Abstract:
Apparatus for opening and dispensing plastic bags which includes an outer cabinet with a continuous roll of plastic bags fed therethrough, with seal lines and perforation lines between the bags, and bar codes thereon, which bags may be dispensed by the user pulling on an exposed bag, which causes the bag inside the housing to move in front of a bar code reader which activates a clamping device and fingers to pre-open the bags and an air blast is provided outside the cabinet to open the exposed bag, which is outside of the cabinet. The user then pulls off the exposed opened bag at the perforations. The apparatus can also automatically dispense the bags when the customer activates the apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to apparatus which pre-opens and dispenses plastic bags from a continuous roll of plastic bags, which bags have seal lines, and perforation lines between them, with bar code indicia thereon, and which are fed through the apparatus and sensed by a bar code reader. The bag is pre-opened inside the apparatus, and may be manually pulled out one at a time by the user, whereupon the bag is fully opened by a blast of air, and then separated at the remaining perforation for removal and use, and which bags can be automatically dispensed by customer activation of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    The use of thin plastic bags to contain produce and other items is widespread in grocery and other stores.  
           [0005]    These bags are of plastic film, and commonly provided on continuous perforated rolls from which a user pulls down a bag, tears it off at a perforation line, and then manually opens the end of the bag for use. The bags when removed are closed or folded. The plastic has a tendency to be electrically charged which causes the top and under side of the bag to stick or adhere together, which problem is compounded upon tearing of the bag as the ruptured perforations tend to stick together.  
           [0006]    The customer typically wets his or her finger tips with saliva, touches the bag and opens the end. The customer then touches the food or produce and places the selected items in the bag. The customer is likely to contaminate the food items handled but not selected, spreading germs for other customers to contact.  
           [0007]    Even with wetting the fingertips, the customer is often unable to open the bags and many are wasted.  
           [0008]    Most of the prior art apparatus dispense bags in the closed condition, and examples of such apparatus are shown or described in the Heckrodt U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,361; Kinard U.S. Pat. No. 4,177,726; Leider U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,094; Johnson U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,413; Horning U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,171; Simhaee U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,146; Simhaee U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,585; Daniels U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,084; Morris U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,019; and Simhaee U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,262. In our prior application Ser. No. Pct/US98/05796 apparatus for opening and dispensing plastic bags is described, which while operational suffers from pre-opening shortcomings due to its use of a linear actuator.  
           [0009]    The apparatus of the invention, which does not suffer from prior art shortcomings clamps and pre-opens the bags while they are inside its cabinet, and fully opens a bag on the outside by a blast of air when pulled down by the customer, and if desired, the apparatus can automatically dispense fully opened bags upon the customers&#39; activating the apparatus.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    This invention relates to apparatus for opening and dispensing plastic bags, which includes a cabinet wherein individual bags are fed from a continuous roll of bags, with seal lines and perforation lines therebetween, which bags carry bar code indicia which are sensed by a bar code reader, which causes a bag to be clamped and pre-opened. The bag is then manually or, automatically dispensed, is fully opened by an airblast, and then pulled off by the customer for use.  
           [0011]    The principal object of the invention is to provide apparatus for opening and dispensing plastic bags, from a roll of bags.  
           [0012]    A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus that manually or automatically opens and dispenses plastic bags.  
           [0013]    A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus which is useful for dispensing a variety of lengths of plastic bags.  
           [0014]    A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus which is simple and convenient to use.  
           [0015]    A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus which is economical to operate.  
           [0016]    A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus whose use promotes public health.  
           [0017]    A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus which has improved pre-opening mechanism, and is durable in use.  
           [0018]    Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.  
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof in which:  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of the invention in partial phantom;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1A is a right side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the Line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the clamp frame assembly of the invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the Line  4 - 4  of FIG. 3 showing the clamp frame in up position;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4A is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the clamp frame in the engaged or down position;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the Line  5 - 5  of FIG. 8;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the Line  6 - 6  of of FIG. 8;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the Line  7 - 7  of FIG. 2;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 is a plan of the solenoid and return spring hanger portion of the apparatus of the invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view of the adhesion interruption portion of the apparatus of the invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10 is a fragmentary front view of the adhesion interruption portion of FIG. 9;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the roller bearing portion of the apparatus of the invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 11A is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line  11 A- 11 A of FIG. 11;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the air blower portion of the apparatus of the invention;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of the air blower of FIG. 12;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 14 is a plan view of a continuous length of plastic bags in tube form showing the seals and perforations that separate the bags, and the bar code for bag sensing;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 14A is a plan view of the length of plastic bags, illustrating the operational sequence of dispensing and opening bags,  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 14B shows a thin plastic tube flattened to form the top side and bottom side of a bag, and  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 15 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the invention, which automatically dispenses the bags.  
     
    
       [0040]    It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are merely illustrative and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
         [0041]    Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0042]    When referring to the preferred embodiments, certain terminology will be utilized for the sake of clarity. Use of such terminology is intended to encompass not only the described embodiment, but also technical equivalents which operate and function in substantially the same way to bring about the same result.  
         [0043]    Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and FIGS.  1 - 14 B inclusive, the apparatus includes an enclosure or cabinet  10 , which is provided with a slot  11  in its front face  12 , which is intended to have plastic bags pass therethrough, to be described. The cabinet  10  has a top lid  14 , which is hinged at the left, and latched at  15  on the right side of cabinet  10 .  
         [0044]    A roll  16  of plastic bags is provided carried on a spindle  17 , which is supported on two saddles  18  mounted in cabinet  10 . To load the roll  16  spindle  17  is passed through roll  16  and placed on saddle  18  and pushed into its slot  18 A. The roll  16  consists of a continuous ribbon of plastic bags wound on a spool with seal lines  19 , and lines of perforations  20  to delineate the individual bags  21  to be separated, and with bar code indicia  21 A thereon. The cabinet  10  has support rollers  22 ,  23 , and  24 , which are carried in roller bearings  25 , which are mounted in blocks  26  and  27 . The flattened plastic tube has a top layer  16 A and a bottom layer  16 B, which form plastic bags  21 .  
         [0045]    The ribbon of bags  21  in non-separated condition are threaded up over roller  22 , across the top of a foam rubber pad  28 , under a bottom roller  23 , up over top roller  24 , and out slot  11 , so that the bottom of a bag  21  will hang down the outside front face  12 , adjacent the bottom of cabinet  10 .  
         [0046]    A photo electric switch  30  is provided, mounted by bracket  31  to cabinet  10 , which switch is a bar code reader capable of reading the bar code indicia  21 A on the bags  21 , which bar code indicia  21 A was previously used in the manufacture of the bags to locate the seal lines  19 , to create the bottom of bags  21 , and the perforation lines  20  to locate the top end of bags  21 . The bar code indicia  21 A in conjunction with the switch  30  acts to determine the stop position and length of the bags  21  to be described.  
         [0047]    The apparatus is provided with pre-opening bag mechanism located in cabinet  10 , and includes a foam rubber pad  28  which is mounted on a platform  32 , which extends across and is mounted to the sides of cabinet  10 . The roller  22  supports the bags  21  as they travel over pad  28 , preferably at a distance of ⅛ inch above the pad.  
         [0048]    A clamp mechanism or frame  35  is provided, above the bags and carried on guide bolts  59 , with return springs  58 , and which bolts are engaged in brackets  51 . The frame  35  is designed to clamp or engage a bag  21  with the foam pad  28 , straddle the perforation lines  20 , and hold the bag  21  for pre-opening.  
         [0049]    The clamp frame  35  is a channel with three wear strips  36  mounted inside, one at each end and one in the middle. The wear strips  36  have holes  37  to accept shoulder screws  38 , which are engaged with fingers  39  and pivot therewith. The fingers  39  may be fabricated of aluminum or plastic, with pads  40  of foam rubber attached thereto in any preferred manner, such as by adhesive of well known type.  
         [0050]    The fingers  39  are intended to open the bags  21  to be described, and have shoulder bolts  41  engaged therewith, which are carried in slots  42  in clamp frame  35 .  
         [0051]    The shoulder bolts  41  are captured in a drive plate  43 , which is attached to a rack  45 , which is engaged with a pinion gear  46  mounted to a shaft  47  from a reversible motor  48 , which is mounted to cabinet  10 . The rack  45  is carried in L/shaped brackets  49 , which are also mounted to cabinet  10 .  
         [0052]    The motor  48  is connected to switch  30  and moves drive plate  43  back and forth to pivot fingers  39 .  
         [0053]    Two solenoids  50  are provided, connected to switch  30 , and mounted by brackets  51  to mounting plate  52  fastened to cabinet  10 , and engaged with clamp frame  35  to move it down to clamp a plastic bag  21  to pad  28 , and restrain it while the top end of the bag  21  is opened, to be described. A blower motor  55  is provided, which is also connected to switch  30  and is mounted to face  12  of cabinet  10  by bolt  56  and bracket  57 .  
         [0054]    The mode of operation will now be described. With the roll  16  of plastic bags  21  in the cabinet  10  and a bag  21  available at slot  11 , the customer pulls down a bag  21 ′ outside cabinet  10 , whereupon the bar code indicia  21 A from the next bag  21  inside cabinet  10  is detected by the bar code reader  30 , which activates solenoids  50 , which cause clamp frame  35  to move down and clamp the next bag  21  to pad  28 , halting the travel of bag  21 , and also briefly activating blower motor  55 , which directs an air blast into bag  21 ′ outside the cabinet to open it for use.  
         [0055]    With the clamp frame  35  engaged with the next bag  21 , the bag  21 ′ is opened by the air blast and the customer can insert his or her fingers (not shown) therein and remove bag  21 ′ for use.  
         [0056]    With the next bag  21  firmly held to pad  28 , motor  48  is activated and through gear  46  moves rack  45 , which moves drive plate  43 , which pushes shoulder bolts  41  in slot  42  and causes fingers  39  to rotate, and pads  40  to grip the top layer  16 A of bag  21  only, and move it across the bottom layer  16 B, which bottom  16 B offers minimum resistance due to the slippery nature of the plastic film.  
         [0057]    The movement of top layer  16 A across the bottom layer  16 B causes the adhesion of layers  16 A and  16 B to be interrupted, the line of perforations  19  in top layer  16 A to rupture, and the line of perforations  19  in bottom layer  16 B to remain intact. When rack  45  is fully extended solenoids  50  are deactivated, and clamp frame  35  is moved upwardly by return springs  58  on the guide bolts  59 , which are engaged in the brackets  51 .  
         [0058]    When clamp frame  35  is moved to the up position, it activates motor  48 , which causes rack  45  and drive plate  43  to move, and accordingly pivot fingers  39  return to their initial position.  
         [0059]    The operation can be repeated as desired with the operational sequence initiated by the customer pulling a bag  21 ′ out and down the face  12 , until the bar code indicia  21 A is read by bar code reader  30 , and the operation begins.  
         [0060]    Referring additionally to FIG. 15, apparatus  100  for automatically dispensing bags  21  is illustrated.  
         [0061]    Rollers  101  and  102  are added to the above described apparatus which feed the plastic bags  21 . A drive motor  103  is provided which may be actuated by a well known switch (not shown) on the outside of the cabinet  10  at the touch of a customer.  
         [0062]    The motor  103  has a drive gear  104  with a chain  105  engaged therewith, and with a drive gear  106 , which is attached to and drives roller  101 , which rotates and advances bag  21  until its bar code indicia  21 A is detected by bar code reader  30 , which stops motor  103 , the bag  21  is pre-opened, dispensed and fully opened as described above with the sequence initiated by the customer to dispense one bag at a time, upon actuation of the switch (not shown) by the customer.  
         [0063]    It will thus be seen that apparatus has been provided with which the objects of the invention are attained.