System and method for discriminating a roll in a paper roll dispense, and a paper roll

Abstract

A system and a method discriminates a roll placed in a paper roll dispenser, as well as a paper roll with a core having at least one passive electrically conductive element, to be used in conjunction with the dispenser. The system includes a probe sensitive to a presence of an electrically conductive element in proximity thereof, the probe being located within the paper roll dispenser such that when the roll is positioned within the dispenser, the probe is in proximity of the roll. The system also includes an application for applying an input signal to the probe, a detector for detecting an output signal from the probe, the output signal being indicative of a presence of the electrically conductive element proximate the probe, and a discriminator for discriminating the paper roll based on a value of the output signal detected by the detector.

1 . A system for discriminating a roll placed in a paper roll dispenser, comprising: 
 a probe sensitive to a presence of an electrically conductive element in proximity thereof, the probe being located within the paper roll dispenser such that when the roll is positioned within the dispenser, the probe is in proximity of the roll;    means for applying an input signal to the probe;    means for detecting an output signal from the probe, the output signal being indicative of a presence of the electrically conductive element proximate the probe; and    means for discriminating said paper roll based on a value of the output signal detected by the means for detecting.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the probe comprises at least two conducting plates electrically insulated from each other, and the means for detecting is a means for detecting capacitance between the plates, the output signal being representative of the capacitance that is detected.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two conducting plates are shaped and positioned in an annular fashion in proximity of a roll support structure within the dispenser.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the means for detecting detects the capacitance between an individual pair of adjacent plates of said plates in a sequenced manner one pair after another such that all combinations of capacitance between adjacent conducting plates are detected.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the means for applying the input signal comprises means for applying voltage between two adjacent plates of said plates, the means for detecting the output signal is a voltage detector between two adjacent plates of said plates, and the system further comprises a controller for controlling said means for applying and the voltage detector to scan each pair of said plates by sequentially applying the voltage between the plates of the pair during a given time period, and either measuring the charge or discharge rate of voltage between the plates of the pair to produce said output signal.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the means for applying voltage is an oscillator.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the voltage detector is integrated in a microprocessor.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is integrated in the microprocessor.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the means for discriminating said paper roll comprises comparing means which compares the value of said output signal to a reference signal.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the comparing means is integrated in the microprocessor.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the means for detecting detects that a capacitance change in the range of 0.2 pF to 0.4 pF determines whether the roll is discriminated or not.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the probe comprises a roll support structure and an antenna moulded on the roll support structure, and the means for applying is for applying an electromagnetic wave on the antenna, the output signal being representative of a rate of stationary waves at the antenna.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the means for applying applies electromagnetic waves having a frequency between 590 MHz and 2.36 GHz.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a detector for detecting a placement of the roll in the system.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising means for informing a user of results of an assessment made by the means for discriminating.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the means for informing the user is a display comprising a green light and a red light, either one being activated depending on the results of the assessment made by the means for discriminating.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a converter for converting the output signal into a continuous voltage.  
     
     
         18 . A method for discriminating a roll placed in a paper roll dispenser comprising the steps of: 
 a) placing the roll in the dispenser;    b) providing a probe sensitive to a presence of an electrically conductive element in proximity thereof, the probe being located within the paper roll dispenser such that when the roll is positioned within the dispenser, the probe is in proximity of the roll;    c) applying an input signal to the probe;    d) detecting an output signal from the probe, the output signal being indicative of a presence of the electrically conductive element proximate the probe; and    e) discriminating said paper roll based on a value of the output signal.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the steps of: 
 detecting a placement of the roll in the system after step a) and before step c); and    initiating step c) upon detection of the placement of the roll in the system.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 step b) comprises the step of providing at least two conducting plates shaped and positioned in an annular fashion in proximity of a roll support structure within the dispenser;    step c) comprises the step of applying voltage between two adjacent plates of said plates; and    step d) comprises the steps of: 
 measuring voltage between two adjacent plates of said plates;  
 scanning each pair of said plates by sequentially applying the voltage between the plates of the pair during a given time period, and either measuring the charge or discharge rate of voltage between the plates of the pair to produce a measured capacitance signal for each pair;  
 associating one of the measured capacitance signals with an environmental signal indicative of environmental conditions surrounding the dispenser; and  
 subtracting the environmental signal from each of the remaining measured capacitance signals to produce the output signal,  
   and    step e) comprises the steps of 
 comparing the output signal to a reference signal to obtain an assessment of the output signal;  
 converting said assessment signal into a continuous voltage; and  
 informing a user of results based on the continuous voltage.  
   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 step b) comprises the step of providing a roll support structure and an antenna moulded on the roll support structure;    step c) comprises the step of applying an electromagnetic wave on the antenna;    step d) comprises the steps of measuring a rate of stationary waves at the antenna;    and    step e) comprises the steps of 
 comparing the output signal to a reference signal to obtain an assessment of the output signal;  
 converting said assessment signal into a continuous voltage; and  
 informing a user of results based on the continuous voltage.