System and method for dissipating static electricity in an electronic sheet material dispenser

• US 7,946,522 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Tramontina, Paul, Lewis, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mansen; Michael R
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAMPOS, JR, JUAN J
• Application Number:
  US11/589,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20080099595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 242/564, 242/564.1, 242/565, 242/563
• US Class Current: 242/564.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/36 with mechanical dispensing, roll switching or cutting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/3612 with drive and pinch rollers
• 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

Abstract

An electronic dispenser for dispensing a measured sheet from a roll of web material includes a passive, self-discharging static charge dissipating material configured with at least one component of the dispenser that stores static charge generated by operation of the dispenser.

Claims

1. An electronic dispenser for dispensing a measured sheet from a roll of web material, comprising:

a housing having an internal volume so as to retain at least one roll of web material therein;

an electronically powered dispensing mechanism contained within said housing for dispensing a measured sheet from the roll of web material upon actuation of said dispensing mechanism;

a passive, self-discharging static charge dissipating material incorporated with at least one internal component within said internal volume of said housing that stores static charge generated by operation of said dispenser; and

wherein said internal component is a thermally molded polymer component, said static charge dissipating material comprising an antistatic agent directly blended into the melt state of a polymer composition used to form said component so as to form a homogenously dispersed component of said polymer composition.

2. The dispenser as in claim 1, wherein said static charge dissipating material is incorporated with a plurality of different components within said internal volume of said housing.

3. The dispenser as in claim 1, wherein said static charge dissipating material is incorporated with a component along which the web material runs in its conveying path through said dispenser.

4. The dispenser as in claim 3, wherein said static charge dissipating material is incorporated with a throat portion of said dispenser along which the web material slides as it is dispensed from said dispenser.

5. The dispenser as in claim 1, wherein said static charge dissipating material is incorporated with a tear bar against which the web material is contacted to separate the web material into a sheet.

6. The dispenser as in claim 1, wherein said static charge dissipating material is incorporated with a drive roller component of said dispensing mechanism.

7. The dispenser as in claim 1, wherein said static charge dissipating material is incorporated with a pressure roller component of said dispensing mechanism.

8. The dispenser as in claim 1, wherein said static charge dissipating material is applied to a web fuel gauge bar that contacts the roll of web material.

9. The dispenser as in claim 1, wherein said dispenser is configured as an automatic towel dispenser.

10. The dispenser as in claim 1, wherein said dispenser is configured as a toilet tissue dispenser.