Dispenser assembly for selectively dispensing sheet material

Abstract

A dispenser assembly facilitating selective dispensing of sheet material from a plurality of supplies of sheet material having a plurality of driven rollers each configured to move sheet material from a respective supply of sheet material. The dispenser assembly including an activation system that can include an opposing beam dispenser activation sensor assembly for triggering a dispensing operation and/or a visible light indicator for guiding a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sheet material dispenser, comprising:
 a dispenser housing including a pocket defined along a front surface of the dispenser housing;   a dispensing system configured to dispense a selected amount of a sheet material;   an activation system configured for sensing at least one activation gesture performed by a user for initiating operation of the dispensing system to dispense the selected amount of the sheet material;   wherein the activation system comprises a dispenser activation sensor assembly at least partially recessed within the pocket; and   wherein the dispenser sensor activation assembly comprises at least one sensor positioned within the pocket and configured to generate a sensing area within the pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The sheet material dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket includes a back portion and side portions projecting forwardly from the back portion; and wherein at least one sensor of the dispenser activation sensor assembly comprises an infrared (IR) sensor assembly including one or more IR emitters and one or more IR receivers positioned along the side portions of the pocket; and wherein each IR emitter is configured to emit an IR beam and each IR receiver is configured to detect IR beams emitted from the one or more IR emitters and reflected as a result of the at least one activation gesture by the user. 
     
     
         3 . The sheet material dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one IR emitter and at least one IR receiver positioned along a top portion of the pocket. 
     
     
         4 . The sheet material dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises one or more IR assemblies positioned along one or more side portions of the pocket. 
     
     
         5 . The sheet material dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a plurality of IR sensor arrays configured to generate overlapping IR coverage zones within the pocket, and wherein the IR coverage zones define the sensing area. 
     
     
         6 . The sheet material dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket includes a top portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, a back portion, and a front portion; and wherein at least a portion of the sensing area projects forwardly from the front portion of the pocket and does not make contact with the back portion of the pocket. 
     
     
         7 . The sheet material dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor of the dispenser activation sensor assembly comprises a series of IR emitters and an opposing series of IR receivers, wherein each IR emitter is configured to emit an IR beam toward a corresponding IR receiver so that the corresponding IR receiver will detect the IR beam from the IR emitter, and wherein if one or more of the IR beams emitted by the IR emitters are not received by the IR receivers an activation signal is provided to initiate a dispensing cycle. 
     
     
         8 . The sheet material dispenser of  claim 7 , wherein the series of IR emitters comprises a plurality of IR launching tubes positioned along a first side portion of the pocket and the series of IR receivers comprises a plurality of IR receiving tubes positioned along a second side portion of the pocket. 
     
     
         9 . The sheet material dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom portion of the pocket defines an opening through which the sensing area at least partially extends, and wherein the at least one activation gesture performed by the user comprises placing a hand within the sensing area at least partially within or below the pocket. 
     
     
         10 . A dispenser, comprising:
 a dispenser housing including a pocket having a top portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion defining a recessed area accessible from a front side and a bottom side of the dispenser housing;   at least one supply of a fluid or sheet material positioned within the dispenser housing;   a dispensing system in communication with the at least one supply of the fluid or the sheet material and operable to dispense a selected amount of the fluid or sheet material;   an activation system configured for sensing activation gestures and in response, generating an activation signal for initiating operation of the dispensing system for dispensing the selected amount of the fluid or sheet material;   wherein the activation system comprises a dispenser activation sensor assembly at least partially recessed within the pocket of the dispenser housing; and   wherein the dispenser activation sensor assembly comprises one or more IR sensor arrays configured to generate a sensing area located substantially within the recessed area defined by the pocket.   
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein each of the one or IR more sensor arrays comprise an IR emitter and IR receiver mounted along the top portion, the first side portion, the second side portion, or combinations thereof; wherein each of the one or more sensor arrays is configured to generate overlapping IR detection zones that define the sensing area. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more IR sensor arrays comprise a series of IR sensor arrays, each comprising an IR emitter and an IR receiver, wherein each of the IR sensor arrays is configured to generate the sensing area; and wherein the sensing area is oriented at an angle directed outwardly from the recessed area of the pocket. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 10 , further comprising a control system in communication with the dispensing system and the activation system, the control system configured to activate the dispensing system to dispense the selected amount of the sheet material upon receipt of one or more activation signals from the one or more IR sensor arrays generated upon detection of a user within the sensing area. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the dispensing system comprises a feed roller mounted within the dispenser housing and configured to feed the sheet material from at least one supply of sheet material; and a drive mechanism operably coupled to the feed roller and to the control system, the drive mechanism being operable to selectively drive rotation of the feed roller upon receipt of an activation signal by the control system. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more IR sensor arrays comprises a plurality of IR sensor arrays configured to generate overlapping IR coverage zones within the pocket; and wherein the IR coverage zones define the sensing area. 
     
     
         16 . A dispenser, comprising:
 a pocket defining a recessed area accessible from a front side of the dispenser, from a bottom side of the dispenser, or a combination thereof;   at least one supply of a fluid or sheet material;   a dispensing system in communication with the at least one supply of the fluid or the sheet material and operable to dispense a selected amount of the fluid or sheet material;   an activation system configured for generating an activation signal for initiating operation of the dispensing system for dispensing the selected amount of the fluid or sheet material;   wherein the activation system comprises at least one IR sensor assembly positioned within the recessed area defined by the pocket and configured to generate a sensing area that is substantially contained within the recessed area defined by the pocket; and   wherein when a user is detected within the sensing area, the activation system generates the activation signal to initiate the operation of the dispensing system.   
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , further comprising a light positioned along a back portion or a top portion of the pocket; and wherein the light is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the recessed area so as to guide the user for engaging the sensing area to activate the dispensing system. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a control system in communication with the dispensing system and the activation system, the control system configured to activate the dispensing system upon receipt of one or more activation signals from the at least one IR sensor assembly; and   wherein the dispensing system comprises:
 a feed roller mounted within the dispenser housing and configured to feed the sheet material from at least one supply of sheet material; and 
 a drive mechanism operably coupled to the feed roller and to the control system, the drive mechanism being operable to selectively drive rotation of the feed roller upon receipt of an activation signal by the control system. 
   
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one IR sensor assembly comprises a series of IR emitters and an opposing series of IR receivers, wherein each IR emitter is configured to emit an IR beam toward a corresponding IR receiver so that the corresponding IR receiver will detect the IR beam from the IR emitter, and wherein if one or more of the IR beams emitted by the IR emitters are not received by the IR receivers an activation signal is provided to initiate a dispensing cycle. 
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein a bottom portion of the pocket defines an opening through which the sensing area at least partially extends, and wherein the activation system is configured to generate the activation signal in response to the user placing a hand within the sensing area at least partially within or below the pocket.