Paper Product Dispenser with Sensor-Based Usage Data Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional paper dispensers lack control mechanisms and data monitoring capabilities, leading to excessive paper product distribution and waste, particularly in settings like quick service restaurants, where understanding usage trends is essential for efficient dispensing.
Innovation Solution
An automatic sheet product dispenser system that includes a loading station, sheet feeding mechanism, presentation station, sensor, and controller to detect and dispense discrete sheet products while collecting and storing data on usage patterns, allowing for controlled and efficient dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional manual dispensers are used, then users can easily retrieve paper products, but uncontrolled distribution and waste occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs sensors to detect when paper products are dispensed and feeds this information back to a controller that tracks usage against predetermined limits. When the limit is reached, the system provides feedback to prevent further dispensing, creating a closed-loop control system that eliminates waste while maintaining ease of use through automatic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispenser automatically monitors and controls paper product distribution without requiring user intervention to enforce limits. The system serves itself by automatically detecting dispensing events, tracking usage, and preventing over-dispensing, thereby eliminating the need for manual monitoring while reducing waste.
2Device complexity
If manual dispensers are used, then device complexity is low, but usage monitoring and data collection are incapable
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser integrates multiple functions into a single system: it dispenses paper products, detects dispensing events through sensors, tracks usage data, stores information in memory, and communicates with external systems. This multi-functional approach enables comprehensive usage monitoring without requiring separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the physical dispensing mechanism and the data collection system. It receives signals from sensors detecting paper product removal, processes this information, stores it in memory, and can communicate it externally, thereby bridging the gap between physical dispensing and digital monitoring.
3Loss of substance
If automatic control is implemented, then paper waste is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs sensors to detect when paper products are dispensed and feeds this information back to a controller that tracks usage against predetermined limits. When the limit is reached, the system provides feedback to prevent further dispensing, creating a closed-loop control system that eliminates waste while maintaining ease of use through automatic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispenser automatically monitors and controls paper product distribution without requiring user intervention to enforce limits. The system serves itself by automatically detecting dispensing events, tracking usage, and preventing over-dispensing, thereby eliminating the need for manual monitoring while reducing waste.
Data Source
AI summary
Sheet product dispensers and methods are provided. A sheet product dispenser includes a loading station for sheet material, a sheet feeding mechanism configured to feed the sheet material, a presentation station for presenting one or more discrete sheet products to an end user, a sensor downstream of the feeding mechanism and upstream of the presentation station configured to detect a presence of the discrete sheet products, and a controller configured to facilitate dispensing of the one or more discrete sheet products in response to a signal, and to determine and store data associated with the dispensing of the sheet products.