Pop-up towel dispensing system

Abstract

The present invention pertains to improved pop-up dispensing systems in which edge portions of adjacent towels are non-parallel when the individual towel sheets are interleaved and folded. This new configuration provides improved pop-up dispensing reliability by providing a predictable, repeatable separation process. The overlapped area formed by the overlapping end edges is tapered such that there is a point across the sheet width with the greatest overlap in the direction of the pulling force and a point across the sheet width with the least overlap in the direction of the pulling force. This configuration allows the area of maximum overlap to pull the next sheet through the dispensing aperture at the same time that the sheet separation process is starting to take place at the area of least overlap. The separation process begins at the point of least overlap and proceeds across the overlapping area along a 'separation front' toward the point of greatest overlap. When the overlapping area is reduced to the extent that there is insufficient overlapping area to sustain the shear forces exerted, complete separation of the two sheets will occur. The area of overlap, length of the separation front, and amounts of overlap at the point of greatest overlap can all be tailored to provide desired separation characteristics for a particular aperture size, substrate, moistening agent, and moisture loading.