US3503481A - Bag dispenser with dispensing wheel - Google Patents

Description

Mai'ch 31, 1970 s. s. BRENNER 3,503,431

BAG DISPENSER WITH DISPENSING WHEEL Filed March 25, 1968 //VVE/V70R smnasy BRENNER MZ-fM Amy/wry United States Patent 0 3,503,481 BAG DISPENSER WITH DISPENSING WHEEL Stanley S. Brenner, Massapequa, N.Y., assignor to John R. Lebb Distributors Inc., New York, N.Y. Filed Mar. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 715,935 Int. Cl. G07f 11/00; B65g 59/00; B65h 3/02 U.S. Cl. 19410 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure is directed to a bag dispenser and more and more specifically to a coin actuator dispenser for dispensing plastic shopping bags. The dispenser comprises essentially a housing for containing a stack of superposed plastic bags in which a means is provided for individually dispensing the bags one at a time by peeling off the uppermost bag from the stack of bags each time a coin of proper denomination is inserted into the coin slot of the machine.

PROBLEMS AND PRIOR ART Many retail outlets make shopping bags available for the convenience of their customers. Heretofore such shopping bags were distributed from dispensers located at strategic positions throughout the retail outlet. Such bag dispensers generally comprised an open stand or rack from which the shopping bags were purchased by customers who so desired them. Because the shopping bags constituted a mere complimentary service on the part of the retail outlet, the shopping bag dispensing stands were generally left unattended. For this reason the respective owners of such retail outlets relied solely on customers honor and good will to pay for the shopping bag. This :was accomplished by simply locating a coin box adjacent e an open stand on which such shopping bags were hung, with the store owner relying on the customers integrity to deposit the proper coin if such bag was purchased. However operators of such outlets soon experienced that dispensing of shopping bags in this manner was not entirely satisfactory, as many purchasers would help themselves to the bags without paying for them.

To obviate the loss of revenue resulting in dispensing of such shopping bags by customers on an honor system,

efforts have been made to develop coin operated dispensing means which would probihit the removal of shopping bags until a coin of proper denomination has been deposited.

Because such shopping bags were heretofore generally formed of a paper material, the coin operated dispensers which have been developed are capable of dispensing shopping bags made of a paper material only. Examples of such shopping bag dispensers are illustrated in my copending application, Ser. No. 590,060, filed Jan. 11, 1968, now Patent No. 3,379,296, and by prior U.S. patents such as Patent No. 3,119,484. However the manufacturers of shopping bags recently have been tending toward the manufacture of such shopping bags from a plastic material, e.g. polyethylene, instead of paper. Also the construction of the shopping bag as a result of the change in material has also undergone some radical constructional changes. Due to the constructional changes made in such shopping bags, they cannot be adequately dispensed from the known shopping bag dispensers. Generally the newly constructed shopping bags consist of a plastic envelope 'ice one at a time each time a coin of proper denomination has been deposited into the coin slot of the dispenser.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a dispenser which is particularly adapted to automatically elfect the dispensing of plastic type shopping bags, one at a time, each time a coin of proper denomination is deposited therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coin operated dispenser for dispensing plastic shopping bags which is electrical-mechanical in operation so as to render the operation of the dispenser positive during a dispensing operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plastic shopping bag dispenser which is of relatively simple construction, positive in operation, and relatively inexpensive to fabricate and to operate.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shopping bag dispenser in 'which shopping bags are completely housed so that pilferage of the bags is rendered impossible and from which a bag will not be dispensed unless a proper coin is deposited.

,SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing objects, and other features and advantages of the invention are attained by a housing for enclosing therein a stack of superposed plastic bags. A dispensing means is disposed within the housing for effecting the dispensing of the bags one at a time from the stack of bags within the housing. The dispensing means comprises a movable carrier having a dispensing wheel rotatably journaled thereto which is adapted to be disposed in rolling engagement with the uppermost bag of the stack. A means is operatively associated with the carrier and wheel to counterbalance or bias the dispensing wheel with a predetermined force against the uppermost bag of said stack. The amount of force which the wheel exerts on the uppermost bag is just sufficient to insure displacement or peeling off of only the uppermost bag whenever the dispensing means is actuated. A means is provided to effect rotation or drive of the dispensing wheel to effect the displacement or peeling of the uppermost bag from the stack of bags each time the drive is actuated, and a means is provided for determining the rotation of the dispensing wheel when the uppermost bag has moved beyond rolling engagement with the wheel. In this manner the dispensing of the next succeeding bag is prohibited until such time that an additional coin is deposited within the meter. Means are also provided for indicating when the number of bags contained within the dispenser falls below a predetermined number so that an operator will be alerted as to when the supply of bags is to be replenished.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision of a dispenser having a dispensing wheel which is disposed in n0n-slipping arrangement with the uppermost bag of a stack of such bags so that only one bag will be peeled off the top of the stack each time the wheel is rendered operative.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a dispenser of plastic shopping bags which can be readily loaded into the housing of the dispenser with a minimum of effort and a maximum of ease.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a plastic bag dispenser in which the bags to be dispensed can be simply stacked within the housing of the dispenser one on the other.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a plastic shopping bag dispenser having a relatively simple control circuit operatively associated with the dispensing mechanism to effect the control thereof.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a shopping bag dispenser wherein the slippery characteristics of the plastic material, from which such bags are made, is utilized to efl ect the dispensing of the shopping bag.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view of thedrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a perspective view of the shopping bag dispenser of this invention having portions thereof broken away.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the dispensing means taken along line 2-2 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram of the electric circuit by which the dispenser of FIGURE 1 is actuated.

FIGURE 4 is a detailed view of the type of plastic shopping bag of the type dispensed by the dispensing apparatus of this invention.

Referring to the drawings and more specifically to FIG. 4 there is disclosed therein a shopping bag construction which comprises an envelope 11 formed of a plastic material, e.g. polyethylene or the like, which has formed adjacent the open end thereof a loop or hem 11A through which a draw string 12 is threaded. A central portion and end portions of the hem are cut away as at 13 and 14 to expose the draw string 12 whereby the same may be pulled to close the bag, or form a handle. Such plastic shopping bags 10 form a much more appealing and stronger construction than the conventional paper type shopping bags heretofore utilized. Furthermore, the plastic bag 10 with draw string 12 provides a closure not possible with the paper construction. Because of the convenience, attractiveness and advantages attained by plastic shopping bags of the type illustrated in FIGURE 4, more of the manufacturers are going to the construction of plastic shopping bags, as distinguished from the paper type shopping bags.

Because of this development considerable difiiculties have been encountered in dispensing plastic type shopping bags. This is because the inherent characteristic of the material from'which such plastic shopping bags are made and the specific construction thereof does not make such bags readily dispensible from the known bag dispensers.

In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a coin actuated dispensing device 15 from which plastic shopping bags 10 of the type herein described can be readily dispensed. The dispenser drive 15 comprises a housing 16 defined by front and rear panels 17, 18 interconnected by side panels 19, 20 and closed at the top and bottom by means of a top panel 21 and a bottom panel 22. A rear or back wall 23 is provided within the enclosure 24 of the housing 16 which inclines upwardly and rearwardly at an angle toward the back panel 18. Intermediate the height of the enclosure 24 defined by the housing 16 there is provided a bottom wall 25 which is preferably disposed at an angle of ninety degrees to the back wall 23. Because of the inherent characteristic of the plastic bags, which are generally formed of a polyethylene type plastic, to slide and slip when stacked one on the other, there is provided in the bottom wall 24 a hump 25A disposed intermediate the front and rear edges and extending transversely thereof. As best seen in FIG. 1, the arrangement is such that when a stack of plastic bags are superimposed one on the other on the bottom wall 25 they are arcuately deformed and tend to lean toward the back wall. Thus the angle at which the stack is disposed is such that there is no tendency of any of the bags in the stack to slide forwardly.

The front edge of the bottom wall 25 is provided with an apron 26 which extends downwardly therefrom. The lower edge of the apron 26 is provided with an upwardly turned lip 27 arranged to communicate with a slotted opening 28 formed in the front panel 17 through which a bag is dispensed.

In the described dispenser 15 the bags 10 to be dispensed are required to be merely stacked one on the other within the enclosure, and the shape of the bottom wall 25 is such that the column of bags stacked therein will assume a concave arrangement as illustrated in FIG. 1. It will be understood that suitable access may be had to the interior of the housing side wall for loading the bags thereinto.

Referring to FIG. 4 it is to be noted that the portion of the bag adjacent the looped end through which the draw string is positioned forms a portion which is somewhat thicker than the bottom portion of the bag. Accordingly in stacking the bags within the dispenser 15, it is to be noted, that the bags are alternately stacked so that the height of the stack at the opposed ends thereof are rendered substantially uniform. Accordingly as noted in FIG. 1, the open end portion of the respective bags 10 are alternately disposed.

Within the housing a means 29 is disposed for effecting the dispensing of the uppermost bag 10A of the stack each time a coin is deposited. In the illustrated form of the invention the dispensing means 29 comprise a carrier 30 which is movably mounted on the back wall 23 of the housing. The carrier 30 is defined as an L-shaped rod member in which one leg portion 30A thereof is rotatably journaled between a pair of spaced brackets 31-31 which are connected to the rear wall 23. The other leg portion 308 of the carrier 30 extends inwardly of the housing so as to be disposed above the uppermost bag 10A of the stack. Rotatably journaled to theextended end of the carrier is a dispensing wheel 32. As shown, the wheel 32 is rotatably journaled in a suitable bearing 33 carried on the extended end of the carrier 30. A motor means 34 is operatively connected to the wheel 32 to drive the dispensing-wheel 32 each time the motor 34 is energized.

Because of the inherent characteristic of the material from which the plastic bags are made, an important consideration of this invention is that the force which the dispensing wheel 32 is required to exert against the uppermost bag 10A of the stack must be such that only the uppermost bag 10A is dispensed or peeled off the top of the stack each time that the dispensing wheel is actuated. This force is controlled by counterbalancing or biasing the dispensing wheel in a manner now to be described. A counterbalancing or biasing means in the form of a coil spring 35 is disposed about the leg portion 30A of the carrier 39. As shown, one end 35A of the spring 35 is fixedly secured to a supporting bracket 31 of the carrier. The other end 35B of the spring 35 is secured to a collar 36 which is rotatably journaled about the leg portion 30A of the carrier 30. As shown, a set screw 37 is provided to fixedly secure the collar 36 in an adjusted position to the leg portion 30A of the carrier. Accordingly it will be noted that by effecting rotation of the collar 36 about the leg of the carrier, that the tension of the spring can be adjusted thereby varying the force which the carrier will cause the wheel 32 carried thereon to bear on the bags 10.

In this manner the tension of the spring 35 can be adjusted the amount desired to effect individual dispensing of the uppermost bag each time the dispensing wheel is energized. Experience has shown that a force of /2 lb. pressure has proven to be satisfactory.

The circuit 39 by which the dispensing wheel is energized when a coin is deposited is illustrated in FIG. 3. As shown therein a normally open coin switch 40 is disposed in the line 41 to the motor means 34 so as to be in series therewith. A normally closed bag actuated switch 42 is also connected in line 41 in series with the normally open coin actuating switch 40. A normally open relay switch 43 is connected in parallel to the coin switch 40 with the coil 44 of the relay being disposed in parallel to the motor 34.

In accordance with this invention the circuit 39 is also provided with means for indicating when the number of bags in the stack falls below a predetermined limit and/ or when the bags are to be replenished. Such indicating means may comprise a light 45 which is physically disposed behind a legend 46 reading Empty located at an appropriate position on the front of the housing. As noted in the circuit diagram of FIG. 3, the indicating light 45 is electrically connected in line 46 which connects to one terminal 47 of a double pole, double throw switch 48 which has the normally closed terminals disposed in line 41. In the illustrated position of FIG. 3 the double pole, double throw switch 48 is normally in closed position when a stack or supply of shopping bags are disposed within the housing. Physically double pole switch 48 is disposed in the path of travel of bags 30B. Connected to the carrier 30 is an actuator 48A which will function to actuate switch 48 to open line 41 and close the circuit to the light 45 whenever the bag supply is exhausted or nearly so. Thus when the switch 48 is actuated from its normally closed position as shown to engage contact 47, the circuit to the motor is opened, and the circuit to the indicating light is closed. When the circuit to the light 45 is made, the actuation of the dispensing means 29 is rendered impossible until a new supply of bags is disposed within the housing at which time the actuator 48A permits switch 48 to return to its normal position as shown in FIG. 3.

The operation of the dispenser is as follows. A stack of plastic bags 10 is disposed within the housing 16 so as to be located below the dispensing Wheel 32, With the stack of bags disposed within the housing and the wheel 32 resting on the uppermost bag 10A of the stack, a single bag will be automaticallydispensed or peeled off the top of the stack each time a coin is deposited into the coin slot 49 of the coin meter. Whenever a coin of proper denomination is inserted into the coin slot 49 of the coin meter, the coin will actuate a coin switch 40, to momentarily close the circuit to the motor and the relay coil in parallel therewith whereupon the relay coil maintains the relay switch 43 in a closed position so long as the relay coil is energized. With the relay switch 43 closed current will flow from the source, through the normally closed double pole, double throw switch 48, through the normally closed bag switch 42 and closed relay switch 43 to the motor 34. With the motor 34 energized, the dispensing wheel will rotate, and in doing so will peel off the uppermost bag 10A of the stack. As the uppermost bag 10A is being peeled off, it is'directed over the apron 26 toward the dispensing slot 28 of the dispenser. As best seen in FIG. 1, the bag actuating switch 42 is located on the apron 26 of the bottom wall and it is positioned so as to be actuated by the leading end of the bag as the trailing end of the bag clears or moves out from the engagement with the dispensing wheel 32. As soon as the leading edge of the bag engages the normally closed bag actuating switch 42 to open the same, the circuit to the motor 34 is opened, thereby causing the motor to be deenergized and the rotation of the dispensing wheel 32 to cease. Since the uppermost bag 10A has advanced beyond engagement with the dispensing wheel 32, the bag is positioned so that it will fall to the slot 28 by gravity, and as the bag passes switch 42 the latter will move to its normallly closed position to ready the circuit for the next dispensing operation. Thus each time a coin is deposited in the coin slot 49 of the coin meter, a bag will be successively dispensed one at a time. When the last bag has been dispensed the weight of the carrier 30, the dispensing roller 32 and motor 34 supported thereon will cause the double pole double throw switch 48 to be actuated by the actuator 48A whereby the circuit to the motor is open and the circuit to the indicating light is closed. When the light 45 is en ergized the operator will know that the supply of bags within the dispenser are or are about to be exhausted, and that the dispenser is ready for loading. As a new stack or supply of bags is disposed in the dispenser, the carrier and the wheel therein are raised thereby causing the double pole, double throw switch 48 to be automatically returned to its initial position wherein circuit to the indicating light 45 is opened and the circuit to the motor means placed in readiness to dispense the uppermost bag whenever a coin is deposited in the coin meter.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the dispensing apparatus 15 comprises a relatively simple and positive means whereby plastic bags can be readily dispensed one at a time each time a coin is deposited in the dispenser. The arrangement is such that the dispensing Wheel is arranged so as to bear upon the uppermost bag 10A of the stack of shopping bags with a predetermined force which insures that only an individual bag will be dis pensed each time the dispensing wheel is actuated, and that the circuit is actuated only when a proper coin of proper denomination has been deposited in the coin slot 49.

While the invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated and understood that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser for individually dispensing shopping bags comprising a housing adapted to enclose a stack of shopping bag said housing including a back wall,

a bottom wall connected to said back wall for supporting said stack of shopping bags within said housing,

said bottom wall terminating adjacent a slot defined in said housing through which a bag is to be dispensed,

means disposed within said housing for effecting the dispensing of a bag from said stack of bags,

said latter means including a dispensing wheel rotatably journalled within said housing and adapted to be disposed in rolling engagement with the uppermost bag of said stack,

means for biasing said dispensing wheel with a pre determined force onto said uppermost bag of said stack,

means for effecting rotation of said dispensing wheel for effecting the displacement of said uppermost bag through said slot,

and means for ceasing the rotation of said wheel when said uppermost bag has moved beyond rolling engagement with said wheel,

a circuit operatively connected between said means for effecting rotation of said dispensing wheel and said means for ceasing the rotation of said wheel,

and including means disposed in said circuit to automatically open said circuit when said stack falls below a predetermined height.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said bottom wall is formed with an upwardly arcuately formed hump disposed intermediate thereof so as to upwardly arch the respective bags in said stack.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said back wall is inclined upwardly and rearwardly and said bottom wall extends forwardly therefrom at a substantially angle relative thereto.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said dispensing means includes a carrier means for movably supporting said dispensing wheel means within said housing whereby said wheel may be progressively lowered as the stack of said shopping bags is depleted.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said carrier means includes a lever arm pivotally supported within said housing,

and said biasing means including a coil spring operating said lever arm.

'6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said circuit includes a normally opened coin switch adapted to be closed by a coin connected in circuit to said means for effecting rotation of said wheel,

and a normally closed bag switch connected in said circuit,

said bag switch being disposed adjacent said slot to be actuated by said bag.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 and including an indicating means connected in said circuit to provide a visual signal to indicate when said circuit is automatically opened.

8. A coin actuated dispenser for dispensing plastic shopping bags comprising a housing defining an enclosure,

an upwardly and rearwardly inclined back wall disposed within said housing,

a bottom wall adapted to support a stack of plastic bags connected to said rear wall at substantially 90 thereto,

said bottom wall being formed with an arcuate hump intermediate the end thereof whereby the bags stacked thereon are adapted to conform to the concave shape thereof,

a dispensing means movably supported within said housing,

said dispensing means including a carrier pivotally mounted within the housing,

a dispensing wheel rotatably journalled on said carrier whereby said wheel is disposed in rolling engagement with the uppermost bag of said stack,

means for counterbalancing the Weight of said wheel whereby it is disposed in rolling engagement with the uppermost bag with a predetermined force,

means for adjusting the force with which said wheel acts on said stack of bags,

motor means operatively connected to said wheel to effect the drive thereof,

and a circuit means for controlling the actuation of said motor means.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said circuit includes a normally open coin switch connected in series with said motor,

a normally closed bag switch connected in series with said coin switch, said bag switch being disposed adjacent said dispensing slot in the path of the bag being dispensed whereby said bag switch is actuated thereby, and a relay means including a relay switch disposed in parallel to said coin switch and a relay coil in parallel to said motor whereby said relay means is actuated when said coin switch is momentarily closed. 10. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said carrier comprises an L-shaped member having one leg portion rotatably journalled on said rear wall and having its other leg portion extending over said stack of bags,

and said counterbalancing means including a coil spring wound about said one leg portion.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said adjusting means comprises a rotatable collar mounted on said one leg of said carrier,

means for anchoring one end of said spring on said collar,

and means for fixedly securing the other end of said spring.

12. A dispenser for dispensing an article comprising a housing for enclosing a stack of superposed articles to be dispensed,

a coin actuated dispensing means disposed within said housing for dispensing an individual article from said stack of articles,

said dispensing means including a rotatably journalled dispensing wheel,

means for biasing said dispenser Wheel in rolling engagement onto the uppermost article of said stack with a predetermined force,

means for effecting rotation of said dispensing wheel for effecting displacement of said uppermost article in rolling engagement therewith,

means for ceasing the rotation of said wheel when the uppermost article has moved beyond rolling engagement with said wheel,

a circuit operatively connected between said means for effecting rotation of the dispensing wheel and said means for ceasing the rotation of said wheel,

and means disposed in said circuit to automatically open said circuit when said stack of articles falls below a predetermined height.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,918,460 7/1933 'Eccardt 221-43 X 3,107,770 10/1963 Short 221-210 X 3,246,797 4/1966 Hoenisch 22113 STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 22l259

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