Patent ID: 7392715

Claim:
An industrial roll, comprising: a substantially cylindrical shell having an outer surface; a polymeric cover circumferentially overlying the shell outer surface; a sensing system comprising: a plurality of sensors embedded in the cover, each sensor configured to sense a data parameter; and a plurality of wireless transceivers, each transceiver connected to a respective sensor and embedded in the cover adjacent thereto for transmitting data signals from the sensor; a wireless receiver operatively associated with the plurality of wireless transceivers for receiving data signals from the wireless transceivers; and a remote processor operatively associated with the receiver that processes the data signals conveyed thereby; a plurality of power sources, each power source connected to a respective sensor and wireless transceiver and embedded in the cover adjacent thereto, wherein each power source comprises one of a battery, a rechargeable battery, and a capacitor; and a charging system for recharging each power source, wherein the charging system comprises: a fixed member that spans a length of a roll; and a plurality of wireless chargers attached along a length of the member, each charger configured to recharge a power source using inductive coupling during roll operation.