Electronic dispenser for dispensing sheet products

• US 7,793,882 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2009
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kane, William J., Geddes, Daniel J., Reinsel, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Langdon; Evan H
• Application Number:
  US12/632,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20100078459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 242/563, 242/563.2, 242/564.4, 242/564.1, 242/565
• US Class Current: 242/563
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/36 with mechanical dispensing, roll switching or cutting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3668 Detection of the presence of a user
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3881 with tearing edges having movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/205 With feed-out of predetermined length from work supply

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing sheet product includes a housing, a proximity sensor operative to detect a presence of a user'"'"'s hand at a predetermined location near the dispenser, and a dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing, the dispensing mechanism including an electronic controller operably coupled to a drive motor that is operably coupled to a feed roller to dispense the sheet product. The dispensing mechanism is operative in a first mode to be responsive to a signal from the proximity sensor to dispense the sheet product, and is operative in a second mode to dispense a next sheet product in response to an existing sheet product being torn from the dispenser. The controller is responsive to a switch adapted and configured to set an adjustable time delay between sheet feeds when the dispensing mechanism is operating in at least one of the first mode and the second mode.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing sheet product, comprising:

a housing;

a proximity sensor operative to detect a presence of a user'"'"'s hand at a predetermined location near the dispenser;

a tear bar operative to pivot in response to an existing sheet product being torn from the dispenser;

a tear bar switch in operable communication with the tear bar;

a dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing, the dispensing mechanism comprising an electronic controller operably coupled to a drive motor that is operably coupled to a feed roller to dispense the sheet product;

wherein the dispensing mechanism is operative in a first mode to be responsive to a signal from the proximity sensor to dispense the sheet product;

wherein the dispensing mechanism is operative in a second mode to dispense a next sheet product in response to the tear bar asserting the tear bar switch in response to the existing sheet product being torn from the dispenser;

wherein the infrared proximity sensor comprises an infrared emitter and an infrared detector, the infrared emitter is disposed and configured to emit an infrared light energy, the presence of a user'"'"'s hand serves to reflect the emitted infrared light energy, and the adjustable sensitivity of the infrared proximity sensor is adjustable by changing an effective distance of the reflected infrared light energy; and

wherein the infrared proximity sensor comprises a plurality of resistors electrically interconnected with the infrared emitter to allow for higher or lower currents through the infrared emitter, thereby affecting the intensity of infrared light emitted, and thereby changing the effective distance of the reflected infrared light energy.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising:

a three-pole slide switch operably connected to the infrared emitter to adjust the sensitivity of the infrared proximity sensor.