Sheet material dispenser with perforation sensor and method
AssigneeGeorgia-Pacific Corporation
InventorsDennis J. Denen, Joshua M. Broehl, John J. Knittle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dispenser for dispensing sheet material including a plurality of spaced perforations may include a housing defining an interior for accommodating a source of the sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material may be dispensed. The device may also include a perforation sensor configured to sense perforations in the sheet material, disposed in the interior of the housing. The perforation sensor may include at least one light receptor, and at least a portion of the perforation sensor may be positioned in the housing to contact sheet material traveling from the source to the outlet, thereby spreading perforations in the sheet material.
Claims63
A dispenser for dispensing sheet material including a plurality of spaced perforations, said dispenser comprising:
- a housing defining an interior for accommodating a source of the sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material is dispensed;
- and
- a perforation sensor configured to sense perforations in the sheet material, the perforation sensor being disposed in the interior of the housing, the perforation sensor including at least one light receptor, at least a portion of said perforation sensor being positioned in the housing to contact sheet material traveling from the source to the outlet and thereby spread perforations in the sheet material.
A dispenser for dispensing sheet material including a plurality of spaced perforations, said dispenser comprising:
- a housing defining an interior for accommodating a source of the sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material is dispensed;
- and
- a perforation sensor configured to sense perforations in the sheet material, the perforation sensor being disposed in the interior of the housing, the perforation sensor including a pair of light receptors, said pair of light receptors being aligned in substantially the direction of sheet material travel from the source to the outlet such that one of the receptors receives light passing through one of the perforations before the other of the receptors.
A dispenser for dispensing sheet material including a plurality of perforations, said dispenser comprising:
- a housing defining an interior for accommodating a source of the sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material is dispensed;
- a perforation sensor disposed in the interior of the housing, the perforation sensor being configured to sense perforations in the sheet material and including at least one light receptor and a light emitter, the light receptor and the light emitter being spaced apart from one another such that the sheet material travels therebetween to pass light from the emitter to the receptor via the perforations;
- and
- a first rotatable roller in the housing, said first roller including at least two spaced roller sections, at least a portion of the sheet material being in contact with the first roller when the sheet material travels from the source to the outlet, one of said light receptor and said light emitter being positioned between said roller sections.
A dispenser for dispensing sheet material including a plurality of perforations, said dispenser comprising:
- a housing defining an interior for accommodating a source of the sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material is dispensed;
- a perforation sensor disposed in the interior of the housing, the perforation sensor being configured to sense perforations in the sheet material and including at least one light receptor and a light emitter, the light receptor and the light emitter being spaced apart from one another such that the sheet material travels therebetween to pass light from the emitter to the receptor via the perforations;
- a controller in said housing, said controller selectively activating the perforation sensor;
- and
- at least one rotatable roller in the housing, at least a portion of the sheet material being in contact with the roller when the sheet material travels from the source to the outlet, wherein the dispenser further comprises a rotation monitor configured to monitor rotation of the roller, the controller being in electrical communication with the rotation monitor and activating the perforation sensor when the monitor detects a first predetermined amount of rotation of the roller.
A dispenser for dispensing sheet material including a plurality of spaced perforations, said dispenser comprising:
- a housing defining an interior for accommodating a source of the sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material is dispensed;
- at least one rotatable roller in the housing, said roller including at least two spaced roller sections, a portion of the sheet material being in contact with the roller when the sheet material travels from the source to the outlet;
- and
- a perforation sensor disposed in the interior of the housing, the perforation sensor being configured to sense perforations in the sheet material, at least a portion of the perforation sensor being positioned between the roller sections.
A dispenser for dispensing sheet material including a plurality of spaced perforations, said dispenser comprising:
- a housing defining an interior for accommodating a source of the sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material is dispensed;
- at least one rotatable roller in the housing, at least a portion of the sheet material being in contact with the roller when the sheet material travels from the source to the outlet;
- a rotation monitor configured to monitor the amount of rotation of the roller to thereby determine the amount of sheet material traveling downstream from the roller;
- a perforation sensor configured to sense perforations in the sheet material;
- and
- a controller configured to selectively activate the perforation sensor when the rotation monitor detects a predetermined amount of rotation of the roller.
A method of dispensing sheet material, comprising:
- providing a dispenser containing a source of sheet material including a plurality of spaced perforations, the dispenser comprising a perforation sensor including at least one light receptor and a light emitter, at least one rotatable roller, a brake configured to selectively brake rotation of the roller, and an outlet for dispensing sheet material;
- passing sheet material from the source to the outlet, wherein the sheet material contacts the roller and the roller rotates, and wherein the sheet material passes between the light receptor and the light emitter;
- detecting a perforation in the sheet material by sensing an increased amount of light reaching said light receptor from said light emitter;
- activating the brake to cause tension in the sheet material when an end portion of the sheet material is pulled;
- monitoring the amount of rotation of the roller;
- and
- activating the perforation sensor when the roller rotates a first predetermined amount.
A method of dispensing sheet material, comprising:
- providing a dispenser for containing a source of sheet material including a plurality of spaced perforations, the dispenser comprising at least one rotatable roller, a rotation monitor configured to monitor the amount of rotation of the roller to thereby determine the amount of sheet material traveling downstream from the roller, a brake configured to selectively brake rotation of the roller, and an outlet for dispensing sheet material;
- passing sheet material from the source to the outlet, wherein the sheet material contacts the roller and the roller rotates;
- monitoring the amount of rotation of the roller to thereby determine the amount of sheet material dispensed;
- and
- activating the brake when a predetermined amount of sheet material is dispensed, the braking of the roller causing tension in the sheet material when an end portion of the sheet material is pulled,
- wherein the dispenser further comprises a perforation sensor including at least one light receptor and a light emitter, the method further comprising detecting an initial rotation of the roller and activating the perforation sensor when the roller rotates a first predetermined amount of rotation, the activating of the brake occurring when at least one of the perforation sensor detects a perforation and the roller rotates a second predetermined amount.
A method of dispensing sheet material from a dispenser containing a source of sheet material having a plurality of spaced perforations, the dispenser comprising at least one rotatable roller, a rotation monitor configured to monitor the amount of rotation of the roller to thereby determine the amount of sheet material traveling downstream from the roller, a perforation sensor for sensing perforations in the sheet material, and an outlet for dispensing sheet material, the method comprising:
- detecting the amount of rotation of the roller;
- sensing a perforation in the sheet material;
- and
- in response to detection of said perforation, stopping the advancing of the sheet material when the roller rotates a first predetermined amount.
The method of claim further including:
- in response to no perforation being detected when the roller rotates a third predetermined amount, stopping the advancing of the sheet material.
A dispenser for dispensing sheet material including a plurality of spaced perforations, said dispenser comprising:
- a housing defining an interior for accommodating a source of the sheet material, and an outlet through which the sheet material is dispensed;
- at least one rotatable roller in the housing, at least a portion of the sheet material being in contact with the roller when the sheet material travels from the source to the a perforation sensor disposed in the interior of the housing, the perforation sensor being configured to sense perforations in the sheet material;
- a rotation monitor configured to monitor the amount of rotation of the roller to thereby determine the amount of sheet material traveling downstream from the roller;
- a brake configured to brake rotational movement of the roller;
- and
- a controller for controlling the brake, the controller being in electrical communication with the perforation sensor and rotation monitor,
- wherein said controller receives a rotation signal from the rotation monitor indicating the amount of rotation of the roller, said controller activating said perforation sensor when the roller rotates a first predetermined amount.
A sensor for detecting perforations in sheet material, said sensor comprising:
- a pair of light receptors, said pair of light receptors being aligned substantially parallel to each other, such that one of the receptors receives light passing through one of the perforations before the other of the receptors;
- and
- a differential trans-impedance amplifier for detecting light incident upon the two light receptors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.