SHEET PRODUCT DISPENSING UNIT AND A CARTRIDGE THEREFORE
A dispensing apparatus combination includes a sheet product dispensing unit and a cartridge configured to support sheet product, the cartridge being so dimensioned and configured such that it can be located in operable communication with the dispensing unit. The cartridge includes a dispensing opening, and the dispensing unit includes an entry opening and a dispensing opening. The dispensing opening of the cartridge is disposed proximate the entry opening of the dispensing unit when the cartridge is located in operable communication with the dispensing unit such that sheet product is able to pass from the cartridge through the dispensing opening of the cartridge, through the entry opening of the dispensing unit, and through the dispensing opening of the dispensing unit, under a control of the dispensing unit.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/376,055, filed Aug. 23, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a sheet product dispenser, and more particularly to a combination sheet product dispensing unit and a cartridge therefore, where the cartridge holds the sheet product to be dispensed via the dispensing unit.
Sheet product dispensers typically include a housing having an interior volume suitably sized for receiving the operational components of the dispenser along with the sheet product to be dispensed, such as paper towel dispensers and toilet paper towel dispensers for commercial applications, for example. Some of these sheet product dispensers are electronically controlled and electrically driven so as to provide touchless, hygienic operation. Such dispensers tend to be large, but are well suited for commercial applications where relatively large quantities of sheet product are consumed. However, such dispensers may not be as well suited for other applications requiring hygienic dispensing where limited space is available for the dispensing apparatus. As such, there remains a need in the art for sheet product dispensers that provide hygienic dispensing in areas having limited space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn embodiment of the invention includes a dispensing apparatus combination that includes a sheet product dispensing unit and a cartridge configured to support sheet product, the cartridge being so dimensioned and configured such that it can be located in operable communication with the dispensing unit. The cartridge includes a dispensing opening, and the dispensing unit includes an entry opening and a dispensing opening. The dispensing opening of the cartridge is disposed proximate the entry opening of the dispensing unit when the cartridge is located in operable communication with the dispensing unit such that sheet product is able to pass from the cartridge through the dispensing opening of the cartridge, through the entry opening of the dispensing unit, and through the dispensing opening of the dispensing unit, under a control of the dispensing unit.
An embodiment of the invention includes a dispensing apparatus for dispensing sheet product from a cartridge. The dispensing apparatus having a dispensing unit that includes a receiving port so configured and dimensioned as to receive at least a portion of a cartridge configured to support sheet product to be dispensed, an entry opening disposed for receiving sheet product from the cartridge, and a dispensing opening disposed for dispensing sheet product from the dispensing unit. The dispensing unit further includes a drive mechanism and a sensor disposed in signal communication with the drive mechanism, the drive mechanism being responsive to a dispense signal from the sensor to dispense sheet product.
An embodiment of the invention includes a cartridge for a sheet product dispenser. The cartridge includes an enclosure having a removable section that defines a dispensing opening, and a rejection feature disposed and configured for communicating with a verification feature associated with a sheet product dispenser. Sheet product is disposed within the enclosure in such a manner as to be dispensable through the dispensing opening subsequent to removal of the removable section. The rejection and verification features comprise complementary passive rejection and verification features, complementary active rejection and verification features, or a combination of complementary passive and active rejection and verification features.
An embodiment of the invention includes a dispensing apparatus combination having an electronic dispensing unit and a separable cartridge. The dispensing unit includes a housing, a motor disposed within the housing, a drive roller in operable communication with the motor, a pinch roller disposed proximate the drive roller, an actuation mechanism disposed in operable communication with the motor to facilitate actuation of the motor, and a dispensing opening disposed proximate the drive roller and the pinch roller, the dispensing unit further comprising a verification feature. The cartridge includes: an enclosure comprising a removable section that defines a dispensing opening, and a rejection feature disposed and configured for communicating with the verification feature of the electronic dispensing unit; and, sheet product disposed within the enclosure in such a manner as to be dispensable through the dispensing opening subsequent to removal of the removable section. The cartridge is so dimensioned and configured as to be engageable with a mating feature of the dispensing unit. The sheet product is configured to be dispensable from the cartridge via the dispensing unit through the dispensing opening. At least a portion of the cartridge is disposed outside of the housing of the dispensing unit.
An embodiment of the invention includes a dispensing apparatus having an electronic dispensing unit and a separable cartridge. The dispensing unit includes a housing, a motor disposed within the housing, a drive roller in operable communication with the motor, a pinch roller disposed proximate the drive roller, an actuation mechanism disposed in operable communication with the motor to facilitate actuation of the motor, and a dispensing opening disposed proximate the drive roller and the pinch roller. The cartridge includes: an enclosure comprising a removable section that defines a dispensing opening; and, sheet product disposed within the enclosure in such a manner as to be dispensable through the dispensing opening subsequent to removal of the removable section. The cartridge is so dimensioned and configured as to be engageable with the dispensing unit. The sheet product is configured to be dispensable from the cartridge via the dispensing unit through the dispensing opening. At least a portion of the cartridge is disposed outside of the housing of the dispensing unit.
An embodiment of the invention includes a dispensing apparatus for dispensing sheet product from a cartridge. The apparatus includes an electronic dispensing unit having a housing, a motor disposed within the housing, a drive roller in operable communication with the motor, a pinch roller disposed proximate the drive roller, an actuation mechanism disposed in operable communication with the motor to facilitate actuation of the motor, and a dispensing opening disposed proximate the drive roller and the pinch roller. The housing includes a receiving port so configured and dimensioned as to receive at least a portion of the cartridge in which the sheet product is disposed, the drive roller and pinch roller being disposed to dispense the sheet product from the cartridge through the dispensing opening.
Referring now to the drawings, which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike:
An embodiment of the invention is directed generally to a reusable automatic paper towel dispensing apparatus that utilizes a disposable cartridge configured to support paper towels to be dispensed. The dispensing apparatus includes a dispensing unit that includes an entry opening for receiving paper towels from the disposable cartridge, and a dispensing opening for dispensing the paper towels to a user. The disposable cartridge includes a dispensing opening to facilitate transfer of the paper towels from the cartridge to the dispensing unit via the entry opening of the dispensing unit. When the cartridge is operably associated with the dispensing unit, the dispensing opening of the cartridge is disposed in operable communication with the entry opening of the dispensing unit so that a paper towel can travel from the cartridge into the dispensing unit. Once the cartridge is empty of paper towels, the cartridge can be separated from the dispensing unit and substituted with a replacement cartridge. The empty cartridge can be disposed thereafter.
As can be seen from
As can be seen from
In an embodiment, the dispensing unit 20 is attachable to a support structure, such as a wall for example, using any hardware suitable for the purposes, or using a no-drill, pull-and-stick adhesive strip, for example. In another embodiment, the dispensing unit 20 is attachable to a steel panel (or a panel made from any ferromagnetic material) using a permanent magnet securely attached to the engaging surface of the dispensing unit 20.
The term “sheet product” as used herein is inclusive of natural and/or synthetic cloth or paper sheets. Sheet product may include both woven and non-woven articles. There are a wide variety of nonwoven processes, and they can be either wetlaid or drylaid. Some examples include hydroentagled (sometimes called spunlace), DRC (double re-creped), airlaid, spunbond, carded, paper towel, and meltblown sheet products. Further, sheet product may contain fibrous cellulosic materials that may be derived from natural sources, such as wood pulp fibers, as well as other fibrous material characterized by having hydroxyl groups attached to the polymer backbone. These include glass fibers and synthetic fibers modified with hydroxyl groups. Examples of sheet product include, but are not limited to, wipers, napkins, tissues, rolls, towels or other fibrous, film, polymer, or filamentary products.
In general sheet products are thin in comparison to their length and breadth and exhibit a relatively flat planar configuration and are flexible to permit folding, rolling, stacking, and the like. In an embodiment, the sheet product 26 is in the form of a roll and may have perforations extending in lines across its width to separate individual sheets and facilitate separation or tearing of individual sheets from the roll at discrete intervals. Individual sheets may be sized as desired to accommodate the many uses of the sheet products. For example, perforation lines may be formed every 13 inches to define a universally sized sheet. Multiple perforation lines may be provided to allow the user to select the size of sheet depending on the particular need. In an alternative embodiment, the sheet product 26 is in the form of a plurality of discrete sheets that are stacked in such a manner relative to one another so as to be dispensable through the dispensing opening 32 of the dispensing unit 20 one after the other in succession. The stacked plurality of discrete sheets may be non-interfolded sheets, or may be interfolded u-fold sheets or a u-folded bundle, interfolded z-fold sheets or a z-folded bundle, or arranged in any other engaging relationship that provides for one at a time dispensing one after the other in succession (best seen by referring to
While embodiments are disclosed herein utilizing a sheet product being inclusive of natural and/or synthetic cloth or paper sheets, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not so limited, and that the invention also encompasses other sheet materials, such as aluminum foil and plastic wrap for example, where the plastic wrap includes, but is not limited to, such materials as, low density polyethylene (LDPE), and polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC), for example.
In an embodiment, and with reference generally to
In an embodiment, the dispensing unit 20 includes one or more light-emitting-diodes (LEDs) 34 to provide a visual indication as to the status of the dispensing unit. An embodiment may also include an actuation mechanism in the form of a proximity sensor 36 positioned proximate the front cover 22 near the dispensing opening 32 to facilitate dispensing of the sheet product 26 in a touchless manner. In another embodiment, the actuation mechanism may be provided in the form of a manual pushbutton 37, or a tear bar sensor 57. In an embodiment employing a proximity sensor 36, the proximity sensor 36 may be an infrared sensor, a capacitive sensor, or any other sensor suitable for a purpose disclosed herein that is capable of sensing the presence of a user's hand in front of the dispensing unit 20 and sending a dispense-demand signal to a dispensing mechanism (to be discussed further below). In an embodiment employing a manual pushbutton 37 used in place of a touchless proximity sensor 36, the manual pushbutton 37 provides a dispense-demand signal to the dispensing mechanism 40 via a main controller 38 in a manner similar to that of the proximity sensor 36. In an embodiment employing a tear bar sensor 57, which is configured and disposed to sense a dispensing action via movement of a tear bar 75 in a tear bar assembly 76, a next in line sheet product to be dispensed is automatically advanced in a “hang mode” fashion, which is discussed further below. Accordingly, reference herein to a proximity sensor 36 is also intended to encompass dispensing via a manual pushbutton, a touch-button, or the like, or a tear bar sensor used in conjunction with hang mode dispensing.
An example schematic representation of operable components of the dispensing unit 20 is shown in
In an embodiment, the electrical energy for operating the dispensing unit 20 is provided by a battery 46, which may be comprised of one or more batteries arranged in series or in parallel to provide the desired energy. In an embodiment, the battery 46 includes four 1.5-volt “D” cell batteries. The battery 46 is connected to the main controller 38 via an optional power converter 48 that adapts the electrical output of the battery 46 to that desired for operating the dispensing unit 20. The optional power converter 48 may also accept an input from an external power source 50, such as an alternating current (“AC”) power source or a solar power source, or any other alternative power source as may be appropriate for a particular application. The AC power source 50 may be any conventional power source, such as a 120V, 60 Hz wall outlet for example.
The main controller 38 is a suitable electronic device capable of accepting data and instructions, executing the instructions to process the data, and presenting the results. As suggested above, the main controller 38 may accept instructions through a user interface, or through other means such as but not limited to a proximity sensor, a manual pushbutton, a tear bar sensor, voice activation means, manually-operable selection and control means, radiated wavelength and electronic or electrical transfer, for example. Therefore, main controller 38 can be, but is not limited to a microprocessor, microcomputer, a minicomputer, an optical computer, a board computer, a complex instruction set computer, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), a reduced instruction set computer, an analog computer, a digital computer, a molecular computer, a quantum computer, a cellular computer, a solid-state computer, a single-board computer, a buffered computer, a computer network, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a hybrid of any of the foregoing.
Main controller 38 is capable of converting the analog voltage or current level provided by sensors, such as proximity sensor 36 for example, into a digital signal indicative of a user placing their hand in front of the dispensing unit 20. Alternatively, proximity sensor 36 may be configured to provide a digital signal to main controller 38, or an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 52 maybe coupled between proximity sensor 36 and main controller 38 to convert the analog signal provided by proximity sensor 36 into a digital signal for processing by main controller 38. Main controller 38 uses the digital signals as input to various processes for controlling the dispensing unit 20. The digital signals represent one or more dispensing unit data including but not limited to proximity sensor activation, manual pushbutton activation, verification feature activation, enable switch activation, cartridge empty notification, motor current, motor back electromotive force, or battery level, for example. It should be appreciated that in some embodiments, the main controller 38 may be arranged to also include one or more direct analog inputs to receive one or more analog signals instead of or in addition to digital signals.
Main controller 38 is operably coupled with one or more operational components of dispensing unit 20 by data transmission media 54. Data transmission media 54 includes, but is not limited to, solid-core wiring, twisted pair wiring, coaxial cable, and fiber optic cable. Data transmission media 54 also includes, but is not limited to, wireless, radio and infrared signal transmission systems. Main controller 38 is configured to provide operating signals to the operational components and to receive data from the operational components via data transmission media 54. Main controller 38 communicates over the data transmission media 54 using a computer communications protocol such as Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C), Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), System Management Bus (SMBus), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), RS-232, RS-485, ModBus, or any other communications protocol suitable for a purpose disclosed herein.
As will be described in more detail herein, main controller 38 accepts data from sensors and other devices, such as a proximity sensor 36, a manual pushbutton 37, a sheet product sensor 56, a tear bar sensor 57, a verification feature 305, and an enable switch 320, for example, and provides operational control signals to devices such as LED's 34, and motor 42 for example. Main controller 38 is also given certain instructions from an executable instruction set for the purpose of comparing the data from sheet product sensorthe aforementioned sensors and devices to predetermined operational parameters. Main controller 38 provides operational control signals to motor 42 that activates a dispensing action of sheet product 26.
In an embodiment, main controller 38 includes a processor 62 coupled to a random access memory (RAM) device 64, a non-volatile memory (NVM) device 66, and a read-only memory (ROM) device 68. Main controller 38 may optionally be connected to one or more input/output (I/O) controllers or data interface devices (not shown). NVM device 66 is any form of non-volatile memory such as an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) chip, an EEROM (Electrically Erasable Read Only Memory), a flash memory chip, a disk drive, or the like. Stored in NVM device 66 are various operational parameters for the application code. It should be recognized that application code could be stored in NVM device 66 rather than ROM device 68.
Main controller 38 includes operation control methods embodied in application code. These methods are embodied in computer instructions written to be executed by processor 62, typically in the form of software. The software can be encoded in any language, including, but not limited to, machine language, assembly language, VHDL (Verilog Hardware Description Language), VHSIC HDL (Very High Speed IC Hardware Description Language), Fortran (formula translation), C, C++, Visual C++, Java, ALGOL (algorithmic language), BASIC (beginners all-purpose symbolic instruction code), visual BASIC, ActiveX, HTML (HyperText Markup Language), and any combination or derivative of at least one of the foregoing. Additionally, an operator can use an existing software application such as a spreadsheet or database and correlate various cells with the variables enumerated in the algorithms. Furthermore, the software can be independent of other software or dependent upon other software, such as in the form of integrated software.
As previously discussed, an embodiment of the dispensing mechanism 40 is configured and arranged to receive sheet product 26 from cartridge 25. A user of dispensing apparatus 10 manually fills/refills the dispensing unit 20 with a cartridge 25 containing sheet product 26, extracts a leading end of the sheet product 26 through the dispensing opening 21 of the cartridge 25 and positions the leading end of sheet product 26 within the entry opening 23 within the cavity 28 of the dispensing unit 20 and towards a roller assembly 74 that includes a pair of rollers, a drive roller 126 and a pinch roller 124, that pull the sheet product when activated by motor 42. In an embodiment, the leading edge of sheet product 26 includes a leader tab 19 to facilitate manual feeding of a new sheet product in a new cartridge between drive roller 126 and pinch roller 124. In an embodiment, a tear bar assembly 76 is positioned adjacent the dispensing opening 32 to provide a means for separating the dispensed sheet product 26 from a roll of sheet product when the sheet product is in the form of a roll. In an embodiment employing an interfolded sheet product 26, the drive roller 126 and pinch roller 124 may be biased toward each other in such a manner as to deter the interfold of the sheet product from dispensing the next-in-line sheet. Such biasing may be achieved by a spring, for example (not shown).
A sheet product sensor 56 is positioned adjacent to the roller assembly 74. As will be described in more detail herein, the sheet product sensor 56 provides a signal to the main controller 38 that indicates whether sheet product is still being dispensed from cartridge 25. The arrangement of providing a sheet product sensor 56 to monitor the dispensing of sheet product 26 provides advantages in that it enables the dispensing unit 20 to use all, or almost all of the sheet product in cartridge 25 before signaling to a user that the cartridge 25 is empty and needs replacing. It should be appreciated that while the sheet product sensor 56 may be described herein as being positioned on the in-feed side of the rollers in roller assembly 74, the sheet product sensor 56 may alternatively be positioned on the out-feed side of the rollers as well.
In an embodiment, the sheet product sensor 56 may also be used by main controller 38 to control the amount of sheet product 26 being dispensed, especially when the sheet product 26 is in the form of a roll. That is, sheet product sensor 56 can be utilized to provide “length-of-sheet-dispensed” information in real time to main controller 38, thereby enabling main controller 38 to stop the dispensing cycle as desired. In an embodiment, the length of sheet dispensed is adjustable via an adjustment switch (not shown but conveniently placed on the dispensing unit 20 and in signal communication with the main controller 38). While an embodiment is discussed herein employing a sheet product sensor 56 for dispensing a controlled length of sheet product 26, it will be appreciated that other control means may be employed for accomplishing a same result, such as for example, using the main controller 38 to control the run-time of the motor 42, using a “hold time” of the manual pushbutton 37 to interpret a long hold time as a demand for a longer length of sheet product, or using the verification feature to determine an appropriate length of sheet product to dispense depending upon the type of sheet product associated with the cartridge 25.
In an embodiment where the sheet product 26 is provided in the form of a roll, and after the roller assembly 74 pulls the sheet product from the cartridge 25, the sheet product 26 proceeds to tear bar assembly 76, which is positioned adjacent the dispensing opening 32. A means for cutting the sheet product 26 is included in tear bar assembly 76 once the appropriate amount of sheet product 26 has been dispensed. Typically, this is accomplished using a serrated edge tear bar 75 that cuts into the sheet when the user pulls the dispensed sheet product 26. The portion of the sheet product 26 separated from the roll may then be used and discarded as necessary by the user.
In an embodiment where the sheet product 26 is provided in the form of a plurality of discrete sheets interfolded together or otherwise arranged to dispense one after the other in succession (see
While
The operation of the dispensing unit 20 may be thought of as a series of dispensing cycles 78 as shown in
During the dispensing cycle, it is possible that the sheet product 26 contained in the cartridge 25 will be expended or otherwise depleted. As discussed above, a sheet product sensor 56 may be arranged to detect the presence of the sheet product 26, and may be disposed at either the in-feed or out-feed portion of the roller assembly 74. Once the sheet product 26 from cartridge 25 is not detected by the sheet product sensor 56, the main controller 38 activates one of LEDs 34 to signal an empty cartridge 25, and the dispensing unit 20 enters into a hold-mode until a new cartridge 25 is placed in the receiving cavity 28 of dispensing unit 20. In view of some embodiments of the dispensing unit 20 disclosed herein having other sensors and/or switches, such as a verification feature 305 or an enable switch 320, for example, it will be appreciated that LED's 34 could be utilized and activated to signal other conditions, such as insertion of a non-authorized product that would result in a product-verification-failure-signal from the verification feature 305, or an absence of a cartridge 25 in cavity 28 that would result in a product-absent-signal from the enable switch 320, for example. Additionally, it is contemplated that the sheet product sensor 56 could also be used to sense a misfed or jammed sheet product, in which case the sheet product sensor 56 would provide a signal to the main controller 38 to facilitate activation of more than one LED 34, or one LED 34 in a pulsed manner.
A portion 27 of an example dispensing unit 20 is shown in
In an embodiment, the proximity sensor 36, or any other sensor or activation device described herein, initiates the operation of the dispensing unit 20. Alternatively, in the embodiments operating in a “hang mode”, the operation can be initiated by the actuation of the tear bar sensor 57 via the tear bar 75, when utilized. In an embodiment, the proximity sensor 36 is integrated with the main controller 38. The main controller 38 is between a front shroud 98 and the roller assembly 74. In an embodiment the proximity sensor 36 includes an optical emitter 100 and a receiver 102 covered by a lens 103 (the lens being depicted in an exploded assembly fashion in
It should be appreciated that the position of the area 112 will affect the functioning and the user experience with the dispensing unit 20. The area 112 needs to be large enough to allow the user an easy operation of the dispensing unit 20 without having the farthest distance “D” of the area 112 extend too far from the dispensing unit 20. While a large area is desirable, if the distance “D” becomes too large, someone passing by may accidentally dispense the sheet product 26. Further, the larger the area 112, the more quiescent power the proximity sensor 36 will use, decreasing battery life. In an embodiment, the emitter 100 and the receiver 102 are spaced a distance “W” of 3 inches (7.62 cm) apart, with the angles 104, 106 of cones 108, 110, respectively, each being from 10 to 80 degrees. This creates a polyhedron area 112 having a maximum distance “D” of 3 inches. The advantage of this arrangement is that it creates an area 112 that is large, reliable and convenient enough for the user while keeping the quiescent power requirements at less than or equal to 25% of the annual battery usage.
Referring now to
The roller assembly 74 (see
The belt 138 couples the pulleys 122, 134. In the illustrated embodiment, the belt 138 is a toothed belt. The teeth on the belt 138 have a size and pitch suitable to engage the teeth on the pulleys 122, 134. In the illustrated embodiment, the belt 138 is made from a suitable material, including but not limited to: Neoprene, polyurethane, rubber, and urethane, reinforced with materials including but not limited to: polyaramid, glass, metallic fibers, other polymers fibers, or other reinforcing fibers. The combination of the belt 138 and the isolator 118 provides advantages over the prior art systems that use direct gear arrangement between the motor 42 and the drive roller 126. While gear systems provide a greater efficiency in the transfer of energy from the motor 42 to the drive roller 126, backlash and vibration in such an arrangement can create an undesirable noise, which is transferred into the dispensing unit 20 and vibrates front cover 22 for example, which acts as a sound amplifier. By using an isolator 118 and a belt 138, the transfer of vibrations from the motor 42 is minimized, resulting in little or no sound emissions from the dispensing unit 20.
Referring now to
Referring now to
While
Referring now to
Referring now to
In an embodiment depicted in
In an embodiment, the rejection feature 280 is an indentation, void or recess disposed on the enclosure 200 (depicted in
In another embodiment, the rejection feature 285 is a projection disposed on the enclosure 200 (depicted in
While certain geometries of rejection features 280, 285 and verification features 290,295 are depicted in
While embodiments of the invention are described and illustrated employing an electronic sheet product dispenser 20, it will be appreciated that certain features, such as the cartridge and dispenser unit employing mechanical rejection and verification features as disclosed herein would be equally applicable to non-electronic sheet product dispensers configured in a manner suitable for a purpose disclosed herein. As such, non-electronic sheet product dispensers suitable for a purpose disclosed herein are also contemplated and considered within the scope of an invention disclosed herein.
In another embodiment, and with reference now to
It is contemplated that an embodiment utilizing a conductive strip as a form of a rejection feature may use, for example, a graphite impregnated strip or an aluminum foil strip that could be wound in the first few wraps of a roll of sheet product (see 302 in
While certain rejection features 280, 285, 300 have been described in relation to corresponding complementary verification features 290, 295, 305, it will be appreciated that more than one set of rejection and verification features may be employed in the same dispensing apparatus 10. Accordingly, the scope of the invention also encompasses any combination of the foregoing rejection features in the form of an indentation, a projection, an RFID tag, an IR reflective surface, a machine-identifiable marking, a magnetic region, a machine-optically-recognizable character, a phosphoresce region, a starch marker, and an IC chip, being used together with appropriate complementary verification features in the same dispensing apparatus 10.
Referring now to
In another embodiment, the shutters 310 are not employed, and the cartridge 25 itself interacts with the switch arm 325 causing actuation of the enable switch 320 during installation of the cartridge 25 into the receiving cavity 28.
While embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in relation to a top-load cartridge arrangement where the cartridge 25 loads into the top of the dispensing unit 20, it will be appreciated from
While certain combinations of features have been described herein, it will be appreciated that these certain combinations are for illustration purposes only and that any combination of any of the disclosed features may be employed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Any and all such combinations are contemplated herein and are considered within the scope of the invention disclosed.
Some embodiments disclosed herein may provide one or more of the following advantages: hands free hygienic dispensing of sheet product from a conveniently located compact dispensing apparatus; an exposed cartridge that can be color coordinated with interior décor; hang mode or on-demand mode operation; a dispensing unit that can receive cartridges of different sizes, where the length and depth of the cartridges are constant, but the height varies to provide for different quantities of sheet product (standard and super-sized for example); a means for visually seeing the amount of sheet product remaining in a cartridge; a means for displaying messages on the dispensing unit; and, means for deterring use of an unauthorized cartridge.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed example embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, front, rear, top, bottom etc. do not denote any orientation, order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.
Claims
1. A dispensing apparatus combination, comprising:
- a sheet product dispensing unit; and
- a cartridge configured to support sheet product;
- the cartridge being so dimensioned and configured such that it can be located in operable communication with the dispensing unit;
- the cartridge comprising a dispensing opening;
- the dispensing unit comprising an entry opening and a dispensing opening;
- the dispensing opening of the cartridge being disposed proximate the entry opening of the dispensing unit when the cartridge is located in operable communication with the dispensing unit such that sheet product is able to pass from the cartridge through the dispensing opening of the cartridge, through the entry opening of the dispensing unit, and through the dispensing opening of the dispensing unit, under a control of the dispensing unit.
2. The dispensing apparatus combination of claim 1, wherein:
- the cartridge is separable from the dispensing unit;
- the dispensing unit further comprises a housing, a motor disposed within the housing, a drive roller in operable communication with the motor, a pinch roller disposed proximate the drive roller, an actuation mechanism disposed in operable communication with the motor to facilitate actuation of the motor, and wherein the dispensing opening is disposed proximate the drive roller and the pinch roller;
- the cartridge further comprises an enclosure comprising a removable section that defines the dispensing opening of the cartridge, and sheet product being disposed within the enclosure in such a manner as to be dispensable through the dispensing opening of the cartridge subsequent to removal of the removable section; and
- at least a portion of the cartridge is disposed outside of the housing of the dispensing unit.
3. The apparatus combination of claim 1, wherein:
- the dispensing unit further comprises a drive mechanism and a sensor disposed in signal communication with the drive mechanism, the drive mechanism being responsive to a dispense signal from the sensor to dispense sheet product.
4. The apparatus combination of claim 1, wherein the sheet product is a roll of sheet product, a plurality of interfolded sheet product leaves, or a continuous z-fold sheet.
5. The apparatus combination of claim 2, wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a proximity sensor, a manual pushbutton, or tear bar sensor.
6. The apparatus combination of claim 1, wherein:
- the dispensing unit further comprises a verification feature; and
- the cartridge further comprises a rejection feature disposed and configured for operably communicating with the verification feature.
7. The apparatus combination of claim 3, wherein the dispensing unit comprises an enable switch, the cartridge engaging with the enable switch when engaged with the dispensing unit, the enable switch being disposed in signal communication with the drive mechanism to enable dispensing of the sheet product from the cartridge.
8. The apparatus combination of claim 6, wherein:
- the rejection feature comprises an indentation disposed on the enclosure, a projection disposed on the enclosure, an RFID tag disposed on the enclosure, an IR reflective surface disposed on the enclosure, a machine-identifiable marking disposed on the enclosure, a magnetic region disposed on the enclosure, a machine-optically-recognizable character disposed on the enclosure, a phosphoresce region disposed on the enclosure, a starch marker disposed on the enclosure, an IC chip disposed on the enclosure, a conductive strip disposed on the enclosure, a conductive strip disposed on the sheet product, or any combination of the foregoing indentation, projection, RFID tag, IR reflective surface, machine-identifiable marking, magnetic region, machine-optically-recognizable character, phosphoresce region, starch marker, IC chip, and conductive strip; and
- the verification feature is complementary to the respective rejection feature so as to verify that an authorized cartridge having the respective rejection feature is installed in the dispensing unit.
9. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing sheet product from a cartridge, comprising:
- a dispensing unit comprising a receiving port so configured and dimensioned as to receive at least a portion of a cartridge configured to support sheet product to be dispensed, an entry opening disposed for receiving sheet product from the cartridge, and a dispensing opening disposed for dispensing sheet product from the dispensing unit;
- the dispensing unit further comprising a drive mechanism and a sensor disposed in signal communication with the drive mechanism, the drive mechanism being responsive to a dispense signal from the sensor to dispense sheet product.
10. The dispensing apparatus of claim 9, wherein:
- the dispensing unit further comprises a housing, a motor disposed within the housing, a drive roller in operable communication with the motor, a pinch roller disposed proximate the drive roller, an actuation mechanism disposed in operable communication with the motor to facilitate actuation of the motor, and wherein the dispensing opening is disposed proximate the drive roller and the pinch roller;
- the drive roller and the pinch roller being disposed to facilitate dispensing of the sheet product from the cartridge through the dispensing opening.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:
- the drive mechanism is responsive to a dispense signal from the sensor to dispense sheet product from the cartridge on demand, the sensor being responsive to a user causing the sensor to generate the dispense signal in an on-demand-mode manner.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sheet product is a roll of sheet product, a plurality of interfolded sheet product leaves, or a continuous z-fold sheet.
13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the dispensing unit further comprises an enable switch disposed to be actuated by the cartridge when the cartridge is disposed in operable communication with the receiving port of the dispensing unit, the enable switch being disposed in signal communication with the drive mechanism to enable dispensing of the sheet product from the cartridge.
14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cartridge includes a rejection feature, and further wherein:
- the dispensing unit further comprises a controller disposed in operable communication with the motor to facilitate actuation of the motor, and a verification feature disposed in operable communication with the receiving port and the controller, the verification feature being disposed and configured to verify presence of the rejection feature of the cartridge, and to communicate such verification to the controller, such verification being verification that an authorized cartridge having a complementary rejection feature is installed in the dispensing unit.
15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a proximity sensor, a manual pushbutton, or a tear bar sensor.
16. A cartridge for a sheet product dispenser, the cartridge comprising:
- an enclosure comprising a removable section that defines a dispensing opening, and a rejection feature disposed and configured for communicating with a verification feature associated with a sheet product dispenser; and
- sheet product disposed within the enclosure in such a manner as to be dispensable through the dispensing opening subsequent to removal of the removable section;
- wherein the rejection and verification features comprise complementary passive rejection and verification features, complementary active rejection and verification features, or a combination of complementary passive and active rejection and verification features.
17. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein:
- the rejection feature comprises an indentation, void or recess disposed on the enclosure, a projection disposed on the enclosure, an RFID tag disposed on the enclosure, an IR reflective surface disposed on the enclosure, a machine-identifiable marking disposed on the enclosure, a magnetic region disposed on the enclosure, a machine-optically-recognizable character disposed on the enclosure, a phosphoresce region disposed on the enclosure, a starch marker disposed on the enclosure, an IC chip disposed on the enclosure, a conductive strip disposed on the enclosure, a conductive strip disposed on the sheet product, or any combination of the foregoing indentation, projection, RFID tag, IR reflective surface, machine-identifiable marking, magnetic region, machine-optically-recognizable character, phosphoresce region, starch marker, IC chip, and conductive strip.
18. The cartridge of claim 16, further comprising:
- inwardly extending protrusions on opposing ends of the enclosure that define pivots, wherein the sheet product is a roll of sheet product pivotally disposed upon the inwardly extending protrusions.
19. The cartridge of claim 18, wherein the inwardly extending protrusions are cylindrically shaped trunnions.
20. The cartridge of claim 18, wherein the inwardly extending protrusions are formed from inwardly displaced portions of the opposing ends of the enclosure.
21. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the sheet product is a plurality of discrete sheets disposed in such a manner relative to one another so as to be dispensable through the dispensing opening one after the other in succession.
22. The cartridge of claim 21, wherein the discrete sheets are interfolded u-fold sheets or interfolded z-fold sheets.
23. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the enclosure comprises at least one deformable section that is movable from a first position suitable for packaging, storing and transporting, to a second position suitable for engagement with the sheet product dispenser, wherein the enclosure, with the at least one deformable section disposed in the second position, is engageable with the sheet product dispenser such that the at least one deformable section supports the enclosure against the influence of gravity when the sheet product dispenser is located underneath a support structure.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 23, 2011
Publication Date: Aug 22, 2013
Applicant: GEORGIA-PACIFIC CONSUMER PRODUCTS LP (Atlanta, GA)
Inventors: Brian Christopher Horel (Alpharetta, GA), Harold John Goeking (Oshkosh, WI), Abby Case (Green Bay, WI)
Application Number: 13/816,757
International Classification: B65H 3/06 (20060101);