Paper handtowel dispenser

Claim 2

A paper haNdtowel dispenser comprising: a casing having a slot; mounting means in said casing for mounting a first paper handtowel roll; metering roller means operative to enable a user to withdraw paper handtowelling from said roll out of said casing through said slot; means in said casing for receiving a part-used paper handtowel roll from which paper handtowelling can be withdrawn over said metering roller means along with the paper handtowelling from said first roll; timed stop means for stopping said metering roller means each time a predetermined length of handtowel from said first roll has been dispensed and for holding said metering roller means fast for a predetermined period of time, said timed stop means comprising changeover means for changing said predetermined length of dispensed handtowel which may be drawn from said first roll, said timed stop means being operative to stop said metering roller means after a first predetermined number of revolutions when said changeover means is in a first position, and to stop said metering roller means after a second predetermined number of revolutions when said changeover means is in a second position; and first detector means in said casing for automatically detecting when the diameter of said part-used roll falls below a predetermined minimum value, and changing said changeover means between said two positions in response thereto, said first detector means holding said changeover means in said second position as long as said diameter of said part-used roll is less than said predetermined minimum value.

Claim 3

A paper handtowel dispenser as claimed in claim 1, further comprising second detector means for detecting and externally signalling when the diameter of said first paper handtowel roll falls below a predetermined value.

Claim 4

A paper handtowel dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said timed stop means comprises: a moveable member; a first suction cup carried on said member; a trip piece connected to said metering roller means for moving said member from a starting position into an end position against the action of a biassing force, said member being adapted in said end position to stop said metering roller means; a second fixed suction cup mounted on said casing and adapted to cooperate with said first suction cup for holding said first suction cup and said member by suction during said predetermined period of time; means to release said first suction cup from said second suction cup after elapse of said predetermined time; two abutments mounted on said member one behind another with respect to the direction of movement of the member, a first one of said abutments being arranged to engage said trip piece during a first revolution of said metering roller means, when said member is in said starting position, for moving the member into an intermediate position, and the second one of said abutments being arranged to engage said trip piece during the subsequent second revolution of said metering roller means for moving the member into said end position to press said first suction cup against said second suction cup; and a pawl and cooperating stop means for retaining said member in said intermediate position, said pawl being moveable into the effective range of said stop means concomitantly with the movement of said member into its intermediate position, and being moveable out of this effective range concomitantly with the movement of the member into its end position; and wherein said changeover means is adapted, when in said second position to prevent restoration of said member through said intermediate position to said starting position.

Claim 5

A paper handtowel dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pawl in said timed stop means is pivotally mounted on said movable member and wherein said stop means is a fixed stop.

Claim 6

A paper handtowel dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pawl is located in the path of travel of said trip piece coNnected to said metering roller, said trip piece being arranged to turn the pawl into the effective range of said fixed stop during said first revolution of said metering roller.

Claim 7

A paper handtowel dispenser as claimed in claim 5, wherein said pawl also forms said first abutment on said movable member.

Claim 8

A paper handtowel dispenser as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first detector means is displaceable parallel to the axis of said part-used paper handtowel roll, said detector means comprising a plate which is applied under spring pressure against the end of said part-used roll as long as said diameter of said part-used roll is less than said predetermined minimum value.

Claim 9

A paper handtowel dispenser as claimed in claim 7 wherein said changeover means is pressed against said pawl by said first detector means so long as said first detector means bears against a part-used paper handtowel roll, said changeover means in said second position preventing movement of said pawl out of the effective range of said stop means.

Claim 10

A paper handtowel dispenser as claimed in claim 3 wherein said changeover means is disposed in said second position in the path of travel of said moveable member to prevent said changeover means from being taken beyond said intermediate position of said moveable member.

Claim 11

A paper handtowel dispenser as claimed in claim 9 wherein said first detector means is a flap which is pivotally mounted in said casing and disposed to bear on a part-used paper handtowel roll, and wherein this flap has a tappet rigidly connected thereto to hold said changeover means said second position so long as said flap bears on a part-used paper handtowel roll of diameter greater than said predetermined minimum value.