System for dispensing paper rolls with conductive tubes

• US 7,533,845 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2005
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Essity Operations France
• Original Assignee: Georgia- Pacific France (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cattacin, Giles, Neveu, Jean-Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVERA, WILLIAM ARAUZ
• Application Number:
  US11/176,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20060006275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 241/564, 241/564.1, 241/564.2, 241/563, 312/34.22, 312/34.8, 235/462.01, 235/462.13, 235/454, 235/470
• US Class Current: 242/563
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/16 Paper towels; Toilet paper; Holders therefor dispensers A47K10/32
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/34 dispensing from a web, e.g. with mechanical dispensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/185 End caps, plugs or adapters

Abstract

The invention relates to a system of dispensing a product rolled around an element such as a tube (50), such product defining a structure such as a cylinder, and such system comprising in particular: a frame, a means of support and connection of the roll in the frame. It is claimed for the invention that the tube (50) includes an electrically conductive element (50c) designed to operate in conjunction with an element of the frame so as together to form an electric circuit element.

Claims

1. A system for dispensing a product rolled around a cylindrical element, said system comprising

a frame, and

a means of support and connection of the cylindrical element with the frame, wherein the cylindrical element comprises an electrically conductive element which operates in conjunction with the frame to form an electric circuit element.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the conductive element comprises a layer of conductive material in contact with at least part of at least one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the cylindrical element.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said layer has a thickness in a range of from about 10 microns to about 1 millimeter.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the layer of conductive material comprises copper or aluminum.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical element comprises a cardboard tube lined on an interior surface with a layer of conductive material.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the layer of conductive material comprises a metal strip adhered to a surface of said cardboard tube.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the layer of conductive material comprises copper or aluminum.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the conductive element comprises a network of metal wires woven or knitted together.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the metal wires have a diameter of about 50 microns.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the conductive element comprises a network of polymeric or elastomeric material which is woven and charged with conductive elements.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the conductive elements comprise carbon, silver, nickel, copper, or aluminum.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the conductive element comprises a layer of conductive paint or ink material including conductive particles.

13. The system according to claim 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, further comprising at least one connector element to provide electrical connection between the cylindrical element and the frame.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the at least one connector element comprises a connector having a conductive contact inserted into one end of the cylindrical element.

15. The cylindrical element of the dispensing system according to claim 14, said cylindrical element comprising a tubular structure comprising an electrically conductive element.

16. The cylindrical element of the dispensing system according to claim 13, said cylindrical element comprising a tubular structure comprising an electrically conductive element.

17. The cylindrical element of the dispensing system according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, said cylindrical element comprising a tubular structure comprising an electrically conductive element.