Method and Apparatus for Electric Bag Dispensing

Abstract

The invention is a system and method for dispensing T-shirt type plastic bags singly by means of an automated dispenser. At the push of a button or other control means, a single bag is partially ejected from the machine, whereupon the user can take the bag and use it. The device has detectors for detecting fault conditions (such as bag depletion, wrinkled bags, and the like) as well as display means such as an LCD for displaying ads or other information to users.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . An automatic plastic bag dispenser comprising:
 a. a bag axle adapted hold a roll of plastic bags;   b. a front roller axle and rear roller axle, said roller axles being largely parallel to said bag axle; and a spring mechanism of adjustable tension adapted to push said rollers axles towards one another;   c. a front roller and a rear roller disposed upon said roller axles, said rollers being adapted to draw a sheet of plastic bags between said rollers, one of said rollers comprising material selected from the group consisting of: silicon dioxide sandpaper; material with a surface roughness R a  of greater than 0.5 mm; and electrical conductor, while the other of said rollers comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: rubber, silicon, silicone, styrene, acrylic, polyurethane, polypropylene, vinyl, polytetrafluoroethylene, and electrical conductor, thereby preventing buildup of static electrical charge upon said rollers;   d. an electric motor adapted to turn one of said roller axles, said motor being provided with activation means;   whereby plastic bags are dispensed by being drawn between said rollers which are turned by said motor when activated by said activation means, while preventing introduction of static charge buildup.   
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 36 , further providing counting means and indicator means adapted to count and indicate information selected from the group consisting of: number of remaining bags, number of bags used. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein said bag axle is provided an irregular profile whereby only plastic bag rolls of suitable profile will fit upon said bag axle. 
     
     
         39 . A method for dispensing plastic bags comprising the steps:
 a. providing a bag axle adapted to hold a roll of plastic bags;   b. providing a front roller axle and a rear roller axle, said roller axles being largely parallel to said bag axle;   c. providing front and rear rollers adapted to turn upon said front and read roller axles, respectively, said rollers being put in mechanical contact by means of an adjustable spring tensioner, one of said rollers comprising a material selected from the group consisting of: silicon dioxide, sandpaper, and material with a surface roughness R a  of greater than 0.5 mm, while the other of said rollers comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: rubber, silicon, silicone, styrene, acrylic, polyurethane, polypropylene, vinyl, and polytetrafluoroethylene; thereby preventing buildup of static electrical charge;   d. providing an electric motor in mechanical communication with one of said roller axles;   e. feeding a plastic bag from said plastic bag roll between said rollers;   f. activating said electric motor to turn said rollers and thereby draw said plastic bag through said rollers, said plastic bag exiting said rollers in a disposition allowing it to be retrieved by a user.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further providing counting means and indicator means adapted to count and indicate information selected from the group consisting of: number of remaining bags, number of bags used. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said bag axle is provided an irregular profile whereby only plastic bag rolls of suitable profile will fit upon said bag axle.