Towel dispensing cabinet with scraper attachment

Claim 2

A towel dispenser of the continuous type comprising a housing having a dispensing opening therein and having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path through the dispensing opening to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, a receptacle mounted in said housing and having an access opening therein for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from said receptacle through said dispensing opening into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop takeup means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, said takeup means and an upper portion of the return path overlying a portion of said receptacle, and scraper mechanism carried by said housing below said access opening and said dispensing apparatus along a lower portion of the return path, said scraper mechanism having a sharp scraping blade disposed in use for engaging and scraping the soiled towel to remove soil particles therefrom before reaching the upper portion of the return path, whereby soil particles which may be carried by the soiled towel along the return path are prevented from falling into said receptacle and said dispensing apparatus and contaminating the clean towel therein.

Claim 3

The towel dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein said receptacle has an open top defining said access opening, said scraper mechanism being disposed adjacent to the bottom of said receptacle.

Claim 4

The towel dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing has an open bottom, said scraper mechanism being disposed adjacent to the open bottom of said housing to facilitate access thereto.

Claim 5

A towel dispenser of the continuous type comprising a housing having a dispensing opening therein and having associated thErewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path through the dispensing opening to an exit path through the dispensing opening to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, a receptacle mounted in said housing and having an access opening therein for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from said receptacle through said dispensing opening into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop takeup means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, said takeup means and an upper portion of the return path overlying a portion of said receptacle, and two spaced-apart scraping members carried by said housing below said access opening and said dispensing apparatus along a lower portion of the return path and extending generally toward each other, each of said scraping members having a sharp scraping blade disposed in use for engaging and scraping the soiled towel to remove soil particles therefrom before reaching the upper portion of the return path, whereby soil particles which may be carried by the soiled towel along the return path are prevented from falling into said receptacle and said dispensing apparatus and contaminating the clean towel therein.

Claim 6

A towel dispenser of the continuous type comprising a housing having a dispensing opening therein and having associated thErewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path through the dispensing opening to an exit path through the dispensing opening to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, a receptacle mounted in said housing and having an access opening therein for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from said receptacle through said dispensing opening into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop takeup means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, said takeup means and an upper portion of the return path overlying a portion of said receptacle, and two spaced-apart scraping members carried by said housing below said access opening and said dispensing apparatus along a lower portion of the return path and extending generally toward each other, each of said scraping members having a sharp scraping blade disposed in use for engaging and scraping the soiled towel to remove soil particles therefrom before reaching the upper portion of the return path, whereby soil particles which may be carried by the soiled towel along the return path are prevented from falling into said receptacle and said dispensing apparatus and contaminating the clean towel therein.

Claim 7

The towel dispenser set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said scraping members comprises a flat plate disposed substantially normal to the return path and extending thereinto, whereby said scraping members engage and deflect the adjacent portion of the soiled towel to define an inclined portion of the return path.

Claim 8

The towel dispenser set forth in claim 4, wherein said two scraping members are respectively carried by said receptacle and the adjacent portion of said housing.

Claim 9

The towel dispenser set forth in claim 4, wherein said two scraping members are respectively carried by said receptacle and the adjacent portion of said housing, the scraping member carried by said receptacle being disposed above the scraping member carried by the adjacent portion of said housing.

Claim 10

The towel dispenser set forth in claim 4, wherein one of said scraping members is detachably carried by said housing.

Claim 11

A towel dispenser of the continuous type comprising a housing having a dispensing opening therein and having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path through the dispensing opening to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, an open-top receptacle mounted in said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel, said housing having a rear wall spaced rearwardly from the rear of said receptacle for defining therebetween a lower portion of the return path, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from said receptacle through said dispensing opening into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop takeup means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, said takeup means and an upper portion of the return path overlying a portion of said receptacle, a first scraping member detachably mounted on the rear of said receptacle and extending rearwardly therefrom, and a second scraping member carried by said rear wall of said housing and extending forwardly therefrom adjacent to and spaced from said first scraping member, said first and second scraping members being disposed below said dispensing apparatus and the open top of said receptacle, each of said first and second scraper mechanisms having a sharp scraping blade disposed in use for engaging and scraping the soiled towel to remove soil particles therefrom before reaching the upper portion of the return path, whereby soil particles which may be carried by the soiled toweL along the return path are prevented from falling into said receptacle and said dispensing apparatus and contaminating the clean towel therein.

Claim 12

A towel dispenser of the continuous type comprising a housing having a dispensing opening therein and having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path through the dispensing opening to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, an open-top receptacle mounted in said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel, said housing having a rear wall spaced rearwardly from the rear of said receptacle for defining therebetween a lower portion of the return path, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from said receptacle through said dispensing opening into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop takeup means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, said takeup means and an upper portion of the return path overlying a portion of said receptacle, a first scraping member detachably mounted on the rear of said receptacle and extending rearwardly therefrom, and a second scraping member carried by said rear wall of said housing and extending forwardly therefrom adjacent to and spaced from said first scraping member, said first and second scraping members being disposed below said dispensing apparatus and the open top of said receptacle, each of said first and second scraper mechanisms having a sharp scraping blade disposed in use for engaging and scraping the soiled towel to remove soil particles therefrom before reaching the upper portion of the return path, whereby soil particles which may be carried by the soiled toweL along the return path are prevented from falling into said receptacle and said dispensing apparatus and contaminating the clean towel therein.

Claim 13

The towel dispenser set forth in claim 9, wherein said second scraping member is integral with the bottom edge of said rear wall of said housing.

Claim 14

The towel dispenser set forth in claim 9, wherein said second scraping member is integral with the bottom edge of said rear wall of said housing, said first scraping member being disposed above said second scraping member.

Claim 15

The towel dispenser set forth in claim 9, wherein said housing has an open bottom, said first scraping member being disposed adjacent to the open bottom of said housing to facilitate attachment and removal of said first scraping member through said open housing bottom.

Claim 16

A towel dispenser of the continuous type comprising a housing having a dispensing opening therein and having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path through the dispensing opening to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, an open-top receptacle mounted in said housing and having a mounting opening therein adjacent to the lower rear end thereof, said housing having a rear wall spaced rearwardly from the rear of said receptacle for defining therebetween a lower portion of the return path, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from said receptacle through said dispensing opening into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop takeup means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, said takeup means and an upper portion of the return path overlying a portion of said open-top receptacle, a first scraping member having a sharp scraping blade and a mounting tab thereon, said first scraping member having a scraping position with said mounting tab received in said mounting opening and said scraping blade extending rearwardly from said receptacle, retaining means engaging said first scraping member in the scraping position thereof for releasably holding said first scraping member in said scraping position, and a second sharp scraping blade carried by said rear wall of said housing and extending forwardly therefrom adjacent to and spaced from said first scraping blade, said first and second scraping blades being disposed below said dispensing apparatus and the open top of said receptacle for engaging and scraping the soiled towel to remove soil particles therefrom before reaching the upper position of the return path, whereby soil particles which may be carried by the soiled towel along the return path are prevented from falling into said receptacle and said dispensing apparatus and contaminating the clean towel therein.

Claim 17

A towel dispenser of the continuous type comprising a housing having a dispensing opening therein and having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path through the dispensing opening to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, an open-top receptacle mounted in said housing and having a mounting opening therein adjacent to the lower rear end thereof, said housing having a rear wall spaced rearwardly from the rear of said receptacle for defining therebetween a lower portion of the return path, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from said receptacle through said dispensing opening into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop takeup means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, said takeup means and an upper portion of the return path overlying a portion of said open-top receptacle, a first scraping member having a sharp scraping blade and a mounting tab thereon, said first scraping member having a scraping position with said mounting tab received in said mounting opening and said scraping blade extending rearwardly from said receptacle, retaining means engaging said first scraping member in the scraping position thereof for releasably holding said first scraping member in said scraping position, and a second sharp scraping blade carried by said rear wall of said housing and extending forwardly therefrom adjacent to and spaced from said first scraping blade, said first and second scraping blades being disposed below said dispensing apparatus and the open top of said receptacle for engaging and scraping the soiled towel to remove soil particles therefrom before reaching the upper position of the return path, whereby soil particles which may be carried by the soiled towel along the return path are prevented from falling into said receptacle and said dispensing apparatus and contaminating the clean towel therein.

Claim 18

The towel dispenser set forth in claim 13, wherein said receptacle is provided with three mounting openings therein, said first scraping member having two mounting tabs thereon respectively receivable in two of said mounting openings, said retaining means being secured to the inner surface of said receptacle and extending through the third mounting opening for engagement with said first scraping member.

Claim 19

The towel dispenser set forth in claim 13, wherein said receptacle is provided with three mounting openings therein, said retaining means comprising a resilient member secured to the inner surface of said receptacle and extending across one of the mounting openings therein, said resilient member having a latch projection thereon extending through said one mounting opening for engagement with said first scraping member in the scraping position thereof, said projection being resiliently depressable into said receptacle through said one mounting opening to accommodate insertion of said mounting tab in and removal of said mounting tabs from said one of said mounting openings.

Claim 20

A towel dispenser of the conTinuous type comprising a housing having an opening therein and having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path through the opening to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into the housing, an open-top receptacle mounted in said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from said receptacle through said opening into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop takeup means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, said takeup means and an upper portion of the return path overlying a portion of said open-top receptacle, a shield member mounted in said housing adjacent to said dispensing apparatus and said takeup means and shaped and arranged substantially to separate said dispensing apparatus and said takeup means from said receptacle, a guard member mounted in said housing adjacent to said dispensing apparatus and shaped and arranged for cooperation with said shield member substantially to separate said dispensing apparatus from said takeup means, a receptacle cover mounted in said housing and disposed in use between said takeup means and said open-top receptacle and being shaped and arranged substantially to close at least the portion of said receptacle underlying said takeup means and the upper portion of the return path, and scraper mechanism carried by said housing below said access opening and said dispensing apparatus, said scraper mechanism having a sharp scraping blade disposed in use for engaging and scraping the soiled towel to remove soil particles therefrom before reaching the upper portion of the return path, whereby said scraping mechanism cooperates with said shield member and said guard member and said receptacle cover for preventing soil particles which may be carried by the soiled towel along the return path from falling into said receptacle and said dispensing apparatus and contaminating the clean towel therein.

Claim 21

A towel dispenser of the conTinuous type comprising a housing having an opening therein and having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path through the opening to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into the housing, an open-top receptacle mounted in said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel from said receptacle through said opening into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop takeup means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, said takeup means and an upper portion of the return path overlying a portion of said open-top receptacle, a shield member mounted in said housing adjacent to said dispensing apparatus and said takeup means and shaped and arranged substantially to separate said dispensing apparatus and said takeup means from said receptacle, a guard member mounted in said housing adjacent to said dispensing apparatus and shaped and arranged for cooperation with said shield member substantially to separate said dispensing apparatus from said takeup means, a receptacle cover mounted in said housing and disposed in use between said takeup means and said open-top receptacle and being shaped and arranged substantially to close at least the portion of said receptacle underlying said takeup means and the upper portion of the return path, and scraper mechanism carried by said housing below said access opening and said dispensing apparatus, said scraper mechanism having a sharp scraping blade disposed in use for engaging and scraping the soiled towel to remove soil particles therefrom before reaching the upper portion of the return path, whereby said scraping mechanism cooperates with said shield member and said guard member and said receptacle cover for preventing soil particles which may be carried by the soiled towel along the return path from falling into said receptacle and said dispensing apparatus and contaminating the clean towel therein.