Intelligent electronic paper dispenser

• US 7,370,824 B1
• Filed: 05/03/2005
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valve Solutions Inc.
• Original Assignee: Charles Agnew Osborne
• Inventors: Osborne, Charles Agnew
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, JOHN QUOC
• Application Number:
  US11/120,732
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 242/393, 242/563, 242/563.2, 242/564.5, 242/591, 242/592, 340/5.9, 340/5.92, 700/236, 700/241, 700/244
• US Class Current: 242/563
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/36 with mechanical dispensing, roll switching or cutting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3618 The drive roller pressing against the paper roll
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3625 with electronic control means
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3668 Detection of the presence of a user
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 16/005 Dispensers, i.e. machines for unwinding only parts of web roll
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 16/106 in which power is applied to web roll
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2551/185 Voice actuated input means
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2551/21 Monitors; Displays

Abstract

A system and apparatus for automatically dispensing a paper product mounted on a gravity-assisted holder through a dispenser. The apparatus can be pedestal or wall-mounted and includes an electric motor, a main product roller for automatically rolling a predetermined amount of the paper product from the holder, exit guide rollers for guiding the paper product through a front cover of the dispenser, and a series of interconnected gears that are driven by the electric motor to activate the main product roller and exit guide roller and operate both the main roller and exit roller at the same speed. The dispenser is activated when a proximity sensor detects the presence of an individual'"'"'s hand. Operating the rollers at the same speed prevents paper or tissue jamming inside the dispenser. An even weight distribution of the paper roll against a primary roller is accomplished by offsetting the weight of the paper roll through guide tracks. When the paper roll is at full size, the center of gravity is on the guide tracks; when the paper roll gets smaller, the center of gravity shifts closer to the roller ensuring that the paper roll is fed constantly thereby increasing motor efficiency.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatically dispensing a paper product, comprising:

a dispenser for dispensing the paper product;

a paper roll shaft/adapter positioned in a guide track inside the dispenser for holding a roll of the paper product;

an electric motor;

a single first roller for contacting an outer periphery of the roll and automatically unrolling a predetermined amount of the paper product from the paper roll when the dispenser is activated, wherein a position of a single peripheral surface of contact between the paper roll and first roller changes under gravitational assistance as the paper roll shaft/adapter travels in the guide track;

a second roller for guiding the paper product through a discharge chute of the dispenser; and

a plurality of interconnected gears that are driven by the electric motor to activate the first roller and second roller to dispense the predetermined length of paper, and to operate each roller at the same speed.

2. The apparatus for automatically dispensing a paper product of claim 1 wherein the paper roll shaft/adapter operates under gravity-assistance as the amount of paper product remaining on the paper roll shaft/adapter decreases to maintain a substantially consistent frictional force between the first roller and the paper product.

3. The apparatus for automatically dispensing a paper product of claim 2 wherein the angle of the paper product applied to the first roller relative to a vertical line changes as a radius of the paper roll decreases with each dispensing of paper product from the paper roll.

4. The apparatus for automatically dispensing a paper product of claim 1 wherein the plurality of interconnected gears includes a motor gear, a middle gear engaged by the motor gear, a first roller gear engaged by the middle gear, and a second roller gear engaged by the middle gear.

5. The apparatus for automatically dispensing a paper product of claim 1 further comprising a battery for providing electrical power to the electric motor.

6. The apparatus for automatically dispensing a paper product of claim 5 wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.

7. The apparatus for automatically dispensing a paper product of claim 1 wherein the dispenser comprises a cover and a liquid crystal display panel located on the cover.

8. The apparatus for automatically dispensing a paper product of claim 7 wherein the liquid crystal display panel provides an indication of a battery charge status and a paper product remaining status.

9. The apparatus for automatically dispensing a paper product of claim 1 further comprising an activation sensor to detect the presence of a user'"'"'s hand below the dispenser for controlling the dispensing of paper product.

10. The apparatus for automatically dispensing a paper product of claim 1 further comprising a paper counter to determine the amount of paper product remaining on the paper roll.

11. The apparatus for automatically dispensing a paper product of claim 10 wherein the paper counter comprises a potentiometer and an arm that is positioned by the paper roll shaft/adapter as it the paper roll shaft/adapter travels down a curvature in the guide track towards the first roller.

12. The apparatus for automatically dispensing a paper product of claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor controller for determining an amount of paper product remaining on the paper roll shaft/adapter after each use.

13. The apparatus for automatically dispensing a paper product of claim 1 further comprising a pedestal mechanism for supporting the dispenser in a free-standing position.

14. An intelligent dispensing system for automatically dispensing and monitoring usage of a paper product, comprising:

a dispenser for dispensing the paper product;

a paper roll shaft/adapter positioned in a guide track inside the dispenser for holding a roll of the paper product;

an activation sensor to detect the presence of a user'"'"'s hand in proximity to the dispenser for controlling the dispensing of paper product;

a single first roller for contacting an outer periphery of the roll and automatically unrolling a predetermined amount of the paper product from the roll when the dispenser is activated, wherein a position of a single peripheral surface of contact between the paper roll and first roller changes under gravitational assistance as the paper roll shaft/adapter travels in the guide track;

a second roller for guiding the paper product through a discharge chute of the dispenser; and

a motor and gearing to activate and control operation of the first roller and the second roller to dispense the predetermined length of paper product through the discharge chute.

15. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 14 wherein the paper roll shaft/adapter operates under gravity-assistance as the amount of paper product remaining on the paper roll shaft/adapter decreases to maintain a substantially consistent frictional force between the first roller and the paper product.

16. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 15 wherein the angle of the paper product applied to the first roller relative to a vertical line changes as a radius of the roll decreases with each dispensing of paper product from the roll.

17. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 14 wherein the gearing comprises a motor gear, a middle gear engaged by the motor gear, a first roller gear engaged by the middle gear, and a second roller gear engaged by the middle gear.

18. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 14 further comprising a battery for providing electrical power to the motor.

19. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 18 wherein the battery is rechargeable.

20. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 14 further comprising a cover and a liquid crystal display panel located on the cover.

21. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 20 wherein the liquid crystal display panel provides an indication of a paper product remaining status.

22. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 14 further comprising a paper counter to determine the amount of paper product remaining on the roll.

23. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 22 wherein the paper counter comprises a potentiometer and an arm that is positioned by the paper roll shaft/adapter as it the paper roll shaft/adapter travels down a curvature in the guide track toward the first roller.

24. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 14 wherein each dispenser is either wall-mounted or pedestal-mounted.

25. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 14 further comprising:

a plurality of automatic paper product dispensers, with each dispenser including a microprocessor controller and a transceiver;

a master network device operatively connected with the transceiver in each dispenser; and

a local network for enabling a paper product status message to be transmitted from each automatic paper product dispenser to the master network device.

26. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 25 further comprising an automation and control network interoperable with the local network for monitoring a status of each paper product dispenser.

27. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 25 wherein the master network device receives status messages from the transceiver in each dispenser.

28. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 27 wherein the master network device transmits status messages over the automation and control network.

29. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 25 wherein each automatic paper product dispenser and the master network device communicate with each other using wireless signals.

30. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 25 wherein the master network device and each dispenser transceiver use a wired connection for communication.

31. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 25 wherein the microprocessor controller for each paper product dispenser determines an amount of paper product remaining on the paper roll shaft/adapter and transmits a status message signal containing a status of the paper product to the master network device.

32. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 25 wherein the local network uses a standard data communications protocol.

33. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 32 wherein the automation and control network uses a building automation and control network protocol.

34. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 25 further comprising a handheld device for data communications with the master network device.

35. An intelligent dispensing system, comprising:

a dispenser apparatus including an activation sensor for automatically dispensing a predetermined amount of paper product in response to a detection of a user'"'"'s hand in proximity to the dispenser and a microprocessor for monitoring usage of the paper product, wherein the dispenser apparatus further comprises;

a paper roll shaft/adapter positioned in a guide track inside the dispenser for holding a roll of the paper product;

a single first roller for contacting an outer periphery of the roll and automatically unrolling the predetermined amount of the paper product from the roll when the dispenser is activated, wherein a position of a single peripheral surface of contact between the paper roll and first roller changes under gravitational assistance as the paper roll shaft/adapter travels in the guide track; and

a free-standing pedestal for supporting the dispenser apparatus.

36. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 35 wherein the dispenser further comprises:

a second roller for guiding the paper product through a discharge chute of the dispenser; and

a motor and gearing to activate and control operation of the first roller and the second roller to dispense the predetermined length of paper product through the discharge chute.

37. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 35 wherein the paper roll shaft/adapter operates under gravity-assistance as the amount of paper product remaining on the paper roll shaft/adapter decreases to maintain a substantially consistent frictional force between the first roller and the paper product.

38. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 37 wherein the angle of the paper product applied to the first roller relative to a vertical line changes as a radius of the roll decreases with each dispensing of paper product from the roll.

39. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 35 further comprising a paper counter to determine the amount of paper product remaining on the roll.

40. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 39 wherein the paper counter comprises a potentiometer and an arm that is positioned by the paper roll shaft/adapter as the paper roll shaft/adapter travels down a curvature in the guide track toward the first roller.

41. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 35 wherein the free-standing pedestal comprises a base support, a shaft having a lower end mounted in the base support, a dispenser rear support attached to an upper end of the shaft and a dispenser cover that encloses the dispenser and attaches to the rear support.

42. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 41 wherein the dispenser cover comprises an LED display window for indicating an amount of paper remaining on the paper roll and a battery status display window for indicating remaining battery charge.

43. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 41 wherein the base support comprises a tripod mechanism.

44. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 41 wherein the shaft comprises a plurality of sections and a height adjustment mechanism to vary a height of the shaft between the base support and dispenser rear support.

45. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 44 wherein the plurality of sections comprises a straight lower section mounted in the base support and a straight upper section attached to the dispenser rear support.

46. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 44 wherein the plurality of sections comprises a straight lower section mounted in the base support and a curved upper section attached to the dispenser rear support.

47. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 41 wherein the shaft comprises a straight lower portion mounted in the base support and a straight upper portion attached to the dispenser rear support.

48. The intelligent dispensing system of claim 41 wherein the shaft comprises a straight lower portion mounted in the base support and a curved upper portion attached to the dispenser rear support.