Guide roller with flanges for a dispenser

An apparatus adapted for use with a dispenser housing for rolled sheet material to provide reliable dispensing of sheet material therefrom is provided. The apparatus is adapted for a dispenser housing which includes a roll support configured to hold at least one cylindrical roll of sheet material and a dispensing assembly. The dispensing assembly includes an exit port to permit sheet material to be withdrawn therefrom. The cylindrical roll of sheet material is desirably mounted on a portion of the roll support. The roll includes opposing flat surfaces and an outer circumference, the apparatus comprises a guide roller including an elongated central portion positioned between two opposing ends and a flange positioned near each end of the guide roller. The central portion is configured to be positioned adjacent the outer circumference of a roll of sheet material when the roll is a new roll disposed in the dispenser housing. At least a portion of an inner surface of each flange is positioned adjacent a flat surface of the roll of sheet material when the roll is a new roll. The guide roller is positioned such that sheet material flows from the roll between the flanges and over the central portion of the guide roller to the dispensing assembly. The flow of sheet material is aligned on its path to the dispensing assembly such that bunching and jamming of non-aligned sheet material is eliminated. A system is provided as well.