NZ199767A - Dispenser for plastics bags - Google Patents

Description

t 99767 Priority Dats(s): Complete Specification Filed: Class: |.Q^} A i+1 fJ?* 19p....

Publication Date: ... 2.4. AUG. 1384.

P.O. Journal, IS!o: Date: * COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "Improvements in or relating to dispensers and/or dispensing units" Ml We, AHI OPERATIONS LIMITED a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand of 640 Great South Road, Manukau City, Auckland, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which ^ / we pray that a patent may be granted to N»/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- 1 99767 This invention relates to a dispenser and/or a dispensing unit and has been devised particularly though not solely for plftVt it* use in dispensing plaotic bags for use in packaging animal carcasses such as lamb or sheet carcasses.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing unit which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly in one aspect the invention consists in a dispenser comprising a first frame, a second frame mounted on said said first frame so as to be movable relative to said first frame, locking means to position said second frame relative to said first frame in"" a selected position, support means on said second frame to support one or more 'w articles at or adjacent one end of said article, and clamping means to secure said one or more articles at or adjacent the other end thereof.

In a further aspect the invention consists' in a dispensing unit comprising an upstand having a rotatable head member, a plurality of arms extending from said head member, each arm mounting or being capable of mounting a dispenser according to the preceding paragraph, and positioning means to position said head member in a desired position.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and it is not our intention to limit the scope of the invention by those 199767 disclosures and descriptions, or otherwise, than by the terms of the appended claims.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of dispenser according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the dispenser of figure 1; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic cross sectional representation of a dispensing unit according to one form of the invention; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the dispenser of figure 3; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a clamping means according to one form of the invention; Figure 6 is a side elevation of part of a support means according to one form of the invention; Figure 7 is an end view of the construction of figure 6; Figure 8 is a side elevation of a toggle for use with the support means of figures 6 and 7; and Figure 9 is a diagrammatic representation showing a dispenser according to the invention in use.

Referring to the invention and with reference to figures 1 and 2 a dispenser 1 is provided as follows: The dispenser 1 has a first frame 2 which comprises a -spare pair of spaced apart stringers 3 and 4. The stringers are spaced apart by cross members of which an upper cross member 5 and a lower cross member (shown pecked) 6 are positioned between the ' i stringers 3 and 4. 1 9976 Further cross members are provided and for example on the back of the dispenser cross members 7 and 8 are provided which may be for example angle members and on the front of the dispenser a further cross member 9 may be provided in the form of a sheet spanning the gap between the cross members 2 and 3.

The dispenser further includes a second frame or sub-frame 10 which has a pair of spaced apart stringers 11 and 12 and these may be spaced apart by a cross plate 13 adjacent one end and a further cross member (not shown) between the stringers 10 and 11 for example adjacent the lower end.

The distance between the stringers 11 and 12 is less than the distance between the stringers 3 and 4 although it is desirable that the external width of the distance between stringers 11 and 12 is only a little less than the external width between the stringers 3 and 4. 4 Thus the sub-frame 10 may move in the space formed between the stringers 3 and 4 and the various cross members. A locking means is provided between the frames and this may comprise an aperture in a sub-frame stringer and a selection of apertures in the adjacent main frame stringer so that a pin may be passed through selected aligned apertures.

The sub or second frame 10 carries support means for articles and the support means preferably comprise a pair of rods or shafts 20 mounted on the cross plate 13 for example *. & S. onto which may be positioned articles such as for example ft staGk such as stack 21 of plastics bags for oxamplo for wrapping animal carcasses. 199767 To this end the bags 21 may have apertures therein which pass onto the shaft 20. These may be held in position once placed by a toggle 22 provided or mounted on the shaft 20 and this toggle may be formed by providing a slot 23 in the end of the shaft 20 which is crossed by a transverse aperture 24. A recess 25 may be provided into the shaft 20 into which may be positioned a spring 26 and ball 27.

The toggle 22 has a pair of arms 28 and 29 and a central portion 30 as well as an aperture 31 which can be aligned with the aperture 24 and a pin passed therethrough. The part 30 is substantially semi-circular but has a pair of notches 32 and 33 positioned at about-90° which notches in use are coacted by the ball 27 so that the toggle can be -w snapped from an in-line position wherein arm 28 becomes positioned in a recess 34 forming part of the slot 23 to a position substantially as shown in figures 1 and 2 and vice versa.

At the lower end in use of the dispenser, it is also desirable to clamp the articles such as plastic bags 21 and to this end a clamping device is provided. A suitable clamping device may be provided by forming apertures 40 through the cross member 6 and providing one or more and preferably a plurality of pins 41 connected by a joining member 42 so as to form a substantially U shaped clip. The clip is provided with a bulbous head 43 and associated with the cross member 6 is a plate 44 having apertures 45 through which the head 43 may pass. The plate 44 has a return 46 at its lower edge and is biased for example by spring 47 into a r down position. Thus once the head 43 has passed through the 1 99767 aperture 45 the plate 45 is moved downwardly in use so that the edges of the aperture 45 engage the pin 41, thus substantially preventing withdrawal of the pin 41 unless sufficient force is applied to again move the plate upwardly. Thus the bulbous head should have sloped faces on both its leading and trailing edges. The extent of travel of the plate 44 with respect to the cross member 6 can be limited for example by providing an inwardly turn 48 which is positioned in a slot 49 in the member 46.

The dispensers so far described may be formed into a dispensing unit. To this end a shaft 50 is provided about which is positioned a tube 51. These~are preferably separated by a bearing which would be a ball bearing 52 mounted at the upper end of the shaft 50 against which bears the end plate 53 of the tube 51.

Mounted on the head member formed by the tube 51 are a plurality and preferably three or four desirably four arms J- P & S ^ on dispensers 1 may be mounted for example bolts passing through apertures in the arm .4-3 and the main frame of the dispenser 1 for example the cross member' 5.

Four arms are the preferred number as this enables four different sizes of bags to be provided yet still provide satisfactory access to the dispenser being used at a particular time.

So as to enable the dispensing unit to be locked in position, a positioning means is provided and this may comprise a plate 60 engaged with the shaft 50 and a further plate 61 engaged with the tube 51. The plate 60 has at 1 least one aperture 62 and the plate 61 has a plurality of 1 9 97 6 7 apertures 63 there being in particular one aperture 63 for each arm 54.

Thus a selected aperture 63 can be aligned with the aperture 62 and a pin 64 passed therethrough. The pin 64 may be mounted on a lever 65 pivotally affixed to a supporting surface 66 and having an operating handle 67.

Suitable spring biasing (not shown) could be provided or other locking in the locked position may be provided, j p &S use of the invention is as follows: /M. In use the dioponors 1 are suspended from arm 54 and bags 21 are mounted on the support arms 20.

Different sized bags could be provided on each arm 54 or they could be the same size if desiTed.

It is desirable that the bags have one longer side with apertures through which the clamping pins 41 may be positioned. The selected bag size is then suspended adjacent a k conveying apparatus 70 from which for example carcasses 71 are mounted.

The bag may then be snap removed from the arm 20 and if J. P. & S. ' desired an air jet 72 may be provided to provide an initial opening to the bag to allow it to be placed over the carcass 71.

The thus bagged carcass may then be removed to a heat shrink tunnel or otherwise as desired.

Should a different sized bag be needed this can be mounted on one of the arms 54 not in use and when the bag is required to be used the pin 64 can be withdrawn, the plate 61 rotated relative to the plate 60 and the pin 64 reinserted i in the now appropriate aperture 63. 199767 J. P. & s.

^B>// Thus it can be seen that at least in the preferred form of the invention a dispenser and a dispensing unit are provided which enable articles such as plastic bags to be It is also an advantage that the dispensing unit that a plurality of different sized or coloured^for example, bags can be provided changes being made to bags not in use in a simple manner without disturbing Sim uac of- the particular bags in use. The bags can also be changed in a relatively quick and efficient manner which is desirable particularly where for example carcasses are being~bagged in a situation where it is undesirable to stop the flow of carcasses. effective 8 9/6 7

Claims (14)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A dispenser comprising a first frame, a second frame mounted on said first frame so as to be movable relative to said first frame, locking means to position said second frame relative to said first frame in a selected position, support means on said second frame to support one or more articles at or adjacent one end of said articles and clamping means to secure said one or more articles at or adjacent the other end thereof.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second frame is slidable relative to said first frame.

3. A dispenser as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 V J. P. & s. wherein said first frame includes a pair of spaced apart -Hyeve b^fweetA /M..... stringers with cross members oa-oach oido thoroof, and said second frame includes a pair of spaced apart stringers and cross members therebetween, said second frame tieing movable between the stringers of said first frame and the cross members of said first frame.

4. A dispenser as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said support means comprises one or more arms extending from said second frame member.

5. A dispenser as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said clamping means comprises one or more pins having a bulbous head and an aperture in the lower most cross member of said first frame, and a plate movable with respect to said first frame having apertures therein to receive said bulbous head and to move behind said head to lock said pin or pins. 9 t 99767

6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5 wherein two pins are provided connected by a joining member.

7. A dispenser substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

8. A di-^ponoing unit comprising a upstand having a rotatable J.f. 8c S. head member, a plurality of arms extending from said head member, each arm mounting or being capable of mounting a dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and positioning means to position said head member in a desired position.

9. A dispenser unit as claimed in claim 8 wherein said upstand comprises a shaft on a base, said head member including a tube positioned over said shaft.

10. A dispenser unit as claimed in claim 9 wherein a bearing is provided between said shaft and said tube.

11. A dispenser unit as claimed in claim 10 wherein said bearing comprises a ball bearing positioned on said shaft jaxid against which said end plate mounted on said tube bears.

12. A dispenser unit as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11 wherein three or four arms are provided.

13. A dispenser unit as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12 wherein said positioning means comprise a plate on said shaft having at least one aperture, a plate on said tube positioned in a plane parallel to and adjacent said plate on said shaft and having at least one aperture for each arm and a pin positionable in aligned apertures in said plate. &S.

14. A dispenser unit substantially as herein described with ■- S - drawls •> /%///( reference to the accompanying drawing. . „ DATED THIS H-Wv DAY OF Rii V A. J. PARK & SON ; ^ AGENTS FOlt THE APPLICANT - 10 -