GB2489965A

GB2489965A - System, method and apparatus for estimating and indicating the dispensing status of paper dispensers

Info

Publication number: GB2489965A
Application number: GB1106248.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Liora Levi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-04-13
Filing date: 2011-04-13
Publication date: 2012-10-17
Also published as: GB201106248D0

Abstract

A system for indicating paper dispensing status of a paper dispenser located 300 in a toilet compartment 50. The system includes a sensor unit 100 comprising a sensor, which detects at least one characteristic relating to toilet paper consumption in the paper dispenser; a processing unit (120, Fig 2), which receives data from the sensor unit and estimates current dispensing status of the paper dispenser, where the data includes the paper consumption characteristic; and a presentation unit 200, which indicates the current dispensing status. The presentation unit 200 is located in vicinity of the toilet compartment in a manner which allows a user to view the dispensing status indication prior to entering the respective toilet compartment. Also disclosed is an apparatus and method for indicating paper dispensing status.

Description

SYSTEM METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING AND

INDICATING DISPENSING STATUS OF PAPER DISPENSERS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to dispensing systems and more S particularly to systems methods and apparatuses for estimating consumption rate of paper in paper dispensers and indicating thereof

BACKGROUND ART

"When entering a toilet facility or a washroom it is always disappointing to discover that the paper dispenser is empty, especially when visiting a public toilet facility.

There are numerous systems that sense paper consumption in paper dispensers such as toilet paper or dispensable paper towels in public toilets or washrooms. Many of these systems include one or more sensors that are attached to the paper dispenser. These sensors can sense the status of the paper usage in the dispenser in various types of sensing methods and equipment, depending on the dispenser type and the manufacturer requirements. Some sensor systems enable tracking shortage of toilet paper by sensing the amount of paper consumed by each user visiting the toilet booth by sensing the duration of time each paper roll is used, the number of discrete pulls on the paper taken by each user etc. Two US patents No. 5,878,381 and 5,691,919 by Kimberly-Clark disclose systems and methods for collecting data on individual and aggregate use of toilet tissue or other types of rolled absorbent paper in a public washroom. The system includes a sensing system for sensing one or more characteristics of paper use at a particular dispensing location, and a recording system for receiving and recording data from the sensing system, whereby paper use at the dispensing location can be monitored and studied. The system further analyzes the data to determine such things as the total amount of paper used, the duration of time over which paper is used, the number of discrete pulls on the paper taken by a user and the amount of paper taken by a user per discrete pull.

A patent No. 7,213382 by Charles Agnew Osborne discloses a system and apparatus for automatically dispensing a paper product mounted on a gravity-assisted holder through a dispenser. The system monitors usage of each paper product dispenser with each dispenser having a microprocessor controller for determining a corresponding paper product status for the dispenser. Each paper product dispenser communicates with a master network device preferably mounted on a ceiling plane. Paper product status messages are transmitted between each dispenser and master network device unit using a standard data communications protocol. The master network device communicates the paper product status for each individual dispenser to an independent building automation and control network. A central control console that is interoperable with the building automation and control network monitors the status of each paper product dispenser through signals communicated from a master receiver/transmitter unit to the central control console.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to present a system for indicating paper dispensing status in a toilet compartment.

It is another object of the present invention to present a system for indicating paper dispensing status in a toilet compartment so that a user can view the paper dispensing status before entering the toilet compartment.

The present invention thus relates to a system for indicating paper dispensing status of at least one paper dispenser, the paper dispenser is located in a toilet compartment, the system comprising: (i) a sensor unit comprising at least one sensor, which detects at least one characteristic relating to toilet paper consumption in the paper dispenser; (ii) a processing unit, which receives data from the sensor unit and estimates current dispensing status of the paper dispenser, using the data, wherein the data includes the characteristic; and (iii) a presentation unit, which receives the current dispensing status and presents an indication thereof, the presentation unit is located in vicinity of the toilet compartment in a manner which allows a user to view the dispensing status indication prior to entering the toilet compartment.

In some embodiments, the dispensing status relates to the amount of available toilet paper left in the toilet compartment.

In some embodiments, the presentation unit presents a first indication when the amount of toilet paper in the toilet compartment is above a predetermined value, and the presentation unit presents a second indication when the amount of toilet paper in the toilet compartment is equal to or below the predetermined value.

In some embodiments, the sensor unit comprises the processing unit.

In some embodiments, the system further comprises an indication apparatus, which includes the presentation unit, and a communication unit, the communication unit enables receiving data from the sensor unit over at least one communication link.

In some embodiments, the system comprises a control unit enabling to receive data from at least one sensor unit located in a respective at least one toilet compartment and transmit current dispensing status of each paper dispenser deduced from the respective data to a respective at least one presentation unit, in real time.

The present invention further relates to an apparatus for indicating dispensing status of a paper dispenser, the paper dispenser is located in a toilet compartment, the apparatus comprising: (i) a communication unit, which receives data from at least one sensor unit in real time, the data is indicative of a current dispensing status of the paper dispenser; and (ii) a presentation unit, which presents the current dispensing status in real time thereover, wherein the presentation unit is located in vicinity of the toilet compartment in a manner which allows a user to view the dispensing status presentation prior to entering the toilet compartment.

The present invention further relates to a method of indicating paper dispensing status of at least one paper dispenser, the paper dispenser is located in a toilet compartment, the method comprising: (i) detecting at least one characteristic relating to the dispensing status of the paper in the paper dispenser, using a sensor unit including at least one sensor; (ii) estimating the dispensing status of the paper dispenser using the at least one characteristic; (iii) receiving the estimated dispensing status; and (iv) presenting an indication of the dispensing status over a presentation unit located in vicinity of the toilet compartment in a manner which allows a user to view the dispensing status presentation prior to entering the toilet compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a system for estimating and indicating dispensing status of a toilet paper dispenser, according to some embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a system for estimating and indicating dispensing status of a toilet paper dispenser, according to some embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a system for estimating and indicating dispensing status of a toilet paper dispenser, according to other embodiments of the present invention; and Fig. 4 schematically illustrates multiple indication apparatuses; each indication apparatus indicates paper dispensing status of an associated dispenser, which is located at a different toilet compartment of a public toilet facility.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part thereof; and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, provides a system, a method and an apparatus for identifying and indicating dispensing status of a paper dispenser such as a toilet paper dispenser located in a toilet compartment. This invention may especially but not exclusively be useful for use in public toilet facilities and/or washrooms, where there are one or more public toilet compartments.

The term "toilet compartment" refers to any facility and/or room and/or cabin that includes a toilet and/or that is used as a toilet of any kind.

The term paper dispenser refers to any dispenser known in the art that allows dispensing of toilet paper, tissues or any other kind of paper product and/or disposable product that can be used in a toilet facility and/or a washroom.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a sensor unit associated with each toilet compartment enables sensing the status of paper usage of a toilet paper dispenser that is placed in this compartment and transmitting data to an indication apparatus located outside the toilet compartment, over one or more communication links. The data transmitted by the sensor unit may include one or more characteristic of the dispenser or a dispensing status parameter indicating the consumption status of the paper in the paper dispenser that can be deduced from those characteristics. The indication apparatus receives the detected data and/or the deduced dispensing status and presents an indication thereof in real time or near real time. The indication may be presented over a presentation unit, such as a screen, a mechanical or virtual scale that can be electronically controlled and the like.

The transmission of the data may be carried out through any one or more communication links, protocols and/or networks such as over a short range wireless comnmnication link through a dedicated radio frequency (RF) channel, a communication line connecting the sensor unit and the indication apparatus, and the like.

The presentation unit is located in vicinity of the toilet compartment to allow users wishing to enter the toilet compartment to view its current paper dispensing status prior to entering the toilet compartment. For this purpose, the dispensing status indication should be presented externally from the toilet compartment and in vicinity thereof For example, the indication apparatus may be placed over the outer side of the toilet compartment's door, enabling the user to view the paper dispensing status prior to entering the toilet compartment. Viewing the dispensing status before entering the toilet compartment allows users to consider whether or not they wish to enter this compartment according to the paper dispensing status indicated. This knowledge assists the user in avoiding entering toilet compartments in which the paper dispenser is out of paper or that have little paper left. This novel system may also improve users' hygiene when visiting public toilet facilities; since the user does not have to open and enter toilet compartments he/she would otherwise leave when realizing the paper dispenser inside lacks sufficient toilet paper.

The sensor unit may include one or more sensors enabling to detect the dispensing status of the toilet paper dispenser by any detection method known in the art. Many methods and sensor devices that can sense and estimate the dispensing status and/or rate are known in the art and can be used for estimating or identifying the dispensing status of the dispenser.

For example, in a case in which the paper dispenser includes a stack of separate tissues, a sensor that measures the weight of the stack every few seconds allows identifying or estimating the number of tissues left in the stack according to the measured weight. This allows estimating the percentage of the tissues left in the stack in relation to the weight of the entire stack and therefore will allow estimating the usage rate of the dispenser by estimating the number of tissues left therein.

In another exemplary case, in which the dispenser dispenses a toilet paper roll, a sensor measuring the number of rotations of the roll and/or the thickness of the roll may allow estimating how much paper is left in the roll and therefore allow indicating whether the dispenser is empty or not and/or the estimated consumption rate of the toilet paper roll.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the indication apparatus enables indicating only if there is or there is no paper in the dispenser without indicating how much paper there is in case there is paper detected in the paper dispenser.

According to other embodiments of the present invention and in cases where the sensor unit allows such detection, the indication apparatus may indicate an estimated usage rate of the toilet paper in the dispenser by either analyzing the sensor data to estimate this rate and/or by receiving this rate directly from the sensors unit.

Reference is now made to Fig.1, which schematically illustrates a system for identifying and indicating paper usage of a paper dispenser 300 located in a toilet compartment 50, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

The system includes a sensor unit 100, which includes one or more sensors that can detect or measure one or more characteristics of the paper in the dispenser such as the weight of a tissue paper stack, the thickness of a paper roll, and the like, as known in the art. The currently measured characteristics of the paper dispenser 300 allow estimating a respective current dispensing status of the paper dispenser 300. An indication of the estimated current dispensing status is then presented to the users of the toilet compartment 50 using an indication apparatus 200 which includes a presentation unit or device that is located in vicinity of the toilet compartment 50 in a manner that will allow the user to view the dispensing status of the toilet paper in the dispenser 100 prior to entering the toilet compartment 50. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 1, over the outer side of the toilet compartment door 500.

In this way people who enter a toilet facility including one or more toilet compartments, can see if there is toilet paper in each of the compartments they wish to enter prior to entering any of the compartments and decide whether or not to enter this compartment according to the indicated dispensing status without having to check each compartment separately by entering it to see if there is enough toilet paper in their dispensers.

The estimation of the dispensing status may be carried out at the sensor unit and/or at the indication apparatus 200 depending upon system configuration. In the latter case, the one or more current characteristics or parameters detected by the sensor relating to usage rate of the paper dispenser 300 are processed by the indication apparatus 200 to estimate the usage rate, as previously explained.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a system for estimating a current dispensing status of the toilet paper dispenser 300 and indicating the current dispensing status in real time over the indication apparatus 200, according to some embodiments of the present invention. According to these embodiments, the system comprises the sensor unit 100 and the indication apparatus 200, where the sensor unit 100 is located inside the toilet compartment 50 in vicinity of the paper dispenser 300 and the indication apparatus 200 is located outside the toilet compartment 50 in the vicinity thereof As illustrated in Fig. 2, according to some embodiments, the sensor unit 100 comprises one or more sensors 110, which can sense one or more characteristics of the toilet paper and/or tissues in the paper dispenser 300. For example, the sensor can measure the weight of a stack of paper tissues that is in the paper dispenser 300. This weight measurement can help estimate the amount of tissues left in the dispenser 300 at each measurement time by, for example, comparing the measured weight to a known average weight of a full stack. The estimated tissues amount is used, in turn, to determine a current dispensing status of the paper dispenser 300.

For example, if a typical weight of a full stack is SOgr and the measured weight of the current stack in the dispenser is 1 Ogr it is then easy to estimate that currently 80% of the stack was already used and only 20% of the stack is left available. If an average stack includes 100 tissues then 20 tissues are estimated to be left in the paper dispenser 300. The sensors data, which may include, for instance, the characteristic(s) that was measured or detected, the time of measurement, and the like can be processed for estimating the dispensing status at a processing unit 120 that is operated by the sensors unit 100 and/or a processing unit 220 that is operated by the indication apparatus 200. The sensor unit 100 additionally includes a communication unit 130 which allows transmission of data through one or more transmission technologies and/or protocols to a corresponding communication unit 210 of the indication apparatus 200. The data transmitted from the sensor unit 100 to the indication apparatus 200 may include the sensors' data such as the measured or detected characteristics of the paper dispenser 300, and optionally other parameters calculated according to the measured or detected characteristics, such as the usage percentage of the tissue paper, following the latest example. The current dispensing status may be determined at the sensor unit 100 and transmitted to the indication apparatus 200 ands/or at the indication apparatus 200 using the received characteristics and optionally additional data.

For example, in the case where the sensor 110 weighs the stack of tissues in the paper dispenser 300, the weight measurement may be transmitted from the sensor unit 100 to the indication apparatus 200 where this data is processed by the processing unit 220 of the indication apparatus 200 for estimating the percentage of used and/or unused paper, as illustrated previously. The dispensing status may be determined according to threshold limits defining when the paper dispenser is considered to be "out of paper" and when it is considered to be substantially full. In this case only two optional dispensing statuses can be indicated: a full dispenser or an empty one. For example, an empty dispenser may be defined when there is less than 30% of the total weight left in the dispenser and a full dispenser may be defined when the weight is over 30%. In other cases, the exact weight percentage can be presented to the user.

The current dispensing status of the paper dispenser may be presented over one or more presentation units 230, which may be any presentation device known in the art such as a screen, an electronic board, and the like. The presentation unit 230 is preferably located at the vicinity of the toilet compartment and outside thereof to allow users to view the dispensing status of the dispenser before entering the toilet compartment.

The transmission of the data from the sensor unit 110 to the indication apparatus 200 may be carried out through any one or more communication links and/or networks such as link 99, using any type of protocol such as over a short range wireless communication link through a dedicated radio frequency (RF) channel, a communication line connecting the sensor unit and the indication apparatus, and the like.

Any one or more sensors can be used to detect any characteristic of the paper dispenser that is relevant for estimating its current dispensing status such as, for example, weight sensors for measuring the weight of tissue stacks, optical sensors for measuring thickness of a paper roll or a tissue stack, mechanical sensors that can sense rotation a toilet paper roll, and the like.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the dispensing status may be additionally transmitted to at least one other remote device enabling to present the current dispensing status to at least one other user that is located remotely from the toilet compartment 50. To transmit the dispensing status to the remote user, any one or more communication links and/or protocols may be used, whether using the same communication link as the one used between the sensor unit and the indication apparatus 200 or a different one.

Optionally, the communication unit 210 in the indication apparatus 200 may enable and carry out transmission of data including the dispensing status to the remote device.

Additionally or alternatively, the communication unit 130 in the sensor unit may enable and carry out the transmission of data to the remote device. In this case the data may include the sensor measured data, where the remote device enables processing this data to estimate the current dispensing status, and/or the dispensing status itself, where the remote device simply presents it to the remote user(s).

The remote device may be used for staff members of a building in which the toilet facility is located, to allow them to be acknowledged when one or more of the toilet compartments is running out of toilet paper. In this way the staff member can be notified by the remote device to allow hinilher to address the matter.

The remote device may be a handheld device such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistance (PDA) device, and the like, and/or a stationary device such as a PC computer, a display terminal having communication means such as a screen or an electronic board and the like.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which schematically illustrates a system for estimating a current dispensing status of a toilet paper dispenser 300' and indicating it in real time over an indication apparatus 200', according to other embodiments of the present invention. The system includes a sensor unit 100', a control unit 400 and a presentation unit 230', where the control unit 400 is located remotely from the toilet compartment 50', the sensor unit 100' is located in the vicinity of the paper dispenser 300' and the presentation unit 230' is located in the vicinity of toilet compartment 50' in a manner that allows users to view it prior to entering the compartment 50'. According to these embodiments, the presentation unit 230' is hung over an external side of a toilet compartment door 500' allowing users to view the dispensing status of the paper dispenser 300' prior to entering the toilet compartment 50'.

The sensor unit 100', which is similar to sensor unit 100, in essential, is located in the vicinity of a paper dispenser 300' to detect or measure one or more characteristics relating to paper consumptions thereof Data including these characteristics and/or a current dispensing status that is deduced from these characteristics is transmitted to the control unit 400 over one or more communication links such as link 91a. The control unit 400 may process the data to deduce the current dispensing status of the paper dispenser 300' and then transmit the estimated current dispensing status to the presentation unit 230' for displaying thereof over one or more communication links such as link 91b. In the case in which the dispensing status is calculated at the sensor unit 100', the control unit 400 may simply transmit the dispensing status to the presentation unit 230' upon receiving thereof Communication links 9k and/or 91b may be any link known in the art whether wireless or not, using any type of protocol and/or frequency for transmission as known in the art. For example, both communication links 91a and 91b may be wireless links using a designated RF frequency for transmitting and/or receiving data.

The use of a control unit may be handy in cases in which a toilet facility includes several toilet compartments. In this case, a remote control unit may receive data from all sensor units of all compartments and transmit each respective presentation unit its relative current dispensing status.

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates multiple indication apparatuses such as indication apparatuses 200a 200b and 200c, according to some embodiments of the present invention. Each indication apparatus 200a 200b and/or 200c indicates paper dispensing status of an associated dispenser located at a different toilet compartment such as compartments of a public toilet facility. Each indication apparatus 200a 200b and 200c is positioned at a door of a different toilet compartment such as doors SOOa SOOb and 500c respectively.

In this case, each indication apparatus 200a 200b and/or 200c includes a screen that graphically indicates the dispensing status by presenting a scale which demonstrates the percentage of paper usage. As shown in Fig. 3 the first indication apparatus 200a includes a scale indication, representing paper consumption rate in a respective first toilet compartment, in this example the current consumption rate is 0°A illustrated by a fully colored box, meaning that the paper dispenser of the first toilet compartment is currently full and therefore the dispensing status is "FULL".

Respectively, the current consumption rate of the paper dispenser in the second toilet compartment is about 50%, and therefore, the dispensing status is "HALF FULL" or "50% FULL". Respectively, the current consumption rate of the paper dispenser in the third toilet compartment is 100%, meaning that this paper dispenser is essentially empty and therefore its respective dispensing status is "EMPTY".

Many other types of representations may be used to indicate the dispensing status such as a number representing the consumption rate, a color box indicating one color representing a full dispenser and another representing an empty one, and the like.

Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following invention and its various embodiments.

Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations. A teaching that two elements are combined in a claimed combination is further to be understood as also allowing for a claimed combination in which the two elements are not combined with each other, but may be used alone or combined in other combinations. The excision of any disclosed element of the invention is explicitly contemplated as within the scope of the invention.

The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification stmeture, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.

Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the invention.

Although the invention has been described in detail, nevertheless changes and modifications, which do not depart from the teachings of the present invention, will be evident to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are deemed to come within the purview of the present invention and the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system for indicating paper dispensing status of at least one paper dispenser, said paper dispenser is located in a toilet compartment, said system comprising: (i) a sensor unit comprising at least one sensor, which detects at least one characteristic relating to toilet paper consumption in said paper dispenser; (ii) a processing unit, which receives data from said sensor unit and estimates current dispensing status of said paper dispenser, using said data, wherein said data includes said characteristic; and (iii) a presentation unit, which receives said current dispensing status and presents an indication thereof said presentation unit is located in vicinity of said toilet compartment in a manner which allows a user to view said dispensing status indication prior to entering said toilet compartment.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing status relates to the amount of available toilet paper left in the toilet compartment.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the presentation unit presents a first indication when the amount of toilet paper in the toilet compartment is above a predetermined value, and the presentation unit presents a second indication when the amount of toilet paper in the toilet compartment is equal to or below said predetermined value.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor unit comprises said processing unit.
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an indication apparatus, which includes said presentation unit, and a communication unit, said communication unit enables receiving data from said sensor unit over at least one communication link.
6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a control unit enabling to receive data from at least one sensor unit located in a respective at least one toilet compartment and transmit current dispensing status of each said paper dispenser deduced from said respective data to a respective at least one presentation unit, in real time.
7. An apparatus for indicating dispensing status of a paper dispenser, said paper dispenser is located in a toilet compartment, said apparatus comprising: (i) a communication unit, which receives data from at least one sensor unit in real time, said data is indicative of a current dispensing status of said paper dispenser; and (ii) a presentation unit, which presents said current dispensing status in real time thereover, wherein said presentation unit is located in vicinity of said toilet compartment in a manner which allows a user to view said dispensing status presentation prior to entering said toilet compartment.
8. A method of indicating paper dispensing status of at least one paper dispenser, , said paper dispenser is located in a toilet compartment, said method comprising: (i) detecting at least one characteristic relating to the dispensing status of the paper in said paper dispenser, using a sensor unit including at least one sensor; (ii) estimating the dispensing status of said paper dispenser using said at least one characteristic; (iii) receiving said estimated dispensing status; and (iv) presenting an indication of said dispensing status over a presentation unit located in vicinity of said toilet compartment in a manner which allows a user to view said dispensing status presentation prior to entering said toilet compartment.