SENSOR ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMATIC FEEDER Russian patent published in 2012 - IPC G07C11/00 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: disclosed is a paper towel feeder which is configured to both store paper supplies and automatically feed at least a portion of said paper supplies; said feeder has a housing with an outer surface, an active infrared sensor system for detecting presence of a possible user; said infrared sensor system includes at least one infrared emitter having an active emitting surface, and at least one infrared receiver having an active receiving part; wherein said outer surface lies on the outer side of said housing of the feeder which will primarily face downwards and wherein said outer surface on the lower side of said housing of the feeder on which said at least one emitter and said at least one receiver are located is directly adjacent to the lateral outlet opening of said feeder on the lower side of said feeder, and said sensor system has at least two infrared emitters and at least three infrared receivers, wherein one receiver lies on each lateral side of the emitter based on the condition that emitters and receivers are in the order receiver-emitter-receiver-emitter-receiver in the lateral direction across the feeder.

EFFECT: narrow detection zone which provides fast and reliable detection without significant power consumption of the paper towel feeder.

61 cl, 10 dwg