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US 6,820,785 B2Granted
Electrical roll product dispenser
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorDavid Kapiloff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electro-mechanical roll towel dispenser includes a housing with a roll carrier disposed therein to rotationally support a roll of towel material. An electro-mechanical feed mechanism is disposed in the housing to dispense measured sheets of the towel material. The feed mechanism operates in a first mechanical operational mode wherein the towel sheets are dispensed by a user grasping and pulling on a tail of the towel material extending from the housing, and a second electrical operational mode wherein a measured length of a next sheet is automatically and electrically fed out of the housing to define the tail for the next user.
Claims13
An electronic dispenser for-dispensing measured sheets from a roll of web material, comprising:
- a housing, and a roll carrier disposed in said housing to rotationally support the roll of web material, said housing further comprising a dispensing slot defined therein through which measured sheets of the web material are dispensed;
- an electrically driven feed mechanism disposed in said housing to dispense the sheets of web material therefrom;
- an electric motor configured with said feed mechanism, said motor driving said feed mechanism to dispense a measured length of the web material upon activation of said dispenser;
- and
- a sensor disposed along a running path of the web material, said sensor comprising means for detecting a parameter that is changed by an initial pull exerted on a tail of the web material and for generating a signal causing said motor to drive said feed mechanism until a measured length of web material that includes the tail of web material has been feed from said dispenser in the form of a measured sheet for subsequent removal by a user, said sensor being in a dormant unpowered mode until said changed parameter is sensed.
2 more elements
An electronic dispenser for dispensing measured sheets from a roll of web material, comprising:
- a housing, and a roll carrier disposed in said housing to rotationally support the roll of web material, said housing further comprising a dispensing slot defined therein through which measured sheets of the web material are dispensed;
- an electrically driven feed mechanism disposed in said housing to dispense the sheets of web material therefrom;
- an electric motor configured with said feed mechanism, said motor driving said feed mechanism to dispense a measured length of the web material upon activation of said dispenser;
- a sensor disposed along a running path of the web material, said sensor configured to detect a parameter that is changed by a force exerted on a tail of the web material, said sensor being in a dormant unpowered mode until said changed parameter is sensed;
- wherein said dispenser is activated to automatically dispense a measured length of the web material by a user pulling on a tail of the web material extending from said dispensing slot, said sensor detecting said initial pull and generating a signal causing said motor to drive said feed mechanism until the measured length of web material has been fed from said dispenser;
- and
- wherein said sensor is disposed against the web material at a location within said housing, said sensor detecting a deviation in the running path of the web material caused by a user pulling on the tail end of the material.
4 more elements
An electronic dispenser for dispensing measured sheets from a roll of web material, comprising:
- a housing, and a roll carrier disposed in said housing to rotationally support the roll of web material, said housing further comprising a dispensing slot defined therein through which measured sheets of the web material are dispensed;
- an electrically driven feed mechanism disposed in said housing to dispense the sheets of web material therefrom;
- an electric motor configured with said feed mechanism, said motor driving said feed mechanism to dispense a measured length of the web material upon activation of said dispenser;
- a sensor disposed along a running path of the web material, said sensor configured to detect a parameter that is changed by a force exerted on a tail of the web material, said sensor being in a dormant unpowered mode until said changed parameter is sensed;
- wherein said dispenser is activated to automatically dispense a measured length of the web material by a user pulling on a tail of the web material extending from said dispensing slot, said sensor detecting said initial pull and generating a signal causing said motor to drive said feed mechanism until the measured length of web material has been fed from said dispenser;
- and
- further comprising at least one roll mounted within said housing that is caused to rotate upon the web material being pulled from said dispenser, said sensor comprising a motion sensor disposed to detect motion of said roll.
4 more elements
An electronic dispenser for dispensing measured sheets from a roll of web material, comprising:
- a housing, and a roll carrier disposed in said housing to rotationally support the roll of web material, said housing further comprising a dispensing slot defined therein through which measured sheets of the web material are dispensed;
- an electrically driven feed mechanism disposed in said housing to dispense the sheets of web material therefrom;
- an electric motor configured with said feed mechanism, said motor driving said feed mechanism to dispense a measured length of the web material upon activation of said dispenser;
- a sensor disposed along a running path of the web material, said sensor configured to detect a parameter that is changed by a force exerted on a tail of the web material, said sensor being in a dormant unpowered mode until said changed parameter is sensed;
- wherein said dispenser is activated to automatically dispense a measured length of the web material by a user pulling on a tail of the web material extending from said dispensing slot, said sensor detecting said initial pull and generating a signal causing said motor to drive said feed mechanism until the measured length of web material has been fed from said dispenser;
- and
- further comprising a web cutting device configured for the user to sever the measured length of web material into an individual sheet.
4 more elements
An electronic dispenser for dispensing measured sheets from a roll of web material, comprising:
- a housing, and a roll carrier disposed in said housing to rotationally support the roll of web material, said housing further comprising a dispensing slot defined therein through which measured sheets of the web material are dispensed;
- an electrically driven feed roll disposed in said housing to dispense the sheets of web material therefrom;
- an electric motor configured with said feed roll, said motor driving said feed roll to dispense a measured length of the web material upon activation of said dispenser;
- a first sensor disposed along a running path of the web material, the web material passing over said sensor, said sensor being deflected by the web material upon a user initially pulling on a tail of the web material extending from the dispensing slot and generating a signal causing said motor and feed roll to automatically dispense a measured length of the web material, said sensor being in a dormant unpowered mode until activated by the user pulling on the tail;
- a deflectable tear bar mounted proximate to said dispensing slot;
- a tear bar sensor disposed to detect movement of said tear bar upon the user severing the dispensed length of web material against said tear bar, said tear bar sensor generating a signal causing said motor and feed roll to dispense a second measured length of the web material to define the tail for the next user.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.