Abstract:
A towel dispenser is provided with a pivoting unit into which a winding roller driven by way of a friction drive is mounted in an easily suspensible manner. An additional loop, which is tightened by a compensator roller in a direction +p, is formed in the dispenser in front of the winding roller, and when clean towel is pulled down a portion of used towel (T′) is used to form the rear part of a loop of cloth (T; T′) used in the front part. Changing used cloth (T′) and loading with clean towel (T) is performed by rotating the pivoting unit, can be carried out in a very simple manner and is completed by opening or closing the cover of the dispenser. A path- and time-dependent control of the towel delivery is integrated in the dispenser.

Description:
The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/945,178 filed Oct. 16, 1997 now abandoned, which is a national stage of PCT/CH96/00141 filed Apr. 17, 1996. 
    
    
     The present invention relates to a towel dispenser. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Known towel dispensers (inter alia EP-A1-0 283 544) require a threading-in of the cloth and an additional winding around a roller when they are used. In order to prevent the end of a towel roll from being used several times, the end is retracted as soon as it would hang freely, i.e. as it is wound off from the clean towel roll. The force required for the retraction is stored in a spring drive; to this end, however, the energy for the retraction of the respective portion of soiled towel has to be built up and made available. Each time the towel roll is changed, therefore, the supply or delivery roller is wound up manually in the correct direction for the cloth, and this results in frequent problems. After the winding up has taken place, a certain length of unused cloth must consequently be drawn off for the initial loading of the stored spring force, so that the first used portion is already drawn in and an excessively long loop hanging out of the dispenser is not formed. In the event of breakdowns in the dispenser the drawn-in cloth cannot be withdrawn; it must first be completely unwound onto the soiled roll and is thus lost. 
     Experience has shown that the above-mentioned conditions for the correct loading of a dispenser with cloth are the cause of numerous breakdowns, which constitute a sequence of lack of understanding, incapability, erroneous interpretation and false alarms and very often put a dispenser out of action for this reason. Since a premature changing of the rolls results in the loss of the cloth not yet used and because of the inherent susceptibility of these dispensers to breakdown, it has been suggested that two towel units, and in practice two complete towel dispensers, should be constructed one beside the other and should be coupled to each other mechanically in order to increase the operational readiness of the entire unit. 
     A threading-in of a towel which is at least partially automated is likewise known (W-OA1-96/32874). It has been found, however, that a dispenser of this type either requires auxiliary energy and/or special measures at the end of the towel, which have an adverse effect on the washing process 
     In addition, it has been found to be disadvantageous that in the case of the dispenser according to EP-A1-0 283 544 the roll of soiled cloth can roll off by vigorous pulling on the rear part of the loop, since the slip clutch required for the return of used fabric—for forming a temporary loop sufficient for drying—cannot put up an adequate resistance. 
     The object of the invention is therefore to provide a compact towel dispenser which does not have the drawbacks mentioned above. In particular, with a minimum of necessary instruction to the maintenance staff, a towel dispenser in accordance with the invention should provide the user with a maximum possible degree of operational reliability and hygiene. The dispenser should keep ready the available roll of towel in optimum portions and permit neither deliberate nor undesired multiple use of the towel. In particular, the roll of towel thereof has to be easy to change, i.e. it should be easy to load in the dispenser. In the event of a possible premature change of the towel roll it should not be necessary to re-wind the towel. 
     The necessary operations should not require any instructions. No extraneous energy should be necessary; and the dispenser&#39;s operations should have a high degree of reliability. 
     For hygiene considerations the used cloth and the clean cloth must be guided completely separately from each other over the entire conveying path. In addition, the cycle times of the dispenser should be reproducible and adaptable to what the users are used to, i.e. it should be possible for the same type of towel dispenser to be used in a manner which is satisfactory in every respect for a wide range of use environments, such as from the requirements of an old-peoples home, through a central administration of a bank to a fast-food restaurant on a motorway. 
     Furthermore, the dispenser must be suitable and economical for mass-production manufacture; for space considerations and cost, appliances arranged one beside the other are not desired. 
     The strip material used as the towel should not as a rule require any steps or changes with respect to that in existing dispensers installed and used in numerous locations, since further use is to be made of the existing infrastructure such as washing machines, mangles and drying plants, as well as the existing logistics associated therewith. A dispenser in accordance with the invention should not, however, be restricted to the use of textile strip material; it should be capable of being adapted to any environmentally acceptable, durable material. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the forgoing and other objects and purposes a towel dispenser for flat strip material of the present invention includes a conveying mechanism for the simplified threading-in and for forming a loop of clean strip material suitable for drying the hands. The conveying mechanism is provided with a pivoting unit rotatable outwards about a stationary shaft mounted in side panels, the conveying mechanism beings initiated or activated by closing the dispenser and/or by a manually activated drive member. The strip material rolls off in metered portions from a supply of clean material by way of a dispensed loop onto a replaceable collection roller for used material. The pivoting unit is provided in its upper region with bearing points for inserting a removable winding roller. A recess for forming an additional loop of strip material is provided between the winding roller and a guide for the strip material. 
     The additional loop is provided as an addition to the loop issuing from the dispenser and intended for drying the hands and is arranged behind the issuing loop inside the dispenser. With each portion of towel dispensed, the towel already used and present in the additional loop can thus be utilized in an hygienically proper manner in order to form the loop intended for drying the hands, without the winding roller loaded with used, crumpled and damp towel being rotated first backwards and then in the winding direction again. This leads to a saving of almost 50% in towel consumption, without having to run the risk of breakdown during the winding etc. The user is provided with a convenient and ergonomically advantageous access to the cloth. 
     The specific term “recess” is to be understood in the widest sense of “space” for guiding an additional loop; this loop can also be formed, however, by rotating the pivoting unit. Because of the given cloth width and the restricted spatial conditions the said loop is present in each case in the pivoting unit and in front of its winding roller for used cloth. 
     A towel dispenser according to the invention does not require any instruction for maintenance; simple pictographs and/or directions on the dispenser can be sufficient for trouble-free set up and maintenance. No extraneous energy is required and the forces necessary for control and operation are applied unconsciously by the user. All the functions take place in a reproducible manner and with suitable means they can be adapted and/or even set to the local requirements. 
     A compensating roller for tightening the inner (additional) loop also has the effect, in addition to the intended return of the used cloth to form an outer loop, of smoothing and partially drying the crumpled and damp portions of cloth. The provision of an axially parallel guidance for the used cloth can ensure a clean winding and thus prevents shifting with respect to the desired symmetrical running of the cloth. Such guides may be advantageously formed in the stationary side panels of the appliance housing. 
     The compensator roller can be controlled on its oscillating path set during each delivery of cloth by cable lines provided with springs, without the lateral space requirement in the dispenser being increased. A precise and slippage-free guidance can be made possible by a positively locking rolling action of the compensator roller. 
     The incorporation of a spring loaded gripper rocker may allows particularly simple coupling of the movement of the compensator roller in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cover of the dispenser. 
     The arrangement for vertically adjustable mounting of the fabric receptacle can result in a particularly space-saving compact dispenser which performs the necessary movements when the cloth is changed, without parts of the appliance having to be moved manually. In addition, the transmission of force by means of a friction roller resting on the winding roller and situated on the fabric receptacle allows the volume released as the clean cloth rolls off to be utilized by the roll of used cloth which increases in diameter at the same time. 
     A drive by way of the side panel can allow the necessary path-dependent synchronism between the delivery roller and the winding roller to be controlled with respect to time and to be monitored. 
     Guide grooves can be designed and configured to result in a compact design and a trouble-free transmission of force since a curved groove arranged concentrically to a central gearwheel ensures a constant engagement with the transmission or driving gearwheel of the winding roller. 
     Pins projecting on the fabric receptacle are advantageous guides in one plane. The guidance of the fabric receptacle can be further improved in a plane at a right angle to the first one. An optimum parallel guidance of the fabric receptacle and thus of the friction drivecan be made possible by gearwheels connected to one another. 
     The lifting of the fabric receptacle can beprovided in order to rotate the pivoting unit forwards by about 180° and to unload it or to prepare it for re-use. Such a position pivoted out of the dispenser also allows the pivoting unit and optionally further parts of the towel dispenser to be cleaned and/or disinfected in a convenient manner. 
     A lateral arrangement of the control and drive device can produce a kinematically advantageous solution and results in a single functional unit which is easy to replace and is advantageous in terms of manufacturing. 
     As the vertical position of the fabric receptacle is directly dependent upon the winding diameter of the roll of used cloth, since the friction roller situated below the fabric receptacle rests on the winding, a filing-state indicator relying on such a relationship can be employed. In practice, before the supply of clean cloth is used up, a vertical red line appears in an inspection window at the front of the cover. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred embodiment but nontheless illustrative embodiment of the invention is set fort in the following description, to be considered with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective illustration of a towel dispenser with the essential functional members thereof, without time-dependent control and without a cover being shown; 
     FIG. 2 is a basic illustration of the dispenser of FIG. 1, in a plan view from a narrow side, with a cover opened about 7°; 
     FIG. 3 shows the dispenser of FIG. 2, after the cover has been opened by 60°; 
     FIG. 4 shows the dispenser of FIG. 2, with the cover opened to the maximum extent and with a fabric receptacle held at the top; 
     FIG. 5 is an illustration similar to FIG. 4, but with the pivoting unit shown with the associated transfer members; 
     FIG. 6 is a simplified illustration of the functional members in the positions according to FIG.  4  and FIG. 5, during loading; 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view from a narrow side of the dispenser according to FIG. 1 ready for operation after loading; 
     FIG. 8 shows the dispenser of FIG. 7 after a prolonged operating period; 
     FIG. 9 is an illustration showing a manner of operation of a compensator roller used for an economical delivery of the towel; 
     FIG. 10 is a further perspective illustration of the dispenser with essential slotted guides and with the compensator roller in alternative end positions thereof; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective illustration of the time- and path-dependent control unit of the dispenser according to FIGS. 1 to  10  with the gearing mechanisms and switching members thereof; and 
     FIG. 12 shows the power flux between the gearwheels in FIG. 11, with the switching gear disengaged. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A towel dispenser according to the invention is designated  1  in FIG. 1; the perspective illustration shows it without a cover (covering) and without a side panel at an end, during drying of the hands by a user B. 
     Two basic components, namely a pivoting unit  2  with shell-shaped guide and gripping recesses  3  and a fabric receptacle  15  situated thereabove in a compact manner for a roll of clean cloth T, are supported and guided by side panels, only the right-hand side panel  18  of which is shown. The roll of cloth rests freely movable on a shell-shaped trough  17  and is not provided with a winding spindle. Its strip-shaped cloth T is guided in the direction of unwinding A over an upper deflecting roller  7  onto a lower deflecting roller  4 , is guided in the pivoting unit  15  and forms a depending loop which is used for drying the hands HB of the user B in the usual manner at the point indicated by parallel lines. The cloth T′ used in this way is guided in the direction W over further deflecting rollers  9  and  8  to a winding roller  5 . 
     The winding roller  5 , together with a clamping spring  5 ′ and bearing pins  5 ″ is used for winding up the used cloth T′ in the winding direction W. 
     The bearing pins  5 ″ are supported in insertion points or notches  38  in the upper edge areas of the pivoting unit  2 , where they are held in a rotatable manner in an end position. The winding roller  5  is driven by a friction roller  6  resting thereon and having a nubbed friction face  14  which rests directly on the used cloth T′ and drives the latter in the direction W with a time delay, after the hands have been dried. The friction roller  6  is guided movably on the shaft pin  12  at the ends thereof in the horizontal guide grooves  13  in the lower part of the fabric rentable  15 , so that it can be adapted to the increasing diameter of the rolled-up cloth T′. 
     The fabric receptacle  15  is in turn movable upon guide pins  16  projecting outwards on its lateral faces in the lifting direction H in mutually opposed guide grooves  23  on both sides, only one guide groove  23  being visible in the side panel  18 . In addition, a depression  20 , which is enlarged upwards and which is used for the convenient assembly of the fabric receptacle  15  with the projecting shaft pins  12  thereof in the dispenser  1 , may be seen in the side panel  18 . 
     The pivoting unit  2  covers a gearing mechanism for a friction drive, so that the gearing mechanism is shown hatched. The gearing mechanism  22  is driven by a central gearwheel  103  which projects out of a housing  21 . 
     The pivoting unit  2  is rotatable about the two likewise projecting shaft pins  11  thereof, i.e. as described in greater detail below the pivoting unit can be pivoted outwards about the said shaft pins  11  so that the roll of used cloth T′ can be removed from the front, as viewed from the position of the user B. The winding roller  5  remains in the dispenser  1  and is removed axially out of the roll T′ and a new clean end of a cloth T is pulled below the clamping spring  5 ′. The winding roller  5  is repositioned again in the insertion point  38  and the unit  2  is pivoted back into the position indicated. 
     In order that the unit  2  can be pivoted out, the fabric receptacle  15  has to be moved upwards. This is carried out by way of a pivoting lever  47  connected to the cover of the dispenser, see FIG.  5 . 
     In addition, as shown in FIG. 1 a recess  10  is provided for a compensator roller which in this figure has been omitted for clarity; only its oscillating directions p are indicated. The compensator roller is described in detail in the following FIGS. 7 to  10 , but the operation thereof can be indicated at this point: 
     When fresh cloth T is pulled down by the hands HB, the compensator roller situated in front is retracted in the direction −p, so that a part or portion of used cloth T′—is likewise released. This corresponds to 50% of the entire length of the loop of cloth comprising T+T′. In this way, the loop is increased for convenient drying of the hands, without an unnecessarily large amount of clean cloth T being required. 
     In FIG. 2 the dispenser  1 , mounted with the mounting face M on a vertical wall, is shown in a first lockable tilting position with the cover  25  at an inclination of 7 to the vertical V. This is the first position to be set on the dispenser when opening the cover  25 . 
     The cover  25  is provided on both sides with a respective bearing pin  24 , which pins  24  are mounted in the side panels  18  and  19  indicated. When the cover  25  is tilted as illustrated—after opening a closure (not shown)—a slide cam  26  presses against a slide  27  arranged vertically and provided with sliding faces  29 . The slide  27  is provided at the side with with guide strips  28  which prevent the slide from tilting, so that a lifting movement H is transmitted by way of the lifting cam  31  thereof to a projection  32  on the fabric receptacle  15  and likewise lifts it. 
     The slide  27  is provided on an inward side thereof with a further ramp-shaped sliding face (not shown for clarity) on which an entraining pin  59  of a gripper rocker  55  rests—see FIG.  9 —so that the said gripper rocker  55  is jointly moved with thes slide. 
     The inward side of the slide  27  has additionally attached thereto a pawl-like cam  30  into which a shoulder  35  of a locking pawl  33  rotatable on a bearing pin  34  engages when the slide  27  is raised sufficiently. The locking pawl is drawn in the catching direction by a restoring spring  36 . In addition, a delivery roller  37  likewise provided with nubs may be seen at the front in the cover  25 . 
     FIG. 3 represents a snapshot at an opening angle of the cover of 60° to the vertical V; the slide cam  26  has already travelled over the lowest part of the sliding face  29  and now moves on the upwardly guiding part of the sliding face  29 . The cam  30  is just about to engage with the projecting shoulder  35 . 
     FIG. 4 shows the cam  30  in the engagement position thereof on the shoulder  35 ; the fabric receptacle  15  is raised to the maxim height H and can be loaded with a roll of clean cloth T. 
     For the sake of clarity the movement and the transmission of force from the cover  25  to the pivoting unit  2  have been omitted in FIGS. 3 and 4. For the same reason the fabric receptacle  15  is not indicated in FIG.  5 . When the cover  25  is opened to the maximum extent, in the position identical with FIG. 4, the pivoting unit  2  is pivoted outwards so that it occupies a position as shown in FIG.  5 . In this position it is evident that during the opening movement of the cover  25  a pivoting lever  47  mounted rotatably on the said cover  25  on a connecting pin  70  pivots—with its pin  48  projecting into a straight guide slot  71  in the pivoting unit  2 —the pivoting unit  2  about its shaft pin  11 . This pivoting movement is controlled by the other side of the shaft stub constructed in the form of a double pin  48  in accordance with the curve of a further guide slot  49  provided in the side panel  19 , cf. FIG.  10 . 
     As shown in FIG. 5, with the cover fully open it is easy to lift the winding roller  5  out of its bearings, the mutually opposed insertion points  38 , along with a fully loaded roll of soiled cloth T′. The winding roller  5  can be recovered for the following application by simply withdrawing it axially from the soiled cloth roll. 
     For loading, a roll of clean cloth T is placed in the fabric receptacle  15  in the position according to FIG. 4, in such a way that the free end of the roll rests on the trough  17 . The winding roller  5  is now inserted laterally into the free end of the cloth T at an angle of 90° to the direction of unwinding A, in which case the cloth T is clamped in a non-slipping manner between the actual roller  5  and a clamping spring  5 ′ attached thereto. 
     The actual loading is illustrated in FIG.  6 : 
     The clean cloth T is made to hang down from its roll over the front deflecting roller  9 , and the winding roller  5  is pressed into the front end part of the cloth T as described. For the sake of clarity the cover  25  has been omitted here as well, so that the delivery roller  37  mounted therein and driven by way of the gearwheel cf. FIGS. 2 to  5 , is likewise absent below the deflecting roller  4 —FIG.  1 —as also in the subsequent Figures. 
     The winding roller  5  is then, as shown, inserted into the insertion points or notches  38  in the direction of the arrow, whereupon the manual loading as such is concluded; now the cover  25  is then merely closed. A kinematic reversal of the procedures already described with reference to FIGS. 2 to  5  takes place; finally the appliance appears as shown in FIG.  7 . 
     In this Figure the compensator roller  50  is also clearly visible, which tightens the cloth T′ since it is rolled in the direction +p by a gripper rocker  55 , FIG.  9 . The cloth T occupies the path characterized by the double line shown in the lower part of the pivoting unit  2 . After pulling vertically downwards with both hands HB at the point indicated, the compensator roller  50  is set in the front position thereof, as a result of which—due to the retraction of the compensator roller  50  in the direction −p—substantially twice the length of fabric than was delivered over the deflecting rollers  7  and  4  is available at the next hand drying. 
     In all the Figures the same consistent lettering is applied in the designation of the cloth in the dispenser ready for operation: clean cloth=T; used cloth or cloth behind the point characterized in FIG. 1 (hands HB)=T′. 
     Whereas in FIG. 7 a fresh roll of cloth T is illustrated, in FIG. 8 a major part of the roll is presented as used cloth T′ on the winding shaft  5 . Consequently the friction roller  6  resting on the roll T′ is displaced to the left in the guide groove  13  and at the same time is lifted on the path of the curve  39  in a concentric manner with respect to a central gearwheel  103 . 
     As a result of the illustrated sheet guidance of the friction roller  6 , the transfer gearwheel  22 ′ thereof, irrespectively of the current diameter of the winding roller  5  around which the used (soiled) cloth T′ has been wound, remains in engagement with the central gearwheel  103 , so as to ensure a slippage-free transmission of force. 
     The friction contact between the used cloth T′ and the friction roller  6  driven in this way is advantageous, but in the case of a fresh roll of cloth T almost its entire weight rests on the winding roller  5  or the cloth T′ respectively by way of the friction face  14 . When the two roll diameters first approximate each other during operation and then change in the opposite direction, the moments which are applied at the contact faces between the friction roller  5  and the cloth T′ likewise remain substantially constant. 
     The design of the compensator roller  50  may be seen in FIG. 9; it has a structure with notches  51  and is provided at the ends with flange-like lateral guides  53  and respective gearwheels  52  which are used for parallel guidance. On the left-hand side of the compensator roller  50  the recess  56  of a gripper rocker  55  engages over the shaft of the compensator roller  50 . The gripper rocker  55  is mounted on a bearing pin  64  so as to be pivotable in the direction p and it is provided on a top side with a tension-spring fastening  57  to which a tension spring  58  arranged substantially vertically is connected. The entrainment pin  59  is used for the forced actuation of the compensator roller  50  by the slide  27 , FIGS. 2 to  4 , as a function of the position of the cover (not shown). 
     A bearing pin  54 , on which a traction cable  60  is suspended, is inserted in a rotatable manner on the right-hand side of the compensator roller  50 , the traction cable  60  being guided over a cable pulley  60 ′ to a winding coil  61  and being wound up and held taut by an integrated spiral spring  63  of the winding coil  61 . A bore  62  in the winding coil  61  is likewise mounted rotatably in a portioning wheel (not shown) for the delivery of the cloth. 
     In FIG. 9 the compensator roller  50  is shown in the rear position thereof, in a similar orientation as in FIG. 10, where it rests against path-limiting members  50 ′. Its parallel guide  45  with a parallel set of teeth  46  at the top is seen, which guides the roller in an axially parallel manner into the front position as indicated with broken lines. The oscillation path is again designated p. 
     FIG. 10 shows the dispenser  1  partly dismantled. In this case the rear wall  40  of the appliance housing is seen, which is attached with its mounting face M to a vertical wall in the usual manner. Here it can be seen that opening the cover  25 —by way of the slide  27  (not visible here)—results in both the compensator roller  50  and the fabric receptacle  15  being guided out of the region of rotation of the pivoting unit  2  and the said pivoting unit  2  being pivoted into the position shown in FIG. 6 in the manner described above. 
     A side panel  18 , which carries a guiding and bearing point  41  for a shaft pin  11  of the pivoting unit (not visible), projects at a right angle to the rear wall  40 . Adjacent is a curved slotted guide  49 , which likewise guides the pivoting unit  2 . A recess, which is used for the pin guide  42  of a filling indicator for the cloth T, may be seen in the upper region of the side panel  18 . Beside it is the above-mentioned tension spring  58  which is connected to the gripper rocker  55  by the tension-spring fastening  57 . 
     In addition, the guide groove  39  may be seen, which extends concentrically with respect to the central gearwheel (not visible here) and which is used for guiding a friction drive which is intended to wind up the used cloth T′; a guide groove  20  enlarged at the top is used to facilitate the insertion of the drive. 
     Further members, such as a guide groove  23  and a vertical groove  43  which opens into a linear set of teeth  44 , are intended for the parallel guidance of a fabric receptacle (likewise not shown here) in which the roll of clean cloth T is mounted vertically displaceably. 
     It is clearly evident from FIG. 10 that the compensator roller  50 , indicated in the rear position thereof, blocks the used cloth T′ on the path-limiting members  50 ′ and, in conjunction with the reversing roller  9  mounted in the pivoting unit  2 , cf. FIG. 1, prevents it from being withdrawn. This results in a so-called return lock 
     In this Figure one of the parallel guides  45  is also seen, having a parallel set of teeth  46  which is situated at the top and which guides the compensator roller  50  in an axially parallel manner into the front position as indicated in broken line. The oscillation path is also designated p in this case. A bearing pin  54 , which projects out of the front face of the compensator roller  50  and on which the traction cable  60  is suspended, FIG.  9  and FIG. 11, may likewise be seen. For the sake of completeness, part of the cover  25  with a bearing pin  24  for performing further functions is also indicated. 
     In FIG. 11, a simplified illustration of a control device is designated  100 , the corresponding coverings and protective covers as well as non-functional gearing parts having been removed. 
     The control and drive device  100  essentially comprises two units, a release and switching rocker  106  and a pivoting gearing mechanism  112 . The release and switching rocker  106  is mounted on a rotation shaft  107  and is arranged around two wheels  102  and  103  respectively. The front wheel  102  is a transmission gearwheel, whereas the rear, covered wheel  103  is the central gearwheel already described. A spiral spring  104 , which engages on the common shaft of the two wheels  102 ,  103  and is stressed in the anti-clockwise direction, is inserted in the interior of the transmission gearwheel  102 . The spiral spring  104  is situated in a housing, and its state of stressing can be monitored through two inspection windows  104 ′. 
     The rotation shaft  119 , see FIG. 12, of an ellipsoid gearwheel  105 , which engages its teeth Z on its larger axis with the gearwheel  102 , is situated on the release and switching rocker  106 . The rocker  106  is constructed in the form of a two-armed lever; the upper lever is designated  106   a  and the lower lever  106   b.  A time-function member  108 ,  109 , which acts upon a counter member  111  and which—as shown in FIG.  11 —is in the closed state c, is provided at the end of the upper lever  106   a.    
     After further turning of the gearwheel  102  the ellipsoid gearwheel  105  tilts by 90°; the release and switching rocker  106  remains in the engaged position until the interval determined by the time-function member  108 ,  109  has elapsed. 
     A pivoting gearing mechanism  112  likewise constructed in the form of a two-armed lever engages over the release and switching rocker  106 , and is mounted pivotably on a further rotation shaft  123  and engages with its upper lever part in the rear wheel—the central gearwheel  103 —by way of a spring member  115  and a gearwheel locking means  116 . The pivoting movement required accordingly takes place by way of a switching cam  110  attached to the lower lever  106   b.    
     The pivoting gearing mechanism  112  is caused to be restored by a spring  118 . Mutually engaging gearwheels are arranged on shafts  122 ,  113  and the rotation shaft  123 . 
     It is likewise seen that the ellipsoid gearwheel  105  also comprises, in addition to whole teeth Z, flattened teeth Z′ and two tooth gaps L. This is advisable in order to permit clear tilting by 90° in the direction of rotation of the gearwheel  105 . When the time-function member  108 ,  109  has reached the specified time, the upper lever  106   a  moves in the direction o, and this is assisted by a further spring  117 , a conventional helical spring. 
     FIG. 11 shows the gearing parts and levers which are advisable for the complete operation of the device  100  in the towel dispenser  1 . What is not shown are the necessary coverings and guiding members not essential for operation. 
     All the parts including supports, webs and engagement points  99  for coverings etc. are provided integrally on a mounting plate  98 . A return lock  130 , which engages in the transmission gearwheel  102  in the manner of a ratchet or passes thereover, is provided adjacent to the gearwheel  102 . 
     At the front a sensor  133  may be seen, which, stressed by a spring  134 , is pressed out of the front face of the mounting plate  98  and establishes the presence of a closed cover (not shown). When the cover is pivoted out or removed, the lever, likewise two-armed and guided on a pivot shaft  131 , moves forward with its sensor  133  and with a shifting projection  132  it presses the pivoting gearing mechanism  112  into its retracted position. In this position it stops the central gearwheel  103  by way of the spring  115  and the gearwheel locking means  116 , so as to block the entire towel dispenser. 
     The arrangement of the ellipsoid gearwheel  105  illustrates how the two leaf springs  121  rest only against the front faces of the flat part  120  in the position illustrated, so that a slight torque can tilt the gearwheel  105 . 
     The engagement of the switching cam  110  on the pivoting gearing mechanism  112  is likewise clearly evident, and also the support  99  at the front, which prevents the cam  110  from unintentional action. 
     In addition, it is possible to see transmission gearwheel  124 , which is present at the end of the delivery roller  37  and which engages in a small intermediate wheel  126  covered by a large intermediate wheel  127 , a coupling wheel  128 , a tensioning wheel  129  and a portioning wheel  137 , which is situated partly therebehind and on which is arranged the winding coil  61  with a spiral spring  63  arranged inside. The winding coil  61  uses the same shaft  141  as the portioning wheel  137 ; the inner coil of the spiral spring  63  acts against the latter and turns the winding coil  61  clockwise against a spring-loaded pin projecting out of the portioning wheel  137 . 
     The traction cable  60  which remains taut, leads from the winding coil  61 , spring-loaded thereby, to the compensator roller (not visible here) behind a covering  135 . A further lever  139 , which engages in a pawl (not visible), is situated in the rear lower part of the assembly plate  98 , the pawl being used for unlocking the compensator roller  50 , cf. FIG. 9, for its withdrawal by means of the spring-loaded traction cable  60 . 
     FIG. 12 shows all the gearwheels—with the exception of the central gearwheel  103  arranged behind the transmission gearwheel  102  with the same diameter—in engagement or in the possibilities of engagement thereof. 
     The lowest transmission gearwheel  124  is driven by the delivery roller  37  which rolls as the fabric is drawn out and which is mounted in the pivotable cover (not shown) and from which a torque is transmitted to an intermediate wheel  126  by way of the gear-wheel  124 . A large intermediate wheel  127  is arranged, connected on the same shaft  123 , in front of the said small intermediate wheel  126 . The said large intermediate wheel  127  drives a coupling wheel  128 , which in turn engages in a tensioning wheel  129 , on the shaft  122  of which a switching wheel  144  rotates jointly. 
     As shown in FIG. 12, the switching wheel  144  engages—after the gearing mechanism  112  has been pivoted by displacement of the switching cam  110 , FIG. 11, in the switching direction S indicated by an arrow—in the portioning wheel  137  and drives it, as far as permitted by an annular cloth-length limit TL. The cloth-length limit TL is constructed in the form of a raised groove with a sector angle of  330 , and the path is bounded by a stop pin  145  with an O-ring (not shown in detail) which is used for damping the stop. 
     The tensioning wheel  129  is continuously in engagement with the transmission gearwheel  102  since the pivoting gearing mechanism  112  undergoes only a small deviation and since, in addition, the rotation shaft  123  thereof is spaced at a relatively large distance from the gearwheel  102 , cf. FIG.  11 . 
     The shaft  113  of the coupling wheel  128  is likewise arranged on the pivoting lever  112 , so that it jointly rotates and changes the direction of rotation on the gearwheel  129 . 
     Every delivery of towel accordingly causes a rotation of the delivery roller  37  in the clockwise direction, as a result of which the spiral spring  104  is tensioned by an amount, cf. FIG. 11, until after about six deliveries of towel with the central gearwheel  103  likewise fixed on the shaft  101 , FIG. 11, the spiral spring  104  enters a rigid coupling in its clockwise direction of rotation. 
     The spring drive loaded in this way is used to draw in the end of the towel without a remainder when the entire roll of cloth has been used; it thus prevents an unhygienic multiple use of the towel. 
     With each rotation of the delivery roller  37 , a movement of the ellipsoid gearwheel  105  also therefore takes place, so that after a quarter rotation the said ellipsoid gearwheel  105  causes the iaihum deviation of the release and switching rocker  106  illustrated in FIG. 11 in the direction c and produces a vacuum in the springing hollow body  108  (a folding bellows). 
     Because of the torque transmitted by the gearwheel  102  the ellipsoid gearwheel  105  now receives an impulse, as a result of which it tilts through 90° as a result of the leaf springs  121 , cf. FIG. 11, and occupies again the position shown in FIG. 12, but is not yet in the engagement shown there with the gearwheel  102 . 
     After air has arrived in the hollow body  108  by way of the throttle  109 , the said hollow body  108  is detached from its counter member  111 ; the lever  106   a  moves in the direction o; the ellipsoid gearwheel  105  engages with the flattened teeth Z′ thereof in the gearwheel  102 , so that the starting position is re-established. 
     The foregoing illustrates and explains the simple and reproducing initiation of the time-function member and the basic movement patterns of the control device. 
     In addition, the intermediate wheel  126 —shown covered—contains an annular slip clutch  146  (also called a catch clutch) known per se with cams (not shown in detail) which prevents damage in the dispenser or to the towel in the event of excessive pulling on the towel. 
     The portioning wheel  137  is provided with a so-called spring-in point  143 , i.e. a springing member in the toothed rim which allows the tensioning wheel  129  to lock in even if the teeth of the two gearwheels  144  and  137  happen to be opposite one another. The locking-in always takes place in the same region of the portioning wheel  137 , so that this step also serves to reduce wear. 
     If the portioning wheel  137  is considered in greater detail, as in FIG. 12, it is possible to explain the portioning, i.e. the delivery of a maximum portion of cloth: 
     The path limit TL allows only one rotation of the portioning wheel  137  by the path set; when the switching wheel  144  is locked in, the resulting rotational movement is consequently reduced to this amount. 
     At the same time, however, the rolling path of the towel is also reduced on the delivery roller  37 , since the blocking of the portioning gearwheel  137  on the stop pin  145  also acts upon the said roller. 
     It can be seen that, by inserting intermediate members in the cloth-length limit TL or by a second or displaceable stop similar to the pin  145 , the maximum delivery of clean cloth can be adjusted from the current 32 cm, ie. it can be shortened. 
     The winding coil  61 , which is used for drawing in the traction cable  60  illustrated in FIG. 9, is also mounted on the portioning wheel; in this case a spiral spring designated  63 , which acts upon the traction cable  60 , is likewise evident. 
     In addition, a further locking lever  138  may be seen which is engaged by the closed cover  25  and which engages in the pivoting unit  2  situated behind the mounting plate  98  and fixes the said pivoting unit  2  in the operating position or releases it when opening the cover  25 . 
     If a towel delivery is now made—and thus an actuation of the control device—the locking lever  139 , at the bottom in FIG. 11, is lifted by the rear end of the lever on the pivoting gearing mechanism  112 . In this way, the compensator roller present behind the cover  135  and having the already used cloth wound therearound is unlocked; it is activated by the cable line  60  and moves in the direction −p, FIG. 2; this allows the formation of a loop for drying the hands in a convenient and hygienic manner, without considerable quantities of unused cloth having to be expended. 
     The time-function member  8 ,  9  can likewise be “programmed”, in that the porosity of the throttle  109  can be selected in accordance with the desired dropping time of the hollow body  108 . A hollow body  108  comprising a folding bellows produces an adequate retaining force by virtue of its springing-in behaviour. It also allows long switching paths and because of its relatively large volume of air it can be returned in a precise and reproducible manner from the temporary vacuum to atmospheric pressure by way of the throttle  109 . 
     LIST OF REFERENCES 
       1  towel dispenser 
       2  pivoting unit 
       3  shell-shaped guiding and gripping recesses 
       4  deflecting roller on  2   
       5  winding roller 
       5 ′ clamping spring in  5   
       5 ″ bearing pin of  5   
       6  friction roller 
       7  to  9  further deflecting rollers 
       10  recess for compensator roller 
       11  shaft pin of  2  (rotation shafts) 
       12  shaft pin of  6   
       13  guide groove for  6  (horizontal guide) 
       14  friction face (nubs) 
       15  fabric rentable for T (T=cloth) 
       15 ′ lateral flange of  15   
       16  guide pin on  15   
       17  trough for T 
       18  side panel (on the right) 
       19  side panel (on the left) 
       20  enlarged guide groove for  12   
       21  housing/covering for  103   
       22  gearing mechanism for friction drive 
       22 ′ transmission gearwheel/drive of  6   
       23  guide groove for  16   
       24  bearing pin 
       25  cover (covering) 
       26  sliding cam 
       27  slide 
       28  guide strips on  27   
       29  sliding faces 
       30  pawl-like cam (fixed) 
       31  lifting cam on  27   
       32  projection on  15  (counter cam) 
       33  locking pawl 
       34  bearing pin 
       35  projection/shoulder 
       36  restoring spring (catching) 
       37  delivery roller 
       38  insertion point (bearing) for  5 ″ 
       39  concentric guide groove 
       40  rear-wall appliance housing 
       41  guiding and bearing point for  11   
       42  pin guide for pivoting lever—filing display 
       42 ′ bearing for pivoting lever—filling display 
       43  vertical groove 
       44  linear set of teeth (toothed racks) 
       45  parallel guide for  50   
       46  parallel set of teeth 
       47  pivoting lever 
       48  double pin (opposed shaft stubs) 
       49  slotted guide (cam) 
       50  compensator roller 
       50 ′ spring stops for  50 /path-limiting members 
       51  notches 
       52  gearwheels (parallel guide) 
       53  lateral guide (flange) 
       54  bearing pin 
       55  gripper rocker 
       56  gripper/recess 
       57  tensile-spring fastening 
       58  tensile spring 
       59  entrainment pin 
       60  traction cable 
       60 ′ cable roll 
       61  winding coil 
       62  bore in  61   
       63  spiral spring (integrated drive) 
       64  bearing pin of  55   
       65  path limitation—filling display 
       70  pivoting lever 
       71  straight slotted gmde 
       98  mounting plate/switching plate 
       99  sockets, webs, engagement points 
       100  control and drive device (without covering) 
       101  common shaft for wheels  2 ;  3   
       102  front wheel (transmission gearwheel) 
       103  rear wheel (central gearwheel) 
       104  spiral spring 
       104 ′ inspection window 
       105  ellipsoid gearwheel 
       106  release and switching rocker 
       106   a  upper lever of  106   
       106   b  lower lever of  106   
       107  rotation shaft of  106   
       108 ;  109  time-function member 
       108  resilient hollow body 
       109  throttle (air) 
       110  switching cam 
       111  counter member to  108   
       112  pivoting gearing mechanism 
       113  shaft pin of  128   
       115  spring member 
       116  gearwheel locking means 
       117 ;  118  springs, helical springs (tensile springs) 
       119  rotation shaft of  105   
       120  flat part 
       121  leaf springs 
       122  shaft pin/shaft of  129  and  144   
       123  rotation shaft of  112 ; shaft pin of  126  and  127   
       124  transmission gearwheel 
       126  intermediate wheel (small) 
       127  intermediate wheel (large) 
       128  coupling wheel 
       129  tensioning wheel 
       130  return lock 
       131  pivot shaft 
       132  shifting projection 
       133  sensor (cover) 
       134  engagement spring 
       135  covering for compensator roller 
       137  portioning wheel 
       138  locking lever—pivoting unit 
       139  locking lever (pawl) 
       140  shaft of  40   
       143  sprnging-in point 
       144  shifting wheel 
       145  stop pin (sprung with bring) 
       146  slip clutch 
     A rolling direction of T cloth movement 
     B user 
     C closing (close)/vacuum 
     H lifting direction 
     HB hands of the user 
     M mounting face (to wall) 
     o opening direction (open) 
     p oscillating directions 
     S switching direction 
     T towel/roll (clean) 
     T′ towel/roll (used) 
     V vertical 
     W winding direction of T′ 
     Z complete teeth 
     Z′ flattened teeth 
     L tooth gaps