Patent ID: 8424431

Claim:
Apparatus for dispensing paper toweling from a roll of paper toweling, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a dispenser housing defining an interior and a paper toweling exit opening in communication with said housing interior; a rotatable, elongated toweling support drum within said housing interior for receiving and supporting paper toweling extending from a roll of paper toweling in said housing interior and for transporting said paper toweling toward said toweling exit opening upon rotation of the toweling support drum about an axis of rotation; a spring having first and second spring ends, said first spring end connected to an end of said toweling support drum at a location offset from the axis of rotation of said toweling support drum; and a spring mount within said dispenser housing movable relative to said toweling support drum along a predetermined path of movement, said second spring end attached to said spring mount, said spring exerting variable tensional forces on said toweling support drum alternatively either resisting rotational movement of said toweling support drum or promoting rotational movement of said toweling support drum, said spring mount movable relative to said toweling support drum along said predetermined path of movement responsive to rotational movement of said toweling support drum.