Abstract: Towel dispensing apparatus (12) comprises a cabinet (10) to house a roll of clean towelling (14), and a take-up roller (36) in cabinet (10) and onto which the towelling is progressively wound during use of the apparatus. Dispensing of the towelling is controlled by a roller mechanism comprising first and second main towel rollers (28, 40). Each of the main towel rollers comprises a tubular body portion (70) end supports (72, 74) and towel-engageable bands (76, 78) providing a friction surface for gripping engagement with a towel to be dispensed. Bands (76, 78) are of natural rubber and mechanically keyed to roller body portion (70). End supports (72, 74) are one-piece plastic mouldings bonded or welded to the plastics material of body portion (70), thereby providing a greatly simplified structure.

Abstract: A towel dispensing apparatus comprises an electrically-operated towel winding mechanism for winding-up the tail end of a used towel. The towel winding mechanism comprises a battery operated electric motor coupled to a towel winding roller. A limiting mechanism which limits the length of towel dispensed during use of the apparatus is disabled during tail end wind-up by a solenoid-operated disabling member. The motor and solenoid are energized when pressure switches detect passage out of the cabinet of the towel end. The disabling mechanism can operate only after withdrawal of the towel end from the cabinet.