Abstract:
A sheet product dispenser system comprising, a sheet product dispenser portion operative to dispense a sheet product, a first roller operative to transfer a flowable product from the first roller to the sheet product and a first flowable product dispenser having a cavity partially defined by the first flowable product container, operative to store the first flowable product, and a first flowable product applicator engaging the first flowable product container and operative to apply the first flowable product to the first roller, the first flowable product applicator including, an opening partially defined by the first flowable product applicator communicative in fluid communication with the cavity and the outer surface, and a ball member engaging the opening operative to control dispensing of the first flowable product on the first roller, and a controller operative to receive signals and control the sheet product dispenser system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to sheet product dispenser systems, and particularly to sheet product dispenser systems that apply flowable products to sheet products. 
         [0002]    Users who utilize sheet product dispensers to dry and wash their hands often use a flowable product such as soaps, antibacterial agents, grease-cutting agents, cleaning solutions and lotions. 
         [0003]    Some sheet product dispensers dispense sheet products that are impregnated with a flowable product. Often these dispensers use a roll of sheet product that has the flowable product impregnated in the sheet product prior to installing the sheet product in the dispenser. It is desirable to have a sheet product dispenser that applies flowable products to a sheet product. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    An exemplary embodiment including a sheet product dispenser system comprising, a sheet product dispenser portion operative to dispense a sheet product, a first roller operative to transfer a flowable product from the first roller to the sheet product and a first flowable product dispenser having a cavity partially defined by the first flowable product container, operative to store the first flowable product, and a first flowable product applicator engaging the first flowable product container and operative to apply the first flowable product to the first roller, the first flowable product applicator including, an opening partially defined by the first flowable product applicator communicative in fluid communication with the cavity and the outer surface, and a ball member engaging the opening operative to control dispensing of the first flowable product on the first roller, and a controller operative to receive signals and control the sheet product dispenser system. 
         [0005]    An alternate exemplary embodiment including a sheet product dispenser system comprising, a sheet product dispenser portion, a first roller operative to apply a flowable product to a sheet product, a first flowable product dispenser operative to dispose a first flowable product on the first roller, and a second flowable product dispenser operative to dispose a second flowable product on the first roller. 
         [0006]    Another alternate exemplary embodiment including a sheet product dispenser system comprising, a sheet product dispenser portion, a first roller operative to apply a flowable product to a sheet product, a first flowable product dispenser operative to dispose a first flowable product on the first roller, a second flowable product dispenser operative to dispose a second flowable product on the first roller, and a controller operative to receive signals and control the sheet product dispenser system. 
         [0007]    These and other advantages and features will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention that is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Referring to the exemplary drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the accompanying Figures: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective partially cut-away view of an exemplary embodiment of a hand cleansing system. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are perspective partially cut-away views of an alternate embodiment of the hand cleansing system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective partially cut-away view of an alternate embodiment of flowable product dispensers. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a front cut-away view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a flowable product applicator. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a control system. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective partially cut-away view of another alternate embodiment of a hand cleansing system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Embodiments of sheet product dispenser systems are provided. 
         [0016]    In this regard, users often use flowable products such as, for example, soaps, antibacterial substances, and lotions when cleansing their hands. Some sheet product dispensers dispense sheet products that have a flowable product impregnated on the sheet product prior to installing the sheet product in the dispenser. One disadvantage of this type of dispenser is that a sheet product cannot be dispensed that does not include the flowable product. Additionally, the type of flowable product cannot be changed without changing the sheet product. 
         [0017]    Applying the flowable product to the sheet product while the sheet product is being dispensed, also allows a dispenser to dispense a number of types of flowable products on a sheet product that may be selected by a user. For example, a user may elect to receive sheet product having no flowable product. Alternatively, a user may elect to receive a sheet product having a flowable product. If the system includes more than one flowable liquid, a user may elect to receive a sheet product having either or both flowable products. 
         [0018]    The term “sheet products” as used herein is inclusive of natural and/or synthetic cloth or paper sheets. Sheet products may include both woven and non-woven articles. There are a wide variety of nonwoven processes and they can be either wetlaid or drylaid. Some examples include hydroentangled (sometimes called spunlace), DRC (double re-creped), airlaid, spunbond, carded, paper towel, and meltblown sheet products. Further, sheet products may contain fibrous cellulosic materials that may be derived from natural sources, such as wood pulp fibers, as well as other fibrous material characterized by having hydroxyl groups attached to the polymer backbone. These include glass fibers and synthetic fibers modified with hydroxyl groups. Examples of sheet products include, but are not limited to, wipers, napkins, tissues, rolls, towels or other fibrous, film, polymer, or filamentary products. 
         [0019]    In general sheet products are thin in comparison to their length and breadth and exhibit a relatively flat planar configuration and be flexible to permit folding, rolling, stacking, and the like. The sheet product may have perforations extending in lines across its width to separate individual sheets and facilitate separation or tearing of individual sheets from the roll at discrete intervals. Individual sheets may be sized as desired to accommodate the many uses of the sheet products. For example, perforation lines may be formed every 13 inches to define a universally sized sheet. Multiple perforation lines may be provided to allow the user to select the size of sheet depending on the particular need. 
         [0020]    While reference is made herein to soap, antibacterial substance or lotion, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not so limited, and extends to other flowable products, such as liquid soap, foam, gel, lotion, detergent, or any other flowable product capable of being dispensed from a dispenser, for example. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective partially cut-away view of an exemplary embodiment of a sheet product dispenser system  100  ( FIG. 2 ). The sheet product dispenser system  100  includes a sheet product  105  a sheet product dispenser portion  109  having a motor  102 , a flowable product dispenser  107  storing a first flowable product  103 , a flowable product applicator  113 , a first roller  101  and a second roller  115 . The sheet product  105  has an applied flowable product portion  111 . The sheet product dispenser system  100  also includes, a controller  106  communicatively linked to the flowable product dispenser  107 , the motor  102 , control switches  118 , and sensors  120  ( 108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  127 , and  116 ). The sensors  120  may be infrared sensors, laser sensors, capacitive sensors, or any other sensor that may determine the proximity of an object, such as but not limited to a hand for example. The controller  106  may include, for example, a processor or an electronic circuit operative to send and receive signals and control the sheet product dispenser system  100 . 
         [0022]    In operation the sheet product dispenser portion  109  may be mechanically operated by a user operating a mechanical linkage (not shown) or electro-mechanically operated via the motor  102 . The first sensor  108  is associated with dispensing the sheet product  105 . The second through fifth sensors  110 ,  112 ,  127 , and  116  are associated with dispensing the first flowable product  103 . If an object is placed proximate to one of the second through fifth sensors  110 ,  112 ,  127 , and  116 , a signal is sent to the controller  106  that controls a mechanical linkage  117  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) and valves  119  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). The controller  106  may also include switches that are operative to control a sheet length of the dispensed sheet product  105 , and a delay in dispensing the sheet product  105  and the first flowable product  103 . The controller  106  may also use switches to control the sheet product dispenser portion  109  and the flowable product dispenser  107 . 
         [0023]    If, for example, a user desires the sheet product  105  that includes a flowable product, the user first places an object proximate to the second sensor  110  that is associated with the flowable product dispenser  107 . The controller  106  receives the signal. Once the user places an object proximate to the first sensor  108  the controller  106  sends signals to the sheet product dispenser portion  109 . As the sheet product  105  is dispensed, the flowable product dispenser  107  disposes the first flowable product  103  onto the first roller  101  via the flowable product applicator  113 . In a dispensing mode, the second roller  115  engages the sheet product  105  such that the sheet product  105  engages the first roller  101 . The first roller  101  rotates, and the engagement of the first roller  101  and the sheet product  105  causes the first flowable product  103  to be transferred to the sheet product  105  resulting in the applied flowable product portion  111 . 
         [0024]    The illustrated embodiment includes three flowable product applicators  113  resulting in three applied flowable product portions  111 . Other embodiments may include more or less flowable product applicators  113  resulting in corresponding numbers of applied flowable product portions  111 . The control switches  118  may be used in combination with the sensors  120  or alone to operate the sheet product dispenser system  100  as described above. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 2 and 3  (with periodic reference to  FIG. 1 ) illustrate an alternate embodiment of the sheet product dispenser system  100 .  FIGS. 2 and 3  include the mechanical linkage  117  linked to the second roller  115 . In operation, the mechanical linkage  117  is operative to position the second roller  115  in a first position illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In the first position, the second roller  115  engages the sheet product  105  such that the sheet product  105  engages the first roller  101 . The mechanical linkage  117  is further operative to position the second roller  115  in a second position illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In the second position, the second roller  115 , engages the sheet product  105  such that the sheet product  105  disengages the first roller  101 . When the sheet product  105  disengages the first roller  101 , the first flowable product  103  is not transferred to the sheet product  105 . Thus, the sheet product  105  not having an applied flowable product may be dispensed. 
         [0026]    The mechanical linkage  117  may be mechanically actuated by a user, or may be electromechanically actuated when a signal from, for example, a switch or a sensor  120  is received by the controller  106 . In this regard, if, for example, a user places an object proximate to the first sensor  108 , the controller  106  receives a signal from the first sensor  108  and sends a signal to the mechanical linkage  117  to place the second roller  115  into the second position. The sheet product dispenser portion  109  may then dispense the sheet product  105  without the first flowable product  103 . Alternatively, the third sensor  112 , and the fourth sensor  127 , may be associated with the mechanical linkage  117  and may be operative to control the mechanical linkage  117  via the controller  106 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  illustrates an alternate embodiment of flowable product dispensers.  FIG. 4  includes a first flowable product dispenser  121  having a cavity that stores the first flowable product  103 .  FIG. 4  also includes a second flowable product dispenser  123  having a cavity that stores a second flowable product  104 . The illustrated flowable product dispensers  121  and  123  also include the flowable product applicators  113  and second flowable product applicators  114 . The first and second flowable product applicators  113  and  114  include openings  124  that engage valves  119 . In operation, the valves  119  control the deposition of the first and second flowable products  103  and  104  onto the first roller  101 . 
         [0028]    The valves  119  may be mechanically controlled by a user, or electromechanically actuated when the valves  119  receive a signal from the controller  106 . By opening and closing the valves  119  corresponding to the first and second flowable product applicators  113  and  114  one or both of the first and second flowable products  103  and  104  may be disposed onto the first roller  101 . The controller  106  may control the valves  119  after receiving signals from the sensors  120  ( FIG. 1 ) that are associated with the first and second flowable product applicators  113  and  114 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  illustrates an alternate embodiment of the flowable product applicator  113 . The flowable product applicator  113  includes a ball member  125  that engages an opening  124  in the flowable product applicator  113 . The flowable product applicator  113  engages the flowable product dispenser  107  that stores the first flowable product  103 . 
         [0030]    In operation during a dispensing mode, the ball member  125  contacts the first roller  101  and rotates as the first roller  101  rotates. The ball member  125  is operative to control the flow of the first flowable product  103  as it is disposed onto the first roller  101 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  (with periodic reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ) illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a control system  600  for the sheet product dispenser system  100 .  FIG. 6  includes sensors  120 ; the first sensor  108  associated with the sheet product dispenser portion  109 , the second sensor  110  associated with the first flowable product dispenser  121 , the third and a fourth sensors  112  and  127  associated with the mechanical linkage  117 , and the fifth sensor  116  associated with the second flowable product dispenser  123 . 
         [0032]    In operation the sensors  120  are operative to sense when an object, such as, for example, a hand is proximate to the sensors  120 . Upon sensing a proximate object, the sensors  120  output a signal to the controller  106 . For example, if a user desires the sheet product  105  without a flowable product, the user may place a hand proximate to the third sensor  112  that responsively sends a third signal to the controller  106  in signal communication with the mechanical linkage  117 . The mechanical linkage  117  receives a command responsive to the third signal and responsively moves the second roller  115  into the second position (of  FIG. 3 ) such that the sheet product  105  disengages from the first roller  101 . The user may then place a hand proximate to the first sensor  108  that sends a first signal to the controller  106  in signal communication with the sheet product dispenser portion  109 . The sheet product dispenser portion  109 , via a command responsive to the first signal, then may dispense the sheet product  105  without the first flowable product  103 . A fourth sensor  127  may be used to send a fourth signal to the controller  106  in signal communication with the mechanical linkage  117 , which in an embodiment is operative to return the second roller  115  to the first position (of  FIG. 2 ). The fourth sensor  127  may in some embodiments, not be included, and the mechanical linkage  117  may automatically return to the first position after the sheet product dispenser portion  109  has completed dispensing the sheet product  105 . 
         [0033]    The second sensor  110  is operative to send a second signal to the controller  106  that is operative to control the first flowable product dispenser  121 . The valves  119  (of  FIG. 4 ) may be actuated to open or close responsive to receiving a signal from the controller  106 . The fifth sensor  116  sends a fifth signal to the second flowable product dispenser  123  via the controller  106  that may actuate the valves  119  ( FIG. 4 ). Opening and closing the valves  119  may control the deposition of the first flowable product  103  and the second flowable product  104  onto the first roller  101 . Thus, a user may select whether either or both the first and second flowable products  103  and  104  are transferred onto the dispensed sheet product  105 . 
         [0034]    Another alternate embodiment of the sheet product dispenser system  100  is shown in  FIG. 7 . The embodiment of  FIG. 7  includes the first sensor  108  communicatively linked to the controller  106 . The controller  106  is communicatively linked to the motor  102  of the sheet product dispenser portion  109 , and the first flowable product dispenser  121  and the second flowable product dispenser  123 . The controller  106  may also be communicatively linked to the mechanical linkage  117  ( FIG. 6 ). The controller  106  includes switches that are operative to control the operation of the sheet product dispenser system  100 , including delays in the operation of the sheet product dispenser system  100  and the sheet length of the sheet product  105  dispensed by the sheet product dispenser portion  109 . 
         [0035]    In operation, the first sensor  108  sends a signal to the controller  106  when an object is proximate to the first sensor  108 . The controller  106  controls the sheet product dispenser system  100  such that the first flowable product dispenser  121  and the second flowable product dispenser  123  dispense one or a combination of flowable products. The controller  106  also controls the sheet product dispenser portion  109  that may dispense the sheet product  105 . The controller  106  may also control the mechanical linkage  117  ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0036]    The exemplary operation of the sensors  120  described above is not limiting, and embodiments of the sheet product dispenser system  100  may include any combination of sensors  120 , or push-button type control switches  118  that are productive of the aforementioned signals depending on a user&#39;s preference. 
         [0037]    By engaging or disengaging the sheet product  105  from the first roller  101 , the sheet product dispenser system  100  may dispense the sheet product  105  with or without the first flowable product  103 . Embodiments of the sheet product dispenser system  100  that include two flowable product dispensers allow the dispenser to dispense two types of flowable products. Embodiments including the valves  119  allow either or both types of flowable products to be transferred onto the dispensed sheet product  105 . A system of sensors, buttons, switches, or mechanical linkages or any combination thereof may be used to operate the embodiments described above. 
         [0038]    While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best or only mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.