Sheet product dispenser with product level gauge system
First Claim
1. A sheet product dispenser comprising:
- a housing;
a first roll holder positioned within the housing and configured to hold a first roll of sheet product, wherein the first roll of sheet product is assigned as a primary roll;
a second roll holder positioned within the housing and configured to hold a second roll of sheet product, wherein the second roll of sheet product is assigned as a secondary roll;
a dispensing mechanism positioned within the housing and configured to dispense a portion of sheet product from at least one of the first roll and the second roll; and
a sensor positioned within the housing and configured to contact an outer surface of one of the primary roll or the secondary roll, wherein the sensor is configured to sense measurement data associated with the one of the primary roll or the secondary roll, wherein the sensor is configured to measure at least one of angular displacement of the sensor around a pivot axis connecting the sensor to the housing or linear displacement of a first portion of the sensor with respect to a second portion of the sensor to enable determination of an amount of sheet product remaining on at least the one of the primary roll or the secondary roll, wherein the sensor is further configured to sense when the one of the primary roll or the secondary roll rotates to dispense the portion of sheet product.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An example sheet product dispenser includes a housing, a first roll holder, and a second roll holder. A first roll of sheet product is positioned on the first roll holder and assigned as a primary roll and a second roll of sheet product is positioned on the second roll holder and assigned as a secondary roll. A dispensing mechanism is configured to dispense sheet product from at least one of the first roll and the second roll. A sensor is configured to sense measurement data associated with the primary roll, including sensing when the primary roll rotates to dispense and measuring the diameter of the primary roll. A data communication device is in communication with the sensor and configured to transmit the measurement data. A controller is configured to determine situational information regarding the sheet product dispenser and provide corresponding alerts to users regarding the situational information and measured data.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A sheet product dispenser comprising:
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a housing; a first roll holder positioned within the housing and configured to hold a first roll of sheet product, wherein the first roll of sheet product is assigned as a primary roll; a second roll holder positioned within the housing and configured to hold a second roll of sheet product, wherein the second roll of sheet product is assigned as a secondary roll; a dispensing mechanism positioned within the housing and configured to dispense a portion of sheet product from at least one of the first roll and the second roll; and a sensor positioned within the housing and configured to contact an outer surface of one of the primary roll or the secondary roll, wherein the sensor is configured to sense measurement data associated with the one of the primary roll or the secondary roll, wherein the sensor is configured to measure at least one of angular displacement of the sensor around a pivot axis connecting the sensor to the housing or linear displacement of a first portion of the sensor with respect to a second portion of the sensor to enable determination of an amount of sheet product remaining on at least the one of the primary roll or the secondary roll, wherein the sensor is further configured to sense when the one of the primary roll or the secondary roll rotates to dispense the portion of sheet product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for monitoring usage of sheet product, the system comprising:
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a sheet product dispenser comprising; a housing; a first roll holder positioned within the housing and configured to hold a first roll of sheet product, wherein the first roll of sheet product is assigned as a primary roll; a second roll holder positioned within the housing and configured to hold a second roll of sheet product, wherein the second roll of sheet product is assigned as a secondary roll; a dispensing mechanism positioned within the housing and configured to dispense a portion of sheet product from at least one of the first roll and the second roll; and a sensor positioned within the housing and configured to contact an outer surface of one of the primary roll or the secondary roll, wherein the sensor is configured to sense measurement data associated with the one of the primary roll or the secondary roll, wherein the sensor is configured to measure at least one of angular displacement of the sensor around a pivot axis connecting the sensor to the housing or linear displacement of a first portion of the sensor with respect to a second portion of the sensor to enable determination of an amount of sheet product remaining on at least the one of the primary roll or the secondary roll, wherein the sensor is further configured to sense when the one of the primary roll or the secondary roll rotates to dispense the portion of sheet product. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for sensing measurement data associated with an amount of sheet product remaining on a roll of sheet product in a sheet product dispenser, wherein the apparatus comprises:
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a paddle body defining a first end and a second end, wherein the apparatus is configured to be pivotably attached to a housing of the sheet product dispenser around a pivot axis proximate the first end, wherein the second end of the apparatus is configured to contact an outer surface of the roll of sheet product disposed within the sheet product dispenser; a sensor configured to measure angular displacement of the second end around the pivot axis to enable determination of the amount of sheet product remaining on the roll of sheet product; a roller positioned proximate the second end and configured to contact the outer surface of the roll of sheet product, wherein the roller is configured to sense when the roll of sheet product rotates to dispense the portion of sheet product; and a data communication device in communication with the sensor and configured to transmit measurement data associated with the measured angular displacement of the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification