Patent ID: 7398944
Filing Date: 2008-07-15
Classification: A47K

Abstract:
1. A hands-free towel dispenser for dispensing a measured sheet from a roll of web material, comprising: a housing having an internal volume so as to retain at least one roll of towel material therein; an electronically powered dispensing mechanism contained within said housing for dispensing a measured sheet from the roll of web material upon actuation of said dispensing mechanism; a sensor contained within said housing to detect an object placed within a detection zone of said sensor; control circuitry configured with said sensor and said dispensing mechanism to initiate a dispense cycle upon detection of an object by said sensor; said sensor disposed relative to said housing such that said detection zone is defined substantially below a bottom surface of said housing such that an object must be placed at a location below said housing to be detected by said sensor; wherein said sensor comprises at least one active transmitter and a receiver, said transmitter disposed within said housing and oriented to transmit an active signal defining said detection zone below said housing; and wherein said sensor comprises a combination of two IR transmitters disposed on opposite sides of an IR sensor.