Computerized linens management system for hotels and similar institutions
First Claim
1. A system for keeping track of the location and quantity of linen items used by and laundered for hotels, hospitals and other facilities having multiple rooms in which linen items of different types are used and require laundering in a laundering process, said system comprising:
- multiple containers, one container for each of said rooms, each container for receiving soiled linen items placed therein from a respective room when the room is made up by a room attendant;
multiple linen control lists, one control list for each of said rooms, each control list for receiving indicia recorded thereon by a room attendant when making up the room, said indicia representing the quantity of each type of soiled linen item placed in the room container by the room attendant and the quantity of each type of linen item missing from the room being made up, wherein each linen control list when placed in or secured to a respective container indicates the quantity and type of soiled linen items disposed in the container and linen items missing from the room being made up;
plural intermediate linen storage locations, each for storing clean linen items to be used by room attendants in making up a respective group of said rooms;
a central storage linen location for receiving laundered linen items and storing linen items for distribution to said intermediate linen storage locations;
a computer including data storage means for storing information representing the quantity of each type of said linen items in each of plural locations including said intermediate linen storage locations, said central linen storage location, in the laundering process, and said rooms; and
data entry means for updating said information in said data storage means with the quantity of soiled and missing linen items from each room as recorded on said linen control lists, and upon transport of linen items fro one of said locations to another.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a computerized linens management system for a hotel, room attendants place soiled linens in bags identified with corresponding room numbers. All soiled items placed in each room bag and all linen items missing from the room are recorded on a ticket placed in or affixed to the bag. The soiled and listed items are entered into the computer, room by room, permitting the computer, on command, to provide a laundry shipping list and a replenishment list showing linen replenishment requirements for linen closets serving specified rooms. Daily entry of room occupancy status, updated as each room is made up, permits the computer to provide a list of current make-up status of all rooms as well as individual room assignment lists for respective room attendants. Clean linen items returned from the laundry are counted and the count information is also entered into the computer to permit a comparison with the corresponding previous shipping list so as to determine shortages and overages. Complete linens inventory, repurchase orders and cost information is also available from the computer on command.
23 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for keeping track of the location and quantity of linen items used by and laundered for hotels, hospitals and other facilities having multiple rooms in which linen items of different types are used and require laundering in a laundering process, said system comprising:
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multiple containers, one container for each of said rooms, each container for receiving soiled linen items placed therein from a respective room when the room is made up by a room attendant; multiple linen control lists, one control list for each of said rooms, each control list for receiving indicia recorded thereon by a room attendant when making up the room, said indicia representing the quantity of each type of soiled linen item placed in the room container by the room attendant and the quantity of each type of linen item missing from the room being made up, wherein each linen control list when placed in or secured to a respective container indicates the quantity and type of soiled linen items disposed in the container and linen items missing from the room being made up; plural intermediate linen storage locations, each for storing clean linen items to be used by room attendants in making up a respective group of said rooms; a central storage linen location for receiving laundered linen items and storing linen items for distribution to said intermediate linen storage locations; a computer including data storage means for storing information representing the quantity of each type of said linen items in each of plural locations including said intermediate linen storage locations, said central linen storage location, in the laundering process, and said rooms; and data entry means for updating said information in said data storage means with the quantity of soiled and missing linen items from each room as recorded on said linen control lists, and upon transport of linen items fro one of said locations to another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computerized method for keeping track of the quantity and location of linen items of different types in hotels and institutions having multiple rooms wherein soiled linen items are periodically taken to a laundry and replaced with clean linen items taken from plural intermediate linen storage locations serving respective groups of said rooms, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) as part of the room make-up procedure, disposing soiled linen items found in said rooms in respective room containers identified by room number and recording an indication of each soiled linen item placed therein; (b) when noting during the room make-up procedure that linen items are missing, recording an indication of each missing linen item; (c) as part of the room make-up procedure, replacing soiled linen items with clean linen items obtained from the intermediate linen storage location serving that room; (d) entering into a computer, by room, the total quantity of soiled linen items of each type indicated in step (a); (e) entering into said computer, by room, the total number of linen items missing from each room as indicated in step (b); (f) generating with said computer a list of the total of soiled linen items of each type to be laundered; (g) for each intermediate storage location, computing the total of both soiled and missing linen items of each type entered into the computer in steps (d) and (e) for each group of rooms served by each respective storage location; and (h) using the total computed in step (g) to provide a distribution list of the total of linen items of each type that must be replaced at each intermediate storage location. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for keeping track of the location and quantity of linen items used by and laundered for hotels and facilities having multiple rooms in which linen items are used and require laundering in a laundering process, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing in a computer a rooms status list of all of said rooms, said list indicating for each room the room type and occupancy status; (b) at the beginning of each day, updating in the computer said rooms status list by selecting for cleaning that day rooms having an on change status indicating rooms that were occupied the previous night; (c) entering for each of said rooms having an on change status in the updated rooms status list an identification code for a room attendant assigned to clean said each room having an on change status; (d) from the information entered in step (c); (d.1) generating in said computer a plurality of room attendant assignment lists, one assignment list for each room attendant, indicating all of the rooms assigned for cleaning by that attendant; and (d.2) generating a list of all rooms having an on change status; (e) as part of cleaning of each room by a room attendant, placing all soiled linen items from that room in a container for that room, there being one such container for each room; (f) recording on a control list for each room as the room is being cleaned the quantity of each type of soiled linen item placed in the room container and the quantity of each type of linen item missing from the room; (g) placing the control list for each room in or on the room in or on the room container; (h) collecting all of the room containers and removing the control lists therefrom; (i) entering into said computer the quantities of soiled and missing linen items recorded on said control lists on a room by room basis; (j) in response to entry of soiled linen item quantities for each room in step (i), deleting that room from said list of all rooms having an on change status. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification