System and method for measuring, monitoring and controlling washroom dispensers and products

• US 20050171634A1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• 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: Oyler, John Robert, Detamore, James Joseph, Lewis, Richard Paul, Mitchell, Joseph, Tramontina, Paul Francis, York, Cheryl Lynn, Padak, Ronald Raymond, Winder, James Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 7,783,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/231
• 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 10/38 the web being rolled up with or without tearing edge A47K10/36 and A47K10/46 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3827 with a distribution opening which is parallel to the rotation axis
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/424 dispensing from the bottom part of the dispenser A47K10/44 takes precedence
• 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 5/06 Dispensers for soap
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1209 with chamber in the form of a cylindrical tube
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/68 in which the articles are torn or severed from strips or sheets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• 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 may include a dispenser sensor unit in communication with a dispenser that is configured for the dispensing of product. The dispenser sensor unit may be configured for detecting information about the product and for varying a dispensing parameter of the dispenser. A data communications unit in communication with the dispenser sensor unit may also be provided and may be configured for receiving information from the dispenser sensor unit. A washroom monitoring station in communication with the data communications unit may also be present and may be configured for receiving information from the data communications unit. The dispenser sensor unit may be configured for receiving a communication so as to vary a dispensing parameter of the dispenser.

Claims

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

a dispenser configured for the dispensing of product;

a dispenser sensor unit in communication with said dispenser and configured for detecting information about the product, said dispenser sensor unit configured for varying a dispensing parameter of said dispenser;

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

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

wherein said dispenser sensor unit is configured for receiving a communication so as to vary the dispensing parameter of said dispenser.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the dispensing parameter is selected from the group consisting of shot size, sheet length, time delay, light sensitivity and volume.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said washroom monitoring station is configured for sending the communication to said dispenser sensor unit through said data communications unit in order to cause said dispenser to vary the dispensing parameter of said dispenser.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dispenser sensor unit is configured for receiving the communication from a cell phone so as to cause said dispenser to vary the dispensing parameter of said dispenser.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dispenser sensor unit is configured for receiving the communication from a PDA so as to cause said dispenser to vary the dispensing parameter of said dispenser.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said data communications unit transmits information wirelessly to said washroom monitoring station.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dispenser sensor unit is configured for identifying the product and reporting the identification of the product to said washroom monitoring station through said data communications unit.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a reader in communication with said dispenser sensor unit wherein said reader is selected from the group consisting of an RFID reader, a bar code reader, a printed label reader, a magnetic strip reader, a smart tag reader, a hologram reader, a luminescence reader, and a fluorescence reader.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said data communications unit is configured for reporting a low product condition and wherein said data communications unit enables reporting of the low product condition if recognized product is identified.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dispenser sensor unit is configured for identifying the product and reporting the identification of the product and the level of product remaining in said dispenser to a database, and further comprising a product reordering mechanism configured for using the database to reorder product when low and to bill for reordered product.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a hub interconnecting with both said data communications unit and said washroom monitoring station; and

a computer interconnecting with said hub, wherein said computer employs a web browser for viewing information sent via said hub.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dispenser has a visual display configured for displaying information, wherein said visual display is in communication with said washroom monitoring station through said data communications unit such that said washroom monitoring station is configured for changing display information of said visual display.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dispenser has an audio module configured for announcing an audio message, wherein said audio module is in communication with said washroom monitoring station through said data communications unit such that said washroom monitoring station is configured for changing audio messages of said audio module.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dispenser is selected from the group consisting of a paper towel dispenser, a liquid or foam soap dispenser, a toilet tissue dispenser, and an air freshener dispenser, toilet seat cover dispenser, diaper dispenser, and a feminine product dispenser.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an overflow sensor in communication with said washroom monitoring station through said data communications unit, wherein said overflow sensor is configured for detecting the presence of water.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a water flow sensor in communication with said washroom monitoring station through said data communications unit, wherein said water flow sensor is configured for detecting the flow of water.

17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a waste receptacle sensor in communication with said washroom monitoring station through said data communications unit, wherein said waste receptacle sensor is configured for detecting the presence of waste in a waste receptacle.

18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dispenser has a battery and wherein said sensor unit is configured for measuring the battery level of said battery and communicating the battery level to said washroom monitoring station through said data communications unit.

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dispenser sensor unit has a battery and wherein said dispenser sensor unit is configured for measuring the battery level of said battery and communicating the battery level to said washroom monitoring station through said data communications unit.

20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dispenser sensor unit is configured for detecting information about the product that is selected from the group consisting of the amount of product remaining in said dispenser, the amount of product removed from said dispenser, and the rate of product removal from said dispenser.

21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said washroom monitoring station is configured for reporting a product low condition by a device selected from the group consisting of a cell phone, a PDA, a pager, and a telephone.

22. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor configured for indicating the presence and identity of an individual user of a washroom;

wherein said dispenser sensor unit is configured for detecting the removal of product from said dispenser;

wherein said data communications unit is in communication with said sensor; and

a washroom monitoring station in communication with said data communications unit, wherein said data communications unit is configured for receiving information from said dispenser sensor unit and said data communications unit so as to monitor product removal by the individual.

23. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein said dispenser is selected from the group consisting of a paper towel dispenser, a soap dispenser, a toilet tissue dispenser, a sink, toilet, and urinal.

24. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein said washroom monitoring station is configured for reporting lack of product removal to the individual by,a device selected from the group consisting of a cell phone, a PDA, a pager and a telephone.

25. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein said sensor communicates with said dispenser sensor unit such that presence and identity information is communicated to said data communications unit from said sensor through said dispenser sensor unit.

26. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22, further comprising a display configured for conveying information and in communication with said washroom monitoring station, and wherein said washroom monitoring station is configured for effecting display information.

27. The apparatus as set forth in claim 26, wherein said display is selected from the group consisting of a visual display and an audio module.

28. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein said dispenser sensor unit is in wireless communication with said data communications unit, and wherein said data communications unit is in wireless communication with said washroom monitoring station.

29. An apparatus for conveying information in a washroom, comprising:

a display configured for conveying information;

a data communications unit in communication with said display; and

a washroom monitoring station in communication with said data communications unit and configured for communicating with said display through said data communications unit to modify information conveyed by said display.

30. The apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein said display is selected from the group consisting of a visual display and an audio module.

31. The apparatus as set forth in claim 29, further comprising:

a dispenser carrying said display; and

a dispenser sensor unit in communication with said display such that said display is in communication with said data communications unit through said dispenser sensor unit.

32. An apparatus for monitoring the presence of water in a washroom, comprising:

an overflow sensor configured for detecting the presence of water;

a data communications unit in wireless communication with said overflow sensor; and

a washroom monitoring station in wireless communication with said data communications unit and in communication with said overflow sensor through said data communications unit, wherein said washroom monitoring station is configured for indicating the presence of water when detected by said overflow sensor.

33. The apparatus as set forth in claim 32, wherein said overflow sensor is selected from the group consisting of a moisture detector, a pressure sensor, and a float switch.

34. The apparatus as set forth in claim 32, wherein said overflow sensor is configured for signalling the presence of water when said overflow sensor detects the presence of water for a predetermined amount of time.

35. A dispenser for dispensing product, comprising:

a dispenser housing configured for holding product;

a lever pivotally mounted to said dispenser housing and configured for engaging the product, said lever configured for pivoting to a low product position upon reduction of the amount of product brought about by dispensing of the of product; and

a switch configured for engagement with said lever when said lever is pivoted to the low product position, said switch configured for generating a low product signal when said lever is pivoted to the low product position.

36. The dispenser as set forth in claim 35, further comprising a dispenser sensor unit in communication with said switch, wherein said dispenser sensor unit is configured for receiving the low product signal from said switch.

37. The dispenser as set forth in claim 35, further comprising a rotation sensor carried by said dispenser housing and configured for detecting removal of product from said dispenser housing.

38. The dispenser as set forth in claim 35, wherein the product is a roll of product.

39. The dispenser as set forth in claim 35, wherein the product is a stack of product.

40. An apparatus for the dispensing of soap, comprising:

a soap dispenser configured for the dispensing of soap;

a dispenser sensor unit in communication with said dispenser and configured for detecting the amount of soap in said dispenser, said dispenser sensor unit configured for varying the shot size of said dispenser;

a data communications unit in wireless communication with said dispenser sensor unit and configured for receiving information from said dispenser sensor unit that includes at least the amount of soap remaining in said dispenser; and

a washroom monitoring station in wireless communication with said data communications unit and configured for receiving information from said data communications unit that includes at least the amount of soap remaining in said dispenser, and wherein said washroom monitoring station is configured for communicating with said dispenser sensor unit through said data communications unit to vary the shot size of said dispenser.

41. A dispenser for dispensing product, comprising:

a dispenser housing configured for holding product;

a dispenser sensor unit configured for detecting the amount of product in said dispenser; and

a washroom monitoring station in wireless communication with said dispenser sensor unit and configured for receiving information regarding the amount of product in said dispenser.

42. The dispenser as set forth in claim 41, further comprising a data communications unit in wireless communication with said dispenser sensor unit and configured for receiving information regarding the amount of product in said dispenser sensor unit.

43. An apparatus for dispensing of product, comprising:

a dispenser housing configured for holding product;

a dispenser sensor unit having an emitter configured for emitting infrared light; and

a detector configured for receiving infrared light from said dispenser sensor unit so as to indicate that the product is not present in the path of the infrared light.

44. The apparatus as set forth in claim 43, wherein said dispenser sensor unit and said detector are positioned at a low product point in said dispenser.

45. The apparatus as set forth in claim 43, wherein said product is a paper stack.

46. The apparatus as set forth in claim 43, further comprising:

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

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

47. An apparatus for the dispensing of product, comprising:

a dispenser configured for the dispensing of product;

a dispenser sensor unit configured for detecting a product low condition;

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

a washroom monitoring station in communication with said data communications unit and configured for receiving information from said data communications unit, wherein said washroom monitoring station checks an inventory of the product when the product low condition is detected and reorders the product if sufficient product is not present in the inventory.

48. The apparatus as set forth in claim 47, wherein said washroom monitoring station keeps a record of the number of times the product low condition has been detected.

49. The apparatus as set forth in claim 47, wherein said washroom monitoring station bills a customer for the amount of product dispensed from said dispenser.

50. The apparatus as set forth in claim 47, wherein said washroom monitoring station is configured for receiving information from a plurality of dispenser sensor units and for checking an inventory when the product low condition is detected from a particular dispenser and for reordering the product for a particular dispenser if sufficient product is not present in the inventory.

51. An apparatus for monitoring a washroom, comprising;

a camera configured for viewing the floor of a washroom;

a data communications unit in communication with said camera;

a washroom monitoring station in communication with said data communications unit, wherein said washroom monitoring station is configured for indicating the presence of an object on the floor of the washroom.

52. The apparatus as set forth in claim 51, wherein said camera is configured for viewing three or fewer inches from the top of the floor of the washroom.

53. The apparatus as set forth in claim 51, wherein the object is water.