| 摘要 |
There is disclosed a sheet material dispensing apparatus wherein the sheet (14) passes through a nip preferably formed by a drive roller (18) and a pressure roller (16). A gear segment (36) is mounted for rotation about a first point (49), and a lever (24) is mounted for rotation about a second point (34). When the lever (24) is rotated, a point (40) or surface on the lever (24) slidingly contacts a point (42) or surface on the gear segment (36) causing the gear segment (36) to rotate through a greater angle than the lever (24). The teeth of the gear segment are operably engaged with gear means (56, 60) which causes rotation of the drive roller (18). In another aspect of the invention, the gear means for rotating the drive roller includes a floating gear (56), mounted in a slot (58) that is aligned generally parallel to the teeth of the gear segment (36) and which causes rotation of the drive roller (18) during one direction of travel of the gear segment (36) and is disengaged from the drive roller (18) during the other direction of travel of the lever (24). The invention also employs an overload mechanism (32) which prevents excessive force from being applied to the gears (36,56,60) in the event the dispenser becomes jammed. The invention is especially useful for dispensing paper towels from a cabinet. |
