US2124780A - Bag opening device - Google Patents

Description

Patented July 26, 1938 UNITED. STATES BAG OPENING DEVICE Roland F. Keppler, Hope, and Scudder M. Mackey,

Belvidere, N. J I

Application October 10, 1936, Serial No. 104,966

3 Claims.

This invention pertains to a device for opening folded containers and more particularly to paper bags, an object thereof being to provide a mechanism for opening paper bags.

Another object of this invention is to provide a preliminary step of folding back a portion of the bag bottom on itself, and thereafter to complete opening the bag by a second means.

A further object is to provide a means for creating pressure on the container at a point prior to the actual step of folding back a portion of the bag bottom to facilitate this particular operation.

Heretofore, it has been customary to open a paper bag of the flat bottom type, by either using two hands to accomplish the desired result, or by a waving of the bag through the air with a snap action that causes the container to be opened due to expansion caused by a sudden inrush of air.

The latter method requires some practice, if not certain amount of skill, and is frequently difficult or impossible to perform by the uninitiated person. If the bag is not constructed from strong material, it may rip at the seam, or tear at a place near to the holding point.

Both of these arrangements are undesirable and it is contemplated by this novel invention to eliminate the above named objections, and provide a device that will automatically open the bag as it is removed from its holding receptacle.

A more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, and the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the opening device cut at A-A of Figure 3.

Figure 2 shows a bag during one step of the opening operation.

Figure 3 is a vertical front view of the device showing the spring actuated operating members.

Figure 4 is a top view of the bag in its final opening operation.

Referring particularly to Figure 1, a receptacle I, has a base 2, and a partition or back wall 3, which supports the various operating elements. A bottom folding roller 4, and a guide roller 5 are mounted in the side walls 6--6, and are free to rotate when frictionally engaged by a moving bag as it is withdrawn from its holding receptacle.

Side rollers II are rotatable on studs 8, pivoted on pins 9 mounted in the side walls, said studs 8 having an angular portion I0, which is pressed against the side walls by action of the leaf springs I I, said springs being rigidly mounted at one end thereof to the sides by screws I2. A bag supporting member I3, is held spaced from the base and sides by grooves I4, which accommodate guide pins I5. A spring member I6 having a tension twist, or spring intermediate its ends, is secured by staples or other means to the partition or rear wall, on one end, the remaining end thereof being adapted to slide in an aperture I! of a flange I8. The spring pressure of member I6 urges the bag supporting part I3 against the bags. This pressure urges a ridge or protuberance 23 against the bags at a point lower than the folding roller 4, so that the bag nearest the 10 front tends to bend in such a manner that the vertical base of the folded bag is pressed against the vertical side of the block I9.

In operation, when the front bag is grasped between the thumb and the forefinger, at a point designated as in Figures 2 and 4, and then pulled forward until the edges 2I are free of the side rollers I, as shown in Figure 4, the bag is then pulled upward, vertical edges 22 still remaining under control of roller I. 20

The spring pressure of member I6 causes the vertical base to be spaced from the sides proper, so that as the bag is elevated on its upward movement, the roller 4 comes between the bag base and the bag side. A continuous pulling on the bag causes the roller to force the top portion of the bag bottom back against itself as shown in Figure 2.

The continued upward motion of the bag causes the guide roller 5 to further fold back the upper half of the bag bottom, while the rollers I continue to remain between the vertical edges 2| and 22. In Figure 4, the final operation is shown where the bag bottom is about to impinge the side rollers I. As the bag base is moved upward, the rollers I cause a strain on the base due to the action of springs II, and hold the base until the upward strain at point 20 is sufficient to completely open the bag, and cause the rollers I to be pivoted upward, until the bag is free. Thereafter the side rollers I snap back to normal position as shown in Figure 3.

While only one section is shown in detail, it is understood that a number of bag compartments may be used to permit a single container to afford several bag sizes to be utilized.

A single spring is shown to hold the pivoted rollers in a normal position, yet it is understood that a single spring member may act as a roller normalizing means for several rollers on oneside. Likewise, it is contemplated to utilize a normalizing spring by securing parts I0 together with a spring of the tension type, said spring being placed to the left of the rollers, as shown in Figure 1, to prevent interference with normal operation of this novel invention.

Certain embodiments of this invention have been shown in detail, yet other arrangements may be and may become apparent to those skilled in the art, and therefore this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the subjoined claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a bag holder comprising a base, back, side walls, and a low front wall, the combination of a bag supporting member located within the hold-- or and maintaining a series of bags between the supporting member and the front wall of the holder, a pair of rollers supported by the side walls of the holder located behind and above the front wall and in front of the series of bags, a second pair of short rollers mountedabove the first mentioned rolls, and spring means normally maintaining the short rollers in a horizontal position but permitting said short rollers to be swung in a plane which is transverse to the plane of the side walls.

2. In a bag holder comprising a baseback, side walls, and a low front wall, the combination of a bag supporting member located Within the holder and maintaining a series of upright bags between the supporting member and the front wall of the holder, a pair of rollers supported by the side Walls of the holder located behind. and

above the front wall, said rollers extending completely across the holder and being located in front of the series of bags, a second pair of short rollers extending inwardly from the side walls and being located above the first mentioned rollers, and means for mounting said second pair of rollers so that they are normally retained in a horizontal position but are adapted to swing in a plane transverse to the plane of the side walls.

3. In a bag holder comprising a base, back, side Walls, and a low front wall, the combination of a bag supporting member located within the holder and maintaining a series of upright bags between the supporting member and the front wall ofthe holder, an upper and a lower roller supported by the side walls of the holder located behind and above the front wall, said rollers extending across the holder, the upper roller being of larger diameter than the lower roller, a second pair of short rollers extending inwardly from the side Walls and being mounted above the first mentioned rollers, and restraining means coacting with said second pair of rollers so that they are normally retained in a horizontal position but are permitted to be swung in a plane transverse to the plane of the side walls.

SCUDDER M. MACKEY. ROLAND F. KEPPLER.

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