Method and system for determining usage and authentication of a paper product in a dispenser
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing systems for consumable paper products struggle to accurately determine the remaining amount of product without opening the dispenser, while also ensuring only authorized products are dispensed, often increasing costs or affecting dispensing operations.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser system that takes digital images of the paper product at defined intervals, using a digital imager processor to analyze features such as dimensions or marks, allowing for accurate determination of product remaining and ensuring only authorized products are dispensed by recognizing proprietary marks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If digital imaging and processing systems are integrated into the dispenser to accurately determine product levels and verify authorization, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The digital imager is designed to perform multiple functions: determining product levels, verifying product authorization through mark recognition, and providing diagnostic information. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate sensing systems for each purpose, thereby improving measurement precision while limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses digital images (optical copies) of the paper product formation to determine product levels and verify authorization marks, rather than requiring direct physical contact sensors. This non-contact approach improves measurement accuracy while keeping the added complexity manageable by using standard imaging technology.
2Measurement precision
If the dispenser opens to determine the amount of paper product remaining, then measurement accuracy is improved, but productivity and ease of operation worsen due to operational disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The digital imager captures images of the paper product formation through the closed dispenser door, allowing product level and authorization verification to be determined before the dispenser needs to be opened for refilling. This preliminary measurement action eliminates the need to open the dispenser solely for assessment purposes, maintaining operational continuity while achieving accurate measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical action of opening the dispenser door with an optical imaging system that can measure product levels through the closed door. This substitution eliminates the disruptive mechanical operation while maintaining measurement capability, thereby preserving productivity and operational ease.
3Reliability
If proprietary marks are added to paper products for authentication, then reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture worsens due to additional processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system uses colored or patterned marks printed on the paper product formation that can be readily detected by the digital imager. These marks are integrated into the existing printing processes used for product branding and information, so no separate authentication marking step is required, maintaining ease of manufacture while enabling reliable verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The proprietary marks serve dual purposes: they provide authentication information for the dispenser's verification system and simultaneously serve as branding or product identification elements that are already part of the standard printing process. This multi-functionality ensures reliability in authorization verification without adding separate manufacturing steps.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and control method for determining an amount of paper product dispensed from a dispenser or remaining in the dispenser is provided. The paper product is initially loaded in the dispenser as a paper product formation, such as a roll or stack of the product. At defined intervals, a digital image of an aspect of the paper product formation in the dispenser is taken and transmitted to a digital imager processor. A feature of the digital image that changes as the paper product formation decreases in size as the paper product is dispensed is analyzed and compared with a predetermined value of the feature at a predefined size of the paper product formation to determine an amount of the paper product dispensed or remaining in the dispenser.