US2785034A - Multiple towel dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

March 12, 1957 c, PRESTON 2,785,034

MULTIPLE TOWEL DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 7, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l //VVE/V7'0f? 7R0) C. PRESTO/V ATTORNEY March 12, 95 T. c. PRESTON 2,785,034

MULTIPLE TOWEL DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 7, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOCL J08 J0 06 may a. PRESTON March 12, 1957 T. c. PRESTON 2,785,034

MULTIPLE TOWEL DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 7, 1955 I 3 She'efs-Sheet 3 F/G 4 F/G. 5

42 34a 34 56 30 F/G. 7

I- 30 30 fflfimlmlwlwlmke 3 a 30 I I l liq" leimmxemlmlemxeia 6 50 ATTORNEY United States atent MULTIPLE TOWEL DESPENSING DEVICE Troy C. Preston, Mount Carroll, 111., assignor to Chicago Towel Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application October 7, 1955, Serial No. 539,090

11 Claims. (Cl. 31238) My invention relate to an improved towel dispensing device wherein a primary towel is first used until completely soiled and thereafter a secondary towel is used. I In one form of the towel dispensing device an elongated cloth towel in roll form is placed in the device and hangs down in a loop for convenient use. Typically the towel is about 50 yards long. After some use, the end of the towel roll is reached at which time the end pulls free and fresh toweling is no longer available. Moreover, the dangling end of the spent towel is left in unsightly exposed position at this time. Thus the user is not only deprived of the use of the towel but also the normal attractivenes of the towel and dispenser is destroyed.

ln'the apparatus of the present invention this problem is overcome by providing twetowels, one being a primary towel which is ordinarily used and the other a secondary towel which is used upon exhaustion of the primary towel.

Upon exhaustion of the primary towel the secondary towel is made immediately available and can be used in the same fashion to dry the hands as the primary towel. Moreover, the dangling soiled end of the primary towel is drawn up into the cabinet automatically as the secondary towel is used and thus is soon out of sight.

In the usual use of the towel dispenser, it is serviced from a supply of fresh towels by someone with other duties. These dutie may make it difficult or impossible to replace the primary towel immediately after it is exhausted. With the apparatus of the present invention, however, this is not a concern, since the secondary towel becomes immediately available and can be used without calling the attendant or bothering him in any respect. This use of the secondary towel also serves to wind up the primary towel and thereby draw into the cabinet its unsightly dangling end. When the attendant at a later time is free to check the towel dispenser he can observe immediately that the primary towel has been exhausted and the secondary towel is in use. He accordingly will then replace the primary towel with a fresh towel. With respect to the secondary towel he can replace it if it is considerably used or-if only slightly usedhe can draw up the secondary towel loop without replacing the secondary towel so that the remainder of the secondary towel will be available upon exhaustion of the primary towel.

The towel dispenser of the present invention is particularly useful in public washrooms, such as gasoline stations, parks, museums, ofiice buildings, hotels, and the like. In these places the dangling unsightly end of an exhausted roll towel is especially objectionable. Moreover, it is often not possible to install two conventional towel dispensers, or to provide sufficiently frequent attendant service to assure against exhaustion of the towel, while the single dispenser of the present invention can be installed and serviced adequately by the limited attendant services available.

It i therefore a general object of the present invention of towels.

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved towel dispensing device for a pair of towels wherein one towel serves as a primary towel for normal use and the other towel serves as a secondary towel for use upon exhaustion of the primary towel.

Further it is an object of the present invention to provide an ini ro-ved towel dispensing device wherein a secondary towel is normally hidden but becomes available for convenient use upon exhaustion of the primary towel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved towel dispensing device having a primary towel and a secondary towel and in which a common timing mechanism serves to control the discharge of each towel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved towel dispensing device adapted to dispense both a primary and a secondary towel and having features of construction, combination and arrangement which obscure the secondary towel when the primary towel is to be used; retains a length of the secondary towel in the housing until the same must be used and then releases it to form a convenient loop; provides ease and convenience of loading similar to that employed with existing commercial towel dispensing devices; and otherwise obtains a high degree of reliability, low cost, and simplicity. i

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set'forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings'in which: a

Figure 1 is a front elevational viewof a complete towel dispensing device constructed in accordance with the present invention with the front covers broken away in part to show more clearly the interior'construction;

Figure 2 is a view in cross section through axis 22, Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through axis 3-3, Figure l;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through axis 44, Figure 3;

Figure 4a is a fragmentary exploded side elevational view of the mating ratchet elements of Figure 4;

Figure 4b is a cross-sectional view through axis 4 b4b, Figure 4a;

Figure 4c is a fragmentary front elevational view through axis 4c4c, Figure 4a;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through axis 5-5', Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view through axis 6-6, Figure l;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the timing mechanism of Figure 3 showing the parts in condition to dispense an additional length of towel;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevational view through axis 88, Figure 2 with the secondary towel removed;

Figures 9a, 9b and 9c are side elevational views of the complete towel dispensing device showing, respectively, the condition of the device when the primary towel is'in use; the condition of the device immediately after the primary towel has been exhausted; and the condition 'of the device after some use of the secondary towel. i

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the towel dispensing device consists of a housing H having a base 10 adapted to be afiixed to a wall W or other support as'shown in Figure 2. This base is preferablyo'f sheet steel and has an upwardly and forwardly extending roof portion 16a, Figure 2, which has a depressed marginal shelf portion 1% to receive the back margin of the top front cover 12 which nests therein as shown. The base has side portions 10!: to which are secured the hinged brackets 10d which serve as hinge supports for the top front cover 12. This movement is about the pivotal axis defined by the pin'lile to which the bracket 10d is attached. The margins of the side parts 100 of the base 10 are bent backwardly and inwardly to form angle beams imparting rigidity thereto. These marginal angle iron beam parts are shown at 18g, Figures 1 and 2, being broken away in the former view.

It will be observed that the top front cover 12 terminates in an inturned lip 12a and that this cover may be swung upwardly about the axis of the hinge bracket 10d in theidirection shown by the dotted lines of Figure 2 to expose the contents of the upper portion of the unit. The base 10 also pivotally receives a bottom front cover 14.- This connection is provided by a hinge pin 14a, Figure 2, which extends crosswise of the unit at its lower margin. The base 10 forms a cross bracket 10 Figure 2,which is bent over in a plurality of cars to anchor the pin 14a in place. The lower marginal portion 14b of the bottom front cover likewise has a plurality of ears bent about the pin 14a to define a hinge. By reason of this arrangement the bottom front cover 14 can be swung clockwise down and outwardly as shown by the dotted lines of Figure 2 to provide access of the lower portion of the unit. The bottom front cover 14 terminates at its upper end at the lip 14c which coacts with lip 12a of the top front cover to form the slot 22 through which the primary towel 20 passes.

The top front cover 12 and the bottom front cover 14 each have side wall portions which overlay the side parts 100 of the base 10. These are seen in cross-section in Figure 2.

Two towel dispensing units are mounted in vertically spaced positions within the cabinet formed by the base tween the two side plates 28 as shown. The parent towel roll 20a having core 21 rests on the floor 28b as shown in Figure 2 and the web or towel unwound therefrom extends about one-third turn around the drive roll 39 which is mounted in fixed axial position by means "of suitable shaft-receiving openings in the side plates 28. The pinch. roller 32 is movably mounted in the side plates 28 by reason of the vertically elongated slots 32a which receive the extending'shaft portions of this roller, and allows the same to move freely down to pinch .the towel 28 on roll 30.. It will be observed that downward pull on the towel 20 in the portions exposed and hanging i from the cabinet serves to pull the roller 32 into tight dotted lines of Figure 2 and in full elevational view in 10, the top front cover 12 and the bottom front cover 7 14. The uppermost of these, indicated generally at 16, Figure 2, is the primary towel dispensing mechanism. The lowermost, indicated generally at 18, Figure 2, is the secondary towel dispensing mechanism. In use, the

primary towel 2t} is unwound from a parent roll 20a over W guide rolls as hereafter described and out the slot 22 formed by thelower margin 12a of the top front cover 12 and the upper margin 140 of the bottom front cover 14. The towel 20 then hangs in a loop as shown in Figures 2 and 9a, which extends up into the cabinet at a point rearwardly of the slot 22 to be wound upon the soiled towel roll 20b.

- The secondary towel dispensing mechanism 18 receives be pulled through the slot 22 and dangle as shown in Figure 9b. This exposes the towel 24 which has previouslybeen partly hidden by the web 20. The towel 24 can then be pulled to release the portion stored in the bottom portion of the cabinet to form the dangling or depending secondary loop 24, Figure 917. As the secondarytowel'is then used the primary towel 20 is wound up into the cabinet until, 'as shown in Figure 9c, only the secondary towel is exposed.

The primary towel dispensing mechanism The primary towel dispensing mechanism is supported by a frame 28 defined by a pair of side plates indicated at 28, Figures 1 and 2. Each of these has a foot portion 28a seated against and affixed to the base 10 and extends forwardly therefrom as shown. 'A floor 28b extends be Figure 6. This chain is received on sprockets 30a and 34c which are mounted on shafts 30b and34a, respectively, of the rollers 30 and 34. The used towel takeup core 38 has extending shaft portions which are received in the elongated slots 38a formed in the side plates 23. These slots permit the roll 20b to move up and down to assure that the roll rests on the takeup roller 34 and can rise upwardly as towelling is wound upon the core 38. a

In operation, the user pulls down on the front exposed portion of towel 20, which thereupon pulls the roll 32 to snug gripping engagement with the roll 30 and thereby positively drives roll 30 in the counterclockwise direction as shown by the arrow A, Figure 2. This rotates the roller 34 in like direction and amount by reason of the chain 36, thereby rotating the soiled towel roll 20b in the clockwise direction as shown. Since the peripheral velocity of roll 30 is identical withthe linearzvelocity of the towel being withdrawn, and the peripheral velocity'of roll 34 and'hence the peripheral velocity of the soiled towel roll 20bis the same, the towelling is drawn up at exactly the same rate as it is withdrawn and the loop formed by the towel 20 remains of the same size.

A channel shaped cross member 29 extends crosswise between side plates 28 to form a U-shaped cavity 291: which receives the rearwardly extending end of the smoothing baffle40. The latter'is hingedly supported on the side plates 28 and is held against clockwise rotation when the cabinet is closed by suitable means (not shown) to smooth the towel in a fashion well known in the art.

In order to limit the quantity of primary towel that may be withdrawn at any one time a suitable stop device of a kind well known in the art is provided. This device is shown in Figures 1, 3 and 7. In brief, it utilizes a'stop earn 300 mounted on the extending shaft portion 30b ofroller 30. This cam is normally pulled by the spring 42 through link 42a to the position shown in Figure 3. A pin 30d extends through the cam 300, the link 42a and the link 44 in eccentric position in relation to the axis of the cam 30c. The opposite end of the link 44 is pivotally attached to the upwardly extending arm 46!) of the carriage 46, the latter having an outwardly extending platform 46a as shown. The platform 46a receives the upwardly facing suction cup 48a. The carriage 46 is held in position for vertical up and down movementsby the plate 50 which is affixed tov the side plate 28 and has an outwardly extending channel portion defining a slot which movably receives the upstanding arm 46b of the car-' po t o o Fi u At th s t the ar f the 39c clears the arm 46]) to allow cam rotation and perm t t e u e t p t eliko e 30 nd ha t 0 rotate in the clockwise direction as shown in Figures 3 and 7. As the pin 36d rotates it pulls the arm 46b (and hence carriage 46') upwardly until when the cam 300 is somewhat more than 180 beyond the point shown in Figure 3, the carriage 46 is in full lifted position and the'suction cups 43a and 4821 are collapsed together. Further towel withdrawal brings the cam 30c around to the position shown in Figure 3. At this time, however, the suction cups 48a and 43b hold the carriage 46 in lifted position with the arm 46b extending upwardly as shown'in Figure 3. In this position the arm 46b is in the path of travel of the .ear 3% so that the car seats against the arm to prevent further cam rotation and towel withdrawal as shown in Figure 3.

' After a time determined by the leakage of air into the space'between suction cups 48a and 48b, the suction cups lose their adhesive power and the carriage falls under its own weight to the lower position shown in Figure 7. At thistime the mechanism is conditioned for a further withdrawal of a predetermined length of towel. The rate of air entry into the space between the suction cups is determined by the adjustment of air inlet valve 480 which has an orifice of adjustable size.

Secondary towel dispensing device The secondary towel dispensing device, indicated genorally at 18, is supported by a frame formed by the spaced and plates 52 which are carried in the bottom of the unit by a plurality of outwardly extending supports 52a, Figure 2. Each plate 52 has a foot portion 52:) which receives the corresponding supports 52a. The secondary towel roll 24a is received in the bottom portion of the housing thus formed and is supported by the curved smoothing plate 54 as is hereinafter described in detail. The towelling from the secondary roll 24a extends partially about the measuring roll 56 which is held in fixed axial position by the end plates 52. The pinch roller 59 also receives the towelling and in use serves the same purpose as the pinch roller SZof the primary towel dispensing device. A length of the towel 24is releasably held in folded condition on the inside face of the lower front cover 14 by the spring held clamp 66 as hereinafter described in detail. The towelling then passes out the opening 26 and about the bottom of the cover 14 as shown in Figure 2. It then extends upwardly between the fixed smoothing angle plate 54:: and the cooperating movable smoothing plate 54 up to the takeup roll 24!). The latter is driven by the takeup drive roll 53 which is driven by a sprocket and chain drive defined by chain 57 from the roller 56 as shown by the dotted lines of Figure 2.

It will be noted that the mechanism of the secondary towel dispensing mechanism serves to take up the towelling at exactly the rate it is pulled out in the same fashion as the mechanism above described for the primary towel. That is, the pull of the towelling against idler roll 59 pulls it down against the measuring roll 56 to impart peripheral counterclockwise movement in accord with towel withdrawal; the takeup drive roll is driven counterclockwise by the chain 57 in exactly the same movement; and the takeup towel roll 24b is rotated to the same extent in clockwise movement because it rests on the roll 53.

While the primary towel is in use a portion of the second-ary towel is held in folded hidden condition by the spring clamp 66. This unit is shown in elevational view in Figure 8. It consists of a base 69a which is affixed to the inside face of the swingable bottom cover 14. The clamp portion 6 3 is pivotally carried by the base and has an extending grip portion 63b adapted to clamp the towelling 24 in folded position as shown in Figure 2. Suitable springs 60c, Figures 2 and 8, serve to bias the grip portion 69]; against the base 69a to provide a nip into which the towelling is folded and releasably held.

the primary to e ha e n us d, the end dangles as shown iiiFigure'9b. The secondary towel is then pulled from the position of Figure 2, releasing the portion gripped by the grip6ll. The towelling then assumes the position shown in Figure 9b where it forms a convenient loop for use.

Interconnecting mechanism The secondary towel takeup drive roller 58 has an extending shaft 58a, Figures 1 and 3. A sprocket 63 is mounted on this shaft and receives the chain 62. The latter extends upwardly as shown in Figure 3 to be received upon the sprocket 64. That sprocket is carried through the clutch mechanism, hereinafter described, on the extending shaft portion 34a, Figure 4, of the primary towel takeup drive roller 34. V

The mounting of sprocket 63 on the shaft 58a is shown in detail in Figure 5. As shown, the shaft 58a terminates in a female threaded opening 58b. The latter threadedly receives the mating end of the hub 61a to which the sprocket 63 is afiixed. Thus the sprocket 63 is carried by and rotates with the roll 58.

The mounting of the sprocket 64 on the shaft portion 34a of the primary takeup drive roller 34 is shown in detail in Figure 4. The shaft portion 34a has a female threaded opening 3411 which receives the threaded end of the disk 66. The latter has a series of ratchet-defining peripheral teeth 66a on its flat side to define fiat stop faces 66b. These are shown in plan view in Figure 4b.

The sprocket 64 has a series of teeth which mate with and are engaged by the teeth 66a of the disk 66. These teeth are indicated at 64a, Figure 4c, and form an integral part of the sprocket. The disk 66 has an extending hub 66c which is rotatably [received in the mating central cylindrical opening in the sprocket 64 as shown in Figure 4.

The hub 66c receives a washer 68 on its free end, which washer'is secured in place by the screw 70. The spiral spring 72 seats against the washer 68 and the right hand face of sprocket 64 as shown in Figure 4 to bias the sprocket 64 in the left hand direction and hence against the toothed face of the disk 66. i

It will be noted that when the primary towel 20 is Withdrawn, the roll 34 is rota-ted through the chain 36 in the counterclockwisedirection as seen in Figure 2 and the clockwise direction as seen in Figure 31' At this time, there is no force tending to rotate the roll .58 of the secondary towel dispensing device and, indeed, friction and inertia resistance to rotation of that roll opposes any such movement. In consequence, the sprocket 64 tends to remain stationary and the disk 66 tends to rotate in the clockwise direction of Figure 4b with respect to it. Since this causes the faces of the respective sloping teeth to ride up on each other, ratchet action takes place to permit the sprocket 64 to remain stationary while the disk 66 rotates freely. Accordingly the primary towel is dispensed without imparting any movements to the secondary towel dispensing mechanism.

However, when the primary towel has been exhausted and the secondary towel 24 is being used, the roll 58, Figure 2, is rotated in the counterclockwise direction as seen in that figure and consequently the sprocket 63, Figure 3, is rotated in the clockwise direction of that figure; imparts clockwise rotation to the sprocket 64 as seen in Figure 3 under the action of the chain 62 and thereby tends to rotate sprocket 64 clockwise in relation to disk 66 as seen in Figure 3. It will be observed from Figures 4, 4a, 4b, and 40 that when this rotation takes place the ratchet teeth 66a rotate relative to ratchet teeth 64a in the stopping or engaging direction. As a result the fiat faces 66b seat against fiat faces 64b to cause the sprocket 64 positively to drive the disk 66 in the clockwise directioh as seen in Figure 3. This rotation is in the counterclockwise direction of Figure 2 which, it will be observed, causes the roll 20b to rotate clockwise as seen in that figurea'nd thereby to wind up additional amounts of the primarytowelfi" '1. a i s .When the primary towel 20 has just been exhausted, the free'or'dangling end extends downwardly as shown in Figure 9bl As the user pulls the secondary towel 24 for successive uses, the roll 34, Figure 2, is rotated as above described to rotate the primary takeup roll 2% in direction to .take up the dangling end 20 of the towel. After a few uses the dangling end of the towel 20 is completely wound up and only the clean depending loop of towel 24 appears as is shown in Figure 90.

It will be noted that in addition to causing the dangling end of the towel 26 to roll up, the interconnection achieved through the use of chain 62 causes the timer and. stop mechanism to control the dispensing of towel 24 just as it-controls the dispensing of towel 24 This results from the fact that the extending shaft portion of roll 34 is conneced through the chain 36 as shown in Figure 6 to rotate the roll 30 in unison with roll 34. The latter carries the cam Sdc on its extending shaft portion to provide the controlled dispensing action described above.

It will be observed that the apparatus above described provides both a primary and a secondary towel and that in ordinary use of the primary towel 29 the secondary towel 24 is located within the confines of the loop formed by the primary towel. Additionally, the secondary towel dispensing mechanism is completely inactive so long as the primary towel is in use and the secondary towel is held snugly against the face of the housing in a manner providing a highly attractive appearance. However, once the primary towel is exhausted, use of the secondary towel 24 first brings it to the convenient loop which is similar to the loop formed by the primary towel and thereafter rolls up the soiled end of the primary towel. At this time the control mechanism for the primary towel dispenser is like- Wise active so that the user can only withdraw a predetermined quantity of secondary towel at fixed time intervals. While "I have shown and described a specific embodiment of the present invention it will, of course, be understood that many modifications and alternative constructions may be made withoutdeparting from the true spirit and scope of the invention. 1 therefore intend by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and alternative constructionsas fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention. v What"! claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is:

1'. A towel dispensing device for a pair of elongated towels, comprisingin combination: a first towel dispensing mechanism adapted to receive a primary elongated towel and to release the same from one point and to take .it up from a point horizontally spaced thereof, thus forming a depending towel 'loop in normal operation, said mechanism being also adapted to release the end of the towel when the same is reached; a second towel dispens- 1 ing mechanism located within the confines of said towel loop and itself adapted to receive a secondary elongated towel and to release the same from a point within the confines of said towel loop and to take it up from a point horizontally spaced thereof, thus forming a depending towel loop in normal operation; and elements interconnecting the second mechanism to the first to actuate the first mechanism in towel takeup'operation as secondary towelling is withdrawn from the second mechanism and thereby winding up'the soiled end of the said one towel.

2. A towel dispensing device for a pair of elongated towels, comprising in combination: a first towel dispensing mechanism adapted to receive a primary elongated towel and to release the same from one point and to take it up from a point horizontally spaced thereof, thus forming a depending towel loop in normaloperation, said mechanism being also adapted to release the end of the towel when the same is reached; a second towel dispensing mechanism'located within the confines of said towel loop'and'itselfadapted'to receive a secondary elongated towel andftorelease the same from a point with'iiiflthe confineso'f the'said loop and'to'take it up from'azp'oir'it horizontally-spaced therefrom, thus forminga depend. ing towel loop in normal operation; means 'operable'i're leasably to hold the secondary towel loop snugly against the dispensing mechanism; and elements interconnecting the second mechanism to the first to actuate the first echanism in towel takeup operation as secondary towelling is withdrawn from the second mechanism and thereby winding up the soiled end of the said primary towel. 3. A towel dispensing device for a pair of elongated towels, comprising in combination: a housing; a first towel dispensing mechanism in the housing and adapted to receive a primary elongated towel and to release the same from the housing at one point and to take it up'into the housing from a point horizontally spaced therefrom, thus forming a depending towel loop in normal operation, said mechanism being also adapted to release the end of the towel when the same is reached; a second towel dispensing mechanism located in the housing below the first towel dispensing mechanism and within the confines of said towel loop and, itself adapted to receive a secondary elongated towel and to release the same from the housing at a point within said loop and to take i t up into the housing at a point horizontally spaced therefrom, thus forming a depending towel loop in normal operation; friction grip elements located within the housing and adapted releasably to hold the secondary towel in folded state in the housing and with the towel loop against the housing; and elements interconnecting the second mechanism to the first to actuate the first mechanism in towel takeup operation as secondary towelling is withdrawn from the second mechanism and thereby winding up the soiled end of the primary towel. 4. A towel dispensing device for a pair of elongated towels, comprising in combination: a first towel dispensing mechanism adapted to receive a primary elongated towel and to release the same from one point and to take it up from a point horizontally spaced therefrom, thus forming a depending towel loop in normal operation, said mechanism being also adapted to release the end of the towel when the same is reached; a second towel dispensing mechanism located within the confines of said towel loop and adapted to receive a secondary elongated towel and to release the same from a point generally below said one point and to take it up from a point horizontally spaced therefrom, thus forming a depending towel loop in normal operation, said last towel loop being Within the confines of the first towel loop to be obscured thereby until the first towel is completely used.

5. A towel dispensing device for a pair of elongated towels, comprising in combination: a housing; a first towel dispensing mechanism, within the housing adapted to receive a primary elongated towel and to release the same from the housing at one point and to take it up into the housing at a point rearwardly thereof, thus forming a depending towel loop in normal operation, said mechanism being also adapted to release the end of the towel when the same is reached; a second towel dispensing mechanism located in the housing below the first towel dispensing mechanism and within the confines of said towel loop and itself adapted to receive a secondary elongated towel and to release the same from the boltsing at a point generally below said one point and to take it up into the housing at a point rearwardly thereof, thus forming a depending towel loop in normal operation, said last towel loop being within the confines of the first towel loop to be covered thereby until the first towel is completely used; and, means adapted releasable to hold the secondary towel in a folded state interiorly of the housing and with the secondary towel loop'snug' against the housing. 7

6. Atowel dispensing device for a pair of elongated towels, comprising in combination: a housing; a first towel tfispensing mechanism within the housing adapted to re ceive a primary elongated towel and to release the same from the housing as the same is used; said mechanism being also adapted to release the end of the towel when the same is reached; a second towel dispensing mechanism in the housing and itself adapted to receive a secondary elongated towel; and means connecting the second towel dispensing mechanism to the first to draw the primary towel into the housing as the secondary towel is used.

7. A towel dispensing device for a pair of elongated towels, comprising in combination: a first towel dispensing mechanism adapted to receive a primary elongated towel and to release the same, the mechanism having a takeup roll operable when rotated to take up the released towel, said mechanism being also adapted to release the end of the towel when the same is reached; a second towel dispensing mechanism itself adapted to receive a secondary elongated towel and to release the same, the second mechanism having a release roll operable to rotate as the secondary towel is withdrawn; and directionally sensitive drive elements interconnecting the release roll of the last mentioned mechanism to the takeup roll of the first mechanism to impart takeup rotations to the takeup roll when the secondary towel is withdrawn while permitting the takeup roll to rotate in takeup rotations without imparting motions to the release roll.

8. A towel dispensing device for a pair of elongated towels, comprising in combination: a first towel dispensing mechanism adapted to receive a primary elongated towel and to release the same, the mechanism having a takeup roll operable when rotated to take up the released towel, said mechanism being also adapted to release the end of the towel when the same is reached; a second towel dispensing mechanism located in aligned relation to the first mechanism and itself adapted to receive a secondary elongated towel and to release the same, the secondary mechanism having a release roll operable to rotate as the secondary towel is withdrawn; means mechanically interconnecting the release roll and the takeup roll; and directional drive elements interposed between one roll and said means to impart driving engagement between the rolls when the release roll rotates in secondary towel release rotations while permitting the takeup roll to rotate in takeup rotations independently.

9. A towel dispensing device for a pair of elongated towels, comprising in combination: a first towel dispensing mechanism adapted to receive a primary elongated towel and to release the same from one point and to take it up from a point horizontally spaced therefrom, thus forming a depending towel loop in normal operation, said mechanism being also adapted to release the end of the towel when the same is reached and having a takeup roll mechanism having a release roll operable to rotate as secondary towel is withdrawn; directional drive elements interconnecting the release roll and the takeup roll to rotate the takeup roll in towel takeup rotations when the release roll rotates in towel release rotations while permitting the takeup roll to rotate independently in takeup rotation; and measuring elements connected to the takeup roll to arrest rotations when a predetermined quantity of towel is withdrawn, said last elements acting through the directional drive to control Withdrawal of the secondary towel.

10. A towel dispensing device for a pair of elongated towels, comprising in combination: a first towel dispensing mechanism adapted to receive a primary elongated towel and to release the same from one point and to take it up from a point rearwardly thereof, thus forming a depending towel loop in normal operation, said mechanism being also adapted to release the end of the towel when the same is reached and having a takeup roll adapted to take up the towel when rotated and a release roll adapted to release the towel when rotated; means connecting the takeup roll and release roll for rotations in unison; measuring means connected to the release roll to arrest motion thereof when a predetermined quantity of towel has been withdrawn; a second towel dispensing mechanism located within the confines of said towel loop and itself adapted to receive a secondary elongated towel and to release the same from a point generally below said one point and to take it up from a point rearwardly thereof, thus forming a depending towel loop in normal operation, said second towel dispensing mechanism having a secondary release roll adapted to release the secondary towel when rotated; and directional drive means interconnecting the secondary release roll to the takeup roll to drive the takeup roll as the secondary release roll is rotated and thereby pull up the end of the primary towel and cause the measuring means to control release of the secondary towel while permitting the takeup roll to rotate independently in takeup rotations.

11. A towel dispensing device for a pair of elongated towels, comprising in combination: a first towel dispensing mechanism adapted to receive a primary towel and to expose the same in a depending loop for use; a second towel dispensing mechanism adapted to receive a secondary towel and to expose the same for use in a depending loop located within the confines of the depending loop of the primary towel; elements in each mechanism to take up the towelling as it is withdrawn, thereby to maintain a predetermined length of each loop; means interconnecting said elements of the second towel dispensing mechanism to said elements of the first towel dispensing mechanism to draw up the primary towel as the secondary towel is withdrawn; and means on one of the towel dispensing mechanisms to meter the withdrawal of towelling from said one mechanism and operable through said last means to meter withdrawal of towelling from the other towel dispensing mechanism.

No references cited.

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