Automated toilet seat cover dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12064063-B2
Application number	US-202017028003-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2020
Priority date	Sep 23, 2019
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

Some sheet product dispensers disclosed herein are configured to dispense from a sheet product roll that includes a plurality of predetermined portions that are designed for providing a toilet seat cover. A line of perforations separates consecutive portions. A motor operates to drive the drive roller to cause movement of the sheet product along a dispensing pathway to position a leading predetermined portion of the sheet product into a dispensing position such that the trailing edge of the leading predetermined portion is positioned within the housing and the leading edge of the leading predetermined portion is positioned outside the dispensing chute to enable removal of the leading predetermined portion. Staged dispensing is utilized to help maintain hygiene, while still quickly providing the dispense. Perforation tear assist features are provided to aid in proper separation of the line of perforations, such as to help maintain integrity of the dispensed portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sheet product dispenser for dispensing sheet product from a roll of sheet product, wherein the sheet product defines a plurality of sheets with consecutive sheets separated by a line of perforations, the sheet product dispenser comprising:
a roll holder configured to support the roll of sheet product;
a dispensing mechanism operable to dispense the sheet product from the roll, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a drive roller;
a dispensing chute extending from the dispensing mechanism to an end of the dispensing chute;
a dispensing pathway extending through the sheet product dispenser for dispensing of the sheet product therealong, wherein a portion of the dispensing pathway extending within the dispensing chute from the dispensing mechanism to the end of the dispensing chute defines a length that is at least half of a length of a sheet of the sheet product;
a motor operable to cause the driver roller to rotate to cause the sheet product to move along the dispensing pathway;
a sensor configured to detect detachment of a leading sheet from the sheet product roll; and
a controller configured to:
receive an indication of detachment of the leading sheet from the sensor; and
cause, in response to receiving the indication of detachment of the leading sheet, the motor to operate the dispensing mechanism to move a next leading sheet of the sheet product from the roll of sheet product into a staged position such that the next leading sheet of the sheet product is positioned along the dispensing pathway with a leading edge inside the dispensing chute,

wherein, when the next leading sheet is in the staged position, the leading edge of the next leading sheet is positioned less than 6 inches from the end of the dispensing chute.

2. The sheet product dispenser of claim 1 further comprising an activation sensor, wherein the controller is further operable to:
receive an indication of user input from the activation sensor; and
cause, in response to receiving the indication, the motor to operate the dispensing mechanism to move the next leading sheet from the staged position into a dispensing position such that the next leading sheet is positioned with the leading edge outside of the end of the dispensing chute and a trailing edge inside the dispensing chute and along the dispensing pathway downstream of the dispensing mechanism.

3. The sheet product dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the controller is further operable to wait a predetermined amount of time after receiving the indication of detachment of the leading sheet before causing the motor to operate the dispensing mechanism to move the next leading sheet into the staged position.

4. The sheet product dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the roll holder is positioned vertically below a nip of the dispensing mechanism in general vertical alignment and the end of the dispensing chute is positioned vertically below the roll holder, wherein the dispensing pathway leads upwardly from the roll holder through the nip and back down through the dispensing chute.

5. The sheet product dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the dispensing pathway extending within the dispensing chute from the dispensing mechanism to the end of the dispensing chute is between 14 inches and 24 inches in length.

6. The sheet product dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the housing of the sheet product dispenser defines a length between 12 inches and 24 inches, a width between 16 inches and 22 inches; and a depth between 4 inches and 6 inches.

7. The sheet product dispenser of claim 1 , wherein, when the next leading sheet is in the staged position, a trailing edge of the next leading sheet is positioned along the dispensing pathway between the dispensing mechanism and the roll holder.

8. The sheet product dispenser of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sheets defines a length extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge, wherein the line of perforations extends along a width direction of the sheet product at the trailing edge, the sheet product dispenser further comprising a perforation tear assist feature that is configured to aid in removal of the next leading sheet along the line of perforations at the trailing edge of the next leading sheet, and wherein, in response to receiving an indication of an activation request, the controller is configured to cause the motor to operate to cause the next leading sheet to move into the dispensing position such that the trailing edge of the next leading sheet aligns with the perforation tear assist feature.

9. The sheet product dispenser of claim 8 , wherein the perforation tear assist feature comprises at least one rib that extends into the dispensing pathway within the dispensing chute such that, when a user pulls on the next leading sheet for removal thereof, tension is focused at a position on the sheet product corresponding to the trailing edge of the next leading sheet so as to aid in removal via separation of the line of perforations at the trailing edge.

10. The sheet product dispenser of claim 9 , wherein the at least one rib comprises a plurality of ribs that extend into the dispensing pathway at varying heights.

11. The sheet product dispenser of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of ribs are positioned across the width direction so as to each align with a perforation opening of the line of perforations.

12. The sheet product dispenser of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of ribs are positioned across the width direction, wherein at least two gaps between consecutive ribs of the plurality of ribs define different distances.

13. The sheet product dispenser of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of ribs define a stepped reduction in height extending into the dispensing pathway leading from a position proximate a side edge of the line of perforations at the trailing edge of the next leading sheet toward a center of the line of perforations at the trailing edge of the next leading sheet.

14. The sheet product dispenser of claim 8 , wherein the perforation tear assist feature comprises a brake feature movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the brake feature comprises a body extending into the dispensing pathway, wherein the brake feature is biased to the first position, wherein, when the brake feature is in the second position, the brake feature engages with at least one of the drive roller or the nip roller to prevent further rotation thereof, and wherein the brake feature is configured to move to the second position when a user pulls on the next leading sheet for removal thereof so as to cause a nip of the dispensing mechanism to hold the sheet product therein without enabling further translation therethrough and to create tension in the sheet product to aid in removal of the next leading sheet via separation of the line of perforations at the trailing edge.

15. The sheet product dispenser of claim 14 , wherein the brake feature is a roller, wherein the roller further includes at least one rib that extends into the dispensing pathway within the dispensing chute such that, when a user pulls on the next leading sheet for removal thereof, tension is focused at a position on the sheet product corresponding to the trailing edge of the next leading sheet so as to aid in removal via separation of the line of perforations at the trailing edge.

16. The sheet product dispenser of claim 8 , wherein the perforation tear assist feature comprises:
a lever that is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the lever comprises a body with a top surface and a hole extending th

Assignees

• Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Bartman Daniel Joseph
• Laitala John Patrick
• Grosz Jr John William
• Robertson Timothy Andrew
• Casper Ted Allen
• Dahl Jacob Charles

Classifications

• B65H35/006

  with means for delivering a predetermined length of tape · CPC title

• A47K10/3612

  with drive and pinch rollers · CPC title

• A47K2010/3881

  with tearing edges having movable parts · CPC title

• A47K10/3625

  with electronic control means · CPC title

• A47K2010/3668

  Detection of the presence of a user · CPC title