Bag Opener

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for separating layers of a plastic bag. The apparatus includes a contact arm, a pad, and a geartrain operably connected to the contact arm to provide a defined range of motion. The range of motion includes a first portion in which the contact arm is spaced from the pad, a second portion in which the contact arm engages and slides against the pad, and a third portion in which the contact arm is again spaced from the pad. A housing supports the components, and a button is operably connected to the geartrain. Actuation of the button causes the geartrain to move the contact arm through the range of motion such that the sliding engagement between the contact arm and the pad generates a shear force effective to separate layers of the plastic bag.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/746,232 filed Jan. 16, 2025, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a bag opener, and in particular, a bag opener that separates layers of a bag to facilitate opening of the bag.

BACKGROUND

Plastic bags are used in many places to carry and/or protect various contents. For example, plastic bags found in produce sections are typically dispensed on a roll and used to store and protect fruits and vegetables. What is needed are improvements to systems and methods for dispensing and using plastic bags.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are implementations of a bag opener. The bag opener may be an apparatus comprising one or more contact arms, one or more pads, and a button. The button may be operably connected to the one or more contact arms such that, when the button is pressed by a user (e.g. a human user), the one or more contact arms move through a range of motion. The range of motion of each contact arm may comprise a first portion in which the contact arm is spaced from a pad, a second portion in which the contact arm pushes against the pad with a sliding or rolling motion to create a shear force between the contact arm and the pad, and a third portion in which the contact arm is spaced from the pad. An actuation assembly (e.g. a geartrain) may operably connect the button to the one or more contact arms to move each contact arm through their respective ranges of motion. When the button is released by the user, a biasing mechanism of the actuation assembly may return each contact arm to a position at the start of the first portion of the range of motion. When a plastic bag is placed on the one or more pads and the button is depressed by a user, the one or more contact arms may contact the plastic bag and the motion between the contact arm and the bag may create a shear force between layers in the plastic bag. This may separate the layers and enable the user to more easily complete the opening of the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not necessarily to-scale. For example, the dimensions of certain features may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity.

FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of a bag opener according to the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the bag opener of FIG. 1 showing the bottom portion of the bag opener.

FIG. 3 is a third perspective view of the bag opener of FIG. 1 showing the side and rear portion of the bag opener.

FIG. 4 is a first perspective view of the button, contact arm, and actuation assembly of the bag opener of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a second perspective view of the button, contact arm, and actuation assembly of the bag opener of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the button, contact arm, and actuation assembly of the bag opener of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a front-face view of the button, contact arm, and actuation assembly of the bag opener of FIG. 1 showing the range of motion of the contact arm.

FIG. 8 is a first cross-sectional perspective view of the bag opener of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a second cross-sectional perspective view of the bag opener of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a front-face view of a second embodiment of a contact arm and pad for generating a second sliding motion according to the disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a first front-face view of a third embodiment of a contact arm and disk assembly for providing an alternative sliding motion path for the contact arm according to the disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a second front-face view of a disk and pin assembly for providing an alternative motion path for the contact arm through a slot in the housing.

FIG. 13 is a third front-face view of a disk and pin assembly for providing an alternative motion path for the contact arm through a slot in the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Plastic bags may be placed in the produce, meat, checkout, or other sections of supermarkets, offering shoppers a simple way to store and transport loose fruits, vegetables, meats, and other fresh items. Made from thin, lightweight plastic, the bags may help separate and protect produce, preventing cross-contamination with other items in the shopping cart, basket, bag, or the like. They may also enable customers to select specific quantities and help to maintain freshness on the way home.

In certain implementations, bags may be dispensed from rolls located near produce displays. To use one, a shopper may pull a bag from the roll, tearing it along a perforated edge. After separating layers of the bag to open it, they may place their chosen produce inside and may tie or fold the top to secure it. Shoppers may use multiple bags to organize different items, keeping produce neatly separated. Once filled, the bags may be placed in the shopping cart, ready for weighing and checkout. These lightweight bags may offer both convenience and protection, making them practical for handling fresh items in the store. Additionally, plastic bags may be dispensed from racks at or near the checkout station for final packaging of the shopper's chosen products.

Referring to FIG. 1, when a bag is dispensed from a roll or rack, the bag may have various layers or folds so that it is compact. Before the bag can be used, the user may separate the folds or layers. In selected implementations, a bag opener 100 may facilitate the separation of the folds or layers of the bag, thereby facilitating the opening of the bag.

A bag opener 100 may comprise one or more contact arms 102, one or more pads 104, and a button 106. When the button 106 is pressed, one or more contact arms 102 may rotate about a respective axis of each contact arm 102 to contact the one or more pads 104 on a contact area 108 of each pad 104 with a sliding or rolling motion. A portion or all of a pad 104 may comprise the contact area 108. Each contact arm 102 and contact area 108 may provide a frictional surface so that when the contact arm 102 slides across the pad 104, a shear force is generated between the points of contact. When a bag is placed on top of the pad 104 such that the opening of the bag is on the contact area 108, the motion of the contact arm 102 and the grip or frictional engagement of the contact arm 102 and the contact area 108 acting against different folds or layers of the bag may create a shear force between the folds or layers, thereby separating the folds or layers and facilitating the opening of the bag. The motion of the contact arm 102 may be a sliding motion or the contact arm 102 may roll across the contact area 108 to create the shear force.

Each contact arm 102 may be connected to a disk 110 which is rotatable about a contact arm shaft 112. When the button 106 is pressed, the contact arm 102, may rotate to contact the pad 104 at the contact area 108 with a sliding motion. The rotation of the contact arm 102 may also allow the contact arm 102 to contact the pad 104 with a rolling motion (i.e. a combination of rotation and translation across the surface of the contact area 108 of the pad 104). Additionally or alternatively, the contact arm 102 may be rotatable about a longitudinal axis to enable the contact arm 102 to contact the pad 104 with a rolling motion. The contact arm 102 may contain a portion that may have a friction surface. This portion may be separable from the rest of the contact arm 102 and attach to the rest of the contact arm 102 with an adhesive, fastener, or other suitable attachment. In this way, this portion of the contact arm 102 may be made of a material having different mechanical properties from the rest of the contact arm 102. In certain implementations, the portion may be or comprise silicone rubber, some other elastomeric material, sandpaper, or any suitable friction material that may provide sufficient frictional engagement with a bag. This portion of the contact arm 102 may be a consumable that can be replaced as necessary due to wear.

The contact area 108 may be a surface feature or texture that may be applied to or formed on a portion of each pad 104 by embossing, knurling, or the like. Alternatively or additionally, the contact area 108 may be separable from the pad 104 and attach to the pad 104 with an adhesive, fastener, or other suitable attachment. In this way, the contact area 108 may be made of a material having different mechanical properties from the rest of the pad 104. In selected implementations, the contact area 108 may be or comprise silicone rubber, some other elastomeric material, sandpaper, or any suitable friction material. The contact area 108 may be a consumable that can be replaced as necessary due to wear.

A bag opener 100 may further include a housing 114. The housing 114 may enclose all or a portion of selected components of the bag opener 100. The housing 114 may include a front portion 116, middle portion 118, and rear portion 120. The housing 114 may be made of plastic, metal, composite material, wood, or other suitable material for providing structure to the bag opener 100 and support for components located within the housing 114. The housing 114 may have assembly holes 124 for securing the portions of the housing 114 together with fasteners. Alternatively or additionally, the portions of the housing 114 may be secured by other means such as clips, ultrasonic welding, friction fit, laser welding, or other suitable joining method. The portions of the housing 114 may also contain mounting apertures 126 (e.g., female threaded inserts insert molded or otherwise secured within the material of the housing 114) for mounting or securing the bag opener 100 to a surface or stand in one or more positions or orientations. Mounting apertures 126 may be on the side, top, bottom, front, or rear surfaces of the bag opener 100.

Referring to FIG. 2, the button 106 may be connected to a button mount 200. The button mount 200 may be a mechanism for actuating the motion of the contact arm 102 in response to input from the button 106 through mechanical or electrical systems. The button mount 200 may be secured to the button 106 with fasteners, clips, adhesives, ultrasonic welding, or other suitable joining method. The button mount 200 may be integrally formed with the button 106. The button mount 200 may be an electronic sensor (e.g. a proximity sensor, hall effect sensor, laser position sensor, or the like) for detecting the movement of the button 106 or the presence of a bag on the one or more pads 104.

Referring to FIG. 3, the housing 114 may include mounting apertures 126 on each face of the housing 114 (e.g. the top, bottom, side, rear or front).

Referring to FIG. 4, a bag opener 100 may include an actuation assembly 400. The actuation assembly 400 may operably connect the button 106 to the one or more contact arms 102 to initiate or drive motion of each contact arm 102 when the button 106 is pressed. With reference to FIG. 4, an actuation assembly 400 may form a geartrain which may transform the motion of the button 106 into rotational motion of the one or more contact arms 102. The actuation assembly 400 may include the button 106, button mount 200, button mount shaft 402, button mount gear 404, intermediate gear 406, intermediate gear shaft 408, biasing mechanism 410 (e.g., return spring), output bevel gear 412, contact arm shaft 112, disk 110, and contact arm 102. When the button 106 is pressed, the button mount 200 may engage the geartrain to rotate the disk 110, thereby moving the contact arm 102 through a range of motion in which it may make sliding contact with the contact area 108 of the pad 104. One or more of the components of the actuation assembly 400 may be made of polymeric material, metal, wood, composite material, or a combination of these or other suitable materials. The housing 114 may at least partially enclose the actuation assembly 400 of the bag opener 100. Additionally or alternatively, the actuation assembly 400 may comprise a geartrain to include one or more of the listed components to drive motion of one or more contact arms 102.

Referring to FIG. 5, the button mount 200 and the button mount gear 404 may be formed as a single monolithic piece (e.g., via molding, three-dimensional printing, or the like). Similarly, the intermediate gear 406 may be formed as a single monolithic piece (e.g., via molding, three-dimensional printing, or the like).

The intermediate gear 406 may comprise a spur gear 500, intermediate bevel gear 502, and a cylindrical portion 504. The cylindrical portion 504 may attach or stabilize the spur gear 500 and intermediate bevel gear 502 on the intermediate gear shaft 408. Alternatively or in addition thereto, the cylindrical portion 504 may support the biasing mechanism 410 located (e.g., coiled) thereabout. The biasing mechanism 410 may act on the intermediate gear 406 (e.g., on a projection 506 located on the intermediate bevel gear 502) and the housing 114 to return the actuation assembly 400 to a first position (e.g., a first portion of a range of motion) when the button 106 is released. The intermediate gear 406 may be attached to the intermediate gear shaft 408 by set screws, glue, friction fit, or the like.

Referring to FIG. 6, a side view of the actuation assembly 400 may enable visualization of the motion of the actuation assembly 400 when the button 106 is pressed. The button movement 600 may comprise rotation about the button mount shaft 402. Linkage between (e.g., monolithic formation of) the button mount 200 and the button mount gear 404 may create a button mount gear movement 602. The button mount gear movement 602, in turn, may cause the button mount gear 404 to contact the spur gear 500, rotating the spur gear 500 of the intermediate gear 406 about the intermediate gear shaft 408, thereby creating a bevel gear movement 604 which may amplify the stroke of the button movement 600. The bevel gear movement 604 may move the intermediate bevel gear 502 of the intermediate gear 406 to engage the output bevel gear 412, causing the disk 110 to rotate with a disk movement 606. Disk movement 606 may move the contact arm 102 from its initial position through its range of motion. The biasing mechanism 410 may be set against the intermediate gear 406 such that it provides a biasing force against the intermediate gear 406. The biasing force may allow the actuation assembly 400 to return to its initial position when the button 106 is released.

Referring to FIG. 7, a front view of the actuation assembly 400 shows a contact arm 102 in its initial position, and at two other positions during the range of motion of the contact arm 102 when the button 106 is pressed. The first portion of the range of motion of the contact arm 102 does not contact the pad 104. During the second portion of the range of motion, the contact arm 102 may contact the pad 104 at the contact area 108 with a sliding motion. During the third portion of the range of motion, the contact arm 102 may release from contact with the pad 104 and end its movement at a location above or past the pad 104. When the button 106 is released, the biasing mechanism 410 of the actuation assembly 400 may bias the intermediate gear 406 to return the contact arm 102 to its original position at or near the start of the first portion of the range of motion.

Referring to FIG. 8, the actuation assembly 400 may be at least partially enclosed within the housing 114 of the bag opener 100. The actuation assembly 400 may be a geartrain in which the intermediate gear shaft 408 and contact arm shaft 112 may be supported by one or more bearings 800 or sets of bearings within the housing 114 to allow smooth and easy (e.g., low friction) rotation thereof with respect to the housing 114. Alternatively, the actuation assembly 400 may be an electromechanical assembly such as a solenoid actuator or electric motor and drivetrain. In still other implementations, the actuation assembly 400 may be a pneumatic assembly for moving the contact arm 102.

Referring to FIG. 9, portions of the actuation assembly 400 are shown in cross section. In selected implementations, a contact area 108 may comprise a piece of material (e.g., a thin sheet of silicone rubber) positioned within a pocket (e.g., a pocket with dimensions matching those of the sheet of material forming the contact area 108) formed in the pad 104. This may enable the contact area 108 to sit flush with a top surface of the pad 104.

In selected implementations, an apparatus for separating layers of a plastic bag may comprise a contact arm, a pad, a geartrain, a housing, and a button. The geartrain may be operably connected to the contact arm. The geartrain may provide a range of motion to the contact arm. The range of motion may comprise a first portion (e.g., a first portion in which the contact arm is spaced from the pad), a second portion (e.g., a second portion in which the contact arm pushes against the pad with a sliding motion or other shear-inducing motion), and a third portion (e.g., a third portion in which the contact arm is spaced from the pad). The button may be operably connected to the geartrain such that, when the button is pressed, the geartrain moves the contact arm through the range of motion such that the sliding motion of the second portion creates a shear force between the contact arm and the pad. The apparatus may further comprise one or more additional contact arms operably connected to the geartrain. The apparatus may further comprise one or more additional pads.

In certain implementations, an apparatus for separating layers of a plastic bag may comprise a contact arm, a pad, a geartrain, and a button. The geartrain may be operably connected to the contact arm. The geartrain may provide a range of motion to the contact arm, wherein the range of motion may comprise a portion in which the contact arm pushes against the pad with a sliding motion or some other shear-inducing motion. The button may be operably connected to the geartrain such that, when the button is pressed, the geartrain moves through the range of motion such that when the contact arm pushes against the pad, the sliding motion creates a shear force between the contact arm and the pad.

In other implementations, an apparatus for separating layers of a plastic bag may comprise a contact arm, a pad, and a button. The button may be operably connected to the contact arm such that, when the button is pressed, the contact arm moves through a range of motion. The range of motion may comprise a first portion, in which the contact arm is space from the pad, a second portion, in which the contact arm pushes against the pad with a sliding motion wherein the sliding motion creates a shear force between the contact arm and the pad, and a third portion, in which the contact arm is spaced from the pad.

Referring to FIG. 10, the contact area 108 of the pad 104 may be shaped (e.g. curved or cylindrically shaped) such that, during motion of the contact arm 102, the sliding motion contact between the contact arm 102 and the contact area 108 may be longer than that of a contact area 108 that is flat or planar. In this way, when a bag is placed on the contact area 108, a longer sliding motion across the contact area 108 may increase displacement between layers of the bag, thereby creating a larger open section of the bag.

Referring to FIG. 11, the disk 110 may have any suitable size and shape to support a desired motion of the contact arm 102. In selected implementations, the disk 110 may have a cutout 1102 (e.g., slot) to engage or push/pull a traveler on which the contact arm 102 may ride.

Referring to FIG. 12, the disk arrangement of FIG. 11 is shown with a schematic representation of a traveler on which a contact arm 102 may ride. Such an arrangement may extend, shorten, modify, or adjust the stroke of the contact arm 102 during the sliding motion contact between the contact arm 102 and the contact area 108 of the pad 104. In this arrangement, pins 1200 may be attached to the contact arm 102 and travel within a track 1202 (e.g., a slot) formed in the housing. The cutout 1102 in the disk 110 may engage the pins 1200 to move them from one end of the track 1202 to the other and back again. It may be appreciated that in this way, the sliding motion contact between the contact arm 102 and contact area 108 of the pad 104 may be extended, shortened, modified or adjusted based on the shape of the track 1202. In such an arrangement, the disk 110 may be located within the housing 114 such that the disk 110 is interior to the housing 114 and the contact arm 102 is exterior to the housing 114.

With reference to FIG. 13, a second position of the disk-traveler arrangement of FIG. 12 is shown, with the pins 1200 located in the middle of the stroke of the rotation of disk 110.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with certain embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

Claims

1. An apparatus for separating layers of a plastic bag, the apparatus comprising:

a contact arm;

a pad;

a geartrain operably connected to the contact arm, the geartrain providing a range of motion to the contact arm, the range of motion comprising a first portion, in which the contact arm is spaced from the pad, a second portion, in which the contact arm pushes against the pad with a sliding motion, and a third portion, in which the contact arm is spaced from the pad;

a housing; and

a button operably connected to the geartrain such that, when the button is pressed, the geartrain moves the contact arm through the range of motion such that the sliding motion of the second portion creates a shear force between the contact arm and the pad.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional contact arms operably connected to the geartrain.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising one or more additional pads.

4. An apparatus for separating layers of a plastic bag, the apparatus comprising:

a contact arm;

a pad;

a geartrain operably connected to the contact arm, the geartrain providing a range of motion to the contact arm comprising a portion in which the contact arm pushes against the pad with a sliding motion; and

a button operably connected to the geartrain such that, when the button is pressed, the geartrain moves through the range of motion such that when the contact arm pushes against the pad, the sliding motion creates a shear force between the contact arm and the pad.

5. An apparatus for separating layers of a plastic bag, the apparatus comprising:

a contact arm;

a pad; and

a button operably connected to the contact arm such that, when the button is pressed, the contact arm moves through a range of motion comprising a first portion, in which the contact arm is space from the pad, a second portion, in which the contact arm pushes against the pad with a sliding motion wherein the sliding motion creates a shear force between the contact arm and the pad, and a third portion, in which the contact arm is spaced from the pad.