Device for dispensing sterile on-demand, heated towelettes

Abstract

A wet towelette dispensing device is provided. The device is operable in conjunction with a container storing a plurality of dried, compressed, individually wrapped, preferably sealed towelettes. The device includes a pump configured to transfer a predetermined amount of liquid from a liquid reservoir to a heat exchanger to heat the liquid to a predetermined temperature, a plunger configured to release a first one of the towelettes from its individual wrapping. The device further includes a liquid dispense unit configured to deliver the heated liquid to the released towelette.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wet towelette dispensing device, operable in conjunction with a container storing a plurality of dried, compressed, individually wrapped towelettes, the device comprising:
 a pump configured to transfer a predetermined amount of liquid from a liquid reservoir to a heat exchanger to heat the liquid to a predetermined temperature;   a plunger configured to release a first one of the towelettes from its individual wrapping; and   a liquid dispense unit configured to deliver the heated liquid to the released towelette.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger is configured to move at least two of the plurality of dried, compressed towelettes at a time. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the liquid dispenser is configured to simultaneously deliver the heated liquid to at least two of the plurality of dried, compressed towelettes. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the at least two of the plurality of dried, compressed towelettes stay separate during and after the heated liquid is dispensed to the towelettes. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor coupled with the pump, wherein the sensor automatically determines the predetermined amount of liquid. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect at least one of the following: weight of the dried, compressed towelette, numbers of the dried, compressed towelettes, dryness of the dried, compressed towelette. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a select switch, wherein the select switch allows a user to select at least one of the following: number of the towelettes to be dispensed at a time, a size of the towelette, an amount of the heated liquid. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is heated in the heat exchanger to at least 165° F. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a tray configured to receive the released towelette, wherein the tray moves outwardly from a body of the device such that the released towelette can be picked up at the outside of the body of the device. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the tray retracts once the released towelette is removed from the tray. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the tray retracts into the body of the device after a predetermined time. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a tray coupled with a plunging rod, the tray configured to receive the released towelette, wherein the rod extends and moves the released towelette on the tray toward the outside of a body of the device such that the released towelette can be picked up at the outside of the body of the device. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the plunging rod retracts when the released towelette reaches a predetermined area on the tray. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a rotating cartridge having a plurality of slots, each of the plurality of slots is configured to retain at least one towelette. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger is coupled with a cutting mechanism.