Hands-free paper towel dispensers

• US 7,354,015 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wausau Paper Towel & Tissue LLC (Svenska Cellulosa AB)
• Original Assignee: Wausau Paper Towel & Tissue LLC (Svenska Cellulosa AB)
• Inventors: Elliott, Adam T., Mendelsberg, Victor, Byrd, Dannie D., Cotnoir, Alain P.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, JOHN QUOC
• Application Number:
  US10/393,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20040035976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• Field of Search: 242/563, 242/563.2, 242/564.1, 242/564.4, 242/596.3, 312/34.8, 312/34.22
• 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 10/3687 with one or more reserve rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3668 Detection of the presence of a user

Abstract

A hands-free paper towel dispenser including a housing with a front cover that is pivotable between open and closed positions. A sensing mechanism is disposed entirely within the interior space of the cabinet at a location adjacent to the front cover and is oriented toward the front cover of the cabinet to permit detecting of an object adjacent the front cover without the object contacting the front cover. At least a portion of the sensing mechanism is accessible when the front cover is at the open position. A dispensing mechanism is disposed within the housing for dispensing a length of towel, with the dispensing mechanism including a drive roller and a motor in driving engagement with the drive roller. The dispenser also includes an electric power source for powering operation of the dispenser.

Claims

1. A hands-free paper towel dispenser, comprising:

(a) a cabinet defining an interior space sufficient to house a main paper towel roll, the cabinet including a front cover that is pivotally attached thereto so that the front cover is pivotable between an open position and a closed position to open and close the interior space;

(b) a sensing mechanism disposed entirely within the interior space of the cabinet at a location directly behind and adjacent to the front cover so that the front cover covers the sensing mechanism when the cover is at the closed position, the sensing mechanism being oriented toward the front cover and configured to detect an object outside of the cabinet and adjacent the front cover without the object contacting the front cover and without any portion of the object entering the interior space, and at least a portion of the sensing mechanism is accessible when the front cover is at the open position;

(c) a dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing for dispensing a length of towel, the dispensing mechanism including a drive roller and a motor in driving engagement with the drive roller;

(d) control circuitry that controls operation of the sensing mechanism and the motor, controls the length of towel that is dispensed, and provides a delay between cycles of towel dispensing; and

(e) an electric power source for powering operation of the dispenser.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the sensing mechanism comprises a photo sensor.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry includes a circuit that prevents operation of the motor when the front cover is in the open position.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the electric power source supplies non-alternating current.