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Multiple roll towel dispenser

  • US 5,924,617 A
  • Filed: 08/01/1997
  • Issued: 07/20/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a dispenser for dispensing paper, said dispenser including a housing and a housing cover connected thereto movable between a closed position and an open position to provide access to the housing interior, said housing defining a dispensing outlet and including means for supporting a first paper roll having a free end thereof within said housing and means for supporting a second paper roll, a drive roller and a tension roller operatively associated therewith urging a paper web from one of the first and second paper rolls into contact with said drive roller for dispensing a length of paper from the paper roll in contact with said drive roller, drive means for rotating said drive roller and actuator means operatively connected to said drive means, the improvement comprising a roller frame assembly mounted within said housing carrying said tension roller and a transfer roller, said roller frame assembly being movable between a use position wherein said tension roller contacts the paper web from one of said rolls of paper urging the paper web against said drive roller and a maintenance position wherein said housing cover is in its open position and said roller frame assembly is spaced away from said drive roller to provide access to the housing interior and to said means for supporting the first and second paper rolls, said transfer roller being positioned to contact said drive roller in the absence of paper therebetween and when said roller frame assembly is in said use position, said transfer roller releasably holding the free end of the first paper roll while paper from the second roll is dispensed upon actuation of said actuator means to rotate said drive means and said drive roller connected thereto, the paper from said second paper roll being positioned between said drive roller and said transfer roller preventing rotation of said transfer roller during rotation of said drive roller until the second paper roll is exhausted whereupon further rotation of said drive roller causing rotation of said transfer roller to cause the free end of the first paper roll to be positioned between said drive roller and said tension roller, whereby movement of said actuator means when said housing cover is in its closed position and said roller frame is in its use position operating said drive means to rotate said drive roller causing the paper web in contact therewith to be unwound from its associated paper roll and dispensed through said dispensing outlet.

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