Apparatus for dispensing and identifying product in washrooms

• US 7,774,096 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Ng, Dixon, Mitchell, Joseph, York, Cheryl L., Goerg, Charles H., Padak, Ronald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/170,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20060173576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 700231-244, 221/2, 221/4, 221/5, 225/17
• US Class Current: 700/236
• 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 10/3662 with devices preventing the use of non-authorised paper rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3845 with devices preventing the use of non-authorised paper rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3226 collecting data of usage
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3668 Detection of the presence of a user
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3693 Selection of the size of the paper roll
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

An apparatus for the dispensing of product is provided. The apparatus includes a dispenser that is configured for dispensing product and a sensor in communication with an electrical circuit carried by the dispenser. The sensor is configured for detecting identification information about the product when the electrical circuit is completed by the product. Additional exemplary embodiments are also provided in which the sensor operates through optical detection, smell, physical contact with the product, or vibration instead of or in addition to the completion of an electrical circuit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing of a product, comprising:

a dispenser configured for dispensing of the product; and

a sensor in communication with an electrical circuit carried by said dispenser, said sensor configured for detecting identification information about the product when said electrical circuit is completed by the product placed in-line in the circuit such that the product is a component of the electrical circuit;

wherein said identification information comprises information that distinguishes one type of product from another.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensor is a dispenser sensor unit, and further comprising:

a data communications unit in communication with said dispenser sensor unit and configured for receiving identification information from said dispenser sensor unit; and

a washroom monitoring station in communication with said data communications unit and configured for receiving identification information from said data communications unit.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said dispenser has a support configured to rotatably support a roll of the product and to receive a core of the product, and wherein said electrical circuit has a pair of first contacts for receiving a conductive element on the core of the product so as to complete said electrical circuit.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

said electrical circuit has a pair of second contacts for receiving a conductive element on the core of the product so as to complete said electrical circuit; and

said electrical circuit has a pair of third contacts for receiving a conductive element on the core of the product so as to complete said electrical circuit.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said dispenser has a support configured to rotatably support a roll of the product and to receive a core of the product, and wherein said support is a pair of arms that are configured to extend into either end of the core of the product, and wherein each of said arms has a conductive element of said electrical circuit located thereon configured for engaging a metal coating on the inside of the core so as to complete said electrical circuit.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said dispenser has a support configured to rotatably support a roll of the product and to receive a cardboard core of the product, and wherein said support is a pair of arms that are configured to extend into either end of the core of the product, and wherein each of said arms has a conductive element of said electrical circuit located thereon configured for engaging an electrically conductive adhesive applied to the cardboard core so as to complete said electrical circuit.

7. An apparatus for dispensing of a product, comprising:

a dispenser configured for dispensing of a product;

a sensor carried by said dispenser and configured for optically detecting identification information about the product generated when the product is received by said dispenser for dispensing, the identification information comprising information the that distinguishes one type of product from another; and

wherein said sensor is a dispenser sensor unit, and further comprising;

a data communications unit in communication with said dispenser sensor unit and configured for receiving identification information from said dispenser sensor unit; and

a washroom monitoring station in communication with said data communications unit and configured for receiving identification information from said data communications unit.

8. An apparatus for dispensing of a product, comprising:

a dispenser configured for dispensing of a product;

a sensor carried by said dispenser and configured for optically detecting identification information about the product generated when the product is received by said dispenser for dispensing, the identification information comprising information that distinguishes one type of product from another; and

wherein;

said dispenser has a support configured to rotatably support a roll of the product and to receive a core of the product, and wherein said sensor is configured for optically detecting identification information located on the side of the roll.

9. An apparatus for dispensing of a washroom product, comprising:

a dispenser configured for dispensing of a consumable washroom product, said dispenser comprising a housing having a space defined therein for rotatable support of a roll of a consumable washroom product, and a dispensing opening through which the product is dispensed from said housing;

an olfactory sensor carried by said dispenser and configured for detecting a smell associated with the product so as to acquire identification information about the product;

the identification information comprising information that distinguishes one type of product from another; and

a roll of consumable washroom product having an odor applied thereto for detection by said olfactory sensor, said roll rotatably supported within said housing.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said roll of product has a cardboard core that has glue applied thereto having an odor for detection by said olfactory sensor.

11. An apparatus for dispensing of a product, comprising:

a dispenser configured for dispensing of the product;

an olfactory sensor carried by said dispenser and configured for detecting a smell associated with the product so as to acquire identification information about the product, the identification information comprising information that distinguishes one type of product from another; and

wherein said sensor is a dispenser sensor unit, and further comprising;

a data communications unit in communication with said dispenser sensor unit and configured for receiving identification information from said dispenser sensor unit; and

a washroom monitoring station in communication with said data communications unit and configured for receiving identification information from said data communications unit.

12. An apparatus for dispensing of a product, comprising:

a dispenser configured for dispensing of the product;

a sensor carried by said dispenser and configured for physically contacting the product so as to detect identification information carried by the product when the product is received by said dispenser for dispensing, the identification information comprising information that distinguishes one type of product from another; and

wherein said dispenser has a support configured to rotatably support a roll of the product, and wherein said sensor is a load cell configured for physically contacting the product and for detecting the weight of the product so as to acquire identification information of the product.

13. An apparatus for dispensing of a product, comprising:

a dispenser configured for dispensing of the product; and

a sensor carried by said dispenser and configured for detecting vibration caused by relative movement of the product with respect to said dispenser so as to detect identification information about the product;

wherein said dispenser has a support configured to rotatably support a roll of the product and to receive a core of the product, and wherein said sensor detects vibration of the roll during dispensing so as to acquire identification information of the product, the identification information comprising information that distinguishes one type of product from another.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said dispenser has a support configured to rotatably support a roll of the product and to receive a core of the product, and wherein the product induces vibration by vibration elements on the core during dispensing.

15. An apparatus for dispensing of a product, comprising:

a dispenser configured for dispensing of the product; and

a sensor carried by said dispenser and configured for detecting vibration caused by relative movement of the product with respect to said dispenser so as to detect identification information about the product, the identification information comprising information that distinguishes one type of product from another;

wherein said sensor is a dispenser sensor unit, and further comprising;

a data communications unit in communication with said dispenser sensor unit and configured for receiving identification information from said dispenser sensor unit; and

a washroom monitoring station in communication with said data communications unit and configured for receiving identification information from said data communications unit.