Electronic Dispenser for Dispensing Sheet Products

• US 20070194166A1
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Reinsel, Christopher, Geddes, Daniel, Kane, William
• Application Number:
  US11/676,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20070194166A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 242/563
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/36 with mechanical dispensing, roll switching or cutting devices
• 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: Y10T 225/205 With feed-out of predetermined length from work supply

Abstract

An electronic dispenser for dispensing sheet products includes an infrared proximity sensor operative to detect a presence of a user'"'"'s hand at a predetermined location near the dispenser and a feed mechanism configured to engage a sheet product roll to cause a quantity of sheet product to be dispensed therethrough. The infrared proximity sensor is configured to have an adjustable sensitivity to vary a detection range of the infrared proximity sensor. The feed mechanism has a motor operative in response to the infrared proximity sensor to engage the feed mechanism.

Claims

1. An electronic dispenser for dispensing sheet products, comprising:

an infrared proximity sensor operative to detect a presence of a user'"'"'s hand at a predetermined location near the dispenser, the infrared proximity sensor being configured to have an adjustable sensitivity to vary a detection range of the infrared proximity sensor; and

a feed mechanism configured to engage a sheet product roll to cause a quantity of sheet product to be dispensed therethrough, the feed mechanism having a motor operative in response to the infrared proximity sensor to engage the feed mechanism.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a movable paper level arm which engages the sheet product roll and moves in response to a change of diameter of the sheet product roll.

3. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the level arm engages a switch to trigger a low paper condition.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the feed mechanism comprises a drive shaft having a feed roller disposed thereon, wherein a magnet having 4 poles (N-S-N-S) is disposed on the feed roller.

5. The dispenser of claim 4, further comprising a Hall sensor to sense the feed roller position to control a length of sheet product being dispensed.

6. An electronic dispenser for dispensing sheet products, comprising:

a housing adapted to engage a wall in a recessed manner;

an infrared proximity sensor operative to detect a presence of a user'"'"'s hand at a predetermined location near the dispenser;

a feed mechanism disposed within the housing, configured to engage a sheet product roll to cause a quantity of sheet product to be dispensed therethrough, the feed mechanism having a motor operative in response to the infrared proximity sensor to engage the feed mechanism.

7. The dispenser of claim 6, further comprising a movable paper level arm which engages the sheet product roll and moves in response to a change of diameter of the sheet product roll.

8. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the level arm engages a switch to trigger a low paper condition.

9. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the feed mechanism comprises a drive shaft having a feed roller disposed thereon, wherein a magnet having 4 poles (N-S-N-S) is disposed on the feed roller.

10. The dispenser of claim 9, further comprising a Hall sensor to sense the feed roller position to control a length of sheet product being dispensed.

11. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the housing has a cover and a back plate.

12. The dispenser of claim 11, further comprising a magnetic reed switch on a printed circuit board, and a magnet disposed in contact with the cover and disposed in operable communication with the magnetic reed switch.

13. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the infrared proximity sensor is configured to have an adjustable sensitivity to vary a detection range of the infrared proximity sensor.

14. An electronic dispenser for dispensing sheet products, comprising:

a housing adapted to engage a wall in a recessed manner;

an infrared proximity sensor operative to detect a presence of a user'"'"'s hand at a predetermined location near the dispenser, the infrared proximity sensor being configured to have an adjustable sensitivity to vary a detection range of the infrared proximity sensor;

a feed mechanism configured to engage a sheet product roll to cause a quantity of sheet product to be dispensed therethrough, the feed mechanism having a motor operative in response to the infrared proximity sensor to engage the feed mechanism or operative in response to the sheet product being toward from the dispenser; and

a movable paper level arm which engages the sheet product roll and moves in response to a change of diameter of the sheet product roll.

15. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the level arm engages a switch to trigger a low paper condition.

16. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein the feed mechanism comprises a drive shaft having a feed roller disposed thereon, wherein a magnet having 4 poles (N-S-N-S) is disposed on the feed roller.

17. The dispenser of claim 16, further comprising a Hall sensor to sense the feed roller position to control a length of sheet product being dispensed.

18. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the housing has a cover and a back plate.

19. The dispenser of claim 18, further comprising a magnetic reed switch on a printed circuit board, and a magnet disposed in contact with the cover and disposed in operable communication with the magnetic reed switch.