Abstract: A device has a pivoted lever for detecting a near end state of a roll of paper, and the lever is held at a first position by the weight of a roll of paper, but is resiliently biased toward a second position by a spring. When the roll of paper does not have a core, and when the weight thereof falls to a predetermined value, the lever is moved from the first position to the second position due to a resilient force of the spring. When the roll of paper has a core, and when a diameter thereof is reduced to a predetermined value, the lever receives the roll of paper in a recess formed therein, and is moved from the first position to the second position due to a resilient force of the spring. When the lever is moved to the second position, this is detected by a suitable detecting element. Thus, the detector can detect the near end state of the roll of paper without regard to whether the roll of paper has a core or not.