Patent ID: 8511599
Filing Date: 2013-08-20
Classification: A47K

Abstract:
1. Paper towel dispenser apparatus for dispensing paper toweling from a roll of paper toweling, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a housing; a roll support within said housing for supporting a roll of paper toweling; a rotatable toweling support roller having a cylindrically-shaped outer periphery within said housing for receiving paper toweling from the roll of paper toweling and transporting said paper toweling; an electric motor operatively associated with said toweling support roller for rotating said toweling support roller; targets spaced from one another and fixedly attached to said rotatable toweling support roller at the cylindrically-shaped outer periphery thereof and rotatable with said rotatable toweling support roller responsive to rotation of said rotatable toweling support roller by said electric motor, each said target comprising an element of metallic material extending at least partially along the length of said rotatable toweling support roller; capacitance sensor structure operatively associated with said electric motor, said capacitance sensor structure located adjacent to and spaced from the cylindrically-shaped outer periphery of said rotatable toweling support roller for sensing capacitance changes caused by rotation of said elements of metallic material during rotation of said toweling support roller; and a controller including a programmed computer processor for receiving signals from said capacitance sensor structure for controlling rotation of said rotatable toweling support roller by said electric motor responsive to capacitance changes caused by movement of said targets sensed by said capacitance sensor structure.