Static build-up control in dispensing system

• US 7,017,856 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2004
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
• Inventors: Moody, John R., Broehl, Joshua M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, JOHN QUOC
• Application Number:
  US10/807,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20040178297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 242/559.2, 242/560.1, 242/563, 242/590, 242/596, 242/564.4, 242/906, 312/34.8, 312/34.22
• US Class Current: 242/564.4
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/36 with mechanical dispensing, roll switching or cutting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3625 with electronic control means
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3687 with one or more reserve rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3668 Detection of the presence of a user
• CPC Class Codes: H05F 3/02 by means of earthing connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 242/906 Static charger or discharger

Abstract

A method of grounding a dispenser. A low impedance path is connected to elements internal to the dispenser. The low impedance path is also connected to a surface contact spring which is adapted to contact an external mounting surface when the dispenser is affixed thereto. Static electrical charge accumulated on the elements is discharged through the low impedance path and the surface contact spring to the external mounting surface.

Claims

1. A method of grounding a dispenser comprising:

connecting a low impedance path to elements internal to the dispenser;

connecting the low impedance path to a surface contact spring adapted to contact an external mounting surface when the dispenser is affixed to the external mounting surface; and

discharging static electrical charge accumulated on the elements to the external mounting surface through the low impedance path and the surface contact spring.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the dispenser includes a nib roller and the method further comprises connecting the low impedance path to the nib roller.

3. The method as in claim 2 further comprising connecting a shaft of the nib roller to the low impedance path using a spring contact.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the mounting surface comprises a wall.

5. The dispenser of claim 4, where I the wall is formed from a high impedance material.

6. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser comprises a chassis, the chassis being affixed to the mounting surface.

7. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the chassis is formed from a plastic material.

8. A dispenser for dispensing flexible sheet material comprising:

a chassis including a mounting member adapted to affix the chassis to a support surface;

a feed mechanism affixed to the chassis, the feed mechanism including at least one roller and being adapted to advance sheet material from a roll of sheet material across the roller;

an electronic controller affixed to the chassis and adapted to control dispensation of the sheet material; and

a conductive path extending from the roller toward the mounting member, wherein the conductive path is adapted to contact the support surface when the chassis is affixed thereto and to discharge static electricity accumulated on the at least one roller to the support surface.

9. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the roller includes a roller shaft and the conductive path includes a conductive contact adapted to contact the roller shaft.

10. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the conductive contact is spring biased against the roller shaft.

11. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein the conductive contact comprises a compression spring.

12. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the support surface comprises a wall.

13. The dispenser of claim 12, where I the wall is formed from a high impedance material.

14. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the chassis is formed from a plastic material.

15. A paper dispenser comprising:

a support adapted to hold a roll of a paper;

a motor driven feed mechanism adapted to receive and dispense paper from the roll;

a surface contact spring adapted to directly contact a mounting surface external to the dispenser when the dispenser is affixed to the mounting surface; and

at least one low impedance wire having a first end electrically coupled to the surface contact spring and a second end coupled to an element internal to the dispenser.

16. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the feed mechanism includes a nib roller and the second end of the at least one low impedance wire is coupled to the nib roller.

17. The dispenser of claim 16, wherein the dispenser further comprises a spring contact coupling the second end of the at least one low impedance wire to the nib roller.

18. The dispenser of claim 17, wherein the nib roller includes a shaft and the spring contact couples the second end of the at least one low impedance wire to the shaft.

19. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the mounting surface comprises a wall.

20. The dispenser of claim 19, where I the wall is formed from a high impedance material.

21. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the dispenser comprises a chassis, the chassis being affixed to the mounting surface.

22. The dispenser of claim 21, wherein the chassis is formed from a plastic material.