Patent Document

[0001]     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/393,176, filed on Mar. 20, 2003 (pending); which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/538,453, filed Mar. 30, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,695,246; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/085,289, filed on May 27, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,898; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/603,051, filed on Feb. 16, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,291. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention disclosed herein relates to towel dispensers and methods for dispensing towels. More particularly, the invention disclosed herein relates to electric “hands-free” towel dispensers and methods for dispensing towels without use of the hands.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Towel dispensers are known and are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,647,159; 4,131,044; and 4,165,138. For example, Bump, U.S. Pat. No. 3,647,159, shows a towel dispenser having an automatic towel length controlling means and roll support tensioning means. The towel dispenser disclosed generally comprises a shell, means within the shell for rotatably supporting a roll of paper toweling, a frictional power roller engaging a paper web from the roll, and means for limiting the length of individual paper towels withdrawn from the dispenser. The latter means includes a first gearlike member rotatable with the power roll, a second gearlike member rotatable in response to rotation of the first gearlike member, a finger carried by the second gearlike member, a strap mounted for linear movement on the dispenser between a first position and a second position, an abutment surface carried by the strap in a position intersecting the excursion path of the finger when the strap is in a first position, a limit abutment carried by the strap in a position intersecting the excursion path of the finger when the strap is in the second position, means temporarily holding the strap in the second position and means urging the strap toward the first position. The strap is moved toward the second position by contact of the finger with the abutment surface in response to rotation of the second gearlike member.  
         [0004]     Electronic towel dispensers are also known. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,730,409; 3,971,607; 4,738,176; 4,796,825; and 4,826,262 each disclose electronic towel dispensers. For example, in Ratti, U.S. Pat. No. 3,730,409, a dispenser comprises a cabinet having a supply roll of paper towel therein and an electric motor-driven dispensing roll frictionally engaging the towel web for advancing it through a dispensing opening past a movable cutter. The cutter is biased to a normal rest position and is movable to a severing position in response to the manual cutting action by a user. The dispenser further comprises a control circuit including a normally closed start switch and a normally open ready switch connected in a series between the motor and an associated power source. The normally open stop switch is in parallel with the ready switch. Program apparatus is coupled to the cutter, the motor and the control circuit and is responsive to movement of the cutter to its severing position for opening the start switch and closing the ready switch. Movement of the cutter back to its normal rest position recloses the start switch to energize the motor. The program apparatus is responsive to operation of the motor for sequentially closing the stop switch then reopening the ready switch and then reopening the stop switch to de-energize the motor.  
         [0005]     Finally, “hands-free” systems for controlling the operation of washroom fixtures such as water faucets, soap dispensers and towel dispensers are known. Examples of such hands-free systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,796,825; 5,031,258; 5,060,323; 5,086,526; and 5,217,035. In Hawkins, U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,825, an electronic paper towel dispenser is shown which permits paper towels to be dispensed from a supply roll by placing a hand or other object in front of a sensor located on the front of the supply cabinet. Dispensing of the paper towels is stopped when the hand is removed or when normal room lighting is not available. The dispensing of towels is controlled by a touchless switch for energizing a motor means.  
         [0006]     The problem with prior hands-free electronic dispensers is that they require a source of electricity such as AC current from a plug-in wall outlet to power the hands-free mechanism. This can be dangerous to a user, especially when the dispenser is near a sink or other source of water. Another problem is that many prior hands-free dispensers are complicated devices which are expensive to manufacture and difficult to maintain in working order. Still another problem is that prior hands-free dispensers continue to dispense paper so long as the user&#39;s hand remains in front of the sensor. Also, if a change in ambient light occurs, prior hands-free dispensers have to be manually reset to adjust to a new light reference.  
         [0007]     Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide improved towel dispensers for automatically dispensing a length of towel in response to the movement of an object such as a user&#39;s hands. In this manner, a user can avoid contact with viruses or bacteria on the dispenser left by prior users&#39;hands. It would be further advantageous to provide energy-efficient hands-free dispensers which utilize light energy. It would also be advantageous to provide hands-free dispensers which are simple in design, safe and easy to use. It would be even further advantageous to provide hands-free dispensers which are inexpensive to manufacture and free from problems such as inoperability due to jamming or changes in ambient light conditions.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The invention relates to towel dispensers and methods for dispensing towels. More particularly, the invention relates to electric “hands-free” towel dispensers and methods for dispensing towels without use of the hands.  
         [0009]     In one aspect of the invention, the hands-free paper towel dispenser comprises: 
        (a) a cabinet defining an interior space sufficient to house a main paper towel roll and a stub paper towel roll, the cabinet including a front cover that is pivotally attached to thereto so that the front cover is pivotable between an open position and a closed position;     (b) a sensing mechanism disposed entirely within the interior space of the cabinet at a location adjacent to the front cover, the sensing mechanism being oriented toward the front cover to permit detecting of an object adjacent the front cover without the object contacting the front cover, and at least a portion of the sensing mechanism is accessible when the front cover is at the open position;     (c) a dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing for dispensing a length of towel, the dispensing mechanism including a drive roller and a motor in driving engagement with the drive roller;     (d) control circuitry that controls operation of the sensing mechanism and the motor, controls the length of towel that is dispensed, and provides a delay between cycles of towel dispensing; and     (e) an electric power source for powering operation of the dispenser.        
 
         [0015]     These and various other advantages and features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying description, in which there is described a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     These and other features of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings of preferred embodiments, which are intended to illustrate and not to limit the invention and in which:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the towel dispenser of the invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the towel dispenser of  FIG. 1  with the towel roll removed;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a side elevation of the towel dispenser of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a board layout for a mechanical plate used in the dispenser of the invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram for the electric circuit of the invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram describing operation of the hands free dispenser;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram describing operation of the safety shut off feature of the dispenser; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram describing how the battery is charged by the array of one or more photovoltaic cells. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     As used throughout the specification, including the claims, the term “hands-free” means control of a dispensing mechanism without the need for use of hands.  
         [0026]     In addition, as used throughout the specification, including the claims, the term “towel” refers generally to an absorbent paper or other suitable material used for wiping or drying.  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a hands-free towel dispenser  10  comprises a cabinet  12  comprising a back wall  14 , two side walls  16 ,  18 , a top wall  20 , a bottom or base wall  22 , and an openable and closable front cover  24 . The front cover  24  may be pivotally attached to the cabinet, for example, by hinge  26 , for easy opening and closing of the cover  24  when a supply of towels such as main roll  28  is placed in the cabinet  12 . The towel dispenser  10  may be mounted to a wall or other supporting member by any convenient means such as brackets, adhesives, nails, screws or anchors (not shown).  
         [0028]     As shown in more detail in  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4 , the hands-free dispenser  10  further comprises a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a length of towel to the outside of the dispenser  10 . Such dispensing mechanism may comprise drive roller  32 , pinch roller  34 , transfer bar  36  and roll support cup  38   a  and roll support arm  38   b . The dispensing mechanism enables dispensing of a predetermined length of towel to the outside of the towel dispenser  10  through slot  40 , where the towel can be grasped by the user and torn off along a serrated edge  43  of a blade  42 .  
         [0029]     The dispensing mechanism operates to dispense towels either from a main roll  28  or a stub roll  30 . The means for controlling dispensing of a paper from the main roll  28  once the stub roll  30  has been depleted comprises a transfer bar  36 , which is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,138, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3 , main roll  28  is first loaded into the cabinet  12  onto roll support cup  38   a  and roll support arm  38   b  located opposite each other on side walls  16 ,  18 , respectively, and forming main roll station  48  ( FIG. 1 ). A length of towel from main roll  28  is then threaded behind transfer bar  36  including a fork  37   a  and a cam  37   b , and over drive roller  32  so that towel sheeting  50  will be pulled between the drive roller  32  and the pinch roller  34  in a generally downward motion when the drive roller  32  is rotated by operation of a motor  88  shown in  FIG. 4 . As the towel sheeting  50  is pulled downwardly, it is guided along a wall  52  of the serrated blade  42  and out slot  40 .  
         [0031]     The length of towel sheeting  50  dispensed from towel dispenser  10  can be set to any desired length. Preferably, the dispenser  10  releases about ten to twelve inches of towel sheeting  50  per dispensing cycle. The towel sheeting  50  is then removed by tearing the length of dispensed towel sheeting  50  at the serrated edge  43  of blade  42 .  
         [0032]     When the main roll  28  has been partially depleted, preferably to about a four-inch diameter as indicated by low paper indictor  56 , the dispenser cover  24  is opened by an attendant, and the main roll  28  is moved down to a stub roll station  54 . The main roll  28  then becomes stub roll  30  and enables a new main roll  28  to be loaded onto roll support cup  38   a  and roll support arm  38   b  in main roll station  48 . When stub roll  30  is completely depleted the new main roll  28  begins feeding paper  50  between the drive roller  32  and pinch roller  34  out of the dispenser  10  when the motor  88  is activated.  
         [0033]     When the low paper indicator  56  indicates that the new main roll  28  is low, the attendant opens cover  24 , an empty core (not shown) of stub roll  30  is removed from the stub roll station  54  and discarded, and new main roll  28  is dropped into position into the stub roll station  54  where it then becomes stub roll  30  and continues feeding. A main roll  28  is then positioned on the roll support cup  38   a  and roll support arm  38   b . The basic transfer mechanism for continuously feeding towels from a stub roll until completely used and then automatic transfer to a main roll is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,138.  
         [0034]     Hands-free operation of the dispenser  10  is effected when a person places an object such as their hands in front of a photo sensor  82  shown in  FIG. 4 . The photo sensor  82  activates the motor  88  to dispense a predetermined length of towel sheeting  50 . The dispenser  10  has electric circuitry which, as will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 4-8 , ensures safe, efficient and reliable operation of the dispenser  10 .  
         [0035]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a cutaway view of a portion of the dispenser  10  is shown. In  FIG. 4 , a circuit board  81  is mounted to a mechanical plate  80  of the dispenser  10 . Note that the circuit board is mounted between the mechanical plate  80  and the wall  16  of the cabinet  12 . The photo sensor  82  is seated within a mounting tube  83  and is coupled to the circuit board  81  by leads or wires  84 ,  85 . As will be described below with reference to  FIG. 5 , the photo sensor  82  reacts to changes in light intensity. Light passes from a room, through an opening  86  in the movable front cover  24  of the dispenser  10 , to the photo sensor  82 . A clear plastic lens  87  is fitted into the opening  86 . The lens  87  prevents debris from clogging or blocking the opening  86  which might prevent light from reaching the sensor  82 . The lens  87  also prevents debris from falling into the dispenser  10  which might cause the dispenser  10  to malfunction.  
         [0036]     Also shown in  FIG. 4  is the motor  88  which is attached to the drive roller  32 . The motor  88 , including a gearbox (not shown), are available from Skil Corporation in Chicago, Ill. The motor  88  is placed partially within the drive roller  32  and is powered by a rechargeable battery  90 , also available from Skil Corporation. The battery  90  is coupled to the motor  88  via the circuit board  81  by wires or leads  92 ,  94  which are connected or soldered to the circuit board  81 .  
         [0037]     A solar panel  96 , is located on the top  20  of the dispenser  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The solar panel  96  shown, which comprises an array of one or more photovoltaic cells, is made by Solarex Corporation in Frederick, Md. The solar panel  96  is coupled to the battery  90  and control circuitry  98  via the circuit board  81  by wires or leads  100 ,  102  which are connected or soldered to the circuit board  81  also.  
         [0038]     The solar panel  96  provides power to control circuitry  98  for controlling the dispensing mechanism of the dispenser  10 . In a preferred embodiment, the solar panel  96  provides power to control circuitry  98  ( FIG. 5 ) which will manage motion sensing, rotation control, safety features, and recharging of the battery  90 . In a second embodiment, the solar panel  96  provides power to the control circuitry  98  which will manage motion sensing, rotation control and safety features, but the battery  90  will be replaced at desired intervals and will not be recharged by the control circuitry  98 . When the solar panel  96  is not exposed to light, the solar panel  96  does not supply power to the control circuitry  98  and the motor  88  cannot be turned on. The solar panel  96  functions as an on-off switch for the dispenser  10  and thereby prevents the battery  90  from becoming unnecessarily discharged when the lights are off. If the control circuitry  98  is not powered by the solar panel  96 , the motor  88  cannot be turned on.  
         [0039]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a schematic diagram of the control circuitry  98  is shown. The control circuitry  98  controls the “hands-free” operation of the dispenser  10 . More specifically, the control circuitry  98  controls and/or performs the following functions: (1) sensing when an object such as a person&#39;s hand is in front of the photo sensor  82  and turning the motor  88  on; (2) sensing when the proper length of towel sheeting  50  has been dispensed and then turning the motor  88  off; (3) sensing when towel sheeting  50  has jammed inside of the dispenser  10  and turning the motor  88  off; (4) sensing when the front cover  24  of the dispenser  10  is open and preventing operation of the motor  88 ; (5) creating a short delay, preferably about two seconds, between dispensing cycles; and (6) charging of the battery  90  by the array of one or more photovoltaic cells  96 .  
         [0040]     The values of the components shown in the schematic diagram of  FIG. 5  are as listed below:  
                                                   RESISTORS           R1 = 1 × 10 6  ohm           R2 = 520 × 10 3  ohm           R3 = 1 × 10 6  ohm           R4 = 3 × 10 6  ohm           R5 = 3.3 × 10 6  ohm           R6 = 10 × 10 6  ohm           R7 = 1 × 10 6  ohm           R8 = 20 × 10 3  ohm           R9 = 680 ohm           R10 = 8 ohm           R11 = 1 × 10 ohm           R12 = 1 × 10 6  ohm           CAPACITORS           C1 = 1 × 10 −6  Farad           C2 = 1 × 10 −6  Farad           C3 = 104 × 10 −6  Farad           C4 = 104 × 10 −6  Farad           C5 = 1 × 10 −6  Farad           C6 = 1 × 10 −6  Farad                      
 
       Other Components  
       [0041]     All diodes are part nos. IN4148 or IN914 from Diodes, Inc.  
         [0042]     Operational Amplifiers IC 1 A and IC 1 B are on circuit board ICL7621DCPA from Maxim.  
         [0043]     Transistors Q 1  and Q 2  are part no. 2N3904 from National.  
         [0044]     Transistor Q 3  is part no. 2N3906 from National.  
         [0045]     Solar cell is part no. NSL-4532 or NSL-7142 from Solarex.  
         [0046]     Reed switches RD 1  and RD 2  are part no. MINS1525-052500 from CP-CLAIRE.  
         [0047]     Relay RLY 1  is part no. TF2E-3V from AROMAT.  
         [0048]     The photo sensor  82  shown is a Cadmium Sulfide (“CDS”) motion detector manufactured by Silonex Corporation located in Plattsburg, N.Y. The photo sensor  82  is a variable resistance resistor. The resistance of the photo sensor  82  changes depending on the amount of light to which the photo sensor  82  is exposed. If the amount of light on the photo sensor  82  is high, the photo sensor&#39;s resistance becomes relatively low. If the amount of light on the photo sensor  82  is low, the photo sensor&#39;s resistance becomes relatively high.  
         [0049]     In ambient light, the photo sensor  82  has a certain resistance which causes voltage V A  to be less than a reference voltage V B . Voltage V A  and reference voltage V B  are the positive and negative inputs, respectively, of operational amplifier IC 1 A. When voltage V A  is less than reference voltage V B , the operational amplifier IC 1 A output voltage V M1 , goes to negative, i.e., V M1  is at zero voltage. When voltage V M1  is at zero voltage, the motor  88  will not operate.  
         [0050]     Note that the reference voltage V B  is determined by and adjusts according to the ambient light level in a room. Therefore, the reference voltage V B  is not preset to any particular light level. A reference voltage circuit  104  sets the reference voltage V B  according to the ambient light level of a room. Because the reference voltage circuit  104  sets the reference voltage V B  according to the ambient light level in a room, no adjustments need to be made to the dispenser  10  based on how high or low the ambient light level is for a particular room. Furthermore, the combination of the photo sensor  82  and the reference voltage circuitry  104  permit the photo sensor  82  to trigger the dispenser  10  when a person&#39;s hand comes within approximately 10-12 inches from the sensor  82 .  
         [0051]     The reference voltage circuit  104  includes resistors R 2  and R 3  and capacitor C 1 . Resistors R 2  and R 3  are connected to the positive terminal, SOLAR PANEL+, of the solar panel  96  which provides a voltage B +  when the solar panel  96  is exposed to light. In ambient light, voltage V A  is approximately 0.5 (B + ).  
         [0052]     When a person places an obtrusion such as their hand within a predetermined distance of the photo sensor  82 , preferably within 10-12 inches, the amount of light reaching the photo sensor  82  is decreased sufficiently to cause the photo sensor&#39;s resistance to increase to a level where voltage V A  becomes greater than voltage V B  and thereby causes the output V M1  of operational amplifier IC 1 A to be a positive voltage.  
         [0053]     The operational amplifier IC 1 A output voltage V M1  is passed through diode D 1  and is coupled to the positive input of operational amplifier IC 1 B. Reference voltage V C  is provided between resistors R 5  and R 6  and is the negative input of operational amplifier IC 1 B. If voltage V M1  is greater than reference voltage V C , then the output of the operational amplifier IC 1 B, V M2 , is at a positive voltage. When the output voltage V M2  is at positive voltage, n-p-n transistor Q 1  is closed, thereby causing a current to flow through coil CL 1  which in turn closes coil relay RLY 1 . When RLY 1  is closed, the motor  88  runs because the motor&#39;s positive terminal, MOTOR+, is connected to the battery&#39;s positive terminal, BATTERY+.  
         [0054]     In order to stop the motor  88  from turning after a predetermined amount of towel sheeting  50  has been dispensed, a roller sensing circuit  106  is provided. The roller sensing circuit  106  includes a magnet,  108 , an n-p-n transistor Q 3 , a capacitor C 6 , resistors R 7  and R 8  and a reed switch RD 1 . The magnet  108  is mounted on drive roller  32 . The magnet  108  activates or closes the reed switch RD 1  when the magnet  108  is aligned with the reed switch RD 1 . When the reed switch RD 1  is closed, a one time voltage drop is made across capacitor C 6 . The voltage drop across capacitor C 6  turns on transistor Q 3  which causes voltage V M1  to drop to less than reference voltage V C  and therefore produces a negative output or zero voltage output V M1  from operational amplifier IC 1 B and stops the motor  88  from operating. By changing the radius of the drive roller  32 , the length of paper  50  that is dispensed can be varied.  
         [0055]     The time it takes for the motor  88  to turn the drive roller  32  one full turn, i.e., the time it takes for the magnet  108  to become aligned with reed switch RD 1 , is approximately 0.47 seconds. When the drive roller  32  has made one full turn, the predetermined amount of towel sheeting  50  has been dispensed and the magnet  108  is aligned again with the reed sensor RD 1  to stop operation of the motor  88 , as described above. Preferably, the motor  88  will power an approximately 3-4 inch diameter roller for one revolution, sufficient to dispense approximately 10-12 inches of paper towel  50 . If the reed sensor RD 1  is not activated within 1.0 second, e.g., if a paperjam occurs, a safety time circuit  110  turns the motor  88  off.  
         [0056]     The safety timer circuit  110  includes capacitor C 2  and resistor R 4 . If the reed switch RD 1  does not sense the magnet  108  within 1.0 second, the safety time circuit  110  causes voltage V M1  to drop below reference voltage V C  and thereby causes output voltage V M2  to be at zero volts and turns the motor  88  off.  
         [0057]     When the front cover  24  is open, e.g., to add towel sheeting  50  in the dispenser  10 , the motor  88  is prevented from operating by a door safety circuit  120 . The door safety circuit  120  includes resistors R 5  and R 6 , a reed switch RD 2  and a magnet  121 . One lead  122  of the reed switch RD 2  is attached to resistor R 5  and the other lead  124  is attached to ground G 2 . Reference voltage V C  is created between resistors R 5  and R 6 . When the front cover  24  is open, the reed switch RD 2  is open and causes voltage V C  to be higher than voltage V M1  and therefore causes the output voltage, V M2 , of operational amplifier IC 1 B to be at zero voltage. Note that voltage V M2  is never higher than voltage B + .  
         [0058]     When the front cover  24  is closed, the magnet  121  causes the reed switch RD 2  to close and allows reference voltage V C  to be less than voltage V M1 , which in turn causes the output voltage V M2  of operational amplifier IC 1 B to be at positive voltage and turns the motor  88  on.  
         [0059]     In ambient room light, the solar panel  96  generates enough current to power the control circuitry  98 . In the preferred embodiment (shown in  FIG. 5 ), the solar panel  96  generates enough current to also charge the battery  90 . In this preferred embodiment, a positive lead, SOLAR PANEL+, of the solar panel  96 , is connected to battery charging circuitry  126 .  
         [0060]     The battery charging circuitry  126  includes a diode D 5 , resistors R 11  and R 16 , a capacitor C 4  and a p-n-p transistor Q 2 . The positive lead, SOLAR PANEL+, of the solar panel  96  charges capacitor C 4  through resistor R 16 . When capacitor C 4  is charged to a certain voltage level, preferably approximately 1.2 volts higher than the battery voltage B + , resistor R 11  biases the capacitor C 4  to discharge through the p-n-p transistor Q 2  and into the positive terminal, BATTERY+, of the battery  90 . As long as light reaches the solar panel  96 , the battery charging process will be repeated and the solar panel  96  continually charges the capacitor C 4  and battery  90 .  
         [0061]     In the second embodiment (not shown), the solar panel  96  only provides power to the control circuitry  98 . Disposable, D-cell batteries (not shown) or other disposable batteries can be used to power the motor  88 , instead of the rechargeable battery  90 . Because the control circuitry  98  is powered by the solar panel  96 , the motor  88  will not operate unless there is light in the room, thus preventing the disposable batteries from becoming unnecessarily discharged. After the disposable battery has been fully discharged, the disposable battery can be replaced.  
         [0062]     The control circuitry  98  also includes delay circuitry  112  to prevent the dispenser  10  from starting a new cycle of dispensing towel sheeting  50  until a predetermined time after the motor  88  has turned off from a prior dispensing cycle. The predetermined time is preferably approximately 2 seconds. The delay circuitry  122  includes a diode D 2 , resistor R 3 , and capacitor C 1 .  
         [0063]     When voltage V M2  is high, the motor  88  is running and causing towel sheeting  50  to be dispensed from the dispenser  10 . When V M2  is high, capacitor C 1  is charge to a very high level, forcing reference voltage V B  very high. It takes approximately 2 seconds for V B  to return to its ambient light level setting. During that time, if a person places their hand in front of the photo sensor  82 , voltage V A  will not be forced higher than V B . As a result, the motor  88  cannot be turned on again until approximately 2 seconds after it has been turned off. This prevents a continual discharge of towel sheeting  50  from the dispenser which could cause the battery  90  to discharge and the motor  88  to burn out.  
         [0064]     The manner in which the motor  88  is turned on is described in the flowchart of  FIG. 6 . The motor  88  cannot be turned on if there is not enough ambient light in the room to power the control circuitry  98 . The solar panel  96  acts as an “on-off” switch for the dispenser  10  and will not permit the dispenser  10  to dispense towel sheeting  50  unless there is sufficient light in the room. If there is sufficient light in the room to power the control circuitry  98 , the various checks, which have been described above with reference to the circuitry in  FIG. 5 , are shown in the flowchart of  FIG. 6 . These checks are performed before the motor  88  is turned on.  
         [0065]     The manner in which the motor  88  is turned off, which has been explained above with reference to  FIG. 5 , is described in the flowchart in  FIG. 8 . Similarly, the charging of the battery  90  by the solar panel  96 , which has been explained above with reference to  FIG. 5 , is described in the flowchart of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0066]     The embodiments of the inventions disclosed herein have been discussed for the purpose of familiarizing the reader with novel aspects of the invention. Although preferred embodiments have been shown and described, many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having skill in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 1