Patent ID: 7322541

Claim:
An apparatus for dispensing elongated material from a roll of material supported on a rotatable spindle, comprising: a tension-control mechanism for defining the path of the material being dispensed from the roll, the tension-control mechanism being movable in a first direction in response to an increase in tension in the material being dispensed; at least one pulley; an elongated elastic member reeved around the pulley and having a first end coupled to the tension-control mechanism and a second end secured at a position spaced from the pulley, the elastic member providing a biasing force for urging the tension-control mechanism in a second direction whenever there is a decrease in tension in the material being dispensed; and a brake for applying a braking force to the spindle, the brake being operatively coupled to the elastic member such that the brake increases the braking force on the spindle whenever there is a decrease in tension in the material being dispensed and decreases the braking force on the spindle whenever there is an increase in tension in the material being dispensed, wherein the brake does not include said pulley.