Dispenser with material-recognition apparatus and material-recognition method

• US 7,040,566 B1
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alwin Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alwin Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Paal, Alan P., Rodrian, James A., Buczkiewicz, Robert T., Hansen, Lawrence R., Kananen, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVERA, WILLIAM ARAUZ
• Application Number:
  US10/408,970
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 242/564, 242/564.1, 242/564.2, 242/563, 312/34.22, 312/34.8, 235/462.01, 235/462.13, 235/454, 235/470
• US Class Current: 242/563
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/36 with mechanical dispensing, roll switching or cutting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3612 with drive and pinch rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3625 with electronic control means
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3637 using a crank or handle
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3687 with one or more reserve 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3693 Selection of the size of the paper roll

Abstract

Dispenser apparatus for dispensing flexible sheet material including material-recognition apparatus permitting the dispenser to recognize sheet material from an authorized source and to be enabled for operation with such material. The dispenser preferably includes standard mechanical components for dispensing sheet material from the dispenser including a housing, structure for supporting a roll of sheet material, drive and tension rollers forming a nip through which the sheet material is displaced as the drive roller rotates and drive apparatus in power-transmission relationship with the drive roller. The material-recognition apparatus includes a sensor mounted in the dispenser housing and in position to scan a code, preferably located on the core on which the sheet material is wound. The sensor generates a code signal corresponding to the code. A control circuit operatively connected to the sensor is adapted to receive the code signal and compare the code represented by said code signal to at least one code in a code database. The dispenser is placed in a dispenser-enabled state capable of dispensing sheet material corresponding to agreement between the codes and a dispenser-disabled state in which the dispenser is disabled when no such code agreement exists.

Claims

1. A dispenser apparatus for dispensing sheet material from a roll of the type including a housing, a roll support supporting the roll for rotation within the housing, a discharge apparatus and a drive apparatus powering the discharge apparatus to discharge the sheet material from the dispenser, the improvement comprising:

a sensor mounted in the housing, said sensor being positioned to read a code associated with the roll and generate a code signal corresponding to the code;

a control circuit operatively connected to the sensor, said control circuit being adapted to (a) receive the code signal, (b) compare the code represented by said code signal to at least one code in a code database, and (c) set a dispenser-enabled state in which the dispenser is enabled corresponding to agreement between the codes and a dispenser-disabled state in which the dispenser is disabled when no such agreement exists; and

power supply apparatus adapted to supply electrical energy to the sensor and control circuit.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the roll-associated code comprises a bar code.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the roll is wound on a core, said core including an axial length, inner and outer surfaces and a pair of ends, and the bar code is located on the core inner surface.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein:

the roll support comprises a pair of opposed roll holders each adapted to support a respective core end; and

the sensor is mounted on at least one of the roll holders.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises:

an optical source adapted to direct optical energy toward the roll-associated code; and

an optical detector adapted to receive the optical energy from the roll-associated code and generate the code signal corresponding to the roll-associated code.

6. The dispenser of claim 5 wherein:

the optical source includes an infrared-emitting diode; and

the optical detector includes a phototransistor adjacent the diode.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein:

the discharge apparatus comprises a tension roller rotatably mounted with respect to the housing and a drive roller rotatably mounted with respect to the housing and tension roller, said drive and tension rollers forming a nip therebetween; and

the drive apparatus is in power-transmission relationship with the drive roller, said drive apparatus rotatably powering the drive roller such that the sheet material moves through the nip for discharge from the dispenser.

8. The dispenser of claim 7 further comprising:

an electric motor in power-transmission relationship with the drive roller, said electric motor powering the drive apparatus and drive roller;

an input device responsive to a user, said input device triggering electric motor operation if the dispenser is in the dispenser-enabled state; and

the control circuit affects the electric motor such that, in the dispenser-enabled state, electric motor operation is triggered responsive to a signal from the input device and, in the dispenser-disabled state, the electric motor is disabled.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein the control circuit includes a microcontroller programmed to perform the code comparison and to enable the electric motor based on agreement between the codes and disable the electric motor when no such agreement exists.

10. The dispenser of claim 7 further comprising:

a manually-driven drive apparatus in power-transmission relationship with the drive roller such that the drive roller rotates responsive to the manually-driven drive apparatus; and

an interlock device operatively connected to the control circuit, said interlock device being adapted to respond to the setting of the state such that, in the dispenser-enabled state the manually-driven drive apparatus is operational and, in the dispenser-disabled state, the manually-driven drive apparatus is disabled.

11. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the manually-driven drive apparatus comprises:

a manually-operated contact member including a user-contact portion and an input gear; and

a gear train in power-transmission relationship with the contact member and drive roller such that the drive roller rotates responsive to movement of the contact member.

12. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein:

the gear train includes a free-wheel gear mounted for movement between a gear-engagement position in which the contact member is connected to the drive roller through the gear train enabling the contact member to power the drive roller and a gear-disengagement position in which the contact member is disconnected from the drive gear, thereby preventing the contact member from powering the drive roller; and

the interlock device includes an electromechanical actuator in engagement with the free-wheel gear, said electromechanical actuator being adapted to move the free-wheel gear between the gear-engagement and gear-disengagement positions.

13. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein:

the interlock device includes a solenoid having an armature displaceable between a first position and a second position;

the armature is in engagement with the free-wheel gear through a linkage; and

when the armature is in the first position, the free-wheel gear is in the gear-engagement position, and, when the armature is in the second position, the free-wheel gear is in the gear-disengagement position.

14. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the interlock device comprises:

a locking pin movable between a pin-engaged position in which the locking pin disables the drive apparatus and a pin-disengaged position in which drive apparatus is operational; and

an electromechanical actuator which moves the locking pin between the pin-engaged and pin-disengaged positions.

15. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein the electromechanical actuator comprises a solenoid.

16. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein the electromechanical actuator comprises an interlock motor.

17. A method of sheet material recognition enabling operation of a sheet material dispenser with sheet material from an authorized source comprising:

loading a roll of sheet material in the dispenser, the sheet material roll including a code associated therewith indicating that the sheet material from the authorized source;

sensing the code;

generating a code signal associated with the code;

receiving the code signal with a control circuit operatively connected to the sensor;

comparing the code represented by said code signal to at least one code in a code database to determine that the roll is from the authorized source; and

setting a dispenser-enabled state corresponding to agreement between the codes, said agreement indicating that the roll is from the authorized source, and a dispenser-disabled state when no such agreement exists.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the code comprises a bar code.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the sensing step comprises the steps of:

directing optical energy toward the bar code;

rotating the roll; and

receiving the optical energy from the bar code.

20. The method of claim 18 further including, before the sensing step, the step of performing a CoreCheck routine to determine whether the sheet material roll has been loaded in the dispenser in place of a stub sheet material roll previously loaded therein.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of performing the CoreCheck routine comprises the steps of:

determining whether the dispenser is sensing the bar code;

if the dispenser is not sensing the bar code, detecting ambient light with an optical detector such that a detection of ambient light represents removal of the sheet material stub roll;

if ambient light is detected, placing the dispenser in a dispenser-disabled state;

if ambient light is not detected, activating an optical source adapted to direct optical energy toward the sheet material roll;

detecting the reflected optical energy with the optical detector such that (a) detection of reflected optical energy when the dispenser is previously in the dispenser-disabled state represents that the full sheet material roll has been loaded in place of the sheet material stub roll, while (b) detection of reflected optical energy when the dispenser is previously in a dispenser-enabled state represents that the sheet material stub roll remains loaded; and

if the optical energy is detected and the dispenser is in the dispenser-disabled state, causing the dispenser to perform the sensing step.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the dispenser is a motor-driven dispenser including a housing, a cover switch and a dispenser cover movable between a first position in which the dispenser is open for loading of the sheet material roll and a second position in which the dispenser is closed, and the step of performing the CoreCheck routine further comprises the steps of:

opening the cover switch responsive to moving the cover to the first position such that opening of the switch represents opening of the dispenser cover to remove the stub sheet material roll from the dispenser;

closing the cover switch responsive to moving the cover to the second position such that closing of the switch represents closing of the dispenser housing cover after a full sheet material roll has been loaded in place of the sheet material stub roll;

powering the motor for a predetermined time interval responsive to closing of the switch;

rotating the full roll by means of the motor for the predetermined time interval; and

enabling the dispenser to perform the sensing step during the rotating step.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein the dispenser is a motor-driven dispenser and the method further comprises the steps of:

enabling operation of an electric motor when the dispenser-enabled state is set;

triggering operation of the enabled electric motor responsive to a user; and

dispensing a length of sheet material with a drive roller powered by the electric motor.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein the dispenser is a manually-driven dispenser and the method comprises the further steps of:

generating an interlock signal based on agreement between the codes;

receiving the interlock signal with an interlock device;

setting, through the interlock device, the dispenser-enabled state; and

dispensing a length of sheet material with the enabled dispenser.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of setting the dispenser-enabled state comprises the further steps of:

actuating an electromechanical interlock device; and

moving, through the electromechanical interlock device, a free-wheel gear to a gear-engagement position to enable a dispenser drive apparatus and set the dispenser-enabled state.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of setting the dispenser-enabled state comprises the further steps of:

actuating an electromechanical interlock device; and

moving, through the electromechanical interlock device, a pin to a pin-disengagement position to enable a dispenser drive apparatus and set the dispenser-enabled state.

27. A sheet material dispenser including material-recognition apparatus enabling operation of the dispenser with sheet material from an authorized source, comprising:

a dispenser housing;

a sheet material support adapted to rotatably mount a sheet material roll within the housing, said sheet material roll including sheet material wound about a core having an inner surface and a bar code located on the core inner surface;

a tension roller rotatably mounted with respect to the housing;

a drive roller rotatably mounted with respect to the housing and tension roller, said drive and tension rollers forming a nip therebetween;

drive apparatus in power-transmission relationship with the drive roller, said drive apparatus rotatably powering the drive roller such that the sheet material moves through the nip for discharge from the dispenser;

a sensor mounted on the sheet material support, said sensor being positioned to read the bar code when the core is mounted on the sheet material support and generate a code signal corresponding to a code embodied in the bar code;

a control circuit operatively connected to the sensor, said control circuit including a microcontroller adapted to (a) receive the code signal, (b) compare the code represented by said code signal to at least one code in a code database, and (c) set a dispenser-enabled state in which the dispenser is enabled corresponding to agreement between the codes and a dispenser-disabled state in which the dispenser is disabled when no such agreement exists; and

power supply apparatus adapted to supply electrical energy to the sensor and control circuit.

28. The dispenser of claim 27 wherein:

the sheet material roll support comprises a pair of opposed roll holders each adapted to support a respective core end; and

the sensor is mounted on at least one of the roll holders.

29. The dispenser of claim 27 wherein the sensor comprises:

an optical source adapted to direct optical energy toward the bar code; and

an optical detector adapted to receive the optical energy from the bar code and generate the code signal corresponding to the bar code.

30. The dispenser of claim 29 wherein:

the optical source includes an infrared-emitting diode; and

the optical detector includes a phototransistor adjacent the diode.

31. The dispenser of claim 27 further comprising:

an electric motor in power-transmission relationship with the drive roller;

an input device responsive to a user triggering motor operation if the dispenser is in the dispenser-enabled state; and

the microcontroller affects the electric motor such that, in the dispenser-enabled state, motor operation is triggered responsive to a signal from the input device and, in the dispenser-disabled state, the electric motor is disabled.

32. The dispenser of claim 27 further comprising:

a manually-operated actuator in power-transmission relationship with the drive roller such that the drive roller rotates responsive to the manually-operated actuator;

an interlock device operatively connected to the control circuit, said interlock device being adapted to respond to the setting of the state such that, in the dispenser-enabled state the drive apparatus is operational and, in the dispenser-disabled state, the drive apparatus is disabled.

33. The dispenser of claim 32 wherein the manually-operated actuator comprises:

a manually-operated contact member including a user-contact portion and an input gear; and

a gear train in power-transmission relationship with the contact member and drive roller such that the drive roller rotates responsive to movement of the contact member.

34. The dispenser of claim 33 wherein:

the gear train includes a free-wheel gear mounted for movement between a gear-engagement position in which the contact member is connected to the drive roller through the gear train enabling the contact member to power the drive roller and a gear-disengagement position in which the contact member is disconnected from the drive gear, thereby preventing the contact member from powering the drive roller; and

the interlock device includes an electromechanical actuator in engagement with the free-wheel gear, said electromechanical actuator being adapted to move the free-wheel gear between the gear-engagement and gear-disengagement positions.

35. The dispenser of claim 34 wherein:

the interlock device includes a solenoid having an armature displaceable between a first position and a second position;

the armature is in engagement with the free-wheel gear through a linkage; and

when the armature is in the first position, the free-wheel gear is in the gear-engagement position, and, when the armature is in the second position, the free-wheel gear is in the gear-disengagement position.

36. The dispenser of claim 32 wherein the interlock device comprises:

a locking pin movable between a pin-engaged position in which the locking pin disables the drive apparatus and a pin-disengaged position in which drive apparatus is operational; and

an electromechanical actuator which moves the locking pin between the pin-engaged and pin-disengaged positions.

37. The dispenser of claim 36 wherein the electromechanical actuator comprises a solenoid.

38. The dispenser of claim 36 wherein the electromechanical actuator comprises an interlock motor.

39. A dispenser apparatus for dispensing sheet material from a roll of the type including a housing, a roll support supporting the roll for rotation within the housing, a discharge apparatus and a drive apparatus powering the discharge apparatus to dispense the sheet material from the dispenser, the improvement comprising:

a sensor mounted in the housing, said sensor being positioned to read a code associated with the roll and generate a code signal corresponding to the code;

a control circuit operatively connected to the sensor, said control circuit being adapted to (a) receive the code signal, (b) validate the code represented by said code signal, and (c) allow sheet material dispensing if the code is valid or not allow sheet material dispensing if the code is invalid; and

power supply apparatus adapted to supply electrical energy to the sensor and control circuit.

40. The dispenser of claim 39 wherein the code comprises a bar code.

41. The dispenser of claim 40 wherein the roll is wound on a core, said core including an axial length, inner and outer surfaces and a pair of ends, and the bar code is located on the core inner surface.

42. The dispenser of claim 41 wherein:

the roll support comprises a pair of opposed roll holders each adapted to support a respective core end; and

the sensor is mounted on at least one of the roll holders.

43. The dispenser of claim 39 wherein the sensor comprises:

an optical source adapted to direct optical energy toward the code; and

an optical detector adapted to receive optical energy from the code and generate the code signal.

44. The dispenser of claim 43 wherein:

the optical source includes an infrared-emitting diode; and

the optical detector includes a phototransistor adjacent the diode.

45. The dispenser of claim 39 wherein the discharge apparatus includes drive and tension rollers forming a nip therebetween through which the sheet material is received, the drive apparatus includes a motor powering the drive roller and the dispenser further comprises:

an input device triggering motor operation responsive to a user; and

the control circuit affects the motor such that, if the code is valid, motor operation is triggered responsive to a signal from the input device and, if the code is invalid, the motor is disabled.

46. The dispenser of claim 45 wherein the control circuit includes a microcontroller adapted to:

compare the code to at least one code associated with the control circuit; and

determine whether there is agreement between the codes;

whereby, agreement between the codes indicates that the code is valid and non-agreement between the codes indicates that the code is invalid.

47. The dispenser of claim 46 wherein the microcontroller is further adapted to:

enable the motor for operation based on agreement between the codes; and

disable the motor when no such agreement exists.

48. The dispenser of claim 39 wherein the discharge apparatus includes drive and tension rollers forming a nip therebetween through which the sheet material is received, the drive apparatus includes a manually-driven drive apparatus powering the drive roller and the dispenser further comprises an interlock device operatively connected to the control circuit, said interlock device enabling operation of the manually-driven drive apparatus if the code is valid and disabling operation of the manually-driven drive apparatus if the code is invalid.

49. The dispenser of claim 48 wherein the manually-driven drive apparatus further comprises:

a manually-operated lever including a user-contact portion and an input gear;

at least one gear in power-transmission relationship with the input gear and drive roller, said at least one gear including a free-wheel gear mounted for movement between a gear-engagement position in which the input gear and drive roller are in the power-transmission relationship and a gear-disengagement position in which the input gear and drive roller are not in power-transmission relationship; and

the interlock device includes an actuator in engagement with the free-wheel gear, said actuator being adapted to move the free-wheel gear between the gear-engagement and gear-disengagement positions.

50. The dispenser of claim 49 wherein:

the actuator includes an armature displaceable between a first position and a second position;

the armature is in engagement with the free-wheel gear through a linkage; and

when the armature is in the first position, the free-wheel gear is in the gear-engagement position, and, when the armature is in the second position, the free-wheel gear is in the gear-disengagement position.

51. The dispenser of claim 48 wherein the interlock device comprises:

a locking pin movable between a pin-engaged position in which the locking pin disables the manually-driven drive apparatus and a pin-disengaged position in which the manually-driven drive apparatus is operational; and

an actuator which moves the locking pin between the pin-engaged and pin-disengaged positions.

52. The dispenser of claim 51 wherein the actuator is selected from the group consisting of a linear actuator and an interlock motor.

53. A method of controlling operation of a sheet material dispenser comprising:

loading a roll of sheet material in the dispenser, the sheet material roll including a code associated therewith;

sensing the code;

validating the code; and

controlling dispenser operation by allowing sheet material dispensing if the code is valid or not allowing sheet material dispensing if the code is invalid.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the code comprises a bar code and the sensing step comprises the steps of:

directing optical energy toward the bar code;

rotating the roll; and

receiving, with a sensor, optical energy reflected from the bar code.

55. The method of claim 53 wherein the code comprises one or more of the group consisting of a linear optical array, a static bar code, a static symbol, an RFID code and an electrically-conductive code and the sensing step comprises receiving, with a sensor, a signal corresponding to detection of the code.

56. The method of claim 53 wherein the validating step comprises:

comparing the code to at least one code associated with a control circuit; and

determining whether there is agreement between the codes;

whereby, agreement between the codes indicates that the code is valid and non-agreement between the codes indicates that the code is invalid.

57. The method of claim 53 wherein the dispenser includes a discharge apparatus including drive and tension rollers forming a nip therebetween through which the sheet material is received and a drive apparatus including a motor powering the drive roller, and the controlling step further comprises the steps of:

enabling the motor for operation if the code is valid;

or

disabling the motor if the code is invalid.

58. The method of claim 53 wherein the dispenser includes a discharge apparatus including drive and tension rollers forming a nip therebetween through which the sheet material is received and a manually-powered drive apparatus for powering the drive roller, and the method further comprises the steps of:

generating an interlock signal if the code is valid;

receiving the interlock signal with an interlock device; and

setting, through the interlock device, a dispenser-enabled state in which the manually-powered drive apparatus is operational to power the drive roller.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein the interlock device comprises an electromechanical interlock device and the step of setting the dispenser-enabled state comprises the further steps of:

actuating the electromechanical interlock device; and

moving, through the electromechanical interlock device, a free-wheel gear to a gear-engagement position such that the manually-powered drive apparatus is in power-transmission relationship with the drive roller.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the interlock device comprises an electromechanical interlock device having a pin movable between positions of engagement and disengagement with the manually-powered drive apparatus, and the step of setting the dispenser-enabled state comprises the further steps of:

actuating the electromechanical interlock device; and

moving, through the electromechanical interlock device, the pin to a pin-disengagement position such that the manually-powered drive apparatus is operational to power the drive roller.

61. The method of claim 53 further comprising the step of, if the code is valid, powering the drive roller to dispense a length of sheet material from the dispenser.

62. The method of claim 53 further including the step of performing a CoreCheck routine to determine whether the roll is loaded in the dispenser.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein the CoreCheck routine comprises the steps of:

determining whether the dispenser is sensing the bar code;

if the dispenser is not sensing the bar code, detecting ambient light with the sensor such that detection of ambient light represents removal of the roll;

if ambient light is detected, placing the dispenser in a dispenser-disabled state;

if ambient light is not detected, activating an optical source adapted to direct optical energy toward the roll;

detecting optical energy reflected from the roll with the sensor such that (a) detection of reflected optical energy when the dispenser is previously in a dispenser-disabled state represents that the roll has been loaded subsequent to a preceding CoreCheck routine, while (b) detection of reflected optical energy when the dispenser is previously in a dispenser-enabled state represents that the roll was loaded prior to the preceding CoreCheck routine; and

if the optical energy is detected and the dispenser is in the dispenser-disabled state, causing the dispenser to perform the sensing step.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the dispenser is a motor-driven dispenser including a housing, a cover switch and a dispenser cover movable between a first position in which the dispenser is open for loading of the roll and a second position in which the dispenser is closed, and the step of performing the CoreCheck routine further comprises the steps of:

opening the cover switch responsive to moving the cover to the first position;

closing the cover switch responsive to moving the cover to the second position;

powering the motor for a predetermined time interval responsive to closing of the switch;

rotating the roll by means of the motor for the predetermined time interval; and

sensing the code during rotating of the roll.

65. A sheet material dispenser comprising:

a housing adapted to receive sheet material, said sheet material having a machine-readable code associated therewith;

a sensor mounted with respect to the housing, said sensor being adapted to read the code and generate a code signal corresponding to the code;

a control circuit operatively connected to the sensor, said control circuit being adapted to (a) receive the code signal, (b) validate the code represented by said code signal, and (c) allow sheet material dispensing if the code is valid or not allow sheet material dispensing if the code is invalid; and

a power source adapted to supply electrical energy to the dispenser.

66. The dispenser of claim 65 wherein the housing is adapted to receive the sheet material in the form of a roll wound about a core and the code is associated with the core.

67. The dispenser of claim 66 wherein the code is a bar code and the sensor is adapted to read the bar code.

68. The dispenser of claim 66 further comprising:

a tension roller rotatably mounted with respect to the housing;

a drive roller rotatably mounted with respect to the housing and tension roller, said drive and tension rollers forming a nip therebetween;

drive apparatus in power-transmission relationship with the drive roller, said drive apparatus rotatably powering the drive roller such that the sheet material moves through the nip for dispensing from the dispenser; and

the control circuit affects the drive apparatus such that the drive apparatus is enabled if the code is valid.

69. The dispenser of claim 68 wherein the control circuit further includes a microcontroller adapted to (a) compare the code to at least one code associated with the control circuit;

and (b) determine whether there is agreement between the codes;

whereby, agreement between the codes indicates that the code is valid and non-agreement between the codes indicates that the code is invalid.

70. The dispenser of claim 69 further comprising:

a motor in power-transmission relationship with the drive roller; and

wherein

the microcontroller is further adapted to;

enable the motor for operation based on agreement between the codes; and

disable the motor when no such agreement exists.