Dispenser and dispenser monitoring systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12185883-B2
Application number	US-201616325780-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2016
Priority date	Sep 19, 2016
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

A dispenser for hygiene products includes an electromechanical switch that is configured to operate when a hygiene product is dispensed. The action of dispensing the hygiene product causes the electromechanical switch to convert the mechanical energy associated with the dispensing action into electrical energy. The dispenser is configured to use the electrical energy to emit a signal such that the dispenser emits two signals each time a hygiene product is dispensed. A system for monitoring the consumption of hygiene products in a dispenser includes a dispenser as described above and a receiver for wirelessly receiving the emitted signal, the receiver being positioned remotely from the dispenser, and a central computer or server for receiving data from the receiver. A method of monitoring a dispenser for hygiene products is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser for hygiene products, comprising:
an electromechanical switch which is configured to operate when a hygiene product is dispensed, wherein an action of dispensing the hygiene product causes the electromechanical switch to convert a mechanical energy associated with the dispensing action into electrical energy, and
a signal emitter operatively coupled to the electromechanical switch and configured to use that electrical energy to emit two signals each time a hygiene product is dispensed,
wherein the two signals includes a first signal and a second signal different from the first signal, the first and second signals emitted from the signal emitter to be received by a receiver positioned remotely from the dispenser,
wherein the signal emitter emits the first signal when a push button of the electromechanical switch is actuated and emits the second signal when the push button of the electromechanical switch is released,
wherein the receiver determines the push button is depressed based on the first signal and determines an amount of hygiene product is dispensed based on the first signal, determines the push button is released based on the second signal and determines no hygiene product is dispensed based on the second signal, and calculates an amount of the hygiene product remaining based on distinguishing the first signal indicating the push button is depressed and from the second signal indicating the push button is released.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the electromechanical switch includes a coil and a magnet.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the dispenser is configured such that, when the hygiene product is dispensed, the action of dispensing causes the magnet to be physically moved relative to the coil to thereby generate an electric current which is used to transmit the two signals.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the dispenser comprises a circuit board and antenna for generating and emitting a radio frequency signal.

5. A system for monitoring the consumption of hygiene products in a dispenser, the system comprising:
the dispenser of claim 1 ;
the receiver of claim 1 ; and
a central computer or server for receiving data from the receiver.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the system further includes an electromechanical switch that is activated by the action of opening a door to a washroom, cubicle or stall, and a signal emitter configured to emit a uniquely identifiable signal each time said door is opened and/or closed.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein a plurality of the dispensers is provided, each dispenser comprising an electromechanical switch and a signal emitter, and wherein each signal emitter is configured to emit a uniquely identifiable radio frequency signal so that the emitter, and therefore the associated dispenser, may be identified.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the central computer or server is associated with a storage medium for storing and/or monitoring data received from the receiver.

9. The system of claim 5 , wherein the receiver is configured to send data to the central computer or server only upon fulfilment of one or more predetermined conditions.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the receiver is configured to send data to the central computer or server only when the dispenser has been used to dispense hygiene products a predetermined number of times.

11. A method of monitoring a dispenser for hygiene products, the method comprising:
providing a dispenser that has an electromechanical switch that operates when a hygiene product is dispensed, an action of dispensing the hygiene product causing the electromechanical switch to convert a mechanical energy associated with the dispensing action into electrical energy, the dispenser further being provided with an emitter that uses that electrical energy to emit two signals each time a hygiene product is dispensed, the two signals including a first signal and a second signal different from the first signal; and
providing a receiver which wirelessly receives the two signals emitted by the emitter, the receiver being positioned remotely from the dispenser and the receiver transmitting data related to the dispenser to a central computer or server,
wherein the emitter emits the first signal when a push button of the electromechanical switch is actuated and emits the second signal when the push button of the electromechanical switch is released,
wherein the receiver determines the push button is depressed based on the first signal and determines an amount of hygiene product is dispensed based on the first signal, determines the push button is released based on the second signal and determines no hygiene product is dispensed based on the second signal, and calculates an amount of the hygiene product remaining based on distinguishing the first signal indicating the push button is depressed from the second signal indicating the push button is released.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the two signals are different from each other.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein one signal is emitted when a push button of the electromechanical switch is actuated and another signal when the push button is released.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein a plurality of dispensers are provided, each dispenser having an electromechanical switch and an emitter.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein each emitter emits a uniquely identifiable radio frequency signal so that the emitter, and therefore the associated dispenser, may be identified.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein a receiver wirelessly receives the signals from each of the dispensers and transmits data relating to each of the dispensers to a central computer or server, either directly or via a relay station.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the receiver sends data to the central computer or server only upon fulfilment of one or more predetermined conditions.

18. The system of claim 5 , wherein both of the two signals are indicative of a single dispensing action actuation at the dispenser, the signal emitter transmits the two signals to the receiver remote from the dispenser for each single dispensing action, and wherein the receiver or the central computer calculates a total number of dispensing actions performed since a most recent refill of the dispenser based on the signals received from the dispenser, such that counting of the total number of dispensing actions occurs remote from the dispenser based on emitted signals received from the dispenser, and then the receiver or the central computer calculates an amount of remaining hygiene product in the dispenser based on the total number of dispensing actions performed since a most recent refill of the dispenser.

Assignees

• Essity Hygiene & Health Ab

Inventors

• Elfstrom Boris Allan

Classifications

• G06Q10/20

  Administration of product repair or maintenance · CPC title

• G06Q10/087

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• G08B21/245

  Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands · CPC title

• G06Q10/0631

  Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations · CPC title

• H01H13/18

  adapted for actuation at a limit or other predetermined position in the path of a body, the relative movement of switch and body being primarily for a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. door switch, limit switch, floor-levelling switch of a lift · CPC title