Opener and holder for bags

Claim 2

Apparatus for dispensing and holding carrying bags comprising an apparatus frame; a bag magazine for a supply of individual bags, said magazine including carrying rail means for extending through the handle openings in the bags; a carrier means; a bag pick-up and holding means supported reciprocably on said carrier means in the vicinity straight forwardly from said magazine rail means, said pick-up means operative to move substantially horizontally from an initial position to the foremost bag stored in said magazine and engage particular serrations or cut-outs in the outermost bag panel only, said pick-up and holding means comprising two laterally spaced hook members adapted to engage said cut-outs in said outermost bag panel only, said hook members arranged to strike upwardly when in engagement with said panel in order to release said panel from said magazine rail means; and means for returning said carrier means including said pick-up means to said initial position; said apparatus operative to dispense and hold one bag after the other in open position suspended between said magazine rail means and said pick-up means.

Claim 3

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said carrier means comprises an angularly shaped shuttle having one arm constituting support for said pick-up means, and one second armsupported parallelly with the axis through said magazine and said pick-up means and connected to a motor means operative to give said shuttle a reciprocating movement giving the pick-up means a reciprocating movement from said initial position to a position in engagement with the outmost bag on the magazine rail means and back to said initial position, and means controlling the movements.

Claim 4

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said magazine includes spring means urging the supply of bags toward the outer ends of said rail means, said rail means provided with upwardly pointing stop knobs at the outer end thereof.

Claim 5

Carrying bag to be used in apparatus in accordance with claim 3, said bag at one of the handle openings therein provided with two mutually spaced cut-outs or serrations situated to provide engagement openings for said pick-up means.

Claim 6

Apparatus for dispensing and holding carrying bags comprising an apparatus frame; a bag magazine for a supply of individual bags, said magazine including carrying rail means for extending through the handle openings in the bags; a carrier means; a bag pick-up and holding means supported reciprocably on said carrier means in the vicinity straight forwardly from said magazine rail means, said pick-up means operative to move substantially horizontally from an initial position to the foremost bag stored in said magazine and engage particular serrations or cut-outs in the outermost bag panel only; and means for returning said carrier means including said pick-up means to said initial position; said apparatus operative to dispense and hold one bag after the other in open position suspended between said magazine rail means and said pick-up means; said carrier means comprising an upright, pivotable swing arm which is pivotally supported about a horizontal axis at the lower part of said frame; said swing arm connected to a motor means for carrying out reciprocable pivotable movement from said initial position to a position in the vicinity of said magazine rail means; said pick-up means being mounted at the upper end of said swing arm; said pick-up means being operative for carrying out upward movement when in engagement with said outermost bag panel on said magazine rail means in order to release said outermost bag panel from said magazine rail means; and means for controlling the movements of said swing arm and pick-up means.

Claim 7

Apparatus for dispensing and holding carrying bags comprising an apparatus frame; a bag magazine for a supply of individual bags, said magazine including carrying rail means for extending through the handle openings in the bags; a carrier means; a bag pick-up and holding means supported reciprocably on said carrier means in the vicinity straight forwardly from said magazine rail means, said pick-up means operative to move substantially horizontally from an initial position to the foremost bag stored in said magazine and engage particular serrations or cut-outs in the outermost bag panel only; and means for returning said carrier means including said pick-up means to said initial position; said apparatus operative to dispense and hold one bag after the other in open position suspended between said magazine rail means and said pick-up means; said carrier means comprising an upright, pivotable swing arm which is pivotally supported about a horizontal axis at the lower part of said frame; said swing arm connected to a motor means for carrying out reciprocable pivotable movement from said initial position to a position in the vicinity of said magazine rail means; said pick-up means being mounted at the upper end of said swing arm; said pick-up means being operative for carrying out upward movement when in engagement with said outermost bag panel on said magazine rail means in order to release said outermost bag panel from said magazine rail means; and means for controlling the movements of said swing arm and pick-up means.

Claim 8

Bag to be used in apparatus in accordance with claim 5, said bag provided with one individual opening on either side of one of said handle openings in the bag, said individual openings providing access for said pick-up means.

Claim 9

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said pick-up means is coupled to linkage and cam means biased on said frame of said apparatus, operative to give said pick-up means the desired movement correlated with the movement of said swing arm.

Claim 10

Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein said movements are controlled by photo cell means controlling the presence of a bag in the space between said pick up means and said magazine.