Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PLASTIC BAG DISPENSER
This application is related to my Canadian Application
Serial No. 2,060,708 filed February 5, 1992.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to devices for dispensing a
continuous web of articles. Specifically, the invention relates
to plastic bag dispensers, such as the type used for self-service
produce, grocery, or garbage bags.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a supermarket or food market, fruits and vegetables
are often displayed in bulk, possibly in piles of loose items.
- Consumers must then take a bag from a nearby source and pick and
bag their own produce. The most common form of these produce
bags are cylindrical rolls of plastic bags, mounted horizontally
or vertically on a shaft. The bags have perforated separation
lines between them. Separation is accomplished by grabbing the
end bag with one hand, anchoring the next bag or the roll with
the other hand, and pulling. Unfortunately, this not only
separates the bag from the roll, but can deform or even tear the
bag. Sometimes, consumers will attempt to simply jerk the bag
from the roll, without holding the adjacent bag. This, too, can
damage the bag or simply reel out the roll. After any bag
separation, the end of the next bag can be difficult to find or
grab as it may lie flat on the surface of the roll.
It is thus an object of the invention to provide an
improved dispenser for a continuous web of articles.
It is a further object of the ivnention to provide a
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dispenser with improved means for easily separating articles from
a continuous web with one-handed operation and retaining the next
article in an easily accessible position.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an
improved means for preventing freewheeling of the continuous
web during dispensing.
It is a further object of the invention that the
dispenser be economical and simple to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
invention, a plastic bag dispenser holds a continuous roll of
bags, connected by perforated separation lines. The dispenser
is provided with a tongue, which the bags are dispensed over,
that engages the separation line between the bag at the end of
the roll and the next bag. This begins the separation of the
separation line, as well as holds the next bag behind the tongue.
A finger is provided on the upstream side of the tongue, with a
gap between the finger and tongue. As a bag is separated, a
portion of the front edge of the next bag is held in the gap,
holding the bag in position for the next user. The roll of bags
is mounted on the dispenser so that the roll frictionally engages
an interior surface of the dispenser.
As individual bags are dispensed, the roll of bags
decreases in weight. This can cause a significant difference in
the frictional force between the roll and the interior surface
of the dispenser which is needed to prevent freewheeling of the
roll as the bags are being dispensed. A large difference is
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undesirable because it can mean either that there is too much
friction when the roll is full or too little friction when the
roll is depleted. The frictional force is a component of force
due to the weight of the roll. In accordance with this
invention, the roll of bags is mounted in such a way that the
frictional ~component of force is increased, as a percentage of
the total force, as the weight of the roll decreases. Hence, in
this way the maximum and minimum frictional forces which retard
freewheeling are maintained within acceptable limits for the
entire roll, i.e., when the roll is full and when it is depleted.
According to a broad aspect of the invention, there is
- provided a dispenser for dispensing and separating an article
from a cylindrical roll of articles having perforations between
said articles, comprising: a container for holding said
continuous roll, said container including a surface which
frictionally engages said roll; a tongue attached to said
container for engaging said perforations between said articles
during dispensing and separation; a finger attached to said
container and positioned adjacent said tongue, such that a gap is
formed between said tongue and said finger, said gap positioned
to receive a portion of a second article adjacent said article to
be separated and retain said portion, said gap preventing said
portion from departing from said gap in the same direction it
entered said gap; and means for mounting said cylindrical roll
connected to said container, said means constructed such that the
component of force exerted by said roll against said surface due
to the weight of the roll increases as the size of the roll
decreases.
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Accordlng to another broad aspect of the lnventlon,
there ls provided a dlspenser for dlspenslng and separatlng an
artlcle from a cyllndrlcal roll of artlcles, comprlslng: a
contalner for holdlng sald contlnuous roll of artlcles;
separating means attached to sald contalner for separating an
article from said roll as the roll ls unwound; two curved
grooves ln said contalner for supportlng an axle on whlch sald
articles are rolled, the posltlon of sald grooves belng such
that the roll ls caused to engage a surface of the contalner
to create a frlctlonal force due to a component of force
caused by the welght of the roll, the curvature of the grooves
being such that said component of force increases as the slze
of the roll decreases.
Accordlng to another broad aspect of the inventlon,
there ls provlded for use wlth a dlspenser whlch dlspenses and
separates a plastlc bag from a roll of plastic bags, sald
dlspenser havlng opposing grooves in whlch a roll of plastic
bags can be supported, a surface which ls engageable by the
roll when lt ls supported in sald grooves, and separatlng
means for enabllng lndividual bags to be separated from the
roll, the lmprovement comprislng a roll of plastlc bags wound
on a core, the roll belng rotatable wlth the core, the core
belng wlder than the roll wlth the ends of the core pro~ectlng
beyond the ends of the roll so that the core can be supported
ln sald grooves ln such a way that the roll frlctlonally
engages sald dlspenser surface, said roll further lncludlng
separation lines between ad~acent bags, at least a portlon of
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said separatlon llne belng engageable by the separatlng means
wlthln sald dispenser so that lndlvldual bags can be dlspensed
one at a tlme.
Accordlng to another broad aspect of the lnventlon
there ls provlded a dlspenser for dlspenslng and separatlng an
article from a roll of artlcles havlng perforatlons between
sald artlcles, comprlslng: a contalner for holdlng said roll,
sald contalner lncludlng a surface whlch frictlonally engages
sald roll; a tongue attached to said contalner for engaging
said perforatlons between sald artlcles durlng dlspenslng and
separatlon; a flnger attached to sald container and posltloned
ad~acent said tongue, such that a gap ls formed between sald
tongue and sald flnger, sald gap positloned to recelve a
portion of a second article ad~acent said artlcle to be
separated and retaln sald portlon, sald gap preventlng sald
portion from departlng from sald gap in the same dlrectlon it
entered said gap; means for mounting sald roll connected to
sald contalner, sald means constructed such that the component
of force exerted by said roll against sald surface due to the
welght of the roll lncreases as the slze of the roll
decreases, and means for applying an addltlonal frlctlonal
force to the roll when lts dlameter has decreased to a
predetermlned size.
According to another broad aspect of the invention,
there is provided a dispenser for dlspensing and separatlng an
article from a cylindrical roll of articles having
perforatlons between said artlcles, comprlslng: a container
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for holding said roll, said container lncludlng a surface
which frictionally engages said roll; a tongue attached to
said container for engaging sald perforatlons between sald
artlcles durlng dlspenslng and separation; a flnger attached
to sald contalner and posltloned ad~acent sald tongue, such
that a gap ls formed between sald tongue and sald flnger, sald
gap posltioned to receive a portion of a second article
ad~acent sald article to be separated and retain said portlon,
said gap preventlng said portion from departlng from said gap
ln the same dlrectlon it entered sald gap; and means for
mounting a cylindrical roll in said container constructed such
that the component of force exerted by said roll against sald
surface due to the weight of the roll increases as the size of
the roll decreases and comprislng a pair of curved grooves in
said container each havlng a top end and a bottom; and, a
roller suspended between sald grooves by plns attached to sald
contalner, said roll when relatlvely small frictlonally
engaging sald roller and said roller frictlonally engaging
sald container.
Accordlng to another broad aspect of the invention,
there ls provided a dispenser for dispensing and separating an
article from a cylindrical roll of connected articles havlng
perforations between said articles; a container for holdlng a
sald roll of artlcles lncludlng a palr of opposlng slde walls
each having a curved groove wlth a top end and a bottom end,
an axle having ends in said groove on whlch said roll rotates,
the outer surface of the roll frlctionally engaging a surface
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of the contalner, the axle moving downwardly in the opposlng
curved grooves as the outer diameter of the roll decreases; a
roller between the opposing slde walls ad~acent the bottom
ends of said grooves, said roller being mounted to be moved to
frictionally engage a wall of the groove and provide
frictional force the outer surface of the roll when the roll
has dropped to a position relative to the curved grooves to
contact said roller at a position such that the roll outer
surface no longer engage said container surface, and means for
separating the articles from the roll and initiatlng
separation at said perforations.
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60285-984
BRIEF DESCRIPTION-OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon
reading the.detailed description of a preferred embodiment in
- conjunction with a review of the appended drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a detail of the separation line between
two adjacent bags on the continuous roll;
Figure 2 illustrates the preferred configuration of
plastic bags in accordance with the invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a dispenser according
to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure 4 is a front view of the dispenser of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a side partial cross-section view of the
dispenser of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a cross-section taken along the line 6-6
of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a cross-section taken along the line 7-7
of Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a side partial cross-section view of the
dispenser of Figure 3; and
Figure 9, on the first sheet of drawings, is a
perspective view of a dispenser as disclosed in my aforementioned
Canadian Application No. 2,060,708, after a bag has been
separated and removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 9, a dispenser according
to my earlier application includes a generally rectangular box 10
for housing a continuous roll of articles 12. Individual
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_ 60285-984
articles 14 may be sheets of plastic, preferably prefabricated
into sealed bag-like containers disposed in a unitary end-to-end
relationship. The top of the box 10 is open for quick replace-
ment of the roll 12, which rotates on an axle 16. The two ends
~ of the axle 16 rest in two grooves 18 cut into the interior
faces of the side walls of the box 10. The grooves 18 extend to
the top of the side walls, where the axle 16 is inserted. One
end of the axle 16 preferably has notches and the corresponding
groove 18 is narrowed to prevent rotation of the axle 16 during
rotation of the roll 12. One end wall 20 has a lower top surface
than the other three walls. The bags 14 are dispensed over the
- top surface of the end wall 20.
Referring to Figure 1, each bag 14 is sealed at one
end and connected to adjacent bags by a perforated separation
line 22. At the center of the separation line 22 is a slot 24,
although the slot 24 can be placed at other positions on the
separation line 22. Integrally molded with the end wall 20 and
extending upward beyond the wall 20 is a tongue 26. The tongue
26 is positioned at the center of the top surface of the wall 20
to receive the slot 24. The tongue 26 preferably has a half-
oval shape with its top surface angled upward, the higher side
being toward the inside of the box 10.
Either integrally molded with or preferably attached to
the interior surface of the end wall 20, adjacent the tongue 26,
is a finger (not shown) that extends inwardly from the wall 20.
The upper limit of the finger is below the top of the tongue 26,
but above the upper surface of the end wall 20. The top of the
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finger is preferably rounded convexly in the direction of travel
of bags 14 to facilitate the movement of bags over the finger.
Between the upper portions of the tongue 26 and the finger is a
V-shaped gap, perpendicular to the direction of travel of the
bags 14, which receives the leading edge of an upstream bag
after a slot 24 between two bags 14 has been engaged by the
tongue 26.
Within the gap are means to impede but not prohibit the
upward movement of a portion of a bag 14 out of the gap, while
not impeding downward movement into the gap. This means is
preferably a set of downwardly-angled horizontal teeth on the
surface of the finger within the gap.
In practice, a consumer would find the dispenser in a
condition as in Figure 9, with a portion of a leading edge of an
end bag 34 within the gap and the two leading corners of the end
bag 34 extending forward past the end wall 20. The consumer
grabs the portion of the end bag 34 extending forward of the end
wall and pulls it upward and forward, away from the roll 12,
extricating the bag 34 from the gap. The teeth are designed so
that only minimum force is required to extricate the bag 34 from
the gap, avoiding damage to the bag. While pulling the end bag
34 away from the roll 12, the consumer pulls the bag 34 over the
tongue 26 and then at an angle below horizontal, preferably to
below the level of the bottom of the gap between the tongue and
finger so that the tongue will contact the underside of the bag
34 as the bag travels. Eventually, the tongue 26 will engage the
slot 24 at the trailing end of the end bag 34, splitting the slot
24 over the tongue 26. The center of the leading edge of the
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next bag will then travel down into the gap and remain there.
Further forward motion of the end bag 34, in response
to force by the consumer, will result in the ends of the
separation line 22 bending forward around the tongue 26. The
separation line 22 will then separate starting at the slot 24
and progressing outward toward both ends of the line 22. After
complete separation and removal of the end bag 34, the dispenser
will again be as in Figure 9, with a new end bag ready for the
next consumer. Because of the downward-facing teeth in the gap,
the bag 34 will tend to remain in the gap until such time as a
consumer pulls upward on the leading edge. The dispenser will
thus constantly be in a ready state, until the roll of bags 12
is depleted.
Many different types of plastic bag configurations are
commonly used and the principles of the invention do not require
a specific configuration; however, in the preferred embodiments,
a so-called "star seal" configuration as shown in Figure 2 is
employed because it is somewhat easier to open and provides a
strong seal at the bottom. Whatever the configuration, the
width of the roll relative to the width of the tongue 26 should
be such that when a bag is severed from the roll, the edges of
the next contiguous bag are pulled forwardly of the tongue a
sufficient distance so that they can be grasped readily by the
user.
When a consumer pulls on the end bag 34, a significant
amount of rotational momentum is gained by the roll 12. In this
embodiment, the bags are wrapped around a cylindrical core 15
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which is mounted on the axle 16 with sufficient clearance that
the core 15 and roll 12 can rotate relative to the axle 16. To
prevent the roll 12 and core 15 from freewheeling and reeling
out several bags as the end bag 34 is dispensed, the axle 16
with notches at one end is preferably provided with a rubber
O-ring that frictionally engages the core 15 of the roll 12.
Other materials besides rubber will work similarly. In known
devices, an O-ring is slipped onto the axle, and over time, tends
to slip off one of the ends. To prevent axial movement of the
O-ring on the axle 16, the axle 16 is provided with a circum-
ferential groove, in which the O-ring rests. The groove is
dimensioned so that a portion of the O-ring will extend beyond
the outer surface of the axle 16.
The construction of the dispenser allows for simple
mounting to any surface, be it horizontal, vertical or otherwise,
by conventionalmeans, such as with screws or glue. It also can
be free standing, with one hand holding the box 10, if necessary,
while the other pulls the end bag 34. The dispenser may also be
formed of a light-transmissive material to give the owner of the
dispenser ample warning that a roll 12 is nearly depleted.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention is
shown in Figures 3-8. Extending from the bottom wall 120 (since
the dispenser is preferably mounted vertically in this embodiment),
a tongue 126 and finger 128 are mounted on and perpendicular to
the top surface of the wall 120, facing upward and inward. The
tongue and finger 128 act in essentially the same manner as
discussed above, except that downward-facing teeth in the gap
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have been replaced with ridges 132 along the length of the
finger 128. These ridges 132 serve the same purpose as the
teeth, which is to help prevent the leading edge of the bag 114
to be dispensed from inadvertently leaving the gap 130. An end
- bag 134 in the process of being dispensed is shown in Figure 4.
This embodiment has curved grooves 118 and the
addition of a friction roller 150. The purposes for these two
features are related, as is further discussed below.
If the grooves are straight over their functioning
lengths, the angle between the grooves and the bottom surface
remains essentially constant. Therefore, the component of the
- weight of the roll pressing against the bottom surface to create
a frictional force remains a constant fraction. It is well
known that the weight of the roll of bags is not related to the
radius of the roll in a linear relationship, but rather in a
squared relationship. Thus, when the roll is new and large, the
frictional force will be much greater than the frictional force
when the roll is nearly empty. The force may be too great for
the convenience of consumers using the dispenser.
To compensate for the squared relationship between the
radius and weight of the roll, the grooves 118 in the embodiment
of Figures 3-8 curve downwardly from the upper front portion of
the container to the lower rear portion of the container, the
front portion of the container being that portion of the container
from which the bags are dispensed. Grooves 118 are defined by
curved flanges 142. The roll of bags 112 is wound on a hollow
core 116 which differs from conventional cores on which plastic
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bags are typically wound in that it is slightly longer than the
bags are wide so that the ends of the core which project beyond
the roll can be received within the grooves 118. The grooves
are open at their upper extremities so that a roll of plastic
~ bags can be positioned within the container by simply placing the
projecting ends of core 116 into the axles 118 from above.
The curve of each groove is such that at its upper
portion the groove extends at close to 90~ to the back wall 144,
which is the surface which frictionally engages the roll at point
B. In this position, the component of force exerted by the roll
in the horizontal direction against the back wall 144 is
relatively low. As the plastic bags are removed from the roll
and the roll diminishes in size, the core 116 drops to the
position shown in Figure 8. As the roll drops, the horizontal
component of force exerted by the roll relative to the total
force is increased so that despite the loss of weight the
horizontal component of force is not excessively diminished and,
indeed, may actually remain substantially constant.
In Figure 8, the roll 112 is nearly depleted and is
positioned near the bottom of the grooves 118 where the angle is
steep. Because the angle of the grooves 118 is so steep in this
area, it is desirable to prevent the now small roll 112 from
becoming wedged into the bottom of the grooves 118 and thus
difficult to rotate. Therefore, the friction roller 150, a
preferably hollow tube, is mounted near the bottom of the grooves
118. The roller 150 is held within the dispenser 110 by pins or
rivets 152 that extend inward from the side walls 121. The
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roller is free to move and rotate, supported on the pins 152, the
side walls 121, and the guides 142. Pins 153 prevent the roller
150 from falling out of the container if it is upended for any
reason.
- As can be seen in Figure 8, when the roll 112 is small,
it will contact the roller 150 (at area C) without contacting the
back wall 144 of the dispenser. The placement of the roller 150
and the pins 152 will cause the roller 150 to frictionally
contact the guide flange 142 nearest the back wall 144. Thus,
the weight of the roll 112 will be transferred through the roller
150 to cause friction between the roller 150 and the guide flange
142. This friction, taking into account the low weight of the
roll 112 and the steep angle of the grooves 118, will be
sufficient to prevent free spinning of the roll 112 with easy
dispensing of bags 114 by the consumer.
While the embodiment of the invention shown and
described is fully capable of achieving the results desired, it
is to be understood that this embodiment has been shown and
described for purposes of illustration only and not for purposes
of limitation.
The embodiment shown at Figures 3-8 is the currently
preferred embodiment of the invention. In addition to the
benefits provided by the curved grooves as explained above, this
embodiment is advantageous insofar as cost of manufacture is
concerned and provides a container which provides substantial
protection for the bags themselves as compared to standard prior
art arrangements in which the roll of plastic bags is mounted on
an axle (either horizontally or vertically) and exposed on all
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sides. Although the preferred means for separating the individual
bags from the roll is the combination of the tongue and finger as
described herein, the concept of the container having curved
grooves for supporting a rolls of bags as described would have
~ utility with other types of separating devices.
