| 摘要 |
A paper towel dispenser (10) includes a housing (20) having a discharge opening (48). A support (35) is provided within the housing (20) for supporting a continuous strip of sheet material having a plurality of spaced tear lines defining leading and trailing edges of individual removable segments, with an outer segment having a free leading edge and inner segments which in turn become outer segments as adjoining outer segments are removed. A feed mechanism (37) repeatedly advances the sheet material, in first and second intervals, to advance successive outer ones of the segments through the discharge opening (48) and out of the housing (20). A sensor (38) repeatedly detects arrival of a leading edge of the advancing sheet material at a first position defining the end of the first interval and the beginning of the second interval, as the sheet material is repeatedly advanced towards the discharge opening (48). A control device (53) receives a signal from the sensor (38) indicating arrival of a leading edge at the first position, and for terminating the operation of the feed mechanism (37) when a leading edge of the sheet material has further advanced from the first position a predetermined amount, repeatedly to place the spaced tear lines at a second position that is variable within a space defined between the feed mechanism and the first position in relation to variations in the lengths of the segments, the second position defining the beginning of the first interval of advancement for a next adjacent segment, when it is in turn dispensed. <IMAGE> |
