CA2157161A1 - Roll bag dispensing system - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispenser for a roll of bags joined in series end-to-end along transverse severable lines comprising a receptacle in which a roll of bags may be held and rotated to pass the bags through the outlet of the receptacle and a web guide secured to the outlet. The web guide may be provided with a floor and inwardly overhanging side edges with the floor terminating in an upwardly projecting serrated edge which effects separation of each bag from its next ensuing bag. In a different embodiment, the overhung side edges may be joined together and the floor V-shaped to form a pinch cam arrangement to effect separation of the bags passing through the web guide.

Description

~ 40463-89 IMPROVED ROLL BAG DISPENSING SYSTEM

This invention relates to plastic bags on rolls and their dispenser-holders. For ease of explanation, reference is made only to the type of bags on rolls commonly referred to as star-seal bags and their holders, both of which are commonly used in many produce departments in supermarkets. These plastic star-seal bags are usually made form polyethylene plastic and are used by supermarket customers to pack their bulk produce, then carry it from the supermarket to home. The bags are subsequently used by the customer to protect the freshness of the bulk produce when stored inside their - home refrigerator.
Star-seal bags on rolls mounted in their holders are compact and save space in the produce department. This is important as it lessens the interference with the display of produce. Star-seal bags also have stronger bottom seals which allow them to be made in thinner gauges, reducing raw material costs.
For such space saving and cost cutting, star-seal bags, to be an effective replacement for old-fashioned roll produce bags, they must be dispensed in a system that is convenient and easy to use or which use is easy to understand. The dispenser holders must effectively singulate a bag upon dispensing so that the bags on the rolls do not drape down into the produce and interfere with the display.
The present day star-seal bags used in produce departments are put up on a roll. The core of this roll is typically a 1" plastic tube which is commonly about 4"
long. It extends out past the roll bag web 1/2" on both sides. Thus, the web on a roll of star-seal bags is typically 3" wide. When opened, the bag expands to 12"
wide overall. The length of a bag is typically about 18". A full roll will have about 500 - 750 bags, depending upon gauge and bag length, with a roll diameter -of about 7.5". Another common size is a 4.75" core with a 3.75" bag web, in which the bag opening expands to 15 wide. The bags of the most common priori art variety are connected via a special perforation line which has a 1 3/8 slot in the middle of said perforation line where the bags are unconnected. This style of bags on a roll is illustrated in U.S. Patent #5,219,424.
A roll of prior art bags is mounted into a holder whereas the 1/2" extensions on both sides of the plastic core slip down into guides maint~ining the roll in position for dispensing forward. This is illustrated in a continuation in part of U.S. Patent No. 4,135,146 (referred to as Docket No. 2669/16347US). Or, as illustrated in U.S. Patent #5,135,146 said roll of bags - 15 may be mounted upon an axle. The first bag on the roll is pulled forward over a tongue which snags the 1 3/8"
wide slot in the middle. Pulling further forward causes the first bag to tear at the perforation lines on both sides of the unconnected slot and be separated from the roll. The next bag on the roll now rests just behind the tongue, retained in a gap. This gap is the space between said tongue and a finger, said finger located upstream of said tongue. The next bag in the roll, retained in said gap, is now ready for it to be pulled forward, up over said tongue, separated and dispensed in the same manner as before.
The dispensing operation of the prior art bag as referenced above requires some mechanical know-how or some trial and error before it is learned. it requires the narrow 3" wide web to be aligned atop the tongue and the bag to be pulled generally straight forward and down.
If the bag is pulled to the side it will slide off the tongue, failing to snag at the slot in the perforation, and separation from the roll will fail. Or, a bag may be pulled to the side and snag the knob, but the perforations on only one side of the center unconnected break will tear free. In either case singulation of the forward-most bag on the roll fails and the several, forward-most bags on said roll will then drop down into 2~ ~ 1 6 1 the produce. The user must then separate the forward-most bag from the roll by tearing at the perforations using his two hands.
Furthermore, the manufacture of prior art bags requires close tolerances on the perforation line with its 1 3/8" slot. The special perforation die required to make a perforation line with the slot must be lined up exactly in the middle for best results. If the slot wanders from one side or the other, it can cause inconsistent singulation of the bags upon dispensing, or total failure to singulate if the slot misses the tongue on the dispenser altogether.
The bags and system of the present invention include bags on a roll, a unique dispenser-holder, and a unique web guide, which together improve dispensing and ease of use. This is accomplished by using a traditional style of perforation without slots as required in the ~424 prior art variety bag. The perforation die to make the perforation line can be any of a number of generally stAn~Ard perforation die configurations. The roll of bags mount into a basket style holder and feed into a web guide projecting from the front side. The web guide has a serrated tear strip at its forward-most end which is generally of a sawtooth design. Each tooth is steep enough to engage the perforations on the roll of bags, yet smooth enough to avoid the danger of a use accidentally cutting his finger upon dispensing a bag.
Another version includes a web guide with a pinch cam in place of the serrated tear strip.
Bags on a roll are dispensed by a user pulling the forward-most bag forward, through the projecting web guide. When the perforation at the end of the forward-most bag reaches the serrated tear strip on the web guide, the perforation engages the serrated tear strip and the bag is singulated as it separates from the roll.
The next bag in series on the roll now rests conveniently atop the web guide, ready for its dispensing. As with 21 ~1 61 the pinch cam, the dispensing is much the same as the bag web is guided through the web guide. But instead of engaging a serrated tear strip, a narrowed perforation line adjoining the bags on the roll causes the next bag in series to naturally fall into the pinch cam and "pinch off". As it stops its forward movement, separation from, and singulation of, the forward-most bag occurs. This next bag in series is now conveniently pinched in the cam ready for its dispensing.
The system of the present invention is easy to understand, easy to use and requires very little trial and error if any. As the web guide literally guides the roll bag over the serrated tear strip, or into the pinch cam, the use instinctively, naturally, knows how to singulate a bag upon dispensing from the roll.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a roll of star-seal bags as used in the present invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser-holder for the roll of bags in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an enlarged front perspective view of the projecting web guide shown in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 showing the roll of bags of Figure 1 disposed in the dispenser holder of Figure 2, with the first bag ready for withdrawal.
Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the bag separation process on the projecting web guide shown in Figure 3.
Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of the preferred embodiment of a st~n~rd perforation used in the system of the present invention.
Figure 7 illustrates a variation of the perforation style of Figure 6 according to the present invention.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a variation of the web guide.

2`~ 571 ~ 1 Figure 9 is a perspective view of another variation of the web guide.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a web guide with a large tear strip and a bend allowing for easier grasping of the bag about to be dispensed.
-- Figure 11 is a perspective view of yet a different dispenser-holder for the bags with its accompanying web guide and finger guide.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of a web guide with a pinch cam.
Figure 13 is a perspective view of the web guide of Figure 12 with the bag style of Figure 7 fed into it.
- Figure 14 is a perspective view of the bag of Figure 7 after it has been drawn through the pinch cam.

In Figure 1, roll of star-seal bags 1 is wound upon core 2. First and forward-most bag 3 has an open mouth 4 and bottom seal 5. It is connected to roll 1 at perforation line 6. Perforation line 6 also defines the mouth of second bag 7 in roll 1. As illustrated, second bag 7 is wound around roll 1, has its bottom seal 5 and is connected at its perforation line 6 to the third bag 8 in roll 1.
In Figure 2, universal wire frame holder 10 is shown with left side 11, right side 12, bottom area 13 and open top area 15. Sides 11 and 12 are structurally connected by cross supports 14a, 14b, 14c 14d and 14e. Between sides 11 and 12 and bottom 13, spaced by supports 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d and 14e is created a basket area 16. It is in basket area 16 in which a roll of bags of the present invention can be placed as illustrated by arrows P to appear as shown in Figure 4. At the middle region of left side 11 the wire -frame is bent outwards at two adjoining 90 degree angles to form vertical structures 17a and 17b. Additionally, complementary vertical structures 18a and 18b are formed on right side 12. Both vertical structures 17a and 17b, 18a and 18b, define a 1"

2 1 ~ 1 1 6 1 _ - 6 -wide vertical guide for accepting 1" plastic roll cores (not shown) if so desired. At the front side of holder 10 is attached web guide 20 as further illustrated in the blow-up Figure 3. Web guide 20 is mounted on the front side of holder 10 and typically projects forward.
In web guide 20 of blow-up Figure 3 are formed a rolled up left side 21 and a rolled up right side 22.
Rolled up sides 21 and 22 serve to guide the bag web as will be later illustrated. Web guide 20 has a flat surface between rolled up sides 21 and 22. At the back side of web guide 20, at location 24, is where web guide 20 is connected to holder 10. It is also at location 24 where the forward-most bag 3 of the present invention, resting in holder 10, will be inserted and pulled forward readied for dispensing. At the front edge of web guide 20 is serrated tear strip 26 comprised of six serrated teeth 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e and 25f, which serrated teeth point generally upwards, are smoothly spaced, and shown in the preferred embodiment in a slightly forwardly arched position. That is, each tooth more centrally located is situated in the arch a bit further forward than its outboard comr~n;on. In this manner, the outermost teeth 25a and 25f are the furthest back in the arch, with more centrally located teeth 25b and 25e slightly more forward and central-most teeth 25c and 25d the furthest forward in the arch. This arched front side 26 is further illustrated in Figure 4.
Figure 4 shows a roll of star-seal bags 1, of the present invention, mounted in holder 10. Forward-most bag 3 has been inserted at the back location 24 of web guide 20, sits atop surface 23, between rolled up sides 21 and 22, and is ready for dispensing, The arch of the serrated tear strip 26 of web guide 20 is clearly illustrated.
In Figure 5, forward-most bag 3 has been pulled forward in the direction D illustrated by three arrows.
As bag 3 is pulled forward in web guide 20, its web 3 is - guided between rolled up sides 21 and 22. Perforation line 6 of bag 3 is seen snagged on teeth 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e and 25f. It can be seen that at the two outer teeth locations 25a and 25f, perforation line 6 has already begun to tear and separate. As bag 3 continues being pulled in its forward direction D, the perforation 6 will then continue its tearing from the outermost connection points to the innermost connection points.
This is caused by the arched serrated tear strip 26 of web guide 20 as more clearly illustrated in Figure 3 and Figure 4. As bag 3 continues in its forward path, it separates in its entirety completing the singulation process. The next bag 7 in the roll, now rests in the convenient dispensing disposition as illustrated in Figure 4. It is the natural friction of bag 7 between rolled up sides 21 and 22 of web guide 20, and in particular at frontal locations 27 and 28 where the rolled up sides 21 and 22 are narrowed, which maintains the bag atop said web guide. It may also be seen that the serrated strip 26 improves the ability for a user to naturally dispense and singulate bags when pulled partially sideways, or pulled from a side.
The bag web of Figure 6 is illustrated on a 1:1 scale, which for this example we will assume said web measures 3 1/16". Bag 30 has a bottom seal 31 in which proximate to it is perforation line 32 connecting bag 30 to bag 33. Perforation line 32 is comprised of six cut lines 34a, 34b, 34c,34d, 34e and 34f, each of said cut lines spaced by seven tit connections 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d, 35e, 35f and 35g. The six cut lines, 34a through 34f, all measure about 7/16" in width whereas all tit connections, 35a through 35g, measure about 1/16" in width. The total of the measurements equal the 3 1/16"
web width. It should be understood that the width of web guide 20 illustrated throughout will approximately equal the web width of the roll 1. And the width of the teeth 25a through 25f of web guide 20 will approximately equal the width of the perforation slits 34a through 34f.
In another variation of a bag web 40', Figure 7 shows bag 40 with bottom seal 41, in which proximate to it is perforation line 42 connecting bag 40 to bag 43.
Perforation line 42 differs in that at the outside edge of the web 40~, the perforation is not connected but instead begins with cut sections 44a and 44b on each side of the web 40'. In this example, there are only four perforation lines 46a, 46b, 46c and 46d, plus 5 tit connections at 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d and 45e. The two outer cut sections 44a and 44b facilitate separation at the perforation line during the dispensing process.
In Fig. 8, a variation of a web guide 50 has a left rolled up side 51 and a right rolled up side 52, back edge 53 and front edge 54. Front edge 54 shows a series of upwardly pointed ridges 55a, 55b, 55c, 55d, 55e and 55f, and in between said ridges at front edge 54 are valleys 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d, 56e, 56f and 55g. About 2/3 the way back of web guide 50 in region 57, all the ridges 55a, 55b, 55c, 55d, 55e and 55f have flattened to meet or be substantially level with all the valleys, 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d, 56e, 56f and 56g. It is at the front edge 54, where the ridges 55a through 55f cause separation at the bag perforation line 6 in substantially the same manner as in web guide 20 with its teeth 25a through 25f.
Fig. 9 illustrates a rounded web guide 60 with rolled up left side 61 and rolled up right side 62. Web guide 60 has a rounded surface 63 between rolled up sides 61 and 62. At the back side of web guide 60, at location 24', is where web guide 60 is connected to its holder.
At the front edge of web guide 60 is serrated tear strip 66 comprised of six serrated teeth 65a, 65b, 65c, 65d, 65e and 65f, which serrated teeth point generally upwards and outwards, are smoothly shaped. It too may have the centrally located teeth more positioned in a slightly forward arch as in the Figs. 2-4 embodiment.

21 571 ~1 g In Fig. 10 is web guide 70, similar to web guide 20 of Figs. 2-4. It has rolled up sides 71 and 72, a flat surface 73 between said rolled up sides, and a front serrated tear strip 76. However, in web guide 70 the serrated tear strip 76 is projected further outwards and further downwards. This is done by bending the metal material at 75 to approximate a 30 degree angle. The cut-away illustration of bag 74 shows bend 75 and shows how the front edge 77 of bag 74 projects outward, elevated above serrated tear strip 76, and making it easy for the user to grasp.
The dispenser-holder 80 in Fig. 11 is made with plastic or painted sheet metal sides 8la and 8lb, and has all the flln~Ame~tal attributes for function as does the holder in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4. However it has three preferred features improving its dispensing ability. The first preferred feature is illustrated about 1/3 the way up web guide 82 where there are two circular finger cut-outs 83a and 83b indicated by dotted lines and cut-out of the base section 84 of web guide 82. Circular finger cut-outs 85a and 85b located respectively on sides 8la and 8lb are exactly matched alongside circular finger cut-outs, respectively, 83a and 83b. At the location of the matched circular finger cut-outs, 83a and 85a, plus 83b and 85b, a user inserts a finger, grasps bag 86, and pulls forward much in the same manner as dispensing scotch tape from its dispenser. Singulation occurs as previously described in reference to Fig. 5. It is a second preferred feature that the upper rear portion 87 of web guide 82 is one solid piece spAnn;ng across said web guide and connecting rolled up sides 89 and 90. This second preferred feature alloys the roll of bags 91 to feed into web guide regardless of whether roll of bags 91 unwinds from its top or bottom. It is a third preferred feature that upper rear location 87 and lower rear location 88, indicated by dotted lines, of web guide 82 are slightly arched upward at the center. This arching ~1 571 61 serves two purposes. First, it provides a positive structural advantage improving strength against a downward force (F). Second, it causes the web of bag 86 to also be arched improving the bag web's structure as it spans cut-outs 83a and 83b.
In Fig. 12 web guide 100 is illustrated with rolled up sides 101 and 102 which is joined at the top rear location 103 and along the flat bottom side 104. At the front opening of web guide 100, the flat bottom side 104 has a "V" shaped cut serving as pinch cam 107, with generally curved sides 105 and 106. The frontal opening of pinch cam 107 is generally about one-half the width of the overall bag web width, then narrowing down to a tight slit at its rear location.
Fig. 13 shows the forward-most bag 110 into web guide 100 with second bag 111 trailing behind. Bags 110 and 111 are on a roll of bags of the variety previously illustrated in Fig. 7. Connecting bags 110 and 111 is perforation line 112 with the outer perforation line locations unconnected at 113 and 114 which defines narrowed middle portion 117; said middle portion is approximately equal to one-half to two-thirds of the overall web width. A dotted line defines pinch cam 107.
it is noticed that the width of web 116 of bag 110 clearly spans the entire width of the web guide. it is further noticed that when pulling a bag forward for dispensing, web 116 glides over pinch cam 107 underneath.
This is because the web width is about double the frontal opening of pinch cam 107.
Fig. 14 illustrates second-most bag 111 pinched into pinch cam 107. This occurs naturally when the narrowed portion 117 of the perforation configuration 112 as described in Fig. 13, meets the wider frontal opening 118 of the pinch cam. The narrowed portion 117 cannot span the wider frontal opening 118, hence falls into the pinch cam and pinches off the next bag on the roll. As illustrated, with second-most bag 111 securely pinched 2 ~ ~71 6 ~

into pinch cam 107 and resisting forward movement, forward-most bag 110 is separating itself at narrowed perforation line 117 causing eventual singulation.
As previously state, the use of the present invention in not limited to systems used in produce departments in grocery stores. The present invention has applications in other areas of the supermarket as well as other industrial and commercial uses. For instance, it can be mounted on portable trash liner bins and other types of receptacles for easy dispensing of bags or liners .
Furthermore, the holder is not limited to use with star-seal bags. It will be appreciated that it can be an effective dispenser for other types of roll bags as well.
Roll bags and their perforations may be of virtually any size and dimension.

Claims (9)

1. A dispenser for a roll of bags joined in series end-to-end along a transverse severable line between adjacent bags, said dispenser comprising:
a receptacle configured to receive and hold the bag roll, said receptacle having an outlet, said receptacle permitting the bag roll to be unwound with each bag in the roll series as it is unwound passing through the receptacle outlet;
a web guide, said guide being secured to the outlet of the receptacle and extending therefrom in a first predetermined direction, said web guide comprising a floor, said floor commencing at the receptacle outlet and extending in said first predetermined direction to an upwardly projecting terminal edge, said floor having at least partially curved up and overhung side edges, said terminal edge of said floor being serrated;
whereby, as each bag of the bag roll is unwound and passed through the receptacle outlet, it is drawn through the web guide and confined to the floor by the overhung side edges until the trailing end of the bag reaches the serrated terminal edge of the floor, whereupon further pulling of the first bag results in the severable line between the trailing edge of the first bag and the leading edge of the ensuing bag reaching the upturned serrated terminal edge of the floor, thereupon to sever the first bag from the ensuing bag to permit the first bag to be withdrawn for filling or other use.

2. The dispenser as described in Claim 1 wherein at least one of the curved up and overhung side edges of the web guide is notched to provide digital access to a bag which is passed out of the outlet of the receptacle and on to the floor of the web guide.

3. The dispenser as described in Claim 1 wherein the terminal edge of the floor is curved convexedly in said first predetermined direction thereby to initiate severance of the first bag from the ensuing bag along the transverse severable line at the outer ends of said line and continuing to the center of the line.

4. The dispenser as described in Claim 1 wherein the receptacle is formed as a wire cradle.

5. The dispenser as described in Claim 1 wherein at least part of the floor of the web guide is formed as a series of ridges extending from its terminal opposite said first predetermined direction toward the outlet of the receptacle.

6. The dispenser as described in Claim 1 wherein the floor of the web is convex and its side edges and the serration of the terminal edge point generally upwardly and outwardly and are smoothly shaped.

7. A dispenser for a roll of bags joined in series end-to-end along a transverse severable line between adjacent bags, said dispenser comprising:
a receptacle configured to receive and hold the bag roll, said receptacle having an outlet, said receptacle permitting the bag roll to be unwound with each bag int he roll series as it is unwound passing through the receptacle outlet;
a web guide, said guide being secured to the outlet of the receptacle and extending therefrom in a first predetermined direction, said web guide comprising a floor, said floor terminating in a central V-shaped cut and having curved-up and overhung edges, the initial portion of the curved-up edges at the outlet being joined together, thereby with the U-shaped cut forming a pinch-cam through which the series of bags may be drawn and each bag severed from the next ensuing bag in the roll.

8. A system which comprises a receptacle and web guide as described in Claim 1 and a roll of plastic bags rolled in series end-to-end along a transverse severable line between adjacent bags.

9. A system which comprises a receptacle and web guide of Claim 7 and a roll of plastic bags rolled in series end-to-end along a transverse severable line between adjacent bags.