System and method for managing product usage from dispensers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11710086-B2
Application number	US-202217898612-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2022
Priority date	Jun 28, 2016
Publication date	Jul 25, 2023
Grant date	Jul 25, 2023

Abstract

A system and method are provided for improving product usage prior to refill of product dispensers in service areas that include a plurality of such dispensers. Via a sensor configured with each of the product dispensers and a control system in communication with the sensors, a product level or amount condition of product in each dispenser is detected. Based on the information from the sensors, a visual or audio message is generated and transmitted to the patron that encourages the patron to use a first product dispenser that has a greater product fill amount as compared to a second product dispenser in the same or a different service area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for improving product refill of product dispensers in service areas, the product dispensers comprising electronic towel dispensers within the service area configured to switch operation between (1) a hanging-towel mode wherein a portion of a towel hangs from the electronic towel dispenser and is visible to a patron, and a subsequent towel portion is automatically dispensed and hangs from the electronic towel dispenser upon removal of the hanging towel by the patron, and (2) a hidden-towel mode wherein a towel to be dispensed is contained completely within the towel dispenser and is not dispensed until the patron is detected adjacent to the electronic towel dispenser, the method comprising:
monitoring a towel fill level in a plurality of electronic towel dispensers;
upon one of the electronic towel dispensers reaching a setpoint low fill level, operating said electronic towel dispenser in the hidden-towel mode.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electronic towel dispensers are operated in hanging-towel mode until the setpoint low fill level is reached.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising switching at least one of the electronic towel dispensers operating in hidden-towel mode to hanging-towel mode.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising upon all of the plurality of electronic towel dispensers being operated in hidden-towel mode, switching at least one of the electronic towel dispensers to hanging-towel mode.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising a control system in communication with each of the plurality of electronic towel dispensers.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the control system is configured to switch operations of the plurality of electronic towel dispensers from hanging-towel mode to hidden-towel mode or from hidden-towel mode to hanging-towel mode.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of electronic towel dispensers comprises a proximity detector configured to detect whether a towel has been removed, the proximity detector in communication with a control circuit.

8. The method of claim 7 , comprising upon the proximity detector detecting that the towel has not been removed, preventing a subsequent dispense cycle until the towel has been removed via the control circuit.

9. The method of claim 7 , comprising upon the proximity detector detecting that the towel has been removed, initiating a subsequent dispense cycle via the control circuit.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the setpoint low fill level comprises about 15% of a towel material remaining.

11. A system for improving product usage prior to refill of product dispensers in service areas, the service area having a plurality of product dispensers, the system specifically configured for practice of the method of claim 1 .

Assignees

• Kimberly Clark Co

Inventors

• Ghazi Babak R
• Williams Jr Frederick J
• Becker Stephen

Classifications

• G06Q10/06 Primary

  Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling · CPC title

• A47K10/34

  dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means · CPC title

• A47K10/3625 Primary

  with electronic control means · CPC title

• G06Q10/20

  Administration of product repair or maintenance · CPC title

• G06Q50/10

  Services · CPC title