PAPER PRODUCT DISPENSER

• US 20160262580A1
• Filed: 05/23/2016
• Published: 09/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biotouchless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Scott Fellhoelter
• Inventors: Fellhoelter, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 10,376,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/36 with mechanical dispensing, roll switching or cutting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3687 with one or more reserve rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3226 collecting data of usage
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/326 dispensing simultaneously from several rolls or stacks
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3668 Detection of the presence of a user
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3693 Selection of the size of the paper roll
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 26/06 responsive to predetermined lengths of webs

Abstract

A paper product dispenser that includes a toilet paper spindle adapted to hold and dispense a toilet paper roll, at least one motor connected to the toilet paper spindle, a controller connected to the motor, and a thermopile sensor in communication with the controller, the thermopile sensor comprising a plurality of thermocouples that form a junction A and a junction B, wherein when the thermocouples sense thermal radiation, thermal gradient between junction A and junction B is created, the thermal gradient generating an electrical signal that the thermopile sensor sends to the controller

Claims

1. A toilet paper dispenser comprising:

a toilet paper spindle adapted to hold and dispense a toilet paper roll;

at least one motor connected to the toilet paper spindle;

a controller connected to the motor; and

a thermopile sensor in communication with the controller and comprising a plurality of thermocouples that form a junction A and a junction B, wherein when the thermocouples sense thermal radiation, thermal gradient between junction A and junction B is created, the thermal gradient generating an electrical signal that the thermopile sensor sends to the controller.

2. The toilet paper dispenser of claim 1, wherein the thermocouples are connected in series.

3. The toilet paper dispenser of claim 1, wherein the thermocouples are made of different metals.

4. The toilet paper dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a remote status display connected to the controller, wherein when the controller receivers the electrical signal from the thermopile sensor, the remote status display flashes a light.

5. The toilet paper dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a network interface card connected to the controller and adapted to connect the toilet paper dispenser to a network.

6. The toilet paper dispenser of claim 5, further comprising a front cover and a front cover sensor adapted to detect an open position of the front cover, the front cover sensor being in communication with the controller, wherein when the front cover is in an open position, the front cover sensor sends a signal to the controller, the controller sends a service signal through the network that can be received by a device that is connected to the network.

7. A paper product dispenser comprising:

a motor adapted to dispense a paper product;

a controller; and

a thermopile sensor in communication with the controller, the thermopile sensor including a plurality of thermocouples adapted to detect a change in temperature, wherein when the thermopile sensor detects a change in the temperature, the thermopile sensor sends a signal to the controller, the controller processes the signal and compiles the signal to generate occupancy data.

8. The paper product dispenser of claim 7, further comprising a communication device in communication with the controller and adapted to connect the paper product dispenser to a network, wherein the controller sends the occupancy data to the network.

9. The paper product dispenser of claim 8, further comprising a front cover, a main chassis that encase the paper product dispenser, and a front cover sensor adapted to detect an open position of the front cover, the front cover sensor being in communication with the controller, wherein when the front cover is in the open position, the front cover sensor sends a signal to the controller, the controller sends a service signal through the network that can be received by a device that is connected to the network.

10. The paper product dispenser of claim 8, further comprising an array of thermopile sensors in communication with the controller, each thermopile sensor including a plurality of thermocouples adapted to detect a change in temperature, wherein when the thermopile sensor detects a change in the temperature, the thermopile sensor sends a signal to the controller, the controller processes the signal and compiles the signal to generate occupancy data that is sent to the network.

11. The paper product dispenser of claim 7, wherein the thermopile sensor includes a thermistor that measures a temperature of ambient environment as an analog signal and uses this analog signal as a reference value and an analog-to-digital converter to convert the analog signal to a digital signal, the thermopile sensor adapted to send the digital signal to the controller.

12. The paper product dispenser of claim 7, wherein the controller includes a firmware and further comprising a dual in-line package switch connected to the controller, the dual in-line package switch including a plurality of levers arranged in series, each lever being moveable in a plurality of positions, the positions of the levers being readable by the firmware.

13. The paper product dispenser of claim 12, wherein the firmware adjusts a predefined interval of time when the dispenser dispenses the paper product after detecting a subsequent hand wave depending on the positions of the lever of the dual in-line package switch.

14. The paper product dispenser of claim 12, wherein the firmware adjusts a predefined maximum length of paper to dispense between hand waves depending on the positions of the lever of the dual in-line package switch.

15. A paper product dispenser comprising:

a motor adapted to dispense a paper product;

a controller having a firmware;

a thermopile sensor in communication with the controller, the thermopile sensor including a plurality of thermocouples adapted to detect a change in temperature, wherein when the thermopile sensor detects a change in the temperature, the thermopile sensor sends a signal to the controller; and

a dual in-line package switch connected to the controller, the dual in-line package switch including a plurality of levers arranged in series, each lever being moveable in a plurality of positions, the positions of the levers being readable by the firmware.

16. The paper product dispenser of claim 15, wherein the firmware adjusts a predefined interval of time when the dispenser dispenses the paper product after detecting a subsequent hand wave depending on the positions of the lever of the dual in-line package switch.

17. The paper product dispenser of claim 15, wherein the firmware adjusts a predefined maximum length of paper to dispense between hand waves depending on the positions of the lever of the dual in-line package switch.

18. The paper product dispenser of claim 15, further comprising a remote status display connected to the controller, wherein when the controller receivers the signal from the thermopile sensor, the remote status display flashes a light.

19. The paper product dispenser of claim 15, further comprising a network interface card connected to the controller and adapted to connect the paper product dispenser to a network, a front cover, and a front cover sensor adapted to detect an open position of the front cover, the front cover sensor being in communication with the controller, wherein when the front cover is in an open position, the front cover sensor sends a signal to the controller, the controller sends a service signal through the network that can be received by a device that is connected to the network.