Abstract: Bag opening device for supermarket check-out counters incorporating bag dispensing machines, comprising a pair of pliers mounted on a pair of guides capable of a reciprocating horizontal motion. The pliers grasp and pull apart the two opposite sides of a bag fed by feeding belts. Each pliers (1, 2) consists of a pair of jaws (9, 9' and 11, 11') meshing with each other by means of a pair of toothed wheels (13, 13' and 14, 14') and pushed towards each other by a compression spring (16, 17) placed between two of their ends. One of the ends of each pliers is provided with a roller (18, 19) which, by interacting with a suitable opening device, counteracts the force of the compression springs (16, 17) thereby opening the jaws (9, 9' and 11, 11') of each pliers (1, 2).

Abstract: A T-shirt or handle bag of plastic film material of the foldable type and provided with handles, which is connected in single file with further identical bags from which it may be separated by tearing-off along weakened areas. A roll formed from a continuous ribbon of bags is adapted to be supplied for use in apparatuses for automatically dispensing and opening the bags into which the goods that have been bought at the checkout counters of a store. In order to obtain a constant-size roll [(B)] by rolling up a continuous ribbon on a central core [(A)], the handle bag is dimensioned so that each one of its folded lateral portions [(S1-S2)] has a width which is not smaller than one third of the total width [(L)] of the bag in its flattened condition.

Abstract: A machine for packaging plural types of products inside a plastic stretchable film, including a bundling unit and a complete sealing unit. The bundling unit includes a device for longitudinally stretching a film web segment before wrapping it around the articles, a device for wrapping the stretched and tensioned film around the periphery of the articles, as well as a sealing device adapted to join both ends of the film segment which has been stretched and tightly wrapped around the articles to be packaged. The complete sealing unit includes a device for transversely stretching the side edges of the film segment used for bundling, protruding out of the sides of the bundled articles, and a device for sealing closed the film wrapping around the bundled articles.

Abstract: A self-service check-out counter for cashier-unattended use and operation includes an laser scanner for automated reading of product identification codes borne by articles to be purchased, a keyboard for manual entry of article-identifying information, a variety of indicators and signalling devices for instructing actions by the customer, devices for preventing pilferage, fraud and inadvertent errors and an integral bag forming apparatus for manufacturing custom-formed bags on-site at the counter and on demand and, preferably, custom-sized to conform to the volume of articles to be packed in the bags. A customer individually scans articles to be purchased and the scanned data is verified through comparison with stored product identifying information. Following verification of each article, customer placement of the article into the bag forming apparatus in enabled and a bag preferably conforming to the volume of articles purchased in manufactured within the check-out counter.