MX2008007139A - Automated dispenser with a paper sensing system - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispenser (1) for dispensing a portion of sheet product (7) stored in a dispenser, in which a dispensed sheet portion (24) is to be removed by tearing the sheet portion (24) from the remaining product supply. The dispenser includes a system which detects the presence of sheet product in a region (21) of a dispensing outlet. Upon detection of a potential user, the sensing system causes dispensing of paper, on the condition that the sheet portion (24) is regarded as having been torn off. The system includes means (17, 18) for detecting a discontinuity in the sheet product (7).

Description

AUTOMATIC DISPENSER WITH A PAPER SENSOR SYSTEM Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dispenser that includes a motor-driven feed means for dispensing a portion of sheet product stored in the dispenser, further including a dispenser outlet therethrough which the sheet product it is fed into a feeding command that is issued by a control means and a tearing means against which the portion area should be extracted in a manner that allows the sheet portion to be torn and removed from a remaining portion of a sheet product supply. Wherein the dispenser includes a foil sensor means for detecting the presence of foil in a specific region of the dispenser proximate to the delivery outlet, the foil sensing means being connected to the control means, wherein the sensing means repeatedly scan. the region specifies in a first scan interval for the presence of leaf product or a discontinuity of said leaf product. The invention further relates, in a preferred form, to an aromatic towel dispenser (preferably with papal towels stored within the dispenser housing in a supply roll cylindrical) of the electrically operated type, preferably a type of battery operated (but which can also be operated by AC or operated by a combination of AC and DC cooling supplies). Said dispenser may have an IR sensor system or other sensor system used to control the dispensing of products such as paper sheets (e.g., paper hand towels) when the presence of a possible / potential user is detected, preferably no physical contact of the user with the dispenser (or sensors) being required to initiate the dispensing sequence.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Dispensers of the type mentioned above are known from US2003 / 016046 A1. This document describes sheet sensing means (sheet of paper) in the form of two groups of sensors (pairs of emitters and IR receivers) in the discharge hopper of the dispenser to protect it from the infrared (IR) of the environment, said sensors can detect a front edge of a sheet of paper to be dispensed and dispense paper as required when a whisper is present. In a so-called "hang the towel" mode ("hang the leaf" mode), the sheet material can be dispensed when the absence of the material is detected, since this indicates that it has been torn a towel. In both situations, the sensors register the position of a piece of sheet material after a feeding mechanism starts to operate so that a leading edge is detected during a predetermined first time. After detection, a predetermined additional amount of material can be dispensed during a second predetermined period. At the end of the feed cycle which takes the second predetermined time interval, a towel length of the required length will have to be dispensed to be held and torn by a user. When a towel of predetermined length is unevenly torn, one of the sensors can be uncovered while the other is covered, in which case the control system detects a torn condition and allows a new towel to be supplied at the next detection of a user. While the aforementioned dispenser thus provides means for detecting an irregularly torn sheet however it is based on the fact that a sheet is unevenly torn at or after the intended time to be torn, namely, after the operation of the sheet has finished. supply engine. It is also based on the fact that, at the moment (after the engine power has stopped) at least one or the sensors will be discovered. However it has been recognized that an impatient user can tear a leaf while feeding, from so that the rest of the predetermined length of the sheet (which has not been torn) continues to be fed from the discharge chute, the remaining part will cover both sensors. In the aforementioned device this circumstance, of course can leave a quantity of sheet still present in the output and therefore be detected by both sensors, causing the system to record that a towel has not been torn. This can prevent a new piece of paper towel from being dispensed until the piece that locks the sensors is removed. In addition, since the sensors are in the discharge hopper that is designed not to allow access by human fingers the dispenser may remain inoperable because premature tearing occurs, since no additional sensors are located outside the discharge hopper for determine that a sheet of paper with sufficient length is not present. The present invention helps overcome the aforementioned problem, so that a prematurely torn sheet will be recognized by the control means. Additional problems that are overcome will be evident when reading this specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: The main object of the invention is achieved by a dispenser having the aspects defined in Claim 1. Certain preferred aspects of the invention are defined in the appended claims. Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to the reader of this specification. Aspects of the independent claim results in a dispenser whereby the sensor means for the sheet product, in particular paper, is caused to scan substantially continuously throughout the operation of the motor that drives the feeding means (e.g., the feed roller), so that whenever a discontinuity is detected in the sheet product (i.e., whenever a lack of sheet product is detected) by the sensing means during the operation of the motor , the means for capturing the sheets issues a signal for the control means in order to indicate that the sheet material has been torn. Therefore, as long as the motor continues to operate until the end of the time at which a predetermined length of the sheet product must be dispensed or the motor stops as soon as a discontinuity is detected (or not so soon), the control means they will record that the sheet has not been torn.

In this way, the control means is in a position to be able to issue a sheet feed command (i.e., to issue a command that will activate the drive motor circuitry so as to initiate the dispensing of an additional portion of the sheet of a predetermined length) on the next occasion that the presence of a user is detected, eg, by a user sensor means, without having to take advantage to avoid dispensing when a portion of the sheet has been completely dispensed but It has not been torn. In this way, the control means are in a position that will be able to issue a sheet feed command (i.e., issue a command which will activate the drive motor circuitry in such a way as to initiate the distribution of an additional portion of the product. of sheet of a predetermined length) on the next occasion that the presence of the user was detected, eg, by the sensor means of users, without having to give the advantage of avoiding distribution when a portion of the sheet has been completely dispensed but it has not been torn. The term "tearing means" is used herein to mean a means against which an area of the product may be removed from sheets so that the sheet is broken in such a way that it can be removed. Typically, said tearing means may have the form of a metal plate as a saw edge. However, the edge does not need to have a saw. Likewise, other tearing means may be used such as for example a series of sharp areas of plastic or the like or simply a single continuous sharp bore. Additional possibilities can also be foreseen and will be clear to an expert person. A "sweep" as referred to herein is the issuance of v.gr., an infrared (IR) signal, and the activation of a detection means to be able to detect the signal eg, IR reflected. The reflected signals (eg, reflected IR signals), however, do not need to be used, since an emitter and receiver could be placed opposite one another, so that the sensor acting as a receiver can be arranged to receive directly in the signal emitted (eg, IR) when no product blocks the path between the transmitter and receiver and does not receive the signal from the transmitter (or receives only a relatively low amount of the signal from the transmitter) when the sheet product blocks the path between the sender and the receiver. If IR is used as the emitting signal, this can be continuous or pulsed, so if using pulsation, the pulse frequency can be set to cover only a small frequency range (eg, focus for example, for 3). or 4 kHz or both sides of a center frequency of v.gr., 15 kHz) so as to make the IR signal detection of the received environmental IR more distinguishable. During said sweep (i.e., an individual sweep comprising emitting a signal of some type that is intended to be received by a receiver for the emitted signal), the IR (pulsed) will be emitted for a short time, usually only a few milliseconds , eg, one to two milliseconds. When a "sweep interval" is mentioned herein, it refers to a time interval between individual sweeps, ie, a range between a first emitted signal and a second emitted signal. A "discontinuity" being detected in the sheet product as mentioned herein, refers to a lack of sheet product that glove is detected in the sweep period. The sensor means are arranged in such a manner to detect the presence of sheet product until such time as the product is altered and thus produces a space, or opening, with respect to the remaining sheet product. A "specific region" of the dispenser is also mentioned herein. Said specific region means a region that in terms of its position is a fixed area with respect to a part of the dispenser, said region specifies being a region through which, or after which, the sheet product passes when dispensed by means of feeding a product supply stored in the dispenser, to the supply outlet. In the dispensers that use a pair of roller causing feeding of the sheet product through the clip between them when driving the rotation of one of the rolls, the specific region will properly start after the clip between these two rolls. Likewise, wherein a tear edge or tear-off means is provided in the dispenser, against which it can be removed by a user so that the dispensed part of the sheet product is removed from the rest of the product supply, the The specific region is suitably located a little later (downstream of) the tearing edge or tearing means. "Slightly after" means that the beginning of the specific region closely follows the location of the tearing edge of the tearing means, such as by an amount usually less than 2 cm, usually less than 1 cm. Where the term "upstream" or "downstream" is used herein, it refers to a position in the feed sheet product direction (i.e., from within the dispensing housing toward the dispenser housing via the dispenser housing). dispenser outlet). When operating the sensor means to perform a sweep in a first sweep interval during the time in which said motor is caused to cause the feeding means (normally a feed roller) feed the sheet product towards the delivery outlet, the first scanning interval preferably being adjusted to a value which is less than the time it takes to tear a piece of sheet material against the tearing means. Values of up to 50ms are more suitable for this task even if longer time intervals can be used. However, more adequately 20 ms or less can be used for most leaf product dispensers that have to be less than 4 cm in width. Values below 10 ms are more preferably still to account for very fast tearing rates and a range of 3 ms is preferred even more. While an even shorter interval can be used, that could use more power than would be important if using a battery-operated dispenser. Whichever locations in the dispenser or sensors, etc., are defined with respect to the dispenser in its normal position of use and are not mounted down or the like. Therefore, the lower part of the dispenser is intended to be in the lower part. Likewise, the lateral direction of the dispenser is in a generally horizontal direction. When reference is made to a flat vertical direction, it is usually intended to refer to the direction generally vertical. When the dispenser is mounted on a vertical wall, the vertical direction is therefore a real vertical direction. However, if the wall is slightly inclined by a few degrees, a vertical direction called with respect to the dispenser will also be a vertical inclined by the same amount and in the same direction as the wall inclination. In terms of user sensor means, a preferred type is automatic sensor system (often referred to as a "hands-free" or "non-contact" sensor system), such as an IR sensor system, although other sensors may be used. automatic types of sensor media as capacitive types.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to certain non-limiting embodiments thereof and which aid the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a sheet material dispenser , representing a schematic view of a first user scanning system detection zone, through which a side panel of the dispenser has been removed to show schematic details of the paper roll and transport mechanism of paper, in which also the sheet sweeping means have been removed for clarity, FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of sheet scanning means near the outlet of a dispenser similar to that of FIG. which the user scanning system shown in Fig. 1) is removed and the sheet scanning means are included, Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the position of a sheet material in relation to the media sheet sweep, presenting a discontinuity in the sheet material, Fig. 4 shows an illustration similar to Fig. 3, wherein the sheet material which has stopped moving at the end of the feed, in a position in which no discontinuity is detected, Fig. 5 shows an illustration similar to Fig. 2 but without the presence of a sheet product, but with an adjacent strip of a material over an area of the dispenser covering a specified region near the exit , The fi g.6 shows a graph of a signal amplitude emitted against time, Fig. 7 shows a graph of the received signal level versus time, for a series of IR reflections received circuitry that occurs due to the IR pulses emitted in a user's sweeping system, Fig. 8 shows a block diagram of the basic system elements of a coupling of a dispenser, Fig. 9 shows a used RC circuit to effect the activation of a microprocessor in the MCU to perform a scan, and Fig. 10 shows an alternative version of an RC circuit shown in Fig. 9.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Modalities Fig. 1 shows a dispenser 1 in the side view, whereby the dispenser 1 connected on its rear side to a wall (the attachment means not shown but can be a suitable type such as adhesive screws and other attachment means) , so that the rear surface of the dispenser is against the wall that is normally vertical. The dispenser 1 comprises a housing 2, within which a supply of the product is located, in this case a supply of paper in a roller 3. The roller 3 is suitably a continuous non-perforated paper roll, but may also comprise perforated paper. Also in the housing 2 sheet feeding means 4 are located (e.g., paper transport mechanism) preferably in the form of a modular ejection cassette with its own case 15, which preferably can be removed as a single unit from the case 2 when the case 2 is set. FIG. 1 shows schematically the paper roll 3 and the sheet feed means 4 feeding the sheet material 7 of the roll to a discharge outlet (see the following description) 8 by rotating the motor M. The roll of sheet material 3 and the sheet feeding means 4 is shown in a fairly simplified form, so that this includes a drive roller 5 coupled with a counter-roller 6, whereby a portion of the sheet product (eg, paper) 7 is shown located between the rolls 5, 6, with the edge for driving the sheet product 7 ready to be dispensed into a discharge outlet 8 formed in the housing 2 and the underside thereof. The impeller roller 5 is shown schematically connected to an electric drive motor M driven by the batteries B. A gear, normally in a gearbox, can be included between the drive shaft of the motor and the drive roller 5. The batteries suitable can provide a total of 6V when new. The operation of the motor M causes the drive roller 5 to rotate and therefore pull the paper sheet 7 of the paper roll 3 through the paper perforating between the roll clamp 5 and 6. When activated, the motor rotates, thus removing the sheet (paper) from the roller 3, which also rotates in a manner that allows the paper to move towards the discharge opening 8. Other forms of feeding means can be used. sheet to remove the paper from a roll and dispensed from it. The details of the sheet feeding means (sheet of paper) as such, however, are not important to understand the invention. Said devices are also known per se in the art. It will also be understood from the foregoing that the drive roller 5 and the counter-roller 6 can have their functions exchanged so that the counter-roller 6 could be the drive roller that is operably connected to the drive motor and therefore both the drive roller 5 described in Fig. 2 only acts as a counter-roller in contact with the roller 6, usually with the sheet material such as paper or toweling material in the clip between them). Although the principle of operation is explained using paper in the form of a continuous sheet of paper in a wound roll, it should be understood that the dispenser can be used to dispense other sheet products from a product supply such as a continuous piece of paper in concertina format for example. The alternative sheet products can be dispensed by the device. It is also possible that other dispensing devices are labeled in the dispenser (such as an activated air freshener for example each time, eg, 5 or 10 minutes, or once in a certain number of towels being dispensed). The M motor is at rest (no operation) when paper will not be dispensed. The motor M is rotated when the feeding means 4 are actuated (by a control means) to dispense paper through the discharge opening 8. The operation of the motor M is controlled by a control means in the form of a unit of master control (see Fig. 8) connected to a user sensor system eg, comprising sensors 9-13, of which two sensors 10 and 12 can be emitters, preferably IR emitters, and three sensors 9 , 11, and 13 can be receptors, preferably IR receptors. Said emitters (IR) and receivers are well known in the art and usually comprise diode structures. The emitters and receivers are shown (Fig. 1) placed on the rearmost side of the discharge outlet 8. Other sensor arrangements are also possible so that all sensors placed on the side of the front face of the outlet, preferably in a straight row along the discharge exit. The sensors can alternatively be placed on either side of the discharge outlet (eg, emitters on one side and receivers on the other side) and they also extend along the discharge outlet. However, the discharge output can be placed elsewhere. The dispenser 1, upon detection of a possible user (e.g., without any user contact with the dispenser or sensors) for a sufficient time in a detection zone causes the dispenser to determine that a user is present and, when meet certain conditions, to dispense sheet material. In this case the distribution is carried out by the front portion of the sheet product 7 being automatically discharged through the discharge opening 8 (i.e., a laterally extending opening, generally in the lower part of the housing and preferably powered down) . In an example of a user sensor system of the automatic type, a user detection zone 14 is shown in FIG. 1 in side view. The user detection zone however will generally be a volume (extending through the lateral direction of the device when viewed from the front) and, in the example shown, tilts down and forward of the discharge opening in an angle x ° preferably between 20 ° to 30 ° to the vertical axis Y. To produce said volume, a group of at least two emitters and three receivers, is they dispose along the lateral extension of the discharge outlet. However, the invention described herein does not depend on the inclusion of any particular user detection system, although the use of the same type of sensor means to capture user if to capture sheet material is advantageous since the number can be reduced General of circuit parts. Advantageously the user sensing means may include an active IR detection system (i.e., at least one IR emitter and at least one IR receiver) and the sheet sensing means may also include an IR detection system. active with at least one IR emitter and at least one IR receiver. When said systems are used respectively for the sheet sensing means and the user sensing means, it is advantageous if the IR emissions of the sheet (paper) sensing means does not interfere with those of the user and vise sensing means. versa. This can be achieved by the relative placement of the emitters and receivers of the respective media, and / or by providing a different pulsed IR frequency for the respective media (ie, both during the broadcast and reception), where that IR is used pulsed on. any means. Referring to Fig. 2, the discharge portion 2 of the dispenser 1 is provided with an output of Discharge 8 disposed between a wall surface 19 of the housing in which the tearing means 16 and a wall portion 20 are located in which the sensors 17, 18 of the sheet sensing means are located. These sensors can be partially or completely depressed with respect to the housing portion 20 and / or a support unit carried by the housing portion 20), so that IR is directed (at present in the form of a ticonic shape) towards a specific region 21, eg Fig. 3), for example, by the sensor 17, which can be an emitter (IR). The sensor 19 can be a receiver (IR). The IR signal emitted from the emitter 17, in the absence of paper (Fig. 3), is not reflected back to the receiver 18 since the region specifies 21, which is e.g. a surface of a housing panel, is arranged not to reflect IR back to the receiver 18. This can be done by a specific angle of the surface 19 so as to reflect IR away from the receiver 18, and / or by using a non-reflecting surface of IR, such as a dark or black surface in the form of e.g., a rectangular strip or other form of black or dark material 23 (to be used in the case that the sheet material is a light colored sheet material, v. white, grayish or gray immaterial). Alternatively, the area may be coated or painted to provide a non-reflective IR surface.

When the sheet product (e.g., paper) is present on a major part of the surface 21, however, there is an IR reflection back to the receiver 18. The amount of received IR is converted to a signal value received (eg, a voltage level) and this value is compared to a threshold value. When the threshold value is exceeded, this informs the control means that the paper is present. The threshold value is adjusted appropriately for this purpose, and can be adjusted individually (manually or automatically) to take into account the individual types and color of the sheet product (in particular paper). When no signal is received or very little signal is received by the receiver 18, the value of the signal will not exceed the threshold value and the control means are adjusted to assume that no paper is present in the media detection zone. sheet sensors (ie, the sheet product 7 is not on the front of the specific region 21). The sheet sensing means including sensors 17 18 sweep at a sweep interval. The sweep can be performed in a first sweep interval and at least a second sweep interval. The first sweep interval is significantly shorter than the second sweep interval. In the first scanning interval, the sheet sensing means, via the appropriate circuitry and control software, perform a first scan in a manner repeated (i.e., a sweep is performed repeatedly with a time between each individual sweep equal to the first sweep interval). During the single scan, a signal that can be detected by a receiver is emitted. In the case of an IR emitter, it emits IR and an IR receiver is activated to receive IR. The signal is emitted for a very short time (eg, 1 to 2 ms) and this is broadcast on a repeating basis in each sweep interval. A first scan interval can be up to 50 ms, although better results are achieved in intervals less than 20 ms. More preferably the sweep range is less than or equal to 5 ms and even more preferably less than or equal to 3 ms. In a first scanning interval of approximately 3 ms, the IR receiver can also be constantly turned on to detect IR while the IR emitter is turned on and off and although the IR receiver can be turned on and off if desired in synchronism with the emitter to go. The first sweep interval is used to detect the presence of sheet product in a virtually continuous form during the drive of the feed means motor M. In other words, the first sweep interval should be short to allow a virtually continuous sweep. The first sweep interval should preferably be chosen to be shorter than the time delay, at a maximum tear rate estimated by a user, to ensure a sheet product, and therefore a value of 3 ms is more preferred for this sweep interval so as to allow any discontinuity in the paper (even when it is quickly torn by a user) will be detected. The first sweep interval is applied to the sheet sensing means by the control means so that it is scanned repeatedly in said first sweep interval. This first sweep interval is used when the control means has received a sheet feed command and which causes the start of the motor M which drives the feed means. The first sweep interval is maintained between the individual sweeps until the motor M stops operating (i.e., from the start of the motor operation at the end of the motor operation to dispense a quantity of sheet material 9. One second sweep interval considerably larger than the first sweep interval, eg, between 5 and 50 longer times, such as eg, a second sweep interval of 0.17s between scans, will preferably be used once the engine has stopped operating at the end of the supply operation using the first sweep interval during the sweep operation in the first sweep interval or the second sweep interval, however, a paper discontinuity is detected this will give as result that a signal is received by the means of control that are below a predetermined threshold (as explained above). Under normal circumstances, a user will wait until the engine M has stopped and will hold the purity of the sheet material 7 and tear it against the tearing means 16, so that the dispensed material 24 can be removed from the rest of the material in the Dispenser 1. The removal of the dispensed sheet material will then cause the sheet sensing means to detect a discontinuity (situation shown e.g., in Fig. 3). However, according to the invention even if the sheet is torn during the supply (while the motor M is in operation), a discontinuity in the sheet will still be detected because the discontinuity is recorded as it passes through. the sensors 17, 18, although the web material is then supplied through the specified region 8 ie, the situation shown in FIG. 4), due to the fact that when the leading (tearing) edge of the sheet material passes the sensors, it is detected as a discontinuity, although in addition supplying the sheet material again substantially covers the specific region. (as also shown in Fig. 4). Therefore, by sweeping in the first (shorter) sweep interval, a signal is sent to the control means indicating that a discontinuity occurred. Therefore, the range of Short sweep will allow temporary discontinuity to be detected. Under these circumstances, a control label can be set in the software control media memory, indicating that the paper should be torn regardless of whether the paper is present thereafter in the front of the specified region at the end of the dispensing action, which could, in the absence of said means, indicate that the sheet material is present and prune it to need to be torn before proceeding with a dispentional supply cycle. In this way, although the specific region 21 can be covered and a strong IR reflection of the sheet product 7 is received (i.e., a received IR value by producing a signal heat above a set threshold value), the dispenser Operate as you think where there is no sheet product present at exit 8 waiting for it to be torn. Therefore, when an additional piece of the sheet product is to be supplied (e.g., as controlled by the presence of the user being detected by a user sensor system) this will now be prevented by the sensors 17, 18 issuing a signal (due to the second scan interval being used after the M motor has stopped operating to dispense sheet product) that the sheet product (ie, the dispensed portion) is still present waiting to be torn by a user. In the arrangement shown in the Figures the specific region 21 that results from IR emitted by the emitter 17 and an additional region 22 of which IR is reflected do not overlap completely. These devices can however be made to overlap. A discontinuity can be detected more easily when there is a small area of overlap so that a first specific region is examined, so any discontinuity will produce a large change in the amount of IR received. To improve the accuracy, other sheet sensors (not shown) similar to sensors 17 and 18 could be located in other locations around the outlet such as additional, or alternatively, at the ends of the exit 8 from where the paper emerges when It is dispensing. However, a location generally in the lateral center of the discharge outlet 8 is preferred as a sheet discontinuity after the tearing is invariably more readily detected in the center of its width. This may be due to the fact that sometimes the lateral ends of a torn dispensed sheet do not tear in a shape that will be easily detected while the central portion invariably tears.

The dispenser is preferably arranged to supply a predetermined length of sheet material at each supply activation (i.e., each supply cycle). This can be measured by various means such as time control means for turning the motor M on and off after a predetermined time, or by detecting the amount of motor rotation and stopping the motor when required, etc. The predetermined length can be adjusted in the dispensing control means, preferably settable such as by a variable resistor accessible for example to a person serving who has access to the interior of the dispenser. However, in order that the leaf product is not left hanging on the dispenser when a discontinuity has been detected (the hanging leafs may, in the case of paper towel dispensers, be a matter of hygiene ), in one embodiment of the invention, the detection of a discontinuity during the operation of the engine, apart from recording the control means that a sheet has been torn (as described above), additionally causes a signal to be issued in the media of control to immediately stop the operation of the motor M. The motor M can continue it in some way to dispense a predetermined length of the sheet product as established above. Due to the fact that the leaf product is recorded having been torn, However, this will not be inconvenient for even a user, due to the reactivation of distribution in order to issue more sheet material as possible. Also, stopping the motor when a discontinuity is detected has a self-learning type of function for the user who will frequently perform the premature tearing of the sheet (paper) before the predetermined length has been completely dispensed will cause a small delay due to the need to reactivate the dispenser to issue a product with more leaves. A time control means can also be created to prevent reactivation of the feeding means 4 until a certain time has elapsed eg a time between 2 and 5 seconds. This helps to avoid the unintended use of the dispenser which can in some way result in the emptying of all the material in a fairly short time. The tearing means 16 is placed upstream of the specific region 21 through which the paper passes during delivery as shown for example in Fig. 2. The distance in the feeding direction of the sheet material 7 between the media of scaling 16 and the specific region 21 may suitably be in the order of one to four cm, preferably less than three cm.

As explained above, the control means may include, eg, a memory or a register in which the state of a pre-provisioning action may be recorded. The state can be "torn" or "not torn" for example. The memory can be written simply at a certain location thereof in each supply cycle (ie, the feed motor is turned on to stop the feed motor) when discontinuity is recorded or not. This can be done by setting a flag in the memory or register as soon as a discontinuity appears. In the event that a discontinuity is detected, whether during the supply cycle or after, the control means will have a "tear" state. Additional activation of the dispenser will allow a new piece of the sheet product to be dispensed through the outlet 8. If discontinuity has not been detected during or after the supply cycle (ie, the time during which the engine operates), the control means will have a "non-tearing" state and the control means then controls the motor so that the portion of the sheet material that has been dispensed but not torn should tear off before additional sheet product is delivered. The control means maintains a condition (i.e., a control state) not to issue a sheet feed command, even when a user is present and has activated the dispenser (e.g., being detected by the user's sensing system) when the "not torn" state is present in the control means. To check whether the blade portion has been torn or not after the supply cycle is completed (ie, during a time with finished motor operation) and to save energy, one or (if required) more sensor sweeps additional single sheets are made in a second sweep interval which is considerably longer than the first sweep interval until each coke portion 24 is torn. After a long time (e.g., more than 300 seconds) the second interval can be increased to a third longer scan interval. The dispenser could also include a means of restoration, which after a predetermined time (eg, 10 minutes) may cause the memory to be reset so that the result of a pre-scan in which the paper is considered to have been dispensed but has not yet been torn is erased from memory. In this way, when a user activates again the dispenser is detected by a user sensor means, the additional sheet material will also be dispensed if the paper is not present in the output. This also provides a safe setting against faults for the case in which an incorrect pickup occurs by the sheet sensing means.

When a user sensor means is present which performs a sweep function to check the presence of a user (see additional description below), the time control of the second sweep interval (more than the first sweep interval) for the media Sheet sensors can be suitably made to be the same as the sweep interval in the user sensing means used for the time when no user was detected (i.e., a sweep interval ti as explained below). Alternatively, a multiple or a fraction of this can be done. For example, where a suitable value of 0.17 seconds is used as a time for scanning for the presence of a possible user in the user sensing means, the second scanning interval of the paper sheet sensing means by the set to 0.17 seconds or twice this time or another multiple of it. This can be accomplished using a time circuit (e.g., a Re circuit as explained with respect to Fig. 9 or Fig. 10) and software programming. The method by which one or more simple sweeps can be performed on a medium sensor of the IR sheet can be the same as that explained below in relation to the description of an IR user sensor means performing sweeps.

When a part of a user's body enters a detection zone 14 (see Fig. 1), the user's sensing system that composes i. to. sensors 9 to 13 send a signal to the MCU control means indicating that a user is present, which causes the motor M to rotate to dispense a portion of the sheet product. The emitters 10, 12 of the aforementioned user sensor means are arranged via the control means which can be part of the control means described above and which can comprise control circuitry as is known per se in the subject, to emit IR pulsed in a narrow frequency band of for example approximately 15 khz ± 0.5% (to reduce background IR effects). Receivers 9, 11, 13 (also mentioned above) are arranged to detect the emitted IR that is reflected against the objects (stationary or moving) back to the receivers. These objects can be considered as background or as a potential user as explained below. Figure 6 shows a series of sweeps (ie, of a pulsed IR emission) of a user sensor means, in a first user sweep regime having a time between the individual scans of ti (i.e., a swept range of ti), a second user sweep rate having a time between the individual sweeps of t2 (i.e., a sweep interval of t2), where t2 it is shorter than you and a third user sweeping regime that has a sweep interval of t3 where t3 is greater than you and t2. The sweep interval is measured as the time of the start of a single sweep pulse emitted at the time of issuing the next individual sweep pulse. Each individual scan is shown in the present, in an illustrative manner, having the same pulse intensity. An additional time t4 is shown which is a predetermined time or a predetermined number of pulses separated by time ti (that is, in the first user sweep rate) which needs to elapse before the control means alters the rate of swept to the third slowest user sweep scheme with the time interval t3. The pulse width of each pulse is preferably generally constant. The user sweep interval ti is set at a constant level to be between 0.15 to 1.0 seconds, preferably to be between 0.15 to 0.4 seconds, i.e., such that each individual user sweep pulse is separated by an equal time you. Time ti may vary. A suitable regimen for optimizing the device to save battery power and reaction time for dispensing has been found to be approximately ti = 0.17 seconds. The second user scan rate is always faster than the first The user's sweep rate and t2 is adjusted to be preferably between 0.05 to 0.2 seconds, preferably between 0.08 and 0.12 seconds between sweeps. The time t2, however, may vary to be another suitable value, but preferably it is between 30% to 70% of you. The time t3 can be adjusted in for example between 0.3 and 0.6 seconds, although a longer time t3, such as 1 second or even more, is also possible. However, to drive the emitter circuit time (in particular using an RC drive circuit using the RC constant torque time to cause a current discharge to the microprocessor to start the operation in time) is more suitable if t3 is adjusted to duplicate the length of you. Therefore t3 can be adjusted in 0.34 seconds in the case when ti is 0.17 seconds. The initial time ti can be variable, for example via a variable resistor operated from outside the device, although normally this will be established in the factory in a way that avoids the unintentional alteration of time that is inadequate in certain situations. The time t4 may for example be between 30 seconds to 10 minutes and may also be varied variably in the device. A suitable value can be approximately 300 seconds although it can also be more where you want to save more energy.

Although not shown, it will be evident that additional time periods may also be adjusted in the device with intermediate periods of time (ie, intermediate between the values of the values ti and t2, or intermediate between t2 and t3, etc.) or even longer periods of time, which depend on the operating conditions, although the use of three different user sweeping regimes has been shown to take into account most situations with good performance in terms of reaction time and energy savings. As can be seen in Fig. 6, after four sweeps SI-S4 in a time interval of ti, in the mode shown, the first user sweep rate changes to the second fastest user sweep rate with the interval t2 and continues in the second sweep regime for two additional sweeps S5 and S6. Fig. 7 shows a sample of the possible received signal level (received signal resistance) of the received signals R1-R7 caused in response to the emission of sweep pulses S1-S7. The approximate background IR level is QO. When IS is issued and there is no user present, the background level received in Rl will be approximately at the level QO Likewise in the sweep S2, the level of IR received is also close to QO and therefore does not cause alteration of the first sweeping regime. In sweep S3, the received signal level R3 is above the background level, but only marginally (e.g., less than a predetermined value, eg, less than 10% above the background IR level) and therefore the first sweeping regime is maintained. Such small changes (below the predetermined level) above and below QO can occur due to temporary changes in humidity levels or people moving a longer distance from the dispenser, or IR due to changes in sunlight conditions or temperature conditions around the dispenser. In sweep S4, the received signal level has reached / passed IR so that the sensing means and their control assume that a user is present and the sheet material is required. In order to be able to react faster when the user is supposed to want a piece of sheet material (eg, a towel) to be dispensed, the sweeping rate can increase the second regime of the user. If the level R5 received in the next sweep S5 also meets the criterion of being in, or more than, predetermined above the background IR (e.g., in or greater than 10% above the background IR of according to the criterion used for previous sweeps) the sensor system registers via a counter () v.gr., in a memory and another form of record) a single detection above the level default and then sends an additional sweep S6 in the interval t2 to check if the received IR is still at or above the level of 10% greater than the background IR QO. As shown in fig. 5, this is the case for the sweep S6, and the control of the sensor system (comprising software and a microprocessor in a preferred way) then immediately issues an output to the motor M to turn on the motor changing in order to dispense a product (v .gr, a portion of the paper sheet 7 of the roll 3). In this case, that is, when two consecutive sweeps are above the predetermined level, the system has therefore determined that a user is in an area that requires the sheet material to be dispensed. The motor M therefore starts to drive the feeding means to dispense the sheet product 7 through the discharge opening 8 as previously explained, during which the sheet sensing means operate as previously described in the first regime sweeping It is preferable to allow any of two of three consecutive user sweeps to be above the predetermined level, although the number of sweeps for delivery can be either two of for example, four consecutive sweeps, or even additional combinations. In the case shown in Fig. 6, after a towel or other sheet 7 product has been dispensed, the system latero the second sweeping regime back to the first in a way that saves energy. The sweep S7 is therefore emitted at time ti after sweep S6. The second user scan rate, however, can be maintained longer if desired. In the case shown in Fig. 7 (corresponding to the emissions of Fig. 6), where the user has torn a piece of paper that has been dispensed from the dispenser and therefore the level of IR radiation received in R7 is below the predetermined level (eg, unible of 10% or more above QO). The default level of 10% may vary. For example, the default level above the background level can be up to 90% or more, even up to 95% or more, above the background IR. This allows for example a greater distinction of the reflection of the hands of a user compared to any desired IR received in the pulsed bandwidth of eg. 12 to 18 kHz. After a period of inactivity of time t4, the sweep rate with a sweep interval t3 can be used. The background level of IR may vary over time. To take this into account in the user sensing means, an average movement of the most recently recorded IR received signals R can be used to alter the Q0 level on a continuous basis. For example, four (or more or less than four) the most recently received IR signal values can be used to form the average value of background signal level by dividing eg the sum of four levels of signals most recently received by four for example. As each new IR value is outside the calculation (eg, removing it from a record or storage of the most recent values in the control circuitry) and calculating a new average based on the most recent values. Using an average background IR level movement, an additional advantage is obtained that when a user who has removed a towel or other product keeps his hands on the dispensing outlet, the IR level received will remain high. However, to prevent a user from unloading a large quantity of product in this manner eg paper towel material, the user's hands will be considered as a background IR when they are relatively stationary and thus the supply will not occur. . To provide additional sheet material (eg, paper), the user should therefore move their hands away from the dispenser sensors to allow an "actual" background IR reading (ie, background IR without The user's hands are present very close to the device, only in renewed movement of the user's hands towards the Media sensor User sensors can be dispensed again a sheet. It will be appreciated that the batteries of the dispenser discharge over time, the energy supplied to the sensors may also be affected which may result in less efficient operation. To prevent this from occurring and to ensure that a stable voltage is available to supply the sensors in the user sensing means and / or in the sheet sensing means, up to a time close to total battery depletion, a container can be used. constant current. Said constant current vessels that provide voltage stability are well known in the field of electronics and therefore it is considered that no further description is required herein, although it will be understood that their use in the sensor circuitry for said dispenser as described in the present it is particularly advantageous. The amount of extra energy required to operate a constant current vessel is negligible and therefore the use of such a device is hardly noticeable in the lifetime of the battery. The power supplied to the emitters of the user's sensing means may vary by automatic control, in particular to achieve optimized levels to take into account background conditions, to provide reliable and fast catchment and to provide supply without using unnecessary energy. Fig. 8 shows a block diagram of the basic system of a mode of a dispenser that can be used for the invention, in which the portion shown in dotted lines includes the basic components for IR signal modulation, IR emission and IR reception used to present a sensor signal to the A / D modulation of the master control unit (MCD), said unit contains a microprocessor. This can be used for the user sensing means and the sheet sensing means. Box 101 and 102 denote IR transmitters and receivers respectively, which correspond generally to the previously described emitters 10, 12 and receivers 9, 11, and 13. The emitter 17 and the receiver 18 of the sheet sensing means may be arranged for adjust in the control circuit in the same way as the emitters 10, 12 and the receivers 9, 11, 13 since they are also IR emitters and receivers. The hand symbol indicates that the IR radiation from the emitters 101 is reflected by a user's hand back to the receiver 102. This is the same as for a sheet sensor means, whereby the sheet reflects IR from the emitter 17 of return to receiver 18.

The unit 103 is a photoelectric converter for converting the received IR signal before it passes to the filter and amplifier unit 104 where the bandpass filter and amplification circuits operate in order to amplify the received signal around the amplifier. central frequency in a limited bandwidth and so to suppress relatively other IR frequencies. The signal then passes to a signal rectification unit 105, since the IR signal is an AC signal. From unit 105, the signal passes in the MCU A / D module. The use of pulsed IR, however, is not an absolute requirement, particularly for sheet sensing media. The output of the PWM module 106 (pulse width module) is controlled by MCU so that a PWM square wave signal can vary its heavy duty cycle by the MCU to adjust the DC voltage to the emitter circuits and by therefore the power of the IR signal emitted. The PWM 106 is connected to a D / A converter 107 and an IR emitter drive circuitry 109 including the aforementioned constant current vessel. A signal from the phase frequency detecting module 108 that outputs a pulse modulated signal (± 0.5%) (or other signal frequency modulated as deemed appropriate) is also fed in the same drive circuitry of the IR emitters. that drives to the emitters 101 via the emitter drive circuitry 109 to output modulated IR signals for short intervals (e.g., each signal is emitted for approximately 1 ms). It should be noted to this receiver that before the modulated signal is output, the MCU must first place the filter and amplification circuit unit 104 for the received signal in operation for a short time, eg, 2.5 ms, before of emitting a modulated pulse, so as to allow the receiver circuit to stabilize, so as to reliably detect the reflected IR of the emitted IR signal. As previously explained, for the paper sensor means, the receiver circuit can be adjusted to be constantly due to the very short scan interval used during the operation of the motor. Since the unit 104 is already in operation when the IR sweep pulse is emitted, and because the filters and amplification unit are centered around the center frequency of the emitted pulse, there is no need to synchronize the pulse time control issued and the pulse received to no additional degree. The signal of the unit dl09 is fed into the on / off control unit of the IR emitter 110. The input / output module 118 of the MCU is also powered on. the unit 110 to turn on and off as required to perform an IR sweep via the emitter 101. In order to activate the microprocessor (i.e., wake it up to perform a user sweep or a sheet sensor sweep at a certain rate according to mentioned above 9, the RC activation circuitry 115 can be powered in MCU in an activation detecting unit 114. For the sheet sensing means during the time the motor is in operation, DCM can preferably be kept constantly active, since the The product blade scanning interval is very short, the unit 117 is an external interruption detection unit, from the input / output module 118 there is a power supply to the unit 119 which can be considered as the motor drive circuitry which drives the motor. M engine when the sensor system (which preferably drives the M motor when the sensor system (which preferably includes MCO and software) has detected that the The sheet product should be dispensed due to the determination of the presence of a user in the supply area 14. The additional peripheral units 111, 112 are respectively a paper sensor means (the operation of which is described in more detail with respect to Figs. 2 to 5) and a low power detection circuit (i.e. to detect battery power). The connections for this they are not shown, but will be similar to those used for the user's sensor media. The unit 116 indicates the battery power that is used to drive the MCU and also the other peripherals and the M motor. The unit 120 can be motor overload circuitry that cuts the motor power for example when the sheet product is jam in the dispenser and when there is no leaf product in the dispenser. The unit 121 is a sheet product length control unit (which can be variably adjustable by manual operation eg, of a variable resistor or the like) which operates such that a constant predetermined length of sheet product it is dispensed each time the motor is operated to feed a length of sheet product 7 through the discharge opening 8. This unit 121 may also include a low power compensation module whereby the motor under low power it is rotated during sheet product, although the unit can simply be a pulse position control system so the rotation of the motor M is taken into account in a series of pulses and the rotation stops only when the exact number of pulses. Said pulse position control system may for example include a permanently located switch photo that can detect slots in a corresponding slotted unit attached to the motor drive shaft (or alternatively in the drive roller 5 operably connected to the drive motor). The unit 122 may be a low sheet product detection circuitry and the unit 123 may be used to indicate whether the box is open or closed. This, for example, can be used to provide automatic feeding of a first sheet product portion of the roll 3 through the discharge opening when the box is closed eg, after refilling with a new roll of e.g., paper, so that the person refilling the dispenser ensures that the device is dispensed properly after it has been closed. Although not shown herein, a series of warnings or status indication lights may be associated for example with various units such as units 111, 112, 120 to 123 to indicate particular conditions to a potential user or who attends or repairs the dispenser (e.g., if the dispenser motor becomes stuck or the dispenser needs to refill with paper or the like). Fig. 9 shows one embodiment of an RC control circuitry that can be used to give a time controlled activation of the microprocessor in MCU. The principle of said circuit is well known and in the present case a suitable value for the resistor Re is 820 kOhm and for the capacitor 0.33 microfarad. Although it is not shown specifically in Fig. 7, the RC activation circuitry uses the MCU input / output unit 118 to provide the controlled time activation function of the microprocessor so that a sweep occurs in the prescribed time interval (ti, t2 or t3 for example). When there is a high voltage drop at the input / output, as a result of the RC circuitry, MCU will "trigger" and perform a sweep. This drive that leads to the realization of a user sensor sweep also requires support software. Likewise the length of time ti and / or t2 and / or t3 can be suitably made as a multiple of RC circuit time constant, whereby the input of the RC circuit can be used in the software to determine if it is required the sweep or not in each interval. In this regard it will be noted that an RC circuit is subjected to voltage changes at the input (via VDD which is the supply voltage source of DCM acquired after passing through the battery voltage supply unit). As the battery voltage (or batteries) voltage, there will be an increase in the constant RC time in the circuit of Fig. 9 and therefore the initially set times ti, t2 and t3 will vary as the batteries they run out more. For example, over time you set the preferred level of 0.17 seconds for a 6V battery level, a drop in the level of Exhaustion of 4.2V will increase the time ti to 0.22. Therefore, the values of ti, t2, t3 etc. as used herein, it should be understood that they are values with a fully charged battery source. Also the first sweep interval and the second sweep interval for use in the sheet sensing means are also values determined in full battery power. Fig. 10 shows a modified RC circuit having the advantage of using less current than the circuit shown in Fig. 9. In Fig. 10, three bipolar transistors are used to reduce the current used when the MCU is active. . For the circuitry in Fig. 9, the modification includes the use of two PA7 input / output ports (right side in the Figure) and PB7 (left side in the Figure) to the MCU. The important aspect of this circuit is that two transistors Q2 and Q3 have been added in cascade that modify the RC load characteristics together. The MCU PA7 pin gives a much sharper load curve. The delay time constant for activating MCU is determined by R4 and Cl, which has given values of 820 kOhm and 0.68 μF respectively in the example shown. Of course you can choose other values for other time constants. The rapid change of voltage on port PA7 is achieved after conversion to Q2 and Q3, which reduces the time required for the transition from a high logic voltage to a voltage level Low logic. Said circuit as in Fig. 9 can achieve a reduction of approximately 40% power during the non-active cycle compared to the circuitry of Fig. 8 for approximately the same RC time constants. Therefore, the RC time circuitry of Fig. 9 is particularly advantageous when maximum power can be saved.

Claims (17)

1. - A dispenser (1) including feeding means (4) driven by a motor (M) for dispensing a portion (24) of sheet product (7) stored in the dispenser, further including a supply outlet (8) through from which the sheet product (7) is fed into a feed command that is being issued by a control means (MCU), and a tear means (16) against which a region of said product can be extracted from. sheet so as to allow the sheet portion (24) to be torn and removed from a remaining portion of a sheet product supply (7), wherein the dispenser (1) includes a sheet sensing means (17, 18). ) to detect the presence of sheet product (7) in the front part of a specific region (21) of the dispenser near the dispenser outlet (8), said sheet sensing means (17, 18) being connected to the means Control (MCU), where the sheet sensor means are arranged for repeated scanning the region specifies in a first scanning interval for the presence of sheet product (7) or a discontinuity of the sheet product (7) during the entire operation of the motor (M) until the operation of the motor (M) is completed, and wherein the sheet sensing means are arranged to send a signal to the control means

(MCU) to indicate that the sheet product (7) has been torn whenever said sensor system detects a discontinuity of the sheet product (7) during the entire operation of the motor. 2. A dispensing according to claim 1, wherein the specific region (21) is disposed downstream of the tearing means (16).

3. A dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means MCU) are arranged to operate the motor so that a predetermined length of the sheet product is fed by the feed means (4) so less when there is no discontinuity in the sheet product (7) is detected during the entire operation of the motor (M).

4. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet sensing means (17, 18) comprise at least one IR emitter (17), and at least one IR receiver (18) arranged for receive IR issued by the IR emitter (17) and reflected by the sheet product (7) that blocks the IR path to the specific region (21).

5. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the specific region (21) is located dwarf surface (19) of said dispenser housing (1).

6. - A dispenser according to the claim 5, wherein a relatively dark area (23), with respect to the color of the sheet product (7), is disposed on the surface (19) of the dispensing housing.

7. - A dispenser according to the claim 6, wherein the relatively dark area (23) is a black area covering at least part of the surface (19) of the dispensing housing.

8. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a user sensor means (9-13) connected to the control means (MCU), said user sensor means (9-13) that provides a signal to the control means (MCU) upon detecting the presence of a user to allow the control means (MCU) to issue a sheet feed command .

9. A dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the control means (MCU) includes a memory for storing information of a sweep provided by the sheet sensing means (17, 18) made during the operation of the motor ( M):

10. A dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the control means (MCU) are arranged to issue a sheet feed command when a discontinuity has been detected in the pre-scan during motor operation. (M), and where the control means is set to maintain a control condition does not issue a sheet feeding command if no discontinuity has been detected in the previous sweep until such time as a single additional sweep, during a time without motor operation (M), detects a discontinuity.

11. A dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the control means are arranged so that, when discontinuity has been detected in a provided scan, a single second scan is performed by the paper sensor means in a second interval. sweeping after the previous sweep for a time without the operation of the motor wherein the second sweep interval is longer than the first sweep interval performed during the operation of the motor (M), and wherein the sheet product (7) it is detected during the second sweep alone, a single additional sweep is performed on a repeat basis in the second sweep interval, until the sheet product (7) is not detected.

12. A dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the second sweep interval is increased to a third longer sweep interval in a predetermined number of second sweep intervals that are exceeded.

13. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first The sweep interval is less than or equal to 20 ms, preferably less than or equal to 10 ms, and more preferably less than or equal to 5 ms.

14. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first scanning interval is less than or equal to 3 ms.

15. A dispenser according to claim 7, or any of claims 8 to 12 when dependent on claim 7, wherein the second scanning interval is the same as a scanning interval determined by a used microprocessor activation circuit. to determine the sweep intervals to detect the presence of a user, wherein the sweep interval in the sheet sensing means is equal, and is performed at the same time as, the sweep for the detection of a user.

16. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control system (MCU) arranged to supply a command signal to the impeller motor of the feed means (5, 6) to stop the drive motor (M) when detecting a discontinuity in the sheet product (7).

17. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control means (MCU) is arranged to stop the sensor means of blades (17, 18) that perform a sweep in the first sweep sweep interval upon the operation of the motor (M).