Automatic paper product dispenser with data collection and method
First Claim
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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 separation mechanism for separating one or more discrete sheet products from the roll of sheet material;
a presentation station for presenting the one or more discrete sheet products to an end user;
a sheet product conveying mechanism configured to convey the one or more discrete sheet products to the presentation station;
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.
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Citations
20 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 separation mechanism for separating one or more discrete sheet products from the roll of sheet material; a presentation station for presenting the one or more discrete sheet products to an end user; a sheet product conveying mechanism configured to convey the one or more discrete sheet products to the presentation station; 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)
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13. A method of dispensing sheet products, comprising:
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feeding sheet material from a roll via a sheet feeding mechanism; separating one or more discrete sheet products from the roll via a separation mechanism; dispensing the one or more discrete sheet products 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. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification