular configuration the disclosed sheet-material dispenser comprises a housing configured with a sheet-material dispensing opening and a sheet- material loading port, a sheet-material stack holder substantially coaxially received within the housing and comprising sheet-material gripping mechanism; and a biasing mechanism for biasing the stack of sheet-material towards said sheet-material dispensing opening, such that a duty sheet-material is exposed at the sheet-material dispensing opening and can be pulled out.

According to a design of the dispenser, the sheet-material stack holder is pivotable between at least a loading position wherein said sheet-material support is reachable through the sheet-material loading port, and at least one dispensing position, corresponding with the length of the sheet-material.

The arrangement is such that once a stack of sheet-material is mounted over the sheet-material stack holder and positioned at the dispensing position, a sheet-material item extends at the sheet-material dispensing opening readily available for removal.

According to a particular embodiment, the sheet-material dispenser further comprises a stack loading mechanism articulated with and configured for selectively manipulating the sheet-material stack holder between its respective positions.

According to a particular use, the sheet-material dispenser is configured for dispensing shopping bags, and is adapted for use in conjunction with so-called T-shirt bags, i.e. shopping bags. Accordingly, the sheet-material stack holder is configured with sheet-material gripping mechanism for arresting the stack of sheet-material and however facilitating easy detaching of unitary sheet items.

Any one or more of the following features, designs and configurations can be incorporated in a sheet-material dispenser according to the present disclosure, separately or in any combinations thereof:

• The housing is mounted on a mounting structure;

• External surfaces of the housing can serve as advertising space; The mounting structure can comprise an advertising and/or information display;

The housing is substantially cylindrical;

The sheet-material stack holder coaxially extends within the housing and is rotatable between distinct positions comprising at least a loading position wherein said sheet-material support is reachable through the sheet-material loading port, and at least one dispensing position depending on the length of the sheet-material;

The sheet-material stack holder is rotatably supported between two side walls of the housing.

The dispensing position is configured so that for a given length of sheet- material a bottom, free end of the sheet-material batch does not extend opposite the dispensing opening. This is useful in order to prevent an individual from grabbing a batch of sheet-material items, but rather to dispense them one at a time. According to a particular embodiment at any dispensing position, a bottom, free end, of the sheet-material batch extends above a top edge of the dispensing opening;

The dispensing opening of the sheet-material dispenser has a width substantially corresponding with a width of the sheet-material used in conjunction therewith;

The sheet-material dispenser is configured with two side walls. The length of the sheet-material dispenser corresponds with a width of the sheet-material used in conjunction therewith;

The dispensing opening extends along the length of the housing;

A sheet-material dispensing roller is provided at or adjacent one or both of a top edge and a bottom edge of the dispensing opening and configured to facilitate smooth extraction of a sheet-material through the dispensing opening. The dispensing roller can be configured with a bearing assembly for smooth rolling thereof;

The biasing mechanism comprises at least one biasing element extending from the sheet-material stack holder and configured for applying radially outwards directed biasing force on a stack of sheet-material mounted on sheet-material stack holder, towards the dispensing opening; The biasing mechanism comprises one or more biasing leaf-like elements configured for bearing against an innermost layer of a stack of sheet- material;

The one or more biasing elements are disposed so that a stack of sheet- material extends substantially flat opposite the dispensing opening; The one or more biasing elements are configured for adjusting the biasing pressure applied on the stack of sheet-material;

The biasing elements are independent from one another. Each biasing element can apply a different radial pressure. For example, a central biasing element can apply lesser (or greater) radial pressure than side biasing elements;

The biasing leaf-like elements are arced springy members, extending from the sheet-material stack holder and having an end radii substantially corresponding with an inner radii of the cylindrical housing;

A side shield is provided at each respective side edge of the dispensing opening, to prevent free access to side edges of the stack of sheet- material, thereby preventing or substantially reducing the likelihood of an individual grabbing a batch of sheet-material items. The side shields can be configured in the form of a plate or a bar and the like;

Side walls of the housing are retained at a fixed apart relation by a plurality of support rods extending therebetween. Optionally, the side walls are secured via the mounting structure;

The loading port is configured with a reclosable cover. The cover, according to one particular example, coextends the cylindrical shape of the housing and is pivotally secured over an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing, extending through the sheet-material stack holder;

The housing can be configured with two or more cover segments pivotally displaceable between a closed and an open position;

The cover of the loading port can be retained locked at its closed position; A dispenser mechanism can be associated with the dispensing opening, for progressing a duty sheet-material item to project out from the dispensing opening;

The dispenser mechanism can comprise an electric motor configured for rotating a friction member bearing over the duty sheet-material item, configured for dispensing a duty sheet-material to project from the dispensing opening;

The friction member is configured for rotation above a corresponding biasing element;

The dispenser mechanism can comprise a sensor for initiating the electric motor. The sensor can be for example an electronic eye configured for detecting the presence of a duty sheet-material projecting from the dispensing opening, or a motion or heat sensor, detecting the hand of an individual approaching the dispensing opening, etc;

The sheet-material gripping mechanism comprises one or more grips for mounting thereon a stack of unitary sheet-material items. The one or more grips are configured for securing the stack of unitary sheet-material items at a top end thereof. The top end, when concerned with T-shirt bags is referred to as the end fitted with the integral carrying handles. The one or more grips are positioned over the sheet-material stack holder at locations corresponding with pre-formed apertures manufactured at the stack of unitary sheet-material items. Such locations can be either/and at a central location and at handle locations;

A unitary sheet-material binder can be used in conjunction with the dispenser, wherein the stack of unitary sheet-material items is a-priory secured by the binder and where the binder is articulated to the one or more grips of the sheet-material stack holder;

One or more retention members are provided for retaining the stack of unitary sheet-material items, or the binder, over the sheet-material stack holder;

The sheet-material gripping mechanism can be configured with a foolproof and/or fake preventing arrangement, to avoid wrong mounting or mounting of a non-complying stack of sheet-material or binder thereon;

The stack loading mechanism comprises a rotating mechanism for rotating the sheet-material stack holder with the associated sheet-material support into the loading position, and further for winding the stack of sheet material over the sheet-material stack holder into the respective dispensing position, corresponding with the length of the sheet-material, whereby at the dispensing position a bottom end of the stack of sheet- material extends beyond the dispensing opening, i.e. not accessible through the dispensing opening;

The rotating mechanism can be an electronic motor, e.g. a step-motor. Such a motor can be associated with a controller configured for imparting rotary signal to the motor depending on the length of the stack of sheet-material. An operating signal can be manual or automatic (e.g. initiated upon closing/opening one or more covers of the housing. Distinct angular positions of the sheet-material stack holder can be preprogrammed or manually selected, or automatically detected e.g. by an electronic sensor detecting the position of the stack of sheet-material, or a pressure sensor determining same;

The rotating mechanism can be a manual arrangement configured for rotating the sheet-material stack holder between several distinct locations;

The rotating mechanism can be associated with an anti-tampering arrangement, configured to prevent unauthorized individuals from tampering the sheet-material dispenser, in particular, to prevent individuals from rotating the sheet-material stack holder into a position facilitating grabbing a stack of sheet material and removing it from the dispenser;

The anti-tampering arrangement can comprise a locking mechanism or a neutralizing mechanism, whereby an unauthorized individual is prevented from loading/unloading or changing position of the rotating mechanism; • According to a particular embodiment, the sheet-material stack holder has at one end thereof a hexagonal portion end selectively engageable within a respective hexagonal receiving nut associated with a side wall of the housing, whereby engagement therebetween defines several distinct rotary positions of the sheet-material stack holder. The receiving nut is selectively engageable with the hexagonal portion of the sheet-material stack holder, e.g. by pressing the receiving nut against a disengaging nut.

• A position indicator can be provided for providing indicia that the sheet- material stack holder is at the loading position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet-material dispenser according to the present disclosure, mounted on a mounting structure;

Fig. 2 A is a top right side, perspective view, of the sheet-material dispenser of Fig. 1, removed from the mounting structure;

Fig. 2B is a top left side, perspective view, of the sheet-material dispenser of Fig. 1, removed from the mounting structure;

Fig. 3A illustrates the devise seen in Fig. 2A with a top cover of the housing at an open position;

Fig. 3B illustrates the devise seen in Fig. 2B with a top cover and a bottom cover of the housing at an open position;

Fig. 4A illustrates the devise seen in Fig. 2A, with a right side wall thereof removed;

Fig. 4B illustrates the devise seen in Fig. 2B, with a left side wall thereof removed;

Fig. 4C is a bottom right side, perspective view of Fig. 4A;

Fig. 4D is a top right side, perspective view of Fig. 4A, with a top cover segment removed; Fig. 5A is a right side view of the dispenser, with a right side wall removed and the sheet-material stack holder is disposed into a loading position;

Fig. 5B is similar to Fig. 5A, however with the sheet-material biasing mechanism deformed into biasing a stack of sheet-material;

Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of a T-shirt bag sheet-material according to several configurations, suitable for use in conjunction with the sheet-material dispenser according to the present disclosure;

Fig. 7 A illustrates the sheet-material dispenser of Fig. 1 , however loaded with a stack of sheet-material;

Fig. 7B illustrates removal of a unitary sheet-material item from the sheet- material dispenser of Fig. 7B;

Fig. 8A is a perspective rear view of the sheet-material dispenser of Fig. 1, with both the top cover and the bottom cover open and the sheet-material stack holder disposed at a loading position;

Fig. 8B illustrates loading a stack of unitary sheet-material T-shirt bags over the sheet-material stack holder, with both the top cover and the bottom cover open;

Fig. 9A is a perspective view illustrating components of a stack loading mechanism of the sheet-material dispenser of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 9B is an exploded view of Fig. 9 A;

Fig. 9C is a left side perspective view of Fig. 9C;

Fig. 10 is an isometric view of a binder suitable for use in conjunction with a sheet-material dispenser according to the present disclosure;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a sheet material dispenser according to another example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

Figs. 12A to 12C are front views of the sheet material dispenser of Fig. 11 ;

Fig. 12D schematically illustrates a bag loaded within the sheet material dispenser of Figs. 11 to 12C; and

Figs. 13A and 13B are a front view and a perspective exploded view, respectively, of a stack loading mechanism according to another example of the presently disclosed subject matter, constituting part of the material dispenser of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 13C to 13E show different portions of the stack loading mechanism of Figs. 13A and 13B; Fig. 14A schematically illustrates a cover sheet in accordance with one example of the presently disclosed subject matter; and

Fig. 14B is a is a schematic cross-section view taken along section A- A shown in Fig. 14A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Attention is directed to the annexed drawings, and in particular to Figs. 1, 7 A, 7B and 8A, illustrating a sheet-material dispenser according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and generally designated 20. The sheet-material dispenser 20 comprises a substantially cylindrical housing 24 supported by a pair of support arms 26 to a base member 28, with a longitudinal axis X of the housing 20 extending substantially horizontally.

It is however appreciated that according to different configurations (not illustrated), the housing can extend at a different angular orientation (e.g. with its longitudinal axis extending inclined or substantially vertically). Furthermore, the housing can be supported to a structure, i.e. any rigid support structure, by different support members or directly to left side wall 32 and/or right side wall 34 of the housing 24.

As can further be seen, best in Fig. 1, a display plate 40 is retained between the support arms 26, said display plate configured for displaying media and /or information such as advertising information, useful information, etc. The display plate 40 can be an electronic display unit (in which case it can electronically communicate with a point of sale processor, etc.), or merely be a surface for articulating thereto signs and the like. Likewise, the overall cylindrical shape of the housing 24 can serve as advertizing area, e.g. of beverage cans and any other goods.

The left side wall 32 and the right side wall 34 of the housing 24 are rigid disclike plates, fixedly articulated to one another by two or more support rods 46 extending therebetween, and secured by fasteners such as bolts, rivets and the like. Noticeably, rather than support rods 46, or in addition thereto, support members can extend between the left side wall 32 and the right side wall 34 for rigidifying the structure.

The overall cylindrical shape of the housing 24 is further imparted by the provision of a top cover 50, pivotally secured to the housing about a longitudinal pivot axis 52, said top cover extending over a sheet-material loading port 58 and being pivotally displaceable between a closed position (e.g. Figs. 1, 2A, 2B) in which it coextends the cylindrical shape of the housing and an open position (Figs. 3 A, 3B8A and 8B) allowing access to the sheet-material loading port 58 for loading/unloading of sheet material, and for maintenance purposes.

There is further provided a bottom cover 60 pivotally secured to the housing about a longitudinal pivot axis 62. According to the particular configuration, and as can be seen in the drawings, the top cover 50 and the bottom cover 60 are openable in opposite directions as represented by dash-arrowed lines 64 and 66, respectively, thereby providing for a wide opening for easy access into the inner space of the devise. Whilst in the presently disclosed embodiment the housing 24 comprises two cover segments, it is appreciated that any one or more covers can be configured, having their pivoting axle facing one way or another.

A sheet-material dispensing opening 68 is configured in the housing, for exposing and withdrawal of a duty sheet-material (111 in Fig. 7B). The sheet-material dispensing opening 68 extends substantially between the side walls 32 and 34 and spans the width of a sheet-material (e.g. a T-shirt bag), or slightly wider thereof. Furthermore, a side shield 69 is provided at each respective side edge of the dispensing opening (extending inwards from the side walls 32 and 34), to prevent free access to side edges of the stack of sheet-material, thereby preventing or substantially reducing the likelihood of an individual grabbing a batch of sheet-material items. The side shields 69 are configured in the form of U-like bars, though other configurations can be used, e.g. plate of material, and the like.

Top and bottom edges of the dispensing opening 68 are fitted with a respective longitudinal top dispenser roller 71 and a bottom dispenser roller 73, each freely rolling about their longitudinal axis, and provided for easing the withdrawal of a duty sheet- material item by reducing friction forced as the sheet-material item is withdrawn from the dispensing opening 68.

In the present example the top cover 50 and the bottom cover 60 are made of steel sheet material, rendering them with some degree of flexibility. This is used for the closing/opening mechanism of the covers, whereby an inside face 32A of the left side wall and an inside face 34A of the right side wall are formed with a facing groove 70 configured with a top port 72, a bottom port 74 and an arresting section 76. The top cover 50 and the bottom cover 60 have at their respective free ends a laterally projection locking pin designated 82 and 84, respectively, said locking pins 82 and 84 configured for insertion into the groove 70 via the respective top ports 72 and bottom ports 74, and arresting engagement at arresting section 76. Disengagement of either or both the top cover 50 and the bottom cover 60 takes place by deforming the respective cover and withdrawal of the pin from the grooves 70 at a pivoting motion in direction of dashed- arrowed lines 64 and 66 into the respective open position (Figs. 3A, 3B8A and 8B).

Whilst a particular cover locking configuration has been illustrated, it is appreciated that other configurations are possible too, without departing from the spirit of the disclosed subject matter. For example, the covers may be magnetically securable, lockable by different fasteners, electric solenoid, etc.

Coaxially received within the housing and pivotally extending between the left side wall 32 and the right side wall 34 there is a sheet-material stack holder 90 configured with a gripping mechanism, namely a pair grips in the form of radially projecting hooks 92, configured for mounting thereon a stack of unitary sheet-material items or a binder, as will be disclosed hereinafter with greater detail.

According to a particular example, the grips 92 are sufficiently long to support a stack of at least 500 and even up to about 1500 stacked sheet-material units, e.g. T-shirt bags. In this connection it is noted that each of the stacked unitary sheet-material units is pre-formed with an eye-like puncture to facilitate mounting of the stack of sheet- material over the griping hooks 92. As illustrated by way of example in Fig. 6 several forms of so called T-shirt bags 100 are represented, comprising a pair of side eye-like punctures 104 at the handle portion of the bag. Optionally the bag is formed with a central tab ranging between a small tab 108 or a larger tab 110 or a complete central portion 112, each formed with a central eye-like puncture 114, 116 (the later common for the larger tab 110 and the complete central portion 112). In this case it is noted that a third, central gripping hook 99 is provided, the latter having an L-like shape. For different forms of sheet-material stacks and binders there may be provided different types of grips, and these may be detachably-attachable over the sheet-material stack holder 90 for replacement thereof.

In some cases it may be advantageous to add one or more retention members for retaining a stack of unitary sheet-material items, or a binder, over the sheet-material stack holder 90. The one or more retention member can be for example a spring member (not shown) extending from the sheet-material stack holder 90 or from one or both of the inside faces of the side walls, or a pivotal retention arm 120 (Figs. 8A and 8B), pivotally displaceable between a loading position (Fig. 8A) facilitating loading/unloading of a stack of sheet-material (or a binder), and a retention position (Fig. 8B), wherein the retention arm 120 is configured to bear over the stack of sheet- material (or a binder) and prevent displacement thereof upon rotating the sheet-material stack holder 90 as will be explained hereinafter.

As seen in the drawings, the sheet-material dispenser 20 is further configured with a biasing mechanism, which in the present example comprises three leaf-like sheet spring elements 130A, 130B and 130C each being fixedly secured and extending from the sheet-material stack holder 90 in a spiral fashion such that each of the like sheet spring elements 130A, 130B and 130C extends opposite a respective portion of the sheet-material dispensing opening 68. The elasticity and spiral segment shape of the sheet spring elements 130A, 130B and 130C renders them biasing force sufficient to bias a stack of sheet-material items radially outwards against the sheet-material dispensing opening, however not causing the sheet-material to project out of the periphery of the housing 24, and allowing good access to grab a duty sheet-material.

As seen in Figs. 5 A and 5B, the biasing mechanism, namely three spiral shaped sheet spring elements 130A, 130B and 130C are normally biased radially outwardly, such that at the absence of sheet-material items within the dispenser (Fig. 5A) the sheet spring elements 130A, 130B and 130C bear against the respective longitudinal top dispenser roller 71 and a bottom dispenser roller 73, whilst when a stack of sheet- material 123 is received within the dispenser (Fig. 5B), and regardless of the number of sheet-material items or the thickness of the stack, a respective portion of the stack is biased radially outwards towards the dispensing opening, facilitating gripping of a duty sheet-material item. The biasing force applied by the biasing mechanism can be controlled, e.g. by a tensioning mechanism configured for controlling radial tension of the biasing mechanism, etc.

The sheet-material dispenser 20 is further configured with a stack loading mechanism generally designated 140, a particular example of which is illustrated in detail with further reference being made to Figs 9 A to 9C. The stack loading mechanism 140 is articulated with and configured for selectively manipulating the sheet-material stack holder 90 between its respective positions, namely a loading position at which the grips 92 are positioning so that they are easily accessible through the loading port (at the open position of at least the top cover 50), and a dispensing position at which the stack of sheet material 123 is winded at least partially over the sheet-material stack holder 90 with a respective middle portion of the sheet-material exposed through the dispensing opening 68 (i.e. the top/bottom edge of the sheet-material units are not reachable through the dispensing opening 68, to thereby eliminate, or substantially reduce the likelihood of an individual to grab a stack of sheet-material items through the dispensing opening). This depends also on the length of the sheet-material and the internal radii of the housing. Therefore, the stack loading mechanism 140 facilitates rotating the sheet-material stack holder 90 between the loading position and the respective one or more dispensing positions. That is, the angular position of the sheet- material stack holder 90 defines the extent of winding the stack of sheet-material and respectively the positioning of the portion of the sheet material exposed at the dispensing opening.

The stack loading mechanism 140 comprises an end portion 146 of the sheet- material stack holder 90, said end portion comprising a cylindrical bushing segment 146 rotatably received within a support member 148 which in turn is fixedly secured at the inner face 34A of the side wall 34. The end portion 146 of the sheet-material stack holder 90 is further shaped with a tip portion 152 having a flattened portion 154, and configured for extending through the end plate 34 and into an angle determining ring 160. The ring 160 is formed with a central opening 162 and configured for mounting over the tip portion 152 however without rotary motion therebetween (owing to its non- circular shape). The angle determining ring 160 is further shaped with a flattened peripheral portion 164 and is sized and shaped for receiving within a fixating ring 170 fixedly secured to an external surface 34B of the side wall 34. It is noted that the fixating ring 170 is formed with an opening 174 having an inner, cylindrical portion 176 and an outer chamfered portion 178. The size of the cylindrical portion 176 is such so as to facilitate free rotation of the angle determining ring 160 therewithin. However, when the ring 160 is axially outwardly biased, under biasing force of a coiled spring 180, the ring 160 is displaced axially outwards so as to snap into the chamfered portion 178, wherein it becomes angularly arrested, whereby the sheet-material stack holder 90 is prevented from rotation about its longitudinal axis. The fixating ring 170 has an opening 182 through which the tip portion 152 of the sheet-material stack holder 90 chamfered portion 178 is engageable for manipulating by a tool (not shown) or an electric motor (not shown), whereby rotation of the sheet-material stack holder 90 is facilitated by engaging the tool with tip portion 152, depressing it axially inwards (in direction of arrow 185 in Fig. 9A) so as to disengage the chamfered portion 154 from the ring 160 and disengage rotary arresting of the ring 160 from the arresting shoulder at portion 178 of the fixating ring 170. Terminating the axial pressure against the biasing spring 180 results in reverse sequence, i.e. biasing the sheet-material stack holder 90 into a fixed angular position. Multiple angular positions of the sheet-material stack holder 90 are obtained by the angular relationship of the chamfered portions and additional angular positions can be provided upon forming the tip portion 152 and/or the ring 160 with additional chamfered sections.

It is appreciated that rather than a tool (not shown) or a motor (not shown) a fixed or removable manipulator 190 can be provided (Figs. 1, 7A and 7B), said manipulator 190 being engaged with the ring 160 for selective engaging with the tip portion 152 of the sheet-material stack holder 90, against the axially directed biasing effect of spring 180, and rotation thereof. Rotation can be facilitated by leverage pins axially displaceable with respect to the manipulator 190, for improved griping during rotation.

The loading position is visibly indicated by the provision of indicia arrows 193 (on the external face 34B of the right wall 34) and 195 on the manipulator 190, whereby when the two arrows face each other the sheet-material stack holder 90 is at the loading position and the manipulator can be axially depressed into disengaging the loading mechanism for rotation thereof.

Turning now to Fig. 10 of the drawings there is illustrated a binder generally designated 200, suitable for use in conjunction with a sheet-material dispenser 20 according to the present disclosure. The binder comprises two segments 202 and 204 detachably attachable to one another via two posts 206 and 208. These posts are spaced apart from one another the same distance as that of the eye holes 104 of the T-bag 100 (Fig. 6). The posts 206 and 208 are hollow and have an opening 210 for mounting over the grips 92. The additional eye hole 114 or 116 of the T-bag, if existing, can be secured by a flexible band 212 extending between the two segments 202 and 204. Loading a stack 123 of sheet-material is carried out by opening the top cover 50 and optionally the bottom cover 60, manipulating the sheet-material stack holder 90 by the manipulator 190 into the loading position as discussed hereinabove, loading a stack of sheet-material, either as a free stack or by a binder 200 (Fig. 10), closing the covers 50 and 60 and rotating the manipulator or actuator (not shown) into a dispensing position (Fig. 7A), wherein a middle portion of the sheet-material items is exposed at the dispensing opening 68, under biasing effect of the biasing mechanism, allowing for withdrawal of substantially one sheet-material unit at a time, is illustrated in Fig. 7B.

Turning now to Figs. 11 to 12C, there is shown another example of a sheet- material dispenser in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter, generally designated 320. The sheet-material dispenser is designed and operates substantially similar to the sheet material dispenser 20 of the previous example, however comprises several modifications, as detailed below.

The sheet-material dispenser 320 comprises a stack holder 390 configured with a gripping mechanism, namely a pair grips in the form of radially projecting hooks 392, formed with supports 394 disposed at a substantially right angle with respect to the hooks 392, and configured for supporting a stack of unitary sheet-material items or a binder, similarly to the dispenser 20.

The arrangement is such the supports 394 are configured to move horizontally along an axis A (Fig. 12A), so as to change the distance d (Fig. 12B) between the support ends 394a and the inside faces 332A and 334A (Figs. 11 and 12 A) of the side walls of the sheet-material dispenser 320. Particularly, the supports 394 change their horizontal position between an open position (Fig. 12B), in which the distance d is maximal, and and a closed position (Fig. 12C)), in which the ends 394a and 394b of the supports 394 are brought towards the inside faces 332A and 334A, and the distance d is minimal, and can be about 3mm.

The above configuration allows bags B of a kind shown in Fig. 6, having handle portions Bl and a central eye-like puncture B2 to be loaded in the space s (Fig. between the stack holder 390 and supports 394 (Fig. 12D), so that the handle portions Bl are put within the space s and the eye-like puncture B2 is inserted on a gripping hook 399 (similar to the gripping hook 99 of the dispenser 20). Alternatively, the eye holes of the bags can be put over the ends 396 of the supports 394 and then secured when the supports 394 are in their closed position (not shown).

Referring now to Figs. 13A to 13D, the sheet-material dispenser 320 further comprises a stack loading mechanism 440. The stack loading mechanism 440 is articulated with and configured for selectively manipulating the sheet-material stack holder 390 between a loading position and a dispensing position, as detailed above in the description referring to the sheet-material dispenser 20.

The stack loading mechanism 440 comprises an end portion 446 (Figs. 13B and 13C) of the sheet-material stack holder 390, the end portion comprising a cylindrical bushing segment 446' rotatably received within a support member 448 which in turn is fixedly secured at the inner face 334A of the side wall 334.

The end portion 446 of the sheet-material stack holder 390 is further shaped with a tip portion 452 having a fixating slot 454 defined by a first slot portion 454a and a second slot portion 454b (Fig. 13B and 13D), and configured for extending through the end plate 334 and into a flange 459. The flange 459 is fixedly attached to side wall 334 at its inner face 452A and is formed with a central opening 462 through which the tip portion 452 extends.

The tip portion 452 extends though the flange 459 and terminates within central semi-circular shaped cut outs 492a and 492b of a manipulator 490, defining therebetween a partition 492c, so that the partition 492c is received between the first slot portion 454a and the second slot portion 454b of the slot 454 of the tip portion 452, and is further fixed with a screw 455 received within a corresponding screw opening 494 (Fig. 13D) of the manipulator 490 and between the first slot portion 454a and the second slot portion 454b (Fig. 13D).

The manipulator 490 is further formed with a manipulating handle 495 facilitating the rotation of the loading mechanism 440, as detailed below.

The stack loading mechanism 440 further comprises a positioning element 460 having a ring 461 with a central opening 461a and a cylindrical body 462 formed with a groove 463 defined by a first groove portion 463a and a second groove portion 463b (Figs. l3B and 13D).

The positioning element 460 is also received within the central cut outs 492a and 492b of a manipulator 490, so that the first groove portion 463a embraces the first slot portion 454a of the tip portion 452, and the second groove portion 463b embraces the second slot portion 454b of the tip portion 452 (Fig. 13D), and the groove portions 463a and 463b extend through the cut outs, as shown in Fig. 13C.

The ring 461 of the positioning element 460 is formed with a flattened peripheral chamfered portion 464 and is sized and shaped to be received within a receiving portion 458 of the flange 459 (Fig. 13E) and pressed against a coiled spring 480 received on the tip portion 452 of the sheet-material stack holder 390 (Fig. 13 A). Particularly, as shown in Fig. 13E, the central opening 462 of the flange 459 is also formed with a chamfered portion 478, allowing the chamfered portion 464 of the ring 461 to be arrested within the flange 459.

The stack loading mechanism 440 further comprises a hinge 500 received within the cylindrical body 462 of the positioning element 460, fixedly supported by the first groove portion 463a and the second groove portion 463b.

The arrangement is such that when the under biasing force of a coiled spring 480, the ring 461 of the positioning element 460 is displaced axially outwards so as to snap into the chamfered portion 478 of the flange 459, wherein it becomes angularly arrested, whereby the sheet-material stack holder 390 is prevented from rotation about its longitudinal axis (as shown in Fig. 13E).

When the hinge 500 is pressed inwardly, the manipulator 490 can be rotated by means of the handle 495, depressing the positioning element 460 axially inwards so as to disengage the chamfered portion 464 thereof from the chamfered portion 478 of the flange 459. Terminating the axial pressure against the biasing spring 480 results in biasing the sheet-material stack holder 390 into a fixed angular position (similarly to the mechanism 140 described above with reference to Figs. 9A to 9C).

When the sheet-material stack holder 390 reaches the loading position, the two chamfered portions 464 and 478 are snapped one to the other, and the hinge 500 pushed out by the spring 480 and prevents the mechanism 440 from further rotation. Accordingly, in the current example of the stack loading mechanism, contrary to the mechanism 140 referred to above, the need for visual indicia for the purpose of indication of the loading position of the sheet-material stack holder, is eliminated.

With reference to Figs. 14, there are shown leaf-like sheet spring elements 530A. 530B and 530C extending from the sheet-material stack holder 590, in accordance with another example of a sheet-material dispenser of the presently disclosed subject matter. The leaf-like sheet spring elements 530A. 530B and 530C are fitted within a cover sheet 540 for protection purpose, so as to eliminate any contact between the individual's approaching the sheet-material dispenser and the sheet spring elements.

The cover sheet 540 is fixedly secured to the sheet-material stack holder 590, and is formed with a plurality of insertion slots 542 for receiving therein the sheet spring elements 530A. 530B and 530C.

Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will readily appreciate that numerous changes, variations, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, mutatis mutandis.