Power supply systems for dispensers and methods of powering dispensers
First Claim
1. A power system for a plurality of dispensers comprising:
- an AC transformer to receive a line voltage and generate an output voltage of about 2 volts AC to about 50 volts AC;
a plurality of dispensers, each housing at least one electrical component operatively configured to dispense product through a dispensing aperture, each of the dispensers comprising a battery compartment so configured and dimensioned as to receive a plurality of conventional batteries disposed in a side-by-side arrangement, the battery compartment comprising two electrical connectors so configured and disposed as to make electrical contact with associated terminals of two of the plurality of conventional batteries when installed in the battery compartment; and
a plurality of AC/DC power converters adapted to be disposed within the battery compartments such that at least one power converter is associated with each dispenser, the converters disposed in communication with the AC transformer such that the power converters receive the output voltage and provide a DC voltage to one or more electrical components housed within the respective dispensers;
wherein the AC transformer is a single AC transformer disposed in power communication with the plurality of power converters; and
each of the plurality of power converters is so configured and dimensioned so as to be interchangeable with the plurality of conventional batteries within a respective one of the battery compartments, each of the plurality of power converters comprising two electrical connectors so configured and disposed as to make electrical contact with the two electrical connectors of the respective battery compartment, thereby providing for retrofit installation of power converters into battery compartments of in-use dispensers previously powered by a respective plurality of conventional batteries.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a power system for a plurality of dispensers comprises an AC transformer to receive a line voltage and generate an output voltage of about 2 volts AC to about 50 volts AC; a plurality of dispensers, each housing at least one electrical component operatively configured to dispense product through a dispensing aperture, each of the dispensers comprising a battery compartment; and a plurality of power converters adapted to be at least partially disposed within the battery compartments such that at least one power converter is associated with each dispenser, the converters disposed in communication with the AC transformer such that the power converters receive the output voltage and provide a DC voltage to one or more electrical components housed within the dispensers.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A power system for a plurality of dispensers comprising:
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an AC transformer to receive a line voltage and generate an output voltage of about 2 volts AC to about 50 volts AC; a plurality of dispensers, each housing at least one electrical component operatively configured to dispense product through a dispensing aperture, each of the dispensers comprising a battery compartment so configured and dimensioned as to receive a plurality of conventional batteries disposed in a side-by-side arrangement, the battery compartment comprising two electrical connectors so configured and disposed as to make electrical contact with associated terminals of two of the plurality of conventional batteries when installed in the battery compartment; and a plurality of AC/DC power converters adapted to be disposed within the battery compartments such that at least one power converter is associated with each dispenser, the converters disposed in communication with the AC transformer such that the power converters receive the output voltage and provide a DC voltage to one or more electrical components housed within the respective dispensers; wherein the AC transformer is a single AC transformer disposed in power communication with the plurality of power converters; and each of the plurality of power converters is so configured and dimensioned so as to be interchangeable with the plurality of conventional batteries within a respective one of the battery compartments, each of the plurality of power converters comprising two electrical connectors so configured and disposed as to make electrical contact with the two electrical connectors of the respective battery compartment, thereby providing for retrofit installation of power converters into battery compartments of in-use dispensers previously powered by a respective plurality of conventional batteries. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A power system for a plurality of paper dispensers comprising:
- an AC-to-AC transformer to receive a input AC voltage at a first voltage level and to provide an output AC voltage at a second voltage level;
a plurality of paper dispensers, each having a dispense roller powered by a roller motor, the roller motor being a DC motor; a plurality of low voltage lines to carry the output AC voltage to the paper dispensers; and a plurality of AC-to-DC voltage converters each disposed within a respective one of the plurality of paper dispensers and coupled to at least one of the low voltage lines to receive the second voltage level, each AC-to-DC voltage converter operatively configured to convert the output AC voltage to an output DC voltage; wherein each of the plurality of paper dispensers comprises a battery compartment so configured and dimensioned as to receive a plurality of conventional batteries disposed in a side-by-side arrangement, the battery compartment comprising two electrical connectors so configured and disposed as to make electrical contact with associated terminals of two of the plurality of conventional batteries when installed in the battery compartment; wherein the AC-to-AC transformer is a single transformer disposed in power communication with the plurality of AC-to-DC voltage converters; and wherein each of the plurality of voltage converters is so configured and dimensioned so as to be interchangeable with the plurality of conventional batteries within a respective one of the battery compartments, each of the plurality of voltage converters comprising two electrical connectors so configured and disposed as to make electrical contact with the two electrical connectors of the respective battery compartment, thereby providing for retrofit installation of voltage converters into battery compartments of in-use dispensers previously powered by a respective plurality of conventional batteries. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- an AC-to-AC transformer to receive a input AC voltage at a first voltage level and to provide an output AC voltage at a second voltage level;
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14. A method to provide power to a plurality of dispensers, the method comprising:
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providing a transformer operatively configured to receive an input voltage and to provide a supply voltage; and providing a plurality of voltage converters each to receive the supply voltage and to provide an output voltage, each output voltage being provided to a respective one of the plurality of dispensers to power the respective dispenser for dispensing operation and each voltage converter having a predetermined size such that the respective voltage converter can be removably disposed within a compartment housed within the respective dispenser; wherein each respective compartment is so configured and dimensioned as to receive a plurality of conventional batteries disposed in a side-by-side arrangement, each respective compartment comprising two electrical connectors so configured and disposed as to make electrical contact with associated terminals of two of the plurality of conventional batteries when installed in the compartment; wherein the transformer is a single transformer disposed in power communication with the plurality of voltage converters; and wherein each of the plurality of voltage converters is so configured and dimensioned so as to be interchangeable with the plurality of conventional batteries within a respective one of the compartments, each of the plurality of voltage converters comprising two electrical connectors so configured and disposed as to make electrical contact with the two electrical connectors of the respective compartment, thereby providing for retrofit installation of voltage converters into compartments of in-use dispensers previously powered by a respective plurality of conventional batteries. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A dispenser comprising:
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a dispenser housing having an inner chamber operatively configured to support a roll of paper and having a dispensing aperture; a DC motor operatively configured to dispense paper from the roll of paper through the dispensing aperture; a battery compartment so configured and dimensioned as to receive a plurality of conventional batteries disposed in a side-by-side arrangement, the battery compartment comprising two electrical connectors so configured and disposed as to make electrical contact with associated terminals of two of the plurality of conventional batteries when installed in the compartment; and a power converter so configured and dimensioned so as to be interchangeable with the plurality of conventional batteries within the battery compartment, the power converter comprising;
an input terminal receiving an AC voltage of between 2 and 50 volts;
an output terminal providing a DC voltage to the motor, the output terminal being so configured and disposed as to make electrical contact with the two electrical connectors of the battery compartment; and
a converter circuit disposed between the input and output terminals;wherein the battery compartment provides for retrofit installation of a power converter into the battery compartment of an in-use dispenser previously powered by a plurality of conventional batteries. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification