Minimizing paper waste carousel-style dispenser apparatus, sensor, method and system with proximity sensor
First Claim
1. A paper towel dispenser, comprising:
- a carousel assembly adapted to support a first paper roll over a second paper roll in a first position and to rotate about a first axis defined between said first and second paper rolls wherein each of said first and second paper rolls has a core;
means for locking said rotating carousel assembly in said first position for paper towel dispensing and in a second position for paper roll loading, said carousel assembly adapted to support a newly loaded second roll over said first roll in said second position; and
means for sequentially dispensing paper towels from said first and second paper rolls, comprising;
(a) at least one paper towel feed mechanism disposed downstream from said carousel assembly; and
(b) at least one paper roll transfer mechanism disposed between said at least one paper towel feed mechanism and said carousel assembly, said at least one paper roll transfer mechanism being adapted to contact said second paper roll when said carousel assembly is locked in said first position for dispensing paper towels from said second paper roll in conjunction with said at least one paper towel feed mechanism until said second paper roll is nearly exhausted, and for dispensing paper towels from said first and second paper rolls in conjunction with said at least one paper towel feed mechanism until said second paper roll is completely exhausted, said at least one paper roll transfer mechanism being adapted to contact the core of said completely exhausted second paper roll when said carousel assembly is locked in said first position for dispensing paper towels from said first paper roll in conjunction with said at least one paper towel feed mechanism until said first paper roll is reduced to a pre-determined diameter, said at least one paper roll transfer mechanism being adapted to contact said reduced first paper roll when said carousel assembly is rotated and locked in said second position for loading a new second roll and for dispensing paper towels from said reduced first paper roll in conjunction with said at least one paper towel feed mechanism until said reduced first paper roll is nearly exhausted, and from said first and newly loaded second paper rolls in conjunction with said at least one paper towel feed mechanism until said first paper roll is completely exhausted.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for dispensing paper from rolls which feeds continuously, roll to roll, and does not require extra procedure to bring stub roll into position. The apparatus has a device for holding and positioning at least first and second rolls of paper with respect to each other; a device for dispensing paper from the first roll; a device for dispensing paper from the first and second rolls simultaneously when the first roll reduces to a predetermined diameter of paper, a device for positioning the depleted first roll for replacement without the necessity of removing the second roll; and a device for dispensing from the second and replacement rolls simultaneously when the second roll reduces to a predetermined diameter of paper. The apparatus also has a capacity-change based proximity sensor comprising a circuit according to a balanced bridge principle where detection is based on detecting a phase difference, which depends upon the amount of detected capacitance difference or change. The proximity detector senses when a hand is placed near the dispenser, and thereupon dispenses a set amount of towel. It does not keep dispensing the towel. The hand must be withdrawn and placed in proximity to the sensor again.
252 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A paper towel dispenser, comprising:
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a carousel assembly adapted to support a first paper roll over a second paper roll in a first position and to rotate about a first axis defined between said first and second paper rolls wherein each of said first and second paper rolls has a core;
means for locking said rotating carousel assembly in said first position for paper towel dispensing and in a second position for paper roll loading, said carousel assembly adapted to support a newly loaded second roll over said first roll in said second position; and
means for sequentially dispensing paper towels from said first and second paper rolls, comprising;
(a) at least one paper towel feed mechanism disposed downstream from said carousel assembly; and
(b) at least one paper roll transfer mechanism disposed between said at least one paper towel feed mechanism and said carousel assembly, said at least one paper roll transfer mechanism being adapted to contact said second paper roll when said carousel assembly is locked in said first position for dispensing paper towels from said second paper roll in conjunction with said at least one paper towel feed mechanism until said second paper roll is nearly exhausted, and for dispensing paper towels from said first and second paper rolls in conjunction with said at least one paper towel feed mechanism until said second paper roll is completely exhausted, said at least one paper roll transfer mechanism being adapted to contact the core of said completely exhausted second paper roll when said carousel assembly is locked in said first position for dispensing paper towels from said first paper roll in conjunction with said at least one paper towel feed mechanism until said first paper roll is reduced to a pre-determined diameter, said at least one paper roll transfer mechanism being adapted to contact said reduced first paper roll when said carousel assembly is rotated and locked in said second position for loading a new second roll and for dispensing paper towels from said reduced first paper roll in conjunction with said at least one paper towel feed mechanism until said reduced first paper roll is nearly exhausted, and from said first and newly loaded second paper rolls in conjunction with said at least one paper towel feed mechanism until said first paper roll is completely exhausted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for dispensing paper towels, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a carousel assembly adapted to support a first paper roll over a second paper roll in a first position and to rotate about a first axis defined between said first and second paper rolls wherein each of said first and second paper rolls has a core;
(b) locking said rotating carousel assembly in said first position for paper towel dispensing;
(c) utilizing a paper roll transfer mechanism to contact said second paper roll when said carousel assembly is locked in said first position for dispensing paper towels from said second paper roll in conjunction with a paper towel feed mechanism disposed downstream from said carousel assembly until said second paper roll is nearly exhausted, and for dispensing paper towels from said first and second paper rolls in conjunction with said paper towel feed mechanism until said second paper roll is completely exhausted;
(d) utilizing said paper roll transfer mechanism to contact the core of said completely exhausted second paper roll when said carousel assembly is locked in said first position for dispensing paper towels from said first paper roll in conjunction with said paper towel feed mechanism until said first paper roll is reduced to a pre-determined diameter;
(e) unlocking said carousel assembly from said first position;
(f) rotating said unlocked carousel assembly to a second position, said carousel assembly adapted to support a newly loaded second paper roll over said first paper roll in said second position;
(g) locking said carousel assembly in said second position for loading a new second roll; and
(h) utilizing said paper roll transfer mechanism to contact said reduced first paper roll when said carousel assembly is locked in said second position for dispensing paper towels from said reduced first paper roll in conjunction with said paper towel feed mechanism until said reduced first paper roll is nearly exhausted, and from said first and newly loaded second paper rolls in conjunction with said paper towel feed mechanism until said first paper roll is completely exhausted.
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13. A paper roll dispenser, comprising:
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means for holding a first paper roll;
means for holding a second paper roll;
means for supporting said first paper roll holding means and said second paper roll holding means, said supporting means being adapted to rotate about an axis defined between said first and second paper roll holding means;
means for sequentially dispensing paper towels from said first and second paper rolls disposed downstream from said rotatble supporting means; and
a proximity detector adapted to trigger the dispensing of paper when a user'"'"'s hand is positioned within the field of said detector, said proximity detector comprising;
a first comparator configured as an oscillator;
a capacitive proximity sensor (CPS) operatively coupled to said oscillator;
a reference capacitor (Cref) operatively coupled between said oscillator and circuit ground and adapted to approximate the capacitance of said CPS;
a variable trim resistor (Rtrim) connected in series between said CPS and said Cref;
a second comparator adapted to receive analog input signals from said CPS and said Cref and generate a digital output signal; and
a D flip-flop adapted to latch and hold said digital output signal from said second comparator. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for dispensing paper towels, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a carousel assembly adapted to support a first paper roll over a second paper roll and to rotate about a first axis defined between said first and second paper rolls, each of said first and second paper rolls having a core;
(b) providing motor means for dispensing paper towels from at least one of said first and second paper rolls on said carousel assembly;
(c) providing a proximity detector adapted to trigger the dispensing of paper towels by said motor means when a user'"'"'s hand is positioned within the field of said detector;
(d) locking said rotating carousel assembly in a first position for paper towel dispensing;
(e) utilizing a generally U-shaped spring-loaded transfer bar to contact said second paper roll when said carousel assembly is locked in said first position for dispensing paper towels from said second paper roll in conjunction with a paper towel feed mechanism disposed downstream from said carousel assembly until said second paper roll is nearly exhausted and from said first and second paper rolls in conjunction with said paper towel feed mechanism until said second paper roll is completely exhausted;
(f) utilizing said transfer bar to contact the core of said completely exhausted second paper roll for dispensing paper towels from said first paper roll in conjunction with said paper towel feed mechanism until said first paper roll is reduced to a pre-determined diameter;
(g) unlocking said carousel assembly from said first position;
(h) rotating said unlocked carousel assembly to a second position approximately 180 degrees apart from said first position;
(i) locking said carousel assembly in said second position for loading a new second roll; and
(j) utilizing said transfer bar to contact said reduced first paper roll when said carousel assembly is locked in said second position for dispensing paper towels from said reduced first paper roll in conjunction with said paper towel feed mechanism until said first paper roll is nearly exhausted and from said first and newly loaded second paper rolls in conjunction with said paper towel feed mechanism until said first paper roll is completely exhausted. - View Dependent Claims (19)
(c1) configuring a first comparator as an oscillator;
(c2) operatively coupling a capacitive proximity sensor (CPS) and a reference capacitor (Cref) to said oscillator according to a bridge balance principle;
(c3) connecting a variable trim resistor (Rtrim) in series between said CPS and said Cref;
(c4) providing a second comparator adapted to receive analog input signals from said CPS and said Cref and generate a digital output signal;
(c5) providing a D flip-flop adapted to latch and hold said digital output signal from said second comparator, said D flip-flop having an output state; and
(c6) activating a motor switch upon detecting a change in the output state of said D flip-flop.
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Specification