Desktop folding sheet dispenser

Abstract

A method of loading a stack (26) of sheets into a dispenser for dispensing said sheets (26), the method comprising: moving a lid (8) of the dispenser from a closed, in-use position to an open, refill position; the dispenser comprising: a main body (1) having four side walls (2, 3, 4, 5), a base (6), an opening (7) in the top of the main body (1), a lid (8) for covering the opening (7) in use and allowing access to the opening (7) for refilling, wherein the lid (8) has a dispensing aperture (9) therein to enable sheets to be dispensed therefrom, a platform (10) for supporting a plurality of sheets from below, wherein the platform (10) is movable from a lowermost position when the dispenser is full of sheets to an uppermost position close to the lid (8) when the dispenser is almost empty of sheets, a biasing means (11) to urge the platform (10) towards the lid (8), a releasable locking mechanism to hold the platform (10) in the lowermost position, the releasable locking mechanism comprising: a first pair of first arms (12) movably attached to one side wall (2, 3, 4, 5) and extending in a direction from the top of the main body (1) towards the base (6), wherein each of the first pair of first arms (12) has a top end (13) and a bottom end (14), a second pair of second arms (15) movably attached to the base (6) and extending in a direction from the side wall to which the first pair of first arms (12) are attached towards the centre of the base (6), wherein each of the second pair of second arms (15) has a side wall end (16) and a locking end (17), the side wall end (16) being configured to cooperate with a respective bottom end (14) of a respective first arm (12) such that movement of the first arm (12) causes movement of the second arm (15), the locking end (17) being configured to releasably interlock with a respective locking portion (18) of a pair of locking portions (18) provided at the platform (10) to thereby hold the platform (10) in the locked position, wherein the lid (8) has a pair of engagement portions (19) at a lower surface thereof; wherein each of the pair of engagement portions (19) is configured to engage with a respective top end (13) of a respective first arm (12) when the lid (8) is closed to thereby release the platform (10) from the locked position; placing a stack (26) of sheets through the opening (7) with a trailing face of the stack (26) located on a support face of the platform (10); applying a force on a leading face of the stack (26) opposite the trailing face to thereby urge the platform (10) into the main body (1) in the locked position; pivoting the lid (8) from the open, refill position to the closed, in-use position to thereby release the platform (10) from the locked position; and withdrawing a portion of a leading sheet (26) from the leading face of the stack (26) of sheets through the dispensing aperture (9) of the lid (8) to thereby dispense the leading sheet (26).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a method for loading sheets, particularly toilet paper sheets such as hand towels, napkins, face towels, or other sheet-like wiping materials, into a dispenser for dispensing said sheets. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a method for loading sheets into a desktop folding sheet dispenser. This disclosure further relates to a system including a dispenser and sheets. Background Technology

[0002] Sheets are typically stacked and housed in a dispenser. Individual sheets can be folded. Folded sheets can be continuously dispensed from the dispenser by folding successive sheets together.

[0003] Napkins are an example of sheet napkins. Sheet napkins used for wiping and hygiene purposes (e.g., paper towels (ISO 12 625-1) or nonwoven fabric (ISO 9092)) are common commercial items, such as in restaurants or cafeterias. They can be provided as stacks of napkins set in a dispenser with a dispensing slot, from which individual napkins can be readily removed as needed. The napkin dispenser should be easy to operate, should protect the napkins before use, and should be easily moved to locations where napkins are needed, such as tables, counters, etc.

[0004] Overlapping napkins can be used. An overlapping napkin is a stack of overlapping sheets, each folded at least once. The sheets are interconnected such that the individually folded sheets form a sheet chain, each sheet having a leading plate and a trailing plate, the trailing plate at least partially overlapping the leading plate of a subsequent sheet in the stack. In this way, the individual sheets are loosely bound together by friction generated between the overlapping portions. A sheet can be dispensed from a dispenser by pulling the leading plate of the first sheet (leading sheet) in the stack. In this way, the first sheet is drawn while a predetermined portion of the leading plate of a subsequent sheet is fed into the dispensing position in the dispenser.

[0005] In many traditional dispenser types, the stack of sheets contained within the dispenser is pushed toward the dispensing opening. One such dispenser is the tabletop dispenser. A tabletop dispenser can be placed on top of a table, such as a restaurant table, and individual sheets, such as napkins, are removed from the stack of sheets at the top of the dispenser. In a tabletop dispenser, the stack of sheets is typically supported by a movable platform below, which is pushed upward toward the dispensing opening by a spring or similar device located beneath the platform.

[0006] Some dispensers have a lid or cover with a dispensing opening that limits the width of the napkins being dispensed, preventing the front plate of the next napkin from falling back into the dispenser. Once all the napkins contained in the dispenser have been removed, the dispenser must be refilled. For this purpose, the lid or cover is typically pivotally hinged to the body of the dispenser. Therefore, the lid or cover can be opened to access the interior of the body to insert a new stack of napkins.

[0007] To load an empty desktop dispenser with the platform, the user removes or opens the cover of the dispenser containing the dispensing port, places the sheet stack on the platform, and pushes the stack (along with the platform) downwards into the dispenser, thus requiring the user to overcome a force exerted by a spring. To facilitate closure of the cover and prevent the spring from ejecting the sheet stack, a locking mechanism within the dispenser holds the platform in a lower position within the dispenser. This locking mechanism is releasable, allowing the sheet stack to be pushed back towards the dispensing port once the cover is closed.

[0008] One problem with this type of dispenser is that the platform is not always held horizontally, parallel to the tabletop, by the locking mechanism, but rather in an inclined position. Therefore, the sheet stack tilts to one side instead of being upright. In this situation, when the locking mechanism is released, the sheet stack is pushed upwards towards the dispensing port not in an upright direction, but in an inclined direction. This not only makes it difficult to easily grasp the leading sheet from the dispensing port, but also results in uneven force distribution on the sheet stack, making it difficult to remove individual sheets. Furthermore, if the sheet stack remains in an inclined position, it may even be impossible to close the lid properly.

[0009] Therefore, it is necessary to improve the locking mechanism. However, this is challenging because the locking mechanism must be designed in a way that does not interfere with the sheet, while the available space of the sheet should not be reduced and the overall size of the dispenser should not be excessively increased.

[0010] In addition, desktop distributors can also have transparent sidewalls, allowing them to be used to arrange advertising pages, menu pages, etc.

[0011] In this paper, the sidewalls of such a known desktop dispenser can be double-walled, having an inner wall and a transparent outer wall.

[0012] New and / or different advertisements, menus, etc. are arranged on this transparent outer wall, and the known dispenser has a transparent outer wall that can be opened to the outside.

[0013] However, this negatively impacts the use of the dispenser because dust and dirt that enter through the gap between the transparent outer wall and the dispenser's main body can accumulate in the space defined between the two walls. Therefore, dust and dirt may be visible through the transparent side walls, which detracts from the appearance of the dispenser and any advertisements, menus, etc., contained within it.

[0014] Furthermore, having an exterior wall that can be opened to the outside to include advertisements, menus, etc., could lead to customers of restaurants or cafeterias removing advertisements, menus, etc. without authorization.

[0015] In addition, previously known dispensers not only act as dirt collectors, but are also difficult to clean due to the gaps that open outwards for advertising, menus, or the like.

[0016] Previously known optional dispensers configured to display advertisements, menus, etc., have through holes on the inner wall of a double-walled sidewall. Users can insert their fingers through these holes to push the outer wall of the double-walled sidewall outwards, thereby opening a space defined between the outer and inner walls. This space can potentially be used as storage for advertisements, menus, etc. In doing so, new or different advertisements, menus, etc., can be inserted into the space, which can then be closed by pushing the outer wall back.

[0017] However, the external grooves remain, causing such a dispenser to also act as a dirt trap for dust and / or grime entering the dispenser from the outside. Additionally, pushing the outer wall with a user's finger may contaminate the transparent outer wall used to display advertisements, menus, etc., and thus may negatively impact the appearance of the dispenser and the appearance of the corresponding advertisements, menus, etc., displayed on its sidewalls.

[0018] Therefore, a distributor is needed to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0019] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for stacking sheets into a dispenser, particularly a desktop dispenser, wherein the dispenser can easily extract individual sheets while maintaining space available for the sheets. Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for stacking sheets into a dispenser, particularly a desktop dispenser, wherein the dispenser is easy to clean and prevents dirt from entering the dispenser from the outside, thereby ensuring a high-quality appearance for advertisements, menus, etc., displayed on the sidewalls of the dispenser. Additionally, an object of the present invention is to provide a system comprising a dispenser and sheets having the above advantages.

[0020] The above problems are solved by the method and system according to this application.

[0021] According to one aspect, a method is provided for loading a stack of sheets into a dispenser for dispensing the sheets, the method comprising:

[0022] - Moving the dispenser's lid from a closed use position to an open refill position; the dispenser includes: a body having four sidewalls, such as a base for placement on a support surface; an opening at the top of the body; a lid for covering the opening during use and allowing access to the opening for refilling, wherein the lid is removable to allow access to the opening, or alternatively, wherein the lid can be movably attached to at least one of the sidewalls and can be sized to cover the opening, wherein the lid has a dispensing port therein to allow sheet material to be dispensed therefrom; a platform for supporting multiple sheets from below, wherein the platform is movable from a lowermost position when the dispenser is full of sheets to a uppermost position near the lid when the dispenser has almost no sheets; a biasing device for pushing the platform toward the lid; and a releasable locking mechanism for holding the platform in a locked position in the lowermost position. The releasable locking mechanism includes a first pair of first arms movably attached to one of the sidewalls and extending in a direction from the top of the body toward the base, each of the first pair of first arms having a top end and a bottom end; and a second pair of second arms movably attached to the base and extending in a direction from the sidewalls to which the first pair of first arms are attached toward the center of the base, each of the second pair of second arms having a sidewall end and a locking end, the sidewall end being configured to engage with a corresponding bottom end of the corresponding first arm such that movement of the first arm causes movement of the second arm; the locking end being configured to releasably interlock with a corresponding locking portion of a pair of locking portions arranged on the platform, thereby holding the platform in a locked position; wherein the cover has a pair of engagement portions on its lower surface, each of the pair of engagement portions being configured to engage with a corresponding top end of the corresponding first arm when the cover is closed, thereby releasing the platform from the locked position.

[0023] - Sheet stacks are placed through openings, with the tail side of the sheet stack resting on the support surface of the platform;

[0024] - Apply force to the leading surface of the stacked sheets, opposite to the tail side, to push the platform into the body and lock it in the position;

[0025] - Pivot the lid from the open refill position to the closed use position, thereby releasing the platform from the locked position; and

[0026] - Dispense the leading sheet by pulling out a portion of the leading sheet from the leading face of the sheet stack through the dispensing port of the cover.

[0027] Because the releasable locking mechanism includes a first pair of first arms and a second pair of second arms, the first arms being movably attached to one of the sidewalls and extending in a direction from the top of the body toward the base, and the second pair of second arms being movably attached to the base and extending in a direction from the sidewall to which the first pair of first arms are attached toward the center of the base, the locking mechanism extends along the wall and base portions of the dispenser, thus not occupying space inside the dispenser for sheet material. Therefore, space within the dispenser available for sheet material stacking can be maintained. Furthermore, since the second pair of second arms extends toward the center of the base, with corresponding locking ends interlocking with corresponding locking portions of a pair of locking portions arranged on the platform, a locking connection is established between the second arms and the platform in the central region of the platform, thereby holding the platform in the locked position in the horizontal direction. In this context, "horizontal direction" can mean the platform is oriented parallel to the base of the dispenser. If the dispenser is placed on a table, "horizontal direction" may also mean the platform is oriented parallel to the table surface. Therefore, when the locking mechanism is released, the platform on which the sheet stack is placed is pushed vertically toward the dispensing port, that is, the sheet stack is pushed toward the dispensing port in a substantially vertical direction relative to the base (and the table). Thus, this configuration allows for convenient extraction of individual sheets from the dispenser.

[0028] Furthermore, by providing not just a first arm, a second arm, a locking part, and a connecting part, but a pair of these components, the platform of the dispenser can be held in a horizontally locked position more reliably due to the two locking connections between the second arm and the platform established in the central region of the platform. This allows for more reliable pushing of the platform and sheet stacks along the vertical direction toward the dispensing port, and thus facilitates the extraction of individual sheets.

[0029] Having such a setup is clearly not something that someone skilled in the art could deduce, because providing a pair of these components would at first glance lead to a more complex system and require more precise coordination of the components involved. Furthermore, such a system would result in higher production costs.

[0030] In contrast, in existing dispensers, the platform is held in a locked position at one edge by a locking mechanism. Since the biasing device used to push the platform toward the lid is typically located in the central area of ​​the platform, this results in a tilted orientation of the platform in the locked position. Consequently, the sheet stack is pushed toward the dispensing opening in a tilted direction rather than an upright direction, leading to the aforementioned problem.

[0031] The sheet stack can be a commercially available sheet stack for refill dispensers and can be sized to fit within the body of the dispenser.

[0032] The cap can be movably attached to at least one of the sidewalls via one or more hinges, etc. It is also conceivable that the cap can be attached to two of the sidewalls. In particular, the cap can be pivotally attached to at least one of the sidewalls. Therefore, the cap can be permanently attached to the dispenser body and can be tilted from an open refill position to a closed use position. This arrangement ensures easy and reliable opening and closing of the cap relative to the dispenser body.

[0033] Alternatively, the cap can be configured to be reversibly detachable from and attachable to the body. In other words, the cap can be temporarily detached from and reattached to the dispenser body. This may allow for easier refilling of the dispenser, as the cap can be temporarily set aside.

[0034] The closed position of the lid can be such that the lid completely closes the opening of the body, thereby completely covering the opening of the body. In this case, the sheet can only be accessed from the dispensing port in the lid. The open refill position can be defined as the lid position where the dispenser can be refilled with sheet. In particular, the open refill position can be a position where the lid is in the fully open position so that the sheet stack does not contact the lid when moving the sheet stack to the dispenser platform.

[0035] The dispensing opening in the lid can be formed as a groove known in existing dispensers.

[0036] The dispensing port in the cover can be opened to the top of the dispenser, which rests on the support surface via its base. Therefore, when the dispenser is resting on the support surface via its base, the sheet can be dispensed vertically.

[0037] However, the desktop dispenser can also be arranged in an upright / flipped position, i.e., in which the base extends vertically and the dispenser is supported on one of the four side walls. Accordingly, the cover opposite the base of the dispenser can also extend vertically, allowing the sheet to be dispensed horizontally through the cover.

[0038] Therefore, the base and / or at least one sidewall may include anti-slip protection to ensure the fixed position of the dispenser when it rests against one of the base or sidewall.

[0039] The lowest position of the platform can be defined as the platform position where the platform is held in a locked position by the locking end of the second arm interlocked with the platform locking part. As the biasing device pushes the sheet stack toward the dispensing port, the sheet stack may come into contact with the inner surface of the cover. When the sheets are removed, the height of the sheet stack decreases, causing the platform to move upwards. Once the sheet stack contains only a very small number of sheets, for example, one to five individual sheets, the platform can be positioned at the highest position near the cover, where the support surface of the platform supporting the sheet stack can be set near the upper end of the sidewall, i.e., at substantially the same height.

[0040] The biasing device used to push the platform toward the cover can be a spring, especially a coil spring.

[0041] The first pair of first arms, the second pair of second arms, the joint, and the locking part can all have a mirror-symmetric structure in the dispenser. In this respect, mirror symmetry may mean that a mirror-symmetric axis relative to the two related parts can be defined. Compared to prior art dispensers, this structure allows the platform to have better horizontal orientation in the locked position.

[0042] The first arm may have a flat shape so as not to protrude into the interior of the dispenser, thus avoiding interference with sheet stacking and / or the platform. The first arm may be translatably and / or rotatably movable relative to the sidewall to which the first pair of first arms are attached. The first arm may extend from the top of the body to the base along the entire length of the sidewall, or along most of the length of the sidewall. The first arm may be positioned at any of the four sidewalls. The apex is one end of the arm that is positioned closer to the opening of the body than the other end of the first arm, which serves as the bottom end.

[0043] The second arm can have a flat shape so as not to protrude into the interior of the dispenser. The second arm moves translationally and / or rotationally relative to the base of the body. The second arm extends from the sidewall to which the first arm is attached toward the center of the base. In this document, extending toward the center of the base means that the overall direction of extension of the second arm is parallel to the base and substantially perpendicular to the sidewall to which the first pair of first arms are attached. Furthermore, in this document, the center of the base may refer to the center point of the base, but may also refer to the central region or zone of the base surrounding the center point of the base. The sidewall end of the second arm is the end positioned closer to the sidewall to which the first pair of first arms are attached than the other end of the second arm, which serves as the locking end. In particular, the second arm can be positioned below the platform and above the base, i.e., between the platform and the base. This ensures that the second arm does not interfere with the sheet stacking.

[0044] As described above, the sidewall end of the second arm is configured to mate with the bottom end of the first arm.

[0045] However, the sidewalls and bottom ends do not necessarily need to be coupled or connected to each other to cooperate; their advantage is that they are free and easy to replace. In this case, the movement of the first arm is caused by the contact between the bottom end of the first arm and the sidewall end of the second arm.

[0046] The locking part located on the platform can be hook-shaped, particularly a semi-arrowhead shape constituting a hook design. In this case, the locking end of the second arm can be designed to engage with the hook, thereby interlocking with the locking part of the platform. For example, when the platform moves downward toward the base, the locking part can approach and contact the locking end of the second arm. Then, the hook design of the locking part can interlock with the locking end of the second arm. To release the interlock, the second arm can be moved, causing the locking end of the second arm to disengage from the locking part of the platform.

[0047] The engagement portion on the lower surface of the lid is configured to engage with the tip of the first arm when the lid is closed, thereby releasing the platform from the locked position. For example, the engagement portion may protrude from the lower surface of the lid to engage with the tip of the first arm when the lid is closed. In another example, the engagement portion may be a lower wall portion of the lid. In this case, the tip of the first arm may protrude upward from the side wall to which the first arm is attached. Then, when the lid is closed, the lower wall portion of the lid constituting the engagement portion may contact the tip of the first arm, thereby causing movement of the first arm. For example, the movement of the first arm may be a downward translational movement generated by pushing the engagement portion against the tip of the first arm. Then, the movement of the first arm may be caused by the interaction of the side wall end of the second arm with the bottom end of the first arm. Thus, the locking end of the second arm may disengage from the locking portion of the platform, thereby releasing the platform from the locked position. Therefore, a releasable locking mechanism is established through this configuration.

[0048] The tail side of the sheet stack can be defined as the side of the sheet stack facing the support surface when the sheet stack is placed on the platform. The leading side of the sheet stack can be defined as the side of the sheet stack facing the dispensing port when the sheet stack is placed on the platform and the cover in which the dispensing port is located is closed.

[0049] Applying a downward force to the leading surface of the sheet stack may mean that the force is greater than the upward force applied by the biasing device, and the corresponding force vector points in the opposite direction to the force vector associated with the biasing device. This force can be provided by the user by simply pushing the sheet stack inside the dispenser body with one or both hands.

[0050] The leading sheet can be defined as the sheet closest to the dispensing port when the sheet is placed on the platform and the cover is in the closed use position (in the sheet stack).

[0051] It should be noted that in the methods described above, the last two steps, namely the pivoting step and the extraction step, can be interchanged.

[0052] The pair of locking parts can be arranged on the underside of the platform.

[0053] The lower side of the platform may be the side opposite to the side on which the platform sheets are stacked (i.e., the support surface of the platform).

[0054] With this design, the locking mechanism will not interfere with the stacking of sheets because the locking part is located on the underside of the platform.

[0055] The biasing device may be a spring disposed between the central region of the base and the central region of the platform, and the pair of locking parts of the platform may be located closer to the central region of the platform rather than closer to the edge of the platform.

[0056] The spring can be a helical spring. Thus, the spring can have a cylindrical or conical external shape, wherein the diameter of the helical spring at the end facing the base can be smaller than the diameter of the helical spring at the end facing the platform, and vice versa.

[0057] The spring can be attached to both the base and the platform. For this purpose, both the base and the platform can be provided with attachment points such as hooks.

[0058] The central region of the base and the central region of the platform can be understood as the central part of the corresponding component, that is, the middle part of the corresponding component excluding its edge portions. For example, the platform and the base may have a basically rectangular shape. In this case, the central region of the platform and the base can be understood as a specific area surrounding the center point of the rectangular base and the platform. In particular, when the spring is a helical spring, the central region can be understood as the portion of the corresponding component where the helical spring is arranged. In this case, the central region may have an extension range equal to the shape and diameter of the helical spring.

[0059] Considering the example of a helical spring, the feature that the locking part of the platform can be located closer to the central region of the platform rather than the edge of the platform may mean that the locking part of the platform is located closer to the helical spring rather than the edge of the platform.

[0060] With this configuration, a locking connection is established between the locking end of the second arm and the locking part of the platform near the center region of the platform. Because this locking connection is not established at the edge of the platform, as is the case in prior art dispensers, the platform can remain in a locked position in the horizontal direction. Therefore, after releasing the locking mechanism, the sheet stack is pushed vertically towards the dispensing port, making it easy to extract individual sheets.

[0061] The pair of engagement portions may extend from the lower surface of the cover. Optionally, each of the pair of engagement portions may have a length of 1 / 20 to 1 / 5 of the length of the first arm, preferably 1 / 15 to 1 / 6, more preferably 1 / 12 to 1 / 8, and most preferably 1 / 10.

[0062] This can be advantageous when the tip of the first arm does not protrude from the side wall, for example, to prevent the locking mechanism from being accidentally released when the sheet is loaded into the dispenser. In this case, an engagement portion extending from the lower surface of the lid is provided to engage with the tip of the first arm when the lid is closed, which makes the first arm designed not to protrude from the side wall to which it is attached.

[0063] A short engagement portion can be provided, with a length of 1 / 20 to 1 / 5, preferably 1 / 15 to 1 / 6, more preferably 1 / 12 to 1 / 8, and most preferably 1 / 10, of the length of the first arm. The advantage of this is that when the lid is closed, the short engagement portion only contacts the tip of the first arm, thus releasing the locking mechanism when the lid is in a nearly closed position. Therefore, the platform is only pushed upwards towards the dispensing port when the lid is in a closed or nearly closed position. Thus, with this configuration, the user is not at risk from sudden movement of the platform, as is the case when the locking mechanism is released when the lid is in a half-open position. The narrower the aforementioned range, the better the effect of achieving the above advantages. If the engagement portion is too short, the locking mechanism may no longer be able to release reliably.

[0064] The main body may have a box shape with two long sidewalls and two short sidewalls that are respectively opposite to each other, wherein the lid may be attached to one of the short sidewalls, and the first pair of first arms may be provided on the other of the short sidewalls.

[0065] For example, the base of the body may have a rectangular or substantially rectangular shape. In this case, the body may have a cuboid shape.

[0066] If the lid is attached to one of the short sidewalls and the first arm is disposed on the other of the short sidewalls, the joint of the lid may be arranged at the portion of the lid opposite to the portion where the lid is attached to the sidewall.

[0067] With this design, because the lid opens and closes across the short sidewalls, users can easily handle stacks of sheets while loading the dispenser and push the stacks down into the dispenser without disturbing the lid. Furthermore, some dispensers have double-walled sidewalls with space provided for advertising sheets or the like. Preferably, the longer sidewall is double-walled to provide more space for the advertising sheets. By attaching the lid to one of the short sidewalls, users can easily reach the double-walled sidewall of the longer sidewall to place or remove the advertising sheets.

[0068] Each of the first arms in the first pair is rotatably attached to the sidewall about a corresponding first axis of rotation, and each of the second arms in the second pair is rotatably attached to the base about a corresponding second axis of rotation.

[0069] For example, the first arm and the second arm can be rotatably attached by a pin or the like. In this case, the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation can pass through their respective pins. In particular, the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation can be perpendicular to each other.

[0070] In this structure, the first and second arms rotate rather than translate. Therefore, compared to translation, the first and second arms require less space to move the release locking mechanism in their extension direction.

[0071] At least one of the first pair of first arms and the second pair of second arms may be rotatably attached to a spring-loaded mechanism, wherein the spring-loaded mechanism may be configured such that when the platform is placed in the locked position and / or the cover is closed, the at least one of the first pair of first arms and the second pair of second arms respectively rotates about a first or second rotation axis against the biasing force of the spring-loaded mechanism.

[0072] The spring-loaded mechanism can be provided by a foot spring, a torsion spring, or the like. Only one of the first pair of first arms and the second pair of second arms can be rotatably attached to the spring-loaded mechanism, thus saving material costs. However, both the first pair of first arms and the second pair of second arms can be rotatably attached to the spring-loaded mechanism.

[0073] For example, if the second arm is equipped with a spring-loaded mechanism and the platform's locking part has a hook design, when the platform is pushed towards the base of the main body, the hook of the locking part contacts the locking end of the second arm, which may cause the second arm to rotate around the second rotation axis against the biasing force of the spring-loaded mechanism. When the platform completes its downward movement, i.e., when the platform is at its lowest position, the second arm can rotate in the opposite direction under the push of the spring-loaded mechanism in the second arm, thereby completing the hook locking. To release the hook lock, the cover is closed, so that the engagement part can engage with the top of the first arm, allowing the first arm to perform a rotational movement, which is transmitted to the second arm through the interaction between the bottom end of the first arm and the side wall end of the second arm. At this time, the second arm undergoes a rotational movement against the biasing force of the spring-loaded mechanism, thereby disengaging from the hook of the platform's locking part. In this way, the platform is released and pushed towards the dispensing port in the upward direction by the biasing device.

[0074] Since the bottom end of the first arm and the side wall end of the second arm are configured to cooperate with each other, it may be possible to have only one spring-loaded mechanism in the first or second arm, thus saving parts and costs.

[0075] This construction provides an easy-to-design releasable locking mechanism in which the components of the locking mechanism always return to their original position by the bias force of the spring-loaded mechanism, thereby enabling repeated locking and releasing of the locking mechanism.

[0076] Each of the pair of joints may have an inclined surface that matches a corresponding inclined surface provided on the tip of the corresponding first arm.

[0077] For example, the inclined surface may be at an angle of approximately 45° relative to the base of the body. In particular, the surface normal of the inclined surface of the joint may point in the opposite direction to the surface normal of the corresponding inclined surface provided on the tip of the first arm.

[0078] With this configuration, when the lid is closed and the engagement portion engages with the tip of the first arm, the engagement portion causes the first arm to rotate due to the provided inclined surface. Therefore, it is possible to provide a simple method to push the first arm, thereby causing the second arm to rotate. Instead of providing an inclined surface, it is also conceivable that the engagement portion could be movably attached to the lid, thereby causing the first arm to perform the rotational movement. However, this would require providing a more complex attachment for the engagement portion.

[0079] The dispenser may have a spring-loaded latch for releasably locking the cover to the body.

[0080] The spring-loaded mechanism for the spring-loaded latch can be composed of a foot spring or a torsion spring, etc. The spring-loaded latch can be located on the cover or on one of the side walls of the body.

[0081] This design provides a simple mechanism to keep the dispenser in the off state.

[0082] The locking part of the platform can be arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal or transverse axis of the platform, wherein the first pair of first arms can be arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis of one of the sidewalls, the central axis of the sidewalls extending from the top to the base and dividing the sidewalls into two halves; wherein the second pair of second arms can be arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the base, the central axis of the base extending from the sidewall where the first pair of first arms are arranged toward the opposite sidewall and dividing the base into two halves.

[0083] For example, when the main body has a box-shaped or cuboid shape, the central axis of one of the sidewalls and the central axis of the base may correspond to the vertical bisectors of the one of the sidewalls and the base, respectively.

[0084] It is important to understand that this structure not only means that the central axis divides one or more of the sidewalls into two completely equal halves, but may also mean that the central axis does not divide the respective halves into two completely equal halves, but rather into nearly equal halves.

[0085] When the platform is rectangular, the longitudinal axis can be the platform's major axis, and the transverse axis can be the platform's minor axis. When the platform is square, one of the vertical bisectors of the square platform can be the longitudinal axis, and the other vertical bisector can be the transverse axis. Just like the central axis, both the longitudinal and transverse axes can divide the platform into two halves.

[0086] A “symmetrical arrangement” relative to its respective axis may mean that the corresponding components are equidistant from the axis. However, this does not necessarily mean that the corresponding components need to be mirror-symmetrical.

[0087] However, specifically, the locking part of the platform can be mirror-symmetric with respect to the longitudinal or transverse axis of the platform, the first pair of first arms can be mirror-symmetric with respect to the central axis of one of the sidewalls, and the second pair of second arms can be mirror-symmetric with respect to the central axis of the base.

[0088] For example, in the case where the main body has a box shape and has two long sidewalls and two short sidewalls that are respectively opposite each other, the first pair of first arms can be arranged at one of the short sidewalls or at one of the long sidewalls.

[0089] This construction allows for the use of the shortest possible lengths for the first and second arms of the locking mechanism, thus saving material costs. Furthermore, this construction, due to the fact that the components constituting the locking mechanism are arranged symmetrically with respect to their respective axes, allows the dispenser platform to be held in the locked position horizontally with particular reliability, thereby enabling the platform and sheet stack to be pushed towards the dispensing port with particular reliability in the vertical direction, facilitating the extraction of individual sheets.

[0090] Such a configuration is not something that can be obviously derived by those skilled in the art, because arranging the various components constituting the locking mechanism symmetrically with respect to their respective axes would, at first glance, result in a more precise alignment and construction of the components involved.

[0091] According to another aspect, a method is provided for loading a stack of sheets into a dispenser for dispensing the sheets, the method comprising:

[0092] - Move the dispenser's cap from the closed use position to the open refill position; the dispenser includes: a body with four sidewalls configured to receive a stack of sheets; a base, for example, placed on a support surface; an opening in the top of the body; and a cap for covering the opening in use and providing access to the opening for refilling, wherein the cap may be removable to provide access to the opening, or, optionally, the cap may be movably attached to at least one of the sidewalls and may be sized to cover the opening; the cap has a dispensing port therein so that the sheets can be... Dispensing from the dispensing port; a platform for supporting multiple sheets from below; wherein the platform is movable from a lowermost position when the dispenser is full of sheets to an uppermost position adjacent to the cover when the dispenser is almost empty of sheets; a biasing device for pushing the platform toward the cover, wherein at least one of the sidewalls is a double-walled sidewall comprising an inner wall and an outer wall defining a space between the inner wall and the outer wall, and wherein at least a portion of the inner wall is pivotable about a pivot axis to the interior of the body, wherein the inner wall is secured to the outer wall via a releasable latch;

[0093] - A stack of sheets is placed through the opening, wherein the tail side of the stack of sheets is located on the support surface of the platform;

[0094] - Apply force to the leading surface of the stacked sheets, opposite to the tail side, thereby pushing the platform into the body;

[0095] - Pivot the lid from the open refill position to the closed use position; and

[0096] - Dispense the leading sheet by drawing a portion of the leading sheet from the leading face of the sheet stack through the dispensing port of the cover.

[0097] It should be noted that in the other method described above, the last two steps, namely the pivoting step and the extraction step, can be interchanged.

[0098] In the following text, features of another aspect expressed in the same terms as those of the features described above with reference to one aspect may have the same technical features as the corresponding features of the first aspect. Similarly, features of one aspect expressed in the same terms as those of the second aspect may have the same technical features as the corresponding features of the second aspect.

[0099] In this document, the body, base, and cover can be understood as the typically rigid (hard) protective and / or closing housing or cover outside the dispenser. Similarly, the base can be understood as the bottom and / or supporting portion of the dispenser's housing, implemented via the four sidewalls.

[0100] The dispensing port in the housing, i.e., the dispensing port in the lid, should be understood as an opening through which the user can remove the sheet from the dispenser. The base may have a support surface or be configured as a base for placing the base, thereby allowing the dispenser to be securely placed on a horizontal surface such as a table or counter. In this arrangement, the dispensing port in the lid may open to the top of the dispenser, and the dispenser rests on the support surface via its base. Therefore, when the dispenser is resting on the support surface via its base, the sheet can be dispensed vertically.

[0101] However, the desktop dispenser can also be arranged in an upright / flipped position, i.e., a position in which the base extends vertically and the dispenser rests against one of the four side walls. Accordingly, the cover opposite the base of the dispenser can also extend vertically, allowing the sheet to be dispensed horizontally through the cover.

[0102] Therefore, at least one of the base and / or sidewalls may include anti-slip protection to ensure the fixed position of the dispenser when it is supported on one of the base or sidewalls.

[0103] At least one of the sidewalls is a double-walled sidewall comprising an inner wall and an outer wall. Therefore, a space is defined between the inner wall and the outer wall.

[0104] In addition, at least a portion of the inner wall is pivotable around the pivot axis and opens inward toward the interior of the body.

[0105] With this configuration, a dispenser with a closed casing can be obtained, preventing dust, dirt, or any other contaminants from entering the dispenser through one of the side walls, particularly the outer wall of the side wall, and achieving an improved appearance and long-term usability. Furthermore, a more hygienic environment can be achieved.

[0106] Furthermore, signs displaying commercial advertisements, ads, menus, or similar items can be easily inserted into or removed from the space. This improves the usability of the dispenser.

[0107] Since such dispensers are not open to the outside world, accidental or unauthorized removal of signs can also be avoided.

[0108] Furthermore, a dispenser having an inwardly opening inner wall, rather than having at least a portion of its sidewalls open outward, facilitates the cleaning of the inner wall.

[0109] Therefore, the key idea behind this dispenser is ease of use, improved cleanability, and optimized appearance for long-term use.

[0110] In this paper, the feature that "at least a portion of the inner wall is pivotable about a pivot axis to the interior of the body" can be understood as the inner wall being hinged to the body, such that the inner wall can be tilted away from the outer wall by a hinge provided on the body. Therefore, the inner wall in such a dispenser can be understood as a "pivotable inner wall".

[0111] Therefore, the outer wall that forms part of the dispenser housing can remain fixed in place without any grooves, opening mechanisms, etc.

[0112] Furthermore, it should be emphasized that when a user wishes to change or insert a sign containing advertisements, menus, or similar content into the dispenser, the aforementioned cover must be opened to allow access to the dispenser's interior.

[0113] In addition, the inner wall is secured to the outer wall by a releasable latch.

[0114] Therefore, when it is not necessary to replace or insert signs containing advertisements, menus, etc., in the dispenser, the position of the inner wall relative to the outer wall can be fixed. The at least one latch prevents the inner wall from accidentally tilting inwards towards the dispenser. Thus, accidental interaction / interference between the pivotable inner wall and, for example, stacks of dispensed sheets that may be arranged inside the dispenser can be avoided. Therefore, smooth and trouble-free use of the dispenser can be ensured, which also allows for the clean display of advertisements, menus, or the like.

[0115] The pivot axis may extend perpendicular to the base. However, in another embodiment, the pivot axis may extend along a dimension parallel to the base.

[0116] In other words, when the dispenser is positioned with its base on a support surface, such as a tabletop, the pivot axis can extend, for example, in a horizontal direction. Therefore, the inner wall can pivot about this horizontal axis and thus can be hinged along this pivot axis. Consequently, the inner wall can be tilted away from the outer wall into the interior of the dispenser, and the surface of the outer wall facing the interior of the dispenser is easily accessible and, for example, easy to clean.

[0117] Having such a setup is not something that can be obviously deduced by those skilled in the art, because a pivotable inner wall would at first glance lead to a more complex system and require that the platform on which the sheet is placed be pushed down before access can be made to the space between the inner and outer walls.

[0118] The pivot axis can be located at the lower end of the adjacent base of the double-walled sidewall.

[0119] Therefore, positioning the pivot at the lower end of the inner wall allows the entire inner wall to tilt away from the outer wall, making it easier to insert new or different signs containing advertisements, menus, etc.

[0120] In another alternative embodiment, the pivot axis may be arranged between the lower and upper ends of the double-walled sidewall.

[0121] That is, the inner wall and the outer wall can run parallel to each other in the vertical direction by a certain percentage of the side wall height, and may include a pivot axis arranged between the lower and upper ends of the double-walled side wall. For example, the pivot axis may be arranged in the middle between the lower and upper ends of the double-walled side wall height. In other words, only half of the inner wall can pivot into the interior of the dispenser body, while the other half can remain parallel to the outer wall.

[0122] Therefore, the pivot axis can be positioned higher than in the previously described embodiment (which includes a pivot axis positioned at the lower end of the adjacent base of the double-walled sidewall), and this facilitates manufacturing, particularly since the pivot axis and the corresponding hinge are not located at one of the corner portions. The term "corner portion" can be understood as the contact area between the base for resting on the support surface and at least one sidewall of the body. That is, one of the edges of the dispenser's box-shaped form.

[0123] The outer wall may be at least partially transparent.

[0124] Therefore, the exterior walls can display advertisements, menus, etc., allowing the distributor to be used as a way to display advertisements inside restaurants, especially fast food restaurants.

[0125] In another embodiment, the outer wall may be completely transparent.

[0126] Therefore, the full size of the sidewalls can be used to display advertisements, menus, or any other information on the dispenser.

[0127] In another embodiment, at least two of the sidewalls may be double-walled sidewalls, and the inner walls of the respective sidewalls may pivot inward toward the interior of the body about their respective pivot axes.

[0128] In other words, both of the double-walled sidewalls include tiltable inner walls that can be hinged toward the interior of the body.

[0129] Therefore, at least two of the sidewalls can be used to display advertisements, menus, or any other information on the dispenser.

[0130] Two opposing sidewalls can be double-walled sidewalls.

[0131] Because of this design, when advertisements, menus, etc., are placed within the space between the inner and outer walls, and the dispenser is placed on a table, for example, in a restaurant, guests sitting on the opposite side of the table can easily notice the advertisements, menus, etc. Alternatively, a hybrid design can be used, where the menu is placed in one of the side walls and the advertisement in the other.

[0132] When viewed from a plan view, the body may have a rectangular shape, with two long sidewalls and two short sidewalls facing each other, and at least one double-walled sidewall may be arranged on one of the long sidewalls.

[0133] This setup allows signage containing advertisements, menus, or similar elements to be displayed on the larger surface of the main body sidewall of the dispenser, which has a box-like shape when viewed in a plan view.

[0134] The inner wall may include at least one groove disposed at its upper end.

[0135] Therefore, it is easier to spot signs containing advertisements, menus, etc., placed in the space between the inner and outer walls.

[0136] Furthermore, the tilting of the inner wall is made easier because the user can easily grasp the inner wall and move it into the dispenser by tilting it around the pivot axis.

[0137] Furthermore, the cover can be movably attached to at least one of the side walls of the body via a hinge.

[0138] Therefore, the cap can be permanently attached to the dispenser body and can be tilted from the open refill position to the closed use position. This design ensures easy and reliable opening and closing of the cap relative to the dispenser body.

[0139] Alternatively, the cap can be configured to be reversibly detachable from and attachable to the body. In other words, the cap can be temporarily removed from the dispenser body and reattached to it. This may allow for easier refilling of the dispenser, as the cap can be temporarily set aside.

[0140] The dispenser may further include, as described above regarding the first aspect, a releasable locking mechanism for holding the platform in the lowermost position in a locked position.

[0141] With this construction, when sheets are stacked and inserted into the dispenser, the platform can be held downwards, and once insertion is complete, the platform can be released. Furthermore, in the context of this invention, when inserting or replacing signs containing advertisements, menus, etc., in the dispenser, the platform, pushed towards the cover, can be held in the lowest position.

[0142] In other words, one can first lock the platform in its lowest position, and then easily access the space between the outer and inner walls by pivoting the inner wall inwards towards the dispenser. Subsequently, signs containing advertisements, menus, etc., arranged between the outer and inner walls can be introduced or replaced, and finally the platform can be released so that the biasing device can push the platform with the stack of sheets arranged on it toward the cover.

[0143] The method may further include the following steps:

[0144] - To cause the inner wall to pivot around the pivot axis toward the interior of the main body;

[0145] - Insert the sheet into the space between the inner and outer walls; and

[0146] - To cause the inner wall to pivot around the pivot axis toward the outer wall of the main body.

[0147] These steps can be performed before the steps related to loading the sheet stacks into the dispenser, so that neither the platform nor the sheet stacks impede the pivoting movement of the inner wall about the pivot axis into the body.

[0148] This design allows for easy insertion of signs or sheets, such as advertising sheets or menu sheets, into the space of the double-walled sidewalls.

[0149] The following categories also form part of this disclosure.

[0150] 1. A dispenser for dispensing sheet material, comprising:

[0151] The main body (1) has four side walls (2, 3, 4, 5);

[0152] Base (6)

[0153] The opening (7) in the top of the main body (1);

[0154] A lid (8) for covering the opening (7) during use and allowing access to the opening (7) for refilling, wherein the lid (8) has a dispensing port (9) therein to allow sheet material to be dispensed from the dispensing port;

[0155] A platform (10) for supporting multiple sheets from below, wherein the platform (10) is movable from the lowest position when the dispenser is full of sheets to the highest position of the adjacent cover (8) when the dispenser is almost empty of sheets;

[0156] A biasing device (11) for pushing the platform (10) toward the cover (8);

[0157] A releasable locking mechanism for holding the platform (10) in the locked position at its lowest position, the releasable locking mechanism comprising:

[0158] The first pair of first arms (12) are movably attached to one of the sidewalls (2, 3, 4, 5) and extend in a direction from the top of the body (1) toward the base (6), wherein each of the first pair of first arms (12) has a top end (13) and a bottom end (14).

[0159] The second pair of second arms (15) are movably attached to the base (6) and extend in a direction toward the center of the base (6) from the sidewall to which the first pair of first arms (12) are attached, wherein each of the second pair of second arms (15) has a sidewall end (16) and a locking end (17); the sidewall end (16) is configured to engage with a corresponding bottom end (14) of the corresponding first arm (12) such that movement of the first arm (12) causes movement of the second arm (15), and the locking end (17) is configured to releasably interlock with a corresponding locking part (18) of a pair of locking parts (18) arranged on the platform (10) to thereby keep the platform (10) in the locked position;

[0160] The lid (8) has a pair of engagements (19) on its lower surface, each of which is configured to engage with the corresponding tip (13) of the corresponding first arm (12) when the lid (8) is closed, thereby releasing the platform (10) from the locked position.

[0161] 2. According to the allocator in item 1,

[0162] The pair of locking parts (18) are arranged on the lower side of the platform (10).

[0163] 3. Based on the allocator of item 1 or item 2;

[0164] The biasing device (11) is a spring attached between the central region of the base (6) and the central region of the platform (10), and the pair of locking parts (18) of the platform (10) are positioned closer to the central region of the platform (10) than to the edge of the platform (10).

[0165] 4. Based on any of the above assigners,

[0166] The pair of joints (19) protrude from the lower surface of the cover (8). Optionally, the length of each of the pair of joints (19) is 1 / 20 to 1 / 5 of the length of the first arm (12), preferably 1 / 15 to 1 / 6, more preferably 1 / 12 to 1 / 8, and most preferably 1 / 10.

[0167] 5. Based on any of the above assigners,

[0168] The main body (1) has a box shape with two long sidewalls (3, 5) and two short sidewalls (2, 4) that are opposite to each other, wherein the lid (8) is attached to one of the short sidewalls (2, 4) and the first pair of first arms (12) are disposed on the other of the short sidewalls (2, 4).

[0169] 6. Based on any of the above assigners,

[0170] Each of the first pair of first arms (12) is rotatably attached to the sidewall about a corresponding first axis of rotation (A), and each of the second pair of second arms (15) is rotatably attached to the base (6) about a corresponding second axis of rotation (B).

[0171] 7. According to the allocator in item 6,

[0172] At least one of the first pair of first arms (12) and the second pair of second arms (15) is rotatably attached to a spring loading mechanism, wherein the spring loading mechanism is configured such that when the platform (10) is brought to the locked position and / or the cover (8) is closed, at least one of the first pair of first arms (12) and the second pair of second arms (15) rotates about a first or second rotation axis (A, B) against the biasing force of the spring loading mechanism.

[0173] 8. Based on the allocator in item 6 or 7,

[0174] Each of the pair of joints (19) has an inclined surface (20) that matches the corresponding inclined surface provided on the top end (13) of the corresponding first arm (12).

[0175] 9. Based on any of the above assigners,

[0176] The dispenser has a spring-loaded latch (21) for releasably locking the cover (8) to the body (1).

[0177] 10. Based on any of the above assigners,

[0178] Among them, the locking part (18) of the platform (10) is arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis or transverse axis of the platform (10);

[0179] The first pair of first arms (12) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis (C) of one of the side walls (2, 3, 4, 5), the central axis (C) of one of the side walls (2, 3, 4, 5) extending in the direction from the top to the base (6) and dividing one of the side walls (2, 3, 4, 5) into two halves;

[0180] The second pair of second arms (15) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis (D) of the base (6), which extends in a direction from the sidewall of the first pair of first arms (12) toward the opposite sidewall and divides the base (6) into two halves.

[0181] 11. A dispenser for dispensing sheet (26) according to any of the above;

[0182] At least one of the sidewalls (2, 3, 4, 5) is a double-walled sidewall comprising an inner wall (27) and an outer wall (28), with a space (29) defined between the inner wall (27) and the outer wall (28), and

[0183] At least a portion of the inner wall (27) is pivotable about the pivot axis (30) into the interior of the body (1);

[0184] The inner wall (27) is fixed to the outer wall (28) by a releasable latch (31).

[0185] 12. According to the distributor of item 11, the pivot axis (30) extends parallel to the base (6).

[0186] 13. According to the distributor of item 11 or 12, the pivot axis (30) is arranged at the lower end of the double-walled sidewall (3) adjacent to the base (6).

[0187] 14. A dispenser according to any one of 11 to 13, wherein the outer wall (28) is at least partially transparent.

[0188] 15. The distributor according to any one of 11 to 14, wherein at least two of the sidewalls (3, 5) are double-walled sidewalls, and wherein the inner walls (27) of the respective sidewalls (3, 5) are pivotable about their respective pivot axes (30) into the interior of the body (1).

[0189] 16. According to the distributor in item 15, the two opposing sidewalls (3, 5) are double-walled sidewalls.

[0190] 17. The distributor according to any one of 11 to 16, wherein the body (1) has a rectangular shape in plan view, having two long sidewalls (3, 5) and two short sidewalls (2, 4) respectively opposite each other, wherein at least one double-walled sidewall is arranged on one of the long sidewalls (3, 5).

[0191] 18. The dispenser according to any one of 11 to 17, wherein the inner wall (27) includes at least one groove (32) disposed at its upper end.

[0192] 19. A dispenser according to any of the above, wherein the lid (8) is movably attached by a hinge to at least one of the side walls (2, 3, 4, 5) of the body (1).

[0193] 20. A dispenser according to any one of 1 to 18, wherein the cover (8) is configured to be reversibly detachable from the body and attachable to the body (1).

[0194] 21. A system comprising a dispenser according to any of the foregoing and sheets (26) to be loaded into the dispenser, optionally a stack of sheets (26).

[0195] In particular, by using the aforementioned allocator and system, the same advantages of the methods discussed in this paper regarding one aspect and the methods in another aspect can be achieved.

[0196] As an example, the dispenser discussed herein may have the following dimensions: the dispenser may have a height of 170 mm, a width of 200 mm, and a depth of 141 mm. The height may include a foot on which the dispenser can be placed. It should be understood that, due to measurement tolerances, the dispenser may also have dimensions slightly smaller or slightly larger than those described above.

[0197] The sheet material discussed here can be a napkin. A single sheet material may be a single napkin. For example, a single napkin may have the following nominal dimensions: when folded in a stack of sheets (napkin stack), a single napkin in its folded state may have a width of 165 mm and a length of 108 mm, or optionally a width of 161 mm and a length of 105 mm. When unfolded, in the case of a 1 / 2 fold, a single napkin has a width of 165 mm and a length of 216 mm, or optionally a width of 161 mm and a length of 210 mm. Furthermore, in the case of a 1 / 4 fold, a single napkin may have a width of 330 mm and a length of 216 mm. The width dimension of the above single napkin may vary between 3 and 5 mm. The variation in the length dimension of the above single napkin may be smaller than the variation in the width dimension.

[0198] Further aspects of the invention can be found in the following description of specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0199] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the desktop allocator.

[0200] Figure 2 The lid is open. Figure 1 A perspective view of the desktop distributor, where the platform is omitted.

[0201] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a desktop dispenser, omitting the base, sidewalls, biasing mechanism, and cover.

[0202] Figure 4 It is along Figure 1 The perspective section view along line AA in the figure, in which the cover, platform and biasing device are omitted.

[0203] Figure 5 It is along Figure 1 The sectional view along the BB line in the figure, where the cover and biasing device are omitted.

[0204] Figure 6 It is along Figure 1 The cross-sectional view along the CC line in the figure, where the platform and biasing device are omitted.

[0205] Figure 7 The dispenser is shown in the open state, i.e., with the lid open so that the sheet can be inserted into the dispenser body.

[0206] Figure 8 The dispenser is shown in its state of being filled with sheet material.

[0207] Figure 9 It is an isometric view inside the distributor.

[0208] Figure 10 This illustrates how to insert advertisements, menus, etc., into the double-walled sidewalls of a dispenser according to one embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0209] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in order to illustrate the present disclosure using illustrative examples. Further modifications to certain individual features described herein may be combined with other features of the described embodiments to form further embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0210] Throughout the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements.

[0211] Figure 1This is a perspective view of a desktop dispenser. An exemplary embodiment of the desktop dispenser includes a body 1 with four sidewalls 2, 3, 4, and 5 (sidewall 4 is the sidewall opposite to sidewall 2, and sidewall 5 is the sidewall opposite to sidewall 3). The desktop dispenser also has a base 6 and a cover 8. The desktop dispenser of this embodiment has a box shape, with two short sidewalls 2 and 4 and two long sidewalls 3 and 5. In this embodiment, the cover 8 is movably attached to the short sidewalls 4. The cover 8 is provided with a slotted dispensing opening 9, wherein the two sections extending to the sides are slotted, and the central portion of the opening is elliptical. Furthermore, the desktop dispenser includes a spring-loaded latch 21.

[0212] Figure 2 It has an openable lid 8 Figure 1 A perspective view of a desktop dispenser, wherein platform 10 is omitted. The cover 8 is movably attached to a short sidewall 4 via a hinge, allowing the cover 8 to be opened across the short sidewall 4. When the cover 8 is fully open, an opening in the top of the body is easily accessible. In this embodiment, a helical spring is provided as a biasing device 11. Figure 2 The helical spring shown is in a relaxed state. Furthermore, the cover 8 has a pair of engagement portions 19 on its lower surface. Each of the engagement portions 19 has an inclined surface 20.

[0213] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a desktop dispenser, omitting the base 6, sidewall 3, cover 8, and biasing device 11. A first pair of first arms 12 are attached to the sidewall 2 (sidewall 2 opposite to sidewall 4). In this embodiment, the first pair of first arms 12 are rotatably attached to the sidewall 2 by a pair of pins 22. Furthermore, it can be seen that the first arms 12 are mirror-symmetrical with respect to the central axis C of the sidewall 2, wherein the central axis C extends in a direction from the base 6 of the body 1 toward the top of the body 1 and divides the sidewall 2 into two halves (e.g., ...). Figure 5 (See details). Similarly, the second pair of second arms 15 are attached to the base 6 (the base 6 is not in...). Figure 3 (As shown in the diagram). The second pair of second arms 15 are rotatably attached to the base 6 by pins 23. Furthermore, it can be seen that the second arms 15 are mirror-symmetrical with respect to the central axis D of the base 6, wherein the central axis D extends in a direction from the sidewall 2 toward the sidewall 4 and divides the base 6 into two halves (in...). Figure 6 (As shown in more detail below). In this embodiment, the second arm 15 is also mirror-symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the platform 10.

[0214] Each of the first arms 12 has a top end 13 and a bottom end 14. The top end 13 has an inclined surface that matches the inclined surface 20 of the engagement portion 19. The bottom end 14 is configured to engage with the sidewall end 16 of the second arm 15. Each of the second arms 15 has a sidewall end 16 configured to engage with the bottom end 14 of the first arm 12 and a locking end 17 configured to releasably interlock with a locking portion 18 disposed on the platform 10, thereby holding the platform 10 in a locked position, such as... Figure 3 As shown. In this embodiment, the locking part 18 has a hook design. Furthermore, in this embodiment, each of the second pair of second arms 15 includes a spring-loaded mechanism.

[0215] In addition, such as Figure 3 As shown, a hook 24 is provided on the underside of the platform 10 for attaching the biasing device 11, which in this embodiment is the aforementioned helical spring. In this case, the central region of the platform 10 corresponds to the region where the upper end of the helical spring is attached to the platform 10. Since the locking part 18 is positioned closer to the central region of the platform 10 rather than the edge of the platform 10, and is arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the platform 10, the platform 10 can be held in the locked position in the horizontal direction, thereby achieving the aforementioned advantages. Specifically, when the locking mechanism is released, the platform 10 and the stack of sheets placed on it are pushed toward the dispensing port 9 in an upright direction, which makes it easy to grasp individual sheets.

[0216] Figure 3 and Figure 4 A releasable locking mechanism according to this disclosure is also shown. Figure 3 In the middle, platform 10 is in the locked position at its lowest position. To release the locking mechanism, the cover 8 is brought into the closed position, thereby bringing the inclined surface 20 of the engagement 19 into contact with the inclined surface provided at the top end 13 of the first arm 12. As a result, each of the first arms 12 about the first axis of rotation A passing through the pin 22 (e.g., Figure 4 (As shown) rotates. In this embodiment, specifically, as viewed in the direction toward the first arm 12, the left first arm 12 rotates counterclockwise, while the right first arm 12 rotates clockwise. Simultaneously, since the bottom end 14 of the first arm 12 is configured to engage with the sidewall end 16 of the second arm 15, each of the second arms 15 also rotates around a second axis of rotation B passing through the pin 23 (as shown). Figure 4 The left second arm 15, which cooperates with the left first arm 12, rotates counterclockwise, while the right second arm 15, which cooperates with the right first arm 12, rotates clockwise. This movement causes the locking end 17 of each second arm 15 to disengage from each locking part 18, thereby releasing the locking mechanism.

[0217] Figure 4It is along Figure 1 The perspective sectional view of line AA in the figure, where the cover 8, platform 10, and biasing device 11 are omitted. Figure 4 As can be seen, the first arm 12 is rotatably attached to the side wall 2 about a first rotation axis A. The second arm 15 is rotatably attached to the base 6 about a second rotation axis B. In this embodiment, the first rotation axis A is perpendicular to the second rotation axis B. Furthermore, the base 6 has a circular wall portion 25 for holding the biasing device 11 in the form of a helical spring in place. Therefore, considering the above explanation regarding the central region, this portion of the base 6 can be considered as the central region of the base 6.

[0218] Figure 5 It is along Figure 1 The cross-sectional view along line BB in the figure, where the cover 8 and the biasing device 11 are omitted. (See figure) Figure 5 As shown, the locking part 18 is arranged on the lower side of the platform 10. In addition, each of the second pair of second arms 15 is arranged below the platform 10 so as not to interfere with the stacking of sheets.

[0219] Figure 6 It is along Figure 1 The cross-sectional view along the CC line in the figure, in which the platform 10 and the biasing device 11 are omitted. Figure 6 The second pair of second arms 15 are shown in a mirror-symmetric structure with respect to the central axis D of the base 6. Because the second arms 15 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis D, the platform 10 of the dispenser can be held in a locked position in the horizontal direction with particular reliability, thereby enabling the platform 10 and the sheet stack to be pushed into the dispenser opening 9 in an upright direction more reliably, thus facilitating the extraction of individual sheets.

[0220] Figure 7 The dispenser is shown in the open state, specifically with the lid 8 open, allowing the sheet 26 to be inserted into the dispenser body 1. Specifically, the lid 8 can be moved from a closed use position to an open refill position, wherein the refill position is as follows: Figure 7 As shown, and will be explained in more detail below.

[0221] The main body 1, comprising four sidewalls 2, 3, 4, and 5, has a rectangular shape in plan view, with two long sidewalls 3 and 5 and two short sidewalls 2 and 4 facing each other. The lid 8 is pivotally movable about one of the short sidewalls 4 via hinges, specifically about the upper end of the short sidewall 4 of the dispenser body 1. However, other configurations are also under consideration. That is, the lid 8 could also be pivotally movable about the upper end of one of the long sidewalls 3 and 5 of the rectangular body 1 in plan view.

[0222] To support the opening of the lid 8 from the closed use position to the open refill position, the lid 8 may be supported by a spring (not shown) that causes the lid 8 to move from the closed use position to the open refill position. Conversely, the lid 8 may be held in the closed use position by a latch 21 or the like to prevent the lid 8 from moving freely from the closed use position to the open refill position.

[0223] exist Figure 7 In this context, the dispenser is in the open position. In this respect, "open" means that the cover 8 is moved from the closed use position to the open refill position, so that the sheet 26, such as a napkin, can be inserted into the body 1 of the dispenser.

[0224] In an alternative (not shown) embodiment, the cover 8 may be configured to be reversibly detachable from the body and attachable to the body 1 of the dispenser. In this configuration, the cover 8 can be set aside to (re)fill the dispenser (open refill position) and placed back into the body 1 to achieve its closed use position.

[0225] As a first step in loading the sheet stack 26, now described as an example of napkin 26, into the dispenser, the aforementioned cover 8 is moved from the closed use position to the open refill position.

[0226] Then, the napkin stack 26 is placed through the opening 7 of the dispenser such that the bottom surface (tail surface) of the napkin stack 26 is on the platform 10 (not shown) of the dispenser, wherein the platform 10 is reciprocating within the body 1 of the dispenser, as described above.

[0227] Subsequently, a force is applied to the top surface (leading surface) of the stacked sheets opposite to the bottom surface (tail surface) to push the platform 10 downward into the body 1 of the dispenser.

[0228] It may be particularly useful to fold the leading napkin at least partially at one edge before or after applying force to the top surface of the sheet stack 26, and before or after placing the napkin stack 26 with its bottom surface on the support surface. This forms what is known as a starting fold. This folding of the leading napkin is as follows: Figure 7 As shown.

[0229] The initial fold when the dispenser is freshly refilled makes it easy to grab the lead napkin.

[0230] Most importantly, napkins are typically dispensed in bundles (sheet stacks), each bundle containing a predetermined number of sheets (such as napkins). In many cases, more than one bundle (sheet stack) is inserted into the dispenser during refilling. While the sheets are usually folded together within a bundle (sheet stack), the tail sheet of the first bundle (first sheet stack) and the leading sheet of the second bundle (second sheet stack) are not folded together. Therefore, once the tail sheet of the first bundle has been dispensed during use, the leading sheet of the second bundle is not automatically removed from the dispensing port for easy grabbing. Therefore, it is beneficial to also fold the leading sheet of any bundle (sheet stack) inserted into the dispenser in the same manner as described above to form an initial fold.

[0231] Even if there is no folding between the sheets at the “stack break” (also known as the bundle break) (i.e., where one sheet stack transitions to another), the leading napkins of each bundle can be at least partially folded at at least one edge (see [link to relevant documentation]). Figure 7 This ensures the continuous and reliable use of the dispenser, and that users will never encounter any napkins that are difficult to grip.

[0232] Then, the lid 8 of the exemplary embodiment is pivoted again from the open refill position to the closed use position, so that the lid 8 is closed.

[0233] Finally, a portion of the lead sheet 26, i.e., the (partially folded) lead napkin 26, is removed from the top surface of the napkin stack 26 through the dispensing port 9 of the lid 8, thereby disposing of the lead napkin. However, the lead napkin 2 can be removed when the lid 8 is in the closed use position or optionally in the open position.

[0234] Therefore, the napkin stack 26 can be successfully and easily loaded into the dispenser, thereby filling the dispenser with the napkin 26.

[0235] Figure 8 A dispenser containing a stack of napkins 26 is shown. The lid 8 may be at least partially transparent to allow the user to easily obtain information about whether the napkins 26 are still inside the dispenser or whether the stack of napkins 26 has been emptied from it and the dispenser needs to be refilled.

[0236] Reference Figure 9 and Figure 10 Now we will explain the settings inside the allocator in more detail.

[0237] Figure 9 An isometric view of the interior of the dispenser is shown. As previously described, the dispenser includes four sidewalls 2, 3, 4, and 5, which connect to the base 6 and thus form a box-like shape. Figure 9In the illustration, to better illustrate the internal structure of the dispenser, the cover 8 is in the open refilling state. Furthermore, Figure 9 The dispenser shown is empty, meaning no napkins are placed in it, and the dispenser is not loaded with napkins.

[0238] from Figure 9 and Figure 10 As can be seen, the dispenser according to the embodiment includes two double-walled sidewalls 3 and 5, each including an inner wall 27 and an outer wall 28. Therefore, a space 29 is defined between the inner wall 27 and the outer wall 28.

[0239] Nevertheless, dispensers with, for example, only one double-walled sidewall 2, 3, 4, 5 or more than the two double-walled sidewalls 2, 3, 4, 5 mentioned above can also be provided.

[0240] Subsequently, an example will be described in which two opposing sidewalls 3, 5 are double-walled sidewalls, wherein the double-walled sidewalls 3, 5 are arranged on the respective long sidewalls 3, 5 of the body 1, which has a rectangular shape in plan view.

[0241] As used herein, the term “double-walled” and its derivatives are not intended to limit the number of layers or “walls” that make up a particular sidewall. For example, a “double-walled” sidewall can refer to a sidewall with three or more walls, but in any case, the term “double-walled” refers to a wall with at least two walls / layers (e.g., an inner wall and an outer wall).

[0242] In this regard, it should be mentioned again that alternative embodiments with two opposing double-walled sidewalls on the short sidewalls 2, 4 of the dispenser body 1 can be considered in a similar manner. Similarly, only a single double-walled sidewall may be present on the short side of the dispenser body 1.

[0243] like Figure 9 As shown and highlighted by the arrows provided therein, the inner wall 27 of the double-walled sidewall 3 can pivot about the pivot axis 30 toward the interior of the body 1. Figure 9 and Figure 10 In the example shown, this applies to two opposing double-walled sidewalls 3 and 5.

[0244] An inner wall 27 that is pivotable toward the body 1 about a pivot axis 30 is achieved by a hinge provided at the lower end of the double-walled sidewall 3 adjacent to the base 6. For example, a hinge may be provided at the bottom of the double-walled sidewall 3 where the sidewall 3 contacts the base 6 to form the box-shaped body 1 of the dispenser. Thus, as Figure 9As indicated by the arrow, the inner wall 27 can be tilted about the pivot axis 30 to open the space 29 defined between the inner wall 27 and the outer wall 28. By doing so, the inner surface of the outer wall 28 facing the interior of the body 1 can be easily cleaned. The same applies to the surface of the inner wall 27 facing the outer wall 28.

[0245] Therefore, the space 29 defined between the inner wall 27 facing the outer wall 28 and the outer wall 28 facing inward, i.e., towards the inner wall 27, can be opened to allow a user to place a sign or sheet therein.

[0246] Such signage or sheet material can be commercial advertising, advertisements, restaurant menus, or any other information that may be useful to users (such as restaurant guests). The signage or sheet material may be in printed form and may even include some form of digital display. However, the list of functions for such signage or sheet material is not limited to the examples given.

[0247] In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot axis 30 is located at the lower end of the double-walled sidewall 3. However, in another embodiment not shown, the pivot axis 30 may also be located between the lower and upper ends of the double-walled sidewall 3. That is, a higher pivot axis 30 may be provided, such that the inner wall 27 and the outer wall 28 extend parallel to each other in the vertical direction below the pivot axis 30, and only the portion of the inner wall 27 arranged around the pivot axis 30 is pivotable, i.e., hinged around the pivot axis 30.

[0248] To facilitate the opening of space 29, i.e., to allow the inner wall 27 to pivot away from the outer wall 28 to increase space 29, a groove 32 can be provided. For example... Figure 9 and Figure 10 In the illustrated embodiment, the groove 32 is located on the upper end of the inner wall 27, specifically at a centrally positioned position on the upper end of the inner wall 27. However, other arrangements of the groove 32 described above are also considered. For example, the groove 32 could also be located on one of the upper corners of the inner wall 27.

[0249] In order to maintain a constant distance between the inner wall 27 and the outer wall 28 during use, i.e., when the inner wall 27 is not tilted inward and the napkin dispenser is in use (e.g. Figure 8 As shown), the inner wall 27 can be temporarily fixed to the outer wall 28 by a releasable latch 31.

[0250] from Figure 9 and Figure 10It can be deduced that the latch can be, for example, arranged on the upper end of the outer wall 28 of the double-walled sidewall 3 of the main body 1. However, the latch 31 can also be arranged on any other sidewall among the non-double-walled sidewalls 2, 3, 4, and 5. That is, in this arrangement, the latch 31 can also hold the inner wall 27 from both sides, thereby ensuring that a constant distance can be achieved between the inner wall 27 and the outer wall 28. Figure 9 and Figure 10 An example is shown of a latch 31 located in the top region of the double-walled sidewall 3, particularly at the upper end of its outer wall 28, thus making the dispenser more compact.

[0251] This design allows for a sealed outer surface of the dispenser, preventing the accumulation of dust or dirt over time within the gaps on the outer surface. This results in a more hygienic environment and facilitates cleaning the dispenser.

[0252] The outer wall 28 can be transparent, allowing the entire surface of the dispenser's double-walled sidewall 3 to be used for displaying advertisements, menus, etc. However, it is also possible for the outer wall 28 to be only partially transparent, meaning that the entire surface of the outer wall 28 is not transparent.

[0253] In other words, the transparent outer wall 28 can be considered as a window that can be used to display advertisements, menus, etc. Due to the aforementioned construction, the dispenser is closed to the outside and the window provided by the outer wall 28 can be accessed from inside the dispenser, preventing dust and / or dirt from the outside from entering through any potential openings, recesses, etc., that may be provided for access to the interior of the window.

[0254] Different signs or sheets can be inserted into the two double-walled sidewalls 3, 5 shown in the dispenser body 1.

[0255] To better understand how to insert such advertising or restaurant menu sample signs or sheets into the space 29 defined between the inner wall 27 and the outer wall 28, refer to Figure 9 and Figure 10 .

[0256] In the first step, the lid 8 of the air dispenser is moved from the closed use position to the open refill position.

[0257] Subsequently, latch 31 is released from inner wall 27, allowing inner wall 27 to pivot inward and away from outer wall 28 (see...). Figure 9 (The arrow in the image).

[0258] In the next step, the sheet can be inserted into the space 29 between the outer wall 28 and the inner wall 27. This is easily achieved because the space 29 is increased by the tilting movement of the inner wall 27 into the dispenser body 1.

[0259] Insertion of advertisements and / or menus (as an example of signage or sheet material) such as Figure 10 As shown by the arrow in the image.

[0260] Once the sheet has been fully moved into space 29, the system can be shut down again, allowing the dispenser to be used.

[0261] For this purpose, the inner wall 27 is tilted back towards the outer wall 28. Once the inner wall 27 and the outer wall 28 are both oriented parallel to each other, the final position is reached, and the inserted sheet is positioned within the space 29 defined by the inner wall 27 and the outer wall 28. The sheet can be sealed within the space defined by the outer wall 28 and the inner wall 27. Then, to lock the closed position of the double-walled sidewall 3, the latch 31 is used to re-secure the inner wall 27 to the outer wall 28.

[0262] Finally, the dispenser can be filled with napkin stack 26 or closed without napkin 26. To close the dispenser again, in the final step, the lid 8 is moved from the open refill position to the closed use position.

[0263] Therefore, it is possible to create a dispenser that displays advertisements, menus, etc., without allowing dust or other contaminants to enter from the outside through any grooves, gaps, etc. Furthermore, this prevents the unintentional or unauthorized removal of signs or sheets containing advertisements, menus, or similar items.

[0264] List of reference numerals

[0265] 1. Main Body

[0266] 2. Sidewall

[0267] 3. Sidewalls

[0268] 4. Sidewalls

[0269] 5. Sidewalls

[0270] 6. Base

[0271] 7 Opening

[0272] 8. Lid

[0273] 9 Distribution ports

[0274] 10 platforms

[0275] 11. Bias Device

[0276] 12 First Arm

[0277] 13 Top

[0278] 14 Bottom

[0279] 15 Second Arm

[0280] 16 Sidewall End

[0281] 17 Locking End

[0282] 18 Locking section

[0283] 19 Joint

[0284] 20 (Joint) Inclined surface

[0285] 21. Latch

[0286] 22 sales

[0287] 23 sales

[0288] 24 hooks

[0289] 25 (Base) Circular wall portion

[0290] 26 sheets

[0291] 27 Inner Wall

[0292] 28 outer wall

[0293] 29 Space

[0294] 30 Pivot axis

[0295] 31 Releasable latch

[0296] 32 grooves

[0297] A. Rotation axis of the first arm

[0298] B. Rotation axis of the second arm

[0299] C. Central axis of the sidewall

[0300] D The central axis of the base

[0301] L1 Length of the joint

[0302] L2 is the length of the first arm.

Claims

1. A method of loading a stack of sheets (26) into a dispenser for dispensing the sheets (26), the method comprising: - Move the dispenser cap (8) from the closed use position to the open refill position; The distributor includes: The main body (1) has four side walls (2, 3, 4, 5); Base (6) The opening (7) in the top of the main body (1); The lid (8) is used to cover the opening (7) in use and to allow access to the opening (7) for refilling, wherein the lid (8) has a dispensing port (9) therein to allow sheet material to be dispensed from the dispensing port; A platform (10) for supporting multiple sheets from below, wherein the platform (10) is movable from the lowest position when the dispenser is full of sheets to the highest position of the adjacent cover (8) when the dispenser is almost empty of sheets; A biasing device (11) for pushing the platform (10) toward the cover (8); A releasable locking mechanism for holding the platform (10) in the locked position at its lowest position, the releasable locking mechanism comprising: The first pair of first arms (12) are movably attached to one of the sidewalls (2, 3, 4, 5) and extend in a direction from the top of the body (1) toward the base (6), wherein each of the first pair of first arms (12) has a top end (13) and a bottom end (14). A second pair of second arms (15) are movably attached to the base (6) and extend in a direction toward the center of the base (6) from the sidewall to which the first pair of first arms (12) are attached, wherein each of the second pair of second arms (15) has a sidewall end (16) and a locking end (17), the sidewall end (16) being configured to engage with a corresponding bottom end (14) of the corresponding first arm (12) such that movement of the first arm (12) causes movement of the second arm (15), and the locking end (17) being configured to releasably interlock with a corresponding locking part (18) of a pair of locking parts (18) arranged on the platform (10) thereby holding the platform (10) in a locked position; The cover (8) has a pair of engagements (19) on its lower surface, each of which is configured to engage with the corresponding tip (13) of the corresponding first arm (12) when the cover (8) is closed, thereby releasing the platform (10) from the locked position. - The stack of the sheet (26) is placed through the opening (7) such that the tail side of the stack of sheet (26) is on the support surface of the platform (10); - Apply force to the leading surface opposite to the tail face of the stacked sheet (26) to push the platform (10) into the body (1) and into the locked position; - Pivot the lid (8) from the open refill position to the closed use position, thereby releasing the platform (10) from the locked position; and - A portion of the leading sheet (26) is drawn from the leading face of the stack of sheets (26) through the dispensing port (9) of the cover (8) to dispense the leading sheet (26). The biasing device (11) is attached between the central region of the base (6) and the central region of the platform (10), and the pair of locking portions (18) of the platform (10) are positioned closer to the central region of the platform (10) than to the edge portion of the platform (10).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The pair of locking parts (18) are arranged on the lower side of the platform (10).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The biasing device (11) mentioned therein is a spring.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The pair of joints (19) extend from the lower surface of the cover (8).

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, The length (L1) of each of the pair of joints (19) is 1 / 20 to 1 / 5 of the length (L2) of the first arm (12).

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein The length (L1) of each of the pair of joints (19) is 1 / 15 to 1 / 6 of the length (L2) of the first arm (12).

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein The length (L1) of each of the pair of joints (19) is 1 / 12 to 1 / 8 of the length (L2) of the first arm (12).

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein, The length (L1) of each of the pair of joints (19) is 1 / 10 of the length (L2) of the first arm (12).

9. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The main body (1) has a box shape with two long sidewalls (3, 5) and two short sidewalls (2, 4) that are respectively opposite to each other, wherein the lid (8) is attached to one of the short sidewalls (2, 4) and the first pair of first arms (12) are disposed on the other of the short sidewalls (2, 4).

10. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein Each of the first pair of first arms (12) is rotatably attached to the sidewall about a corresponding first axis of rotation (A), while each of the second pair of second arms (15) is rotatably attached to the base (6) about a corresponding second axis of rotation (B).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein At least one of the first pair of first arms (12) and the second pair of second arms (15) is rotatably attached to a spring loading mechanism, wherein the spring loading mechanism is configured such that when the platform (10) is placed in the locked position and / or the cover (8) is closed, the at least one of the first pair of first arms (12) and the second pair of second arms (15) rotates about a first rotation axis (A) or a second rotation axis (B), respectively, against the biasing force of the spring loading mechanism.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein Each of the pair of joints (19) has an inclined surface (20) that matches the corresponding inclined surface provided on the top end (13) of the corresponding first arm (12).

13. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The dispenser has a spring-loaded latch (21) for releasably locking the cover (8) to the body (1).

14. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The locking part (18) of the platform (10) is arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis or transverse axis of the platform (10); The first pair of first arms (12) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis (C) of one of the sidewalls (2, 3, 4, 5), the central axis (C) of the sidewall (2, 3, 4, 5) extending in a direction from the top to the base (6) and dividing the sidewall (2, 3, 4, 5) into two halves; The second pair of second arms (15) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis (D) of the base (6), which extends in a direction from the side wall on which the first pair of first arms (12) are arranged toward the opposite side wall and divides the base (6) into two halves.

15. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein At least one of the sidewalls (2, 3, 4, 5) is a double-walled sidewall comprising an inner wall (27) and an outer wall (28), defining a space (29) between the inner wall (27) and the outer wall (28), and At least a portion of the inner wall (27) is pivotable about the pivot axis (30) into the interior of the body (1); The inner wall (27) is fixed to the outer wall (28) by a releasable latch (31).

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the pivot axis (30) extends parallel to the base (6).

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the pivot (30) is arranged at the lower end of the double-walled sidewall (3) adjacent to the base (6).

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the outer wall (28) is at least partially transparent.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein at least two of the sidewalls (3, 5) are double-walled sidewalls, and wherein the inner walls (27) of the respective sidewalls (3, 5) can pivot about their respective pivot axes (30) into the interior of the body (1).

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the two opposing sidewalls (3, 5) are double-walled sidewalls.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein the body (1) has a rectangular shape in a plan view, with two long sidewalls (3, 5) and two short sidewalls (2, 4) facing each other, wherein at least one double-walled sidewall is arranged on one of the long sidewalls (3, 5).

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the inner wall (27) includes at least one groove (32) disposed at its upper end.

23. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover (8) is movably attached to at least one of the sidewalls (2, 3, 4, 5) of the body (1) by means of a hinge.

24. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover (8) is configured to be reversibly detachable from the body (1) and attachable to the body (1).

25. The method according to claim 15, wherein, The method further includes the following steps: - To pivot the inner wall (27) about the pivot axis (30) into the interior of the body (1); - Insert the sheet into the space (29) defined between the inner wall (27) and the outer wall (28); and - Pivot the inner wall (27) around the pivot axis (30) to the outer wall (28) of the main body (1).

26. A system comprising a dispenser for dispensing sheets (26) and a stack of the sheets (26) to be loaded into the dispenser, the dispenser comprising: The main body (1) has four side walls (2, 3, 4, 5); Base (6) The opening (7) in the top of the main body (1); A lid (8) for covering the opening (7) in use and for allowing access to the opening (7) for refilling, wherein the lid (8) has a dispensing port (9) therein to allow sheet material to be dispensed from the dispensing port; A platform (10) for supporting multiple sheets from below, wherein the platform (10) is movable from the lowest position when the dispenser is full of sheets to the highest position of the adjacent cover (8) when the dispenser is almost empty of sheets; A biasing device (11) for pushing the platform (10) toward the cover (8); A releasable locking mechanism for holding the platform (10) in the locked position at its lowest position, the releasable locking mechanism comprising: The first pair of first arms (12) are movably attached to one of the sidewalls (2, 3, 4, 5) and extend in a direction from the top of the body (1) toward the base (6), wherein each of the first pair of first arms (12) has a top end (13) and a bottom end (14). A second pair of second arms (15), which are movably attached to the base (6) and extend in a direction toward the center of the base (6) from the sidewall to which the first pair of first arms (12) are attached, wherein each of the second pair of second arms (15) has a sidewall end (16) and a locking end (17); the sidewall end (16) is configured to engage with a corresponding bottom end (14) of the corresponding first arm (12) such that movement of the first arm (12) causes movement of the second arm (15); the locking end (17) is configured to releasably interlock with a corresponding locking part (18) of a pair of locking parts (18) arranged on the platform (10) to thereby keep the platform (10) in a locked position; The lid (8) has a pair of engagements (19) on its lower surface, each of which is configured to engage with a corresponding tip (13) of the corresponding first arm (12) when the lid (8) is closed, thereby releasing the platform (10) from the locked position. The biasing device (11) is attached between the central region of the base (6) and the central region of the platform (10), and the pair of locking portions (18) of the platform (10) are positioned closer to the central region of the platform (10) than to the edge portion of the platform (10).

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein, The pair of locking parts (18) are arranged on the lower side of the platform (10).

28. The system according to claim 26 or 27, The biasing device (11) mentioned therein is a spring.

29. The system according to claim 26 or 27, in, The pair of joints (19) protrude from the lower surface of the cover (8).

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein The length of each of the pair of joints (19) is 1 / 20 to 1 / 5 of the length of the first arm (12).

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein, The length of each of the pair of joints (19) is 1 / 15 to 1 / 6 of the length of the first arm (12).

32. The system according to claim 30, wherein The length of each of the pair of joints (19) is 1 / 12 to 1 / 8 of the length of the first arm (12).

33. The system according to claim 30, wherein The length of each of the pair of joints (19) is 1 / 10 of the length of the first arm (12).

34. The system according to claim 26 or 27, wherein, The main body (1) has a box shape with two long sidewalls (3, 5) and two short sidewalls (2, 4) that are respectively opposite to each other, wherein the lid (8) is attached to one of the short sidewalls (2, 4) and the first pair of first arms (12) are disposed on the other short sidewall (2, 4).

35. The system according to claim 26 or 27, wherein Each of the first pair of first arms (12) is rotatably attached to the sidewall about a corresponding first axis of rotation (A), and each of the second pair of second arms (15) is rotatably attached to the base (6) about a corresponding second axis of rotation (B).

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein At least one of the first pair of first arms (12) and the second pair of second arms (15) is rotatably attached to a spring loading mechanism, wherein the spring loading mechanism is configured such that when the platform (10) is placed in the locked position and / or when the cover (8) is closed, the at least one of the first pair of first arms (12) and the second pair of second arms (15) rotates about a first rotation axis (A) or a second rotation axis (B) against the biasing force of the spring loading mechanism.

37. The system according to claim 35, in, Each of the pair of joints (19) has an inclined surface (20) that matches a corresponding inclined surface provided on the top end (13) of the respective first arm (12).

38. The system according to claim 26 or 27, wherein The dispenser has a spring-loaded latch (21) for releasably locking the cover (8) to the body (1).

39. The system according to claim 26 or 27, wherein, The locking part (18) of the platform (10) is arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis or transverse axis of the platform (10); The first pair of first arms (12) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis (C) of one of the sidewalls (2, 3, 4, 5), and the central axis (C) of the sidewall (2, 3, 4, 5) extends in a direction from the top to the base (6) and divides the sidewall (2, 3, 4, 5) into two halves. The second pair of second arms (15) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis (D) of the base (6), which extends in a direction from the sidewall on which the first pair of first arms (12) are arranged toward the opposite sidewall and divides the base (6) into two halves.

40. The system according to claim 26 or 27, wherein, At least one of the sidewalls (2, 3, 4, 5) is a double-walled sidewall comprising an inner wall (27) and an outer wall (28), defining a space (29) between the inner wall (27) and the outer wall (28), and At least a portion of the inner wall (27) is pivotable about the pivot axis (30) into the interior of the body (1); The inner wall (27) is fixed to the outer wall (28) by a releasable latch (31).

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the pivot axis (30) extends parallel to the base (6).

42. The system according to claim 40, wherein the pivot (30) is arranged at the lower end of the double-walled sidewall (3) adjacent to the base (6).

43. The system of claim 40, wherein the outer wall (28) is at least partially transparent.

44. The system according to claim 40, wherein at least two of the sidewalls (3, 5) are double-walled sidewalls, and wherein the inner walls (27) of the respective sidewalls (3, 5) can pivot about their respective pivot axes (30) into the interior of the body (1).

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the two opposing sidewalls (3, 5) are double-walled sidewalls.

46. ​​The system according to claim 40, wherein the body (1) has a rectangular shape in a plan view and has two long sidewalls (3, 5) and two short sidewalls (2, 4) respectively opposite to each other, wherein the at least one double-walled sidewall is arranged on one of the long sidewalls (3, 5).

47. The system of claim 40, wherein the inner wall (27) includes at least one groove (32) disposed at its upper end.

48. The system according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the cover (8) is movably attached to at least one of the side walls (2, 3, 4, 5) of the body (1) by means of a hinge.

49. The system according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the cover (8) is configured to be reversibly detachable from the body (1) and attachable to the body (1).

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