DISCRIMINATING WEB MATERIAL DISPENSER

• US 20110133010A1
• Filed: 10/22/2008
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: San Jamar, Inc. (Carlisle Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: San Jamar, Inc. (Carlisle Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Pelland, Mike J., Reckamp, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 8,544,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 242/160.4
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/16 Paper towels; Toilet paper; Holders therefor dispensers A47K10/32
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3612 with drive and pinch rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3662 with devices preventing the use of non-authorised paper rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3845 with devices preventing the use of non-authorised paper rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3681 characterised by the way a new paper roll is loaded in the dispenser

Abstract

An automatic product dispenser determines if the roll loaded into the dispenser is approved for use with the dispenser. The core of a roll contains a feature that alters an electromagnetic field created proximate the core. The alteration of the electromagnetic field may then be used to determine if the core, and thus the roll, is usable with the dispenser. The feature is designed such that it is damaged once product is completely dispensed from the roll thereby preventing replenishment and reuse of a spent roll.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing product from a roll, the apparatus comprising:

a drive roller adapted to advance product from a roll;

a field generator configured to generate an electromagnetic field proximate a portion of the roll; and

a controller associated with the field generator and adapted to determine if an alteration of the electromagnetic field by the roll substantially matches an expected alteration of the electromagnetic field for an authorized roll placed on the drive roller, and if the altered electromagnetic field substantially matches the expected alteration, then permit the drive roller to advance the product from the roll.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the field generator includes a coil and an oscillator, and wherein the controller drives the oscillator to provide a waveform that is emitted by the coil, the waveform having a characteristic frequency, and compares the waveform as modified by the roll, to determine if the roll is authorized for use with the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the roll comprises a ring of conductive material.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the conductive material is arranged on the roll in a predefined pattern.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the conductive material comprises metallic material.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the roll includes a roll core and web material wrapped around the roll core.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the roll core cannot provide an alteration to the electromagnetic field that substantially matches the expected alteration when product is substantially completely removed from the roll core.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the expected alteration is defined by the amount of conductive material in the ring of conductive material formed on the roll core.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the conductive material includes conductive paint applied to an exterior surface of the roll core.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the alteration of the electromagnetic field provides information identifying at least one of roll brand, roll type, and roll size.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to provide a user-discernible indication that the drive roller has been locked out.

12. A method of regulating product dispensing from a dispenser, the method comprising:

creating an electromagnetic field having a characteristic frequency proximate a roll loaded into the dispenser and configured to be incrementally advanced by a drive motor;

detecting a change to the characteristic frequency, the change created by the presence of a closed loop associated with the roll;

comparing the changed frequency to a verification frequency; and

enabling motorized advancement of the product if the changed frequency substantially matches the verification frequency.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein creating the electromagnetic field includes driving an oscillator to feed a signal having the characteristic frequency to a coil proximate the roll.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising controlling a drive motor to advance the product a predefined amount based on the changed frequency associated with the loaded roll.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining a roll brand from the changed frequency.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising determining a roll type, or a roll size, from the changed frequency.

17. A roll of web material for use with an automatic dispensing device, the roll comprising:

a closed loop corresponding to a source of the roll; and

wherein the closed loop is marred when the web material has been at least partially dispensed from the roll.

18. The roll of claim 17 wherein the roll includes a core having an outer surface, a portion of which comprises a closed loop of conductive material for changing a system base frequency a predetermined amount.

19. The roll of claim 18 wherein the closed loop of conductive material is formed as a ring around a portion of the core.

20. The roll of claim 17 wherein the closed loop of conductive material identifies a type of the roll.

21. The roll of claim 17 wherein the closed loop of conductive material further identifies a size of the roll.