Sheet material dispenser

• US 8,186,551 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Morris, Andrew R., Susi, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ashley, Boyer D
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLORES SANCHEZ, OMAR
• Application Number:
  US12/603,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20100089939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 225/72, 225/82, 225/4, 225/10, 225/12, 225/14, 225/15, 833/67, 833/70
• US Class Current: 225/10
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/36 with mechanical dispensing, roll switching or cutting devices
• 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 2010/3668 Detection of the presence of a user
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3881 with tearing edges having movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 35/10 from or with devices for breaking partially-cut or perforated webs, e.g. bursters
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9606 using one electrode only per touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/12 With preliminary weakening
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/205 With feed-out of predetermined length from work supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/209 With feed-out of lead-end to aid initial grasping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/232 Plural supply sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/238 With housing for work supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/268 By resiliently engaging package ends or interior of core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/30 Breaking or tearing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/541 Actuation of tool controlled in response to work-sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8822 Edge-to-edge of sheet or web [e.g., traveling cutter]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/889 Tool with either work holder or means to hold work supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/896 Rotatable wound package supply

Abstract

A powered dispenser tor dispensing individual sheet segments from a continuous roll of sheet material provided with spaced tear lines comprises a powered feed mechanism, a releasable, powered drive mechanism, a powered transfer mechanism, a pair of web sensing sensors, a capacitive sensing system providing automatic sensitivity adjustment, and control circuitry. A dual power supply system provides a mechanical lock-out functionality, and the control system is protected from electrostatic build-up on the surface of the feed roller. The web sensor, and an antenna plate of the capacitive sensing system, are provided on respective printed circuit boards mounted in overlying relation. Utilizing signals received from the pair of web sensors and the capacitive sensing system, the control circuitry senses the presence of a user to activate the powered drive mechanism, and prevents further dispensing of the sheet material until a previously dispensed segment is separated from the roll. The web sensors detection of a leading edge of the sheet material initiates a predetermined interval of sheet material advancement providing a proper placement of successive tear lines.

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 near the dispenser;

a dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing, the dispensing mechanism being operational to dispense the sheet product;

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

the dispensing mechanism operative in a second mode to be responsive to the sheet product being torn from the dispenser,

wherein;

in response to a defined number of multiple sheet request signals being received within a defined time interval, the dispensing mechanism is operative the first mode only following expiration of the defined time interval.

2. 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 dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing, the dispensing mechanism being operational to dispense the sheet product;

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

the dispensing mechanism operative in a second mode to be responsive to the sheet product being torn from the dispenser,

wherein;

in response to a number of sheet request signals in excess of a predefined number being received within a specified time interval, the dispensing mechanism is operative in the first mode only following lapse of a timer.

3. 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 dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing, the dispensing mechanism being operational to dispense the sheet product;

a sheet product sensor disposed to sense a presence of sheet material available for discharge;

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

the dispensing mechanism operative in a second mode to be responsive to the sheet product being torn from the dispenser via the sheet product sensor sensing the absence of sheet material available for discharge, and

wherein the dispensing mechanism is switchable to be operative in the second mode only, where the sheet product sensor is polled at a defined rate.