Abstract:
Apparatus, systems and methods for dispensing sheet material from a roll which include a low-material sensing system. The low-material sensing system provides an indication when the sheet material approaches depletion or is depleted so that the depleted sheet material roll can be replaced with a full roll. The low-material sensing system determines that the sheet material is depleted or near depletion by comparing the rotational speed of a sheet material roll from which the sheet material is unwound with the speed of the motor which produces movement of the sheet material roll when power is supplied to the motor. The sheet material roll speed increases as material is unwound while the motor speed remains relatively constant. A low-material indication is provided when the comparison reaches a threshold representative of the low-material state.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for measuring a magnetic field and determining whether an anomaly is present based on the magnetic field measurement and a measured ambient magnetic field. The present invention is also directed to a method and apparatus for measuring the intensity of the magnetic field by implementing operations to essentially eliminate error components that arise due to factors including offsets and gains affecting the intensity signal processing.
Abstract:
A transceiver unit includes an oscillator which generates a pulse train to a transceiver counter that connects to a display. The pulse train is also coupled by means of coils to a counter contained in a portable transponder unit which attaches to the animal. The transponder unit counter counts in synchronism with the transceiver counter and it generates a reset pulse when it counts a preselected number of the pulses. This reset pulse is coupled by means of coils to the transceiver unit. The preselected number corresponds to the identification number of the animal and the reset pulse reads this number out of the transceiver counter to the display.
Abstract:
Apparatus, systems and methods for dispensing sheet material from a roll which include a low-material sensing system. The low-material sensing system provides an indication when the sheet material approaches depletion or is depleted so that the depleted sheet material roll can be replaced with a full roll. The low-material sensing system determines that the sheet material is depleted or near depletion by comparing the rotational speed of a sheet material roll from which the sheet material is unwound with the speed of the motor which produces movement of the sheet material roll when power is supplied to the motor. The sheet material roll speed increases as material is unwound while the motor speed remains relatively constant. A low-material indication is provided when the comparison reaches a threshold representative of the low-material state.
Abstract:
Towel dispensing methods and automatic towel dispensers permitting conservation of the overall amount of towel dispensed. The towel dispensing methods and towel dispensers limit the amount of towel dispensed in dispense cycles which occur shortly after an initial dispense cycle. The user is provided with sufficient towel to meet the user's needs while reducing overall towel usage and limiting towel waste.
Abstract:
An apparatus controls the treatment of water that flows through a cooling system. The electrical conductivity of the water is sensed. A valve control opens a system drain valve when the sensed conductivity is greater than a threshold, and closes the drain valve when the conductivity drops below the threshold by a given amount. The water drained form the system is replenished through an inlet and a mechanism measures the volume of water added to the cooling system. Chemicals to treat the water are fed into the system when specified volumes of water have been added. The sensing of conductivity can be inhibited for a certain period following the application of the chemicals. A possible system malfunction is indicated when the conductivity does not drop below the threshold after the drain valve is open for a given period of time.
Abstract:
An automatic dispenser for a rolled material has a sensor that detects the presence of a user in front of the dispenser. When that occurs, a motor is driven by energy stored in a battery or a capacitor and a short length of the material is dispensed from the roll. The user then grasps that short length and pulls more of the material off the roll, thereby causing the roll to rotate. Rotation of the roll drives the motor as a generator producing electrical energy that recharges the battery or capacitor.
Abstract:
Automatic dispensers for dispensing products such as towel, tissue, wipes, sheet-form materials, soap, shaving cream, fragrances and personal care products. A dispenser includes a housing, an electrical power source, a user input device, a dispensing mechanism, and motor control apparatus. The user input device generates a signal responsive to a user request for product. Motor control apparatus de-powers the dispensing mechanism based on a determination of dispenser conditions representing discharge of the product.
Abstract:
Dispenser apparatus for dispensing flexible sheet material including material-recognition apparatus permitting the dispenser to recognize sheet material from an authorized source and to be enabled for operation with such material. The dispenser preferably includes standard mechanical components for dispensing sheet material from the dispenser including a housing, structure for supporting a roll of sheet material, drive and tension rollers forming a nip through which the sheet material is displaced as the drive roller rotates and drive apparatus in power-transmission relationship with the drive roller. The material-recognition apparatus includes a sensor mounted in the dispenser housing and in position to scan a code, preferably located on the core on which the sheet material is wound. The sensor generates a code signal corresponding to the code. A control circuit operatively connected to the sensor is adapted to receive the code signal and compare the code represented by said code signal to at least one code in a code database. The dispenser is placed in a dispenser-enabled state capable of dispensing sheet material corresponding to agreement between the codes and a dispenser-disabled state in which the dispenser is disabled when no such code agreement exists.
Abstract:
A line isolation monitor (LIM) indicates the maximum hazard current of an ungrounded polyphase power distribution system. The LIM is microcontroller based and continuously monitors a fault impedance for the distribution system. The fault impedance is determined by the LIM by injecting a continuous sine wave measurement current into a ground terminal to generate a measurement voltage across the fault impedance. Using the measurement voltage and current, the LIM calculates the fault impedance and, using this impedance, calculates the hazard current based on the maximum line to ground voltage of the ungrounded system. The LIM has means for self-calibration and self-testing while on-line and during a power-up sequence to verify that components in the measurement circuitry are within specified tolerances.