Dual roll towel dispenser

Abstract

A pitoval, generally vertically reciprocal operating handle carries a rack along a stationary center, rotatable pinion with the pinion, in turn, being operably connected rotating a continuous drive rod. Two drive rolls are mounted axially aligned on the drive rod and rotatable relative thereto with a clutch spool on the rod between the drive rolls being axially shiftable to transmit rotation from the rod to either of the drive rolls while the other roll remains stationary. Each of the drive rolls with the assistance of a pressure roll grips a paper web extending from a supply roll so that rotation of the particular drive roll dispenses that web from the dispenser. Pivotal sensors are mounted sensing the periphery of each supply roll so that upon substantial depletion of a particular supply roll, that sensor engages a shuttle causing the shuttle to shift the clutch from that associated drive roll to the other, thereby commencing the dispensing by the other drive roll from its supply roll. Thus, diepensing is automatically shifted from one supply roll to the other in either direction as long as the supply rolls are kept replenished ahead of such switching. The dispenser may also include anti-milking devices in the main drive and individually for each of the drive rolls, as well as separable core supply rolls to provide for full paper web use and accurate clutch switching between the drive rolls.