Dispenser apparatus with transfer mechanism

In apparatus for dispensing a web first from a primary roll and, upon depletion thereof, from a secondary roll, the apparatus of the type including a frame, drive and tension rollers which are rotatably mounted to the frame, extend across substantially the width of the web and form a nip therebetween through which the web is fed, and apparatus for sensing the decreasing diameter of the primary roll and transferring the secondary roll web into the nip, the improvement in said sensing/transferring apparatus comprising:

• a one-piece transfer arm mounted for movement on the frame between a ready position and a transfer position and biased toward the transfer position;
• a first transfer roller rotatably secured with respect to the transfer arm and extending partially across the tension roller in position to engage a limited portion of the width of the secondary roll web and to urge such limited-width portion against the tension roller when the transfer arm is in the transfer position;
• a second transfer roller rotatably secured with respect to the transfer arm and extending partially across the drive roller in position to engage the limited-width portion of the secondary roll web and to urge such portion against the drive roller when the transfer arm is in the transfer position;
• and
• a sensing member secured with respect to the transfer arm in position to contact the primary roll and to hold the transfer arm away from the transfer position until the diminishing diameter of the primary roll allows the transfer arm to move into the transfer position.