Patent Description:
Systems dispensing consumable products are common in many environments today. For example, consumable product dispensers, e.g., paper hand towel dispensers, are used in many private, semi-private and public washrooms, break rooms, kitchens and work spaces. Given this widespread adoption, it's desirable to ensure the dispensers are easy to load with product to reduce maintenance overhead/burden and ensure smooth operation after the loading process.

<CIT> discloses a paper product dispenser.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper product dispenser in accordance with claim <NUM>.

In general, the subject matter of this specification relates to a paper product dispenser for rolled products such as rolled hand towels. One aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented in systems that include a paper product dispenser comprising a housing comprising a front, a back, two sides, a product holding area defined by the front, back and two sides, and a dispenser throat defining an opening through the housing; a support device configured to support a rolled product in the product holding area, wherein the rolled product has a tail; a motor operatively coupled to the rolled product and configured to rotate the rolled product in at least one of a first direction and a second direction; and a feed mechanism having a first side opening and a second side opening different from the first side opening, wherein both the first side opening and the second side opening are different from the dispenser throat, and wherein the first side opening is configured to accept the tail of the rolled product when the rolled product has a first orientation and is rotated in the first direction and the second side opening is configured to accept the tail of the product when the rolled product has a second orientation and is rotated in the second direction. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding apparatus and methods.

Yet another aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented in a method including rotating a rolled product to feed a tail of the rolled product into a feed mechanism having a first side opening and a second side opening different from the first side opening, wherein the first side opening is configured to accept the tail of the rolled product when the rolled product has a first orientation and rotated in the first direction and the second side opening is configured to accept the tail of the product when the rolled product has a second orientation and is rotated in the second direction. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding apparatus and systems.

Traditional loading of a paper towel roll or bath tissue roll into a respective electronic dispenser required threading the tail of the roll through a set or series of rollers. This threading often required the service attendant to push the tail into rollers and then advance the tail through the rollers (e.g., through actuation of the dispenser motor) and out through the dispenser throat for user access. If the tail was not evenly threaded into the rollers the skewed tail may prematurely tear when advanced by the motor or cause jams during the dispensing process. Further, for such traditional dispensers, other dispensing errors can occur if the roll is loaded into the dispenser backwards, e.g., the roll is loaded in the dispenser to unwind counterclockwise when the dispenser is configured to unwind the roll in a clockwise direction or vis-a-versa.

The feed mechanism described herein reduces the likelihood that a roll tail is feed into the dispenser askew as it automates the tail feeding process to eliminate service attendant feeding errors while simultaneously saving the attendants' time as they no longer need to perform this step. Further, the feed mechanism can accommodate the roll loaded for either the clockwise or counterclockwise unwinding configuration, which avoids problems stemming from a roll being loaded in the wrong configuration in traditional dispensers.

The present disclosure generally relates to a rolled paper product dispenser that includes an automatic roll (tail) feeding mechanism.

In some implementations, the dispenser includes a feed mechanism that is biased against the periphery of an installed roll. The feed mechanism has a first side opening and a second side opening. The first side opening can accept a tail of the roll when the roll is installed and unwound in a first direction (e.g., unwound in a clockwise direction) and the second side opening can accept the tail when the roll is installed and unwound in a second direction (e.g., unwound in a counterclockwise direction).

In operation, after the roll has been installed, a motor in the dispenser will rotate the roll and the feed mechanism will pick the tail off the periphery of the rotating roll, regardless of whether the roll is rotating in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and facilitate feeding the tail towards the discharge path (e.g., exit of the dispenser) for access by a user. The dispenser is described in more detail below with reference to <FIG>, which is a representation of an example product dispenser <NUM>, <FIG>, which is a representation of an example product dispenser <NUM> with rolled product <NUM>, and <FIG>, which is a side view of a representation of a cutaway of an example dispenser <NUM>.

The dispenser <NUM> can be, for example, a hand towel dispenser <NUM>, or the like, e.g., bath tissue or wipes/wipers, for rolled paper products <NUM>. A paper product describes sheet materials made from cellulose fibers (e.g., wood pulp), synthetic fibers (e.g., polypropylene) or some combination thereof, and include, for example, bath tissue, paper towels and wipes/wipers including made from woven and nowoven technologies. A rolled product is a product that is wound around a core <NUM> or center axis <NUM>, e.g., the axis around which the paper product <NUM> is wound.

The dispenser <NUM> includes a body or housing <NUM>, e.g., a composite or metal housing, with an outer surface, e.g., an exterior surface of the body <NUM>. The dispenser <NUM> also includes a product holding area <NUM> to hold the rolled product <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the dispenser <NUM> is illustrated with the front cover <NUM> of the body <NUM> opened to show the product holding area <NUM>.

The product holding area <NUM> is a space or cavity within the body <NUM> in which the product <NUM> can be positioned for dispensing, and can be accessed, for example, by rotating the front cover <NUM> (only partially shown in the figures) away from the back cover <NUM> (e.g., the wall mounted portion) by a hinge or the like. In some implementations, the front cover <NUM> or the front surface of the front cover <NUM> can be attached to the remainder of the dispenser body <NUM>, for example, through magnetic forces (e.g., magnetics on/in the front cover <NUM>) a friction or mechanical interference fit such as detents, or tracks or slots to slide the front cover <NUM> on or off.

The body <NUM> includes a dispenser throat <NUM> defining an opening through the body <NUM>. The dispenser throat <NUM> provides an outlet through which dispensed paper 102a can exit the dispenser <NUM> for use by a user. In some implementations, the dispenser throat <NUM> is located proximate the bottom side of the dispenser <NUM>.

The dispenser <NUM> includes a support device <NUM> to support the rolled product <NUM> in the product holding area <NUM>. In some implementations, support device <NUM> includes a first spindle arm 116a (e.g., close to the front cover <NUM> when closed) and a second spindle arm 116b (e.g., close to the back cover <NUM>) in the product holding area <NUM>. In combination, the first and second spindles 116a, b are used to hold the rolled product (also referred to as the roll) <NUM> along its periphery, as shown in <FIG> and rotate to facilitate unwinding the roll <NUM> for dispensing to a user. The spindle arms 116a, b are positioned between the dispenser sides <NUM> e.g., on arms proximate or attached to the sides <NUM>. Each spindle arm 116a, b, in some implementations, includes a roller or other rotation member that rotates along with (or drives) the unwinding of the roll <NUM>. In some implementations, the spindle arms 116a, b do not rotate. In this case, for example, the rolled product <NUM> can rotate in place (held and supported by the spindle arms 116a, b) in response to a user pull on an exposed portion (e.g., tail 102a) of the product <NUM>.

The spaced relation of the spindle arms 116a, b, in some implementations, is substantially parallel to each other in the horizontal plane, e.g., both are in or near the horizontal plane. But, more generally, as used herein, spaced relation means that the two spindle arms 116a, b are positioned relative to each other to allow a roll <NUM> to rest on them and not fall off from gravity, and placed no further apart than the diameter of the roll <NUM>. In some implementations, other support devices can additionally or alternatively be used to support and/or hold the roll <NUM>, as described below.

In some implementations, the support device <NUM>, e.g., instead of the spindle arms 116a, b, includes a core support mechanism (not pictured). The core support mechanism can be a core spindle (or rod) that extends through the core <NUM> generally along the center axis <NUM> and is supported on both the left and right side of the dispenser <NUM> (e.g., on cradles affixed to the sides <NUM> of the dispenser <NUM>). In these implementations, the core support mechanism is removable to allow it to be inserted into the core <NUM> of the roll <NUM> and then placed, for example, in the cradles. In these implementations either or both the core support mechanism and the roll <NUM> can rotate.

In some implementations, the support device <NUM> includes support arms that extend from either side (e.g., sides <NUM>) of the dispenser <NUM> and engage the core <NUM> of the roll <NUM> on each respective side to hold the roll <NUM> in the product holding area <NUM>. For example, the arms include nubs or other extensions that at least partially insert (e.g., project) into the core <NUM> on either side of the roll <NUM> to hold it. The arms are semi-rigid such that they can be flexed apart to allow the roll <NUM> to be placed in between and then released to "pinch" the roll and rotatably hold the roll <NUM>.

The dispenser <NUM> includes a motor (not pictured). The motor is coupled to the rolled product <NUM> and operates to rotate the rolled product <NUM> in at least one of a first direction (e.g., clockwise) or a second direction (e.g., counterclockwise). The motor can be coupled to the roll <NUM>, for example, through the first and second spindle arms 116a, b or the core support mechanism (or through roller pair <NUM>, <NUM>, as described below). In such implementations the motor turns the spindle arms 116a, b (one or both), core support mechanism, or one or both rollers <NUM>, <NUM>, (e.g., through gears, belts, or another type of transmission or direct coupling) to rotate (e.g., unwind) the roll <NUM>.

In some implementations, the dispenser <NUM> includes a proximity sensor (e.g., IR sensor) that detects a user movement, for example, in front of the dispenser <NUM> or in the vicinity of the throat <NUM>, to indicate a user requesting a dispense. Upon such detection, for example, the motor actuates and causes the roll <NUM> to unwind and advance a portion of the roll <NUM> through the throat <NUM> to the user.

The dispenser <NUM> includes a feed mechanism <NUM>. The feed mechanism gathers the tail of the roll <NUM> to properly feed it into the dispenser <NUM> for dispensing (e.g., as would be required when a new roll <NUM> is inserted into the dispenser <NUM> or after the dispenser <NUM> has been serviced and a partially depleted roll <NUM> needs to be re-inserted into the dispenser <NUM>). Generally, the tail 102a of the roll <NUM> refers to the free end of the roll <NUM>, i.e., the end portion of the roll <NUM> available to be unwound from the remainder of the roll <NUM>.

The feed mechanism <NUM> has a first side opening <NUM> and a second side opening <NUM> different from the first side opening <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, which are side views of a representation of a cutaway of an example feed mechanism <NUM>. Both the first side opening <NUM> and the second side opening <NUM> are different from that dispenser throat <NUM>. In some implementations, the feed mechanism <NUM>, for example, spans the width of the roll <NUM> and/or dispenser (e.g., from side-to-side <NUM> of the dispenser body <NUM>). In other implementations, the feed mechanism is only partially spans the width of the roll <NUM>. The feed mechanism <NUM> can be supported, for example, by support structures attached to (i) one or both sides <NUM>, (ii) the inside of the front cover <NUM> such that when the front cover <NUM> is closed the feed mechanism <NUM> is pressed against the roll <NUM> or (ii) the front lower support <NUM>.

Regardless of the particular support system, the feed mechanism <NUM> is positioned against the periphery of roll <NUM> when in use. For example, the feed mechanism <NUM> is positioned to engage the periphery portion of the roll <NUM> proximate: the front cover <NUM> when closed, the front lower support <NUM>, the bottom or top of the roll <NUM>, or the portion of the roll <NUM> proximate the back cover <NUM>.

In operation, the first side opening <NUM> accepts the tail 102a of the rolled product <NUM> when the rolled product <NUM> has a first orientation and is rotated in the first direction. For example, the first side opening <NUM> accepts the tail 102a when the roll <NUM> is unwound in a clockwise direction (i.e., the first direction when in the first orientation). And the second side opening <NUM> accepts the tail 102a of the rolled product <NUM> when the rolled product <NUM> has a second orientation and is rotated in the second direction. For example, the second side opening <NUM> accepts the tail 102a when the roll <NUM> is unwound in a counterclockwise direction (i.e., the second direction when in the second orientation). The particular orientation of the roll <NUM> is set by the design of a given dispenser <NUM>, but in either orientation and unwind direction, the feed mechanism <NUM> can grab the tail 102a as the roll <NUM> is rotated, e.g., through an actuation of the motor(s). Generally, roll orientation refers to the tail 102a pointing in the direction of roll <NUM> rotation/direction.

To encourage the tail 102a to route into one of the first or second side openings <NUM>, <NUM> as the roll <NUM> rotates, the feed mechanism <NUM>, in some implementations, includes a feed head <NUM> slidably attached to a feed mechanism body <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, which is an expanded view of a representation of a cutaway of an example feed mechanism <NUM>. In some implementations, the feed head <NUM> is movably attached to the feed mechanism body <NUM> through a biasing device <NUM>, such as, for example, a spring <NUM>, to bias the feed head <NUM> against the surface periphery of the roll <NUM>. Relative to the feed head <NUM>, the feed mechanism body <NUM> is stationary. As such, when the tail 102a encounters the feed head <NUM> the tail 102a is picked up from the surface of the roll <NUM> and directed into the appropriate first or second side opening <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, <FIG> shows the tail 102a being directed into the first side opening <NUM> and <FIG> shows the tail 102a being directed into the second side opening <NUM>. Initially, the tail 102a is pushed into and at least partially through the appropriate opening <NUM>, <NUM> by the force from the rotating roll <NUM>.

In some implementations, the feed mechanism <NUM> includes a feed puller <NUM>, e.g., an electromechanical device, having two opposing feed rollers 150a, b. The opposing feed rollers 150a, b rotate in coordination (e.g., by pinching the tail 102a between the feed rollers 150a, b) to pull the tail 120a through the appropriate first or second side opening <NUM>, <NUM>. More particularly, the rotational force of the roll <NUM> pushes the tail 102a to the opposing feed rollers 150a, b and then the opposing feed rollers 150a, b provide the force (or additional force) to direct the tail along the discharge path to the throat <NUM>. The opposing feed rollers 150a, b can be, for example, actuated in concert with the motor such that when (e.g., and as long as) the motor actuates the opposing feed rollers 150a, b also actuate (e.g., rotate). This actuation causes the feed roller 150a to turn in a counterclockwise direction and feed roller 150b to turn in a clockwise direction.

To prevent, for example, the tail 102a bunching up in the openings <NUM>, <NUM>, the feed puller <NUM> (e.g., opposing feed rollers 150a, b) rotate(s) at a first rate, the motor rotates the rolled product <NUM> at a second rate, and the first rate is greater than the second rate. For example, the rate (e.g., length per unit time) at which the paper <NUM> is pulled by the opposing feed rollers 150a, b is five (or ten) percent faster than the rate (e.g., length per unit time) of the rolled product <NUM> being unwound by the motor. For example, the roll <NUM> can be rotated at a rate of <NUM> inch/second and the feed mechanism <NUM> cause the feed rollers 150a, b to rotate at a rate of <NUM> inch/second. This differential helps to mitigate any bunching and jam issues through the feed mechanism <NUM>. More generally, the selected differential may depend on multiple factors including the strength of the paper product of roll <NUM>. The differential can be selected to overdrive the opposing feed rollers 150a, b as compared to the roll <NUM> so that the opposing feed rollers 150a, b put tension on paper product of the roll <NUM> while not providing so much strain to break or prematurely tear the paper product. In some implementations, separate motors are used to actuate the feed puller <NUM> and rotate the roll <NUM>. In other implementations, the same motor can be used to actuate the feed puller <NUM> and rotate the roll <NUM>.

In some implementations, in addition to or alternative to the a slideable feed head <NUM>, the dispenser <NUM> includes a track <NUM> along which the feed mechanism <NUM> can slide and/or pivot, as shown in <FIG>, which is a side view of a representation of a cutaway of another example feed mechanism <NUM>. For example, the feed mechanism <NUM> can slide back and forth along the track <NUM> parallel to axis <NUM>.

In some implementations, the feed mechanism <NUM> is biased against a periphery of the roll <NUM> as the roll's diameter decreases during depletion of the roll <NUM>. For example, the feed mechanism <NUM> is biased along the track <NUM> by a biasing member (e.g., a spring) <NUM> to keep the feed mechanism <NUM> pushed up against the roll <NUM> as the roll's diameter shrinks as the roll <NUM> depletes. This allows the feed mechanism <NUM> to always be positioned to pick up a tail 120a for different size (e.g., diameter rolls <NUM>) Conversely, when a new roll <NUM> is inserted, the feed mechanism <NUM> can slide back towards end <NUM> to accommodate the new (or different), larger diameter roll (as compared to the depleted roll). Further, the track <NUM>, including the feed mechanism <NUM>, can pivot (around point <NUM>) along arc <NUM>. In some implementations, the weight of the head <NUM> of the track <NUM> (or another biasing member) biases the track <NUM> to pivot towards (and against) the roll <NUM>. In this way the adjustment available through the pivot <NUM> and the track <NUM> encourages the feed mechanism <NUM> to engage the roll <NUM>, whether the roll <NUM> has a large or small diameter.

In some implementations, the feed mechanism <NUM> includes additional rollers 700a and 700b connected to rollers 150a and 150b, respectively, through pliable connectors such as belts 702a, b (or the like), as shown in <FIG>, which is a side view of a representation of a cutaway of yet another example feed mechanism <NUM>. The belts 702a, b, for example, may have opposing grooves to better grip the tail 102a and pull it through or the belts 702a, b could be smooth relying on pressure and/or other friction or adhesives to grip the tail 102a. Using the elongated belt system in <FIG> may reduce tearing of the roll paper including the tail 102a as there is more surface area for the feed mechanism <NUM> to grip, as compared to the feed mechanism <NUM> shown in, for example, <FIG>.

In some implementations, dispenser <NUM> includes a roller pair <NUM>, <NUM>. The roller pair <NUM>, <NUM>, like the spindle arms 116a, b, can extend across the width of the dispenser <NUM> and rotate. The roller pair <NUM>, <NUM> function to accept paper from the feed mechanism <NUM> and direct it down through the dispenser throat <NUM> and out to a user. For example, as paper is feed in between the roller pair <NUM>, <NUM>, the roller <NUM> turns clockwise and the roller <NUM> turns counterclockwise. In this way, the roller pair <NUM>, <NUM> draws/pulls or guides the paper from the roll <NUM> and distributes it down to the dispenser throat <NUM>.

Moreover, the separation of various system components in the embodiments described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments.

Claim 1:
A paper product dispenser (<NUM>) comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) comprising a front, a back, two sides, a product holding area (<NUM>) defined by the front, back and two sides (<NUM>), and a dispenser throat (<NUM>) defining an opening through the housing (<NUM>);
a support device (<NUM>) configured to support a rolled product (<NUM>) in the product holding area (<NUM>), wherein the rolled product (<NUM>) has a tail; and
a motor operatively coupled to the rolled product and configured to rotate the rolled product in at least one of a first direction and a second direction; characterized by:
a feed mechanism (<NUM>) having a first side opening (<NUM>) and a second side opening (<NUM>) different from the first side opening (<NUM>), wherein both the first side opening (<NUM>) and the second side opening (<NUM>) are different from that dispenser throat (<NUM>), and wherein the first side opening (<NUM>) is configured to accept the tail of the rolled product (<NUM>) when the rolled product (<NUM>) has a first orientation and is rotated in the first direction and the second side opening (<NUM>) is configured to accept the tail of the rolled product (<NUM>) when the rolled product (<NUM>) has a second orientation and is rotated in the second direction.