System for distributing paper rolls provided with guiding cores

ES 2 299 079 T3

DESCRIPTION

Paper roll distribution system with conductive mandrels.

The present invention relates to the field of single-use rolls of paper used in particular by the general public or in communities and known under certain conditions such as toilet paper, drying rolls, kitchen paper rolls or hand dryer rolls.

For community use, the product (roll) is very often placed in a dispenser that supports and protects the roll and ensures the distribution of the paper. Among some important functions of the distributor, we can mention the storage of paper, hygiene, control of consumption.

The distributor and the product it contains are often thought of as systems. They will be so named in the continuation of this report.

The cost of distributors is relatively high, and, if nothing is foreseen, the distributor can be suitable for several types of products. Under these conditions there is a commercial risk of seeing competing products work in a distributor that has been provided by another supplier.

In addition, products not specifically intended for a distributor can degrade their performance, even be damaged before use.

To avoid this type of problem, so-called "captive" systems have been developed in such a way that they are only suitable for a single type of product or for a family of products, specially adapted.

To make a "captive" system there are different means: in particular there are specially shaped plastic terminals; arranged for example inside the mandrel of the roll on which the product is wound and which cooperates with supports arranged in the dispenser. Without these terminals, the roll cannot be placed or cannot be used properly. The main drawback of this type of device is economic: it is necessary to manufacture additional elements that are not of great interest to the user of the system and which, furthermore, will be unusable once the roll is finished. These plastic pieces therefore represent an extra cost and an additional waste once the roll is finished.

Rolls are also known which have grooves that cooperate with special supports: a roll without groove cannot be kept in the dispenser or then, the door of the latter cannot be closed, due to the different volume of the roll without groove. This type of throat is very efficient but its manufacture requires complex processing facilities.

Mandrels with barcodes read by readers on special supports are also found in automatic or semi-automatic, electric or electronic motorized dispensers: a roll without a barcode cannot make the motorized system work; therefore the paper cannot be wound. The use of bar code is very efficient, but the manufacture of the dispenser causes an extra cost due to the presence of the bar code reader.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and reliable means that makes it possible to make captive an automatic or semi-automatic, electric or electronic dispenser for roll paper, while using simple, conventional means of transforming the paper.

Its principle is as follows: most of the rolls of paper used in distributors are made by winding on mandrels, most of the time cardboard, obtained by winding, overlapping and gluing the paper bands.

The invention aims to optimize these mandrels in such a way as to give them a supplementary function in connection with the dispenser in which they will be placed. This function consists of endowing the chuck with electrically conductive properties, thus allowing it to perform the function of a switch within the distributor provided for this purpose.

Thus, the object of the invention is a system for distributing product wound around a mandrel-type element, said product defining a cylinder-type structure and said system comprising in particular:

- a chassis,

- a means for supporting and attaching the roll to the chassis.

According to the invention, the mandrel comprises an electrically conductive element intended to cooperate with an element of the chassis in order to together constitute an element of an electrical circuit.

The invention also advantageously relates to the electrically "conductive" function conferred on the mandrel.

ES 2 299 079 T3

Thus, the current conducting element may consist of a layer of conductive material in contact with all or part of the internal and / or external surface of the mandrel.

More specifically, said conductive layer can have a thickness between a few microns and approximately 1 mm.

Different technical solutions are capable of carrying out the invention.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mandrel comprises a cardboard cylinder internally lined with a layer of conductive material such as copper or aluminum.

Thus, the layer of conductive material can consist of a metal tape glued to the surface of said cardboard cylinder.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the conductive element comprises a network of metallic threads woven or knitted together.

Advantageously, the conductive wires can have a diameter of the order of 50 pm.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, the conductive element may comprise a woven and filled polymer or elastomer network of conductive elements, for example carbon, silver, nickel, copper or aluminum.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the conductive element consists of a layer of conductive material formed by a paint or an ink comprising conductive particles (or charges).

Furthermore, the system according to the invention comprises at least one element intended to ensure the electrical connection between the chuck and the chassis. This element can be in the form of a terminal, which has a conductive contact, fitted to one end of the mandrel.

The invention further provides a conductive mandrel intended to be used in a roll distribution system.

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will appear better from a reading of the following description provided by way of illustration and in no way limiting in connection with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the principle of a conductive mandrel manufacturing plant according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustrative diagram of a means for forming a mandrel by gluing according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating the formation by winding of a mandrel according to the invention;

figure 3B is a simplified section through the thickness of a mandrel according to the invention;

figure 4 is a photograph of the interior of a mandrel partially covered with a conductive strip;

figure 5 is a photograph of the inside of a mandrel totally covered with a conductive strip;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of the principle of an electrical circuit of a distributor, comprising a mandrel according to the invention;

FIG. 7A is respectively constituted by a cross section and a longitudinal section of a first embodiment of a distributor terminal; Y

FIG. 7B is respectively made up of a cross section and a longitudinal section of a second embodiment of a terminal according to the invention.

Thus, Figure 1 illustrates a mandrel manufacturing assembly specifically intended for the distribution system according to the invention. More precisely, Figure 1 refers to an embodiment of said mandrel.

One or more cardboard strips 10 are developed from one or more reels (not referenced) simultaneously with a strip of conductive material 11. The latter can be conductive in itself or be coated with a conductive material.

For conductive material, for example aluminum, copper, nickel ...

The bands 10 make it possible to stiffen the finally obtained mandrel and give it a certain thickness.

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The different strips 10, 11 are brought to a gluing station 20 of which an embodiment is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 2.

At the exit of the gluing unit, the bands 10, 11 are arranged next to each other, in the same horizontal plane and thus brought to a pin 30 on which they are simultaneously wound as will be explained later in relation to the Figures 3A and 3B.

A strap 40 ensures the pulling of the strips 10, 11 around the pin 30 as well as their tightening against it, in order to effect the collision of the strips with each other as well as their shaping.

The strips 10, 11, thus joined at the level of the pin 30, form a cylinder, or hollow mandrel, preferably internally provided with a conductive layer.

By way of illustrative example, FIG. 2 represents a means of gluing 20 of at least one of the strips 10, 11.

The medium is known in itself, so it will be briefly described.

The band to be glued 10 arrives on a first cylinder 21 destined to clamp it and guide it.

The web 10 then comes into contact with a second glue transfer cylinder 22. A third cylinder 23 arranged downstream of the second cylinder 22 with respect to the direction of passage of the strip 10, makes it possible to bring the glue onto the second cylinder 22.

The three cylinders 21, 22, 23 have parallel axes, perpendicular to the direction of passage of the strip at the level of gluing means 20.

Of course, a tank 24 arranged below the cylinders makes it possible to contain the glue.

Preferably, in the vicinity of the exit end of the strip, a doctor blade 25 or any other means is provided that allows the quantity of glue to be controlled and limited.

Of course, other ways of depositing glue on one of the bands 10, 11 may be envisaged without leaving the scope of the invention: thus nozzles can project glue on the band (s); a gluing of the hot-melt type can be provided; or likewise a double-sided adhesive tape (pre-glued) can be put in contact with at least one of the bands 10 that form the rigid structure of the final mandrel.

Figure 3A schematically illustrates, from a top view, the way in which the strips 10, 11 are wound around the pin 30.

In a conventional manner, the bands 10, 11 arrive at a non-zero angle α with respect to the perpendicular to the axis of the spike. They are drawn around the pin 30 by the belt 40.

In this way, a spiral (or helical) winding of the bands 10, 11 around the pin 30 is obtained, with a more or less important covering.

Figure 3B, section AA from figure 3A, shows the arrangement of the bands: on the outer (cardboard) band 10 is deposited a layer of glue C which ensures the bond with the internal conductive band 11; bands 10, 11 are laterally offset.

The arrows F in FIG. 3A symbolize the tightening force of the strap 40 against the pin 30, an effort that ensures good bonding and cohesion of the strips 10, 11 with each other, as mentioned above.

After several rotations around the pin 30, the different bands 10, 11 linked together form a conductive cylinder which is then cut into individual conductive mandrels 50 such as those visible in the photos of Figures 4 and 5, for example.

In FIG. 4, the mandrel 50 is internally and partially lined with a conductive layer 50c constituted by the strip 11 according to the embodiment described above.

In Figure 5 the inner surface of the conductive mandrel 50 is completely covered by a layer of conductive material 50c.

By way of illustration, said conductive layer may have a thickness between a few micrometers (ten) and approximately 1 mm.

The structure 10 that ensures the rigidity of the mandrel 50 can in turn have a thickness of approximately 1 mm to approximately 3 mm.

ES 2 299 079 T3

The conductive layer 50c can be found on the inner face and / or on the outer face and / or sandwiched between the structural layers (for example of cardboard 10) of each mandrel.

The width of the conductive band 50c may or may not be equal to that of the bands 10.

The embodiment described above is particularly preferred in terms of costs since it is sufficient, starting from a conventional mandrel forming plant, to add a conductive input strip 11, for example instead of an existing non-conductive strip.

Other embodiments of the invention, also yielding, can be obtained without departing from the scope of the invention.

In particular, the conductive element can consist of a network of conductive threads associated with each other, for example by weaving or knitting.

The network of conductive yarns and / or fibers may together also form a "non-woven" structure. Nonwoven here is understood to be a set of yarns and / or fibers assembled in such a way that they form a web whose grammage can vary approximately 35-50 g / m².

A "thread" has a length of a few cm to several meters or even several hundred meters, while a "fiber" can have a length of a few millimeters to approximately 100 millimeters. These lengths are provided for illustrative purposes only, in order to clarify the different terms used.

The wires can be made of nickel and have a diameter of approximately 50 microns.

The layer or veil thus formed is associated with a rigid, structural element by any known method; for example by laminating as explained above with reference to figure 1.

Another embodiment of the conductive mandrel 50 according to the invention may consist in producing the conductive element 50c by depositing a layer of paint or ink that intrinsically comprises conductive particles.

For example, a layer of polymers or elastomers loaded with particles of silver or copper or nickel or also carbon can be provided, produced by extrusion, coating or any other known technique.

The particles usually have a diameter of the order of a few pm, and the layer can have a thickness of a few microns to 1 mm.

The electrically conductive mandrels thus manufactured are intended to be incorporated into automatic or semi-automatic, electronic or electric motorized dispensers. The necessary modifications in these distributors, to allow them to work with this type of mandrels, are minimal. Indeed, it is sufficient to make a bypass of the electrical system so that it has an open circuit without the presence of said mandrel and a closed circuit with a conductive mandrel.

It will thus be seen that the conductive chuck here performs the function of "switch".

Figure 6 illustrates the principle of operation of a distributor according to the invention: the conductive mandrel 50 is brought into contact with two terminals 60 provided with contactors; the electrical energy can come from a battery 70 or from the sector: this energy source commands the distributor for functions such as the automatic advance of the paper, the detection of stranding.

A known automatic dispenser is described for example in patent applications EP 1 232 715, EP 1 231 823, EP 1 230 886.

Distributors of this type comprise a chassis designed to hold and position one or more rolls of paper, means for distributing the paper roll (s), and means for controlling the distribution means. Said control means react to electrical signals from sensors. For example, proximity sensors, designed to detect the presence of the user around the dispenser, make it possible to wind a certain length of paper.

A conductive mandrel roll such as that described above is particularly suitable for such dispensers.

In order to carry out the contact and the adaptation of rolls such as those described above in this type of automatic dispenser, connecting pieces are necessary.

Figures 7A and 7B are respectively transverse and longitudinal sections of terminals 60 capable of cooperating and coming into contact with the conductive mandrel 50.

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Each terminal has a cylindrical area 61 intended to be brought into contact with the internal wall of the mandrel 50, as well as an end crown 62 that abuts against one of the ends of the mandrel.

Terminal 60 is preferably forcibly fit on mandrel 50.

According to Figure 7A, the cylindrical area 61 of the terminal 60 is externally covered by a conductive cylinder 63 which, when the terminal 60 is arranged at one of the ends of the mandrel 50, comes into contact with its internal surface, thus closing the electrical circuit. control as shown in figure 6.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7B, the cylindrical area 61 of the terminal 60 is partially covered by a contactor 64.

Another possible embodiment of the conductive element (50c) may consist of a filar element associated by any known means to the rigid structure 10 of the mandrel; the filar element being arranged so that it comes into contact with the contact elements 64 of the electrical circuit of the distributor.

Of course, other types of connection elements and / or conductive elements can be provided without departing from the scope of the invention.