GB2349144A

GB2349144A - Dispenser for flexible lamellae

Info

Publication number: GB2349144A
Application number: GB0009952A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jerome Smart; Sydney Henry Battams
Original assignee: AXIS EUROP PLC
Current assignee: AXIS EUROP PLC
Priority date: 1999-04-20
Filing date: 2000-04-20
Publication date: 2000-10-25
Also published as: GB0009952D0; GB9908879D0

Abstract

A dispenser for lamellae such as bags or sheets for holding a block of stacked lamellae and dispensing the topmost lamella therefrom has securing means 14 for detachably securing the edge portions of the lamellae at a first end of the block. It also has an outlet 7 through which an edge portion of the topmost lamella at the opposing second end of the block is presentable. The dispenser is adapted so that in use the block is required to follow a curved path in the direction from said first to said second end, the curvature being concave when looking down on the topmost lamella of the block so that when the uppermost lamella is removed it straightens, thus facilitating grasping of its leading edge. A support plate 4 for the block may have a pin 14 for engaging a hole in the spine of the block, the lamellae being separated from the spine on removal, and the plate 4 may be supported on a base tray 2 by leaf springs 10 which urge it towards a lid 3. An anti-bacterial pad may be provided adjacent the outlet 7.

Description

LAMELLA DISPENSER The present invention relates to lamella dispensers, and in particular to dispensers of flexible lamellae such as sheets or flattened bags.

Devices for dispensing flexible lamellae, such as sheets or flattened bags, are commonly used in e. g. shops and supermarkets. The devices contain charges of bags or sheets which can be dispensed as needed for e. g. holding or wrapping food items.

With known devices it is commonly a problem to provide reliable dispensing of, particularly, plastic bags or sheets which can be difficult to separate from each other. One known way of addressing this problem is to have an operating lever which is operable to dispense the bags or sheets. However, because the lever must be touched by the user each time a bag or sheet is dispensed, there can be a risk of cross-contamination if the user is also handling the food.

Objects of the present invention are to provide a dispensing device which operates reliably, and a dispensing device which reduces the possibility of crosscontamination.

Accordingly, in a first aspect the present invention provides a lamella dispenser for holding a block of stacked lamellae and dispensing the topmost lamella therefrom, the dispenser having securing means for detachably securing to the dispenser the edge portions of the lamellae at a first end of the block, and an outlet through which an edge portion of the topmost lamella at the opposing second end of the block is presentable, and the dispenser being adapted so that in use the block is required to follow a curved path in the direction from said first to said second end, the curvature being concave when looking down on the topmost lamella of the block.

Typically the lamellae are joined at a spine which forms the first end of the block, and are separable from the spine along respective lines of weakness such as tear-off perforations.

When the dispenser is charged with such a block and a user wished to dispense a lamella, he firstly contacts the outer surface of the topmost lamella at the outlet and then slides his contacting finger or hand a short distance in the direction from the first to the second end of the block to displace the unsecured (loose) edge portion of the topmost lamella in the same direction. At this time the edge portion of the lamella at the first end of the block is still secured by the securing means to the dispenser so the displacement also removes at least a portion of the topmost lamella's curvature, i. e. the topmost lamella is straightened to some extent (with thin plastic bags or sheets this straightening is particularly easy to achieve and requires the application of only a small force).

The loose edge portion of the topmost lamella now overhangs the second end of the block and can be grasped by the user between finger and thumb. If a greater force is needed to detach the topmost lamella from the block than is needed to straighten the lamella, this force is easily applied because a firm grip can be maintained on the lamella.

Alternatively, if the force needed to detach the topmost lamella is lower, the topmost lamella may detach from the block simultaneously with the lamella being straightened, whereby the sliding movement of the user's finger or hand also withdraws the lamella from the dispenser. However, in this case the detachability of the lamella from the block is still improved because the topmost lamella, being straightened to some extent, experiences less frictional resistance as it slides relative to the underlying lamella.

Another advantage is that the user only ever needs to touch the topmost lamella to withdraw that lamella, so the chances of cross contamination, e. g. if the user is also handling food, are reduced.

A particular embodiment of the dispenser has a support member which supportively spaces the securing means above a floor of the dispenser, the floor supporting the second end of the block of lamellae.

Essentially, because of the spacing the block sags between its first and second ends, thus providing the curvature. The support member may also be adjustable to vary the spacing between the securing means and the floor. In this way the curvature of the block can be adjusted as required.

In a second aspect the present invention provides a lamella dispenser for holding a block of stacked lamellae and dispensing the topmost lamella therefrom, the dispenser having an outlet and means for dispensing lamellae from the block so that in use the topmost lamella is dispensed toward the outlet in advance of the other lamellae of the block whereby the topmost lamella can be grasped manually without contact being made with the other lamellae. This reduces the possibility of cross contamination.

In either the first or second aspect, a biassing means such as a spring may be provided for angling the block forward to enable the topmost lamella to be fed forward. The block may be arrange on an underlying support member such as a backing sheet and the biassing means arranged to urge a rearward end of the support member upwards to provide the angling forward of the block. The biassing means also allows the dispenser to accept blocks of different thickness.

The dispenser of the first or second aspects of the invention may comprise a wedge-shaped container for holding the block of lamella. This may help the topmost lamella to be fed in advance of the other lamellae.

In a third aspect the present invention provides a lamella dispenser for holding a block of stacked lamellae and dispensing the topmost lamella therefrom, the dispenser having securing means for detachably securing to the dispenser the edge portions of the lamellae at a first end of the block, an outlet through which an edge portion of the topmost lamella at the opposing second end of the block is presentable, and an anti-bacterial pad adjacent the outlet for disinfecting the hand or finger of a user.

Having an anti bacterial pad on the dispenser adjacent the outlet encourages the user to disinfect his hand or finger each time he withdraws a lamella from the dispenser so that the possibility of cross contamination is reduced.

Preferably the anti-bacterial pad is positioned relative to the outlet so that when a user makes a sliding movement of his hand or finger across the dispenser, he firstly brings his hand or finger into contact with the pad for disinfection and then into contact with the topmost lamella at the outlet to withdraw the lamella from the dispenser. Because disinfection and lamella withdrawal are combined in one hand movement this further encourages the user to disinfect his hand or finger each time he withdraws a lamella from the dispenser.

Preferably the anti-bacterial pad also moistens the hand or finger of the user so that the purchase of the finger or hand on the topmost lamella is improved.

The anti-bacterial pad of the third aspect of the invention may also be provided adjacent the outlet of the dispenser of the first or second aspects of the invention.

The present invention is now described in relation to a specific embodiment of a dispenser and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the dispenser with its lid open, Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the dispenser with its lid closed, Fig. 3 shows a close up perspective view of a portion of the tray of the dispenser with the support plate of the dispenser indicated with dashed lines, Fig. 4 shows a portion of the cross section of the tray and support plate at plane I-I of Fig. 3, and Figs. 5a and b show respectively a schematic side view of a pile of sheets stacked in the dispenser before and after the topmost sheet is tensioned by a user.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a dispenser 1 comprising a tray 2 and hinged lid 3, the lid being in its open position. The same dispenser is shown in Fig. 2 with the lid closed.

The rear portion of the tray holds a support plate 4 which leaves the forward portion of the tray uncovered.

To load the dispenser a block 21 (shown schematically in Figs. 5a and b) of stacked bags or sheets are layed on the support plate and tray, the bags or sheets being face-to-face with and covering the support plate and tray. The lid is then closed so that the block is enclosed by the lid and tray which have respective enclosing side walls 5 and 6.

The block of bags or sheets are joined at a spine which forms, in the dispenser, the rearward end of the block. The bags or sheets are separable from the spine along respective lines of perforations. At the opposing end of the block, however, the bags or sheets are loose in the manner of the pages of a book.

When lid 3 is closed a recess 7 at the forward end of the lid and forward edge 8 of tray 4 define an outlet 9 for the bags or sheets, the upper surface of the forward edge portion 22a (see Figs. 5a and b) of the topmost sheet or bag 22 presenting itself at the outlet.

Also, with the lid closed, the tray and lid form a wedgeshaped container which narrows down towards outlet 9.

This wedge shape corresponds approximately to the space defined by the tray and topmost bag or sheet 22 (see discussion of Fig. 5b below) as the bag or sheet is being dispensed.

The closed lid is held in place by lugs 17 on sides 6 of the tray which engage with corresponding recesses 18 on sides 5 of the lid. Hinges 19, which join the lid to the tray, are slidable along slots 20 in sides 5 to allow the lid to be displaced slightly relative to the tray so that the lugs can be fitted into the recesses.

Tray 2 and lid 3 have various fixing holes 16 (the holes in the tray are not shown) which enable e. g. plural dispensers to be mounted one on top another, or the dispenser to be mounted to a wall or bracket. If desired the dispenser may be mounted with the tray off-horizontal or even vertical.

Support plate 4 is raised up at its rearward end by integrally formed leaf springs 10 so that the plate slopes downwardly towards the outlet.

One of the springs is shown in more detail in Fig.

3 which is a close up perspective view of a portion of tray 2 and support plate 4 with the support plate indicated with dashed lines, and in Fig. 4 which shows a portion of the cross section of the tray and support plate at plane I-I of Fig. 3. The bottom end portion of the spring rests on the tray so that the support plate tilts forwards. However, the support plate is prevented from sliding towards the outlet by stop 11. The support plate is also prevented from moving towards the rear of the tray by rear end wall 12 and stop 13 which abuts an upwardly turned end of the spring. Stops 11 and 13 also have respective overhangs lla and 13a which help prevent the support plate from being lifted accidentally or inadvertently out of the tray.

As mentioned above, in use the block of bags or sheets are layed on support plate 4 and tray 2. At its rear end the support plate has a hole 15a in which an upwardly pointing pin 14 is fixed. This pin is inserted into a corresponding hole in the spine of the block to secure the spine to the dispenser. Other holes 15b are provided in the support plate to take different arrangements of pins if desired.

When the dispenser is loaded and lid 3 is closed, the lid contacts the upper surface of the spine of the block to urge support plate 4 downwardly towards tray 2.

However, springs 10 create a bias in the opposite direction, so that the spine is pinched between the support plate and the lid. This further helps to secure the spine to the dispenser.

Fig. 5a shows schematically a side view of a block 21 of bags or sheets secured in the dispenser. The inclination of support plate 4 relative to tray 2 causes the block to adopt a curved profile from the rear to the front of the dispenser. The forward edge portion 22a of the topmost bag or sheet 22 is presented at outlet 9 to a user of the dispenser.

To dispense the topmost bag or sheet, the user slides a finger or hand along forward edge portion 22a in the direction from the rear to front of the dispenser.

This tensions bag or sheet 22 so that it is at least partially straightened. This is shown schematically in Fig. 5b.

Forward edge portion 22a now overhangs the forward end of block 21 which allows the user to grasp bag or sheet 22, detach the bag or sheet from the block at its line of perforation, and pull bag or sheet out of the dispenser. Alternatively, the bag or sheet may detach from the block as forward edge portion 22a is being slid forward. However, this detachment is made easier because sliding resistance with the underlying block is reduced when the bag or sheet is straightened.

An anti-bacterial and moistening pad 23 is provided on the upper surface of lid 3 adjacent outlet 9 With this pad the user can disinfect his finger or hand before withdrawing a bag or sheet. He can also simultaneously moisten his finger or hand to ensure a better purchase on bag or sheet 22. The position of the pad rearward of outlet 9 allows the user to disinfect, moisten and withdraw a bag in one easy sliding movement.

The dispenser may be made of any suitable material such as metal (particularly steel and aluminium), plastics, wood and cardboard.

The dispenser of the specific embodiment described above is rechargeable, but the present invention may also relate to a disposable dispenser.

Claims

Claims: 1. A lamella dispenser for holding a block of stacked lamellae and dispensing the topmost lamella therefrom, the dispenser having secur ng means for detachably securing to the dispenser the edge portions of the lamellae at a first end of the block, and an outlet through which an edge portion of the topmost lamella at the opposing second end of the block is presentable, and the dispenser being adapted so that in use the block is required to follow a curved path in the direction from said first to said second end, the curvature being concave when looking down on the topmost lamella of the block.
2. A lamella dispenser according to claim 1 having a support member which supportively spaces the securing means above a floor of the dispenser, in use the floor supporting the second end of the block.
3. A lamella dispenser according to claim 1 or 2 in which the support member is adjustable to vary the spacing between the securing means and the floor.
4. A lamella dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3 having an anti-bacterial pad adjacent the outlet.
5. A lamella dispenser for holding a block of stacked lamellae and dispensing the topmost lamella therefrom, the dispenser having securing means for detachably securing to the dispenser the edge portions of the lamellae at a first end of the block, an outlet through which an edge portion of the topmost lamella at the opposing second end of the block is presentable, and an anti-bacterial pad adjacent the outlet for disinfecting the hand or finger of a user.
6. A lamella dispenser according to claim 4 or 5 in which the anti-bacterial pad also moistens the hand or finger of a user.
7. A lamella dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 6 which is charged with a block of stacked lamellae, the lamellae being joined at a spine which forms the first end of the block, and being separable from the spine along respective lines of weakness.
8. A lamella dispenser as any one herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.