Apparatus for dispensing sheet material

Abstract

A sheet material dispenser includes a controller for automatically controlling the lengths of sheet materials dispensed from a continuous roll by identifying the type of sheet materials on the roll and dispensing suitable lengths of the identified sheet material. The dispenser desirably has a support for rotatably supporting a roll of sheet material carrying identification relating to the type of sheet material on the roll, and an identifier positioned in or adjacent the dispenser for identifying the type of sheet material on the roll. A processor receives data from the identifier, processes the data and generates an output command, and a controller controls the lengths of sheet material dispensed from the roll in response to the output command. In this way, more absorbent products may be dispensed in shorter lengths and less absorbent products may be dispensed in longer lengths.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . An apparatus adapted to dispense a web of sheet material from a continuous roll, the apparatus comprising:
 a support configured to rotatably support a roll of sheet material which includes an identification relating to absorbent characteristics of sheet material on the roll;   electrical contacts arranged to engage the identification in the form of a conductor on a core of the roll of sheet material;   an identifier configured to identify the absorbent characteristics of sheet material on the roll from the identification;   a processor configured to receive data relating to the absorbent characteristics of the sheet material on the roll, the processor further configured to process the data and generate an output command; and   a controller configured to control the length of sheet material dispensed from the roll in response to the output command.   
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the identifier comprises a reader for reading data from the identification on the roll of sheet material. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the reader is configured to read data from a label, a logo, a bar code, a magnetic strip, an RFID tag, or a hologram on the roll of sheet material. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the reader is arranged to read data from the identification on a core of the roll of sheet material. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the reader is arranged to read data from the identification on the sheet material. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the identification on the roll of sheet material is encoded, and the apparatus includes a decoder for decoding the encoded data. 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the reader is positioned inside of the dispenser. 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the reader is positioned adjacent the dispenser. 
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the reader is arranged to read data from an RFID tag embedded in or attached to a core of the roll of sheet material. 
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , including an infrared emitter/detector circuit which is arranged to emit infrared light into a core of the roll of sheet material, and to detect reflection of the light off reflective identification on a core of the roll. 
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the reflective identification is configured such that the reflectivity is controlled, therefore permitting control of total reflected light. 
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the processor includes an algorithm stored in a chip set embedded on a printed circuit board. 
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the processor is arranged to receive data from the identifier, to process the data, to generate an output command, and to transmit the output command to the controller. 
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the support is contained within a dispenser housing. 
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein an activation switch is provided for activating the identifier when the dispenser housing is opened, thereby to allow identification of a roll of sheet material inserted onto the support. 
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein a deactivation switch is provided for deactivating the identifier after identification of the sheet material on the roll. 
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , including a delay switch for providing a delay between successive dispensing operations. 
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , including a lockout switch for preventing operation of the controller when the dispenser housing is open. 
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , including an electric motor for automatically dispensing the sheet material. 
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein the controller controls the number of revolutions of the electric motor in response to the output command. 
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein an external sensor is provided for sensing a user's hand, and the electric motor is activated so as to dispense sheet material in response to the sensing of the user's hand. 
   
   
       47 . A dispenser for dispensing sheet material from a supply roll including an identification relating to absorbent characteristics of sheet material on the roll, the dispenser comprising:
 a dispenser housing;   a support for rotatably supporting the supply roll within the dispenser housing;   electrical contacts arranged to engage the identification in the form of a conductor on a core of the roll of sheet material;   an identifier on or adjacent the support for identifying the absorbent characteristics of sheet material on the roll from the identification;   a processor for receiving identification data from the identifier, processing the data and generating an output command; and   a controller for controlling the length of sheet materials dispensed from the supply roll in response to the output command.   
   
   
       48 . An apparatus for dispensing a web of sheet material from a continuous roll, the apparatus comprising:
 a support for rotatably supporting a roll of sheet material which includes identification relating to absorbent characteristics of sheet material on the roll;   electrical contacts arranged to engage the identification in the form of a conductor on a core of the roll of sheet material;   a first network operating in accordance with a predetermined protocol;   a second network comprising a plurality of microcontrollers;   a gateway operatively coupled to said first network and to said second network; and   an HTTP server embedded in one of said gateway and said plurality microcontrollers.   
   
   
       49 . An apparatus for dispensing a web of sheet material from a continuous roll, the apparatus comprising:
 a support for rotatably supporting a roll of sheet material which includes identification relating to the type of sheet material on the roll;   electrical contacts arranged to engage the identification in the form of a conductor on a core of the roll of sheet material;   a microcontroller for controlling the length of sheet material dispensed from the roll;   a first network operating in accordance with a predetermined protocol;   a second network comprising a plurality of said microcontrollers;   a gateway operatively coupled to said first network and to said second network; and   an HTTP server embedded in one of said gateway and said plurality microcontrollers.