DISPENSING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING A PRODUCT

• US 20120072018A1
• Filed: 06/09/2009
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
• Original Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
• Inventors: Himmelmann, Gunilla, Norlund, Cecilia, Nelvig, Anna
• Granted Patent: US 9,873,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/231
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1405 Compressing means incorporated in, or specially adapted for, refuse receptacles presses in general B30B
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1638 Electromechanically operated lids

Abstract

A dispensing system including a dispenser for dispensing a product and a waste receptacle for receiving a used product. A triggering connection is present between the dispenser and the waste receptacle. The triggering connection is suitable to trigger in response to a dispensing action an encouraging action of the waste receptacle to encourage use of the waste receptacle.

Claims

1. A dispensing system comprising:

a dispenser for dispensing a product and

a waste receptacle for receiving a used product,

wherein a triggering connection between the dispenser and the waste receptacle, and wherein the triggering connection is suitable to trigger in response to a dispensing action an encouraging action of the waste receptacle to encourage use of the waste receptacle.

2. The dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the encouraging action includes a sound or a light signal emitted by the waste receptacle, a mechanical action, or shaking of the waste receptacle or any combinations thereof.

3. The dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser is a tissue paper dispenser, a soap dispenser, or a packaged product dispenser.

4. The dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the triggering connection between the dispenser and the waste receptacle is a mechanical triggering connection, an electronic triggering connection, or a bus system.

5. The dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein more than one dispenser triggers the action of a single waste receptacle.

6. The dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein more than one waste receptacle is triggered by a single dispenser.

8. The dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein a first triggering connection is provided between a first dispenser and a second dispenser to trigger an encouraging action of the second dispenser, a second triggering connection is provided between the first dispenser or the second dispenser to trigger an encouraging action of the waste receptacle.

9. The dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing system comprises a control unit for controlling the triggering connection, controlling the triggering of the encouraging action, controlling the sequence of actions in a multi-dispenser or multi-waste receptacle environment, controlling a time delay between a dispensing action and an encouraging action, controlling a duration for holding open a lid of a waste receptacle, controlling a duration for carrying out the encouraging action, or any other control action required in connection with the dispensing system.

10. The dispensing system according to claim 9, wherein the control unit is configured to provide a delay between a dispensing action and an encouraging action only if a used product is not put into the waste receptacle within a predetermined time.

7. The dispensing system according to claim, wherein the waste receptacle comprises a waste compacting device for automatically compacting the contents of the waste receptacle.

11. A method for dispensing a product, comprising the steps of:

dispensing a product from a dispenser, wherein the dispenser triggers an encouraging action of a waste receptacle via a triggering connection between the dispenser and the waste receptacle; and

carrying out the encouraging action by the waste receptacle in response to the triggering action of the dispenser.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the encouraging action includes emitting a sound or a light signal, carrying out a mechanical action, or shaking the waste receptacle or any combinations thereof.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the encouraging action is triggered mechanically, electronically, or by the provision of a bus system.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein more than one dispenser triggers the action of a single waste receptacle.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein more than one waste receptacle is triggered by a single dispenser.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the waste receptacle automatically compacts the contents of the waste receptacle.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein an encouraging action of a second dispenser is triggered by a first dispenser, and an encouraging action of the waste receptacle is triggered by the first dispenser and/or the second dispenser, preferably, a soap dispenser (2′

) triggers a towel dispenser (2) to carry out an encouraging action, wherein the towel dispenser triggers a waste receptacle (3) to carry out an encouraging action.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein a time delay is provided between a dispensing action and an encouraging action.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the time delay is provided only if a used product is not put into the waste receptacle within a predetermined time.