US3763628A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bag loader
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-06-08
•
Granted: 1973-10-09
•
Expires: 1992-06-08
Abstract
Abstract In order to speed up the check-out of customers at a discount store operation, and in order to eliminate one person at the station who has to package the groceries or merchandise, the within invention has been developed. There is a tray with a cover which is of the overall dimensions of the typical grocery bag but slightly smaller. There is a lid cover on top of the tray. At the bottom of the tray is a movable tray to which a tongue is attached. At the end of the tray are a pair of doors. These doors are located away from the cash register area and toward the exit. When the cover is closed and the tray is filled with groceries a switch is actuated causing the doors to open and the tray and the tongue with the groceries to move through the doors. While the groceries are being placed in the tray, a bag is opened and is positioned horizontally to receive the groceries. As soon as the groceries have been inserted in the bag, the bag is now uprighted and the tongue acts as a shoehorn so that the groceries are gently deposited in the bag. The tongue and the tray are returned to the normal position and the bag filled with the groceries is conveyed in this instance to a rotary type conveyor which acts as a pick-up station from where the customer may collect the grocery bags. There is an electrical control circuit for synchronizing and operating the aforesaid functions. There is a special bag opening means whereby a blower assists the opening of the bags which are in a horizontal position in conjunction with suction cups which also assist the opening the bag and which suction cups are mounted on a movable arm which has to be displaced when the bags have been filled and are to be delivered to the conveyor. The electrical circuit is actuated by switches which are strategically placed at key locations along the path of the various pulleys and chains which operate the moving parts.
Inventors
- 👤 W Bodolay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 05:16
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B43/00; B65B43/26; B65B43/34; B65B43/36; B65B5/00; B65B5/06; B65B5/067; B65B67/00; B65B67/02; B65B67/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station comprising a tray, a conveyor means for said tray, a tongue in the bottom of said tray, means for opening a bag and placing said bag in a horizontal position adjoining said tray and tongue, means for inserting said tongue and tray into said bag after the groceries have been placed in said tray on said tongue, means whereby said tongue carries said groceries within said bag off the tray from a horizontal to a vertical position, and means for delivering said bag to a pick-up station.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station comprising a tray, a conveyor means for said tray, a tongue in the bottom of said tray, means for opening a bag and placing said bag in a horizontal position adjoining said tray and tongue, means for inserting said tongue and tray into said bag after the groceries have been placed in said tray on said tongue, means whereby said tongue carries said groceries within said bag off the tray from a horizontal to a vertical position, and means for delivering said bag to a pick-up station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 1 wherein said tongue is connected at the end of said tray furthest away from said pick-up station, said tongue being of a resilient material whereby said tongue is flexible from the point where it is attached to said tray.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
102 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 1 wherein said means for opening bags comprises a movable arm, a plurality of suction cups attached to said arm, means for positioning said arm so that the suction cups are in surface contact with a bag, and means for creating a vacuum within said suction cups causing the top side surface of the said bag to be attached to the suction cups whereby when said arm moves, said suction cups cause the top of the bag to move with the movement of tHe said arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 2 wherein said means for opening bags comprises a movable arm, a plurality of suction cups attached to said arm, means for positioning said arm so that the suction cups are in surface contact with a bag, and means for creating a vacuum within said suction cups causing the top side surface of the said bag to be attached to the suction cups whereby when said arm moves, said suction cups cause the top of the bag to move with the movement of the said arm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 3 wherein there are a supply of bags, one on top of the other, a clamp means for holding down the lower side of the top bag whereby when said arm moves, the upper side of the closed bag is pulled away from the clamped lower side of said bag so that said bag is opened.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 3 wherein there is a blower, said blower causing a blast of air to lift the upper top surface of the bag away from the lower surface thereof to engage the suction cups.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 4 wherein there is a blower, said blower causing a blast of air to lift the upper top surface of the bag away from the lower surface thereof to engage the suction cups.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 5 wherein there is a blower, said blower causing a blast of air to lift the upper top surface of the bag away from the lower surface thereof to engage the suction cups.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 1 wherein said tray and said tongue are of a dimension slightly smaller than the said bag.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 2 wherein said tray and said tongue are of a dimension slightly smaller than the said bag.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 3 wherein said tray and said tongue are of a dimension slightly smaller than the said bag.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 4 wherein said tray and said tongue are of a dimension slightly smaller than the said bag.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 5 wherein said tray and said tongue are of a dimension slightly smaller than the said bag.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 6 wherein said tray and said tongue are of a dimension slightly smaller than the said bag.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 1 having doors, said doors being movably mounted by torsion spring hinges at the end of the tray near the position where the bag is located, said doors being opened when said means for inserting the tray and the tongue into said bag is operated, and said doors closing under tension of said hinges when the tray and tongue have been returned to the loading position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
82 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 2 having doors, said doors being movably mounted by torsion spring hinges at the end of the tray near the position where the bag is located, said doors being opened when said means for inserting the tray and the tongue into said bag is operated, and said doors closing under tension of said hinges when the tray and tongue have been returned to the loading position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
81 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 3 having doors, said doors being movably mounted by torsion spring hinges at the end of the tray near the position where the bag is located, said doors being opened when said means for inserting the tray and tongue into sAid bag is operated, and said doors closing under tension of said hinges when the tray and tongue have been returned to the loading position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
80 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 4 having doors, said doors being movably mounted by torsion spring hinges at the end of the tray near the position where the bag is located, said doors being opened when said means for inserting tray and tongue into said bag is operated, and said doors closing under tension of said hinges when the tray and tongue have been returned to the loading position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
81 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 5 having doors, said doors being movably mounted by torsion spring hinges at the end of the tray near the position where the bag is located, said doors being opened when said means for inserting the tray and tongue into said bag is operated, and said doors closing under tension of said hinges when the tray and tongue have been returned to the loading position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
81 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 6 having doors, said doors being movably mounted by torsion spring hinges at the end of the tray near the position where the bag is located, said doors being opened when said means for inserting the tray and tongue into said bag is operated, and said doors closing under tension of said hinges when the tray and tongue have been returned to the loading position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
81 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 9 having doors, said doors being movably mounted by torsion spring hinges at the end of the tray near the position where the bag is located, said doors being opened when said means for inserting the tray and tongue into said bag is operated, and said doors closing under tension of said hinges when the tray and tongue have been returned to the loading position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
206 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 1 having an electrical circuit for controlling the operation of said device, said circuit connected to a source of electrical power, a plurality of switches connected to one side of the said source of power, a stepping switch having a coil, the other side of the said switch being connected to said stepping switch coil and then to the other side of said source of power, said stepping switch operated under the control of said stepping switch coil, said stepping switch with a movable arm having the same number of contact-positions thereon as said number of plurality of switches, a clutch control power source connected to said source of electrical power, the other side of said clutch control power source connected to the movable arm of said stepping switch, a plurality of solonoids, each of said contact-positions on said stepping switch connected to each one of said solonoids, the opposite side of each of said solonoids connected to said opposite side of said clutch control power source whereby when one of said switches operate, the said stepping switch moves one position to close a circuit to operate a complimentary solonoid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
80 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-station as described in claim 22, wherein one of said solonoids causes the means for opening the bag to operate, one of said solonoids causes the means for inserting the tongue and the tray into the bag to operate, one of said solonoids is causing the bag opening means to move away, and another of said solonoids is causing the tongue and tray to return to their original starting positions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
205 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 3 having an electrical circuit for controlling the operation of said device, said circuit connected to a source of electrical power, a plurality of switches connected to one side of the said source of power, a stepping switch having a coil, the other side of the said switch being connected to said stEpping switch coil and then to the other side of said source of power, said stepping switch operated under the control of said stepping switch coil, said stepping switch with a movable arm having the same number of contact-positions thereon as said number of plurality of switches, a clutch control power source connected to said source of electrical power, the other side of said clutch control power source connected to the movable arm of said stepping switch, a plurality of solonoids, each of said contact-positions on said stepping switch connected to each one of said solonoids, the opposite side of each said solonoids connected to said opposite side of said clutch control power source whereby when one of said switches operate, the said stepping switch moves one position to close a circuit to operate a complimentary solonoid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
81 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 24, wherein one of said solonoids causes the means for opening the bag to operate, one of said solonoids causes the means for inserting the tongue and the tray into the bag to operate, one of said solonoids is causing the bag opening means to move away, and another of said solonoids is causing the tongue and tray to return to their original starting positions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
206 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 16 having an electrical circuit for controlling the operation of said device, said circuit connected to a source of electrical power, a plurality of switches connected to one side of the said source of power, a stepping switch having a coil, the other side of the said switch being connected to said stepping switch coil and then to the other side of said source of power, said stepping switch operated under the control of said stepping switch coil, said stepping switch with a movable arm having the same number of contact-positions thereon as said number of plurality of switches, a clutch control power source connected to said source of electrical power, the other side of said clutch control power source connected to the movable arm of said stepping switch, a plurality of solonoids, each of said contact-positions on said stepping switch connected to each one of said solonoids, the opposite side of each of said solonoids connected to said opposite side of said clutch control power source whereby when one of said switches operate, the said stepping switch moves one position to close a circuit to operate a complimentary solonoid.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
81 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 26, wherein one of said solonoids causes the means for opening the bag to operate, one of said solonoids causes the means for inserting the tongue and the tray into the bag to operate, one of said solonoids is causing the bag opening means to move away, and another of said solonoids is causing the tongue and tray to return to their original starting positions.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
116 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 22, each of said switches adapted to be closed at a particular point of time in the cycle of operation of said device, to wit: the first of said switches being closed when the cover of said tray is closed, the second of said switches being closed when the tray and the tongue are inserted in the bag, the third of said switches being closed when said tray and tongue are removed from said bag, and the fourth of said switches being closed after said bag is filled and causing said filled bag to be delivered to the pick-up station.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
116 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 23, each of said switches adapted to be closed at a particular point of time in the cycle of operation of said device, to wit: the first of said switches being closed when the cover of said tray is closed, the second of said switches being closed when the tray and the tongue are inserted in the bag, the third of said switches being closed when saiD tray and tongue are removed from said bag, and the fourth of said switches being closed after said bag is filled and causing said filled bag to be delivered to the pick-up station.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
116 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 24, each of said switches adapted to be closed at a particular point of time in the cycle of operation of said device, to wit: the first of said switches being closed when the cover of said tray is closed, the second of said switches being closed when the tray and the tongue are inserted in the bag, the third of said switches being closed when said tray and tongue are removed from said bag, and the fourth of said switches being closed after said bag is filled and causing said filled bag to be delivered to the pick-up station.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
116 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 25, each of said switches adapted to be closed at a particular point of time in the cycle of operation of said device, to wit: the first of said switches being closed when the cover of said tray is closed, the second of said switches being closed when the tray and the tongue are inserted in the bag, the third of said switches being closed when said tray and tongue are removed from said bag, and the fourth of said switches being closed after said bag is filled and causing said filled bag to be delivered to the pick-up station.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
116 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 26, each of said switches adapted to be closed at a particular point of time in the cycle of operation of said device, to wit: the first of said switches being closed when the cover of said tray is closed, the second of said switches being closed when the tray and the tongue are inserted in the bag, the third of said switches being closed when said tray and tongue are removed from said bag, and the fourth of said switches being closed after said bag is filled and causing said filled bag to be delivered to the pick-up station.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
116 words
A device for packaging groceries in a bag at a check-out station as described in claim 27, each of said switches adapted to be closed at a particular point of time in the cycle of operation of said device, to wit: the first of said switches being closed when the cover of said tray is closed, the second of said switches being closed when the tray and the tongue are inserted in the bag, the third of said switches being closed when said tray and tongue are removed from said bag, and the fourth of said switches being closed after said bag is filled and causing said filled bag to be delivered to the pick-up station.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2958990A
Cited
US3490195A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |