Automatic plastic bag opening device

Abstract

A bag opening apparatus includes one or more processors; a motor assembly; one or more gearing assemblies; one or more shaft assemblies; one or more gripping assemblies; and one or more bag sensor assemblies. The one or more bag sensor assemblies detect a leading edge of the bag and communicates a signal or command to one or more processors. The bag opening apparatus includes one or more memory devices and computer-readable instructions stored in the one or more memory devices. The computer-readable instructions are executable by the one or more processors to communicate with the motor assembly to activate the motor assembly, the motor assembly to rotate and cause movement of the one or more gearing assemblies, the one or more shaft assemblies and the one or more gripping assemblies.

1 . A bag opening apparatus, comprising:
 one or more processors;   a motor assembly;   one or more gearing assemblies;   one or more shaft assemblies;   one or more gripping assemblies;   one or more bag sensor assemblies, the one or more bag sensor assemblies to detect a leading edge of the bag and to communicate a signal to one or more processors;   one or more memory devices;   computer-readable instructions stored in the one or more memory devices and executable by one or more processors to:   communicate with the motor assembly to activate the motor assembly, the motor assembly to rotate and cause movement of the one or more gearing assemblies, the one or more shaft assemblies and the one or more gripping assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . The bag opening apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a first gearing assembly of the one or more gearing assemblies rotates in one direction which causes a first shaft assembly and a first gripping assembly to move in a first direction and a second gearing assembly of the one or more gearing assemblies rotates in another direction which causes a second shaft assembly and a second gripping assembly to move in a second direction. 
     
     
         3 . The bag opening apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first gearing assembly and the second gearing assembly are equal in rotation speed and/or torque to cause the first gripping assembly to rotate in the first direction and the second gripping assembly to move in an opposite second direction. 
     
     
         4 . The bag opening apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply, the power supply powering the motor assembly, the one or more processors or controllers and/or the one or more bag sensor assemblies. 
     
     
         5 . The bag opening apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the computer-readable instructions include software to allow the bag opening apparatus to be controlled via voice or via a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         6 . The bag opening apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a spool assembly, the spool assembly to hold a plurality of bags. 
     
     
         7 . The bag opening apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more processors communicate with the spool assembly to cause the spool assembly to rotate to dispense the plastic bag. 
     
     
         8 . The bag opening apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more shaft assemblies is connected to the spool assembly; and
 wherein the computer-readable instructions executable by the one or more processors communicate with the motor assembly to rotate the one or more shaft assemblies and/or the spool assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The bag opening apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more gripping assemblies are located a small distance away from a mouth of the plastic bag in order to not interfere with a consumer's hand.