BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for providing power to a plurality of paper towel dispensers through a power over ethernet (PoE) network and for sensing various operational parameters of the dispensers and communicating those parameters through the network connection to a central computing device.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

It is known that poor hand cleaning compliance in the medical and food industries is a source of infectious disease. It is also known that hand cleaning compliance increases if an employee knows that management is monitoring compliance. Similarly it is known that hand cleaning compliance also increases if the soap or disinfectant and paper towel dispensers are in good operating condition.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for providing power to a plurality of paper towel dispensers through a controller that includes a power distribution system and that sends and receives data between the dispensers and a central computing device regarding conditions in the dispensers. Other objects and features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In accordance with the invention, a system for powering a plurality of paper towel dispensers through a power over ethernet network is disclosed. The system includes a controller having a power distribution system with an interface connected to each dispenser for providing power to the dispenser. Additionally, the controller also receives and sends data between one or more sensors in the dispenser and a central computing device. The controller may be internal or external to the dispenser and an integrated circuit or a microprocessor. The sensors may sense the operational status of a component of the dispenser or the presence of a user. The invention summarized above comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated by the subjoined claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

In the accompanying drawings, in which several of various possible embodiments of the invention are illustrated, corresponding reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing showing a system with Power/Data Controllers in accordance with the present invention; and,

Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing showing a system wherein the Power/Data Controllers are physically located in the dispensers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 shows the architecture of the present invention wherein a networked system of paper towel dispensers (10) is shown. The dispensers (10) include sensors (28) (Fig. 2) and are connected to a central database server (16) via a standard power over ethernet (PoE) network switch (14). A plurality of Power/Data Controllers (12) are provided on the network between the dispensers and the network switch. The Power/Data Controllers (12) may be physically located near dispensers (10) or, in an alternative form of the invention, they may be located inside the dispenser housing.

The PoE network switch 14 provides power to the Power/Data Controllers (12) which provide PoE power to the dispensers (10) sufficient to power all functions of the dispensers, including dispenser motor, motor controller circuitry and sensors, such as a low-paper condition sensor, mal-function sensors, or other dispenser status sensors (28) which may be included in the dispensers as shown in Fig. 2. The Power/Data Controllers (12) additionally transmit necessary command data (24) to the sensors (28) included in the dispensers (10) and receive sensor information (24) and pass it back (30, 34) to the central database service (16).

Fig. 2 shows the present invention when the Power/Data Controllers (12) are physically located inside dispensers (10). The Power/Data Controllers (12) communicate bi- directionally (26) with the status sensors (28) or accessory systems included in the dispensers (10). In addition, the Power/Data Controllers (12) provide power (24) to the dispenser motor and motor controller (22). The Power/Data Controllers (12) in the dispensers (10) are connected to the local area network for bidirectional data transfer (30) and receive PoE power from the network (32).

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.