Paper roll anti-theft protection

• US 20040145479A1
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastern Ribbon and Roll Corporation
• Original Assignee: Eastern Ribbon and Roll Corporation
• Inventors: Collura, Blaise J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,176,803 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/182 Identification means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/244 Tag manufacturing, e.g. continuous manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2445 Tag integrated into item to be protected, e.g. source tagging
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/12 Supports; Mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

The invention comprises a method and system for preventing the unauthorized removal of paper rolls, such as cash register receipt paper rolls used by retailers, as well as the anti-theft paper roll and methods of preparation therefor. The method comprises affixing to the paper roll an electronic sensor, wherein the sensor emits a detectable signal; and detecting the presence of the sensor when it passes through or near a detection point at the retailer'"'"'s location. In one embodiment of the invention, the sensor is an adhesive strip, affixed to the core of the paper roll, wherein the core of the paper roll comprises a flat surface integrally formed therein, onto which the sensor is affixed.

Claims

1. A method for preventing the unauthorized removal of a paper roll from a retailer, comprising:

affixing to the paper roll an electronic sensor, wherein the sensor produces a detectable signal; and

detecting the signal from the sensor when it passes through or near a detection zone at the retailer'"'"'s location, thereby preventing unauthorized removal of the paper roll.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the paper roll comprises a core, and wherein the method further comprises affixing the sensor to the core.

3. An anti-theft paper roll comprising a paper roll having an electronic sensor affixed thereto.

4. The anti-theft paper roll of claim 3, wherein the paper roll comprises a core, and wherein the sensor is affixed to the core.

5. A paper roll core comprising a hollow cylinder having an interior surface and an exterior surface, between which surfaces is a core wall, and wherein the exterior surface further comprises a longitudinal flat surface integrally formed therein.

6. An electronic article surveillance system for protecting a paper roll from theft, comprising:

means for generating an electronic signal from a sensor at a selected frequency, wherein the sensor is affixed to the paper roll; and

means for detecting the signal generated by the sensor when the sensor is in the proximity of a detection zone.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the paper roll comprises a core, and wherein the sensor is affixed to the core.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the core further comprises an exterior surface with a flat surface integrally formed thereon, and wherein the system further comprises affixing the sensor to the flat surface of the core.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the signal activates an alarm.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the alarm is at least one audible indicator, visual indicator, silent alarm having a remote indicator, or activation of a physical blocking means, and combinations thereof.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the alarm is recognized at a remote location.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the alarm is recognized proximal to the detection zone.