Anti-static core for receiving wound sheet material

Abstract

A core ( 2 ) for receiving wound sheet material, which core ( 2 ) comprises a tube ( 4 ), a first end member ( 6 ) inserted in a first end ( 8 ) of the tube ( 4 ), and a second end member ( 10 ) inserted in a second end ( 12 ) of the tube ( 4 ), the core ( 2 ) being such that it is able to be earthed in order to enable the discharge of static electricity from the core ( 2 ), and the earthing ( 16 ) being such that it is effected by a chuck ( 14 ) of a machine handling the core ( 2 ) during use of the core ( 2 ) whereby the static electricity is discharged through the machine.

1 . A core for receiving wound sheet material, which core comprises a tube, a first end member inserted in a first end of the tube, and a second end member inserted in a second end of the tube, the core being such that it is able to be earthed in order to enable the discharge of static electricity from the core, and the earthing being such that it is effected by a chuck of a machine handling the core during use of the core whereby the static electricity is discharged through the machine. 
     
     
         2 . A core according to  claim 1  in which the earthing is effected by a separately formed earthing means. 
     
     
         3 . A core according to  claim 2  in which the earthing means extends along a part of an inner surface of the tube and along a part of an inner surface of one of the end members. 
     
     
         4 . A core according to  claim 3  in which the earthing means is separately fitted to one of the end members. 
     
     
         5 . A core according to  claim 4  in which the earthing means extends through a hole in the end member. 
     
     
         6 . A core according to  claim 2  in which the earthing means is moulded in one of the end members. 
     
     
         7 . A core according to  claim 1  in which the earthing means is an electrically conducting strip. 
     
     
         8 . A core according to  claim 1  in which the earthing is effected by at least one of the end members being made of an electrically conducting material. 
     
     
         9 . A core according to  claim 1  in which the core is such that it is able to be earthed by the chuck handing the core at either end of the core. 
     
     
         10 . A core according to  claim 9  in which the first and the second end members are of the same static electricity discharging construction. 
     
     
         11 . A core according to  claim 1  in which the core is made of aluminum. 
     
     
         12 . A core according to  claim 1  in which the end members are made of a plastics material. 
     
     
         13 . A core according to  claim 1  and including a radio frequency identification tag. 
     
     
         14 . A core according to  claim 1  when including the wound sheet material. 
     
     
         15 . A core according to  claim 14  in which the wound sheet material is paper, a plastics film or cardboard.