Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BIN WITH MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING AN ITEM TO BE
STORED THEREIN
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to storage bins.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is often desirable that a stored item be separated from its environment.
For
s example, an item producing a foul odor, such as a used diaper, should be
separated
from its environment by a barrier impervious to the odor so as to prevent the
odor
from being released into the environment. To accomplish this it is known to
store
items such as used diapers in a bin having a tightly fitting cover. This,
however,
does not prevent the odor from escaping into the room when the bin is
periodically
opened to insert an additional used diaper.
Similarly, a food, such as a sandwich or fruit, to be stored should be
separated from its environment in order preserve the freshness of the item or
to
prevent contamination or drying out by the environment. To accomplish this, it
is
known to store food items in sealed containers.
is SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a bin for storing items. In accordance with
the invention, as an item is inserted into the bin, it becomes individually
wrapped
with a self adhering film such as a saran (i.e. a plastic having vinylidine
chloride as
its principal monomer). The bin comprises a base container for storing the
wrapped
2o items below a wrapping assembly. The wrapping assembly includes two trays
configured to receive a roll of self adhering film.
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The wrapping assembly also includes a first and second cylindrical rollers.
Rotation of the rollers are coupled to each other so that rotation of the
first roller,
for example by means of a knob, in one direction causes simultaneous rotation
of
the second roller in the opposite directions
In use, a small amount of the film is extended by hand from each roll and the
ends are pressed together. Due to the self adhesiveness of the film, the ends
of the
two rolls of film are thus bonded together. The bonded edge is then manually
fed in
between the rollers as the rollers are made to rotate. This causes the two
sheets of
film to pass between the rollers into the base container. As the two sheets of
film
pass between the rollers they are crimped together by the end sections of the
rollers
so as to bind the two sheets together along the edges.
An object to be stored in the bin, such as a soiled diaper or food item, is
now
placed between the two rolls of a film over the rollers. The rollers are then
rotated
so as to draw the bonded edge of film further into the container. As the
sheets of
Is film pass into the container, the object passes between the rollers. As the
object
passes between the rollers crimping of the film at the end sections of the
rollers
seals the two rolls of film around the object. After the object has passed
between the
rollers, the two rolls of film may be cut. The rolls of film are preferably
perforated
at intermittent intervals to facilitate manual cutting of the film by a user.
The cut
2o ends of the two sheets of film wrapping the object are then manually
pressed
together so as to bond the ends together. Further rotation of the rollers
causes the
object, now completely wrapped in the film, to be released from the rollers
and to
fall into the container.
The invention thus provides a bin for storing objects comprising:
25 (a) a container;
(b) a first tray and a second tray, each tray configured to receive a roll of
self
adhesive film.
(c) a first roller and a second roller;
(d) driving means rotating the first and second rollers in an insertion
direction.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in
practice, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of non-limiting
example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
s Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a bin in accordance with one embodiment
of the invention;
Fig. 2 shows the bin of Fig. 1 with the film covers in an open state exposing
the rolls of film;
Fig. 3 shows the bin of Fig. 1 with the film covers closed over the rolls of
1o film;
Fig. 4 shows insertion of an object between into the bin of Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 shows a bin having a lid and a cover in accordance with another
embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 6 shows the top assembly of the bin of Fig. 5 with the lid in an open
is state;
Fig. 7 shows the underside of the top assembly shown in Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 shows the top assembly of the bin shown in Fig. 5 with the cover
removed;
Fig. 9 shows the underside of the top assembly of the bin of Fig. 5 showing
2o protective blades;
Fig. 10 shows the top assembly of the bin of Fig. 5 showing a ratchet system
for allowing rotation of rollers in a single direction;
Fig. 11 shows the underside of the top assembly of the bin of Fig. 5 with an
object wrapped in self adhering film after having passed between the rollers;
and
2s Fig. 12 shows the drive system of the bin of Fig. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figs. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a bin in accordance with the
invention. The bin is shown in exploded view in Fig. 1. The bin comprises a
base
container 1 supporting a wrapping assembly 2. The wrapping assembly 2 includes
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two trays 4 and 5 (Fig. 2). Each of the trays 4 and 5 are configured to
receive a roll
of self adhering film 3. The self adhering film 3 may be formed, for example,
from
a saran (i.e. a plastic having vinylidine chloride as its principal monomer).
To place
a roll of film 3 in each of the trays 3 and 4, covers 10 are opened to expose
the trays
s 4 and 5 (Fig. 2). After a roll of film 3 has been placed in each of the
trays 4 and 5
(Fig. 1), the covers 10 are closed over the rolls of film 3 (Figs. 3 and 4).
Adjacent to the rolls of film 3 is a pair of cylindrical rollers 6 and 7. The
rollers 6 and 7 are constructed in three sections. The rollers 6 and 7 have a
central
section 12 formed from a resiliently compressible material such as foam
rubber. An
end section 11 at each end of both rollers 6 and 7 is formed from a hard
material.
The end sections 11 are toothed into a gear life surface so that surface of
each end
section of one of the rollers engages the surface in the adjacent end section
of the
other roller. Rotation of a knob 8 rotates the roller 6. Rotation of the
roller 6 in one
direction by the knob 8 causes simultaneous rotation of the roller 7 in the
opposite
Is directions by the gear interaction between the rollers 6 and 7 at the end
regions 11.
In use, the knob 8 is used to rotate the rollers 6 and 7 simultaneously in an
insertion
direction indicated by the arrows 30.
In use, a small amount of the film 3 is extended by hand from each roll and
the ends are pressed together. Due to the self adhesiveness of the film, the
ends of
2o the two rolls of film are thus bonded together. The bonded edge is then
manually
fed iil between the rollers 6 and 7 as the rollers are made to rotate in the
insertion
direction by turning the knob 8. This causes the two sheets of film 3 to pass
between the rollers 6 and 7 into the base container 1. As the two sheets of
film 3
pass between the rollers 6 and 7, they are crimped together by the gear
surfaces in
2s the end sections 11 so as to be bonded together there.
An object 9 to be stored in the bin, such as a soiled diaper or sandwich, is
now placed between the two rolls of a film 3, over the rollers 6 and 7, as
shown in
Fig. 4. The knob 8 is then rotated so as to rotate the rollers 6 and 7 in the
insertion
direction and draw the bonded edge of film further into the container 1. As
the
3o sheets of film 3 pass into the container 1, the object 9 passes between the
rollers 6
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and 7. As the object 9 passes between the rollers 6 and 7 the material of the
central
region on both rollers 6 and 7 is temporarily compressed so as to allow the
object 9
to pass between the rollers 6 and 7. As this occurs, crimping of the film 3 at
the end
sections 11 of the rollers 6 and 7 seals the two rolls of film 3 around the
object 9.
s Furthermore, as the object 9 passes between the rollers 6 and 7, the two
sheets of
film are pressed against the object so as to prevent a significant amount of
air from
being trapped between the film 3 and the object 9. After the object 9 has
passed
between the rollers 6 and 7, the two rolls of film 3 may be cut. The rolls of
film 3
are preferably perforated at intermittent intervals to facilitate manual
cutting of the
to film 3 by a user. The cut ends of the two sheets of film 3 wrapping the
object 9 are
then manually pressed together so as to bond the ends together. Further
rotation of
the rollers 6 and 7 by the knob 8 causes the object 9, now completely wrapped
in
the film 3, to be released from the rollers 6 and 7 and to fall into the
container 1.
Alternatively, the two sheets of film 3 are not cut after the object 9 has
passed
1s between the rollers 6 and 7 into the container 1. Instead, the two sheets
of film 3
become bonded together above the object 9 as the film continues to pass
between
the rollers 6 and 7 after the object 9 has passed between the rollers 6 and 7.
In this
case, several objects may be wrapped together in the film 3 as shown in Fig.
1.
Figs. 5 to 12 show a bin in accordance with a second embodiment of the
2o invention. The embodiment of Figs. 5 to 12 has elements in common with the
embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4, and similar components are referred to by the same
reference numeral, without further comment or explanation.
The embodiment of Figs. 5 to 12 has a lid 13 supported by two arched and
toothed supports 15. The each support 15 engages a drive gear wheel 17 at a
2s different end of the roller 6. When the lid 13 is closed, each support 15
engages its
drive gear wheel 17 in a rack-and-pinion mechanism so as to cause the drive
gear
wheel 17 to rotate in the direction of the arrow 28. (Fig. 12) An inner wheel
25 is
rigidly fixed to an axle 26 of the roller 6. The inner wheel 25 supports a
series of
pawls 18. The pawls 18 are positioned so as to engage with teeth 27 on the
inner
3o surface of the drive gear wheel 17 in a ratcheted engagement. Thus,
rotation of the
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drive gear wheel 17 by the supports 15 when the lid is closed causes the inner
wheel 25, and hence the roller 6 to rotate in the same direction. Rotation of
the
roller 6 causes simultaneous rotation of the roller 7 by the gears in the end
sections
11, so that the rollers 6 and 7 rotate in the insertion direction (arrows 28
and 29) as
s the lid 13 is closed. When the lid 13 is opened, each gear drive wheel 17
rotates in
the direction opposite to that of the arrow 28 and slips over the inner wheel
25. This
engagement prevents rotation of the rollers 6 and 7 when the lid 13 is opened.
In use, a small amount of the film 3 is extended by hand from each roll and
the ends are pressed together. Due to the self adhesiveness of the filin, the
ends of
to the two rolls of film are thus bonded together. The bonded edge is then
manually
fed in between the rollers 6 and 7. Feeding of the film between the rollers 6
and 7
may be facilitated by partially closing and opening the lid 13 one or more
times.
This causes the two sheets of film 3 to pass between the rollers 6 and 7 into
the base
container 1. As the two sheets of filin 3 pass between the rollers 6 and 7,
they are
is crimped together by the gear surfaces in the end sections 11 so as to be
bonded
together there.
An object 9 to be stored in the bin, such as a diaper or sandwich, is now
placed between the two rolls of a film 3, over the rollers 6 and 7. The lid 13
is then
closed so as to rotate the rollers 6 and 7 in the insertion direction and draw
the
2o bonded edges of film further into the container 1. As the sheets of film 3
pass into
the container 1, the object 9 passes between the rollers 6 and 7. As the
object 9
passes between the rollers 6 and 7 the material of the central region on both
rollers
6 and 7 is temporarily compressed so as to allow the object 9 to pass between
the
rollers 6 and 7. As this occurs, crimping of the film 3 at the end sections
all of the
2s rollers 6 and 7 seals the two rolls of film 3 around the object 9.
Furthermore, as the
object 9 passes between the rollers 6 and 7, the two sheets of film are
pressed
against the object so as to prevent a significant amount of air from being
trapped
between the film 3 and the object 9. After the object 9 has passed between the
rollers 6 and 7, the lid 13 may be opened, and the two rolls of film 3 may be
cut
3o above the object 9. The rolls of filin 3 are preferably perforated at
intermittent
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intervals to facilitate manual cutting of the film 3 by a user. The cut ends
of the two
sheets of film 3 wrapping the object 9 are then manually pressed together so
as to
bond the ends together. Further rotation of the rollers 6 and 7 closing the
lid 13
causes the object 9, now completely wrapped in the film 3, to be released from
the
s rollers 6 and 7 and to fall into the container 1. Alternatively, the two
sheets of filin 3
are not cut after the obj ect 9 has passed between the rollers 6 and 7 into
the
container 1. Instead, the two sheets of film 3 become bonded together above
the
object 9 as the film continues to pass between the rollers 6 and 7 after the
object 9
has passed between the rollers 6 and 7.In this case, several objects may be
wrapped
1 o together in the film 3.
A cover 14 may optionally be positioned at the rolls of film 3. The cover 14
has an aperture 21 in the cover 14 through which an object to be wrapped and
stored in the container 1 is passed. The aperture 21 is positioned so as to
position
the object 9 over the central region 12 of the rollers 6 and 7 in order to
achieve
~s optimal wrapping. The aperture 21 may also serve to limit the size of
objects that
can be stored in the container 1.
Below the compliant rollers 6 and 7 are deflection blades 19 and 20. The
deflective blades 19 and 20 part as a wrapped object passes between them. The
deflection blades 19 and 20 prevent contact of the wrapped object with film on
the
2o bottom sides of the rollers 6 and 7 which might cause film to unwrap from
the
obj ect.
