Automatic paper product dispenser with data collection and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sheet product dispenser, comprising:
- a loading station for loading a roll of sheet material;
a sheet feeding mechanism configured to feed sheet material from the roll;
a presentation station for presenting one or more discrete sheet products of the sheet material to an end user;
a folding station configured for folding the sheet material downstream of the sheet feeding mechanism and prior to presentation at the presentation station;
a sheet product conveying mechanism configured to convey the one or more discrete sheet products to the presentation station;
a separation mechanism for separating the one or more discrete sheet products from the sheet material, the separation mechanism configured to drive the sheet feeding mechanism at a first speed and the sheet product conveying mechanism at a second speed that is higher than the first speed;
a sensor downstream of the sheet feeding mechanism and upstream of the sheet product conveying mechanism, the sensor being configured to detect a presence of the sheet material; and
a controller configured to facilitate dispensing of the one or more discrete sheet products to the presentation station in response to a signal, the controller also being configured to receive and store data comprising data associated with the sensor.
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Abstract
Sheet product dispensers and methods are provided. A sheet product dispenser includes a loading station for sheet material, a sheet feeding mechanism configured to feed the sheet material, a presentation station for presenting one or more discrete sheet products to an end user, a sensor downstream of the feeding mechanism and upstream of the presentation station configured to detect a presence of the discrete sheet products, and a controller configured to facilitate dispensing of the one or more discrete sheet products in response to a signal, and to determine and store data associated with the dispensing of the sheet products.
124 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A sheet product dispenser, comprising:
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a loading station for loading a roll of sheet material; a sheet feeding mechanism configured to feed sheet material from the roll; a presentation station for presenting one or more discrete sheet products of the sheet material to an end user; a folding station configured for folding the sheet material downstream of the sheet feeding mechanism and prior to presentation at the presentation station; a sheet product conveying mechanism configured to convey the one or more discrete sheet products to the presentation station; a separation mechanism for separating the one or more discrete sheet products from the sheet material, the separation mechanism configured to drive the sheet feeding mechanism at a first speed and the sheet product conveying mechanism at a second speed that is higher than the first speed; a sensor downstream of the sheet feeding mechanism and upstream of the sheet product conveying mechanism, the sensor being configured to detect a presence of the sheet material; and a controller configured to facilitate dispensing of the one or more discrete sheet products to the presentation station in response to a signal, the controller also being configured to receive and store data comprising data associated with the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of dispensing sheet products, comprising:
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feeding a sheet material from a roll via a sheet feeding mechanism; separating one or more discrete sheet products from the roll via a separation mechanism; folding the sheet material at a folding station downstream of the sheet feeding mechanism; dispensing the one or more folded discrete sheet products to an end user at a presentation station via a sheet product conveying mechanism, in response to a signal received by a controller; detecting a presence of the sheet material via a sensor downstream of the sheet feeding mechanism and upstream of the sheet product conveying mechanism; and collecting and storing data comprising data associated with the sensor, wherein the separation mechanism is configured to drive the sheet feeding mechanism at a first speed and the sheet product conveying mechanism at a second speed that is higher than the first speed. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for dispensing sheet products, comprising:
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at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and at least one controller configured to access the at least one memory, wherein the at least one controller is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to; receive, from an interface, a signal indicative of a request for a number of discrete sheet products to be dispensed to an end user at a presentation station via a sheet product conveying mechanism; direct, in response to receipt of the signal, the feeding of a sheet material from a roll via a sheet feeding mechanism, the separation of one or more discrete sheet products from the roll via a separation mechanism, and the folding of the sheet material at a folding station downstream of the sheet feeding mechanism; receive, from a sensor downstream of the sheet feeding mechanism and upstream of the sheet product conveying mechanism, a detection indicator indicative of detection of a presence of the sheet material by the sensor; determine data comprising data associated with the sensor; and direct the storage, in one or more data stores, of at least a portion of the data, wherein the separation mechanism is configured to drive the sheet feeding mechanism at a first speed and the sheet product conveying mechanism at a second speed that is higher than the first speed. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for dispensing sheet products, comprising:
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receiving from an interface, by at least one controller configured to access at least one memory, a signal indicative of a request for a number of discrete sheet products to be dispensed to an end user at a presentation station via a sheet product conveying mechanism; directing, by the at least one controller, in response to receipt of the signal, the feeding of a sheet material from a roll via a sheet feeding mechanism, the separating of one or more discrete sheet products from the roll via a separation mechanism, and the folding of the sheet material at a folding station downstream of the sheet feeding mechanism; receiving, by the at least one controller, from a sensor downstream of the sheet feeding mechanism and upstream of the sheet product conveying mechanism, a detection indicator indicative of detection of a presence of the sheet material by the sensor; determining, by the at least one controller, data comprising data associated with the sensor; and directing, by the at least one controller, the storage, in one or more data stores, of at least a portion of the data wherein the separation mechanism is configured to drive the sheet feeding mechanism at a first speed and the sheet product conveying mechanism at a second speed that is higher than the first speed. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification