Bin with mechanism for wrapping an item to be stored therein

Abstract

A storage bin having a mechanism ( 2 ) for wrapping objects to be stored in the bin. The bin comprises two trays ( 4,5 ) configured to receive a roll of self-adhesive film ( 3 ). Two rollers ( 6,7 ) are rotated in an insertion direction ( 30 ) by a driving mechanism so as to cause an object ( 9 ) to pass between the rollers ( 6,7 ) into a container ( 1 ) as the object ( 9 ) becomes wrapped in the self-adhesive film ( 3 ).

1 . A bin for storing objects comprising: 
 (a) a container;    (b) a first tray and a second tray, each tray configured to receive a roll of self-adhesive film    (c) a first roller and a second roller;    (d) driving means rotating the first and second rollers in an insertion direction so as to move an object between the first and second rollers, into the container.    
   
   
       2 . The bin according to  claim 1 , wherein the object is a diaper or a food item.  
   
   
       3 . The bin according to  claim 1  wherein the rollers have a toothed end section at each end of the roller, the toothed end section at an end of one roller engaging the toothed end section at an adjacent end of the other roller.  
   
   
       4 . The bin according to  claim 1  wherein the rollers have a central section formed from a resiliently compressible material.  
   
   
       5 . The bin according to  claim 4  wherein the resiliently compressible material is foam rubber.  
   
   
       6 . The bin according to  claim 3  wherein the driving mechanism comprises a knob such that rotation of the knob drives rotation of the first roller.  
   
   
       7 . The bin according to  claim 1  further comprising a lid.  
   
   
       8 . The bin according to  claim 7  wherein the lid is supported by a pair of toothed supports, each support engaging a drive gear wheel located at a different end of the first roller so that when the lid is being closed, each support engages its drive gear wheel so as to cause the drive gear wheel to rotate.  
   
   
       9 . The bin according to  claim 8 , wherein rotation of the drive gear wheels when the lid is being closed causes the first and second rollers to rotate in the insertion direction.  
   
   
       10 . The bin according to  claim 9  wherein the first and second rollers do not rotate when the lid is opened.  
   
   
       11 . The bin according to  claim 10  comprising an inner wheel located inside each drive gear wheel, wherein each inner wheel supports one or more pawls, each pawl positioned so as to engage with a tooth on an inner surface of the drive gear wheel when the lid is being closed so that rotation of the drive gear wheel when the lid is being closed causes rotation of the inner wheel.  
   
   
       12 . The bin according to  claim 11  wherein the drive gear wheel slips over the inner wheel when the lid is being opened.  
   
   
       13 . The bin according to  claim 1  further comprising two rolls of self-adhesive film.  
   
   
       14 . The bin according to  claim 10  wherein the film is a saran.