Automatic towel dispenser
First Claim
1. A sheet material dispenser comprising:
- a housing defining an interior space sized to receive a sheet material roll therein;
an outlet for dispensing sheet material from the sheet material roll;
a sensor positioned proximate the outlet and configured to sense a leading edge of the sheet material from the sheet material roll;
a motor assembly that drives dispensing of the sheet material from the dispenser; and
a controller configured to perform a length learn calibration by;
causing the motor assembly to dispense a first predetermined length of the sheet material through the outlet;
causing, in response to expiration of a predetermined period of time and based on sensor data from the sensor, the motor assembly to retract the sheet material through the outlet such that the leading edge of the sheet material is retracted within the housing;
determining a retracted length of the sheet material corresponding to the amount of sheet material that was retracted through the outlet; and
determining a second predetermined length of sheet material to dispense through the outlet during future dispenses based on the determined retracted length and the first predetermined length.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Dispensing towels includes, using a motor assembly configured to cause a leading edge of the toweling to be extended from a housing of the dispenser and to cause the toweling to be subsequently retracted back into the housing, (a) the step of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user; and (b) subsequent thereto, the steps of (1) retracting the toweling into the housing using the motor assembly; (2) sensing a leading edge of the toweling, using a sensor, while retracting the toweling; and (3) ceasing retracting of the toweling into the housing using the motor assembly as a function of sensing the leading edge of the toweling using the sensor. The toweling is advanced by the motor assembly such that a line of perforations in the toweling, along which the user tears the toweling, is located downstream of the sensor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sheet material dispenser comprising:
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a housing defining an interior space sized to receive a sheet material roll therein; an outlet for dispensing sheet material from the sheet material roll; a sensor positioned proximate the outlet and configured to sense a leading edge of the sheet material from the sheet material roll; a motor assembly that drives dispensing of the sheet material from the dispenser; and a controller configured to perform a length learn calibration by; causing the motor assembly to dispense a first predetermined length of the sheet material through the outlet; causing, in response to expiration of a predetermined period of time and based on sensor data from the sensor, the motor assembly to retract the sheet material through the outlet such that the leading edge of the sheet material is retracted within the housing; determining a retracted length of the sheet material corresponding to the amount of sheet material that was retracted through the outlet; and determining a second predetermined length of sheet material to dispense through the outlet during future dispenses based on the determined retracted length and the first predetermined length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for performing a length learn calibration for dispensing a desired length of sheet material from a sheet material roll through an outlet of a sheet material dispenser, the method comprising:
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causing a motor assembly of the sheet material dispenser to dispense a first predetermined length of the sheet material through the outlet of the sheet material dispenser; causing, in response to expiration of a predetermined period of time and based on sensor data from a sensor, the motor assembly to retract the sheet material through the outlet, wherein the sensor is positioned proximate the outlet and configured to sense a leading edge of the sheet material from the sheet material roll; determining a retracted length of the sheet material corresponding to the amount of sheet material that was retracted through the outlet; and determining a second predetermined length of sheet material to dispense through the outlet during future dispenses based on the determined retracted length and the first predetermined length. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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advancing sheet material using a motor assembly of a sheet material dispenser; determining, via a sensor, when a certain extent of sheet material has been advanced; based on said determining when a certain extent of sheet material has been advanced, ceasing advancing of the sheet material such that a first length of sheet material is extended outside of a housing of the sheet material dispenser; determining, via the sensor, that the length of sheet material extended outside of the housing has increased from the first length of sheet material; and in response to said determining that the length of sheet material extended outside of the housing has increased, applying force to the sheet material, via the motor assembly, to retract the sheet material such that the length of sheet material extended outside of the housing returns to the certain extent of sheet material.
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Specification