US3761032A

US3761032A - Automatic towel winding machine

Info

Publication number: US3761032A
Application number: US00022447A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Bahnsen
Original assignee: Steiner American Corp
Current assignee: Steiner American Corp
Priority date: 1970-03-25
Filing date: 1970-03-25
Publication date: 1973-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-25
Also published as: FR2099055A5; GB1347364A; SE371171B; JPS5167489A; JPS5335198B2; DE2111805A1; NO134486C; GB1347363A; JPS5167490A; NO134486B; JPS5130633B1

Abstract

An automatic towel winder includes a frame supporting a plurality of winding units and a conveyor assembly for feeding a plurality of towels respectively to the winding units along a plurality of parallel side-by-side lanes, each of the winding units occupying three adjacent lanes and including a hollow winding mandrel having side perforations therein for winding the towel into a roll thereon, a constant-torque electric motor to drive the mandrel, suction means coupled to the hollow mandrel for urging the leading end of the fed towel against the mandrel to initiate winding thereon, an ejector for removing the wound towel roll from the mandrel and a receptacle for catching the ejected roll, the winding units being staggered on the frame to occupy a space only slightly wider than the combined widths of the fed towels; electric control circuitry for the winder and alternative embodiments of mandrel drive means and roll ejector are also disclosed.

Description

United States Patent Bahnsen 11] 3,761,032 [451 Sept. 25, 1973 [75] Inventor: Erwin B. Bahnsen, Oakbrook, Ill.

Steiner American Corporation, Salt Lake City, Utah [22] Filed: Mar. 25, 1970 [211 App]. No.: 22,447

[73] Assignee:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS- 2,575,631 11 1951 Link ..'...,242/s1x 2,968,449 .1/1961 Hajos 242157.]

Primary Ex amin'er- George F. MautZ I Att0rneyPrangley, Clayton, Mullin, Dithmar and Vogel 57 ABSTRACT An automatic towel winder includes a frame supporting a plurality of winding units and a conveyor assembly for feeding a plurality of towels respectively to the winding units along a plurality of parallel side-by-side lanes, each of the winding units occupying three adjacent lanes and including a hollow winding mandrel having side perforations therein for winding the towel into a roll thereon, a constant-torque electric motor to drive the mandrel, suction means coupled to the hollow mandrel for urging the leading end of the fed towel against the mandrel to initiate winding thereon, an ejector for removing the wound towel roll from the mandrel and a receptacle for catching the ejected roll, the winding units being staggered on the frame to occupy a space only slightly wider than the combined widths of the fed towels; electric control circuitry for the winder and alternative embodiments of mandrel drive means and roll ejector are also disclosed.

60 Claims, 23 Drawing; Figures H 1 1 l/OBal PATENTED SEP25I973 SHEEI 01 0F 11 IN VEN TOR ERW/N B. BAHNSEN A TTYS.

' PATENTED 2 5 73 SHEET 03UF11 PATENIEU S EE 08 0F 11 FIGJO PATENIEDSEPZSIQIS EE 0? or 11 FIGJZ PATENTEUSEPZSIQB SHEET as ur 11 Fl6.l5

, FIG. 16

AUTOMATIC TOWEL WINDING MACHINE This invention relates to a machine for winding continuous toweling, and particularly, to a power-driven production machine which winds continuous toweling in rolls for use in towel cabinets and the like More particularly, this invention relates to a completely automatic machine capable of winding a plurality of continuous towels into towel rolls.

It is an imp'rtant object of this invention to provide an automatic elongated towel winder comprising a support frame, a mandrel mounted on the frame and rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, drive means carried by the frame and coupled to the mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, feed apparatus mounted adjacent to the mandrel for feeding an elongated towel to the mandrel, and capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against the rotating mandrel for automatically initiating the winding of the towel into a towel roll on the mandrel, whereby an elongated towel may be automatically fed to therotating mandrel and wound in a roll thereon. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a towel winder of the type set forth wherein the mandrel has a supported end mounted on the frame and a free distal end, and further including an ejector carried by the frame for removing the wound towel roll from the mandrel at the free end thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a towel winder of the type set forth wherein the mandrel is hollow and has an opening in the side thereof, and wherein the capture means includes a suction pump coupled to the mandrel for causing an area of reduced pressure therein and a consequent flow of air toward and through the opening which serves to move the leading end of the towel fed from the feed apparatus toward and against the rotating mandrel for automatically initiating the winding of the towel into a towel roll on the mandrel.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a towel winder of the type set forth wherein the feed apparatus is disposed adjacent to and above the mandrel for feeding the towel downwardly to the side of the mandrel in the direction of rotation thereof, and further including a guide member carried by the frame on the side of the mandrel in the direction of rotation thereof and extending beneath the mandrel a short distance therefrom, for maintaining the leading end of the towel closely adjacent to the mandrel to facilitate the pickup of the leading end of the towel by the capture means.

It is another object of this invention to provide a towel winder of the type set forth wherein the drive means is of the constant-torque type for maintaining a substantially constant torque at the mandrel, the increasing circumference of the towel roll on the mandrel as the diameter of the towel roll increases serving to decrease the rotational speed of the mandrel to maintain a substantially constant tension in the portion of the towel extending between the mandrel and the feed apparatus.

It is another object of this invention to provide a towel winder of the type set forth wherein the ejector includes an ejector member carried by the frame adjacent to the mandrel and movable between a retracted position and an ejecting position, and a fluid-actuated piston connected to the ejector member for moving the member to the ejecting position thereof for causing the member to engage the wound towel roll and remove the towel roll from the mandrel at the free end thereof and means for returning the ejector member to the retracted position thereof at a controlled slow rate.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a towel winder set forth, and further including control apparatus coupled to the drive means and responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward the mandrel for actutating the drive means.

It is another object of this invention to provide a towel winder of the type set forth, and further including control apparatus coupled to the capture means and responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward the mandrel for actuating the capture means.

It is another object of this invention to provide a towel winder of the type set forth, and further including control apparatus coupled to the ejector and responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the towel from the feed apparatus for actuating the ejector to remove the wound towel roll from the mandrel.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a towel winder of the type set forth wherein the control apparatus is coupled to both the drive means and the capture means and is responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward the mandrel for actuating both the drive means and the capture means.

It is another object of this invention to provide a towel winder of the type set forth, wherein the control apparatus is coupled to both the drive means and the ejector and isresponsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward the mandrel for actuating the drive means, the control apparatus being responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the towel from the feed apparatus for actuating the ejector to remove the wound towel roll from the mandrel.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of this invention to provide a. towel winder of the type set forth wherein the control apparatus is responsive to the movement of the ejector to the ejecting condition thereof for actuating the drive means, the control apparatus being responsive to the passage of the leading endof the next towel toward the mandrel for moving the ejector to the retracted condition thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a towel winder of the type set forth, wherein the control apparatus is coupled to both the capture means and the ejector for actuating the capture means and the ejector in the manner set forth.

Another object of this invention is to provide a towel winder of the type set forth, wherein the control appa ratus is coupled to the drive means and to the capture means and to the ejector for actuating the drive means and the capture means and the ejector in the manner set forth.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is still another object of this invention to provide a towel winder of the type set forth wherein the control apparatus is responsive to the movement of the ejectpr to the ejecting condition thereof for actuating the drive means, the control apparatus being responsive to the passage of the leading end of the next towel toward the mandrel for moving the ejector to the retracted condition thereof and for actuating the capture means, the con trol apparatus being responsive to the initiation of the winding of the towel on the mandrel for deactuating the capture means, the control apparatus being responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the towel from the feed apparatus for deactuating the drive means and for moving the ejector to the ejecting condition thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cloth flatwork feeddirecting assembly comprising feed apparatus for feeding associated flatwork in a predetermined direction from the input end to and from the discharge end of the feed apparatus, means engaging the flatwork at spaced-apart points thereon for suspending a reach thereof between the input end and the discharge end, a sensing device mounted adjacent to the feed apparatus and sensing the suspended reach of flatwork for detecting deviation of the fed flatwork from the predetermined direction, and direction correcting means acting upon the suspended reach of flatwork and coupled to the sensing device and responsive to the detection thereby of deviation of the fed flatwork from the predetermined direction for redirecting the flatwork into the predetermined direction, whereby flatwork fed by the feed apparatus is continually maintained in the predetermined direction.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of this invention to provide a feed-directing assembly of the type set forth, wherein the sensing device comprises a sensing member mounted adjacent to the feed apparatus for pivotal movement about a first axis angularly disposed with respect to the plane of the suspended reach of flatwork, the sensing member engaging the suspended reach of the fed flatwork and pivoting about the first axis in response to deviation of the fed flatwork from the predetermined direction, the direction correcting means including a guide roller frictionally engaging the suspended reach of the fed flatwork and being freely rotatable about a second axis disposed substantially normal to the first axis and coupled to the sensing member for pivotal movement about the first axis, pivotal movement of the sensing member in response to deviation of the fed flatwork from the predetermined direction causing pivotal movement of the guide roller for urging the flatwork back toward the predetermined direction.

It is another object of this invention to provide a towel winder of the type set forth which includes a feed-directing assembly of the type set forth.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of this invention to provide a towel winder of the type set forth for use with an associated source of towels, the feed apparatus including an inclined feed conveyor having an input end disposed adjacent to and below the source of towels and an upper discharge end disposed adjacent to the mandrel, a towel from the source following a first feed path along the conveyor until the leading end of the towel is engaged by the mandrel, the initiation of the winding of the towel on the mandrel causing tension in the towel for thereby moving the towel to a second feed path wherein a reach of the towel is suspended between the source and the discharge end of the conveyor, the sensing device and the direction-correcting means acting upon the towel in the second feed path.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a towel winder of the type set forth, which further includes detectors disposed in the first and second feed paths for sensing the presence of a towel therein, the control apparatus being coupled to the detectors and responsive to the sensing thereby of towels in the first and second paths for controlling the operation of the drive means and the capture means and the ejector.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a towel winder for automatically winding a plurality of elongated towels, the winder comprising a support frame, feed apparatus for feeding a plurality of elongated towels respectively along a plurality of substantially parallel feed lanes including two outer feed lanes and at least one intermediate feed lane all arranged in side-by-side relationship, each of the feed lanes having a width only slightly greater than the width of the associated towel, a plurality of winding units carried b the frame and equal in number to the feed lanes, each of the winding units including a mandrel disposed in an associated one of the feed lanes transversely thereof and extending substantially thereacross, the mandrel being rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, drive means disposed adjacent to one side of the associated one feed lane and coupled to the mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, and capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against the rotating mandrel for automatically initiating winding of the towel into a towel roll on the mandrel, the drive means for one of the outer feed lanes and the intermediate feed lanes being respectively disposed in longitudinal alignment with adjacent feed lanes but displaced therefrom, the winding units being arranged on the frame so that each of the intermediate feed lanes and the other of the outer feed lanes includes the mandrel of the associated winding unit with the drive means of an adjacent winding unit displaced from the lane but in longitudinal alignment therewith, whereby a plurality of elongated towels may be respectively automatically fed to corresponding ones of the rotating mandrels and wound in rolls thereon in a space having a width only slightly greater than the combined widths of the towels.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of this invention to provide a towel winder of the type set forth, and further including control apparatus coupled to the drive means and the capture means in each of the winding units and responsive to the passage of the leading end of a towel in any of the feed lanes toward the associated mandrel for actuating the associated drive means and the associated capture means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a towel winder of the type set forth, wherein the winding units are staggered vertically and horizontally on the frame into upper and lower levels, and further including guide chutes respectfully disposed in the feed lanes associated with the lower level mandrels for respectively guiding the associated towels from the feed apparatus past the upper level drive means aligned with the associated feed lanes and to the lower level mandrels.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a towel winder of the type set forth, wherein each of the winding units includes m ejector for removing the wound towel roll from the mandrel at the free end thereof, and a towel receptacle disposed adjacent to the other side of the associated one feed lane for receiving the ejected towel roll from the mandrel, the winding units being arranged on the frame so that each of the intermediate feed lanes includes the mandrel of the associated winding unit with the drive means of one adjacent winding unit and the towel receptacle of another adjacent winding unit disposed in longitudinal alignment with the lane but displaced therefrom.

In connection with the forgoing object, it is another object of this invention to provide a towel winder of the type set forth, and further including control apparatus coupled to the drive means and to the capture means and to the ejector in each of the winding units and re sponsive to the passage of the leading end of a towel in any of the feed lanes toward the associated mandrel for actuating the associated drive means and the associated capture means, the control apparatus being responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the towel from the feed apparatus for actuating the corresponding ejector to remove the wound towel roll from the mandrel.

It is another object of this invention to provide a towel winder of the type set forth, wherein the winding units are staggered vertically and horizontally on the frame into upper and lower and intermediate levels, and further including first guide chutes for respectively guiding the associated towels to the intermediate level mandrels, and second guide chutes for respectively guiding the associated towels to the lower level mandrels.

Another object of this invention is to provide a towel winder of the type set forth wherein a single drive means is provided for driving all of the winding units, and further including first and second line shafts respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the frame and rotatably driven by the drive means, the first line shaft being coupled to each of the upper mandrels for effecting rotation thereof, and the second line shaft being coupled to each of the intermediate and lower level mandrels for effecting rotation thereof.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is a still further object of this invention to provide a towel winder of the type set forth, which further includes control apparatus coupled to the drive means and to each of the winding units and responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel in any of the feed lanes toward the associated mandrel for actuating the drive means and the associated capture means.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the parts of the towel winder whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features are obtained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an automatic towel winding machine according to this invention and showing ten winding units and the manner in which they are vertically staggered on the frame;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in partial section of the front frame of the towel winder of FIG. 1, and showing how the frame crossbar acts as a manifold for the suction pump; 7 7

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of one of the winding units of the towel winding machine of FIG. 1, showing the connection between the mandrel and the frame crossbar and showing the ejector arm in its retracted position in solid lines and in its ejecting position in phantom;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the winding unit of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged front elevational view in partial section of the mandrel of the winding unit of FIG. 3 with a portion of the inner end of the mandrel removed;

FIG. 6 is a further enlarged cross-sectional view of the mandrel taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary front perspective view of the towel winding machine of FIG. 1 showing the operation of the towel roll ejector and receptacle;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the towel winding machine of FIG. 1 showing three of the intermediate winding units and the orientation of the capture guide apparatus with respect to the mandrels;

FIG. 9 is a further enlarged composite view taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 8 and showing the upper level and lower level and intermediate level support plates for the winding units and also showing the vertical and horizontal staggering of the winding units on the frame;

FIG. 10 is a composite view similar to FIG. 9, but showing the guide chutes and capture guide retainers for the winding units and the cooperation of one of the control switches with the towel web;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of one of the capture guide retainers of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a reduced side elevational view in partial .section of the towel ironer for use with the towel winding machine of this invention and illustrating the cooperation between the ironer and the feed apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged side elevational view of the feed conveyers of the towel winding machine of this invention, showing the feed directing assembly and the two feed paths for the towel web;

FIG. 14 is a further enlarged fragmentary frontperspective view of the feed conveyor of FIG. 13, showing the cooperation of the feed-directing assemblies therewith; i

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the feed apparatus of the towel winding machine of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view in vertical section of the feed directing assembly for one of the feed lanes taken along the line 16-16 in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view in partial section of the feed-directing assembly taken along the line 17-17 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a front elevational view in partial section of one of the winding units of the towel winding machine of this invention showing an alternative embodiment of drive means including a slip-clutch assembly;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view in side elevation of the towel winding machine of this invention illustrating the line shafts in the alternative drive arrangement which utilizes the slip clutch of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the roll ejector of this invention utilizing a spring return for the ejector arm;

FIG. 21 is a schematic electric circuit diagram of the winding machine showing the coupling of a three-phase electric power source to each of ten identical winding units represented in block form;

FIG. 22 is a detailed schematic circuit diagram of the control apparatus for one of the winding units of FIG. 21; and

FIG. 23 is a schematic electric circuit diagram of the control apparatus for the towel winding machine of this invention for use with the line shaft and slip clutch drive arrangement of FIGS. 18 and 19.

While there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1, l2 and thereof, there is illustrated a towel winding machine, generally designated by the numeral 100, according to the present invention, the towel winding machine 100 including ten identical feed lanes, respectively designaet A through J, inclusive, for repsectively feeding associated elongated towels to ten winding units, each generally designated by the numeral 150, for winding the towels into rolls.

The towel winding machine 100 is adapted for use in a towel processing system which may perform several operations on the towel including washing, ironing, winding into rolls, and wrapping of the towel rolls. Such a system may, for example, include a towel washing machine of the type set forth in applicants copending application Ser. No. 879,764, filed Nov. 25, 1969, now US. Pat. No. 3,698,214, and a towel roll wrapping machine of the type set forth in applicant's copending application Ser. No. 828,533, filed May 28, 1969, now

U.S. Pat. No. 3,643,397, both of which copending applications have been assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The towel rolls processed by such a system are then preferably used in towel dispensers, which may be of the type set forth in the copending application Ser. No. 727,157 of Robert I... Steiner and Erwin B. Bahnsen, filed May 7, 1968, now US. Pat. No. 3,502,383, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

A towel ironer, generally designated by the number 60, for use with the winding machine 100 of the present invention, is illustrated in FIG. 12 of the drawings, the ironer 60 being adapted to receive a wet elongated towel web 50 from an assocated washing machine (not shown), to iron the towel web 50 and then to feed it to the associated winding machine 100 of the present invention for winding into a towel roll 55. The ironer 60 includes a beater 61 being substantially triangular in transverse cross section and being rotatable in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 12, a guide bar 62 and a towel breaker member 63. The towel web 60 is threaded over the beater 61 and around the guide bar 62 and over the breaker 63 to a conveyor 70. The conveyor 70 is disposed substantially horizontally and includes a drive roll 71, an idler roll 72 and an endless conveyor belt 73 extending therebetween for conveying the towel web 50 from the breaker member 63 to a steam chest, generally designated by the numeral 80. The steam chest 80 is hollow and includes an encompassing wall 81 having a flat bottom 82 and a convoluted top 83 forming a plurality of alternating ridges 84 and valleys 85. A plurality of pinch rolls 90 are respectively disposed in the valleys 85 of the steam chest 80, each of the pinch rolls 90 being shaped and dimensioned complementary to the associated valley 85 of the steam chest 80 and being held therein under the controlled pressure of a spring-loading apparatus (not shown). Each of the rolls 90 is rotatable counterclockwise about a shaft 91 for moving the towel web 50 from left to right as viewed in FIG. 12. Thus, the towel web 50 is fed from the associated washing machine over the beater 61 and roll 62 and breaker 63 for removing folds and excess water from the towel web 50, and thence via the conveyor to the steam chest 80. The towel web 50 is then fed between the pinch rolls 90 and the upper wall 83 of the steam chest from left to right along the steam chest 80 and then is discharged from the right-hand end thereof. The action of the heat provided by the steam chest 80 and the compression provided between the rollers and the steam chest 80 combine to iron the towel web 50 for removing wrinkles therefrom in a well-known manner.

The towel winding machine includes a feed assembly comprising a transfer conveyor 101 and a feed conveyor 105, mounted on a supporting framework 101a. The transfer conveyor 101 is disposed susbstantially horizontally beneath the steam chest 80 and includes a drive roll 102 disposed immediately beneath the right-hand end of the steam chest 80, and an idler roll 103 disposed forwardly of the drive roll 102 and an endless conveyor belt 104 connecting the drive roll 102 to the idler roll 103. The transfer conveyor belt 104 moves in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 13 and preferably has a surface speed approximately 40 percent greater than the surface speed of the towel web 50 as it is fed from the ironer 60, whereby the towel web 50 may be fed from the ironer 60 by the transfer conveyor 101 to the right as viewed in FIG. 13 without folding upon the transfer conveyor 101.

The feed conveyor 105 is substantially longer than the transfer conveyor 101 and is inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal. The feed conveyor 105 includes a drive roll 106 at the upper end thereof rotatably mounted on a shaft 106a which is preferably supported at the opposite ends thereof in bearings on end plates 112 which are supported on the frame 101a and on a winding unit frame to be described. An idler roll 107 is disposed at the lower end of the feed conveyor 105 immediately below the idler roll 103 of the transfer conveyor 101. An endless conveyor belt 108 interconnects the drive roll 106 and the idler 107 and is driven thereby in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 13, for receiving the fed towel web 50 from the transfer conveyor 101 and feeding the towel web 50 upwardly along the feed conveyor 105 from the input end to the discharge end thereof. Thus, the transfer conveyor 101 and the feed conveyor 105 cooperate with the ironer 60 to define a first lower feed path for the towel web 50 extending from the discharge end of the ironer 60, downwardly to the transfer conveyor 101 and forwardly therealong to the feed conveyor 105 and upwardly therealong to the discharge end thereof as is clearly indicated in FIG. 13. Hereinafter the end of winding machine 100 toward the discharge end of the feed conveyor 105 will be referred to as the forward end and the end toward the input end of the feed conveyor 105 will be referred to as the rearward end.

It is an important feature of the present invention that the transfer conveyor 101 and the feed conveyor I05 and the ironer 60 associated therewith are all of sufiicient width to accommodate a plurality of towels repsectively arranged thereon in a corresponding plurality of feed lanes, each of these feed lanes having a width only slightly greater than the width of the associated towel web 50 and being arranged substantially parallel to each other in side-by-side relationship. Referring to FIG. 15 of the drawings, it will be seen that ten such feed lanes, respectively designated by the letters A to J, inclusive, have been provided in the preferred embodiment of this invention, but it will of course be recognized that the machinery of this invention may be constructed so as to accommodate any desired number of such feed lanes. The transfer conveyor 101 and the feed conveyor 105 are each provided with ten pairs of endless conveyor belt halves, respectively centered in the ten feed lanes A to J. More particularly, in each of the feed lanes A to J, the transfer conveyor 101 is provided with a pair of substantially parallel spacedapart endless

conveyor belt halves

104a and 104b, respectively, disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal midline of the associated feed lane, and cooperating to define the associated conveyor belt 104. Similarly, the feed conveyor 105 is provided in each feed lane thereof with a pair of substantially parallel spaced-apart endless

conveyor belt halves

108a and 108b, respectively, disposed in longitudinal alignment with the corresponding pairs of

conveyor belt halves

104a and 104b, andcooperating to define the conveyo belts 108.

Connected to one end of the shaft 91 of the discharge roll 90 of the ironer 60 is a sprocket 95. Similarly, connected to the adjacent end of the shaft 106a of the feed conveyor drive roll 106 is a sprocket 124, the

sprockets

95 and 124 being interconnected by a drive connecting assembly 129, whereby the feed conveyor'105 is driven in the direction indicated at a speed having a predetermined fixed relationship to the speed of the ironer 60.

For each of the feed lanes A to J, the feed conveyor 105 is also provided with two control switches, respectively generally designated by the

numerals

340 and 375, and being disposed within the loop formed by the associated pair of

conveyor belt halves

108a and 108b. The control switch 340 is disposed adjacent to the upper or discharge end of the feed con veyor 105 and is provided with a movable contact 342a in the form of a generally hook-shaped wire resiliently urged into a normally open position extending upwardly between the associated 'pair of

conveyor belt halves

108a and 108!) and into the first feed path of the towel web 50 along the feed conveyor 105. The control switch 375 is disposed rearwardly of the switch 340 and is also provided with a movable contact 376 in the form of a gen erally hook-shaped wire resiliently urged into a normally open position extending upwardly between the tively disposed in the feed lanes A to .1. Each of the feed-directing assemblies 110 includes a pivot pin 1 13 disposed substantially normal to the upper and lower walls of the bridge member 111 and extending therethrough, the pivot pin 113 being mounted in a pair of axially aligned radially flanged bearings 114 respectively disposed in complementary openings in the upper and lower walls of the bridge member 111. The upper end of the pivot pin 113 may be externally threaded and secured to the bridge member 111 by a v nut 116. The lower end of the pivot pin 113 is received in a complementary opening 1 15a in a pivot block 1 15,

associated pair of

conveyor belt halves

108a and 108b' and into the first feed path of the towel web along the conveyor 105. The purpose of the control switches 340 and 375 will be described more fully hereinafter.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 through 17 of the drawings, there is provided adjacent to the upper end of the feed conveyor 105, a bridging member 1 11 spanning the feed lanes A to J, and supported at the opposite ends thereof on the end plates 112 of the winding machine frame a short distance above the conveyor belts 108 by suitable means. The bridging member 1 11 is disposed rearwardly of the dishcarge end of the feed conveyor 105 between the

switch contacts

342a and 376 and is preferably of tubular construction havinga substantially rectangular cross section, the bridge member 11 1 being turned slightly on its longitudinal axis so that its lower surface is substantially parallel to the plane of the feed conveyor 105. Mounted on the bridge member 111 are l0 identical feed-directing assemblies, each generally designated by the numeral 110, and respecthe pivot block having an arcuate lower surface and a flat upper surface disposed substantially parallel to the lower surface of the bridge member 111 and spaced a short distance therebelow. Disposed through another complementary opening in the pivot block 1 15, is a cylindrical core member 117 having a longitudinal axis which intersects the longitudinal axis of the pivot pin 113 at substantially right angles thereto. The lower end of the pivot pin 113 is secured to the cylindrical core member 117 intermediate the ends thereof, which ends are respectively equidistantly spaced outwardly from the opposite sides of. the pivot block 115. A pair of radially flanged bearings 119 are respectively fitted into the opposite ends of the cylindrical core 1 17, for supporting therethrough a shaft 118 coaxial with the cylindrical core member 117 and freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof. The opposite ends of the shaft 118 respectively extend outwardly beyond the opposite ends of the cylindrical core member 117 and respectively carry thereon a pair of guide rollers, generally designated by the numeral 120. Each of the guide rollers 120 is cylindrical in shape and is supported on the adjacent end of the :shaft 118 by

annular support spacers

121 and 122, the spacer 121 being disposed adjacent to the associated end of the cylindrical core member 117 and the spacer 122 being disposed adjacent to the outer end of the shaft 1 18 and the guide roller 120 and forming an end cap for the guide roller 120. The outer surface of each of the guide rollers 120 is coated with a coarse frictional material 123 for frictionally engaging an associated towel web 50 as will be described more fully hereinafter.

Each of the feed-directing assemblies 1 10 is also provided with a towel follower or sensing member, generally designated by the numeral 125, the follower 125 comprising a substantially flat, wedge-shaped plate 126 having a narrow front end overlying the upper surface of the pivot block 115 and secured thereto by suitable fasteners 127, and a wide rearward end disposed rearwardly of and below the pivot block 1 15. The rearward end of the plate 126 is provided on the opposite side edges thereof with a pair of downwardly extending, generally triangular wings 128. The rearward end of the plate 126 has a width substantially equal to the width of the associated feed lane, the downwardly extending wings 128 being adapted to straddle the associated towel web 50 in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter. The pivot block 115 and the shaft 1 18, guide rollers 120 and towel follower 125 coupled thereto, are all pivotally movable about the axis of the pivot pin 1 13 and the guide rollers 120 are freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 118, all for facilitating the feed-directing function of theassembly 110 as will be described in detail hereinafter.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a forward supporting framework, generally designated by the numeral 130 and preferably formed of steel, for supporting the winding units 150 of the towel winding machine 100'. The framework 130 includes a pair of upstanding posts 131 connected at the lower ends thereof to foot plates 132 which are supported upon the floor or other supporting surface 133. lnterconnecting the posts 131 at the upper ends thereof is a tubular cross beam 135 having a substantially rectangular cross section and disposed substantially horizontally. Respectively connected to and closing the opposite ends of the tubular cross beam 135 and extending upwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto are the pair of end plates 112, the upper ends of the plates 112 supporting the opposite ends of the feed conveyor drive 106a as described above. Also, extending between the end plates 112 just forwardly of the drive roll 106 and substantially parallel thereto is a cross bar 137 for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter. It will be noted that the end plates 112 cooperate with the hollow cross beam 135 to define therein a closed chamber 136.

Referring now also to FIGS. 7 to 9 of the drawings, there are provided a plurality of flat, relatively thin upstanding plates of different shapes, including upper support plates 140 and 1400, intermediate support plates 144 and lower support plates 147, all carried by the cross beam 135 and respectively disposed at the side boundaries of the feed lanes A to J substantially parallel to one another. More particularly, the support plate 140 lies in the vertical midplane of the winding machine 100 and separates the feed lane E from the feed lane F. The supportplate 140 is generally rectangular in shape and is provided at the upper end thereof with a forwardly and upwardly extending arm 141 having an opening in the upper end thereof for accommodating therethrough the drive shaft 106a of the feed conveyor 105. Formed in the rear edge of the support plate 140 is a right angle notch or recess 143 shaped complementary to the cross beam 135 and receiving the cross beam 135 therein, whereby the plate 140 abuts against and is welded to the front and bottom walls of the cross beam 135, all for securely supporting the mounting plate 140 on the cross beam 135. Extending vertically upwardly from the bottom edge of the support plate 140 adjacent to the front end thereof is a substantially rectangular slot 142. Disposed three lanes to either side of the support lane 141, i.e., between feed lanes 8 and C and between feed lanes H and J, are support plates 140a which are each constructed substantially identically to support plate 140 with the exception that the plates 140a are not provided with the mounting arm 141. The support plates 140a are each disposed vertically and are connected to the cross beam 135 in the same manner as is support plate 140.

Respectively disposed at the left-hand edge of feed lane A, between feed lanes C and D, between feed lanes F and G, and between feed lanes I and J, are four identically-constructed intermediate support plates 144, each of the support plates 144 being disposed parallel to the central support plate 140, but displaced a short distance downwardly and rearwardly therefrom.

The support plates 144 are all identically constructed and have an irregular shape provided at the upper rear comer thereof with a notch 146 for accommodating the cross beam 135 therein, whereby the support plates 144 are connected to the cross beam 135 by appropriate means such as welding. Extending vertically upwardly from the bottom edge of each of the support plates 144, approximately midway between the front and rear ends thereof, is a substantially rectangular slot 145. An arcuate recess 146a is formed in the top front edge of the plate 144.

Respectively disposed between the feed lanes A and B, between the feed lanes D and E, and between the feed lanes G and H, are three identically-constructed lower support plates 147, all disposed parallel to the intermediate support plates 144 but displaced downwardly and rearwardly a short distance therefrom. The support plates 147 are each provided at the upper end thereof with a notch 149 for accommodating the cross beam 135, whereby the support plates 147 are connected to the cross beam 135 by appropriate means such as welding. Extending vertically upwardly from the bottom end of each of the support plates 147, intermediate the front and rear ends thereof, is a substantially rectangular slot 148. An arcuate recess 149a is formed in the top front edge of the plate 147.

It will be noted that the

support plates

140, 140a, 144 and 147 comprise a total of ten support plates, and when the

support plates

140 and 140a are considered to be the same, it can be seen that these plates are arranged in an alternating pattern on the frame 130. Thus, beginning at the left-hand edge of feed lane A as viewed in FIG. 1, the plates are arranged from left to right in a repeating pattern as follows: an intermediate plate 144, a lower plate 147, an upper plate 140, an intermediate plate 144, a lower plate 147, etc., with a plate disposed at the left-hand boundary of each of the feed lanes A to J. Each cycle of this repeating pattern includes a set of three support plates, i.e., an upper support plate 140, an intermediate support plate 144 and a lower support plate 147, one of these sets of three support plates being illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10 of the drawings. Referring to FIG. 9 it can be seen that the support plates 140 (or 140a), 144 and 147 in each set of the pattern are staggered horizontally and vertically on the frame 130 in such a manner that the upper ends of the

slots

142, 145 and 148 are spaced equidistantly from one another. More particularly, the upper end of the slot 145 is disposed below and rearwardly of the upper end of the-slot 142, and the upper end of the slot 148 is disposed below and rearwardly of the upper end of the slot 145, all for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter.

Respectively mounted on the frame 130, and more particularly on the support plates 140 (or 140a), 144 and 147, are a plurality of winding units, generally designated by the numeral 150, equal in number to the feed lanes of the winding machine 100. The winding units 150 are all of identical construction whereby only one of these units will be described in detail. Referring, for example, to FIGS. 3 through 7 of the drawings, the winding unit 150 comprises a drive motor 155, a winding mandrel 160, and an ejector unit 80. The drive motor 155 is preferably a gear head motor of the constant-torque type and is provided with a generally cylindrical motor housing 151 and a generally cylindrical gear head housing 152 connected to the motor housing 151, with the longitudinal axis of the gear head housing 152 disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the motor housing 151. Spaced circumferentially around the right-hand end of the gear head housing 152, as viewed in FIG. 3, and extending outwardly therefrom are a plurality of mounting legs 153, connected at the outer ends thereof to a substantially circular mounting plate 154. In use, the mounting plate 154 is disposed parallel to the associated one of the support plates 140 (or 140a), 144 or 147 (a plate 144 is shown in FIG. 3) and is fastened to the left-hand side thereof (as viewed in FIG. 3) by suitable fastening means such as screws or bolts for supporting the drive motor 155 on the support plate 144. The mounting plate 154 is so oriented that the axis thereof passes through the vertical midline of the slot 145 in the support plate 144, a short distance below the upper end of the slot 145. The output shaft of the drive motor 155 is provided with a worm 156 adapted for meshing engagement with a worm gear 157 in the gear head housing 152. Connected to the opposite ends of the gear head housing 152 and coaxial therewith are a pair of bearings 158. The mandrel 160 is disposed substantially horizontally and has a cylindrical inner portion 161 (disposed to the left in FIG. 3) and an outer portion 162, the inner portion 161 extending through the slot 145 in the support plate 144, through a complementary opening centrally disposed in the mounting plate 154 and through the bearings 158 and gear head housing 152 coaxial therewith, the inner portion 161 of the mandrel 160 being coupled to the worm gear 157, whereby the mandrel 160 is rotatably driven about the longitudinal axis thereof in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 9 and 10. The outer portion 162 of the mandrel 160 extends to the right of the support plate 144, as viewed in FIG. 3, and is substantially hex agonal in transverse cross section, being provided with six equal outer side faces 163. The mandrel 160 is of hollow metal tubular construction and is closed by a plug 166 force fed into the free distal end 164 thereof to define an enclosed chamber 168 therein. Formed in one of the side faces 163 of the mandrel 160 are a plurality of elongated slots or openings 165 communicating with the chamber 168. j

The towel winding machine 100 is also provided with a suction pump 1.70, which is coupled by means of a connecting pipe or conduit 171 to a fitting 172 extending through one wall of the hollow cross beam 135, whereby communication is provided between the suction pump 170 and chamber 136 in the cross beam 135. A plurality of input fittings 173 equal in number to the suction effect through the openings 165 for attracting the leading end of the towel web 51]) to the mandrel 160 when the towel web 50 is fed to the vicinity of the mandrel 160 for automatically initiating the winding of the towelweb 50 on the mandrel 160. Preferably, the suction pump 170 maintains a pressure within the chamber 168 of approximately 10 inches of mercury column, it having been found that this degree of vacuum will produce a sufficient suction through the openings 165 to effectively capture the leading end. 52 of the towel web 50.

The winding unit 150 is also provided with an ejector unit, generally designated by the numeral 180, the ejec tor unit 180 preferably being fluid-actuated and including an air cylinder 181 provided with an externally threaded stud 182 at one end thereof. Threadedly engaged with the stud 182 ia an annular mounting bracket 183 which abuts against the left-hand side of the support plate 144, as viewed in FIG. 3, immediately below the drive motor mounting plate 154. The cylinder 181 is disposed substantially horizontally and is provided with a movable piston 184 therein, the right-hand end of the piston 184 being externally threaded and extendwinding units 150 are also provided through the wall of the cross beam 135. Coupled to each of the fittings 173 is a lead conduit or pipe 174 which is in turn coupled to a control valve 175, which is in turn coupled to connector 178, the connector 178 being coupled to the open inner end of the mandrel 160 by an air-tight nylon coupler 167 which permits free rotation of the mandrel 160 therein. Thus, it can be seen that the hollow cross beam 135 acts as a manifold between the suction pump 170 and the mandrels 160 of each of the winding units 150. The control valve 175 is preferably solenoidactuated, and is provided with a solenoid armature 373 and a bias spring 177, the details of operation of the control valve 175 to be described hereinafter.

When the valve 175 is open, the suction pump 17 will draw air from the chamber 168 in the mandrel 160, thereby causing an area of reduced pressure in the chamber 168 and a consequent flow of air into the chamber 168 through the openings 165 in the side of the mandrel 160. There is thus created a vacuum or ing outwardly beyond the stud 182. The longitudinal axis of the piston 184 passes through the vertical midline of the slot of the support plate 144 substantially normal thereto, with the threaded end of the piston 184 extending through the slot 145. A flat, upstanding ejector arm 185 is coupled to the piston 184, the threaded end of the piston 184 being received through a complementary opening in the ejector arm 185 and secured thereto by a nut 186. The ejector arm 185 is shaped complementary to the slot 145 in the support plate 144 and has a thickness slightly less than the thickness of the support plate 144,, whereby the ejector arm 185 may be nested within the slot 145. At the upper end of the ejector arm 185 is a circular opening 187 for accommodating the mandrel therethrough. The cylinder 181 is provided with two

air inlet ports

188 and 189 adapted for coupling to a suitable source of air (not shown) for moving the piston 184 between an ejecting position illustrated in phantom in FIG. 3, and a retracted position illustrated in solid line in FIG. 3. In the ejecting position thereof, the piston 184 is fully extended to the right of the cylinder 181, with the ejector arm 185 being disposed at the free distal end 164 of the mandrel 160. When the piston 184 is in its retracted position, it is fully withdrawn into the cylinder 181 with the ejector arm 185 disposed completely within the slot 145 in the support plate 144 so as not to interfere with the winding of the towel web 50 on the mandrel 160 as will be described below.

It will be noted that the mandrel 160 has a length nearly equal to twice the width of the associated feed lane, whereby the tapered portion 162 of the mandrel extends substantially across the associated feed lane, while the cylindrical end 161 of the mandrel 160 and the drive motor 155 coupled thereto are disposed in longitudinal alignment with an adjacent feed lane, viz., the feed lane immediately to the left of the feed lane associated with the winding unit 150. In addition, it will be noted that the cylinder 181 of the ejector unit is also disposed in longitudinal alignment with the feed lane adjacent to the left-hand side of the associated feed lane. In fact, the cylinder 181 has a length greater than the length of the feed lane, whereby it extends even beyond the adjacent feed lane, as indicated, for

example, in FIG. 8. Furthermore, each of the winding units 150 is provided with a towel roll receptacle or catcher 177, which is of a wire or rod mesh construction, and is disposed beneath and immediately to the right of the free distal end 164 of the mandrel 160, as indicated in FIGS. 7 and 8. Since the mandrel 160 extends across substantially the entire width of the associated feed lane, the roll receptacle 177 is disposed in longitudinal alignment with the next adjacent feed lane to the right of the associated feed lane as viewed in FIG. 8, the receptacle 177 being supported between the support plates bordering the adjacent feed lane by means of a mounting rod 179, the receptacle 177 being tilted slightly downwardly and forwardly of the winding machine 100 and being provided with a plurality of upturned prongs 177a at the forward end thereof for retaining the associated towel roll thereon. Thus, it can be seen that while the winding unit 150 is associated with only one of the feed lanes A to J, it has an overall width substantially equal to the combined widths of three such feed lanes. For example, referring to FIG. 8, the winding unit 150 associated with feed lane G has a mandrel 160 with the tapered section 162 disposed in feed lane G, and with the cylindrical section 161 and drive motor 155 and ejector cylinder 181 disposed in alignment with feed lane F, and with the roll receptacle 177 disposed in feed lane H.

Accordingly, in order to accommodate the winding units 150 in a space having approximately the same width as the feed conveyor 105, i.e., a width substantially equal to the combined widths of the feed lanes A to J, it is necessary to stagger the winding units 150 on the frame 130. This staggering is accomplished by the staggering of the support plates 140 (or 140a), 144 and 147 described above. Considering, for example, a set of three such support plates as is set forth in FIG. 9, it will be apparent that when the winding units 150 for each of the feed lanes A to J are mounted on the support plates as described above, i.e., with the mandrel 160 and the ejector arm 185 disposed in the rectangular slot of the associated support plate, there will result a horizontal and vertical staggering of the winding units 150 wherein a winding unit 150 associated with an intermediate support plate 144 is disposed below and rearwardly of a winding unit 150 associated with an upper support plate 140 and is disposed above and forwardly of a winding unit 150 associated with a lower support plate 147. Thus, neither the drive motor 155 nor the ejector cylinder 181 nor the roll receptacle 177 of the winding unit 150 will interfere with the mandrel 160 of an adjacent winding unit 150, but all ten of the winding units 150 may be completely accommodated in a space having a width only slightly greater than the combined widths of the feed lanes A to J.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that this staggered arrangement of the winding units 150 results in a pattern wherein each of the intermediate feed lanes B to I has the mandrel 160 of the associated winding unit 150 disposed therein, with the drive motor 155 and ejector cylinder 181 of one adjacent winding unit 150 and with the roll receptacle 177 of the other adjacent winding unit 150 disposed in longitudinal alignment with the feed lane but displaced therefrom. One of the end feed lanes, i.e., feed lane J, has the mandrel 160 of the associated winding unit 150 disposed therein and has the towel roll receptacle 177 associated with the feed lane I disposed in longitudinal alignment with the feed lane J but displaced therefrom, there being no drive motor 155 in longitudinal alignment with the feed lane J. The other end feed lane, i.e., feed lane A, has the mandrel 160 of the associated winding unit disposed therein, and has the drive motor 155 associated with the feed lane B disposed in longitudinal alignment with the feed lane A but displaced therefrom, there being no roll receptacle 177 in alignment with the feed lane A. It will also be noted that the framework 130 must be slightly wider than the total width of the feed lanes A to J in order to accommodate the drive motor 155 associated with the feed land A and the roll receptacle 177 associated with the feed lane J.

Referring now to FIG. 10 of the drawings, it will be seen that when the leading end 52 of a towel 50 is fed from the discharge end of the feed conveyor it falls vertically under the force of gravity to the associated winding unit 150. Accordingly, it is desirable that the associated winding unit 150 be so positioned on the frame that the mandrel 160 will lie directly beneath the discharge end of the feed conveyor 105 so that the leading end of the associated towel web may fall directly thereupon. However, by reason of the horizontal staggering of the winding units 150 described above, only certain ones of the winding units 150 may be so positioned. As described above the winding units 150 have been arranged in three vertically spacedapart horizontal levels, an upper level including the three winding units 150 associated with the upper support plates (or 140a), an intermediate level including the four winding units associated with the intermediate support plates 144 and a lower level including the three winding units 150 associated with the lower support plates 147. The winding units 150 have been so arranged on the frame 130 that the mandrels of the upper level winding units 150 are disposed directly beneath the discharge end of' the feed conveyor 105, whereby the leading ends 52 of the associated towel webs 50 may fall directly onto these upper level mandrels 160. However, the intermediate level and the lower level mandrels 160 are displaced rearwardly of the discharge end of the feed conveyor 105, and there is therefore provided a plurality of guide chute assemblies, generally designated by the numeral 190, for respectively guiding the associated towel webs 50 to the mandrels 160 of these rearwardly displaced winding units 150.

More particularly, each of the lower level and intermediate level winding units 150 is provided with a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart curved guide rods 191 disposed in the associated feed'lane, each of the guide rods 191 being connected at the upper end thereof to the cross bar 137 and extending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom to a point above and rearwardly of the portion of the adjacent winding unit 150 aligned with the associated feed lane. Each of the intermediate level winding units 150 is provided with a curved guide chute 192 which may preferably be formed of sheet metal and extends downwardly and rearwardly from the rearward end of the associated guide rods 191, behind the towel receptacle 177 the adjacent winding unit 150 aligned with the associated feed lane, and terminating in a lower end disposed directly above the associated mandrel 160, the guide chute 192 cooperating with the associated guide rods 191 for guiding the leading end 52 of the associated towel web 50 to the mandrel 160 of the associated intermediate level winding

Claims

1. An automatic elongated towel winder comprising a support frame, a hollow mandrel having an open end mounted on said frame and having a closed free distal end and having an opening in the side thereof, drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof in a predetermined direction, feed apparatus disposed adjacent to and above said mandrel for feeding an elongated towel to the side of the mandrel in the direction of rotation thereof, a suction pump connected to the open end of said mandrel for causing an area of reduced pressure within said mandrel and a consequent flow of air toward and through said opening, the flow of air toward and through said opening serving to move the leading end of the towel fed from said feed apparatus toward said mandrel and causing the leading end of the towel to adhere to said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating the winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, and a guide member carried by said frame on the side of said mandrel in the direction of rotation thereof and extending beneath said mandrel a short distance therefrom, said guide member guiding the leading end of the towel from said feed apparatus around said mandrel in the direction of rotation thereof and holding the leading end of the towel closely adjacent to said mandrel to facilitate the pickup of the leading end of the towel by the flow of air toward said mandrel, the end of said guide member extending under said mandrel being provided with a toothed edge to facilitate separation of the guided towel from said guide member under the action of the flow of air through said opening, whereby an elongated towel may be automatically fed to said rotating mandrel and wound in a roll thereon.

2. An automatic elongated towel winder comprising a support frame, a mandrel mounted on said frame and rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, normally de-actuated drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, feed apparatus mounted adjacent to said mandrel for feeding an elongated towel to said mandrel, capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating the winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, and control apparatus coupled to said drive means and responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward said mandrel for actuating said drive means, whereby an elongated towel may be automatically fed to said rotating mandrel and wound in a roll thereon.

3. The towel winder set forth in claim 2, wherein said control apparatus comprises an electric circuit adapted for coupling to a source of electric power.

4. The towel winder set forth in claim 2, wherein said control apparatus includes means responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the towel from said feed apparatus for deactuating said drive means.

5. An automatic elongated towel winder comprising a support frame, a mandrel mounted on said frame and rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, feed apparatus mounted adjacent to said mandrel for feeding an elongated towel to said mandrel, normally de-actuated capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating the winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, and control apparatus coupled to said capture means and responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward said mandrel for actuating said capture means, whereby an elongated towel may be automatically fed to said rotating mandrel and wound in a roll thereon.

6. The towel winder set forth in claim 5, wherein said control apparatus includes means responsive to the intiation of the winding of the towel on said mandrel for deactuating said capture means.

7. An automatic elongated towel winder comprising a support frame, a mandrel having a supported end mounted on said frame and a free distal end, said mandrel being rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, feed apparatus mounted adjacent to said mandrel for feeding an elongated towel to said mandrel, an ejector carried by said frame and movable with respect to said mandrel for removing the wound towel roll therefrom at the free end thereof, and control apparatus coupled to said ejector and responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the towel from said feed apparatus for actuating said ejector to remove the wound towel roll from said mandrel, whereby an elongated towel may be fed to said rotating mandrel and wound in a roll thereon and automatically removed therefrom when the roll is completely wound.

8. The towel winder set forth in claim 7, wherein said control apparatus includes means responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward said mandrel for deactuating said ejector.

9. The towel winder set forth in claim 7, wherein said ejector includes an ejector member movable between a retracted position and an ejecting position, said control apparatus includes means responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the towel from said feed apparatus for moving said ejector member to the ejecting position thereof for causing said member to engage the wound towel roll and remove the towel roll from said mandrel at the free end thereof, said control apparatus includes means responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward said mandrel for moving said ejector member back to the retracted position thereof.

10. An automatic elongated towel winder comprising a support frame, a mandrel having a supported end mounted on said frame and a free distal end, said mandrel being rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, feed apparatus mounted adjacent to said mandrel for feeding an elongated towel to said mandrel, capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating the winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, an ejector carried by said frame and movable with respect to said mandrel between a retracted condition and an ejecting condition, movement of said ejector from the retracted condition to the ejecting condition thereof serving to remove the towel roll from said mandrel at the free end thereof, and control apparatus coupled to said drive means and to said ejector and responsive to the movement of said ejector to the ejecting condition thereof for actuating said drive means, said control apparatus being responsive to the passage of the leading end of the next towel toward said mandrel for moving said ejector to the retracted condition thereof, said contRol apparatus being responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the towel from said feed apparatus for deactuating said drive means and for moving said ejector to the ejecting condition thereof, whereby elongated towels may be automatically fed to said rotating mandrel and wound on a roll thereon and removed therefrom when the roll is completely wound.

11. The towel winder set forth in claim 10, wherein said control apparatus comprises an electric circuit adapted for coupling to a source of electric power.

12. The towel winder set forth in claim 10, wherein said control apparatus includes means responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward said mandrel for holding said drive means in an actuated condition after the return of said ejector to the retracted position thereof.

13. An automatic elongated towel winder comprising a support frame, a mandrel mounted on said frame and rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, feed apparatus mounted adjacent to said mandrel for feeding an elongated towel to said mandrel, capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating the winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, and control apparatus coupled to said drive means and to said capture means and responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward said mandrel for actuating said drive means and said capture means, whereby an elongated towel may be automatically fed to said rotating mandrel and wound in a roll thereon.

14. The towel winder set forth in claim 13, wherein said control apparatus comprises an electric circuit adapted for coupling to a source of electric power, said control apparatus being responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the towel from said feed apparatus for deactuating said drive means, said control apparatus being responsive to the initiation of the winding of the towel on said mandrel for deactuating said capture means.

15. An automatic elongated towel winder comprising a support frame, a mandrel having a supported end mounted on said frame and a free distal end, said mandrel being rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, normally de-actuated drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, feed apparatus mounted adjacent to said mandrel for feeding an elongated towel to said mandrel, capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating the winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, an ejector carried by said frame for removing the wound towel roll from said mandrel at the free end thereof, and control apparatus coupled to said drive means and to said ejector and responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward said mandrel for actuating said drive means, said control apparatus includes means responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the towel from said feed apparatus for actuating said ejector to remove the wound towel roll from said mandrel, whereby an elongated towel may be fed to said rotating mandrel and wound in a roll thereon and automatically removed therefrom when the roll is completely wound.

16. The towel winder set forth in claim 15, wherein said control apparatus includes means responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward said mandrel for deactuating said ejector, and means responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the towel from said feed apparatus for deactuating said drive means.

17. An automatic elongated towel winder comprising a support frame, a mandrel having a supported end mounted on said frame and a free distal end, said mandrel being rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongateD towel into a roll thereon, drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, feed apparatus mounted adjacent to said mandrel for feeding an elongated towel to said mandrel, capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating the winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, an ejector carried by said frame for removing the wound towel roll from said mandrel at the free end thereof, and control apparatus coupled to said capture means and to said ejector and responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward said mandrel for actuating said capture means, said control apparatus being responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the towel from said feed apparatus for actuating said ejector to remove the wound towel roll from said mandrel, whereby an elongated towel may be fed to said rotating mandrel and wound in a roll thereon and automatically removed therefrom when the roll is completely wound.

18. The towel winder set forth in claim 17, wherein said control apparatus includes means responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward said mandrel for deactuating said ejector, and means responsive to the initiation of the winding of the towel on said mandrel for deactuating said capture means.

19. An automatic elongated towel winder comprising a support frame, a mandrel having a supported end mounted on said frame and a free distal end, said mandrel being rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, feed apparatus mounted adjacent to said mandrel for feeding an elongated towel to said mandrel, capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating the winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, an ejector carried by said frame for removing the wound towel roll from said mandrel at the free end thereof, and control apparatus coupled to said drive means and to said capture means and to said ejector and responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward said mandrel for actuating said drive means and said capture means, said control apparatus being responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the towel from said feed apparatus actuating said ejector to remove the wound towel roll from said mandrel, whereby the elongated towel may be automatically fed to said rotating mandrel and wound in a roll thereon and removed therefrom when the roll is completely wound.

20. The towel set forth in claim 19, wherein said control apparatus includes means responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward said mandrel for deactuating said ejector, means responsive to the initiation of the winding of the towel of said mandrel for deactuating said capture means, and means responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the towel from said feed apparatus for deactuating said drive means.

21. An automatic elongated towel winder comprising a support frame, a mandrel having a supported end mounted on said frame and a free distal end, said mandrel being rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, feed apparatus mounted adjacent to said mandrel for feeding an elongated towel to said mandrel, capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating the winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, an ejector carried by said frame and movable between a retracted condition and an ejecting condition, movement of said ejector from the retracted condition to the ejecting condition thereof serving to remove the towel roll from said mandrel at the free end thereof, and control apparatUs coupled to said drive means and to said capture means and to said ejector and responsive to the movement of said ejector to the ejecting condition thereof for actuating said drive means, said control apparatus being responsive to the passage of the leading end of the next towel toward said mandrel for moving said ejector to the retracted condition thereof and for actuating said capture means, said control apparatus being responsive to the initiation of the winding of the towel on said mandrel for deactuating said capture means, said control apparatus being responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the towel from said feed apparatus for deactuating said drive means and for moving said ejector to the ejecting condition thereof, whereby elongated towels may be automatically fed to said rotating mandrel and wound on a roll thereon and removed therefrom when the roll is completely wound.

22. The towel winder set forth in claim 21, wherein said control apparatus includes means responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward said mandrel for holding said drive means in an actuated condition after the return of said ejector to the retracted position thereof.

23. An elongated towel winder for use with an associated source of towels, said winder comprising a support frame, a mandrel mounted on said frame and rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, an inclined feed conveyor having an input end disposed adjacent to and below the source of towels and an upper discharge end disposed adjacent to said mandrel, a first feed path for feeding towels to said mandrel in a predetermined direction extending from the source of towels downwardly to the input end of said feed conveyor and along said conveyor to the discharge end thereof, a second feed path for feeding towels to said mandrel in the predetermined direction and extending from the source of towels directly to the discharge end of said conveyor out of contact with the input end thereof, and a towel from the source following said first feed path until the leading end of the towel is engaged by said mandrel, the initiation of the winding of the towel on said mandrel causing tension in the towel for thereby moving the towel from said first feed path to said second feed path, a sensing device mounted adjacent to said conveyor and sensing the towel in said second feed path for detecting deviation of the towel from the predetermined direction, and direction correcting means acting upon the towel in said second feed path and coupled to said sensing device and responsive to the detection thereby of deviation of the feed towel from the predetermined direction for redirecting the towel into the predetermined direction, whereby an elongated towel may be feed to said rotating mandrel in a predetermined direction and wound on a roll thereon.

24. The towel winder set forth in claim 23, and further including a transfer conveyor disposed adjacent to the input end of said feed conveyor and feeding the towels from the source of towels to the input end of said feed conveyor along said first feed path, the surface speed of said transfer conveyor being greater than the surface speed of the towels fed from the source for preventing folding of towels as they are fed from the source.

25. An elongated towel winder for use with an associated source of towels, said winder comprising a support frame, a mandrel mounted on said frame and rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, an inclined feed conveyor having an input end disposed adjacent to and below the source of towels and an upper discharge end disposed adjacent to said mandrel, capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mAndrel for automatically initiating the winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, a first feed path for feeding towels to said mandrel in a predetermined direction extending from the source of towels downwardly to the input end of said conveyor and along said conveyor to the discharge end thereof, a second feed path for feeding towels to said mandrel in the predetermined direction and extending from the source of towels directly to the discharge end of said conveyor, a towel from the source following said first feed path until the leading end of the towel is engaged by said mandrel, the initiation of the winding of the towel on said mandrel causing tension in the towel for thereby moving the towel from said first feed path to said second feed path, an ejector carried by said frame for removing the wound towel roll from said mandrel at the free end thereof, a first detector disposed in said first feed path for sensing the presence of a towel therein, a second detector disposed in both said first and second feed paths for sensing the presence of a towel in either of said first and second paths, control apparatus coupled to said first and second detectors and to said drive means and to said capture means and to said ejector and responsive to the sensing of a towel in said first path by said first and second detectors for actuating said drive means and said capture means, said control apparatus being responsive to the sensing by said first detector of the absence of the towel from said first path when the towel is moved to said second path for deactuating said capture means, said control apparatus being responsive to the sensing by said second detector of the absence of the towel from said first and second paths when the trailing end of the towel passes from said feed apparatus for deactuating said drive means and for actuating said ejector, whereby an elongated towel may be automatically fed to said rotating mandrel and wound in a roll thereon and removed therefrom when the roll is completely wound.

26. The towel winder set forth in claim 25, wherein said control apparatus comprises an electric circuit adapted for coupling to a source of electric power.

27. The towel winder set forth in claim 25, wherein said control apparatus comprises an electric circuit adapted for coupling to a source of electric power, said first detector comprises a first switch having a movable contact disposed in said first feed path and engageable by a towel therein for closing said first switch, and said second detector comprises a second switch having a movable contact disposed in both said first and second feed paths and engageable by a towel in either of said paths for closing said second switch.

28. The towel winder set forth in claim 25, wherein said feed conveyor includes a pair of spaced apart parallel conveyor belts, the movable contacts of said first and second switches extending between said pair of conveyor belts and into said feed paths.

29. The towel winder set forth in claim 25, wherein said control apparatus includes an interlock switch coupled to the source of towels for deactuating said towel winder upon deactuation of the source of towels.

30. An elongated towel winder for use with an associated source of towels, said winder comprising a support frame, a mandrel mounted on said frame and rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, an inclined feed conveyor having an input end disposed adjacent to and below the source of towels and an upper discharge end disposed adjacent to said mandrel, capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating the winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, a first feed path for feeding towels to said mandrel in a predetermined direction extending from the source of towels downardly to the input end of saiD conveyor and along said conveyor to the discharge end thereof, a second feed path for feeding towels to said mandrel in the predetermined direction and extending from the source of towels directly to the discharge end of said conveyor, a towel from the source following said first feed path until the leading end of the towel is engaged by said mandrel, the initiation of the winding of the towel on said mandrel causing tension in the towel for thereby moving the towel from said first feed path to said second feed path, a sensing device mounted adjacent to said conveyor and sensing the towel in said second feed path for detecting deviation of the towel from the predetermined direction, and direction correcting means acting upon the towel in said second feed path and coupled to said sensing device and responsive to the detection thereby of deviation of the fed towel from the predetermined direction for redirecting the towel into the predetermined direction, an ejector carried by said frame for removing the wound towel roll from said mandrel at the free end thereof, a first detector disposed in said first feed path for sensing the presence of a towel therein, a second detector disposed in both said first and second feed paths for sensing the presence of a towel in either of said first and second paths, control apparatus coupled to said first and second detectors and to said drive means and to said capture means and to said ejector and responsive to the sensing of a towel in said first path by said first and second detectors for actuating said drive means and said capture means, said control apparatus being responsive to the sensing by said first detector of the absence of the towel from said first path when the towel is moved to said second path for deactuating said capture means, said control apparatus being responsive to the sensing by said second detector of the absence of the towel from said first and second paths when the trailing end of the towel passes from said feed apparatus for deactuating said drive means and for actuating said ejector, whereby an elongated towel may be automatically fed to said rotating mandrel in a predetermined direction and wound in a roll thereon and removed therefrom when the roll is completely wound.

31. A towel winder for automatically winding a plurality of elongated towels, said winder comprising a support frame, feed apparatus for feeding a plurality of elongated towels respectively along a plurality of substantially parallel feed lanes including two outer feed lanes and at least one intermediate feed lane all arranged in side-by-side relationship, each of said feed lanes having a width only slightly greater than the width of the associated towel, a plurality of winding units carried by said frame and equal in number to said feed lanes, each of said winding units including a mandrel disposed in an associated one of said feed lanes transversely thereof and extending substantially thereacross, said mandrel being rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, drive means disposed adjacent to one side of the associated one feed lane and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, and capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, the drive means for one of said outer feed lanes and said intermediate feed lanes being respectively disposed in longitudinal alignment with adjacent feed lanes but displaced therefrom, said winding units being arranged on said frame so that each of said intermediate feed lanes and the other of said outer feed lanes includes the mandrel of the associated winding unit with the drive means of an adjacent winding unit displaced from the lane but in longitudinal alignment therewith, whereby a plurality of elongated towels may be respectively automatically fed to corresponding ones of said rotating mandrels and wound in rolls tHereon in a space having a width only slightly greater than the combined widths of the towels.

32. The towel winder set forth in claim 31, wherein the number of said winding units is ten.

33. The towel winder set forth in claim 31, wherein said winding units are vertically staggered on said frame into upper and lower levels, and said winding units are horizontally staggered on said frame so that the winding units in the lower level are disposed rearwardly of the winding units in the upper level.

34. The towel winder set forth in claim 31, wherein said frame is of hollow construction, and each of said mandrels is hollow having an open end mounted on said frame and having a closed free distal end and having an opening in the side thereof, and wherein said capture means includes a suction pump coupled to said hollow frame, and means coupling said hollow frame to the open ends of each of said mandrels and causing an area of reduced pressure within said mandrels and a consequent flow of air toward and through said openings, the flow of air toward and through said openings serving to move the leading ends of the towels from said feed apparatus toward said mandrels and causing the leading ends of the towels to adhere to said rotating mandrels and automatically initiating the winding of the towels into towel rolls on said mandrels.

35. A towel winder for automatically winding a plurality of elongated towels, said winder comprising a support frame, feed apparatus for feeding a plurality of elongated towels respectively along a plurality of substantially parallel feed lanes including two outer feed lanes and at least one intermediate feed lane all arranged in side-by-side relationship, each of said feed lanes having a width only slightly greater than the width of the associated towel, a plurality of winding units carried by said frame and equal in number to said feed lanes, each of said winding units including a mandrel disposed in an associated one of said feed lanes transversely thereof and extending substantially thereacross, said mandrel being rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, drive means disposed adjacent to one side of the associated one feed lane and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, and capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, the drive means for one of said outer feed lanes and said intermediate feed lanes being respectively disposed in longitudinal alignment with adjacent feed lanes but displaced therefrom, said winding units being staggered vertically and horizontally on said frame into upper and lower levels so that each of said intermediate feed lanes and the other of said outer feed lanes includes the mandrel of the associated winding unit with the drive means of an adjacent winding unit disposed in longitudinal alignment with the lane but displaced therefrom, and guide chutes equal in number to the mandrels in said lower level and respectively disposed in the feed lanes associated with said lower level mandrels, said guide chutes extending between said feed apparatus and corresponding ones of said lower level mandrels for respectively guiding the associated towels past the upper level drive means aligned with the associated feed lanes and to said lower level mandrels, whereby a plurality of elongated towels may be respectively automatically fed to corresponding ones of said rotating mandrels and wound in rolls thereon in a space having a width only slightly greater than the combined widths of the towels.

36. The towel winder set forth in claim 35, wherein said winding units are arranged on said frame so that the winding units in said lower level are disposed rearwardly of the winding units in said upper level.

37. A towel winder for automatically winding a plurality of elongated towels, said winder comprising a support frame, feed apparatUs for feeding a plurality of elongated towels respectively along a plurality of substantially parallel feed lanes including two outer feed lanes and at least one intermediate feed lane all arranged in side-by-side relationship, each of said feed lanes having a width only slightly greater than the width of the associated towel, a plurality of winding units carried by said frame and equal in number to said feed lanes, each of said winding units including a mandrel disposed in an associated one of said feed lanes transversely thereof and extending substantially thereacross, said mandrel being rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, drive means disposed in a feed lane adjacent to one side of the associated one feed lane and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, and capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, the drive means for one of said outer feed lanes and said intermediate feed lanes being respectively disposed in longitudinal alignment with adjacent feed lanes but displaced therefrom, said winding units being arranged on said frame so that each of said intermediate feed lanes and the other of said outer feed lanes includes the mandrel of the associated winding unit with the drive means of an adjacent winding unit displaced from the lane but in longitudinal alignment therewith, and control apparatus coupled to said drive means and to said capture means in each of said winding units and responsive to the passage of the leading end of a towel in any of said feed lanes toward the associated mandrel for actuating the associated drive means and the associated capture means, whereby a plurality of elongated towels may be respectively automatically fed to associated ones of said rotating mandrels and wound in rolls thereon in a space having a width only slightly greater than the combined widths for the towels.

38. The towel winder set forth in claim 37, wherein said control apparatus comprises an electric circuit adapted for coupling to a source of electric power.

39. The towel winder set forth in claim 37, wherein said control apparatus includes means responsive to the passage of the trailing end of a towel from said feed apparatus for deactuating the associated drive means, and means responsive to the initiation of the winding of a towel on the associated mandrel for actuating the associated capture means.

40. A towel winder for automatically winding a plurality of elongated towels, said winder comprising a support frame, feed apparatus for feeding a pluralty of elongated towels respectively along a plurality of substantially parallel feed lanes including two outer feed lanes and at least one intermediate feed lane all arranged in side-by-side relationship, each of said feed lanes having a width only slightly greater than the width of the associated towel, a plurality of winding units carried by said frame and equal in number to said feed lanes, each of said winding units including a mandrel having a supported end mounted on said frame and a free distal end and disposed in an associated one of said feed lanes transversely thereof and extending substantially thereacross, said mandrel being rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, drive means disposed adjacent to one side of the associated one feed lane and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, an ejector for removing the wound towel roll from said mandrel at the free end thereof, and a towel receptacle disposed adjacent to the other side of the associated one feed lane for receiving the ejected towel roll from said mandrel, the drive means for one of said outer Feed lanes and said intermediate feed lanes and the receptacles for the other of said outer feed lanes and said intermediate feed lanes being respectively disposed in longitudinal alignment with adjacent feed lanes but displaced therefrom, said winding units being arranged on said frame so that each of said intermediate feed lanes includes the mandrel of the associated winding unit with the drive means of one adjacent winding unit and the towel receptacle of another adjacent winding unit disposed in longitudinal alignment with the lane but displaced therefrom, whereby a plurality of elongated towels may be respectively automatically fed to corresponding ones of said rotating mandrels and wound in rolls thereon and removed therefrom when the rolls are completely wound in a space having a width only slightly greater than the combined widths of the towels.

41. The towel winder set forth in claim 40, wherein the number of said winding units is ten.

42. The towel winder set forth in claim 40, wherein said drive of units are vertically staggered on said frame into upper and lower and intermediate levels, and said winding units are horizontally staggered on said frame so that the winding units in the intermediate level are disposed rearwardly of the winding units in the upper level and are disposed forwardly of the winding units in the lower level.

43. The towel winder set forth in claim 40, wherein said ejector includes an ejector member carried by said frame adjacent to said mandrel and movable between a retracted position and ejecting position, and a piston assembly connected to said ejector member for effecting movement thereof, said piston assembly being disposed to said one side of the associated feed lane in longitudinal alignment with the adjacent feed lane but displaced therefrom.

44. A towel winder for automatically winding a plurality of elongated towels, said winder comprising a support frame, feed apparatus for feeding a plurality of elongated towels respectively along a plurality of substantially parallel feed lanes including two outer feed lanes and at least one intermediate feed lane all arranged in side-by-side relationship, each of said feed lanes having a width only slightly greater than the width of the associated towel, a plurality of winding units carried by said frame and equal in number to said feed lanes, each of said winding units including a mandrel having a supported end mounted on said frame and a free distal end and disposed in an associated one of said feed lanes transversely thereof and extending substantially thereacross, said mandrel being rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, drive means disposed adjacent to one side of the associated one feed lane and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, an ejector for removing the wound towel roll from said mandrel at the free end thereof, and a towel receptacle disposed adjacent to the other side of the associated one feed lane for receiving the ejected towel roll from said mandrel, said winding units being staggered vertically and horizontally on said frame into upper and lower and intermediate levels so that each of said intermediate feed lanes includes the mandrel of the associated winding unit with the ejector of one adjacent winding unit and the drive means of another adjacent winding unit disposed in longitudinal alignment with the lane but displaced therefrom, first guide chutes equal in number to the mandrels in said intermediate level and respectively disposed in the feed lanes associated with said intermediate level mandrels, said first guide chutes extending between said feed apparatus and the corresponding ones of said intermediate level mandrels for respectively guiding the associated towels past the parts of adjacent upper level wiNding units aligned with the associated feed lanes and to said intermediate level mandrels, and second guide chutes equal in number to the mandrels in said lower level and respectively disposed in the feed lanes associated with said lower level mandrels, said second guide chutes extending between said feed apparatus and the corresponding ones of said lower level mandrels for respectively guiding the associated towels past the parts of adjacent upper level and intermediate level winding units aligned with the associated feed lanes and to said lower level mandrels, whereby a plurality of elongated towels may be respectively automatically fed to corresponding ones of said rotating mandrels and wound in rolls thereon and removed therefrom when the rolls are completely wound in a space having a width only slightly greater than the combined widths of the towels.

45. The towel winder set forth in claim 44, wherein the number of said winding units is ten.

46. The towel winder set forth in claim 44, wherein said winding units are arranged on said frame so that the winding units in the intermediate level are disposed rearwardly of the winding units in the upper level and are disposed forwardly of the winding units in the lower level.

47. The towel winder set forth in claim 44, wherein each of said first guide shutes comprises an upper portion extending from said feed apparatus to the upper level of winding units, and a lower portion coupled to said upper portion and extending therefrom along the associated feed lane behind the portion of the upper level winding unit alinged with the associated feed lane and to the associated intermediate level mandrel, and each of said second guide shutes includes an upper portion extending from said feed apparatus to the upper level of winding units, and a lower portion coupled to said second guide chute upper portion and extending downwardly along the associated feed lane behind the portions of the upper level and intermediate level winding units aligned with the associated feed lane and to the associated lower level mandrel.

48. The towel winder set forth in claim 47, wherein the upper portion of each of said first and second guide chutes comprises a plurality of downwardly extending spaced-apart parallel rods.

49. The towel winder set forth in claim 44, wherein each of said drive means includes a gear head motor having a motor housing and a gear head housing disposed substantially normal to each other, the longitudinal axis of said gear head housing lying along the longitudinal axis of the associated mandrel, said drive means being arranged on said frame so that the motor housings of the upper level winding units are disposed forwardly of the associated gear-head housings for accommodating said first and second chutes.

50. A towel winder for automatically winding a plurality of elongated towels, said winder comprising a support frame, feed apparatus for feeding a plurality of elongated towels respectively along a plurality of substantially parallel feed lanes including two outer feed lanes and at least one intermediate feed lane all arranged in side-by-side relationship, each of said feed lanes having a width only slightly greater than the width of the associated towel, a plurality of winding units carried by said frame and equal in number to said feed lanes, each of said winding units including a mandrel having a supported end mounted on said frame and a free distal end and disposed in an associated one of said feed lanes transversely thereof and extending substantially thereacross, said mandrel being rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, drive means disposed adjacent to one side of the associated one feed lane and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, an ejector for removing the woUnd towel roll from said mandrel at the free end thereof, and a towel receptacle disposed adjacent to the other side of the associated one feed lane for receiving the ejected towel roll from said mandrel, the drive means for one of said outer feed lanes and said intermediate feed lanes and the receptacles for the other of said outer feed lanes and said intermediate feed lanes being respectively disposed in longitudinal alignment with adjacent feed lanes but displaced therefrom, said winding units being arranged on said frame so that each of said intermediate feed lanes includes the mandrel of the associated winding unit with the drive means of one adjacent winding unit and the towel receptacle of another adjacent winding unit disposed in longitudinal alignment with the lane but displaced therefrom, control apparatus coupled to said drive means and to said capture means and to said ejector in each of said winding units and responsive to the passage of the leading end of a towel in any of said feed lanes toward the associated mandrel for actuating the associated drive means and the associated capture means, said control apparatus being responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the towel from said feed apparatus for actuating the corresponding ejector to remove the wound towel roll from said mandrel, whereby a plurality of elongated towels may be respectively automatically fed to associated ones of said rotating mandrels and wound in rolls thereon and removed therefrom when the rolls are completely wound in a space having a width only slightly greater than the combined widths of the towels.

51. The towel winder set forth in claim 50, wherein said control apparatus comprises an electric circuit adapted for coupling to a source of electric power.

52. The towel winder set forth in claim 50, wherein said control apparatus includes means responsive to the passage of the trailing end of a towel from said feed apparatus for deactuating the associated drive means, means responsive to the initiation of the winding of a towel on the associated mandrel for actuating the associated capture means, and means responsive to the passage of the leading end of a towel toward the associated mandrel for deactuating the associated ejector.

53. The towel winder set forth in claim 50, wherein said ejector is movable between a retracted condition and an ejecting condition, movement of said ejector from the retracted condition to the ejecting condition thereof serving to remove the towel roll from said mandrel at the free end thereof, said control apparatus being responsive to the movement of said ejector to the ejecting condition thereof for actuating said drive means, said control apparatus being responsive to the passage of the leading end of the next towel toward said mandrel for moving said ejector to the retracted condition thereof, said control apparatus being responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the towel from said feed apparatus for deactuating said drive means and for moving said ejector to the ejecting condition thereof.

54. A towel winder for automatically winding a plurality of elongated towels, said winder comprising a support frame, feed apparatus for feeding a plurality of elongated towels respectively along a plurality of substantially parallel feed lanes including two outer feed lanes and at least one intermediate feed lane all arranged in side-by-side relationship, each of said feed lanes having a width only slightly greater than the width of the associated towel, drive means disposed adjacent to said feed apparatus, a first line shaft disposed forwardly of said frame adjacent to the upper end thereof and coupled to said drive means and rotatably driven thereby, a second line shaft disposed rearwardly of said frame adjacent to the lower end thereof and coupled to said drive means and rotatably driven thereby, a plurality of winding units carried by said frame and equal in number to said feed lanes, each of said winding units including a mandrel disposeD in an associated one of said feed lanes transversely thereof and extending substantially thereacross, said mandrel being rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, coupling means disposed adjacent to one side of the associated one feed lane and coupling one of said line shafts to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, and capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, the coupling means for each of said intermediate feed lanes and one of said outer feed lanes being respectively disposed in longitudinal alignment with adjacent feed lanes but displaced therefrom, said winding units being vertically staggered on said frame into upper and lower levels with each of said intermediate feed lanes and one of said outer feed lanes including the mandrel of the associated winding unit with the coupling means of an adjacent winding unit disposed in longitudinal alignment with the lane but displaced therefrom, the coupling means of said upper level winding units being coupled to said first line shaft and the coupling means of said lower level winding units being coupled to said second line shaft, whereby a plurality of elongated towels may be respectively automatically fed to corresponding ones of said rotating mandrels and wound in rolls thereon in a space having a width only slightly greater than the combined widths of the towels.

55. The towel winder set forth in claim 54, wherein each of said coupling means includes an endless drive belt.

56. The towel winder set forth in claim 54, wherein each of said coupling means includes a slip clutch coupled to the associated mandrel for maintaining a constant torque thereat, and a drive belt coupling said clutch to the associated one of said line shafts for effecting rotation of said clutch and said mandrel.

57. The towel winder set forth in claim 54, wherein each of said winding units further includes an ejector for removing the wound towel roll from said mandrel at the free end thereof, and a towel receptacle disposed adjacent to the other side of the associated one feed lane for receiving the ejected towel roll from said mandrel, said winding units being staggered vertically and horizontally on said frame into upper and lower and intermediate levels so that each of said intermediate feed lanes includes the mandrel of the associated winding unit with the ejector of one adjacent winding unit and the drive means of another adjacent winding unit disposed in longitudinal alignment with the lane but displaced therefrom.

58. A towel winder for automatically winding a plurality of elongated towels, said winder comprising a support frame, feed apparatus for feeding a plurality of elongated towels respectively along a plurality of substantially parallel feed lanes including two outer feed lanes and at least one intermediate feed lane all arranged in side-by-side relationship, each of said feed lanes having a width only slightly greater than the width of the associated towel, drive means disposed adjacent to said feed apparatus, a first line shaft disposed forwardly to said frame adjacent to the upper end thereof and coupled to said drive means and rotatably driven thereby, a second line shaft disposed rearwardly of said frame adjacent to the lower end thereof and coupled to said drive means and rotatably driven thereby, a plurality of winding units carried by said frame and equal in number to said feed lanes, each of said winding units including a mandrel disposed in an associated one of said feed lanes transversely thereof and extending substantially thereacross, said mandrel being rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, coupling means disposed adjacent to one side of the associated one feed lane and coupling one of said line shafts to said mandrel for effecting rotation therEof, and capture means for urging the leading end of the towel against said rotating mandrel for automatically initiating winding of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, the coupling means for each of said intermediate feed lanes and one of said outer feed lanes being respectively disposed in longitudinal alignment with adjacent feed lanes but displaced therefrom, said winding units being vertically staggered on said frame into upper and lower levels with each of said intermediate feed lanes and one of said outer feed lanes including the mandrel of the associated winding unit with the coupling means of an adjacent winding unit disposed in longitudinal alignment with the lane but displaced therefrom, the coupling means of said upper level winding units being coupled to said first line shaft and the coupling means of said lower level winding units being coupled to said second line shaft, and control apparatus coupled to said drive means and to each of said winding units and responsive to the passage of the leading end of a towel in any of said feed lanes toward the associated mandrel for actuating said drive means and the associated capture means, whereby a plurality of elongated towels may be respectively automatically fed to corresponding ones of said rotating mandrels and wound in rolls thereon in a space having a width only slightly greater than the combined widths of the towels.

59. The towel winder set forth in claim 58, wherein said control apparatus includes means responsive to the absence of towels from said feed apparatus for deactuating said drive means, and means responsive to the initiation of the winding of a towel on the associated mandrel for deactuating the associated capture means.

60. An automatic elongated towel winder comprising a support frame, a hollow mandrel having an open end mounted on said frame and being rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof for winding an associated elongated towel into a roll thereon, said mandrel having a closed free distal end and having an opening in the side thereof, drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said mandrel for effecting rotation thereof, feed apparatus mounted adjacent to said mandrel for feeding an elongated towel to said mandrel, capture means for urging the leading end of the towel into a towel roll on said mandrel, said capture means including a suction pump coupled to the open end of said mandrel for causing an area of reduced pressure within said mandrel and a consequent flow of air toward and through said opening to move the leading end of the towel toward and against said mandrel, said capture means further including a valve coupled between said suction pump and said mandrel for controlling the flow of air therethrough, and control apparatus coupled to said valve and responsive to the passage of the leading end of the towel toward said mandrel for opening said valve to actuate said capture means, said control apparatus being responsive to the initiation of the winding of the towel on said mandrel for closing said valve to de-actuate said capture means, whereby an elongated towel may be automatically fed to said rotating mandrel and wound in a roll thereon.