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US5174413A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Plastic bag dispensing apparatus for supermarkets incorporating devices for the registering of the purchased items

Assignee: AWAX Progettazione e Ricerca SRL
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Filing: 1991-10-25
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Granted: 1992-12-29
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Expires: 2011-10-25
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Abstract

Abstract Apparatus for dispensing and opening plastic bags from a continuous strip wound in a reel apt to detach from it a bag (4) at a time, open it and keep it open below a mouth (8) through which a customer may insert into the underposed bag (4) the items he purchased, the apparatus comprises also a scanner (5) connected through a computer (7) to a shutter (11, 11') located on the mouth (8) so that the computer (7) controls the opening of the shutters (11, 11') and the inhibition of the scanner (5) when it has registered an item, and controls the reactivation of the scanner (5) and the closing of the shutters (11, 11') when the registered item has entered the bag (4) through the mouth (8).

Inventors

  • 👤 Angelo Cappi
  • 👤 Renato Rimondi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 02:43
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47F; A47F9/00; A47F9/02; A47F9/04; A47F9/042; G; G07; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/0036

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 131 words
An apparatus for dispensing and opening plastic bags from a continuous strip wound in a reel apt to detach from it a bag (4) at a time, open it and keep it open below a mouth (8) through which a customer may insert in the underposed bag (4) the items he purchased, characterized in that it comprises also a scanner (5) connected through a computer (7) to a shutter (11, 11') located on the mouth (8) so that the computer (7) controls the opening of the shutters (11, 11') and the inhibition of the scanner (5) when it has registered an item, and controls the reactivation of the scanner (5) and the closing of the shutters (11, 11') when the registered item has entered the bag (4) through the mouth (8).
Claim 2
Independent Claim 131 words
An apparatus for dispensing and opening plastic bags from a continuous strip wound in a reel apt to detach from it a bag (4) at a time, open it and keep it open below a mouth (8) through which a customer may insert in the underposed bag (4) the items he purchased, characterized in that it comprises also a scanner (5) connected through a computer (7) to a shutter (11, 11') located on the mouth (8) so that the computer (7) controls the opening of the shutters (11, 11') and the inhibition of the scanner (5) when it has registered an item, and controls the reactivation of the scanner (5) and the closing of the shutters (11, 11') when the registered item has entered the bag (4) through the mouth (8).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 37 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the scanner (5) and the computer (7) are mounted on the counter (1) that incorporates devices for dispensing and opening the bags (4), and close to the mouth (8).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that immediately below the mouth (8) a photocell array (14) is arranged connected to the computer (7).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 38 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the scanner (5) and the computer (7) are mounted on the counter (1) that incorporates devices for dispensing and opening the bags (4), and close to the mouth (8).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 44 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises also a roller path (15) apt to receive bulky items that cannot pass through the mouth (8), said roller path may have a sensor connected to the scanner (5) through the computer (7).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 38 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the scanner (5) and the computer (7) are mounted on the counter (1) that incorporates devices for dispensing and opening the bags (4), and close to the mouth (8).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 36 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the shutter (11, 11') is formed by two sliding elements actuated by two pneumatic cylinders (12, 12') both connected to the scanner (5) through the computer (7).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 38 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the scanner (5) and the computer (7) are mounted on the counter (1) that incorporates devices for dispensing and opening the bags (4), and close to the mouth (8).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 25 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that immediately below the mouth (8) a photocell array (14) is arranged connected to the computer (7).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 38 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the scanner (5) and the computer (7) are mounted on the counter (1) that incorporates devices for dispensing and opening the bags (4), and close to the mouth (8).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 44 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises also a roller path (15) apt to receive bulky items that cannot pass through the mouth (8), said roller path may have a sensor connected to the scanner (5) through the computer (7).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 38 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the scanner (5) and the computer (7) are mounted on the counter (1) that incorporates devices for dispensing and opening the bags (4), and close to the mouth (8).

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-12-29 1996-06-29 1996-12-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-12-29 2000-06-29 2000-12-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-12-29 2004-06-29 2004-12-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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