Towel cabinet replenishment indication and identification system

• US 4,999,611 A
• Filed: 03/04/1988
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William Zehnder Jr
• Original Assignee: William Zehnder Jr
• Inventors: Zehnder, William Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mullen, Jr., Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US07/164,186
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568, 340/675, 340/525, 340/524, 200/61.13-61.18, 312/38, 242/55.53, 242/186
• US Class Current: 340/675
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/28 dispensing a clean part and taking-up a soiled part, e.g. using rolls; with dispensers for soap or other detergents; with disinfecting or heating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture

Abstract

The system indicates which of a plurality of dispersed towel cabinets in a building have their clean towel webs soiled, and require towel roll replacement. A clean toweling supply roller system is mounted within each of the cabinets for web unwinding rotary travel, and a used toweling wind-up roller system is also mounted within each of the cabinets for rewinding the soiled web as it is used. The supply roller system in each cabinet includes an axially extending dispensing roller with an electrically conductive, annular strip on its peripheral face, and a matching strip is provided on a second member which is normally separated from the strip on the roller by the web, and which, when the terminal end of the towel web is withdrawn, electrically engages therewith. A multiple indicator system is electrically connected with the respective strips in each cabinet, and is energized by the electrical engagement of the matching strips in a given cabinet to activate an indicator which identifies which cabinet requires towel replenishment.

Claims

1. A method of indicating which of a plurality of widely dispersed towel cabinets in a building have their clean toweling web completely soiled and require clean towel roll replacement, the cabinets each having a used toweling wind-up roller system within each cabinet for rewinding the soiled web therein, and a clean toweling supply roller system mounted within each of said cabinets for web unwinding, rotary travel, the supply roller system in each cabinet including an axially extending, electrically non-conductive roller and a second axially extending member normally separated from the roller by the web, comprising the steps of:

a. mounting an electrically conductive strip on the peripheral face of the roller curved to the configuration of the face;

b. mounting an electrically conductive strip on the said second member in confronting relation with the strip on said roller and adapted to electrically engage with the strip on the said roller when the terminal end of the towel web is withdrawn from between the roller and member; and

c. electrically connecting the respective strips in each cabinet with a separately identified indicator such that the indicator is energized by the electrical engagement of the respective strips in a given cabinet when a given towel web terminal end is withdrawn from between them and a particular cabinet is identified for replenishment of the toweling supply.

2. A system for indicating that the supply of toweling in one of a plurality of towel cabinets has been soiled and requires replacement comprising:

a. a plurality of cabinets having elongate toweling dispensing slotted openings from which towel webs may be dispensed, and return openings through which the webs may be returned to the cabinets, the webs normally depending from the cabinets in loops which are accessible to the hands of users;

b. a roller system having a clean toweling web wound thereon mounted within each of said cabinets for web unwinding rotary travel in which the web is dispensed out said slotted opening;

c. a used toweling wind-up roller mounted within each cabinet to receive the web from said roller system;

d. means for driving the wind-up roller in each cabinet in a direction to pull the soiled web through said return openings and wind them on the wind-up roller;

e. said roller system in each cabinet including an axially extending roller with an electrically conductive substantially peripherally continuous strip on its peripheral face curved to the configuration of said face and removed from the wind-up roller, and a second axially extending member, movably supported by each cabinet adjacent and axially paralleling each said roller system roller and normally biased to engage said strip, normally separated from said strip by the unwinding portion of said web, said member having a pair of electrically conductive strips fixed in axially co-planar relative reaction thereon in confronting relation with said strip on said roller system roller and adapted to electrically engage with said strip on the said roller system roller when the terminal end of the towel web is withdrawn from between said roller system roller and member;

f. and a multiple indicator system electrically connected with the respective strips in each cabinet energized by the electrical engagement of the respective strips in a given cabinet when a given towel web terminal end is withdrawn from between them, said indicator system having means adapted to connect to a power source and means for identifying which cabinet has strips in electrically conducting engagement.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said indicating system comprises a bank of separate lamps, each of which is identified as associated with a particular cabinet.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said strip on the roller system roller is annular, and a pair of axially electrically separated strips are provided on said member in confronting relation with the annular strip to provide a series circuit therewith when the web is withdrawn from between them.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein a take-up roller having a rough surfaced periphery, is provided adjacent the wind-up roller on which the soiled web is wound;

and means is provided mounting the wind-up roller for vertical travel as the diameter of the soiled web on the wind-up roller increases.

6. A method of indicating which of a plurality of widely dispersed towel cabinets in a building have their clean toweling webs soiled and require clean towel roll replacement, the cabinets each having a used toweling wind-up roller within each cabinet for rewinding the soiled web therein, a roller system with a web supply thereon mounted within each of said cabinets for web unwinding travel, and means for driving the wind-up roller in each cabinet in a direction to rewind the web thereon, the roller system in each cabinet including an axially extending, electrically non-conductive roller remote from said wind-up roller and a second axially parallel member, mounted within each cabinet adjacent and axially parallel to each said roller system roller and normally biased to engage said strip, normally separated form the roller system roller by the web, comprising the steps of:

a. mounting an electrically conductive first strip on the peripheral face of the roller system roller curved to the configuration of the face;

b. mounting an electrically conductive strip curved generally to the configuration of said first strip on the said second member in confronting relation with the strip on said roller system roller and adapted to electrically engage with the strip on the said roller system roller when the terminal end of the towel web is withdrawn from between the said roller system roller and member; and

c. electrically connecting the respective strips in each cabinet with a separately identified indicator such that the indicator is energized by the electrical engagement of the respective strips in a given cabinet when a given towel web terminal end is withdrawn from between the and a particular cabinet is identified for replenishment of the toweling supply.

7. A method of indicating that a towel cabinet in a building has its clean toweling web soiled and requires clean towel roll replacement, the cabinet having a used toweling wind-up roller within the cabinet for rewinding the soiled web thereon and means for moving the wind-up roller in a rewinding direction of travel, and a roller system mounted within the cabinet for web unwinding, rotary travel;

the roller system including an axially extending roller parallel to the wind-up roller, and an axially extending member in said cabinet engaged by the web in its travel between said roller comprising the steps of;

a. providing an electrically conductive surface on said member remote from said wind-up roller;

b. providing an electrically conductive surface within the cabinet in confronting relation with the surface on said member biased to electrically engage with the surface on the said member when the terminal end of the towel web is withdrawn from a position of engagement with the member; and

c. electrically connecting the respective surfaces with an indicator such that the indicator is energized by the electrical engagement of the respective surfaces when the towel web terminal end is withdrawn from engagement with said member and said cabinet is identified for replenishment of the clean toweling supply.

8. A towel cabinet indicating and identifying system for indicating that the supply of toweling in a cabinet has been soiled and requires replacement comprising:

a. a cabinet having an elongate toweling dispensing slotted opening from which a towel web may be dispensed, and a return opening through which the web may be returned to the cabinet, the web normally depending form the cabinet in a loop which is accessible to the hands of users;

b. a roller system mounted within said cabinet for rotary travel;

c. a used toweling wind-up roller within said cabinet for receiving the soiled web and means for moving the wind-up roller in a rewinding direction of travel;

d. said roller system including an axially extending supply roller from which the web is dispensed parallel to the wind-up roller;

e. an axially extending member in the cabinet engaged by the web in its travel between said rollers, said member having a first electrically conductive surface thereon remote from said wind-up roller;

f. a second electrically conductive surface mounted within said cabinet in confronting relation with the said surface on said member to electrically engage with the said surface on the member when the terminal end of the towel is withdrawn from a position of engagement with the member; and

g. an indicator system electrically connected with the respective electrically conductive first and second surfaces in the cabinet energized by the electrical engagement of the respective first and second surfaces when a given towel web terminal end is withdrawn from between them, said indicator system having means adapted to connect to an electrical power source.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said roller system includes a second axially extending roller and said second surface comprises a strip on its peripheral face.