Sheet product dispensing unit and a cartridge therefore

Abstract

A dispensing apparatus combination includes a sheet product dispensing unit and a cartridge configured to support sheet product, the cartridge being so dimensioned and configured such that it can be located in operable communication with the dispensing unit. The cartridge includes a dispensing opening, and the dispensing unit includes an entry opening and a dispensing opening. The dispensing opening of the cartridge is disposed proximate the entry opening of the dispensing unit when the cartridge is located in operable communication with the dispensing unit such that sheet product is able to pass from the cartridge through the dispensing opening of the cartridge, through the entry opening of the dispensing unit, and through the dispensing opening of the dispensing unit, under a control of the dispensing unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispensing apparatus combination, comprising:
 a sheet product dispensing unit; and   a cartridge configured to support sheet product;   the cartridge being so dimensioned and configured such that it can be located in operable communication with the dispensing unit;   the cartridge comprising a dispensing opening;   the dispensing unit comprising an entry opening and a dispensing opening;   the dispensing opening of the cartridge being disposed proximate the entry opening of the dispensing unit when the cartridge is located in operable communication with the dispensing unit such that sheet product is able to pass from the cartridge through the dispensing opening of the cartridge, through the entry opening of the dispensing unit, and through the dispensing opening of the dispensing unit, under a control of the dispensing unit.   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing apparatus combination of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cartridge is separable from the dispensing unit;   the dispensing unit further comprises a housing, a motor disposed within the housing, a drive roller in operable communication with the motor, a pinch roller disposed proximate the drive roller, an actuation mechanism disposed in operable communication with the motor to facilitate actuation of the motor, and wherein the dispensing opening is disposed proximate the drive roller and the pinch roller;   the cartridge further comprises an enclosure comprising a removable section that defines the dispensing opening of the cartridge, and sheet product being disposed within the enclosure in such a manner as to be dispensable through the dispensing opening of the cartridge subsequent to removal of the removable section; and   at least a portion of the cartridge is disposed outside of the housing of the dispensing unit.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus combination of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the dispensing unit further comprises a drive mechanism and a sensor disposed in signal communication with the drive mechanism, the drive mechanism being responsive to a dispense signal from the sensor to dispense sheet product.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus combination of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet product is a roll of sheet product, a plurality of interfolded sheet product leaves, or a continuous z-fold sheet. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus combination of  claim 2 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a proximity sensor, a manual pushbutton, or tear bar sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus combination of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the dispensing unit further comprises a verification feature; and   the cartridge further comprises a rejection feature disposed and configured for operably communicating with the verification feature.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus combination of  claim 3 , wherein the dispensing unit comprises an enable switch, the cartridge engaging with the enable switch when engaged with the dispensing unit, the enable switch being disposed in signal communication with the drive mechanism to enable dispensing of the sheet product from the cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus combination of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the rejection feature comprises an indentation disposed on the enclosure, a projection disposed on the enclosure, an RFID tag disposed on the enclosure, an IR reflective surface disposed on the enclosure, a machine-identifiable marking disposed on the enclosure, a magnetic region disposed on the enclosure, a machine-optically-recognizable character disposed on the enclosure, a phosphoresce region disposed on the enclosure, a starch marker disposed on the enclosure, an IC chip disposed on the enclosure, a conductive strip disposed on the enclosure, a conductive strip disposed on the sheet product, or any combination of the foregoing indentation, projection, RFID tag, IR reflective surface, machine-identifiable marking, magnetic region, machine-optically-recognizable character, phosphoresce region, starch marker, IC chip, and conductive strip; and   the verification feature is complementary to the respective rejection feature so as to verify that an authorized cartridge having the respective rejection feature is installed in the dispensing unit.   
     
     
         9 . A dispensing apparatus for dispensing sheet product from a cartridge, comprising:
 a dispensing unit comprising a receiving port so configured and dimensioned as to receive at least a portion of a cartridge configured to support sheet product to be dispensed, an entry opening disposed for receiving sheet product from the cartridge, and a dispensing opening disposed for dispensing sheet product from the dispensing unit;   the dispensing unit further comprising a drive mechanism and a sensor disposed in signal communication with the drive mechanism, the drive mechanism being responsive to a dispense signal from the sensor to dispense sheet product.   
     
     
         10 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the dispensing unit further comprises a housing, a motor disposed within the housing, a drive roller in operable communication with the motor, a pinch roller disposed proximate the drive roller, an actuation mechanism disposed in operable communication with the motor to facilitate actuation of the motor, and wherein the dispensing opening is disposed proximate the drive roller and the pinch roller;   the drive roller and the pinch roller being disposed to facilitate dispensing of the sheet product from the cartridge through the dispensing opening.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the drive mechanism is responsive to a dispense signal from the sensor to dispense sheet product from the cartridge on demand, the sensor being responsive to a user causing the sensor to generate the dispense signal in an on-demand-mode manner.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the sheet product is a roll of sheet product, a plurality of interfolded sheet product leaves, or a continuous z-fold sheet. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the dispensing unit further comprises an enable switch disposed to be actuated by the cartridge when the cartridge is disposed in operable communication with the receiving port of the dispensing unit, the enable switch being disposed in signal communication with the drive mechanism to enable dispensing of the sheet product from the cartridge. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the cartridge includes a rejection feature, and further wherein:
 the dispensing unit further comprises a controller disposed in operable communication with the motor to facilitate actuation of the motor, and a verification feature disposed in operable communication with the receiving port and the controller, the verification feature being disposed and configured to verify presence of the rejection feature of the cartridge, and to communicate such verification to the controller, such verification being verification that an authorized cartridge having a complementary rejection feature is installed in the dispensing unit.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a proximity sensor, a manual pushbutton, or a tear bar sensor. 
     
     
         16 . A cartridge for a sheet product dispenser, the cartridge comprising:
 an enclosure comprising a removable section that defines a dispensing opening, and a rejection feature disposed and configured for communicating with a verification feature associated with a sheet product dispenser; and   sheet product disposed within the enclosure in such a manner as to be dispensable through the dispensing opening subsequent to removal of the removable section;   wherein the rejection and verification features comprise complementary passive rejection and verification features, complementary active rejection and verification features, or a combination of complementary passive and active rejection and verification features.   
     
     
         17 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the rejection feature comprises an indentation, void or recess disposed on the enclosure, a projection disposed on the enclosure, an RFID tag disposed on the enclosure, an IR reflective surface disposed on the enclosure, a machine-identifiable marking disposed on the enclosure, a magnetic region disposed on the enclosure, a machine-optically-recognizable character disposed on the enclosure, a phosphoresce region disposed on the enclosure, a starch marker disposed on the enclosure, an IC chip disposed on the enclosure, a conductive strip disposed on the enclosure, a conductive strip disposed on the sheet product, or any combination of the foregoing indentation, projection, RFID tag, IR reflective surface, machine-identifiable marking, magnetic region, machine-optically-recognizable character, phosphoresce region, starch marker, IC chip, and conductive strip.   
     
     
         18 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 inwardly extending protrusions on opposing ends of the enclosure that define pivots, wherein the sheet product is a roll of sheet product pivotally disposed upon the inwardly extending protrusions.   
     
     
         19 . The cartridge of  claim 18 , wherein the inwardly extending protrusions are cylindrically shaped trunnions. 
     
     
         20 . The cartridge of  claim 18 , wherein the inwardly extending protrusions are formed from inwardly displaced portions of the opposing ends of the enclosure. 
     
     
         21 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the sheet product is a plurality of discrete sheets disposed in such a manner relative to one another so as to be dispensable through the dispensing opening one after the other in succession. 
     
     
         22 . The cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein the discrete sheets are interfolded u-fold sheets or interfolded z-fold sheets. 
     
     
         23 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the enclosure comprises at least one deformable section that is movable from a first position suitable for packaging, storing and transporting, to a second position suitable for engagement with the sheet product dispenser, wherein the enclosure, with the at least one deformable section disposed in the second position, is engageable with the sheet product dispenser such that the at least one deformable section supports the enclosure against the influence of gravity when the sheet product dispenser is located underneath a support structure.