Optimizing a dispensing parameter of a product dispenser based on product usage data

• US 10,130,221 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2016
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Borke, Brian Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Waggoner, Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US15/213,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20160325957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/36 with mechanical dispensing, roll switching or cutting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3625 with electronic control means
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/38 the web being rolled up with or without tearing edge A47K10/36 and A47K10/46 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3226 collecting data of usage
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3266 Wet wipes
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3668 Detection of the presence of a user
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3881 with tearing edges having movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for optimizing performance of a product dispenser are provided herein. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the product dispenser (e.g., the environment, the type or habits of users or individual users, etc.), initial dispensing parameter settings of the product dispenser may be undesirable. Using monitored usage data, optimized dispensing parameters can be determined to achieve more desirable usage of the product dispenser (e.g., decrease waste, power save, increase efficiency, etc.). Additionally, using bounding parameters and/or information from the environment (e.g., nearby product dispensers) can lead to further optimized performance of the product dispenser. User or group specific optimized dispensing parameters can also be determined and used.

Claims

1. A method for bounding a dispensing parameter of one or more product dispensers, wherein at least one product dispenser of the one or more product dispensers comprises a controller housed therein, wherein the controller is configured to perform the method comprising:

receiving usage data from a dispensing period of the one or more product dispensers, wherein the dispensing period comprises a plurality of dispenses of product by at least one dispensing mechanism of the one or more product dispensers performed in accordance with a value of the dispensing parameter;

determining, based on the usage data from the dispensing period, a usage rate of the product, wherein the usage rate is based on an amount of product dispensed during the dispensing period and a number of users of the one or more product dispensers during the dispensing period;

determining, based on at least the usage rate and the value of the dispensing parameter from the dispensing period, an improved value for the dispensing parameter such that at least one of the one or more product dispensers has an improved usage rate when the dispensing parameter is set to the optimized value;

comparing the determined improved value of the dispensing parameter with a bounded value threshold to determine if the improved value satisfies the bounded value threshold; and

causing the one or more product dispensers to adjust the dispensing parameter to the improved value in an instance in which the improved value satisfies the bounded value threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the value of the dispensing parameter is a first value of the dispensing parameter, wherein the dispensing period is a first dispensing period, wherein the usage rate is a first usage rate, and wherein determining the improved value for the dispensing parameter comprises:

receiving second usage data from a second dispensing period of the one or more product dispensers, wherein the second dispensing period comprises a second plurality of dispenses of product by the at least one dispensing mechanism of the one or more product dispensers performed in accordance with a second value of the dispensing parameter;

determining, based on the second usage data from the second dispensing period, a second usage rate of the product, wherein the second usage rate is based on an amount of product dispensed during the second dispensing period and a number of users of the one or more product dispensers during the second dispensing period; and

determining the improved value of the dispensing parameter based on the first usage rate of the first dispensing period, the first value of the dispensing parameter, the second usage rate of the second dispensing period, and the second value of the dispensing parameter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the improved value for the dispensing parameter comprises comparing the usage rate of the dispensing period to a pre-determined optimal usage rate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the product is paper towel, wherein the dispensing parameter is sheet length of the paper towel per dispense, and wherein the bounded value threshold is one of a minimum sheet length or a maximum sheet length.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining, in an instance in which the optimized value does not satisfy the bounded value threshold, a revised improved value of the dispensing parameter such that the one or more product dispensers are configured to have an improved usage rate when the dispensing parameter is set to the revised improved value and the revised improved value satisfies the bounded value threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the bounded value threshold is based on determined user frustration.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining the bounded value threshold based on a position of a bounded value threshold switch of the one or more product dispensers.

8. A method for bounding a dispensing parameter of one or more product dispensers, wherein at least one product dispenser of the one or more product dispensers comprises a controller housed therein, wherein the controller is configured to perform the method comprising:

receiving usage data from a dispensing period of one or more product dispensers, wherein the dispensing period comprises a plurality of dispenses of product by at least one dispensing mechanism of the one or more product dispensers performed in accordance with a value of a first dispensing parameter;

determining, based on the usage data from the dispensing period, a usage rate of the product, wherein the usage rate is based on an amount of product dispensed during the dispensing period and a number of users of the one or more product dispensers during the dispensing period;

determining, based on at least the usage rate and the value of the first dispensing parameter from the dispensing period, an improved value for the first dispensing parameter such that at least one of the one or more product dispensers has an improved usage rate when the first dispensing parameter is set to the improved value;

determining a value of a second dispensing parameter;

comparing the value of the second dispensing parameter with a bounded value threshold to determine if the value of the second dispensing parameter satisfies the bounded value threshold; and

causing the one or more product dispensers to adjust the first dispensing parameter to the improved value in an instance in which the value of the second dispensing parameter satisfies the bounded value threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the value of the second dispensing parameter comprises performing a theoretical operation of the one or more product dispensers using the improved value for the first dispensing parameter.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the value of the second dispensing parameter comprises determining the value of the second dispensing parameter based on the usage data of the dispensing period.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the value of the first dispensing parameter is a first value of the first dispensing parameter, wherein the dispensing period is a first dispensing period, wherein the usage rate is a first usage rate, and wherein determining the improved value for the first dispensing parameter comprises:

receiving second usage data from a second dispensing period of the one or more product dispensers, wherein the second dispensing period comprises a second plurality of dispenses of product by the at least one dispensing mechanism of the one or more product dispensers performed in accordance with a second value of the first dispensing parameter;

determining, based on the second usage data from the second dispensing period, a second usage rate of the product, wherein the second usage rate is based on an amount of product dispensed during the second dispensing period and a number of users of the one or more product dispensers during the second dispensing period; and

determining the improved value of the first dispensing parameter based on the first usage rate of the first dispensing period, the first value of the first dispensing parameter, the second usage rate of the second dispensing period, and the second value of the first dispensing parameter.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the improved value for the first dispensing parameter comprises comparing the usage rate of the dispensing period to a pre-determined optimal usage rate.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the product is paper towel, wherein the second dispensing parameter is an average number of sheets of paper towel per dispenser per user, and wherein the bounded value threshold is one of a minimum average number of sheets of paper towel per dispenser per user or a maximum average number of sheets of paper towel per dispenser per user.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising determining, in an instance in which the value of the second dispensing parameter does not satisfy the bounded value threshold, a revised improved value of the first dispensing parameter such that at least one of the one or more product dispensers has an improved usage rate when the first dispensing parameter is set to the revised improved value and a revised value of the second dispensing parameter satisfies the bounded value threshold.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the bounded value threshold is based on determined user frustration.

16. The method of claim 8 further comprising determining the bounded value threshold based on a position of a bounded value threshold switch of the one or more product dispensers.

17. A product dispenser comprising

at least one dispensing mechanism;

at least one memory with computer-executable instructions stored thereon; and

a controller housed in the product dispenser and operatively coupled to the dispensing mechanism and the at least one memory, wherein the controller is configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to;

receive usage data from a dispensing period of the product dispenser, wherein the dispensing period comprises a plurality of dispenses of product by the at least one dispensing mechanism performed in accordance with a value of a dispensing parameter;

determine, based on the usage data from the dispensing period, a usage rate of the product, wherein the usage rate is based on an amount of product dispensed during the dispensing period and a number of users of the product dispenser during the dispensing period;

determine, based on at least the usage rate and the value of the dispensing parameter from the dispensing period, an improved value for the dispensing parameter such that the product dispenser has an improved usage rate when the dispensing parameter is set to the optimized value;

compare the determined improved value of the dispensing parameter with a bounded value threshold to determine if the improved value satisfies the bounded value threshold; and

cause adjustment of the dispensing parameter to the improved value in an instance in which the improved value satisfies the bounded value threshold.

18. The product dispenser of claim 17, wherein the product is paper towel, wherein the dispensing parameter is sheet length of the paper towel per dispense, and wherein the bounded value threshold is one of a minimum sheet length or a maximum sheet length.

19. The product dispenser of claim 17 further comprising a bounded value threshold switch that is configured to be positioned to one of a plurality of bounded value threshold positions, wherein each bounded value threshold position corresponds to a different bounded value threshold for the dispensing parameter, and wherein the controller is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to determine the bounded value threshold of the dispensing parameter based on the position of the bounded value threshold switch.

20. A product dispenser comprising

at least one dispensing mechanism;

at least one memory with computer-executable instructions stored thereon; and

a controller housed in the product dispenser and operatively coupled to the dispensing mechanism and the at least one memory, wherein the controller is configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to;

receive usage data from a dispensing period of the product dispenser, wherein the dispensing period comprises a plurality of dispenses of product by the at least one dispensing mechanism performed in accordance with a value of a first dispensing parameter;

determine, based on the usage data from the dispensing period, a usage rate of the product, wherein the usage rate is based on an amount of product dispensed during the dispensing period and a number of users of the product dispenser during the dispensing period;

determine, based on at least the usage rate and the value of the first dispensing parameter from the dispensing period, an improved value for the first dispensing parameter such that the product dispenser is configured to have an improved usage rate when the first dispensing parameter is set to the improved value;

determine a value of a second dispensing parameter;

compare the value of the second dispensing parameter with a bounded value threshold to determine if the value of the second dispensing parameter satisfies the bounded value threshold; and

cause adjustment of the first dispensing parameter to the improved value in an instance in which the value of the second dispensing parameter satisfies the bounded value threshold.

21. The product dispenser of claim 20, wherein the product is paper towel, wherein the second dispensing parameter is an average number of sheets of paper towel per dispenser per user, and wherein the bounded value threshold is one of a minimum average number of sheets of paper towel per dispenser per user or a maximum average number of sheets of paper towel per dispenser per user.

22. The product dispenser of claim 20 further comprising a bounded value threshold switch that is configured to be positioned to one of a plurality of bounded value threshold positions, wherein each bounded value threshold position corresponds to a different bounded value threshold for the second dispensing parameter, and wherein the controller is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to determine the bounded value threshold of the second dispensing parameter based on the position of the bounded value threshold switch.