The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 09, 2006
Filed:
Apr. 08, 2003
James A. Rodrian, Grafton, WI (US);
Lawrence R. Hansen, Green Bay, WI (US);
Daniel C. Kananen, New Franken, WI (US);
Alan P. Paal, New Franken, WI (US);
Robert T. Buczkiewicz, West Bend, WI (US);
James A. Rodrian, Grafton, WI (US);
Lawrence R. Hansen, Green Bay, WI (US);
Daniel C. Kananen, New Franken, WI (US);
Alan P. Paal, New Franken, WI (US);
Robert T. Buczkiewicz, West Bend, WI (US);
Alwin Manufacturing Co., Inc., Green Bay, WI (US);
Abstract
Dispenser apparatus for dispensing flexible sheet material including material-recognition apparatus permitting the dispenser to recognize sheet material from an authorized source and to be enabled for operation with such material. The dispenser preferably includes standard mechanical components for dispensing sheet material from the dispenser including a housing, structure for supporting a roll of sheet material, drive and tension rollers forming a nip through which the sheet material is displaced as the drive roller rotates and drive apparatus in power-transmission relationship with the drive roller. The material-recognition apparatus includes a sensor mounted in the dispenser housing and in position to scan a code, preferably located on the core on which the sheet material is wound. The sensor generates a code signal corresponding to the code. A control circuit operatively connected to the sensor is adapted to receive the code signal and compare the code represented by said code signal to at least one code in a code database. The dispenser is placed in a dispenser-enabled state capable of dispensing sheet material corresponding to agreement between the codes and a dispenser-disabled state in which the dispenser is disabled when no such code agreement exists.