Wipes dispenser

Abstract

Various dispensers configured to provide access to consumable material are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the dispenser includes a housing configured to receive a container, a lid configured to move between closed and open positions, a motor, a controller, a sensor configured to transmit a signal to the controller responsive to detecting a presence of an object, and a container authorization sensor unit configured to provide an indication to the controller of whether the container is authorized for use with the dispenser. In certain embodiments, the controller is configured to instruct the motor to cause the lid to move from the closed position to the open position in response to both of the following conditions being satisfied: the controller has received said signal from the sensor; and the controller has received said indication from the container authorization sensor unit that the container is authorized for use with the dispenser.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . An electronic dispenser comprising:
 a housing configured to receive a container including one or more sheets of consumable material;   a lid configured to move between a closed position and an open position to provide a user with access to said one or more sheets of consumable material when the container is received by the housing;   a motor operatively coupled to the lid;   an electronic controller;   a sensor configured to transmit a signal to the controller responsive to detecting a presence of an object; and   a container authorization sensor unit configured to provide an indication to the controller of whether the container is authorized for use with the electronic dispenser;   wherein the controller is configured to instruct the motor to cause the lid to move from the closed position to the open position in response to both of the following conditions being satisfied:
 the controller has received said signal from the sensor; and 
 the controller has received said indication from the container authorization sensor unit that the container is authorized for use with the electronic dispenser. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to instruct the motor to cause the lid to move from the closed position to the open position only upon receipt of said indication from the container authorization sensor unit that the container is authorized for use with the electronic dispenser. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the container authorization sensor unit comprises a first switch and a first actuator;   the first actuator is configured to move between a first position where the first actuator engages the first switch and a second position where the first actuator does not engage the first switch; and   the first switch is configured to provide said indication that the container is authorized for use with the electronic dispenser when the first actuator is in one of said first and second positions.   
     
     
         4 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the first switch is configured to provide said indication when the first actuator is in said second position. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the first actuator is biased toward the first position. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first switch and the first actuator are positioned within a portion of the housing;   engagement between the first actuator and a first tab of said container causes said first actuator to move from the first position where the first actuator engages the first switch to the second position where the first actuator does not engage the first switch.   
     
     
         7 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 6 , further comprising said container. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said container comprises a body, an interior for holding said one or more sheets of consumable material, a first end comprising an opening for providing access to said interior, and a second end opposite the first end;   said first tab extends outward from the body proximate the first end of the container; and   said first tab is configured to move said first actuator from the first position to the second position when said container is received by said housing.   
     
     
         9 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 8 , further comprising a circuit board positioned within the portion of the housing and configured to mount the first switch, wherein the circuit board comprises a hole, and wherein the first actuator comprises a first portion configured to engage the first switch when in the first position and a second portion extending through the opening of the circuit board and configured to engage the first tab of the container when said container is received by said housing. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the container authorization sensor unit further comprises a second switch and a second actuator, the second actuator configured to move between a first position where the second actuator engages the second switch and a second position where the second actuator does not engage the second switch;   the second switch is configured to provide an indication to the controller that the container is authorized for use with the electronic dispenser when the second actuator is in the second position; and   upon receipt of said indication from the second switch that said container is authorized for use with the electronic dispenser, the controller is configured to instruct the motor to cause the lid to move from the closed position to the open position.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to instruct the motor to cause the lid to move from the closed position to the open position only upon receipt of both of said indications from said first and second switches that said container is authorized for use with the electronic dispenser. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the first actuator is biased toward the first position of the first actuator and wherein the second actuator is biased toward the second position of the second actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the first actuator and first switch are positioned near a top portion of the housing and the second actuator and second switch are positioned near a bottom portion of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 10 , further comprising said container, wherein:
 said container comprises:
 a body comprising an interior for holding said one or more sheets of consumable material; 
 a first end configured to be positioned adjacent the top portion of the housing; 
 a second end opposite the first end; 
 a first tab extending outward from the body near the first end; and 
 an opening in a surface at the second end of the container; 
   a portion of the second actuator is configured to extend through the opening in the surface at the second end of the container when the container is received by the housing, said second actuator being in said second position of the second actuator when the portion of the second actuator extends through the opening of the container; and   the first tab of the container is configured to move the first actuator from the first position of the first actuator to the second position of the first actuator when the portion of the second actuator extends through the opening of the container.   
     
     
         15 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein an axis extending through said opening in said surface at the second end of the container is not aligned with an axis extending through a center of a cross-section of the container. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first gear configured to be rotated by the motor, the first gear comprising a finger configured to contact a portion of the lid to move the lid from the closed position to the open position.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 16 , further comprising a second gear rotatably coupled between the first gear and the motor and configured to allow the motor to cause rotation of the first gear. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the lid is configured to be moved manually from the closed position to the open position independent of rotation of the first gear. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the first gear and the lid are configured to rotate about a first axis and wherein the motor is configured to rotate about a second axis that is spaced from the first axis. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising an indicator configured to indicate a status of the electronic dispenser.