Dispenser for opening a tape-like packaging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9956813-B2
Application number	US-201314428389-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2013
Priority date	Sep 21, 2012
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

A dispenser for opening a tape like packaging comprising first and second films releasably connected to each other, forming envelopes sealed around an object, and disposed sequentially with a predetermined pitch. The dispenser comprises a space for holding a container of the packaging, a separator through which the packaging can be passed, for spreading apart and separating the films at an outlet thereof when a pulling force is acting on said first and second films, thereby opening envelopes and releasing the objects contained therein, and means for winding up separated first and second films of the tape like packaging. The separator further comprises a cover member that is articulated to the dispenser to be movable between a closed position and an open position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A dispenser ( 100 ) for opening a tape like packaging ( 1 ) comprising first and second films ( 10 , 11 ) releasably connected to each other and forming envelopes (E) respectively sealed around an object (O) and disposed sequentially with a predetermined pitch, wherein said dispenser ( 100 ) comprises:
a space ( 3 ) for holding a container ( 2 ) of said tape like packaging ( 1 );
a separator ( 4 ) through which said tape like packaging ( 1 ) can be passed, for spreading apart and separating said first and second films ( 10 , 11 ) at an outlet ( 5 ) thereof when a pulling force is acting on said first and second films ( 10 , 11 ), thereby opening said envelopes (E) and releasing the objects (O) contained therein; and
means ( 6 , 7 ) for winding up said separated first and second films ( 10 , 11 ) of the tape like packaging ( 1 );
wherein said separator ( 4 ) comprises a cover member ( 8 ) that is articulated to the dispenser ( 100 ) to be movable between a closed position and an open position such that it cooperates with a counter element ( 9 ) to define, in the closed position, said outlet ( 5 ) and a pinching zone ( 12 ) of said tape like packaging ( 1 ) at a position upstream of said outlet ( 5 ), and, in the open position, releases said tape like packaging ( 1 ), and
wherein said pinching zone ( 12 ) is formed between a pinching section ( 13 ) of said cover member ( 8 ) and the counter element ( 9 ), and said pinching section ( 13 ) is arranged such that said tape like packaging ( 1 ) is pinched at an area outside the objects (O).

2. The dispenser ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said pinching section ( 13 ) includes one or more protrusion(s) provided on said cover member ( 8 ).

3. The dispenser ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said cover member ( 8 ) includes a guide surface ( 17 ) formed at a top side facing away from the pinching section ( 13 ), for guiding one of said first and second films ( 10 , 11 ) away from the outlet ( 5 ).

4. The dispenser ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said cover member ( 8 ) has an elongated lever-like shape with a pivot joint ( 14 ) at a forward or a rearward end portion.

5. The dispenser ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said cover member ( 8 ) has an elongated lever-like shape with plural pivot joints ( 14 ) connected to arms ( 16 ) defining a parallelogram-type moving mechanism for effecting the movement between the closed and the open positions.

6. The dispenser ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said cover member ( 8 ) has a separating edge ( 15 ) adjacent said outlet ( 5 ) when said cover member ( 8 ) is in the closed position.

7. The dispenser ( 100 ) of 8 claim 1 , wherein said cover member ( 8 ) is provided such that it holds said container ( 2 ) in the space ( 3 ) when in the closed position, and provides access to the space ( 3 ) to remove/insert said container ( 2 ) when in the open position.

8. The dispenser ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said counter-element ( 9 ) is fixed, preferably in the form of a support plate, or is rotatable, preferably in the form of one or more roller(s).

9. The dispenser ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said cover member ( 8 ) and/or said counter-element ( 9 ) comprise(s) a sensor element ( 4 , 5 ) for detecting a marking (M) on said tape like packaging ( 1 ) that is related to said pitch.

10. The dispenser ( 100 ) of claim 1 , comprising guide elements arranged so as to guide at least one of said first and second films ( 10 , 11 ) along a bottom side of said space ( 3 ).

11. The dispenser ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein said means for winding up said separated first and second films ( 10 , 11 ) of the tape like packaging ( 1 ) comprises one or two receiver elements ( 6 , 7 ) that is/are rotatably supported and that is/are adapted to releasably hold and wind up either both or a respective one of said separated first and second films ( 10 , 11 ), thereby imparting the pulling force on said films ( 10 , 11 ), and a drive unit for rotating said receiver element(s) ( 6 , 7 ).

12. A dispenser ( 100 ) for opening a tape like packaging ( 1 ) comprising first and second films ( 10 , 11 ) releasably connected to each other and forming envelopes (E) respectively sealed around an object ( 0 ) and disposed sequentially with a predetermined pitch, wherein said dispenser ( 100 ) comprises:
a space ( 3 ) for holding a container ( 2 ) of said tape like packaging ( 1 );
a separator ( 4 ) through which said tape like packaging ( 1 ) can be passed, for spreading apart and separating said first and second films ( 10 , 11 ) at an outlet ( 5 ) thereof when a pulling force is acting on said first and second films ( 10 , 11 ), thereby opening said envelopes (E) and releasing the objects (O) contained therein; and
means ( 6 , 7 ) for winding up said separated first and second films ( 10 , 11 ) of the tape like packaging ( 1 );
wherein said separator ( 4 ) comprises a cover member ( 8 ) that is articulated to the dispenser ( 100 ) to be movable between a closed position and an open position such that it cooperates with a counter element ( 9 ) to define, in the closed position, said outlet ( 5 ) and a pinching zone ( 12 ) of said tape like packaging ( 1 ) at a position upstream of said outlet ( 5 ), and, in the open position, releases said tape like packaging ( 1 ), and
wherein said cover member ( 8 ) has an elongated lever-like shape with plural pivot joints ( 14 ) connected to arms ( 16 ) defining a parallelogram-type moving mechanism for effecting the movement between the closed and the open positions.

13. A dispenser ( 100 ) for opening a tape like packaging ( 1 ) comprising first and second films ( 10 , 11 ) releasably connected to each other and forming envelopes (E) respectively sealed around an object ( 0 ) and disposed sequentially with a predetermined pitch, wherein said dispenser ( 100 ) comprises:
a space ( 3 ) for holding a container ( 2 ) of said tape like packaging ( 1 );
a separator ( 4 ) through which said tape like packaging ( 1 ) can be passed, for spreading apart and separating said first and second films ( 10 , 11 ) at an outlet ( 5 ) thereof when a pulling force is acting on said first and second films ( 10 , 11 ), thereby opening said envelopes (E) and releasing the objects (O) contained therein; and
means ( 6 , 7 ) for winding up said separated first and second films ( 10 , 11 ) of the tape like packaging ( 1 );
wherein said separator ( 4 ) comprises a cover member ( 8 ) that is articulated to the dispenser ( 100 ) to be movable between a closed position and an open position such that it cooperates with a counter element ( 9 ) to define, in the closed position, said outlet ( 5 ) and a pinching zone ( 12 ) of said tape like packaging ( 1 ) at a position upstream of said outlet ( 5 ), and, in the open position, releases said tape like packaging ( 1 ), and
wherein said cover member ( 8 ) and/or said counter-element ( 9 ) comprise(s) a sensor element ( 4 , 5 ) for detecting a marking (M) on said tape like packaging ( 1 ) that is related to said pitch.

Assignees

• Merck Patent Gmbh

Inventors

• Muller Gerard
• Arrault Mathieu
• Richert Jean-Jacques

Classifications

• B65H41/00

  Machines for separating superposed webs · CPC title

• B65H2701/1942

  Web supporting regularly spaced non-adhesive articles · CPC title

• B65H37/002

  Web delivery apparatus, the web serving as support for articles, material or another web · CPC title

• B43M7/02 Primary

  Devices for both opening envelopes and removing contents · CPC title

• B65D75/42

  Chains of interconnected packages · CPC title