Towel dispensing system and method

Abstract

The disclosed towel dispensing system and method may be used in combination with washstation having a washbasin and a cabinet disposed substantially below the washbasin or alternatively in a standalone manner. The towel dispensing system may include a towel dispenser capable of dispensing a towel in a cantilevered manner. A towel loading device supplies paper to a towel dispenser from at least one roll of paper and allows the paper rolls to be conveniently and securely stored and loaded.

1 . A towel dispensing system for use with a washstation having a washbasin and a cabinet disposed substantially below the washbasin, comprising:
 a towel dispenser capable of dispensing a towel that is horizontally suspended at least partially over the washbasin to avoid the dripping of water outside the washbasin; and   a towel loading device disposed substantially within the cabinet to supply paper to the towel dispenser from at least one roll of paper.   
   
   
       2 . The towel dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the towel dispenser includes a shaping guide for forming the dispensed towel into a curved configuration. 
   
   
       3 . The towel dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein the towel dispenser includes a set of drive rollers to drive the paper from a first roll of paper through the shaping guide. 
   
   
       4 . The towel dispensing system of  claim 3 , wherein the towel dispenser includes a feed guide for guiding the paper from the first roll of paper to the set of drive rollers of the towel dispenser. 
   
   
       5 . The towel dispensing system of  claim 4 , wherein the towel loading device includes a set of take-up rollers for driving the paper from the first roll of paper through the feed guide and to the set of drive rollers of the towel dispenser. 
   
   
       6 . The towel dispensing system of  claim 3 , wherein the towel loading device includes a set of drive rollers and a feed guide, the set of driver rollers of the towel loading device drive the paper from a second roll of paper through the feed guide of the towel loading device to the set of drive rollers of the towel dispenser. 
   
   
       7 . The towel dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the towel dispenser includes a sensor for activating the dispensing of the towel. 
   
   
       8 . A dispenser for delivering paper from a roll of paper comprising:
 a cover having a generally U-shaped paper dispensing slot; and   a generally U-shaped shaping guide for forming from an end portion of the paper roll a generally U-shaped portion of the paper;   feed rollers for extending the U-shaped portion of the paper through the dispensing slot; and   wherein the U-shaped portion is bowed about its mid plans throughout its length to be suspended from the dispensing slot in a cantilevered manner.   
   
   
       9 . The towel dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the shaping guide includes a lower paper shaping guide and an upper paper shaping guide for forming the dispensed towel into a curved configuration. 
   
   
       10 . The towel dispenser of  claim 8 , further including a set of drive rollers to drive the paper from the paper roll through the shaping guide. 
   
   
       11 . The towel dispenser of  claim 8 , further including a feed guide for guiding the paper from the paper roll to the set of drive rollers of the towel dispenser. 
   
   
       12 . The towel dispenser of  claim 8 , further including a sensor disposed on top of the cover for activating the dispensing of the towel. 
   
   
       13 . The towel dispenser of  claim 8 , further including a lock disposed on the cover for locking the cover to a washstation containing the washbasin. 
   
   
       14 . A method of dispensing paper from a roll of paper, comprising:
 feeding paper from the roll of paper along a path of travel;   forming an end portion of the paper into a generally U-shaped configuration to bow it about its mid section as it moves along the path of travel; and   stopping the movement of the paper to enable the generally U-shaped portion to be suspended in a cantilevered manner to enable a user to separate the generally U-shaped portion from the roll of paper.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein feeding paper from the roll of paper includes driving the paper using a set of take-up rollers through a feed guide. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the paper driven through the feed guide is provided to a set of drive rollers. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the forming the paper in a U-shaped configuration includes driving the paper through a shaping guide using a set of drive rollers. 
   
   
       18 . A towel loading and dispensing device for use with a washstation having a towel dispenser, a washbasin, and a cabinet disposed substantially below the washbasin, comprising:
 a towel dispenser;   a frame including at least one set of roll holders for holding at least one roll of paper; and   at least one set of drive rollers for feeding the paper from the roll to the towel dispenser.   
   
   
       19 . The towel loading device of  claim 18 , further including a feed guide for guiding the paper from a first set of drive rollers to a second set of drive rollers, and the frame including a swingarm having a pivot at the end thereof for conveniently reloading a new paper roll on the roll holders. 
   
   
       20 . The towel dispensing system of  claim 18 , wherein when the paper from a first roll of paper is expended, paper from a second roll of paper is provided to the towel dispenser. 
   
   
       21 . A method of loading a paper roll for use by a towel dispenser used with a washstation having a cabinet, comprising:
 rotating a loading device so that a portion of the loading device is disposed outside of the cabinet;   removing an expended roll of paper from a holder of the loading device;   installing a new roll of paper on the holder of the loading device;   inserting an end of the new roll of paper through a set of drive rollers; and   re-rotating the loading device so that the loading device is disposed entirely within the cabinet and that the end of the new roll of paper is automatically fed into the towel dispenser.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further including:
 removing a second expended roll of paper from a second holder of the loading device;   installing a second new roll of paper on the second holder of the loading device; and   inserting an end of the second new roll of paper through a second set of drive rollers.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , further including:
 removing a partially expended roll of paper from the holder of the loading device;   installing the partially expended roll of paper on a second holder of the loading device; and   inserting an end of the second new roll of paper through a second set of drive rollers.