Portable Bag Dispenser with Projection for Single-Bag Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensers for plastic bags are not suitable for domestic environments due to their lack of portability and higher cost, and often dispense multiple bags at once when pulled incorrectly.
Innovation Solution
A portable dispenser with a housing featuring an elongate aperture and projection to engage the bags, a contact portion to prevent multiple bag dispensing, and a groove or recess to assist in separating individual bags, allowing for easy handling and secure mounting of the roll, which prevents more than one bag from being dispensed at a time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metal or plastic frame dispenser is used, then the dispenser is effective in commercial environments, but it is not portable and has higher cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a housing made from corrugated cardboard, a cheap and disposable material, replacing traditional metal or plastic frames. This allows the dispenser to be portable and cost-effective for domestic use while maintaining functional effectiveness through the engineered aperture geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the dispenser structure by using a lightweight cardboard housing with specifically designed aperture dimensions and projection geometry. This transforms the dispenser from a heavy commercial fixture to a lightweight portable device suitable for domestic environments
2Ease of operation
If the bags are pulled upwards and away from the dispenser, then bags can be removed, but more than one bag is dispensed at once
Solution Approach 1:
The projection within the aperture is pre-positioned to engage the slit in the bag perforations before the bag is fully pulled away. This preliminary engagement prevents multiple bags from being dispensed simultaneously by controlling the separation point of the bags
Solution Approach 2:
The projection acts as an intermediary element between the bag roll and the user's pulling action. It mediates the force application by engaging the slit in the perforations, ensuring that bags separate one at a time rather than multiple bags being pulled through simultaneously
3Ease of operation
If the bags are pulled away at an angle, then bags can be removed, but more than one bag is dispensed at once
Solution Approach 1:
The projection is pre-positioned within the aperture to engage the slit in the bag perforations regardless of the pulling angle. This preliminary engagement ensures that even when bags are pulled at an angle, the separation occurs at the controlled point of the projection, preventing multiple bag dispensing
Data Source
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AI summary
A dispenser (10) for dispensing bags from a roll of bags (200) comprises a rectangular cuboid shaped housing having an aperture (28) in a front wall (18) for dispensing individual bags from the roll. The lower edge of the periphery of the aperture (28) comprises a projection (36) adapted to engage the bags and assist separation of the individual bags from the roll (200).