EP0850006A1

EP0850006A1 - Automatic bag-dispenser

Info

Publication number: EP0850006A1
Application number: EP96931860A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Denis Varichon; Frédéric Varichon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-09-14
Filing date: 1996-09-16
Publication date: 1998-07-01
Also published as: CN1195975A; FR2738806B1; US6006495A; WO1997009912A1; FR2738806A1; AU7088296A; CA2231344A1

Abstract

The invention concerns an automatic bag-dispenser which comprises a supply of bags (30) arranged flat in a stack (3), and two rotary devices (1, 2) which have parallel axes, are located adjacent each other and are covered with a non-slip material. The rotary devices (1, 2) rotate in counter-rotation at linear speeds which differ at their periphery. At least one of the rotary devices (1, 2) can come into contact with one of the two end bags (30) in the stack (3) in the region of the bottom (32) of the bag (30) such that it can be driven between the rotary devices (1, 2). At least one of the rotary devices (1, 2) comprises a central part which is not rotated and opposite which devices (4) for gripping the centre part of the bag (30) are active.

Description

AUTOMATIC BAG DISPENSER DEVICE

The present invention relates to an automatic bag dispenser device, intended to equip the collection counter of a store of the supermarket type.

During the checkout, the buyer places his purchases on a conveyor belt, the cashier takes them one by one to record the price, then places them on a second conveyor belt so that the buyer can pack them in sachets .

The bags, generally made of a plastic film, have the disadvantage of a difficult opening, it is necessary to crumple them to separate the two sides. In an attempt to overcome this drawback, devices have been proposed in which the bags are hung in batches on hooks above a shelf, and are attached to each other by an easily breakable weld, so that the removal of the extreme bag results in the opening of the next bag.

However, these devices have drawbacks, for example it frequently happens that certain sachets do not come off from the following, or that they do not open. In addition, for some of these devices, the presence of suspension hooks, which are necessarily long to allow the attachment of a batch of a large number of bags, constitutes an obstacle to filling the bags.

The aim of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a device for automatic dispensing of sachets, making it possible to deliver one to one of the open sachets.

The device according to the invention is essentially characterized in that it comprises on the one hand a reserve of sachets arranged flat in a stack, on the other hand two rotary means of parallel axes placed close to one of the other, covered with a non-slip material, turning in counter-rotation at different linear speeds at the periphery, at least one of which is capable of coming into contact with one of the two extreme sachets of said stack near the bottom of said sachet, with a view to its entrainment between said means rotary.

According to an additional characteristic of the device according to the invention, at least one of the rotary means comprises a central part not driven in rotation opposite which acts a gripping means of the middle part of the bag.

According to another additional characteristic of the device according to the invention, the rotary means are placed in a casing comprising, in line with the contact zone of said means, an opening allowing the passage of a bag, and opening into a receptacle.

In a first embodiment of the device according to the invention, the rotary means are two rollers positioned above the bags and transversely, side-by-side practically in contact with one another, rotating in counter rotation with ascent by the center, and positioned opposite the lower part of the sachets, and it further comprises means allowing, by vertical translation, to bring said rollers into contact with the sachet located above the stack. In a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, the rotary means are two bands each passing over a pair of axes on which they move in contact with one another, the two axes closest to the stack of sachets being arranged above it transversely and side by side.

In a third embodiment of the device according to the invention, the rotary means are two strips mounted on rollers, part of one of which can come into contact with the lower bag of the stack in order to drive it between the two bands. According to the invention, the sachets can be slightly offset longitudinally with respect to each other, so that from above one can see all the bottoms of the sachets of the stack, in order to avoid overlapping of the welded parts.

Still in accordance with the invention, the device can comprise several receptacles positioned side by side, the rotary means then being transversely movable and capable of being placed successively opposite each of said receptacles for depositing a sachet therein.

The advantages and characteristics of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and which refers to the appended drawing, which represents a non-limiting embodiment thereof.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 shows a partial schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention. - Figures 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and 2e show a schematic view of the stages of operation of the same device.

- Figure 3 shows a partial view, in perspective, and exploded of the same device. - Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a variant of the same device.

- Figure 5 shows a schematic view of another variant of the same device.

- Figure 6 shows a partial perspective view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.

- Figure 7 shows a perspective and exploded view of a third embodiment of the device according to the invention. - Figure 8 shows a schematic view of profile of the same device.

- Figure 9a shows a schematic view of a variant of a device according to the invention.

- Figure 9b shows a schematic view of a second variant of the same device.

If we refer to Figure 1 we can see that in a first embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises two rotary means 1 and 2, in this case parallel rollers 10 and 20 positioned side by side practically in contact with each other.

The rollers 10 and 20 are mounted on axes, respectively 11 and 21, transversely above a stack 3 of bags 30, facing the lower parts 31 thereof, their bottoms 32 being placed on the outlet side of the body, not shown.

The rollers 10 and 20 are rotated in opposite directions and so that the ascent takes place through the center, according to the arrows A and B respectively.

The linear speed at the surface of the roller 10, the furthest from the bottoms 32, is slightly higher than that of the roller 20, this difference in speed can, from a single drive, be obtained either by using a roller 10 of a diameter greater than that of the roller 20, or, if the rollers are of the same diameter, by means of a transmission with reducer.

The roller 20 is divided into three parts, two end rollers 22 driven in rotation, and a central roller 23 in free rotation, above which is disposed a plate 4, of a width which is substantially equal to it, and movable around d a horizontal and transverse axis 40, so that its end portion 41, opposite that of the articulated one, can come into contact with the central roller 23.

The widths of the rollers 22 and 23 are chosen as a function of the distance which separates the handles 33 from the bags 30, namely that preferably the width of the roller central 23 should be slightly less than this distance. It should be noted that the central roller 23 in free rotation could be replaced by a fixed part.

If we now refer to FIGS. 2 we can see the different stages of entering and opening a bag 30.

In FIG. 2a the rollers 10 and 20 are at a certain distance from the lower part 31 of the bag

30 placed on top of the stack 3. Under the action of vertical translation means, not shown, the rollers 10 and 20 come into contact with the bag 30, said means being able to either lower the rollers 10 and 20, or cause the stack 3.

In contact with the rollers 10 and 20 (FIG. 2b) the bag 30 is driven between the rollers 10 and 20 while being folded, while the vertical translation means move the rollers 10 and 20 away from the rest of the stack 3.

The bag 30 being gripped by the rollers 10 and 20 by its lower part 31, this passes between the rollers 10 and 20 before the upper part which remains below the roller 10 (FIG. 2c).

Due to the difference in linear speed at the surface, the side 34 of the bag 30, in contact with the roller 10, moves faster than the side 35 in contact with the roller 20, so that the side 34 slides over on the side 35, it is then (FIG. 2d) that the plate 4 pivots and that its end portion 41 comes to grip and hold, against the central roller 23, the side 35, from the inside at the base of the handles 33, which continue to be driven by the roller 10 and the end rollers 22 until they are ejected (FIG. 2e), the side 35 being still held by the plate 4 and the roller 23.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the rollers 10 and 20 are placed under a cover 5 positioned in line with the conveyor belt of the box, not shown, and covering a reserve 6 in which the stack 3 of bags 30 is placed.

The cover 5 includes a flat area 50 leading to a tray 51, a horizontal slot 52 being formed at the end of the flat area 50 in the upper edge of the tray 51, the slot 52 being opposite the roller

20.

When the bottom 32 of the bag 30 passes over the roller 20 (FIG. 2c), it is introduced into the slot 52, then it falls into the tray 51, while being held by its side 35 as shown in broken lines . After recording the price of the item purchased, it is placed on the conveyor belt or on the flat area 50, the buyer presses a button 53 placed on the counter, which has the effect of operating the device of distribution.

A bag 30 comes out through the slot 52, the side 35 remains engaged in the slot 52 held between the plate 4 and the central roller 23, while the side 34 can be easily grasped with one hand while the bag 30 is filled with The other.

Referring now to Figure 4 we can see that in a variant the rollers 10 and 20 are lined lower with a pair of rollers 14 and 24 positioned respectively below the rollers 10 and 20, rotating in counter rotation, each comprising on the surface over a little less than half of its circumference a longitudinal zone, 15 and 25, non-slip, the rest of the surface being smooth. The rollers 14 and 24 are able to move vertically to come into contact with the upper bag 30 of the stack 3.

The rollers 14 and 24 are programmed to perform one revolution per cycle, and it is the smooth parts which first come into contact with the bag 30. Under the effect of the rotation of the rollers 14 and

24, the bag 30 is driven and folded by the zones 15 and

25, then directed towards the rollers 10 and 20 to be treated there as described in FIGS. 2, the bag 30 then sliding on the smooth parts of the rollers 14 and 24 which are no longer rotated.

With reference to FIG. 5, the roller 10 is positioned above the roller 20, and the bag 30 is arranged by means of a roller 12 placed in front of the roller 10 transversely above the stack 3.

The roller 12 has on a little less than half of its circumference a longitudinal non-slip zone 13, its rotation, limited to one revolution per cycle, making it possible to engage the upper bag 30, with which it is brought into contact, between the rollers 10 and 20.

The roller 12 and the rollers 10 and 20 are linked, and the assembly is, like the rollers 14, 15, 10 and 20 of FIG. 4, movable in vertical translation, thus not requiring displacement of the stack 3. It should be noted that in a variant of this embodiment, the sachets can be packaged in a reel, which, in free rotation, can rotate under the effect of a manual traction exerted downstream from the rollers 10 and 20 which rotate at different speeds.

Referring now to FIG. 6, it can be seen that in a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, the rotary means 1 and 2 are bands 16 and 26 stretched on rollers 160, 161 and 260 respectively, 261, and in contact with each other over a substantially horizontal portion.

The rollers 160 and 260, intended for gripping the bag, not shown, are approximately side by side and of large diameter, while the rollers 161 and 261 are of smaller diameter and positioned one at a time. above the other and facing the slot, not shown, through which the bag comes out.

It should be noted that the variants described in FIGS. 4 and 5 can be applied to this embodiment with a view to feeding it in a sachet.

The strips 16 and 26 are divided transversely into two parts to allow the pinching of the middle part of the bags.

This pinching is carried out by means of a fixed plate 262 placed substantially horizontally at the level of the contact zone of the strips 16 and 26, and the upper face of which is non-slip, and on the other hand a free roller 162 rotation positioned transversely above the plate 262 at the end of an arm 163 articulated around an axis X parallel to those of the rollers.

When the bag passes between the strips 16 and 26, the roller 162 presses it against the plate 262, the lower side no longer moves while the upper side continues to advance. If we now refer to Figures 7 and 8, we can see that in a third embodiment the rotary means 1 and 2 are bands 17 and 27 stretched on transverse rollers, and in contact with each other on a substantially vertical then horizontal part. The lower strip 27 is stretched around two upper rollers 270 and 271 and two lower rollers 272 and 273, the upper strip 17 being stretched around two upper rollers 170 and 171 and a lower roller 172. The rollers 170 and 270 are positioned l 'one above the other and one close to the other so that the strips 17 and 27 are held there in contact.

The rollers 170, 171 and 172 are positioned according to a triangle, and the rollers 270, 271, 272 and 273 are positioned according to a quadrilateral, the roller 271 penetrating in said triangle while the roller 172 enters said quadrilateral, so that the rollers 172 and 271 simultaneously stretch the strips 17 and 27 which are therefore in contact with each other between the rollers 172 and 170 and 270, in passing through roller 271.

The rotary means 1 and 2 are housed in a box 7 comprising two compartments 70 and 71 separated by a transverse wall 72, the compartment 71 being divided into two parts 73 and 74 differing in their depths, the part 73, adjacent to the wall 72 and in which the rotary means 1 and 2 are housed, having a bottom 75 lower than the bottom 76 of the part 74.

The stack 3 of bags 30 rests on the bottom 76, the bottoms 32 of the bags protruding in the part 73 above the roller 273 and the strip 27.

The bags 30 are slightly offset longitudinally with respect to each other in order to avoid overlapping of the welded parts, they are threaded onto an oblique bar 77 secured to the bottom 76 and passing through a detachable fastener 36 placed between the handles 33.

The compartment 71 is covered with a cover 8 resting on the lateral edges of the rack 7 and leaving between the upper edge 78 of the wall 72 and a transverse edge 80 a space 81 opposite the rollers 170 and 270.

The strips 17 and 27 are divided transversely into two parts so as to allow the pinching of the middle part of the bags 30 by means of a movable plate 274 whose upper face is non-slip, positioned between these two parts, at the level of the strip 27, and capable of translating vertically so as to pinch the middle part of the bag against a lowered part 82 of the cover 8 constituting the bottom of a notch 83 formed in the transverse edge 80.

The strip 27, at the level of the roller 273, is either by vertical translation of the roller 273, or by tilting of the assembly, brought into contact with the rear part 31 of the lower bag 30 of the stack in order to drive it, the return to the lower position of the roller 273 preventing the engagement of the next bag 30.

After being entrained by the strip 27, the sachet passes between the strips 27 and 17 where it is treated in the same manner as in the embodiments described above, to lead to its exit between the upper edge 78 of the wall 72 and the edge 80 of the cover 8, and at its opening in the compartment 70.

The bags 30 descend along the bar 77, this movement being facilitated by the traction which takes place on the lower bag 30 since the bags are joined together by a breakable weld.

If we now refer to FIGS. 9a and 9b, it can be seen that the device according to the invention can, whatever its embodiment, be installed in a particular configuration, where the rotary means 1 and 2 are capable of transverse movement, on a rack 9 for example, in order to distribute bags 30 successively in trays 90 positioned side by side, the bags 30 being taken either from several stacks 3 positioned side by side each facing a tray 9 (FIG. 9a), or in a single stack 3 (Figure 9b).

These configurations allow the buyer to have several open bags simultaneously so that he can store his purchases by sorting if he wishes.

It goes without saying that the present invention cannot be limited to the foregoing description of some of its embodiments, capable of undergoing a certain number of modifications without thereby depart from the scope of the invention.

In particular, the devices described above are more particularly suitable for the distribution of bags made of plastic material and provided with handles, but they could also be adapted for the distribution of bags made in other materials, and without handles. .

On the other hand, the dispenser object of the present invention is not intended to be installed only in the furniture of a store case, it can be adapted on a packaging line, for example.

Claims

1) Automatic bag dispenser device characterized in that it comprises on the one hand a reserve (6, 71) of bags (30) arranged flat in a stack (3), on the other hand two rotary means (1 , 2) parallel axes placed close to one another, covered with a non-slip material, rotating in counter-rotation at different linear speeds at the periphery, at least one of which is capable of entering contact with one of the two end sachets (30) of said stack (3) near the bottom (32) of said sachet (30), with a view to its entrainment between said rotary means (1, 2).

2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that at least one of the rotary means (1, 2) comprises a central part not driven in rotation opposite which act gripping means (4, 23, 162, 262, 274, 82) of the middle part of the bag (30).

3) Device according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterized in that the rotary means (1, 2) are placed in a housing (5, 7) comprising in line with the contact area of said rotary means (1, 2), an opening (52, 81) allowing the passage of a sachet (30), and opening into a receptacle (51, 70, 9).

4) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary means (1, 2) are two rollers (10, 20) positioned above the bags (30) and transversely, side-by-side practically at contact with each other, rotating in counter-rotation with rise through the center, and positioned opposite the lower part (31) of the bags (30); and in that it further comprises means allowing, by vertical translation, to bring said rollers (10, 20) and the bag (30) into contact with the top of the stack (3). 5) Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the roller (20) closest to the bottom (32) of the bag (30) upper of the stack (3) has a central portion (23) not driven in rotation, against the the upper part of which can come into contact with an element (4) movable in vertical displacement.

6) Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the central part not driven in rotation is a roller (23) in free rotation. 7) Device according to any one of claims 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that the rollers (10, 20) are placed under a cover (5) covering the reserve (6) in which the stack (3) is arranged of bags (30), and comprising a flat zone (50) leading to a container (51), a horizontal slot (52) being formed at the end of said flat zone (50) in the upper edge of said container (51), said slot (52) facing the rearmost roller (20).

8) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the rotary means (1, 2) are two bands (16, 26) each passing over a pair of rollers (160, 161, 260, 261) on which they move in contact with one another, the two rollers (160, 260) closest to the stack (3) of bags (30) being arranged above it transversely and side by side side, while the other two rollers (161, 261) are arranged one above the other.

9) Device according to claim 8 characterized in that the two strips (16, 26) are divided transversely into two parts between which is placed, at the contact area of said strips (16, 26) a plate (262) of which the upper face is non-slip, and against which a freely rotating roller (162) can come into contact positioned transversely above said plate (262) at the end of an arm (163) articulated around an axis ( X) parallel to those of rollers (160, 161, 260, 261) over which the strips (16, 26) pass.

10) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary means (10, 20, 16, 26) are associated with two rollers (14, 24) which are parallel to them and whose contact zone is opposite of the contact zone of said rotary means (10, 20, 16, 26), each comprising on its surface over a little less than half of its circumference a longitudinal non-slip zone (15, 25), the rest of the surface being smooth, programmed to perform one revolution per cycle and which are able to move vertically to come into contact with the upper bag (30) of the stack (3).

11) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the rotary means (1, 2) are two rollers (10, 20) positioned parallel one above the other at the end of the stack (3) of sachets (30), and in that a roller (12) comprising on a little less than half of its circumference a longitudinal non-slip zone (13), programmed to perform one revolution per cycle, positioned at above said stack (3), and capable of coming into contact with said stack (3) to drive the bag (30) above it towards said rollers (10, 20). 12) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the rotary means (1, 2) are two bands (17, 27) mounted on rollers (170, 171, 172, 173, 270, 270 , 271), a first strip (17) being mounted on three rollers (170, 171, 172) positioned according to a triangle, and a second strip (27) being mounted on four rollers (270, 271, 272, 273) positioned according to a quadrilateral, a roller (271) of the second penetrating said triangle while a roller (172) enters said quadrilateral, so that two rollers (172, 271) simultaneously stretch said strips (17, 27) allowing contact tight with one another, and in that a lower roller (273) of the second strip (27) is positioned under the stack (3) of sachet (30) opposite the lower part thereof and is susceptible, by a vertical translation d bringing said strip (27) into contact with the lower bag (30) in order to entrain it between said strips (17, 27).

13) Device according to claim 12 characterized in that it comprises a box (7) comprising two compartments (70, 71) separated by a transverse wall (72), one (70) intended to receive the bag (30) open the other (71), covered with a cover (8), being divided into two parts (73, 74) differing in their depths, the part (73) adjacent to said wall (72) and in which are housed the rotary means (1, 2), having a bottom (75) lower than the bottom (76) of the other part (74), on which the stack (3) of sachets (30) rests.

14) Device according to claim 12 or claim 13 characterized in that the strips (17, 27) are divided transversely into two parts so as to allow the pinching of the middle part of the bags (30) by means of a plate (274), the upper face of which is non-slip, positioned between said two parts, at the contact zone of said strips (17, 27), and capable of translating vertically to pinch the middle part of the bag (30) against the transverse edge (80) of the cover (8) which is plumb and at a certain distance from the upper edge (78) of the transverse wall (72).

15) Device according to any one of claims 12, 13 or 14 characterized in that the sachets

(30) are slightly offset longitudinally relative to each other, so that from above we can see all the bottoms (32) of the bags (30) of the stack (3).

16) Device according to claim 15 characterized in that the bags are threaded on a slash (77) integral with the bottom (76) and passing through a detachable clip (36) placed between the handles (33).

17) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary means (1, 2) are transversely movable so as to be positioned successively opposite trays (90) arranged side by side and intended to each receive a sachet (30 ) open.