A method of tracking clothing repair requests in the uniform rental industry. The method embodies a matrix barcode at a distribution point for garments. The matrix barcode, when scanned, directs the scanning device to a route accounting software for collecting identifier and repair data pertaining to a garment in need of repair. The route accounting software prompts the device for (a) the identifier data in the form of a unique barcode number physically connected to the garment and (b) the repair data in the form of repairs types to be performed on the garment. The route accounting software associates each repair data type inputted with a service code, and then retrievable stores the identifier and repair data and associates such data with the barcode or RFID chip. As a result, downstream the barcode or RFID card is scanned to ascertain the repair types needed for the physically connected garment.
G06K 19/06 - Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
G06Q 30/06 - Buying, selling or leasing transactions
G06K 7/14 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensingMethods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light
G06K 19/07 - Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards with integrated circuit chips
An electrical safety system may be used on an electrical enclosure (10) containing phase to phase and phase to ground electricity. The system includes a volt meter (42) having a probe (44) and a receptacle (16) having a number of ports (24) adapted to receive the probe of the volt meter. The receptacle (16) is mounted to a panel (12), cabinet or enclosure having at least one conducting wire (40) therein. The device (16) allows a worker to use a contact voltage detector (42) to check for the presence or absence of voltage inside the closed electrical panel (12).
A system and method for making a slip resistant mat (10) can include assembling parts with predetermined geometries to form a mold (38) that can be used for making slip resistant mats (10) that have channels (22) to account for moisture between the mat and the floor. The unique geometries of the parts which form the mold (38) can be manufactured efficiently and with reduced costs. The mold (38) of this invention can be used to make slip resistant mats (10) with channels (22) that can both dissipate water and offer a high degree of mat to floor surface contact.
A system and method for making a slip resistant mat (10) can include assembling parts with predetermined geometries to form a mold (38) that can be used for making slip resistant mats (10) that have channels (22) to account for moisture between the mat and the floor. The unique geometries of the parts which form the mold (38) can be manufactured efficiently and with reduced costs. The mold (38) of this invention can be used to make slip resistant mats (10) with channels (22) that can both dissipate water and offer a high degree of mat to floor surface contact.
A water soluble bag for containing soiled textiles decreases occupational exposure to chemicals and pathogens, and decreases the potential for injuries to healthcare cleaning workers and providers. The bag has an open end, a closed end, and sides extending therebetween, and is made of a plastic film having a thickness of at least 1.3 mils. The bag dissolves in water at a temperature of 165.degree. F in less than about 250 seconds and does not dissolve in water at a temperature of 85.degree. F in 7 days. The bag is capable of containing at least 175 lbs of soiled textiles and has a capacity of at least 50 gallons. The bag may be used in a receptacle for collecting soiled textiles.
A method of collecting soiled textiles to be cleaned, comprising the steps of providing a container having an open end, a closed end, and sides extending therebetween, providing a sling having an open end, a second end, and sides extending therebetween disposed in and supported by said container, providing a water soluble bag having an open end, a closed end, and sides extending therebetween and made of a plastic film having a thickness of at least 1.3 mils, wherein said bag dissolves in water at a temperature of 165° F in less than about 250 seconds, does not dissolve in water at a temperature of 85° F in 7 days, being capable of containing at least 175 lbs. of soiled textiles, and having a capacity of at least 50 gallons, wherein said bag is disposed in and supported by said sling, and wherein soiled textiles deposited in said container are contained in said bag. A water soluble bag for containing soiled textiles, said bag having an open end, a closed end, and sides extending therebetween, said bag made of a plastic film having a thickness of at least 1.3 mils, wherein said bag dissolves in water at a temperature of 165° F in less than about 250 seconds and does not dissolve in water at a temperature of 85° F in 7 days, and said bag being capable of containing at least 175 lbs. of soiled textiles and having a capacity of at least 50 gallons. Also disclosed is a receptacle for collecting soiled textiles comprising a container and a water soluble bag. Also disclosed is a receptacle for collecting soiled textiles comprising a container, a sling, and a water soluble bag.
An automated system is configured to wash and dry mats. The system includes a number of modules, including a loading module, vibration module, washing module, vacuum module, and a discharge module. The disclosed system provides an opportunity for manual inspection of the mats, too. Because the mats that are fed into the system are jostled or shaken before they are washed, reduced amounts of chemicals, water, water pressure, drying energy, etc. are needed to clean the mats. The system may also optionally include a automatic rolling and sorting apparatus, which rolls a mat and sorts it according to weight, size, etc. after it is discharged from the discharge module. A method of cleaning mats is also disclosed.
An automated system is configured to wash and dry mats. The system includes a number of modules, including a loading module, vibration module, washing module, vacuum module, and a discharge module. The disclosed system provides an opportunity for manual inspection of the mats, too. Because the mats that are fed into the system are jostled or shaken before they are washed, reduced amounts of chemicals, water, water pressure, drying energy, etc. are needed to clean the mats. The system may also optionally include a automatic rolling and sorting apparatus, which rolls a mat and sorts it according to weight, size, etc. after it is discharged from the discharge module. A method of cleaning mats is also disclosed.
A method of processing at least one garment involves a local environment with ambient moisture, a garment having a moisture content, a plurality of work stations, and a threshold amount of moisture. The plurality of work stations operate according to a plurality of parameters. The threshold amount of moisture is the amount of ambient moisture naturally absorbed by the garment. The method includes a processing step, a measuring step, a determining step and an adjusting step. The garment is processed through at least one of the work stations during the processing step. During the measuring step, the moisture content of the garment is measured. The relationship between the measured moisture content and the threshold amount of moisture is determined during the determining step. And, at least one parameter is adjusted based on the relationship between the measured moisture content and the threshold amount of moisture during the adjusting step.
A center-pull dispenser for dispensing paper towels from a continuous roll, wherein each individual towel is separated from an adjoining towel by a plurality of perforations. The dispenser comprises a housing having a housing back and a detachable front cover hingedly connected thereto at the lower periphery of said housing back and front cover for opening and closing the housing, a paper support tray removably connected to a lower portion of the housing back and having a centrally located dispensing nozzle, an opening in the lower periphery of the housing through which the towels are dispensed, a detachable wall-mounting member for removably mounting the housing back to a wall, and a locking member for releasably locking the front cover to the housing back and the housing back to the wall-mounting member. In one embodiment, the housing cannot be removed from the wall-mounting member without first unlocking the locking member, and the housing and the housing back are removable from the wall without removing the wall-mounting member from the wall. In another embodiment, the paper support tray comprises locking arms for releasably locking first hinge elements on the lower periphery of said front cover against second hinge elements on the lower periphery of said housing back.
A center-pull dispenser for dispensing paper towels from a continuous roll, wherein each individual towel is separated from an adjoining towel by a plurality of perforations. The dispenser comprises a housing having a housing back and a detachable front cover hingedly connected thereto at the lower periphery of said housing back and front cover for opening and closing the housing, a paper support tray removably connected to a lower portion of the housing back, the tray having a centrally located dispensing nozzle and at least one locking element for releasably locking at least one first hinge element on the lower periphery of the front cover to at least one second hinge element on the lower periphery of the housing back, an opening in the lower periphery of said housing through which the towels are dispensed, and a wall-mounting member for removably mounting the housing back to a wall. In one embodiment, the paper support tray comprises locking arms for releasably locking first hinge elements on the lower periphery of said front cover against second hinge elements on the lower periphery of said housing back. In another embodiment, the dispenser comprises a locking member for releasably locking the front cover to the housing back and the housing back to the wall-mounting member.
A system for cataloguing and obtaining inventory information for garments having RFID tags stored in a receptacle such as a hamper is disclosed. The system may be configured to allow a user to receive an accurate inventory of the garments having RFID tags by way of RFID antennas on the receptacle that transmit that sense the RFID tags and transmit the information to a portable reader. The reader may be configured to sense garments as they are being removed from, placed into or while within the container.
