On-demand customized moist tissue dispenser

Abstract

A sheet material dispenser for dispensing portions of sheet material to which a liquid composition has been applied includes a feed mechanism for holding and advancing the sheet material, and a drive mechanism which displaces a carriage along a path of motion. An applicator assembly, deployed on the carriage, includes at least one container containing a composition to be applied to the sheet material and at least one applicator for directing a quantity of the composition towards a surface of the sheet material. In preferred cases, each container and a corresponding applicator are combined as an interchangeable prefilled dispensing container to facilitate user replacement. A controller actuates the applicator assembly to apply a quantity of the composition to the surface of the sheet material while the drive mechanism carries the applicator assembly along the path of motion.

1 . A sheet material dispenser for dispensing portions of sheet material to which a composition has been applied, the dispenser comprising:
 (a) a feed mechanism for holding and advancing the sheet material,   (b) a drive mechanism including a carriage, said drive mechanism being configured to displace said carriage along a path of motion;   (c) an applicator assembly deployed on said carriage so as to be carried along said path of motion, said applicator assembly including at least one container containing a composition to be applied to the sheet material and at least one applicator including a spray nozzle deployed for directing a quantity of the composition towards a surface of the sheet material; and   (d) a controller associated with said feed mechanism, said drive mechanism and said applicator assembly, said controller being configured to actuate said applicator assembly to apply a quantity of the composition to the surface of the sheet material while said drive mechanism carries said applicator assembly along said path of motion.   
   
   
       2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein said container and at least part of said applicator are implemented together as an interchangeable prefilled dispensing container. 
   
   
       3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein said applicator assembly includes a plurality of said containers and a plurality of said applicators, a first of said containers containing a first composition selectively dispensed by a first of said applicators, and a second of said containers containing a second composition different from said first composition selectively dispensed by a second of said applicators, and wherein said controller includes an electronic selection mechanism for selectively actuating said applicator to apply a desired selection of said first and second compositions. 
   
   
       4 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to selectively vary a quantity of said composition applied to the sheet material by said applicator. 
   
   
       5 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a cutting mechanism selectively actuated by said controller and deployed to sever a portion of said sheet material. 
   
   
       6 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein said container is implemented as a pressurized container, and wherein said applicator includes an actuator to actuate said spray nozzle so as to direct said composition onto the sheet material. 
   
   
       7 . The dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein said pressurized container and said spray nozzle are implemented as an interchangeable prefilled dispensing container. 
   
   
       8 . The dispenser of  claim 7 , wherein said carriage includes engagement features for releasably mechanically engaging said interchangeable prefilled dispensing container, and wherein said engagement features and said interchangeable prefilled dispensing container are shaped to maintain a predetermined alignment of said spray nozzle relative to said carriage. 
   
   
       9 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein said container is implemented as a non-pressurized container, and wherein said applicator includes a pump mechanism and an actuator for actuating said pump mechanism so as to direct the composition from said container towards the sheet material. 
   
   
       10 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein said non-pressurized container and said pump mechanism are implemented as an interchangeable prefilled dispensing container. 
   
   
       11 . The dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein said interchangeable prefilled dispensing container further includes said spray nozzle, and wherein said carriage includes engagement features for releasably mechanically engaging said interchangeable prefilled dispensing container, and wherein said engagement features and said interchangeable prefilled dispensing container are shaped to maintain a predetermined alignment of said spray nozzle relative to said carriage. 
   
   
       12 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to selectively vary a speed of motion of said carriage, thereby varying a quantity of said composition applied to the sheet material by said applicator. 
   
   
       13 . A sheet material dispenser for dispensing portions of sheet material to which a composition has been applied, the dispenser comprising:
 (a) a feed mechanism for holding and advancing the sheet material,   (b) a drive mechanism including a carriage, said drive mechanism being configured to displace said carriage along a path of motion;   (c) an applicator assembly deployed on said carriage so as to be carried along said path of motion, said applicator assembly including at least one container containing a composition to be applied to the sheet material and at least one applicator including a spray nozzle deployed for directing a quantity of the composition towards a surface of the sheet material, said container and at least part of said applicator being implemented together as an interchangeable prefilled dispensing container; and   (d) a controller associated with said feed mechanism, said drive mechanism and said applicator assembly, said controller being configured to actuate said applicator assembly to apply a quantity of the composition to the surface of the sheet material while said drive mechanism carries said applicator assembly along said path of motion.   
   
   
       14 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is selected from the group consisting of: a medicated composition; a cosmetic composition; a healthcare composition; a baby-care composition; and a cleaning composition. 
   
   
       15 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein said first composition is a cleaning composition for cleaning a surface, and said second composition is a treatment composition for treating a surface. 
   
   
       16 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein said first composition is a skin cleansing composition, and said second composition is a skin moisturizing composition. 
   
   
       17 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein said first composition is a composition without a fragrance, and said second composition is a composition with a fragrance. 
   
   
       18 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein said first composition is a first medicated composition, and said second composition is a second medicated composition different from said first medicated composition. 
   
   
       19 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is further configured to be selectively operable to actuate said feed mechanism without said applicator assembly so as to dispense a dry portion of said sheet material.