Gpcp IP Holdings LLC

Georgia-pacific Consumer Products LP

David Warren Murphy

Brian Scott Borke

Kevin Michael Swanson

Ryan Anthony Goltz

Timothy Andrew Robertson

Ryan Joseph Schuh

Jacob Charles Dahl

Duane Douglas Oram, Iii

David Arthur Stank

Antonio Michael Cittadino

Mark Edwin Peters

Kyle Andrew Pfeifer

John Patrick Laitala

Karl Daniel Kissinger

Nickolas Everett Madsen

Ted Allen Casper

Aaron Lee Sinclair

Philip Ross Walker

Alan Joseph Johnson

John William Grosz, Jr

Tammy Lynn Miller

R Mitchel Edwards

Andrew Mark Mueller

Robert Paul Stuedemann

John William Grosz

Disclosed are various examples of automated dispensers to dispense consumable products, such as paper towels, gels, liquids, gases, aerosols, foams, and other consumables. Automated dispensers can operate in various modes. Examples of the disclosure can utilize a dispense profile to adjust the speed at which consumable products are dispensed.

Dispenser profiles for usage optimization

Systems, devices, and methods for providing a sheet product dispenser with automated product level tracking functionality are provided herein. Various product level sensors are disclosed herein including a product level sensor configured to emit a signal toward an outer circumference of a sheet product roll on a spindle extending along a longitudinal axis and to receive a reflected signal. The product level sensor is positioned a radial distance away from the spindle and aimed to emit the signal in a direction that is not parallel and not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The product level sensor detects a parameter of the reflected signal corresponding to the distance between the product level sensor and the sheet product roll. Other example embodiments include mechanical product level sensors. Various communication protocols may be employed to limit transmission of data to conserve battery life while still maintaining desired communication functionality.

Systems and methods for product level tracking of sheet product rolls

Some example product dispensers that accommodate two full paper towel rolls are provided herein. The product dispenser may employ separate dispensing mechanisms for each product roll and may include roll holders that articulate out from the housing to facilitate easy loading and access to replacement and loading of the other product roll. A roll partition may be utilized to separate the web paths of the two product rolls and enable rotation of front roll holders. Example funnel covers and nip covers can aid with intuitive installation. Example roll holders with retention mechanisms help prevent unintentional dropping of the installed product roll. Other beneficial features include utilizing motor operation sensing to dispense a desired sheet length, automatic/assisted loading into the dispensing mechanism, automatic switching between dispensing of product rolls, and always dispensing from the smaller product roll first. Many other features/structures of example product dispensers are also described herein.

Sheet product dispenser

A sheet product (e.g., napkin) dispenser may include an example calibration system and method for a product depletion curve for accurately determining a product level. An example sheet product dispenser includes a housing, a roll holder, a dispensing mechanism, a sensor, and a controller. The sensor is configured to emit a signal toward the product roll and receive a return signal. The controller is configured to receive a calibration product roll and operate the sensor to emit the signal and receive the return signal. The controller determines a brightness value of the return signal and determines a calibration value associated with the determined brightness value. The determined brightness value is within a range of brightness values associated with the calibration value. The controller adjusts a product depletion curve based on at least the determined calibration value and the determined brightness value. Additionally, example product level notification systems are provided herein.

Sheet product level sensor calibration and indication systems and methods

The present invention provides a dispenser interface, associated methods and systems, and dispensers employing the dispenser interface and associated systems and methods. An example embodiment provides a product dispenser assembly for dispensing a product. The dispenser comprises a dispenser controller having a first communication interface; and a communication controller having a second communication interface. The second communication interface is operatively connected to the first communication interface. The communication controller is configured to be in communication with one or more devices. The communication controller is configured to receive a command from one of the one or more devices; and provide the command to the dispenser controller. The dispenser controller and communication controller are configured to cause (a) product to be dispensed, (b) dispenser data to be stored, or (c) dispenser data to be communicated in accordance with the command.

Universal dispenser interface

A sheet product dispenser is provided including a housing including a roll holder configured to receive a product roll, a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a portion of the sheet product from the product roll, a sensor configured to emit a signal toward the product roll and receive a reflection of the signal from a surface of the product roll, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive an indication of replacement of the product roll, determine a time-of-flight of the signal, and determine an expected time-of-flight (or corresponding distance of travel) of a theoretical signal to a theoretical full product roll. The controller is further configured to compare the time-of-flight (or a corresponding distance of travel) of the signal to the product roll to the expected time-of-flight or distance, and adjust a product depletion curve based on the comparison.

Sheet product dispenser with product level indicator calibration

Methods, apparatus, and systems are described that provide an improved way to monitor the state of a dispensing system and apparatus. The method begins when an activation sensor generates a signal indicating a desired dispense cycle operation in response to detecting user input, such as user hand motion in front of the sensor. The dispenser motor is energized in response to the generated signal, and a battery sensor monitors a status of the battery during a startup phase of the dispenser motor. The monitored status of the battery during the startup phase is indicative of a state (e.g., power state or operational state) of the dispensing system, and a dispenser controller determines if the system can complete the desired dispense cycle operation based upon the monitored status and reacts to control the system accordingly, e.g., aborting a dispense cycle or allowing the dispense cycle to initiate.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for monitoring a dispensing state of a dispensing system

The present invention provides a dispenser interface, associated methods and systems, and dispensers employing the dispenser interface and associated systems and methods. An example embodiment provides a method of configuring a communication interface of a dispenser controller configured to control a dispenser for dispensing hygiene products or other products. The method comprises operatively connecting a communication controller to the communication interface of the dispenser controller; and transmitting, via the communication interface and from the communication controller and to the dispenser controller, configuration information, the configuration information comprising at least one of: a communication protocol, instructions indicating dispenser information to be communicated in association with the occurrence of at least one type of dispenser event, instructions associated with how to communicate dispenser information associated with at least one type of dispenser event to the communication controller, and a priority indicator associated with at least one type of dispenser event.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for optimizing a value of a dispensing parameter of a product dispenser based at least in part on product usage data. The dispensing parameter may include any suitable adjustable parameter of the product dispenser including, but not limited to, a dispense duration, a volume of product (e.g., a shot size), a sheet length, a capability of a user sensor to distinguish between genuine and false triggers of the sensor, a delay setting that specifies a delay time between successive dispenses, or the like. The value of the dispensing parameter may be optimized to align an actual performance outcome with a target performance outcome. The target performance outcome may include, for example, minimizing product usage per user, maximizing user sensor reliability (e.g., a percentage of dispenses that occur in response to genuine user-initiated triggering events), and so forth.

Growing community of inventors

Neenah, WI, United States of America

David Warren Murphy