Patent ID: 8538580

Claim:
A sheet product dispenser, comprising: a housing; a dispensing assembly disposed in the housing, the dispensing assembly configured to hold a roll of sheet product thereon and to dispense a portion of the roll of sheet product; a proximity sensor configured to generate a first signal when an object is disposed proximate to and outside of the housing; an ultraviolet light source disposed on the housing, the ultraviolet light source configured to emit ultraviolet light in response to a second signal; a motor operably coupled to the dispensing assembly, the motor configured to actuate the dispensing assembly to dispense a portion of the roll of sheet product, in response to a third signal; and a controller operably coupled to the proximity sensor, the ultraviolet light source, and the motor, the controller configured to generate the second signal to induce the ultraviolet light source to emit ultraviolet light toward the object with sufficient energy to kill bacteria in response to receiving the first signal from the proximity sensor, the controller further configured to generate the third signal in response to receiving the first signal from the proximity sensor.