US 11,849,886 B2
Level sensor and dispenser
Anders Strålin, Torslanda (SE); Gunilla Himmelmann, Molnlycke (SE); Robert Kling, Skene (SE); Peter Rehnstrom, Falun (SE); and Jerry Svedlund, Hedemora (SE)
Assigned to ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKITEBOLA, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed by Essity Hygiene and Health Aktiebolag, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed on Mar. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/199,512.
Application 17/199,512 is a continuation of application No. 13/823,307, granted, now 10,973,377, previously published as PCT/EP2010/063543, filed on Sep. 15, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2021/0244241 A1, Aug. 12, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A47K 10/32 (2006.01)
CPC A47K 10/32 (2013.01) [A47K 2010/3226 (2013.01); B65H 2557/11 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tissue dispensing system, comprising:
a tissue holder arranged to receive a tissue product to be dispensed from the tissue holder, the tissue holder comprising at least one sensor collection unit arranged on the tissue holder, the at least one sensor collection unit comprising:
at least one sensor collection processing unit,
at least one communication interface,
at least two sensor elements, each of the two sensor elements comprising a light source and a light detector and the two sensor elements being separated a distance from each other in at least one direction relative to the tissue product, each of the at least two sensor elements is arranged to periodically transmit light from the light source and detect light reflected from the light source by the light detector, and
wherein the at least one sensor collection processing unit is configured to emit signals comprising information relative to a level of remaining tissue product,
wherein sensing intervals at which the at least two sensor elements transmit light is adjustable, and
wherein the communication interface is triggered to communicate results upon a predetermined level of the tissue product being reached; and
a data collection unit comprising at least one data collection processing unit and a communication unit configured to receive the signals from the at least one sensor collection unit; and
a third processing unit configured to receive and analyze data from the communication unit and determine a level of the tissue product in the tissue holder; and
wherein the data collection unit is arranged to communicate information to the third processing unit for analysis and level determination.