Minimizing paper waste carousel-style dispenser apparatus, sensor, method and system with proximity sensor

A method for dispensing paper towels, comprising the steps of:

• (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.

A paper roll dispenser, comprising:

• 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.

A method for dispensing paper towels, comprising the steps of:

• (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.