Dispenser

Abstract

A dispenser for tissue paper comprising a housing is provided. The housing includes a first seat for a first roll or a first stack of tissue paper and a second seat for a second roll or a second stack of tissue paper. The housing is provided with a first dispensing position and a second dispensing position, from which tissue paper is graspable for dispensing thereof. The dispenser includes a blocking arrangement for selectively blocking either the first dispensing position or the second dispensing position. The dispenser includes a sensor device arranged to sense at least one position of the blocking arrangement, wherein the sensor device is connected to a control unit arranged to indicate a tissue paper filling state of the dispenser based on the sensed at least one position of the blocking arrangement.

1 . A dispenser for tissue paper comprising a housing, the housing comprising:
 a first seat for a first roll or a first stack of tissue paper;   a second seat for a second roll or a second stack of tissue paper;   a first dispensing position, from which tissue paper on the first roll or the first stack of tissue paper is graspable for dispensing thereof;   a second dispensing position, from which tissue paper on the second roll or the second stack of tissue paper is graspable for dispensing thereof;   a blocking arrangement for selectively blocking either the first dispensing position or the second dispensing position; and   a sensor device arranged to sense at least one position of the blocking arrangement,   wherein the sensor device is connected to a control unit configured to indicate a tissue paper filling state of the dispenser based on the sensed at least one position of the blocking arrangement.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the blocking arrangement comprises a movable lid arranged to be positioned in a first blocking position and in a second blocking position,
 wherein, in the first blocking position, the movable lid prevents access to the first dispensing position and permits access to the second dispensing position, and   wherein, in the second blocking position, the movable lid prevents access to the second dispensing position and provides access to the first dispensing position.   
     
     
         3 . The dispenser according to  claim 2 , wherein the blocking arrangement prevents the movable lid from being moved from the first blocking position to the second blocking position unless the second seat is substantially empty. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser according to  claim 2 , wherein the blocking arrangement prevents the movable lid from being moved from the second blocking position to the first blocking position unless the first seat is substantially empty. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser according to  claim 4 , wherein the blocking arrangement comprises a lever mechanism adapted to bear against the first roll or first stack of tissue paper arranged in the first seat and against the second roll or second stack of tissue paper arranged in the first second seat, and wherein the lever mechanism is configured to engage and release the movable lid. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser according to  claim 5 , wherein the lever mechanism comprises a first linkage arranged to bear against the first roll or the first stack of tissue paper and a second linkage arranged to bear against the second roll or the second stack of tissue paper. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one position of the blocking arrangement sensed by the sensor device relates to one position of the lever mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one position of the blocking arrangement sensed by the sensor device relates to one position of the movable lid. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensing unit configured to acknowledge replenishing of the dispenser with tissue paper. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor device comprises an optical sensor device. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser according to  claim 10 , wherein the optical sensor device comprises a light source and a photosensitive element. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser according to  claim 11 , wherein the blocking arrangement comprises a light reflecting surface arranged to reflect light from the light source towards the photosensitive element. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor device and at least part of the blocking arrangement are arranged in an enclosure separate from the first and second seats. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor device is configured to sense at least two positions of the blocking arrangement, and wherein the control unit is configured to indicate a tissue paper filling state of the dispenser based on the sensed at least two positions of the blocking arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser according to  claim 14 , wherein the control unit is configured to indicate a first tissue paper filling state indicating either that the first seat is empty or that the second seat is empty, and a second tissue paper filling state indicating that both the first and second seats are empty. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser according to  claim 15 , wherein the control unit is configured to indicate a third tissue paper filling state indicating that the first and second seats are at least partially filled. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser according to  claim 15 , wherein the control unit is configured to indicate a fourth tissue paper filling state indicating that the first and second seats are filled. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is arranged separate from the dispenser and the sensor device is configured to communicate with the control unit. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is arranged in the dispenser. 
     
     
         20 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit communicates with, or forms part of, a data collection system configured for communicating tissue paper filling states of the dispenser to an operator. 
     
     
         21 . The dispenser according to  claim 20 , wherein the data collection system is configured to store data for communicating tissue paper filling states of the dispenser to an operator.