Photonic paper product dispenser

摘要

A photonic paper product dispenser is provided for dispensing a portion of a roll of a paper product. The photonic paper product dispenser comprises a housing which holds the roll of the paper product. The dispenser further comprises a light source for emitting an infrared light signal and a photodetector affixed to the housing which detects infrared light from the source reflected by the user and converts the light to electrical signals. The dispenser further includes a signal processing circuit in electrical connection with the photodetector. The signal processing circuit receives and processes signals sent by the photodetector. The dispenser further includes a motor in electrical connection with said signal processing circuit. The dispenser further includes a pair of gears mechanically connected to the motor which rotate upon activation of the motor. The gears are mechanically connected to one of a pair of rollers, the roller rotating upon rotation of the gears. The pair of rollers are mounted in the housing so that they are frictionally engaged with the roll of the paper product. The roll of the paper product is fed tautly between the pair of rollers. As the roller connected to the gears rotates, the roll of the paper product will rotate causing a sheet of the paper product to advance out from the dispenser which can then be removed from the roll by the user without having to touch any part of the dispenser.