Patent Description:
This disclosure generally relates to dispensers for dispensing consumable products.

Systems dispensing consumable products are ubiquitous in many environments today. For example, paper hand towel dispensers are commonplace in many private, semi-private and public washrooms, work areas, food processing stations and kitchens such as the dispenser disclosed in document <CIT>.

Many such dispensers are automated or motorized in that the dispenser feeds out a length of paper to the user without the user having to manually pull the paper from the dispenser. However, some users prefer to pull the paper from the dispenser and these motorized dispensers don't readily allow such a manual pull. It would be desirable to enable motorized dispensers to dispense both automatically and manually.

In general, the subject matter of this specification relates to a dispenser, e.g., a paper product dispenser such as a paper towel dispenser or a bath tissue dispenser. One aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented in a dispenser according to claim <NUM> for dispensing consumable product comprising: a consumable product holding area configured to store the consumable product within the dispenser; a dispensing mechanism having a spindle configured to hold and rotate the consumable product to facilitate a dispensing cycle to dispense a portion of the consumable product; and a motor having piezoelectric elements configured to (i) frictionally couple to the spindle to rotate the spindle in a first direction during a first motor state and (ii) uncouple from the spindle during a second motor state to allow the spindle to freely spin. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding methods, apparatus, and computer program products.

One aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented in a method according to claim <NUM> that includes sensing a request to dispense the consumable product; in response to sensing the request, instructing a motor, having a piezoelectric element, to enter a first motor state to frictionally couple the piezoelectric element to a spindle in the dispenser to rotate the spindle in a first direction; determining an end to the first motor state; and in response to determining the end, instructing the motor to enter a third motor state to frictionally couple the piezoelectric element to the spindle to resist rotation of the spindle. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.

For example, traditional electronic (also referred to as motorized) dispensers don't readily allow a user to manually grab a tail of paper product exposed from the dispenser and pull out paper product as the motor is not energized and resists rotating thereby inhibiting the manual pull. The dispenser described herein uses a piezoelectric motor that can be configured to allow freewheeling (e.g., low or no resistant rotating). This allows a user to manually pull out a length of towel, e.g., for example, when the dispenser is not powered, for example, when the dispenser's battery has been depleted or when a user simply desires a manual pull, while still allowing full motorized dispenses without reconfiguring the dispenser. Further, the piezoelectric motors are generally more power efficient than brushed DC motors used in traditional dispensers. Additionally, piezoelectric motors have a smaller form factor as compared to such DC motors, which provides flexibility in allowing dispenser designers flexibility in placing piezoelectric motors in dispensers and enables smaller overall dispensers.

The dispensers described herein can also enable a specified amount of rolled product to be dispensed (e.g., either through a motorized dispense cycle or through a manual user pull) and then the motor, through its piezoelectric elements, can prevent the rolled product from further unrolling by, for example, engaging and locking the spindle on which the rolled product is supported or rollers through which the product is routed, to cause the rolled product sheet to tear after the specified amount of product has been dispensed. This provides for portion control use of the rolled product by allowing only a certain amount of product to be dispensed during one cycle, as opposed to a user being able to wastefully dispense too much product and unnecessarily deplete the dispenser.

Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the disclosure.

The present disclosure relates to a dispenser utilizing a piezoelectric motor. For example, a rolled paper towel dispenser or bath tissue dispenser can have a piezoelectric motor that can be configured to operate in multiple states to allow custom dispensing operations not generally available on traditional dispensers. In some implementations, the motor can be configured to dispense a prescribed amount of rolled paper product and still allow the user to manually pull additional paper product from the roll, after the automatic dispense cycle, to obtain the amount of product desired by the user.

In other implementations, the motor can be configured to dispense a prescribed amount of rolled paper product and then lock the roll spindle, or otherwise inhibit rotation of the roll, such that after the prescribed amount of paper has been dispensed the user cannot manually pull additional product from the roll, e.g., until after a certain time period. In other implementations, the motor can be configured to freewheel to allow the user to manually pull product from the roll and then change states to prevent the roll from further spinning to limit the amount of product the user can dispense. In this later case, As the motor is not driving the roll to dispense product, this provides an efficient way to dispense product while still limiting excessive and wasteful product use.

Dispensers with one or more of these functionalities are described in more detail below with referenced to <FIG>, which is a right side cutaway representation of an example product dispenser <NUM>, and <FIG>, which is a right side cutaway representation of a second example product dispenser.

The dispenser <NUM> can be, for example, a hand towel dispenser <NUM>, bath tissue dispenser <NUM>, or another rolled product dispenser such as a wiper dispenser. The dispenser <NUM>, more generally, is a device that holds rolled consumable product and dispenses the consumable product (at least partly through a motorized process including inhibiting dispensing) in response to a stimulus, e.g., a user proximity stimulus or a user pull. The dispenser <NUM> includes a body <NUM> or outer cover or case <NUM>, e.g., a composite, polymeric or metal housing. The outer cover <NUM> encloses, fully or partially, a product holding area <NUM> or interior <NUM> of the dispenser <NUM>. The product holding area <NUM> holds, for example, the product-to-be-dispensed <NUM> (e.g., paper towels, bath tissue, wipes/wipers, etc.) by the dispenser <NUM> and one or more electrical or mechanical components used to enable the dispense process such as a motor, batteries, rollers, sensors to determine when a user requests a dispense, etc., as described in more detail below.

In some implementations, the dispenser <NUM> includes a processing device or apparatus <NUM>. Alternatively if the processing device/apparatus <NUM> is remote to the dispenser <NUM>, the dispenser can include a transceiver to wirelessly communicate with the processing device <NUM>. The dispenser <NUM> can be located in, for example, a private, semi-private or public washroom, break room or kitchen, or clean room or other work station area.

The dispenser <NUM> also includes a dispensing mechanism <NUM>. The dispensing mechanism <NUM> operates to facilitate dispensing a portion of the consumable product <NUM> from the holding area <NUM> (e.g., dispense a length of roll <NUM> for use to dry hands). In some implementations, for example, for rolled paper towels or wipers or bath tissue, the dispensing mechanism <NUM> is an electromechanical feed mechanism that includes or operates in conjunction with a motor <NUM> that, in response to a stimulus such as a user waving a hand proximate the dispenser <NUM>, feeds a length of the roll <NUM> through an opening <NUM> in the body <NUM> to present to the user. For example, the dispensing mechanism <NUM> can include one or more rollers <NUM> through which a portion of the roll <NUM> is feed such that when the dispensing mechanism <NUM> actuates it pulls and unwinds the roll <NUM> (or causes the roll <NUM> to be pulled and unwound) to feed a portion of the roll <NUM> to the user. The rollers <NUM>, for example, can include a knife or other cutting mechanism (e.g., a spring loaded mechanism) that cuts or perforates the sheet of paper <NUM> at the end of a dispenser <NUM> to enable the user to easily tear the cut sheet from the rest of the roll <NUM>.

In some implementations, the motor <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, can be integral to or proximate the roll holder <NUM> and causes a spindle <NUM> (e.g., on which the rolled product <NUM> is mounted) to turn thereby causing the roll <NUM> to unwind and be dispensed. In other implementations, as shown in <FIG>, the motor <NUM> can be proximate or integral to the roller <NUM> and cause the roller <NUM> to turn thereby drawing product off the roll <NUM> and dispensing it through the opening <NUM>. The motor <NUM> is described below in more detail with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

The motor <NUM> includes piezoelectric elements <NUM>. A piezoelectric element <NUM> is a material that changes shape in response to the application of electric potential (e.g., voltage) across the material. For example, M ICROMO Inc. of Clearwater, Florida, sells piezoelectric element-based motors including the Piezo LEGS motor.

In some implementations, the motor <NUM> can, through it elements <NUM>, either directly engage the side or end portions of the spindle <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>) or rollers <NUM> or indirectly engage those devices <NUM>, <NUM> through gears or other intermediary components to rotate the roll <NUM> to dispense product.

<FIG> are representations of portions of a first example motor <NUM> from the perspective <NUM> in <FIG>. In this implementation, <FIG> shows the motor <NUM> including two sets of piezoelectric elements 125a and 125b, and shows the spindle <NUM>. Each set 125a, b can include one or more elements <NUM>. The motor <NUM> can energize (e.g., apply voltage across) the two sets of elements <NUM> separately (or together) such that the motor <NUM> can energize only the elements 125a or only the elements 125b or can energize both sets of elements 125a, b simultaneously. <FIG> illustrates the piezoelectric elements <NUM> (and motor <NUM>) in a second motor state where the elements <NUM> are uncoupled from or not engaging the spindle <NUM>. In some implementations the motor <NUM> is in the second state when no power is applied to the motor <NUM>. Further, in some implementations, the second motor state can include (i) no power applied to the motor <NUM> and (ii) some power applied to the motor <NUM> but not enough to cause the elements <NUM> to engage and rotate (or hold) the spindle <NUM>. During the second motor state the spindle <NUM> (and thus the roll <NUM>) can freely spin/freewheel, as would occur if a user manually pulls the tail of the roll <NUM> out through opening <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the motor <NUM> energizing elements 125b, which causes the elements 125b to extend up and to the right, from their resting state in <FIG>, to engage and push/rotate the spindle <NUM> in the first (e.g., clockwise) direction <NUM> about the spindle's longitudinal axis <NUM>. The motor <NUM> is not energizing the elements 125a in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows the motor <NUM> energizing elements 125a, which causes the elements 125a to extend up and to the right, from their resting state in <FIG>, to engage and push/rotate the spindle <NUM> in the clockwise direction <NUM>. The motor <NUM> is not energizing the elements 125b in <FIG>, which causes the elements 125b to contract to their resting state (e.g., shown in <FIG>) from their energized state in <FIG>. The motor <NUM> is in the first motor state when oscillating (alternating) between energizing elements 125a and 125b, which causes the spindle <NUM> to continuously rotate.

<FIG> shows the motor <NUM> in a third motor state having both elements 125a, b frictionally coupled to (e.g., engage) the spindle <NUM> to resist rotation of the spindle <NUM>. To frictionally engage means that one or more elements <NUM> are in physical contact with the spindle <NUM> (or roller <NUM>) and exert enough force against the spindle <NUM> (or roller <NUM>) to use friction at the point(s) of contact to allow movement of the elements to correspondingly push (e.g., rotate) the spindle <NUM> (or roller <NUM>) in the first motor state and resist rotation in the third motor state. In some implementations, such frictional engagement can include some (but not complete) slippage between the element(s) <NUM> and the spindle <NUM> (or roller <NUM>) such that not all of the motive (or resisting) force of the elements <NUM> is transferred to the spindle <NUM> (or roller <NUM>). In some implantations, the third motor state includes only one set of elements 125a or b being engaged to the spindle <NUM> to resist rotation.

In some implementations, the motor <NUM> is a normally free motor such that when it is not powered, the elements <NUM> are not energized and do not engage the spindle <NUM>. In this case, the third motor state occurs with the elements 125a, b energized (e.g., in a constant, extended state).

Although one type of element <NUM> was described with reference to <FIG>, the motor <NUM> can be configured with other types of elements <NUM>, for example, as described with reference to <FIG> is a first representation of a portion of a second example motor <NUM>, <FIG> is a second representation of a portion of the second example motor <NUM>, and <FIG> is a third representation of a portion of the second example motor <NUM>. Similar to the elements <NUM> in <FIG> (and from the same perspective <NUM>) the element <NUM> in <FIG> is positioned toward a periphery of the spindle <NUM> (or roller <NUM>), e.g., offset from axis <NUM>. In operation, the motor <NUM> energizes the element <NUM> to cause the element <NUM> to extend, as shown in <FIG>. This extension causes the element <NUM> to frictionally engage the spindle <NUM> to cause the spindle <NUM> to rotate about its axis <NUM> (and thus rotate the roll <NUM>). Next the motor <NUM> de-energizes (e.g., removes or lessens the voltage across the element <NUM>) the element <NUM> such that the element <NUM> contracts, as shown in <FIG>. During this contraction stage the distal end of the element <NUM>, i.e., the end in contact with the spindle <NUM>, deforms or is otherwise allowed to slide back without enough friction against the spindle <NUM> to cause rotation or only cause minimal rotation (e.g., less rotation then cause by the extension in <FIG>). In other words, during the contraction phase the element <NUM> is not frictionally engaged to the spindle <NUM>. Repeating this extension and contraction process enables the roll <NUM> to be unwound.

As described above, the dispenser <NUM> can be a rolled paper towel dispenser <NUM>. Some such dispensers include a dispensing sensor (not pictured) near the opening <NUM> or otherwise on the front cover of the dispenser <NUM>. The sensor may be, for example, a heat sensor, motion sensor, proximity sensor (e.g., an infrared sensor) or the like to detect the presence of a user in relatively close proximity to the dispenser <NUM>. In response to detecting a user (e.g., a user's hand(s) near the opening <NUM>), the sensor generates a trigger signal that actuates the motor <NUM> to initiate a dispense to rotate the spindle <NUM> (or roller <NUM>) to unroll a portion of the roll <NUM> and present a length of the paper through the opening <NUM> for the user to use.

In some implementations, the operating states of the motor <NUM>, e.g., the first, second and third states, can be further described with reference to this example paper hand towel dispenser <NUM>. For example, in response to the trigger signal from the sensor, the motor <NUM> enters the first motor state to rotate the spindle <NUM> by energizing the elements <NUM>. The first motor state can last for a dispense cycle that is a predetermined time period (e.g., <NUM> seconds) or until a predetermined length of paper towels has been dispensed (e.g., <NUM> inches). The first motor state ends after the dispense cycle. The dispenser <NUM> can have consecutive first motor states, for example, as might occur if the user wanted more paper towels after the first dispense and triggered the sensor immediately after the previous dispense cycle.

Subsequent the first motor state, the motor <NUM> can enter the second motor state, which can be the default motor state of the dispenser <NUM> during periods when the motor <NUM> is not activated for a dispense cycle. For example, after a user initiates a dispense cycle and dries his/her hands, the motor <NUM> enters the second motor state during which the elements <NUM> are not engaged to the spindle <NUM>, which allows the spindle <NUM> and roll <NUM> to spin freely. In addition to being the resting state of the motor <NUM>, the second motor state also allows a user to manually pull an exposed tail of the roll <NUM> to unwind the roll <NUM> during a manual dispense, i.e., a dispense during which the motor <NUM> is not activated. For example, without triggering the sensor, if a user wants additional paper towels the user can unwind the roll <NUM> until the desired sheet length has been dispensed. Further, if the motor <NUM> is not receiving power, e.g., the motor's battery is dead, a user can still obtain paper towels from the dispenser <NUM>, which a user could not readily do with conventional motorized dispensers.

The operation of the dispenser <NUM> can also be described with reference to a bath tissue dispenser <NUM> and <FIG>, which is an example process <NUM> for operating a dispenser <NUM>. For example, many conventional bath tissue dispensers are not motorized and do not provide a restriction on the amount of bath tissue a user can pull at once (as many users use excessive amounts of tissue which prematurely depletes the dispenser resulting in higher costs to the building owner in the form of additional bath tissue and more service calls to the washroom to refill the dispenser <NUM>). As described below the dispenser <NUM> can address both of these deficiencies.

A request to dispense is sensed (<NUM>). For example, a proximity sensor of the dispenser <NUM> senses a user (e.g., a user's hand) in close proximity to the (opening <NUM>) of the dispenser <NUM> indicating the user is requesting a dispense.

In response to the request, the motor is instructed to enter the first motor state (<NUM>). For example, the dispenser <NUM> causes the motor <NUM> to enter the first motor state to cause the spindle <NUM> to rotate to dispense bath tissue to the user. During the first motor state the motor <NUM> energizes the elements <NUM> to cause the spindle <NUM> to rotate.

An end to the first motor state is determined (<NUM>). For example, the dispenser <NUM> determines an end to the first motor state based on the expiration of an administrator-specified (i) time period from the time the motor <NUM> entered the first motor state, (ii) number of rotations of the roll <NUM> or (iii) length of sheet <NUM> dispensed ("Trigger Events"). These Trigger Events are directed to prevent the user from unwinding an unlimited amount of bath tissue, which prevents excessive and wasteful use of the product <NUM> and premature depletion of the dispenser <NUM>.

In response to determining the end of the first motor state, the motor is instructed to enter the third motor state (<NUM>). For example, in response to the dispenser <NUM> determining an end to the first motor state, the dispenser <NUM> instructs the motor <NUM> to enter the third motor state, which causes the elements <NUM> to prevent or discourage the spindle <NUM> from rotating and, thus, the roll <NUM> from further unwinding. This has the effect of, for example, limiting the amount of bath tissue the user can withdrawal from the dispenser <NUM>-if the user keeps pulling but the motor <NUM> is preventing the roll <NUM> from unwinding then the sheet the user is holding will break/tear off from the remainder of the roll <NUM>. This avoids excessive and wasteful use of the product <NUM>.

In some implementations, after step <NUM> (e.g., <NUM> or <NUM> seconds after motor <NUM> enters the third motor state), the dispenser <NUM> can reset to step <NUM> to allow the user to obtain additional product <NUM>, as needed. Because a user has to repeatedly go through cycles of withdrawing more product <NUM>, instead of being able to unwind large portions of product at one time, as would be possible without process <NUM>, the user's use of the product <NUM> is moderated. Although this process <NUM> has been described in the context of a bath tissue dispenser <NUM>, it is also applicable to other types of rolled product dispensers <NUM>.

In some implementations, the dispenser <NUM> does not enter the first motor state (step <NUM>) but rather defaults to and is in the second motor state allowing the user to manually pull bath tissue from the dispenser <NUM>. For example, if the dispenser <NUM> is configured not to automatically dispense product <NUM> and/or does not have a sensor to detect a user dispense request, the motor <NUM> can default to the second motor state. Thus after a user begins to pull product from the roll <NUM>, which rotates the spindle <NUM>, the dispenser <NUM> detects such rotation, e.g., through an optical or wheel type sensor, and after a designated Trigger Event instructs the motor <NUM> to enter the third motor state (e.g., step <NUM>) to moderate product <NUM> usage.

Implementations of the subject matter and the operations described in this specification can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. Implementations of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented as one or more computer programs, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions, encoded on computer storage medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus.

The term "data processing apparatus" encompasses all kinds of apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including by way of example a programmable processor, a computer, a system on a chip, or multiple ones, or combinations, of the foregoing The apparatus can include special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).

In some embodiments, a server transmits data (e.g., an HTML page) to a user computer (e.g., for purposes of displaying data to and receiving user input from a user interacting with the user computer). Data generated at the user computer (e.g., a result of the user interaction) can be received from the user computer at the server.

While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed.

Claim 1:
A dispenser (<NUM>) for dispensing consumable product (<NUM>) comprising:
a consumable product holding area (<NUM>) configured to store the consumable product within the dispenser;
a dispensing mechanism (<NUM>) having a spindle (<NUM>) configured to hold and rotate the consumable product to facilitate a dispensing cycle to dispense a portion of the consumable product; and
a motor (<NUM>) having piezoelectric elements (<NUM>, 125a, 125b) configured to (i) frictionally couple to the spindle to rotate the spindle in a first direction during a first motor state, and to:
(ii) uncouple from the spindle during a second motor state to allow the spindle to freely spin, and/or
(iii) frictionally couple to the spindle to resist rotation of the spindle during a third motor state.