JP2001515220A - Monitor for collecting data on consumable items - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] A monitor that collects data on consumer consumption of a dispensable article by part comprises a support member (22) capable of supporting the dispensable article (50), and a support member (22). ) And a recorder (40) in operative communication with the weight sensor (30). The test article has an article weight. The weight sensor (30) measures the article weight as each portion of the dispensable dispensable article to be tested is removed as it is removed from the dispensable dispensable article. The recorder (40) communicates with the weight sensor (30) to receive and record the article weight. The monitor has an updated weight reference, which is automatically corrected to compensate for changes in the weight of the article that are unrelated to the removal of each part of the article, such as those caused by environmental conditions. Can be done. Optionally, the monitor further comprises a consumer input device (60) for accepting data generated by the consumer regarding the use of the article under test and its acceptance. The results of the item weighing and the data generated by the consumer are uploaded to a computer to create a data file.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the monitoring of dispensing and use of consumer dispensable dispensable articles, which are typically dispensed and consumed one at a time in discrete units of articles. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus for collecting data relating to consumer habits regarding consumption of dispensable and disposable articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] When attempting to provide consumers with high quality dispensable and disposable articles, it is necessary to thoroughly investigate the consumer's habits regarding the consumption of such articles. Such consumer dispensable dispensable articles include a variety of disposable woven and non-woven articles (napkins, facial tissues, towels, sashes, wipes, makeup pads, etc.), soft drinks, coffee, shortenings, butter, grains. Various liquid or non-liquid articles such as sugar and other granular articles, various personal hygiene products such as bath soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, sanitary napkin, tampon, various washing products such as dishwashing soap, detergent, fabric softener And cleaning supplies, and various chemicals, but are not limited thereto. Typically, these dispensable and disposable articles include sediment (paper products), boxes or bags (grain, sugar, dried products), jars or cans (
Supplied in bottling (liquid foods, liquid detergents), including spray bottling, and other packaging that allows portions of the article to be dispensed as desired.

Conventional methods for monitoring a consumer's habit of consuming consumables, including an action of dispensing articles one by one each time, rely on research on a questionnaire method and a handwritten diary method. Typical questions of such a questionnaire include detailed information about the consumption of goods and other data on the dispensing pattern of the consumer. Conventional methods for collecting such information, such as a handwritten questionnaire, are costly, time consuming and troublesome for both manufacturers and consumers. In addition, such conventional methods of collecting data on the consumption pattern and use of dispensable articles cause unnatural changes in habits during the survey. In addition, conventional diary-type studies can result in significant human errors in dispensing details, such as dispensing time, quantity or dose of dispensed articles. Therefore, the limitations of accuracy and consistency of data obtained by conventional methods mean that the reliability of interpretation of the obtained data is adversely affected.

[0004] What is needed is a new and effective way to obtain accurate information on the consumption of dispensable articles by consumers in a way that is not burdensome to consumers. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a monitor for collecting data on the consumption pattern of a dispensable article by a consumer.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for collecting and recording accurate information regarding the consumption pattern of such dispensable and disposable articles by consumers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A monitor for collecting data regarding the consumption of dispensable items by a consumer includes a support member, a weight sensor, a recorder, and preferably a real-time clock. The support member can support the dispensable disposable article to be investigated. Dispensable dispensable articles are dispensed in separate portions. That is, a part or several parts are dispensed at one time. The dispensable article has an article weight and each dispensed portion has a partial weight. When the article is supported by the support member, the consumer can remove portions from the article to reduce the weight of the article. The consumer removes one or more pieces from the item and monitors the new (
The act in which the (modified) article weight is measured and recorded is referred to herein as a "weight change event" or generically as an "event."

[0007] The weight sensor is in operative communication with the support member to determine an absolute value of the article weight. The preferred weight sensor is a load cell. For a new test object, the weight sensor has a resolution of at least about 40% of the partial weight. Preferably, weight sensor 30 has a resolution of at least about 20%, and more preferably has a resolution of at least about 5%.

[0008] The weight threshold indicates a minimum change in the weight of the article, which causes the monitor to record a weight change event. The weight threshold is preferably set up to about 50% of the partial weight. Preferably, the weight sensor has a resolution of at least twice the weight threshold. More preferably, the weight sensor has a resolution of at least four times the weight threshold.

[0009] The recorder is in communication with a weight sensor for receiving and recording information regarding variations in article weight. The monitor preferably does not cooperate with the removal of that portion from the article and is capable of modifying the current weight reference to account for variations in article weight below the weight threshold. "Latest weight reference value" refers to the current absolute value that is compared to the next absolute value of the article weight after the consumer removes one or more portions from the article. For analysis purposes, the item weight is detected and measured with a digital "count". One count corresponds to a part of the partial weight.

Optionally, the monitor of the present invention has a consumer input device that allows the consumer to enter specific information regarding the usage and acceptance of the article being tested. The consumer input device can be a switch or a series of switches, such as a push button.
Alternatively or additionally, the consumer input device may be a voice recorder. The behavior of a consumer to enter information using a consumer input device is defined as an "input event", or generically, an "event". Each input event is detected and recorded by the monitor regardless of whether a change in article weight (ie, a weight change event) has occurred.

A real-time clock provides information about the date and time of the event. The event record can be uploaded from the recorder to the computer through the interface to create a data file. Information entered by the consumer using the consumer input device is transferred into the computer and included in the data file. The data file is converted into a spreadsheet.

The present invention, in the concept of the method, comprises the following steps.

(A) providing a dispensable dispensable article having an article weight and dispensable in portions, each section having a partial weight; and (b) supporting the dispensable disposable article. A support member, a weight sensor operatively in communication with the support member for measuring an absolute value of the article weight as the portion of the dispensable article is removed from the dispensable article, and the article. Providing a monitor including a recorder in communication with the weight sensor for receiving and recording the absolute value of the weight; and (c) dispensing the dispensable article so that the dispensable article is supported by the support member of the monitor. (D) dispensing the dispensable article for each part, changing the weight of the article, and monitoring the monitor; Measuring and recording the weight of the article.

The monitor of the present invention can be used to inspect various articles including, but not limited to, paper sheet deposition, paper rolls, liquid articles, pasty articles, granular articles, and powdered articles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIG. 1, the monitor 10 of the present invention comprises three main components,
2, a weight sensor 30 and a recorder 40 are provided. The monitor 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a housing 20, which is preferred but not required.
The housing 20 preferably comprises a casing shaped to allow the dispensable consumable 50 to be placed such that the dispensable consumable 50 is supported by the support member 22. As an example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the housing 20 comprises a generally rectangular plastic case. However, it should be understood that the housing 20 can have other shapes and be made of other materials. Since one of the goals of the present invention is to not conflict with general consumer usage practices, the overall shape of housing 20 and support member 22 must be selected to match this goal. Preferably, support member 22 is vertically movable with respect to housing 20. Monitor 1
When 0 is in the active position, the vertical direction preferably coincides with the direction of gravity.

The support member 22 can support and preferably hold the article 50. Article 5
0 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 as a bottle of detergent TIDE® manufactured and sold by the present assignee, but is characterized in principle by a number of dispensing systems per package (one-time partial system). Any suitable dispensable consumables can be used. Such articles include, but are not limited to, various dispensable paper articles (napkins, tissues, towels, wipers, squeezers, toilet paper), liquid or non-liquid articles (soft drinks, coffee, grains, sugar, butter), Includes personal hygiene articles (toothpastes, deodorants, soaps), laundry articles (detergents, fabric softeners) and other articles that are partially dispensed.

Article 50 is preferably (and typically) disposed on support member 22 as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the article 50 can be supported by the support member without being directly supported on the support member 22. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, a suitable article, such as a roll of toilet paper or a roll of paper towel, is
It can be suspended from the suspension member 22 for "one-time" dispensing. Such a structure will be easily understood by a person skilled in the art and will not be described here.

It should be pointed out that the support member 22 need not have a flat or flat surface. Depending on the nature, characteristics and use of the article 50, it is necessary to use a support member 22 having a special non-planar shape. Thus, as used herein, "support member 22" should be understood to refer to any element capable of supporting article 50, whether or not article 50 is disposed on the support member. Also, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the support member 22 can have any of a variety of shapes within the spirit of the invention. For example, a spindle-like element that supports a toilet paper roll with a core is a "support member 22" in the sense of the present invention. Another example of the support member 22 is a concave or cup-shaped support member that can hold a granular or tablet-like article without using a container.

As used herein, each article portion or volume removed from the article 50 at a time is referred to as “
Part ". In this specification, the weight of the article 50 is defined as “article weight”, and the weight of the article portion is defined as “partial weight”.

Article 50 is typically, but not necessarily, contained in a container 55. Where the article 50 is a liquid, the container 55 is typically a bottle, spray bottle, jar, or similar package. If the article 50 is not a liquid, the container 55 may be a box-shaped package, for example, a box of facial tissue PUFFS® manufactured and sold by the assignee.

An important feature of the present invention is that the monitor 10 of the present invention allows a consumer to test consumption without altering the original packaging of the article to be tested or interfering with the original and normal manner of dispensing the article. Can be performed. According to the present invention, the test article in the original packaging can be used, without having to repackage the test article or performing any additional steps for testing purposes. In most cases,
It is only necessary to place the test article in the original packaging on the support member 22. Monitor 1
Numeral 0 is a relatively small device that, in fact, can be easily fitted into any location where a consumer can habitually place an article of the type described above. Therefore, the monitor 10 of the present invention does not significantly change the consumer's habits with respect to dispensing and using the test article, and thus can provide reliable information regarding dispensing and using the article.

When the article 50 is supported by the support member 22, the consumer can remove each portion from the article 50 to change (reduce) the article weight by the weight of the dispensed portion or portions. it can. Weight sensor 30 is in operative communication with support member 22 that supports article 50. The weight sensor also communicates with the recorder 40. Thus, if the article 50 changes its weight due to removal of that portion or for other reasons, the monitor 10 can measure and record the new (changed) weight via the weight sensor 30 and the recorder 40. Of course, in order for the weight sensor 30 to be able to detect a new (changed) weight, as will be described in more detail below, the amount of variation in the article weight must be at least equal to or preferably greater than the sensitivity of the weight sensor 30. Must. As used herein, the act of removing one or more portions from article 50 and causing monitor 10 to measure and record a new (changed) article weight is referred to as a "weight change event."

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, there are a variety of devices that can be used as the weight sensor 30 of the monitor of the present invention. Examples of this weight sensor 30 include, but are not limited to, piezoelectric sensors and pressure resistance (semiconductor) sensors, strain gauge sensors, capacitance sensors, inductive sensors, electrical resistance sensors, magnetostrictive sensors, and other industry known weight measuring devices. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The preferred weight sensor 30 of the present invention is an electronic load cell. A load cell is a device that generally converts an applied force into a proportional electrical signal. The electrical signal is detected and measured by the recorder, and the amount of force applied to the load cell is determined and recorded based on the measured value of the electrical signal. These electronic load cells are available from HAMills et al., Process, Measurement and Analysis (Instrument Engineer's Handbook), Chil-
ton, Book Company, 3d Edition, 1995. This work serves as a reference for the description of the load cell. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the load
The cell converts the force generated by the weight of the item into an electrical signal. Of course, article 5
An appropriate load cell 30 must be selected depending on the nature of the zero and its weight. For example, a "heavy load" monitor 10 suitable for consumption testing of relatively heavy items 50, such as the detergent bottle shown in FIG. 1, may include individual dispensable lightweight paper sheets (not shown) or cough drops (not shown). A load cell 30 of a different type from that used in the "lightweight" monitor 10 suitable for consumption testing of relatively lightweight articles 50 of the present invention.

The weight sensor 30 measures the absolute value of the article weight. As the consumer removes one or more portions from the article 50, the article weight varies by the removed portion or portions. "New" or "new" after the consumer removes one or more parts
The "changed" article weight corresponds to the current weight reference. As used herein, the “latest weight reference value” refers to the value after the consumer has removed one or more portions from the article 50.
In other words, it refers to the absolute value of the latest value at the time when the weight is compared with the next absolute value of the article weight in order to confirm the weight reduction of the article weight after the occurrence of the weight fluctuation. Until the last part is removed and the article 50 is no longer present, the next "new" article weight becomes the "new" latest weight reference.

In selecting components of the monitor 10 of the present invention, it is important that the weight sensor 30 have a resolution of at least 40% of the partial weight. As used herein, the “resolution” of the weight sensor 30 is the sensitivity of the weight sensor 30, the weight sensor 30 being new (changed) after a portion has been removed from the article 50, ie, after a weight change event has occurred. The minimum change amount that can detect and measure the article weight is displayed. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the lower the percentage of resolution relative to the partial weight, the higher the resolution of the weight sensor 30. For example, a resolution of 5% of the partial weight is higher than a resolution of 10% of the partial weight.

Preferably, the weight sensor 30 of the monitor 10 of the present invention has a partial weight of at least about 2
It has a resolution of 0%. More preferably, the weight sensor 3 of the monitor 10 of the present invention.
0 has a resolution of at least about 5% of the partial weight. For example, if the hypothetical portion has a partial weight of 10 grams, the preferred weight sensor 30 has a resolution of at least about 2 grams, and more preferably at least about 0.5 grams.

As used herein, the term “weight threshold” refers to the minimum change in article weight at which monitor 10 can record a weight change event. Obviously, the resolution must be above the weight threshold. Preferably, the resolution is at least about two times higher than the weight threshold. More preferably, the resolution is at least about four times higher than the weight threshold. For example, if the desired threshold is about 0.4 grams, the monitor 10 must include a weight sensor 30 that preferably has a resolution of at least about 0.2 grams, and more preferably 0.1 grams. As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, based on the desired resolution of the monitor 10, the weight threshold can be set to a value equal to N times the resolution, where "N" is an integer. A preferred weight threshold is about 50% of the partial weight. Of course, the partial weight is a variable property value that depends on the nature of the article 50, its intended use, weight and other factors. For a given article to be tested, the average article weight of the article under test 50 that varies significantly from article to article;
The weight threshold must be set taking into account the standard (statistical) deviation of the article weight and the partial weight.

It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that during the time between two consecutive events, the updated weight reference may fluctuate due to environmental changes, mainly changes in temperature and humidity. Phenomena such as vibration of the floor of the room where the monitor is placed and other similar phenomena can also affect the updated weight reference value. Therefore, the monitor 10 must be able to modify the latest weight reference value to account for article weight variations below the threshold. In other words, the monitor 10 should be able to modify the latest reference value to compensate for weight fluctuations unrelated to partial removal from the article 50. Monitor 10
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art how to automatically make the latest weight reference value correct. At least one way to implement such a modification of the current weight reference is to use the recorder 40
The absolute value of the article weight is read at regular time intervals, for example, every three seconds. If the recorder 40 detects a change below the threshold, it is preferable to correct the latest weight reference value to the given (changed) weight reference value without recording the amount of change in the article weight. Of course, the minimum weight that can correct the latest weight reference value is determined by the sensitivity level of the weight sensor 30, that is, its resolution.

As described above, a consumer's habits regarding dispensing of dispensable and disposable articles vary significantly from consumer to consumer and depending on the nature of the test article 50. For example, in the first scenario, some consumers wish to remove one or more portions from the article 50 without removing the entire article 50 from the monitor support member 22. In the second scenario, some consumers first remove the entire article 50 from the support member 22 (possibly including the container), then remove one or more portions from the article 50 and dispense. Finally, the article 50 is returned on the support member so as to be supported by the support member 22 (this is the case, for example, for the dispensable liquid article shown in FIG. 1). In the second scenario described above, when the article 50 is removed from the support member 22, the absolute value of the article weight read by the recorder 40 suddenly drops to zero for a certain time. This sudden drop to zero is recorded in the event record as described below and is taken into account when analyzing the event record. Alternatively, monitor 10 could accept a sudden change in article weight read by such recorder 40 without such a sudden change being recorded during the event recording.

In the embodiment of the monitor 10 of the present invention schematically illustrated in FIG.
Includes a microprocessor 42 in communication with a memory 44 and a real-time clock (not shown). The memory 44 is preferably a non-volatile memory so that data collected in the memory during a power outage is not lost. It has been found that a memory 44 capable of storing up to 2000 events works satisfactorily. FIG.
At 42, the microprocessor 42 receives the article weight, ie, a "new" or changed value of the article weight as the part is removed from the article 50 from the weight sensor 30 via the analog-to-digital converter 35.

For the purpose of analysis, article weight is preferably measured in digital “counts”.
The analog-to-digital converter 35 schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 is used to convert the electrical signal generated by the sensor 30 including the load cell into a digital count read by the recorder 40. Preferably, at least one digital count corresponds to the resolution of the weight sensor 30. Of course, the weight sensor 30 must be selected or adjusted so that the total article weight can be measured. For example, the manufacturer (
Revere Transducers, 14030 Bolsa Lane, Cerritos, CA 90701-5195), a commercially available load cell Model FT 50 Force Transducer set to output 2048 counts over a 500 gram range. ) Was able to test consumers' habits of consumption. The average weight (part weight) of each PUFFS® tissue portion was approximately 1.5 grams, which corresponded to 6 counts.

Preferably, the monitor 10 of the present invention has a consumer input device 60 as shown in FIGS. Consumer input device 60 is a consumer actuator that allows the input of specific information regarding the usage and acceptance of the article being tested. The consumer input device 60 is, for example, a switch or a series of switches, such as the push buttons shown in FIG. Each push button 61 corresponds to a response signal to a specific question to which the consumer can respond by pressing the push button. Alternatively, the consumer input device 6
0 may be a voice recorder (not shown) for the consumer of the test article 50 to answer the question aloud or comment on the use and acceptance of the article. Also, other communication devices known in the art suitable for the purpose of the present invention can be used in the monitor 10.

In this case, the action of the consumer to input information using the consumer input device 60 is defined as an “input event”. Both "weight change events" and "input events" are generically defined herein as "events." The input event is detected and recorded by the monitor 10 irrespective of whether or not a change in article weight occurred before or after the input event (ie, a weight change event).

A real-time clock (not shown) provides the recorder 40 with information regarding the date and time of the event, whether a weight change event or an input event. Preferably, each event has a separate event record. Each event record is uploaded from the recorder 40 to the computer 70 via the interface 46 for creation of a data file. Interface 46 connects monitor 10 of the present invention to computer 70. A standard RS-232C serial link has proven to function satisfactorily as interface 46. The data file can be transformed into a spreadsheet to facilitate manipulation and aggregation of the data, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The following table is an example of a spreadsheet developed when testing a PUFFS® facial tissue using the monitor 10 of the present invention.

[0036]

[Table 1]

As shown in the above table, each row in column (1) is an event record of data collected from monitor 10, whether a weight change event or an input event. Part of the data in column (1) is recorded in hexadecimal symbols such as "077D" and "EE" (see the first row of column (1)). Columns (2)-(6) show the first column of data classified by category and converted to decimal symbols. For example, the first event record in the table contains the following data about the event:

(2) Date: 07/15/96. "Date" is the date of the event.

(3) Time: 15:46:56. "Time" is the time of the event.

(4) Absolute count: 1917 (corresponding to hexadecimal symbol 077D in column (1)).
The “absolute count” is a digital “count” number indicating the weight of the article as described above. This should not be confused with the actual number or absolute weight of the parts removed from the article 50.

(5) Delta count: −18 (corresponding to hexadecimal symbol EE in column (1)) “Delta count” is a change in the weight of the article indicated by a digital “count”, and the sign “−” Indicates weight loss.

(6) Switch: 0 (corresponding to hexadecimal symbol 00 in column (1)) “Switch” indicates the occurrence or non-occurrence of a device entry of consumer input, ie, the type of recorded event. Zero ("0") indicates that it was a weight change event. Numeric symbols other than "0" indicate that it was an input event. The number symbol "3" in line 2 (second event record), "1" in line 5 (fifth event record), and "2" in the last line (last event record) are used, respectively. 2 shows a particular push button on the monitor 10. If the weight change event and the input event cooperate in the same dispensing operation, separate event records are preferably recorded, one of which reflects the change in article weight (weight change event record). , And the other event record is based on consumer input (
Input event record). These separate records are then assembled into groups for analysis based on date and time.

(7) Event analysis: Dispensing 3. "3" indicates that the consumer has removed three portions from the article.

As mentioned above, one of the major advantages of the present invention is that monitor 10 does not significantly alter consumer habits regarding dispensing and using test articles. Therefore, it is preferable that the monitor 10 is a self-contained device independent of the external power source. Preferably, the monitor 10 of the present invention includes a power source that lasts long enough to provide sufficient energy during the life of the average article 50. Preferably, monitor 10 includes at least one battery as a power source. The embodiment of monitor 10 shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2 has been successful using six 1.5 volt, D cells, alkaline "long life" batteries (not shown). These six batteries in the monitor 10 have been running for about two months, during which time it has been discovered that it is sufficient for testing the PUFFS® facial tissue. Of course, the monitor 10 of the present invention can be operated by a 110 volt system or other home power system commonly found throughout the world.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of one embodiment of the monitor of the present invention, showing a partial cross section.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the monitor shown in FIG.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE ), OA (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GE, GH, GM, HU, ID, IL, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR , KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZW (71) Applicant ONE PROCTER & GANBL E PLAZA, CINCINNATI, OHIO, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (72) Inventor Robert John United States of America, Foot Thomas, Kentucky, High View Drive, 165 (72) Moore Sandy Lin United States of America Ohio, Cincinnati, Hackamore Court, 345

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A monitor for collecting data on consumer consumption of dispensable disposable articles, such as paper sheets, liquid or pasty articles, granular or powdery articles, said monitor having a current weight reference value. And wherein the dispensable disposable article has an article weight and independent portions can be dispensed, each independent portion having a partial weight and supporting a dispensable disposable article that can be removed from the dispensable article. A support member capable of operatively communicating with the support member to measure the weight of the article when the article portion is removed from the article; and a weight sensor for receiving and recording the article weight. A recorder that communicates with the
A monitor, wherein the latest weight reference value can be modified so that the monitor corrects a change in weight of an article that does not cooperate with removal of the portion from the dispensable article. 2. The monitor of claim 1, wherein the recorder is capable of detecting a change in weight of the article that does not cooperate with dispensing of the portion of the dispensable article due to environmental conditions or the like. 3. The monitor according to claim 1, wherein the weight sensor has a resolution of at least about 40%, preferably at least about 20%, more preferably at least about 5% of the partial weight. . 4. The monitor according to claim 1, further comprising an analog-to-digital converter that communicates with the weight sensor and the recorder. 5. The monitor according to claim 1, wherein said recorder comprises a microprocessor in communication with a memory, preferably a non-volatile memory. 6. The monitor according to claim 1, further comprising a consumer input device for receiving data generated by the consumer. 7. The monitor of claim 6, wherein the consumer input device has at least one switch controllable by a consumer. 8. A monitor for collecting data relating to the consumption of a dispensable article such as a paper sheet by a consumer, said monitor holding dispensable articles dispensable in parts and having an article weight. A weight sensor that is in operative communication with the support member to measure an absolute value of the article weight when the dispensable portion of the dispensable article is removed from the dispensable article. A recorder in communication with the weight sensor to receive and record the absolute value of the article weight; a consumer input device for receiving data generated by a consumer; and the dispensable portion of the dispensable dispensable article. The data and time when the dispensable disposable article was removed or the consumer input device was activated. Monitor and having a real time clock for determining. 9. A method of collecting data relating to consumer consumption of dispensable disposable articles, such as paper sheets, liquid or pasty articles, granular or powdered articles, comprising: (a) having an article weight and each portion; Providing a dispensable disposable article such that each dispensable portion has a partial weight and each portion is removable from the dispensable disposable article; and (b) the dispensable disposable article. And a weight operatively communicating with the support member to determine an absolute value of the article weight when the portion of the dispensable disposable article is removed from the dispensable disposable article. A sensor and a recorder that communicates with the weight sensor to receive and record the absolute value of the article weight; and Providing a monitor having a current weight reference value that can be adapted to correct for changes in article weight that do not cooperate with removal of said portion from the dispensable article; Placing the dispensable and disposable article so as to be supported by the support member of the monitor; and (d) dispensing the dispensable and disposable article for each portion to change the article weight and to monitor the article weight on the monitor. Measuring and recording. 10. The method of claim 9, comprising providing a consumer input device for receiving data generated by a consumer.