Automatic dispensers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An automatic sheet material dispenser comprising:
- a housing adapted to receive at least one sheet material roll;
an electrical power source;
a user input device which generates a user-responsive signal;
a dispensing mechanism powered by a motor; and
motor control apparatus adapted to;
power the motor responsive to the signal;
repetitively obtain electrical power source output values during powering of the motor;
perform mathematical operations using the values to produce a computed value; and
de-power the motor when the computed value reaches a target value corresponding to a length of dispensed sheet material.
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Abstract
Automatic dispensers for dispensing products such as towel, tissue, wipes, sheet-form materials, soap, shaving cream, fragrances and personal care products. A dispenser includes a housing, an electrical power source, a user input device, a dispensing mechanism, and motor control apparatus. The user input device generates a signal responsive to a user request for product. Motor control apparatus de-powers the dispensing mechanism based on a determination of dispenser conditions representing discharge of the product.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. An automatic sheet material dispenser comprising:
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a housing adapted to receive at least one sheet material roll; an electrical power source; a user input device which generates a user-responsive signal; a dispensing mechanism powered by a motor; and motor control apparatus adapted to; power the motor responsive to the signal; repetitively obtain electrical power source output values during powering of the motor; perform mathematical operations using the values to produce a computed value; and de-power the motor when the computed value reaches a target value corresponding to a length of dispensed sheet material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An automatic product dispenser comprising:
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a housing adapted to receive a dispensable product; an electrical power source; an electrically-powered dispensing mechanism; and a proximity detector for detecting a user without physical contact by the user, said detector having; a signal responsive to the presence of a user; and a micro-controller having a memory with a set of instructions, said instructions including; a first digital low-pass filter having a time constant, said first filter receiving the signal and providing a first output; and a second digital low-pass filter having a time constant different than the first filter time constant, said second filter receiving the signal and providing a second output, the micro-controller instructions being adapted to determine a difference between the first and second outputs and to operate the dispensing mechanism to dispense the dispensable product responsive to the difference. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An automatic sheet material dispenser comprising:
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a housing defining a space enclosing a sheet material roll; an electrical power source adapted to power the dispenser; a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a length of sheet material from the dispenser, said dispensing mechanism including a drive roller and a motor in power-transmission relationship with the drive roller; a proximity detector for detecting a user without physical contact by the user, said detector having a output signal representing detection of the user; and a controller having a memory and a program of instructions, said instructions including; a first low-pass filter having a time constant, said first filter receiving the output signal and providing a first output; a second low-pass filter having a time constant different from the first filter time constant, said second filter receiving the output signal and providing a second output; and the instructions determine a difference between the first and second outputs, such that the controller powers the motor when the difference reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold; and wherein the controller is further adapted to; repetitively obtaining electrical power source output values during powering of the motor; repetitively determine dispense sum increments based on the values; sum the determined dispense sum increments; and de-power the motor when the sum reaches or exceeds a target value, whereby sheet material length is controlled to a desired length. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
whereby dispensing mechanism coasting is estimated in a determination of when to de-power the motor.
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33. A method of controlling operation of an automatic product dispenser to detect a user without direct physical contact between the user and the dispenser, the method comprising:
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sensing a user proximate the dispenser and without direct physical contact between the user and the dispenser; generating an output signal responsive to sensing of the user; receiving the output signal with a first digital low-pass filter residing in instructions in a micro-controller memory, said first filter having a time constant and providing a first output; receiving the output signal with a second digital low-pass filter residing in instructions in the micro-controller memory, said second filter having a time constant different than the first filter time constant and providing a second output; differencing the first and second outputs with the micro-controller instructions; and dispensing product from the dispenser responsive to the difference. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method of controlling operation of an electronic sheet material dispenser such that the dispenser dispenses a preselected length of sheet material, the method comprising:
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powering a drive motor in response to a request for sheet material; dispensing a length of sheet material with a dispensing mechanism powered by the drive motor; repetitively obtaining electrical power source output values during powering of the motor; performing mathematical operations using the values to produce a computed value; and de-powering the drive motor when the computed value reaches a target value corresponding a desired length of sheet material, whereby sheet material length is controlled to the desired length. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
whereby the coasting is estimated in a determination of when to de-power the motor.
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Specification