System and method for collecting data on product consumption
First Claim
1. A dispenser apparatus for dispensing sheets of web product arranged in a stack, said apparatus comprising:
- a dispenser housing adapted to maintain said web product in a stack, said dispenser housing defining a throat through which sheets of said web product are pulled by a user; and
a sensor arrangement including a plurality of transducer devices located at spaced apart locations about said throat of said dispenser, each of said transducer devices including an contacting portion extending into said throat such that at least one of said contacting portions will be contacted by a sheet being pulled therethrough.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for collecting data on usage of towels or other folded web products. The system includes one or more product dispensers having a respective sensor arrangement associated therewith for determining product usage. For example, a plurality of piezoelectric transducers may be situated about the throat of a product dispenser to generate a detection signal as sheets are withdrawn by a user. Detection signals produced by the transducers are fed to signal condition circuitry, the output of which is fed to a local processor. Selected benchmark information is derived by the local processor, and is transmitted, such as by wireless techniques, to a central data collection unit. The central data collection unit includes a processor which compares the benchmark information against predetermined data to produce the desired usage information.
135 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A dispenser apparatus for dispensing sheets of web product arranged in a stack, said apparatus comprising:
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a dispenser housing adapted to maintain said web product in a stack, said dispenser housing defining a throat through which sheets of said web product are pulled by a user; and
a sensor arrangement including a plurality of transducer devices located at spaced apart locations about said throat of said dispenser, each of said transducer devices including an contacting portion extending into said throat such that at least one of said contacting portions will be contacted by a sheet being pulled therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
a local transmission unit in operative communication with said sensor arrangement, said local transmission unit generating a data signal of predetermined format representative of usage of said web product and wirelessly broadcasting said data signal; and
a data collection unit located remote from said dispenser apparatus, said data collection unit operative to receive said data signal and store usage information representative thereof.
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6. A dispenser apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of transducer devices comprises at least four transducer devices.
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7. A dispenser apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein a first pair of said four transducer devices are located in a front portion of said throat and a second pair of said transducer devices are located in a back portion of said throat.
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8. A dispenser apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said at least four transducer devices comprises piezoelectric transducer devices.
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9. A dispenser apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said piezoelectric transducer devices are mounted to a circuit board configured to at least partially surround said throat.
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10. A method of detecting sheets of folded web product withdrawn through a throat of a product dispenser, said method comprising steps of:
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(a) situating a plurality of transducer devices about said throat, said transducer devices being operative to detect passage of a sheet of said folded web product adjacent thereto and responsively generate a detection signal;
(b) sensing said detection signals produced by said transducer devices as said sheets are withdrawn through said throat; and
(c) using electronic processor means to determine at least a number of sheets withdrawn per product pull based on said detection signals. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
(d) deriving selected benchmark information from said detection signals; and
(e) comparing said benchmark information against predetermined data to determine said number of sheets withdrawn per product pull.
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Specification