JP2015148039A - Disposable glove and apparatus for wearing glove on user's hand - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a package of disposable gloves and a method and apparatus which can use the package to enable the gloves to be worn on user's hands.SOLUTION: Gloves 11 are stored in a roll and are unrolled and opened by the apparatus, so that a user can hygienically insert user's own hands into the gloves 11 without touching the gloves 11. The user, with the user's own hands in the gloves can then sever each glove 11 from the roll of gloves 11 by moving the hand downwardly and away from the apparatus. The apparatus can then unroll and open another glove 11 for the user to insert the other hand. The method and apparatus thus enable the gloves 11 to be worn on the hands.

Description

  The present invention relates to a disposable glove package, a device and method for wearing a glove on a user's hand using the disposable glove package, and a combination of the glove wearing device and the disposable glove package.

  The use of disposable gloves is a facility that handles food such that sandwiches and other food can be made and sold to customers, or other unpackaged food such as meat can be selected from the tray and packaged for purchase by the customer. It has become common in many industries. The use of such gloves is aimed at improving hygiene, and its use prevents the propagation of pathogenic bacteria that can occur when handling such foods with bare hands.

  Conventionally, when using such a glove, the user simply selects the glove from the box and puts it on his / her hand. In that case, it is inevitable that the user makes considerable contact with the glove before and while the glove is worn on the user's hand. This means that the outer surface of the glove can be contaminated with some other pathogen or other undesirable material already on the user's hand.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a disposable glove package that can be used with a device and method for more sanitarily wearing gloves on a user's hand, and to provide such a device and method, as well as a glove wearing device and a disposable device. To provide a combination with a glove package.

The present invention, in a first aspect,
A plurality of gloves connected to each other in the continuum by a brittle connection that can be split to separate one glove from the continuum;
A disposable glove package including a glove end transverse to the brittle connection to form an opening cuff for each glove,
It can be said that each glove is in a disposable glove package made from two layers joined by a joint defining the glove.

  Preferably, the glove is made of a glove panel in which each panel is connected to an adjacent panel by a brittle connection and the joint includes a heat seal within each panel that defines the shape of the glove.

  In one embodiment, each panel is a rectangular panel with a web in the outward direction of the joint.

  In one embodiment, the glove has defined fingers and a web is cut between the fingers to separate the fingers.

  However, in other embodiments, the web between the fingers may remain unbroken.

  In another embodiment, the glove has a finger and the joint of the glove that defines the finger forms the perimeter of the panel at the finger.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, no web is formed between the fingers of each glove.

  In other embodiments, the glove may be a bifurcated glove without defined fingers.

  Preferably, the disposable glove package is in the form of a roll of gloves.

This aspect of the invention
A plurality of gloves connected to each other in the continuum by a brittle connection that can be split to separate one glove from the continuum,
A plurality of gloves, each glove being made of two layers joined by a joint defining a glove;
A positioning indicator that allows the glove to be aligned with the device;
It can also be said that it is in a package of disposable gloves for use with a glove placement machine that allows the glove to be worn on the user's hand.

  In one embodiment, the positioning mark includes an indicia.

  In another embodiment, the positioning mark includes a hole.

  In one embodiment of the invention, when a new glove package is loaded into the device, at least one pin positioned in the hole is positioned in the hole to align the glove package within the device. This allows the gloves to be indexed through the device.

  Preferably, the glove is made of a glove panel in which each panel is connected to an adjacent panel by a fragile connection, and the joint includes a heat seal within each panel that defines the shape of the glove.

  Preferably, each panel has a web portion in the outer direction of the joint, and the positioning mark is located on the web portion.

  According to one embodiment, an opening cuff for each glove is preferably formed at the end of each panel that is transverse to the brittle connection. In other words, the gloves are oriented sideways (or “east to west”) with respect to the continuum.

  According to another embodiment, an opening cuff for each glove is preferably formed at the end of the panel at the brittle connection between the panels. In other words, the gloves are oriented vertically (or “north to south”) relative to the continuum.

  In the most preferred embodiment, the marking indicia includes two holes in each panel.

  Preferably, the brittle connection includes a perforation line.

  However, in other embodiments, the brittle connection may include small attaching strips between each glove, which can be split when tearing one glove off adjacent gloves in the glove continuum. It is a thing.

  Preferably, the disposable glove package includes a roll of gloves.

In another aspect, the present invention provides:
Mechanically positioning the gloves at the hand insertion location;
Opening gloves,
Inserting a hand into the glove,
It can be said that it is in the method of putting a glove on a user's hand hygienically.

  Preferably, the glove is open at the hand insertion location.

  Preferably, the glove is provided as one glove in a continuous glove connected by a brittle connection, so that a glove with the user's hand positioned within the glove moves the user's hand and glove. Torn from the continuum.

  Preferably, the glove has an open cuff and a finger portion, and the glove is positioned such that the line between the glove cuff and the end of the glove finger portion is substantially horizontal.

  Preferably, the glove has a first layer that defines the back of the glove hand and a second layer that defines the palm of the glove, and the glove is opened by pulling the first and second layers apart so that the person can You can put your hand through the cuff and insert it into the glove.

  Most preferably, both the first layer and the second layer move. However, in other embodiments, only one of the layers can move and the other is substantially stationary.

The present invention also provides
A storage mechanism for storing disposable glove packages;
An indexing device for moving the gloves from the storage mechanism to the manual insertion station;
A glove opening mechanism for opening the glove so that the user can insert his hand into the glove at the hand insertion station;
It can be said that it is in a device that makes it possible to put on gloves in a sanitary manner.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the storage mechanism is a compartment for storing a roll of gloves that includes an unbroken glove continuum, wherein the gloves are connected to each other by a brittle connection in the continuum. .

  Preferably, the indexing mechanism comprises a movable gripping mechanism for the mechanism to move between the hand insertion station and the gripping station, so that the mechanism is continuous between the hand insertion station and the continuum gripping station. And the continuum can be gripped by the mechanism during the return movement from the gripping station to the hand insertion station.

  Preferably, the glove in the continuum has a first layer and a second layer, and the glove opening mechanism includes a gripper for gripping at least one of the layers, and at least one of the gripper and the layers to the other layer. And a gripper moving element for moving against and opening the glove.

  Preferably, the glove is gripped and opened while the gripper mechanism is moving between the gripping station and the manual insertion station.

  According to one embodiment, the gripper comprises a block of material through which air can flow, the gripper mover element comprises a bladder, and when the bladder is inflated, the material is at least one of the layers. When the material is evacuated and the material is evacuated, an air stream flows through the material and the layer is forced against the material, and when the bladder contracts, the material and the layer are pulled away from the other layers, thereby Is opened.

  Preferably, the material comprises an open cell foam material.

  Preferably, the bladder has a spring element for controlling the expansion and contraction of the bladder, which initially presses the material against the layer when the bladder expands, and moves the material and its layer apart when the bladder contracts. Pull away from the layer.

  According to another embodiment, the gripper comprises an inflatable assembly and a sealing structure having one or more suction points, and when the inflatable assembly is inflated, at least one suction point of the sealing structure is at least one of the layers. When the inflatable assembly contracts, the layer is pulled away from the other layers, thereby opening the glove.

  Preferably, the inflatable assembly comprises a bellows.

  Preferably, the rate of expansion or contraction of the inflatable assembly is controlled by a piston and cylinder that supplies air to (or draws air from the inflatable assembly), and suction at the suction point is controlled by a separate piston and cylinder. .

  Preferably, the piston and cylinder assembly or each piston and cylinder assembly is operable with a linear actuator controlled by a solenoid.

  Preferably, the indexing mechanism further comprises a pair of rollers, gears are attached to each roller, and the gears mesh so that the rollers can rotate in unison (but in opposite directions) Since the roller has grooves and ribs, when the groove of one roller meshes with the rib of the other roller, the continuum is gripped between the rollers, and the indexing mechanism moves from the gripping station. When moved to the manual insertion station, the continuum is pulled away from the package, and when the indexing mechanism moves from the manual insertion station to the gripping station, the roller rotates relative to the continuum, Occurs while the indexing mechanism is moving, and finally the grooves and ribs are reengaged, thereby gripping the continuum between the rollers.

  In one embodiment, a drive is provided to rotate the roller only while the gripping mechanism moves from the hand insertion station to the gripping station.

  In one embodiment, the drive includes a motor that can be provided to facilitate rotation of the roller while the indexing mechanism moves from the manual insertion station to the gripping station.

  The motor can have a clutch that prevents the roller from rotating while the indexing mechanism moves from the gripping station to the manual insertion station.

  In another embodiment, the drive comprises a rack and gear assembly, the gear is attached to one of the rollers, the rack is fixed and engaged with the gear, so that the indexing mechanism is in the manual insertion station. When moving from one to the gripping station, the gear and rack engagement causes a rotation of the gear and hence the roller.

  In this embodiment, the gear also synchronizes the rotation of the roller with the movement of the indexing mechanism between the manual insertion station and the gripping station.

  Preferably the insertion of the user's hand into the glove at the hand insertion station and the subsequent removal of the glove from the continuum at the hand insertion station thereby actuating the indexing mechanism so that the indexing mechanism is manually operated. A sensor is provided to move from the insertion station to the gripping station and back to the manual insertion station, so that a new glove is opened at the manual insertion station and the user's hand is ready for insertion. It has been.

  Preferably, the device comprises a locating element for engaging the continuum when a new package is placed in the device to properly align the continuum within the device.

  Preferably, the continuum has a hole and the locating element includes a pin, which pin enters the hole when the package is loaded into the device and is withdrawn from the hole after the package is loaded into the device. Is.

  Preferably, the pin is moved between a positioning position where the pin can enter the hole and a position where the pin is pulled away from the continuum by an opening and closing movement of the device door which is an access port in the storage mechanism of the device.

  Preferably, at least one of the rollers is spring biased to engage the other of the rollers, so that positioning of the continuum between the rollers is facilitated when loading the package into the device. So that the rollers can be separated a little.

This aspect of the invention
A housing having a front opening and a lower opening to allow access to a manual insertion station;
A storage mechanism for storing disposable glove packages, oriented so that the line between the glove cuff and the finger tip of the glove is substantially horizontal, and the glove cuff is front A storage mechanism in which the gloves are to be provided at the manual insertion station, facing the opening;
A glove indexing mechanism for moving gloves from the storage mechanism to the hand insertion station, with a glove indexing mechanism that allows the user to put his hand through the cuff and put it into the glove. , A device that makes it possible to put on gloves in a sanitary manner,
The user inserts his / her hand through the front opening and inserts it into the glove in order to put on / remove the glove from the device, and then open his / her hand with the glove in his / her lower opening. It can also be said that it is in a device that allows the glove to be put on the hand hygienically, moving downward through the part.

This aspect of the invention
A storage mechanism for storing packages of disposable gloves;
An indexing mechanism that moves the gloves from the storage mechanism to the manual insertion station;
A glove opening mechanism, wherein at least one substance block through which air can flow, an inflatable bladder, and inflating the bladder by supplying air to the bladder to move the block to a position adjacent to the glove. Through the vacuum so that one part of the glove is attracted to the block, and the bladder is contracted so that the block moves with the bladder and pulls one part of the glove away from the other part of the glove and opens the glove. A glove opening mechanism with at least one air supply and vacuum system to allow a user to insert his / her hand into the glove at the hand insertion station;
It can also be said that the device is provided with a device that makes it possible to put on gloves in a sanitary manner.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is a glove continuum formed as a package, according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram of another embodiment similar to FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side view of a glove package in the form of a roll of gloves. It is detail drawing of one glove in the continuum in FIG. It is detail drawing of the form which changed one glove of the type shown in FIG. 1 is a side view of a machine for forming a glove package. FIG. FIG. 8 is a top view of the machine of FIG. 1 is a side view of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 9. FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a roller and gear assembly using a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a portion of the apparatus in FIG. 9. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 13. FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of the device according to FIG. 9. FIG. 16 is a side view of a part of the apparatus in FIG. 15. FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a portion of the apparatus in FIG. 9. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a portion of an apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another portion of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. It is a perspective view of the cross section of a part of the apparatus shown in FIG. It is the schematic of the control system used for embodiment of this invention.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a glove continuum 10 forming a glove package (such as the roll 15 shown in FIG. 4) is shown. In other embodiments, the package may include a zig-zag layered glove continuum, or any other compact glove package.

  The glove continuum 10 is formed of a first layer 18 and a second layer 20 (see FIG. 3). Each glove 11 in the glove continuum 10 is defined by a heat seal joint 21 that defines the perimeter of the glove (in other words, the shape of the glove). Thus, at the joint, the two layers 18-20 are heat sealed together along the glove contour 11a, thus defining the glove shape.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the glove is formed as a glove panel 25 formed by two layers 18 and 20, which is defined by a brittle connection 26. The brittle connection 26 preferably includes a perforation line so that one glove can be easily torn from the continuum 10, as will be described in more detail below.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the glove panel 25 has opposite ends 27 and 29, except where the junction 21 crosses or contacts the ends 27 and 29. They are not connected to each other. Therefore, as best shown in FIG. 3, this defines an opening cuff 30 for each glove. A bead can be attached to the end 29, so that the opening cuff of each glove 11 has a bead 31, that part of the glove is somewhat strengthened and the person inserts his hand into the glove It becomes easy to do.

  Each panel 25 is also provided with two holes 33. These holes form positioning marks to facilitate positioning of the glove in the glove wearing device described below.

  FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment in which the glove is in a “north-south” arrangement rather than the “east-west” arrangement of FIG. Similar reference numbers refer to those previously described as well.

  In this embodiment, tearing the perforation line 26 when detaching one glove 11 from the glove continuum 10 will result in an open tear in the glove.

  FIG. 5 is a more detailed view of one glove 11 formed on a panel 26 of the type shown in FIG.

  As is apparent from both FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, the web 35 is left in the outer direction of the joint 11a and is formed from the layers 18 and 20 of each panel 25.

  If desired, a cut 37 can be made in the web 35 between the fingers 11b of the glove to separate the fingers. However, in other embodiments, the web can be left untouched. This is because the web is relatively thin and in most applications it still ensures sufficient finger-shaped relative movement.

  A cut 37 is also made between the thumb 11c of the glove 11 and the index finger 11b adjacent to the thumb 11c.

  Disposable gloves are usually only used for a very short time (probably in the order of 30 seconds or less), so the web does not interfere with hand movements or work that the person wearing the gloves needs to do. Will.

  In a further embodiment of the invention, the panel 25 is cut around the joint 11a defining the finger 11b, so that there is no web between the finger 11b and the thumb 11c, in FIG. It may be of the type shown. The web 35 remains in the outer direction of the palm portion 11d.

  In this embodiment, the end 27 is defined by the shape of the finger as shown in FIG.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the perforation line 26 extends from the end 29 to the tip of the thumb 11c and from the end 29 to the tip of the little finger 11b.

  Figures 7 and 8 schematically illustrate an example of how a glove package is formed.

  Layers 18 and 20 are fed from layer material feed rolls 40 and 41 and guided around one or more sets of idler rollers 42 to the heat seal station 43. At the heat sealing station 43, the gloves 11a are heated and welded together along the line 11a through appropriate parts of the station 43 and the layers 18 and 20 are heat welded together along the line 11a defining the shape of the glove. A junction 21 that defines the perimeter of the substrate is formed. In this way, layers 18 and 20 are joined at line 11a.

  The layer 18 is then indexed to a cutting and perforating station 45 (where a perforation line 26 is formed and holes 33 and cuts 37 are also formed), after which the formed glove continuum 10 is wound on a roll. Thus, the glove package 15 shown in FIG. 4 is formed.

  It should be understood that the apparatus shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is schematic and merely illustrative and is not intended to show all the components of the machine that complete the glove package. is there. In any case, it will be understood that components not shown in detail in FIG. 7 can be readily constructed by combining commercially available components.

  Figures 9-14, and 16 and 17 illustrate a portion of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 shows a schematic view of a gathering device for hygienically putting a glove on a user's hand, including the parts shown in FIGS. 9-14 and 16 and 17.

  Referring to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, the apparatus has an indexing mechanism 48 of the glove continuum 10 with a support frame 50 that supports a pair of glove opening mechanisms 52. A roll 15 of glove 11 is supported on a shaft (not shown) in storage mechanism 49 and glove continuum 10 is moved from roll 15 to mechanism as best shown in FIGS. Guided through 52.

  The frame 50 includes two U-shaped frame members 51 that are supported on a track 53 that is supported by an outer housing 55 (see FIG. 15).

  The frame 50 is also coupled to a pair of linear bearings 56 for moving the frame 50 vertically on the guide track 53, as will be described in more detail below.

  The frame 50 also supports a continuum gripper 54 for gripping the continuum 10. The continuous body gripper 54 includes a pair of rollers 58, and the continuous body 10 of the glove 11 is guided to pass between the pair of rollers 58. The roller 58 has a gear 59 at one end that meshes with the rotation of the roller 58 so that the rollers rotate in unison with each other (but in the opposite direction).

  The outer housing 55 also supports two pressure pumps 60 for driving the mechanism 52. This will also be described in more detail below.

  In order to monitor the rotation of the roller 58, an encoder 61 is provided on a shaft 62 to which one of the rollers 58 is attached.

  The movement of the frame 50 and roller 59 and the operation of the associated mechanism 52 are as follows.

  FIGS. 9 and 10 show the frame 50 in the raised upper gripping position at the gripper station G, where the glove continuum 10 is gripped by the roller 59 and extends between the mechanisms 52. The linear bearing 56 moves the frame and roller 59 downward toward the hand insertion station H shown in FIG. 11, thereby pulling the glove continuum 10 downward and the frame 50 away from the roll 15.

  During the lowering of the frame 50, pressure is applied to the mechanism 52, which will grip one of the gloves 11 of the continuum 10. After the gloves are gripped, the mechanisms 52 are evacuated so that they separate, thereby pulling the two layers 18 and 20 that make up the glove 11 apart from each other and opening the gloves. At the same time that the vacuum is applied, the pressure previously applied to the mechanism 52 to cause the glove to grip is released.

  Accordingly, the glove is kept open by the frame 50 at the lower position in the hand insertion station H shown in FIG. 11, so that the user passes his hand through the front opening 62 of the housing 55 and the glove. Can be inserted into. The user simply pulls his / her hand downward through the lower opening 64 of the housing 55, and the glove is torn from the continuum 10 along the hole 26 above the glove 11. In this way, the user's hand is extracted from the apparatus with the glove properly fitted without the user touching the outside of the glove.

  As best shown in FIGS. 9 and 15, a light emitting array 66 is provided on a frame 50 opposite the linear array of photodetectors 68. The detector 68 detects the light emitted from the light emitter 66. Thus, when a person's hand is positioned in the glove, the light is blocked, thereby indicating that the person's hand is in the device. When a person tears the glove 11 from the continuum 10 by the above-described downward movement of the hand, light is detected again by the array of photodetectors 68. In this way, a signal is provided that indicates that the user has inserted his / her hand into the apparatus and that his / her hand has been removed while the glove is in the hand. This signal is used to actuate the linear bearing 56 and move the frame 50 up again. As the frame 50 is driven upward, friction between the continuum 10 and the roller 58 causes the roller 58 to rotate, thereby winding the continuum 10 of the glove 11 relative to the station. When roller 58 completes a full rotation (detected by encoder 61), a signal is sent to stop linear bearing 56 and prevent frame 50 from moving further upward, as frame 50 is shown in FIG. It shows that it returned to the departure station G shown. The roller 58 grips the continuous body 10, and the frame 50 returns downward toward the manual insertion station H shown in FIG. At that location, the glove is opened in the same manner as described above, and the user is ready to insert his hand into the device and put the glove on the user's hand. When this happens and the user's hand is removed from the device, this sequence begins again and the frame 50 is driven upward. As a result, the roller rotates, the continuum is gripped in due course, the frame 50 moves downward, pulls the continuum 10 from the roll winding 15, and when the frame 50 returns to the station H as shown in FIG. New gloves are opened. Thus, insertion of the user's hand into the device and removal of the hand and gloves signal the operation of the device so that another glove is opened and the user is ready to put his hand into the glove. In this way, after the glove has been removed from the continuum by the user, a new glove is delivered to the hand insertion station H shown in FIG. 11 and is ready to insert another hand into the glove.

  It will be noted from the above that the roller 58 rotates only while the frame 50 is moving upward. While the frame 50 descends, the roller 58 grips the glove continuum 10 and does not rotate. Thereby, the gloves are further pulled from the roll 15.

  In order to promote the rotation of the roller 58 while the indexing mechanism 48 is moving, a driving device for rotating the roller 58 while moving to the station G is provided. However, this device ensures that the rollers are locked against rotation while the indexing mechanism 48 returns to the manual insertion station H. In one embodiment, the drive includes a motor 69 having a clutch or ratchet mechanism. Therefore, the motor can rotate the roller while moving to the gripping station G, but keeps the roller locked so as not to rotate while returning to the manual insertion station H.

  A motor 69 (see FIG. 9) is provided on the shaft 62 and rotates the roller 58 on the shaft. The rotation is applied to the other rollers by the meshing of the gear 59.

  In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the drive includes a gear 101 mounted on a shaft 102 provided with one of the rollers 58. The gear 101 meshes with a rack 103 fixed to the housing 55 (shown in FIG. 16). The gear 101 is attached to the shaft 102 by a ratchet, a clutch, or the like. As a result, when the indexing mechanism 48 moves upward toward the gripping station G in the direction of arrow C in FIG. Engagement causes rotation of the gear 101 and hence rotation of the shaft 102 and roller 58. The rotation is given to the other roller 58 by the gear 59. In this way, the roller 58 easily winds up the continuous body 10 of the gloves 11. While returning toward the manual insertion station in the direction of arrow D, the ratchet or clutch connected to gear 101 allows gear 101 to rotate freely on shaft 102 and no rotation is imparted to roller 58. As described above, the roller remains in the locked position, and the rib 70 is in the groove 71.

  The provision of the gear 101 has the following further advantages. In other words, the gear synchronizes the upward movement of the indexing mechanism 48 in the direction of arrow C with the rotation of the roller 58, so that the indexing mechanism moves completely from the manual insertion station H to the gripping station G. The roller rotates completely once.

  Since the roller 58 extends only a portion of the distance of the space between the frame members 51, it will be appreciated that there is sufficient space for the motor 69 or gear 101 and rack 103 and It will be understood from the figure.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the roller 58 is configured to grip the continuum 10 when the frame 50 is in the upper position shown in FIG. To accomplish this, one of the rollers 58 (ie, the left roller in FIG. 12) is provided with a longitudinal rib 70 and the other roller 58 is provided with a longitudinal groove 71. It has been. When the frame 50 is in the gripper station G and is in the upper position, the rib 70 enters the groove 71 and therefore does not move the continuum 10 between the rib 70 and the groove 71 so that the roller 58 is continuous. Hold 10 firmly. When the frame 50 moves downward, the roller 58 therefore holds the continuum 10 firmly and the continuum 10 is pulled out of the roll 15 by the lowering of the frame 50. When the frame 50 moves upward, the roller 58 can rotate, so that the rib 70 comes out of the groove 71, and as a result, the roller 58 effectively winds up the continuum 10 with one complete rotation of the roller 58. Eventually, the rib 70 enters the groove 71 again and grips the continuous body 10 again.

  13 and 14 show in more detail the mechanism 52 according to the first embodiment for opening the glove 11. The mechanism 52 is supported on a plate 73 that forms part of the frame 50 and extends between the frame members 51. Therefore, the plate 73 and the frame member 51 form a partial housing for reliably supporting the mechanism 52.

  Since each mechanism 52 is identical, only one is described in detail in FIGS. Each mechanism 52 includes an open cell foam block 75 that is generally in the shape of a glove 11 except that it is somewhat shorter than the fingers of the glove 11. Block 75 has a layer of lacquer or other sealant applied to end portions 75a, 75b and back surface 75c. The ends defining the end portions 75d as well as the finger portions 75e also have a lacquer or sealant coating applied thereto. A vacuum tube 78 is connected to the block 75 and then to one of the pressure pumps 60. The bladder 80 is connected in contact with the surface 75 c outside the block 75, which also has the same general shape as the block 75. The bladder includes a plastic strip 81 in the bladder that acts as a spring, as will be described in detail below. An air supply tube 83 is connected to the bladder 80 and also connected to the remaining pump 60. In this way, one of the pumps 60 can evacuate the two mechanisms 52 (i.e., the block 75 of the two mechanisms 52), while the other pump 60 causes pressure on the two bladders 80 of the mechanism 52. Added.

  To open the glove 11, air is pumped into the bladder 80 from one of the pressure pumps 60 causing the bladder 80 to expand. The spring generally restrains the bladder 81 so that the bladder 80 does not expand spherically. Therefore, when the bladder is inflated, as best shown in FIG. 10, the bladder pushes the block 75 so that the block 75 touches the closed glove 11. In this way, the open porous surface 75g of the block 75 (which is not coated with lacquer or sealant) is pressed into gentle contact with the layers 18 and 20 constituting the glove 11. The vacuum is then evacuated with the other pump 60 through the tube 78 and through the open cell structure of the foam block 75 so that the webs 18 and 20 are sucked against the 75 g surface of the block 75. At the same time, the pressure in the bladder 80 is released, the bladder returns to the generally flat contracted configuration shown in FIG. 14, and the block 75 is pulled with the web in the direction of arrow A in FIG. This separates the layers 18 and 20 so that the glove 11 is fully opened and a person can pass his hand through the open door 62 of the housing 55 into the glove 11.

  18-20 show another embodiment mechanism 52 for opening the glove 11. The mechanism is supported on a plate 73 as best seen in FIG. 17, which forms part of the frame 50 and extends between the frame members 51 shown in FIGS. doing. Therefore, the plate 73 and the frame member 51 form a partial housing for reliably supporting the mechanism 52.

  Each mechanism 52 is the same and therefore only one will be described in detail. Each mechanism 52 includes a bellows 75 (having a clamp ring 120 for securing the bellows 75 to the plate 73), a flexible inflatable diaphragm 121 having a sidewall including a series of pleats, and a palm region of the glove 11. And an engagement surface 122 close to the size. Around the outer edge of the engagement surface 122 is a vacuum seal lip 123, and three suction holes 124, each connected to a vacuum source 60 a by a manifold and a tube 78 a, are in the center of the engagement surface 122. The diaphragm 121 of the bellows 75 is connected to an air delivery system having an exhaust pump 60b. FIG. 19 shows an embodiment in which the vacuum source 60 a and the exhaust pump 60 b are in the form of a piston and cylinder assembly disposed in a roller 58 for guiding the continuum 10 of the glove 11. The inside of the wall of roller 58 forms a cylinder and piston 126 (with vacuum seal 125 or pump seal 128), each driven within the cylinder by a solenoid controlled linear actuator 127. The end wall of each roller 58 is provided with a rotary air coupling for connection to the air supply tubes 78a, 78b. In the case of a vacuum source, tube 78a connects the cylinder of the vacuum source to a hole 124 in the face of engagement surface 122 via a manifold. In the case of an exhaust pump, a tube 78 b connects the cylinder to the inside of the diaphragm 121.

  To open the glove 11, the linear actuator 127 of the air pump 60b is actuated to move the piston to the distal end of the roller 58, thereby expanding the bellows 75 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. A sealing structure 123 touches the palm area of the glove 11 at the insertion station H. Exhaust valves or flow regulators can be incorporated into the air pump 60b or tube 78b to keep the pressure on the bellows 75 over or under pressure, if deemed necessary. With the bellows 75 inflated and the lip structure 123 in contact with the opposite layer or side of the glove 11, the vacuum source 60 a acts to hold each layer of the glove 11 on the bellows 75. The linear actuator 127 of the vacuum 60a is operated by moving the piston toward the proximal end of the roller 58 in FIG. Once sufficient vacuum is created to hold the layer of glove 11 on the engagement surface 122, the linear actuator 127 of the exhaust pump 60b drives the piston from the distal end to the proximal end of the cylinder, thereby causing the bellows 75 At the same time, the gloves are opened and the hand is ready for insertion. Whether the bellows 75 is sufficiently expanded or contracted can be monitored and controlled by an exhaust valve or a flow rate adjusting valve. Similarly, whether the vacuum for holding the layer of the glove 11 on the engagement surface 122 of the bellows 75 is sufficient or insufficient can be monitored and controlled by an appropriate adjustment valve.

  Regardless of whether the mechanism 52 for opening the glove is in the form of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 or the other embodiment shown in FIGS. Light from the array 66 towards the detector array 68 is blocked, indicating that the hand has been put into the glove. As described above, after that, the user pulls his / her hand downward through the lower opening 64 and tears the glove 11 along the perforation line 26 together with the glove in the user's hand. When the user's hand is removed from the device, the light is again detected by the array 68 and a signal is sent, but the signal is moved up to grab the continuum again and then move down. When the frame 50 moves downward, another glove is opened so that the user can insert his other hand into the next glove if desired. If not inserted, the glove is simply held in the mechanism in an open shape, waiting for the next hand to be inserted into the glove, and waiting for the glove to be torn off from the continuum 10. wait. Once torn, the series of flows is repeated and another glove is taken to the hand insertion station H.

  A vacuum can be applied to hold the glove open for a predetermined time interval at the insertion station H, after which the vacuum is shut off. Thus, if for the time being no glove is needed, the glove is only stationary at the hand insertion station. A sensor (not shown) can be provided to activate the glove opening mechanism and reopen the glove when the hand is inserted into the device.

  In another embodiment, the cycle of pulling out a new glove and opening a new glove can be initiated by a start button 110 (see FIG. 15), and the sequence of operations can be as follows: When pushed, the indexing mechanism 48 moves upward to grip the continuous body 10 as described above, and then returns to the hand insertion station, where the glove is opened as described above. Can be inserted. If another glove is needed, pressing button 110 again will repeat the sequence. This eliminates the need to maintain a vacuum for a significant amount of time in the opening mechanism 52.

  As best shown in FIG. 15, the housing 55 is provided with a door 90 which can be opened in the direction of the arrow B, allowing a new roll 15 to be loaded into the apparatus. . To load a new roll, the door 90 is opened and the remainder of the old roll 15 is removed. A new roll is placed in place in the apparatus. When the door 90 is opened, the two pins 92 are moved forward by a mechanical linkage shown schematically at 91. A positioning hole 33 in one of the panels 25 of the continuum 10 is positioned in the pin 92, and the pin 92 protrudes through the hole 33. Thereby, roll winding is correctly aligned with respect to the roller 58, and a part of the continuous body 10 is positioned between the rollers 58. One of the rollers 58 is attached to a spring tensioning device 95 to facilitate positioning of the continuum 10 between the rollers 58. In this mechanism, when the door 90 is opened, each roller 58 is pulled away from the other rollers 58, and a space is created so that the continuous body 10 can be easily inserted between the rollers. Again, this can be accomplished using a mechanical link 96 (shown schematically). When the door 10 is closed, the pin 92 is withdrawn from the hole 33 and released from the continuum 10, and the roller 58 is spring-biased again and pressed against the other roller 58 together with the continuum 10 between the rollers 58. It is done.

  When the door 90 is closed, the device can be operated to position the glove at the manual insertion station so that the glove is opened and ready for use by the user.

  FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram of a control system for controlling the apparatus. In order to monitor the position of the rollers 58 relative to each other and to stop the movement of the linear bearing 56 when the roller 58 has made a complete revolution, a processing device 99 is provided which receives a signal from the encoder 61. Photodetector arrays 66 and 68 also send a signal to processor 99 to signal the removal of the user's hand, drive linear bearing 56 to move indexing mechanism 48 upward, and then downward to the manual insertion station. At the same time, the pump and / or vacuum source is actuated to apply pressure to the mechanism 52 and evacuate to grip and open the glove. If the exhaust value or the air regulator detects that the air flow by the pump 60, 60a or 60b is insufficient or excessive and that the mechanism 52 is malfunctioning, the processing device 99 will provide an alarm. 130 can be actuated to signal that the device needs service or maintenance.

  The processing device 99 provides an opening mechanism after a signal when a button 100 is pressed (if a button is provided) and a sequence of flows to acquire and open a glove begins and after a predetermined time. A signal from the timer 111 for cutting off the vacuum of 52 is also received.

  If a motor 69 is provided to facilitate rotation of the roller 58 while the frame 50 moves up, the processor 99 will allow the roller 58 to make one full revolution while the indexing mechanism 48 moves from station H to station G. It is also possible to control the motor 69 that drives the roller 68.

  Other sensors can also be provided in the device to detect the location of the continuum 10 passing through the device and being indexed from the roll 15 to the manual insertion station. Additional markings or other indicia may be provided on the continuum 10 to facilitate detection of the continuum 10 by other sensors.

  In order to make the continuum 10 of the glove 11 even stiffer, the layers 18 and 20 may be formed by forming a double heat seal around the glove 11 or by providing a thick heat seal bead along the continuum 11. Can be made even harder. Further stiffening can help in allowing the continuum 10 to move vertically downward and eliminate the tendency of the continuum 10 to wind around the roller 58 while being indexed through the apparatus. I will.

  It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above by way of example, since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention can be readily accomplished by those skilled in the art.

In the claims that follow and in the foregoing description of the invention, unless otherwise required by the context due to obvious language or required verbal meaning, "comprise" Variations such as the word or “comprises” or “comprises” are used in a non-exclusive sense. That is, the presence of the described features is clearly indicated but does not exclude the presence or addition of additional features in the various embodiments of the present invention.
In the claims that follow and in the foregoing description of the invention, unless otherwise required by the context due to obvious language or required verbal meaning, "comprise" Variations such as the word or “comprises” or “comprises” are used in a non-exclusive sense. That is, the presence of the described features is clearly indicated but does not exclude the presence or addition of additional features in the various embodiments of the present invention.

Claims (12)

A combination of a glove wearing device capable of hygienically attaching package gloves to a user's hand and a disposable glove package,
The glove wearing device is
To store a package of disposable gloves, wherein the package is a glove continuum, and the continuous glove is connected to each other by a brittle connection that can be split to separate one glove from the glove continuum. Storage mechanism of
An indexing mechanism for moving the glove from the storage mechanism of the device to a manual insertion station;
A glove opening mechanism for opening a glove of the package so that a user can insert into the glove with his hand open at the hand insertion station;
The indexing mechanism includes a pair of rollers, and includes a gripping mechanism that grips a continuous body of gloves between the rollers,
The indexing mechanism moves between the hand insertion station and the gripping station of the glove wearing device,
When the roller moves from the hand insertion station to the gripping station, it can move relative to the glove continuum;
The roller can grip a continuous body of gloves at a gripping station;
The glove continuum is pulled by the roller during the return movement from the gripping station to the hand insertion station,
A combination in which a glove opening mechanism moves between a manual insertion station and a gripping station together with an indexing mechanism. The gloves are made of glove panels where each panel is connected to an adjacent panel by a fragile connection,
The glove is made of two layers joined by a joint that defines the glove,
The combination of claim 1, wherein the joint includes a heat seal in each panel that defines the shape of the glove.   Each panel has a web portion in an outward direction of the joint, each glove has a defined finger, the web extends between the fingers, and the web between the fingers to separate the fingers The combination according to claim 2, wherein the combination is cut.   The combination according to claim 2 or 3, wherein an opening cuff of each glove is formed at an end of each panel that is transverse to the brittle connection. A glove wearing device that allows hygiene to be worn in a user's hand,
To store a package of disposable gloves, wherein the package is a glove continuum, and the continuous glove is connected to each other by a brittle connection that can be split to separate one glove from the glove continuum. Storage mechanism of
An indexing mechanism for moving the glove from the storage mechanism of the device to a manual insertion station;
A glove opening mechanism for opening a glove of the package so that a user can insert into the glove with his hand open at the hand insertion station;
The indexing mechanism includes a pair of rollers, and includes a gripping mechanism that grips a continuous body of gloves between the rollers,
The indexing mechanism moves between the hand insertion station and the gripping station of the glove wearing device,
When the roller moves from the hand insertion station to the gripping station, it can move relative to the glove continuum;
The roller can grip a continuous body of gloves at a gripping station;
The glove continuum is pulled by the roller during the return movement from the gripping station to the hand insertion station,
A glove opening device in which a glove opening mechanism moves together with an indexing mechanism between a manual insertion station and a gripping station.   The gloves in the continuum each have a first layer and a second layer, and the glove opening mechanism includes a gripper for gripping at least one of the first layer and the second layer, the gripper, and the 6. A glove wearing device according to claim 5, further comprising a gripper moving element for moving the at least one of the first layer and the second layer relative to another layer to open the glove. .   The glove wearing device according to claim 6, wherein the glove is grasped and opened while the gripper moves between the grasping station and the manual insertion station. A glove in the continuum has a first layer and a second layer;
A glove opening mechanism includes an inflatable assembly and a sealing structure having one or more suction points, and when the inflatable assembly is inflated, at least one of the suction points of the sealing structure is the first layer and the second layer. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first layer is pulled away from the second layer, thereby opening the glove when positioned to contact at least one of the layers and when the inflatable assembly contracts. Glove wearing device.   The rate of expansion or contraction of the inflatable assembly is controlled by a piston and cylinder that supplies air to (or draws air from) the inflatable assembly, and suction at the suction point is controlled by a separate piston and cylinder. The glove wearing device according to claim 8, wherein:   The indexing mechanism includes a gear attached to each roller, and the gears mesh with each other so that the rollers can coincide and rotate in opposite directions, the roller having grooves and ribs Therefore, when the groove of one roller is engaged with the rib of the other roller, the continuous body is gripped between the rollers, and the indexing mechanism is moved from the gripping station to the hand. When moved to an insertion station, the continuum is pulled away from the package, and when the indexing mechanism moves from the manual insertion station to the gripping station, the roller rotates relative to the continuum. However, the rotation occurs while the indexing mechanism is moving, and finally the groove and the rib are engaged again, The continuum is characterized in that it is gripped between the rollers I, gloves mounting apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 9.   Sensing the insertion of the user's hand into the glove at the manual insertion station and the subsequent removal of the glove from the continuum at the manual insertion station, thereby activating the indexing mechanism to Causing the feed mechanism to move from the manual insertion station to the gripping station and back to the manual insertion station so that a new glove is opened in the manual insertion station and the user's hand is ready for insertion. The glove wearing device according to any one of claims 5 to 10, further comprising a sensor for doing so. A method for hygienically attaching gloves to a user's hand,
The method
A glove dispensing device loaded with a package of the gloves, in the form of a continuum and wherein the gloves are arranged one by one in the continuum,
Continuous gloves are connected to each other by a brittle connection,
The brittle connection can be split to separate one glove from the glove continuum,
The glove dispensing device comprises an indexing mechanism and a glove opening mechanism for opening a glove of the package so that a user can insert it into the glove with his hand opened at a hand insertion station;
The indexing mechanism includes a pair of rollers, and includes a gripping mechanism that grips a continuous body of gloves between the rollers,
The indexing mechanism moves between the hand insertion station and the gripping station of the glove wearing device,
When the roller moves from the hand insertion station to the gripping station, it can move relative to the glove continuum;
The roller can grip a continuous body of gloves at a gripping station;
The glove continuum is pulled by the roller during the return movement from the gripping station to the hand insertion station,
The glove opening mechanism, together with the indexing mechanism, includes a glove dispensing device that moves between the manual insertion station and the gripping station,
Mechanically, with the return movement of the indexing mechanism, each glove at the hand insertion location of the device, wherein each glove opened at the hand insertion location by the glove opening mechanism is positioned;
Inserting a user's hand into the opened glove and removing the glove from the glove continuum when removing the hand from the hand insertion location of the glove dispensing device. How to put it on your hand hygienically.