A voice controlled device comprises a housing, a dock, a coupling mechanism, and a microphone. The dock is configured to connect the housing to a plurality of host appliances. The coupling mechanism is configured to receive an identification value indicative of docking between the voice controlled device and a currently connected host appliance of the plurality of host appliances. The microphone is configured to receive one or more voice inputs for the currently connected host appliance. A command is provided based on the one or more voice inputs and the identification value.

A sheet product (e.g., napkin) dispenser may include an example calibration system and method for a product depletion curve for accurately determining a product level. An example sheet product dispenser includes a housing, a roll holder, a dispensing mechanism, a sensor, and a controller. The sensor is configured to emit a signal toward the product roll and receive a return signal. The controller is configured to receive a calibration product roll and operate the sensor to emit the signal and receive the return signal. The controller determines a brightness value of the return signal and determines a calibration value associated with the determined brightness value. The determined brightness value is within a range of brightness values associated with the calibration value. The controller adjusts a product depletion curve based on at least the determined calibration value and the determined brightness value. Additionally, example product level notification systems are provided herein.

A method and system for getting people to wash hands monitors whether or not people wash hands. The method and system involve educating and cultural changing food service environments to get people to wash their hands more frequently and more thoroughly. The method and system further improve compliance with established protocol.

A system and method are provided for improving product usage prior to refill of product dispensers in service areas that include a plurality of such dispensers. Via a sensor configured with each of the product dispensers and a control system in communication with the sensors, a product level or amount condition of product in each dispenser is detected. Based on the information from the sensors, a visual or audio message is generated and transmitted to the patron that encourages the patron to use a first product dispenser that has a greater product fill amount as compared to a second product dispenser in the same or a different service area.

Sheet product dispensers and methods of dispensing sheet products are provided, including feeding a sheet material from a roll via a sheet feeding mechanism, separating one or more discrete sheet products from the roll via a separation mechanism, dispensing the one or more discrete sheet products to an end user at a presentation station via a sheet product conveying mechanism, and detecting a presence of the sheet material via a sensor downstream of the sheet feeding mechanism, wherein the sheet product conveying mechanism is driven in response to the sensor detecting the presence of the sheet material.

An exemplary dispenser includes a housing and a refill unit. The refill unit being removable and replaceable. The dispenser also includes a processor, memory, a dose count stored in memory that is indicative of the number of doses in a full refill unit, a level sensor for detecting a predetermined level the refill unit and a dispense count indicative of the number doses of product dispensed from the refill unit. In addition, the dispenser includes memory and has logic stored in the memory for recalibrating the number of doses remaining in the refill unit as a function of the dose count, the number of doses of product dispensed and the predetermined level of product. The number of doses of product remaining in the refill unit may be displayed on the dispenser, on a remote station, or on both the dispenser and a remote station.

A sheet product (e.g., napkin) dispenser may include an example calibration system and method for a product depletion curve for accurately determining a product level. An example sheet product dispenser includes a housing, a roll holder, a dispensing mechanism, a sensor, and a controller. The sensor is configured to emit a signal toward the product roll and receive a return signal. The controller is configured to receive a calibration product roll and operate the sensor to emit the signal and receive the return signal. The controller determines a brightness value of the return signal and determines a calibration value associated with the determined brightness value. The determined brightness value is within a range of brightness values associated with the calibration value. The controller adjusts a product depletion curve based on at least the determined calibration value and the determined brightness value. Additionally, example product level notification systems are provided herein.

Sheet product dispensers and methods of dispensing sheet products are provided, including feeding a sheet material from a roll via a sheet feeding mechanism, separating one or more discrete sheet products from the roll via a separation mechanism, dispensing the one or more discrete sheet products to an end user at a presentation station via a sheet product conveying mechanism, and detecting a presence of the sheet material via a sensor downstream of the sheet feeding mechanism, wherein the sheet product conveying mechanism is driven in response to the sensor detecting the presence of the sheet material.

Methods, hand wash monitoring system and hand wash hub system for motivating and monitoring compliance of hand washing are disclosed. Hand wash monitoring system detects presence of hands in hand washing sink. Subsequently, hand wash monitoring system initiates countdown of plurality of instructions to be displayed to user for washing hands. Plurality of instructions include wetting hands, applying soap, scrubbing hands, rinsing hands, and drying hands. Each of plurality of instructions is counted for predetermined time period. Hand wash monitoring system further monitors compliance of user following plurality of instructions for washing hands to improve compliance of hand washing with established protocol. In one embodiment, hand wash monitoring system is communicatively coupled with hand wash hub system and attendance monitoring system to display users' hand washing schedule and compliance with established protocol on external display device to get people to wash their hands more frequently and more thoroughly.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for optimizing performance of a product dispenser are provided herein. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the product dispenser (e.g., the environment, the type or habits of users or individual users, etc.), initial dispensing parameter settings of the product dispenser may be undesirable. Using monitored usage data, optimized dispensing parameters can be determined to achieve more desirable usage of the product dispenser (e.g., decrease waste, power save, increase efficiency, etc.). Additionally, using bounding parameters and/or information from the environment (e.g., nearby product dispensers) can lead to further optimized performance of the product dispenser. User or group specific optimized dispensing parameters can also be determined and used.