GB2265604A - Bag dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

In a dispenser, for dispensing bags from a roll of bags where the handles of one bag are joined to the bottom of another bag by a perforated part, the roll is mounted on spindle 1, Fig. 3 (underneath view) which has retainers and is cranked to friction-brake the roll. A bag separator 9, Figs. 2 and 3, engages the handle hole of a bag to enable one bag to be separated, at the perforated part, from another bag. <IMAGE>

Description

BAG DISPENSER This invention relates to the field of bag dispensers, in particular for use with bags having integral handles which project from the upper edge of the bag. These bags are sometimes referred to as vest style bags.

It is well known to provide a supply of bags of this kind connected end to end, the handles of one bag being connected to the bottom edge of the next bag by perforated joins so that an opening is defined between the two bags. Such rolls of bags are commonly provided in shops and supermarkets for use by customers, e.g. for packing fruit and vegetables selected from loose displays.

Dispensers known in the prior art are fairly simple to use when the roll of bags is correctly inserted and threaded through the opening in the dispenser housing. However, if the free end of the roll becomes lost in the dispenser housing most supermarket customers are not capable of re-threading the dispenser correctly.

Other dispensers do not provide any assistance in separating joined bags, which means two hands are required to tear a bag away, and this is very inconvenient.

It is therefore an aim of this invention to provide a dispenser which avoids the above mentioned drawbacks. According to the present invention there is provided a dispenser comprising means for rotatably supporting a roll of bags, and stationary bag separating means disposed at a medial position relative to the support means and spaced therefrom, the separating means being carried by an arm whereby the roll of bags on the support means is substantially unenclosed and readily accessible.

The bag separating means projects forwardly of the support means to engage with the opening defined between the leading bag and the immediately following bag when the end of the roll is pulled across.

The support means may be a spindle provided with means for braking rotation of the roll to prevent uncontrolled unwinding of the roll.

To assist a clear understanding of the invention a more detailed description of an embodiment is given below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of the dispenser according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the dispenser; Fig. 3 is an underneath view of the dispenser and Fig. 4 is a front view of the dispenser having a smaller bag separating member.

The bag dispenser illustrated is intended to dispense vest style produce bags, for example made of polyethylene, supplied on a roll with handles of the leading bag being connected to the bottom edge of the next bag so that the bags are wound on the tubular core of the roll ready to be dispensed base seal first.

The dispenser comprises a roll support member or spindle 1 with a bag separating member 2 disposed beneath the central portion thereof. The spindle 1 is joined at one end to a support member 3 having limbs 10, 11, 12.

The support member is substantially horizontal and extends forwardly from a channel section bracket 7 which allows the dispenser to be fixed to a convenient support structure. Limbs 10 and 12 are substantially parallel to each other with limb 11 joining them substantially perpendicularly.

A flange plate 5 surrounds the spindle 1 adjacent the forward end of limb 12 of support member 3.

This provides a stop for the roll. The spindle has a kinked portion 8 so that rotation of the roll is frictionally braked by the spindle rubbing on the inside surface of the roll core. An enlarged head (not shown) may be provided at the free end to prevent the roll of bags from slipping off the spindle unintentionally.

Bag separating member 2 is carried at the free end of an L shaped arm 4 having limbs of substantially similar lengths. The other end of arm 4 is joined to support member 3 at the join of limbs 10 and 11, such that arm 4 extends downwards from support member 3 and then forwardly in line with limb 10. The separating member 2 has the form of an angled metal plate which projects forwardly of arm 4 the front edge 9 being inclined upwardly to a height above the axis of the spindle 1 and convexly curved to assist in guiding the bags to be parted over the member 2.

A roll of bags is placed on the spindle 1 between the flange 5 and head and the leading bag is unwound. When this bag is to be removed from the roll it is pulled forwardly and downwardly over the bag separating member 2 which engages the hole defined between the leading bag and the next following bag by the handles of the first bag. As the bag is pulled the bottom edge of the following bag is held by the member 2, the handles of the leading bag become parted therefrom due to the perforated joins between the bags.

Since the spindle 1 is substantially exposed, i.e. unenclosed by any housing, the leading edge of the first bag remaining on the roll is always visible to and readily accessible to a user and no prior knowledge or experience is required to be able to remove bags from the roll. Since rotation of the roll of bags is braked by the spindle 1 during the dispensing operation the risk of the roll continuing to rotate under its own inertia so that the bags become unwound in an uncontrolled manner is eliminated.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS:

1. A bag dispenser comprising means for rotatably supporting a roll of bags and stationary bag separating means disposed below and at a medial position along a roll of bags supported by the support means, the separating means being carried by an arm whereby the roll of bags on the support means is substantially unenclosed and readily accessible.

2. A bag dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support means comprises a spindle for extending through a tubular core of the roll of bags.

3. A bag dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the support means is provided with means for braking rotation of the roll to prevent uncontrolled unwinding of the roll.

4. A bag dispenser as claimed in claims 2 and 3 wherein the braking means comprises a kinked spindle portion for frictional contact with the core of the roll of bags.

5. A bag dispenser as claimed in claim 2 or 4 wherein the spindle is mounted by one end and means are provided at the other end of the spindle to prevent the roll of bags slipping off.

6. A bag dispenser as claimed in claim 2, 4 or 5 wherein the spindle is mounted on a frame comprising three substantially horizontal limbs connected end-to-end and attached to a mounting bracket.

7. A bag dispenser as claimed in claim 6 wherein the first and third limbs are substantially parallel to each other, the first limb is located medially of the spindle, and the second limb is substantially parallel to the spindle.

8. A bag dispenser as claimed in claims 6 or 7 wherein the bag separating means is carried at a free end of a substantially L-shaped arm, the other end of the arm being joined to the mounting frame.

9. A bag dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the arm is attached to the frame at the joint between the first and second limbs.

10. A bag dispenser as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the bag separating means projects forwardly of the support means to engage with an opening defined between a leading bag and the immediately following bag when the end of the roll is pulled.

11. A bag dispenser as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 wherein the bag separating means comprises a member inclined forwardly and upwardly relative to the support member.

12. A bag dispenser as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the bag separating means extends to a height above the axis of the support member.

13. A bag dispenser substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.