Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
  • A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
  • A47K10/24—Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
  • A47K10/28—Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven 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
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
  • A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
  • A47K10/24—Towel dispensers, e.g. for piled-up or folded textile towels; Toilet paper dispensers; Dispensers for piled-up or folded textile towels provided or not with devices for taking-up soiled towels as far as not mechanically driven
  • A47K10/32—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet paper
  • A47K10/34—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means
  • A47K10/36—Dispensers for paper towels or toilet paper dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means with mechanical dispensing, roll switching or cutting devices
  • A47K2010/3675—Braking devices

Definitions

• the present invention concerns a towel dispenser for manual dispensing and motorized winding of a reusable towel, as defined in claim 1.
• the invention also concerns a method of operating such a towel dispenser.
• Towel dispensers for dispensing washable and reusable towel provide a hygienic and an environmentally friendly solution for hand hygiene in public re-strooms.
• Towel dispensers can be divided into manual and electrical towel dispensers.
• Manual dispensers typically comprise a mechanical winding mechanism for collecting the used towel onto a roll of used towel.
• Electrical dispensers comprise a dispensing motor for dispensing a predetermined amount of towel. The same or a separate motor is used for winding the used towel.
• Electrical dispensers typically comprise a sensor for detecting the presence of a user and for activating the dispensing motor, allowing thus a touch-free operation.
• Manual dispensers can be relatively difficult for some users, such as young children and elderly adults, to use. For some users, these manual or mechanical dispensers present an inordinate amount of resistance to pulling a portion of the towel from the dispenser. This may be particularly true when the initial pulling action by the user also provides the force needed to load the potential energy spring of an automatic winding mechanism.
• a significant drawback of electrical towel dispensers is that a lot of electrical power is needed for dispensing the towel due to friction forces and also due to the power needed to overcome the inertia of the roll of web material at rest. Also, dispensers having a sensor to detect motion of a user's hands or arms also require that the sensor is constantly powered, which creates a constant drain of the power supply. Due to the high energy demand of electrical towel dispensers, the battery life of electrical dispensers is often short, resulting in frequent battery replacement and maintenance. A dispenser running out of battery also causes harm to the users, if the dispenser cannot be operated manually. Other drawbacks of electrical towel dispensers with sensors include false triggers causing unintentional dispensing of the towel.
• An object of the invention is to provide an improved towel dispenser. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of operating a towel dispenser.
• the towel dispenser according to the invention is configured for manual dispensing and motorized winding of a reusable towel and comprises
• the control means are configured to operate the braking motor to brake the braking roller to control the amount of towel dispensed by said manual pulling operation, and to operate the winding motor to collect the soiled towel onto the collecting reel.
• the towel dispenser according to the invention combines the benefits of electrical and manual towel dispensers. Due to the manual dispensing of the towel, the energy consumption of the towel dispenser is much lower than in electrical towel dispenser with motorized dispensing. If the towel dispenser is battery-powered, the battery life time is increased and the need for maintenance of the towel dispenser is reduced. Also, unintentional dispensing of the towel is avoided.
• the motorized winding of the soiled towel allows making the mechanical construction of the towel dispenser simple, and as the winding operation does not need to be powered by the manual pulling operation, the pulling of the towel does not require significant effort from the users.
• the braking motor is arranged in force transmission connection with the braking roller via gear transmission. This allows efficient use of space and selection of a suitable transmission ratio.
• the first roll holding means comprise a trough for supporting the roll of clean towel.
• the clean towel does thus not need to be provided with a core, which facilitates replacing of towels.
• the towel dispenser is configured such that the towel is in contact with the braking roller over an angle of at least 60 degrees along the perimeter of the braking roller, preferably over an angle of at least 120 degrees.
• a large contact surface between the braking roller and towel ensures effective braking of the towel.
• the towel dispenser comprises pressing means configured to press the towel against the braking roller.
• the pressing means increase the friction between the towel and the braking roller and ensure effective braking of the towel.
• the braking roller is provided with a roughened surface. Also the roughened surface increases the friction between the towel and the braking roller.
• the monitoring means comprise a rotary encoder.
• a rotary encoder allows simple and reliable monitoring of the amount of dispensed towel.
• pulling of the towel is configured to trigger a first predetermined waiting period
• the control means are configured to start winding of the soiled towel by the winding motor onto the collecting reel when said predetermined first waiting period has lapsed.
• the first waiting period allows the towel to hang freely to give the users of the towel dispenser time to towel their hands.
• control means are configured to operate the winding motor until the resisting force caused by the towel exceeds a predetermined threshold. By monitoring the resisting force caused by the towel, it can be ensured that the soiled towel is properly wound onto the collecting reel.
• control means are configured to continue the operation of the winding motor after a second predetermined waiting period, if the resisting force caused by the towel has exceeded said predetermined threshold within a predetermined period of time. Rapid increasing of the resisting force may indicate that the user is still holding the towel, and by continuing the operation of the winding motor after a second waiting period, it is ensured that the soiled towel is properly wound onto the collecting reel.
• control means are configured to continue the operation of the winding motor after a third predetermined waiting period, if the resisting force caused by the towel has exceeded said predetermined threshold within a predetermined period of time during the continued operation of the winding motor.
• the third predetermined waiting period is longer than the second predetermined waiting period. The third waiting period and continued operation of the winding motor form an additional safeguard to ensure proper winding of the soiled towel.
• control means are configured to terminate the operation of the winding motor if the resisting force caused by the towel does not exceed the predetermined threshold within a predetermined period of time.
• a small resisting force may indicate that the clean towel has been used up.
• control means are configured to supply a current pulse to the winding motor after collecting the soiled towel onto the collecting reel to tighten the towel. This ensures sufficient tightening of the towel.
• the resisting force caused by the towel is determined by monitoring the electrical current drawn by the winding motor or by monitoring the counter-electromotive force of the winding motor. This allows using the data received from the control means of the motor to monitor the winding operation.
• the braking motor is configured to function as a generator during dispensing of the towel and the towel dispenser comprises energy storage means for storing the electrical energy generated by the braking motor.
• the energy storage means comprise a battery and/or a capacitor.
• the energy storage means are configured to supply electrical energy to control electronics of the towel dispenser and/or to the winding motor.
• the towel dispenser comprises telecommunication means for transmitting and/or receiving data.
• the telecommunication means can be used, for example, for collecting data on the usage of the towel dispenser or need for maintenance.
• the winding motor is arranged in force transmission connection with the collecting reel via gear transmission.
• the method of operating a towel dispenser defined above comprises the steps of
• the method comprises the steps of detecting completed winding of the soiled towel onto the collecting reel and terminating the operation of the winding motor upon detection of completed winding.
• completed winding of the soiled towel is detected by monitoring the resisting force caused by the towel.
• the method comprises the step of terminating the operation of the winding motor in case completed winding is not detected within a predetermined period of time.
• the figures show a towel dispenser according to an embodiment of the invention.
• the towel dispenser is configured for a reusable towel.
• the towel can be removed from the towel dispenser after use, washed, and used again.
• the towel can be made of a suitable woven or non-woven fabric.
• the towel dispenser is configured for partly manual and partly automated operation. The dispensing of the towel is manual, but the winding of the towel is motorized.
• the towel dispenser comprises a housing 1.
• the housing 1 can comprise a frame and cover parts for covering the internal parts of the towel dispenser.
• the frame and the cover parts can be made of, for instance, suitable plastic, metal and/or composite materials.
• the towel dispenser comprises first roll holding means 18 that are configured to support a roll of clean towel 2.
• the first roll holding means 18 are configured to allow a user of the towel dispenser to dispense towel from the roll of clean towel 2 by a manual pulling operation.
• the roll of clean towel 2 can be freely rotated in the first roll holding means 18.
• the first roll holding means 18 are arranged in an upper part of the towel dispenser.
• the first roll holding means 18 comprise a trough for receiving the roll of clean towel 2.
• the roll of clean towel 2 is supported directly on the trough 18.
• the trough 18 does not limit the rotation of the roll but the roll can be freely rotated in the trough 18.
• the roll does not need to be provided with any core, but the roll of clean towel 2 can consist of the plain towel.
• the towel dispenser comprises means 11 for monitoring the amount of towel 19 dispensed by the manual pulling operation.
• the towel dispenser further comprises second roll holding means 4, 5 that are configured to rotatably support a collecting reel 6 for collecting soiled towel.
• the second roll holding means 4, 5 comprise slots on two opposite sides of the housing 1. The ends of the collecting reel 6 are configured to be inserted into the slots 4, 5 of the housing 1.
• the towel dispenser comprises an electrical winding motor 7 that is configured to allow rotating of the collecting reel 6 to wind the soiled towel onto the collecting reel 6.
• the towel dispenser further comprises a braking roller 8 for braking the dispensed towel.
• the braking roller 8 is arranged such that the dispensed towel runs from the roll of clean towel 2 to the collecting reel 6 over the braking roller 8.
• the towel dispenser is provided with an electrical braking motor 3 that is arranged in force transmission connection with the braking roller 8 to allow braking of the braking roller 8 to control the amount of dispensed towel 19.
• the towel dispenser comprises control means 15 operatively connected to the monitoring means 11, the braking motor 3 and the winding motor 7.
• the control means 15 are configured to operate the braking motor 3 to brake the braking roller 8 to control the amount of towel 19 dispensed by the manual pulling operation, and to operate the winding motor 7 to collect the soiled towel onto the collecting reel 6.
• the roll of clean towel 2 is placed into the trough 18.
• One end of the clean towel is then pulled from the roll over the braking roller 8 and attached to the collecting reel 6.
• the collecting reel 6 comprises an attachment rail 6A for attaching the towel reliably to the collecting reel 6. After attaching the towel 19 to the collecting reel 6, the housing 1 of the towel dispenser can be closed.
• the user of the towel dispenser grabs the towel 19 that is visible in the lower part of the towel dispenser and pulls the towel downwards.
• the movement of the towel 19 rotates the braking roller 8.
• the braking roller 8 is coupled via a gearwheel 10 to a rotary encoder 11.
• the rotary encoder 11 functions as the means for monitoring the amount of the dispensed towel.
• the rotary encoder 11 is connected to control means 15 of the towel dispenser.
• the control means 15 can comprise an electronic control unit. When a predetermined amount of clean towel 19 has been pulled from the roll of clean towel 2, the control means 15 give a braking command to the braking motor 3.
• the predetermined amount of towel can be, for instance, 25-40 cm.
• the braking motor 3 is coupled to the braking roller 8 via gear transmission 9, 10. In a braking mode, the braking motor 3 brakes the braking roller 8 such that the force resisting the rotation of the braking roller 8 is significantly increased.
• the outer surface of the braking roller 8 is configured to have high friction against the towel.
• the user may be able to pull the towel 19 such that the braking roller 8 is rotated and/or the towel slides relative to the surface of the braking roller 8.
• the force needed to pull the towel 19 is significantly increased such that in the normal use of the towel dispenser the user stops pulling the towel 19.
• Pulling of the towel 19 is configured to trigger a first predetermined waiting period.
• the first waiting period is configured to give the users time to towel their hands.
• the first waiting period can be triggered by the start of the pulling of the towel, the end of the pulling or by a certain amount of the pulling.
• the first waiting period can be, for instance, 4-10 seconds.
• the control means 15 are configured to start winding of the soiled towel by the winding motor 7 onto the collecting reel 6.
• control means 15 are configured to operate the winding motor 7 until the resisting force caused by the towel 19 exceeds a predetermined threshold. Increasing of the resisting force is an indication that all the soiled towel has been winded onto the collecting reel 6.
• the resisting force caused by the towel can be determined, for instance, by monitoring the electrical current drawn by the winding motor 7 or by monitoring the counter-electromotive force of the winding motor 7.
• the control means 15 can be configured to continue the operation of the winding motor 7 after a second predetermined waiting period.
• the predetermined period of time can be, for instance, 0.2-0.5 seconds.
• the second predetermined waiting period can be, for instance, 0.5-5 seconds.
• the second predetermined period could be even shorter, for example 0.5-1.5 seconds.
• the user may continue holding the towel after the first attempt to wind the soiled towel, and the operation of the winding motor 7 is consequently interrupted again.
• the operation of the winding motor 7 can be continued after a third predetermined waiting period.
• the third predetermined waiting period can be longer than the second predetermined waiting period. For instance, if the second predetermined waiting period is 0.5-1.5 seconds, the third predetermined waiting period could be, for instance, 3-7 seconds.
• the roll of soiled towel is tightened.
• the winding motor 7 is switched off, the roll of soiled towel can rotate slightly backwards and the towel is slightly loosened.
• a short current pulse can be supplied to the winding motor 7 after the soiled towel has been collected onto the collecting reel 6.
• the current pulse can be supplied a fourth predetermined waiting period after the operation of the winding motor 7.
• the fourth predetermined waiting period can be, for instance, 0.3-1.0 seconds.
• the duration of the current pulse can be, for instance, 0.2-0.6 seconds.
• control means 15 can be configured to terminate the operation of the winding motor 7 if the resisting force caused by the towel 19 does not exceed the predetermined threshold within a predetermined period of time.
• the predetermined time can be, for instance, 3-8 seconds. This period of time should normally be sufficient to wind the rest of the towel onto the collecting reel 6.
• the towel dispenser is provided with a pivoted slide 20 that has a lower position and an upper position.
• the slide 20 is in the lower position.
• the towel 19 runs from the braking roller 8 over the slide 20 to the collecting reel 6.
• the collecting reel 6 is located below the trough 18 that holds the roll of clean towel 2.
• the slide 20 is moved to the upper position.
• the collecting reel 6 and the roll of soiled towel on the collecting reel 6 can then be removed from the towel dispenser.
• the roll of soiled towel can then be removed from the collecting reel 6, a roll of clean towel 2 can be placed into the trough 18, and the free end of the clean towel can be attached to the collecting reel 6.
• the collecting reel 6 can then be inserted into the towel dispenser.
• the free end of the clean towel can be attached to the collecting reel 6 after the collecting reel 6 has been inserted into the towel dispenser.
• the slide 20 can be moved to the lower position.
• the collecting reel 6 is provided with a gear wheel 14 that forms part of the force transmission connection between the winding motor 7 and the collecting reel 6.
• the roll of clean towel 2 should be inserted into the trough 18 in such a way that the free end of the towel runs from the bottom of the trough 18 to the braking roller 8.
• the towel 19 is in contact with the braking roller 8 over an angle of approximately 180 degrees. This ensures that the friction force between the braking roller 8 and the towel is sufficient to effectively brake the towel 19.
• the contact angle between the braking roller 8 and the towel 19 is smaller. The angle depends on the diameter of the roll of clean towel 2.
• the angle is relatively small, but as towel is dispensed from the roll, the angle increases. In the embodiment of the figures, even with a full roll of clean towel 2, the contact angle is approximately 45 degrees. Depending on the surface material of the braking roller 8, the user may be able to dispense more towel than what is intended, but the braking roller 8 still provides a braking force and allows use of the towel dispenser.
• the braking roller 8 can be provided with a roughened surface to increase the friction force between the towel 19 and the braking roller 8.
• the braking roller 8 can be coated with a suitable material, such as sandpaper or the like.
• the towel dispenser comprises pressing means 17 configured to press the towel 19 against the braking roller 8.
• the pressing means 17 increase the friction force between the braking roller 8 and the towel and ensure sufficient braking force.
• the pressing means 17 are beneficial especially in case the roll of clean towel 2 is placed into the trough 18 the wrong way round.
• the pressing means 17 can be configured such that they are automatically pressed against the towel when a cover of the housing 1 is closed.
• the braking motor 3 can be configured to function as a generator during dispensing of the towel.
• the braking motor 3 may be configured to rotate freely at the beginning of the dispensing, and function as a generator in the braking mode.
• the towel dispenser can comprise energy storage means 16.
• the energy storage means 16 can comprise a battery and/or a capacitor.
• the electrical energy stored by the energy storage means 16 can be used for operating the towel dispenser.
• the electrical energy can be supplied to control electronics of the towel dispenser and/or to the winding motor 7. As the energy consumption of the control electronics is typically smaller than the energy consumption of the winding motor 7, it may be beneficial to use the stored energy to power the control electronics.
• the towel dispenser may be battery-powered.
• the towel dispenser may comprise a separate battery for storing the electrical energy generated by the braking motor 3.
• the towel dispenser could also be connected to the mains current.
• the towel dispenser can comprise telecommunication means for transmitting and/or receiving data.
• the towel dispenser can be configured to monitor the use of the towel and send at predetermined intervals information regarding the amount of towel used and/or to send information when a certain amount of clean towel is left or all the towel has been used.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Winding Of Webs (AREA)

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Citations (2)

• 2024
  • 2024-03-01 EP EP24160874.4A patent/EP4609770A1/fr active Pending

Patent Citations (2)

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