LA ROSA CLAUDIO

Automatic apparatus for opening packets or the like

The present invention relates to an automatic apparatus for opening packets or the like by trimming off an end portion of a closed edge of said packet using trimming means .

Such apparatuses are well known in the art and widely used, but they suffer from certain drawbacks. A cutting apparatus , particularly for use with envelopes, has two opposed counter-rotating circular blades , which perform the opening action by trimming along a closed edge of the envelope as follows : a user introduces one border of the envelope between two counter-rotating blades, which drive the envelope thereunder, while cutting off the envelope border projecting out of one of the two of the counter- rotating blade pair, whereby the envelope is opened on such side. The first drawback of this prior art apparatus is that it is unsuitable for cutting enclosures that contain materials other than paper sheets, or the like. Particularly, when the prior art apparatus is used with packets containing loose materials, such as powdery or granular solids, e.g. sugar, salt or the like, or liquid materials, such as shampoo, bath foam, honey or the like, it causes such materials to pour off. The two counter-rotating circular blades rotate at a high speed and, as they drive the packet therebetween, they impart a high speed to the packet, and cause the packet to be shaken. While this shaking motion is not critical when the contents include paper sheets, such as with envelopes or the like, it inevitably causes a partial

content loss if such contents include loose materials, such as fluids (e.g. sauces or honey), powdery or granular materials (e.g. sugar, salt or the like) . Furthermore, as the packet is pulled into the gap between the two counter-rotating blades, such blades also somewhat press upon it and can cause the loose material to pour off when the packet is cut open. A further drawback is that, in operation, prior art apparatuses are controlled by a switch that turns the apparatus on and continuously operates it until the apparatus is turned off using the same switch. The two counter-rotating circular blades are thus rotated by turning on the apparatus, regardless of the presence of an enclosure to be opened therebetween. Therefore these prior art apparatus are prone to early wear, and further involve undue power consumption even in idle conditions, thereby causing energy waste.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus as described hereinbefore that uses simple and inexpensive arrangements to obviate prior art drawbacks, and is particularly suitable for discontinuous use and with packets also containing either loose, particularly powdery or granular materials, or liquid materials, such as shampoo, bath foam, honey, sauces or the like.

The present invention fulfills the above purposes by providing an automatic apparatus for opening packets or the like, particularly packets containing powdery or granular materials , or liquid materials , such as shampoo, bath foam, sauces or honey, and comprising at least one trimming cutter and counter-cutter, which are movable in a reciprocating manner one against the other by motor drive means , with the respective cutting edges

coplanar to a plane that contains the cutting line and along which the blade or both blades of said cutter and counter-cutter move, sensor means are also provided for sensing the presence of a part of the packet intersecting said cutting plane and thence between the cutting edges of the cutter and counter-cutter; such sensors actuating the motor drive means and hence the trimming device through a control circuit. To avoid accidental contact of the trimming means with a part of the body and particularly with fingers, the trimming means are contained in a case having a slit for introducing a packet; such slit has such a size as to easily accommodate a packet border passing therethrough, while preventing undesired passage of one finger.

The packet has to be opened along a peripheral edge thereof, i.e. either along the whole or a part of such edge, or at a corner area of the closed peripheral edge thereof, by trimming off a peripheral strip along said edge or a part of said edge; since the peripheral strip to be severed and trimmed off has to be sufficiently narrow for the cutting line to extend along an area of the packet in which the material in the packet is not present, the cutter and counter- cutter are advantageously located in such positions that the cutting plane is associated with a counter- cutting plane which is located parallel or at a distance from the cutting plane, according to the desired width of the peripheral strip to be severed and trimmed off.

In this case, the presence sensor that operates the trimming means is located in an intermediate position between the cutting plane and said counter-

cutting plane.

A further feature has to be noted, i.e. that, to avoid contact with a part of the body and particularly with fingers , the trimming means are held within a case having a slit for a packet to be introduced therein, which slit has such a size as to accommodate a packet passing therethrough, while preventing the introduction of one finger.

Particularly, such slit defines an edge and/or a plane for the packet to slide and be located therealong, which is transverse and preferably perpendicular to the cutting plane .

Advantageously, such slit may be situated along a corner of the case, which has a peripheral wall perpendicular to said cutting plane and a wall parallel thereto, which walls form an angle intersected by said slit, whereas the cutting plane and/or the counter- cutting plane are recessed relative to said walls and particularly relative to the wall parallel to said cutting plane and/or to said counter-cutting plane over less than the length of one of the sides, preferably the longer side of the packet. The slit may be alternatively situated in the central part of the case wall parallel to the cutting plane while keeping the expected features unchanged as well as the above described safety arrangements .

According to a preferred embodiment, the cutter and counter-cutter that form the trimming means are articulated about a pivot axis which is perpendicular to the cutting plane and the cutting line, i.e. said cutter and said counter-cutter are articulated in a scissors-like arrangement.

Advantageously, the counter-cutter is stationary

and located in such a position that its cutting edge is aligned flush or substantially flush with the packet sliding guide plane oriented perpendicular to the cutting plane, whereas the cutter is located on the side of said sliding plane on which the packet lies , and can be pivoted by motor drive means from a position angularly away from the counter-cutter to a position adjacent to said counter-cutter and adhering thereagainst, the cutting edge being displaced during such pivotal motion to contact with the cutting edge of the counter-cutter, in a scissors-like fashion.

The motor drive means include an electric motor whose motion is transmitted to the cutter by a transmission that is designed to convert the continuous rotary motion into a reciprocating motion of said cutter, the electric motor being turned on and off by a control unit according to the presence signals generated by the packet sensor/s.

It shall be noted that, in the apparatus of the present invention, neither the cutter blade nor the counter-cutter blade drive the packet into motion, wherefore the packet remains in its position. This prevents any abrupt displacement of the packet, as well as any accidental spillage of packet contents, especially when the packet is filled with loose powdery and/or granular materials, or liquid materials, such as shampoo, foam bath, sauces or honey.

The apparatus of the present invention may be constructed for various purposes and for packets of various sizes. According to an advantageous embodiment, this apparatus acts as a device for opening packets of powdery or granular materials, such as sugar packets, and intended for public use, e.g. placed on a bar-

counter or the like.

It is now a habit, arising from hygienic reasons and regulated by specific standards, to serve sugar in loose sugar packets on counters of bars or other shops . When the user has a spoon in one hand to stir the coffee or has one hand busy, e.g. holding the cup or some food, he or she has to open the sugar pocket for the coffee or beverage to be sweetened with the free hand. Opening a sugar packet with one free hand is a difficult operation and many users tend to inappropriately tear the sugar packet open with their teeth .

Unfortunately, this defeats the hygienic benefit of offering sugar packets instead of loose sugar, because the outer surface of the packet may come into contact with polluting agents, dirt, dust or the like both during storage and while the sugar packet lies on the bar-counter.

The apparatus of the present invention allows a user who is opening a sugar packet and has one busy hand to open the packet in an advantageously hygienic and quick manner, while avoiding any mouth contact with the outer surface of the packet.

Furthermore, the present invention advantageously allows a user to hygienically open sugar packets without pouring out their contents over the counter, because the apparatus of the invention allows the packet to be opened without being shaken as it is cut open. Advantageously, to prevent any spillage of the packet contents , when these are in granular or liquid form, packet surface pressing means may be provided at the cutting plane for said surfaces to be driven

towards each other and pressed together before trimming, to prevent any spillage. These compression means are located level with the slit for introducing the packet, and particularly the compression means are located between the cutting plane and the wall that contains the aperture for introducing the packet.

The compression means may consist of a pair of plates with a straight or slightly curved or arched shape, and are moved towards each other by such a translational motion as to compress together the edges of the packet. The plates are driven by the same means for driving the trimming means , so that they can be operated at the same time as or immediately before trimming. Otherwise, the apparatus may be equipped with a set of rubber rolls for leading the packet to a predetermined position, later or simultaneously squeezing and displacing the material within the packet in a direction opposite to the trimming line and finally cutting. Advantageously, the plane in which the packet surfaces are pressed together is parallel to the cutting plane and perpendicular to the sliding plane.

Like the trimming means, the compression means are located in a case, to avoid accidental contact thereof with the fingers of a user and, in addition to keeping the packet contents far from the cutting line to avoid accidental content spillage, said means are also used to lock the packet in position at the slit and prevent it from being dragged along during operation of the blades .

According to a further embodiment, this apparatus acts as an apparatus for opening packets containing liquid materials, e.g. for opening packets containing

honey or sauces or shampoo or bath foam or oil or the like. This embodiment may advantageously find application to the case in which the apparatus is used, for instance, to open bath foam or shampoo packets or the like, directly in the shower box, as a useful accessory or advantageously integrated in the shower box structure, in the wash basin or the like. A battery power supply in the apparatus of the present invention allows installation near water, such as near or in a shower box, while advantageously avoiding any risk for users.

In yet another embodiment, the apparatus is integrated, for example, in the case of a coffee machine for office use, such as a coffee pod machine or the like, to advantageously provide an integrated coffee making and sugar packet cutting unit.

In addition to the preferred embodiments as described above, the apparatus of the present invention may be constructed according to different variant embodiments of the cutter and associated counter- cutter .

For instance, in a first embodiment, the cutter has a blade with either a straight or a curved or arched cutting edge profile or shape, as needed. The counter-cutter blade has an identical conformation and the cutting operation is effected by the two blades pivotally moved toward each other, like in a scissors cut.

This packet cutting operation is highly advantageous , as it minimizes shaking of the packet and prevents spillage of its contents , while allowing the packet to be opened in an automatic and hygienic manner .

Substantially, the user introduces the packet in the slit until it abuts against a stop member. Its presence in the cutting area is sensed by the sensors and the cutting operation is started. According to a variant embodiment, the cutter is moved towards the counter-cutter by a translational movement, thereby defining a guillotine cutting area or the like.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the cutter has a circular blade, whose peripheral edge acts as a cutting edge, and which carries out its trimming action by cooperation with a corresponding counter-cutting surface or a counter-cutter . The movement of the cutter blades may be a rototranslational movement of at least the circular blade. In this case, the circular blade substantially pivots about its axis and simultaneously translates towards its counter surface to cut the packet without pulling it into motion, thereby advantageously avoiding any shaking of the packet and any spillage of its contents .

The above trimming means may be either mains or battery operated or manually driven by a control lever located on the wall of the case that contains the apparatus. By operating the lever, the cutter and/or the counter-cutter may be displaced when the sensors detect a packet or an object of equal thickness intersecting the cutting plane .

As mentioned above, the apparatus of the present invention advantageously comprises a housing case having at least one aperture, which aperture substantially coincides with the cutting area between the blade and the counter surface, for one object to be inserted therein, particularly a thin object, such as a

single-serving food or non-food package, a sugar packet, a shampoo packet or the like, a sauce packet or the like, in such cutting area.

The aperture for introducing the packet in the cutting area, of such a shape and size as to prevent any accidental introduction of users' fingers may be an elongate rectangular aperture as large as about 3 - 8 mm, preventing any access of users' fingers in the aperture, while allowing a border of the packet to be inserted therein.

In one preferred embodiment, these apertures may be of different sizes to allow introduction of packets of various widths .

The apertures may be located on interchangeable wall elements that are designed to be fitted in a corresponding housing of the case wall, level with the cutting area.

These interchangeable wall elements having one or more slits of various sizes allow the same cutting device to be used for opening packets of different sizes , without causing any risk for users .

Advantageously, the housing case is also equipped with one or more fastener members for firm fixation of the case to a bearing surface, such as a table, a bar counter, a shelf, or the like. For example and without limitation, the fastener members are removable fastener members , such as suction cups or the like .

Furthermore, for the severed and trimmed off portion of the peripheral edge of the packet to be advantageously collected, the apparatus of the present invention may further include at least one tray, container or the like, for collecting said trimmed portion .

In this case, the tray is situated under the cutting line and may be removably accommodated in the case, such as in a drawer-like fashion or the like.

According to yet another feature, the case may also act as a container or dispenser of packets, such as sugar packets or the like .

This function may be ensured by an element of such case, such as a tray or holder or storage compartment. Automatic packet dispensing means may be also provided, which pick up packets from the tray and/or magazine and convey them to an exit, for user withdrawal.

According to another characteristic, an indicator device, such as a LED or the like is located near the slit, on the wall of the case that includes such slit, or in the slit itself, for confirming that the packet detection sensors and the trimming means operated by motor driven means are working.

According to another feature, the case of the apparatus may have at least one wall or one part of a wall that acts as an element for displaying or accommodating text, pictures, or the like containing advertisements or instructions for proper use of the apparatus .

Concerning this feature, at least one wall or one part of a wall may incorporate a housing for a sheet, the outer wall of such housing being formed of a clear member .

Otherwise, a display screen is installed in at least one part of a wall of the case having an electronic unit associated therewith, comprising a processor with a memory and a graphic controller for the display means, for storage of one or more pictures, the microprocessor being further equipped with an

adequate software program for managing and displaying said one or more pictures as fixed pictures and/or as a succession of multiple pictures.

Obviously, the case may also have various different shapes depending on the purposes and the users for which it is designed.

In the preferred embodiment, the cutting plane is oriented vertically, whereas the packet is designed to be fed in a horizontal or substantially horizontal orientation and the bin for collecting the trimmed portions of the packets is situated under the cutting line defined in said cutting plane from the stationary position of the cutting edge of the counter-cutter, which is flush or substantially flush with the horizontal lying plane of the packet.

The above device can be also of the manual kind. In this embodiment the driving means of the trimming and cutter means and of the compression means are of the manual kind. The sensor means for sensing the position of the pocket relatively to the cutting plane are connected to signalling means of acoustic or visual type which signal the correct positioning of the pocket to the user and thus the effect is that can activate or drive the cutter and compression means.

The manual driving means of the cutter and of the compression means can be separate or common.

These means comprise a handle for applying the manual driving force to a driving mechanism. As a further alternative the driving force for the cutter and compression means is generated by a motor, but the motor is not activated directly and automatically by the sensor means .

The sensor means are connected to the signalling means and activation switch is provided for the user to manually activate the motor once the signalling means have indicated that the pocket is in correct position. Further features and improvements will form the subject of the dependent claims.

The features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description of a few embodiments as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an apparatus of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of an apparatus of this invention; Fig. 3 is a front view of a variant embodiment of an apparatus of this invention;

Fig. 4 is a front view of a case of an apparatus of this invention;

Fig. 5 shows a guillotine-like blade and counter- cutter of this invention;

Fig. 6 shows a scissors-like blade and counter- cutter of this invention;

Fig. 7 shows a rototranslating circular blade and a counter-cutter of this invention; Fig. 8 shows a preferred embodiment of an apparatus of this invention;

Fig. 9 shows another preferred embodiment of an apparatus of this invention;

Fig. 10 shows a possible tilt of an apparatus of this invention;

Fig. 11 shows a possible rotation of an apparatus of this invention;

Fig. 12 shows a preferred embodiment of the

apparatus of this invention, in which said apparatus in integrated in the structure of a shower box;

Fig. 13 shows a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of this invention, in which said apparatus in integrated in a coffee machine,

Fig. 14 is a view of the case according to this invention,

Fig. 15 shows an embodiment of the case according to this invention, Fig. 16 shows an embodiment of the apparatus of this invention,

Fig. 17 shows an embodiment of the apparatus having compression means according to this invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown an automatic apparatus 10 for opening packets or the like according to this invention. Particularly, Fig. 1 shows the apparatus 10 with its case or shell removed, and with the internal parts of the apparatus 10 exposed.

The apparatus 10 of this invention carries out its packet opening function by trimming off an end portion of a closed edge of the packet using trimming means .

The present apparatus may be generally used for any type of enclosures or packets, but provides the best advantages when it is used for opening packets or the like that contain powdery or granular materials or packets containing liquids .

Figs . 1 and 2 show a trimming cutter 1 and counter-cutter which are movable in a reciprocating manner one against the other by motor drive means 5, with the respective cutting edges tangent to a plane that contains the cutting line and along which the blade or both blades of said cutter 1 and counter- cutter 2 move .

Sensor means 16 are also shown, which are used for sensing the presence of a portion of the packet intersecting the cutting plane and between the cutting edges of the cutter 1 and counter-cutter 2, and a control circuit is provided, for actuating the motor drive means when the sensor means 16 sense the presence of the packet or an object intersecting the cutting plane and between said cutter 1 and counter-cutter 2.

In one preferred embodiment, the cutting means may be arranged to be manually driven.

As shown in Figure 16, the cutter 1 is pivotable by operating a lever 17: by lowering the lever 17, the cutter 1 is moved from a position angularly away from the counter-cutter 2 to a position adjacent to said counter-cutter in a scissors- or guillotine-like fashion.

Particularly, it can be noted that the cutter 1 and counter-cutter 2 are in such positions that the cutting plane is associated to a to a counter-cutting plane which is parallel or has a predetermined tilt with respect to the cutting plane, which counter- cutting plane is located at a distance from the cutting plane, and anyway from the cutting line, which distance corresponds to the widthwise dimension of a thin peripheral strip of the packet, to be severed and trimmed off along at least a portion of a closed side edge thereof .

In the preferred embodiment as shown in Figs . 1 and 2, the counter-cutting plane is parallel to the cutting plane and is defined by the support plate 12 that is part of the apparatus 10.

The counter-cutting plane may be otherwise defined by a plate that is or may be mounted to the support

plate or the shell or case of the apparatus, or in any other manner.

Substantially, the packet is introduced in the space between the cutter and the counter-cutter 2 to abutment against the support plate 12. As the packet is inserted between the blades of the cutter 1 and counter-cutter 2 the presence sensor 16 is actuated to operate the trimming means, which sensor 16 is located in an intermediate position between the cutting plane and said counter-cutting plane.

The sensor 16 senses the presence of an object on the cutting plane, whereupon it operates the cutter and/or counter-cutter and causes the object, particularly a packet between said cutter 1 and said counter-cutter 2, to be cut.

Figs . 4 , 8 and 9 show several different types of housing cases or shells 20, designed to prevent any contact of the trimming means with a part of the body, and particularly with fingers . According to a preferred embodiment, as shown herein, the trimming means are located in the case 20, which advantageously has a slit 30 for the packet to be introduced therein, which slit 30 is of such a size as to accommodate a packet passing therethrough, while preventing the passage of one finger .

In a preferred arrangement, as shown in the figures , the slit 30 has a slit-defined edge and/or plane 40 for the packet to slide and be located therealong, which is transverse and preferably perpendicular to the cutting plane.

Therefore, the user can easily introduce the packet, e.g. a sugar or honey packet, in the slit, for instance by moving it along the sliding and locating

plane 40 into the slit 30 until abutment of the closed side of the packet against the counter-cutting surface.

The slits 30, of various sizes to allow insertion of packets of various widths , may be formed directly on the wall of the case, at the cutting area or, as shown in Fig. 14, the slit 30 is formed on an interchangeable wall element 301, to be fitted in a corresponding housing of the wall of the case 20. Said wall elements 301 may have slits 30 of various sizes, to allow introduction of packets of various widths. Possibly, either one element 301 may have multiple tightly spaced slits 30, one below the other, so that all of these slits 30 are located at the cutting area or, in a further embodiment, multiple wall elements 301 may be provided for one case 20, each having a slit 30 of a specific size: alternate use of these wall elements 301 in the specific housing of the case 2 allows the apparatus to open packets of various sizes .

In all the above embodiments , the slits 30 are always of such a size as to allow introduction of pouches, packets or the like but not larger objects, to prevent any accidental introduction of the fingers of a user.

The packet so introduced is sensed by the presence and trimming means actuating sensor 16, which sensor operates the cutter 1 or the counter-cutter 2 to close and trim off a portion of the packet between the blades of the cutter and counter-cutter, thereby opening the packet without shaking it. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, the slit extends along a corner area of the case, which has a peripheral wall perpendicular to said cutting plane and a wall parallel to said cutting plane, which

walls form an angle intersected by said slit.

The cutting plane and/or the counter-cutting plane are recessed relative to the walls and particularly relative to the wall parallel to said cutting plane and/or to said counter-cutting plane over less than the length of one of the sides , preferably the longer side of the packet.

The cutter and counter-cutter are provided in various embodiments, for instance, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the cutter and counter-cutter that form the trimming means are articulated about a pivot axis which is perpendicular to the cutting plane and the cutting line, i.e. are articulated in a scissors-like arrangement. Particularly in the preferred solution, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the counter-cutter 2 is stationary and located in such a position that its cutting edge is aligned flush or substantially flush with the packet sliding guide plane 40 oriented perpendicular to the cutting plane, whereas the cutter 1 is located on the side of said sliding plane on which the packet lies , and can be pivoted by motor drive means from a position angularly away from the counter-cutter to a position adjacent to said counter-cutter and adhering thereagainst, the cutting edge being displaced during such pivotal motion to contact with the cutting edge of the counter-cutter, in a scissors-like fashion.

The motor drive means include an electric motor 5 whose motion is transmitted to the cutter by a transmission 3, 4 that is designed to convert the continuous rotary motion into a reciprocating motion of said cutter, the electric motor 5 being turned on and off by a control unit according to the presence signals

generated by the packet presence sensors 16.

The mains operated motor 5 or battery-operated motor may be advantageously supported by the plate 12, which has an L shape in the preferred solution, as shown in Fig. 1.

In a preferred embodiment, the on state of the electrically or battery-operated motor 5 and/or the on state of the sensors is indicated to users by a LED or the like located on the device 10, e.g. within the slit 30 or on the case 20 containing the apparatus 10 level with the slit 30.

As an alternative, Figs. 5 and 7 show two further preferred embodiments of the cutter and counter-cutter, Fig. 5 showing a guillotine cut configuration, with the cutter 1' designed to translate towards the counter- cutter 2' , which counter-cutter 2' has a cutting edge 15' and is in a stationary position relative to said cutter 1 ' .

Fig. 7 shows an alternative embodiment in which the cutter 1' ' ' is designed as a blade rototranslating in the direction of the arrows. The sharp-edged wheel- shaped blade 1' ' ' rotates about its axis and translates relative to the counter-cutter 2' ' ' , thereby cutting the packet without shaking it, and hence preventing any spillage of its contents , especially when the packet contents are in powdery or granular form, such as in the case of sugar packets or the like . In other words , the cutter has a circular blade, whose peripheral edge acts as a cutting edge, and which carries out its trimming action by cooperation with a corresponding counter-cutting surface or a counter-cutter .

More generally, the cutter has a blade with either a straight or a curved or arched cutting edge profile

or shape, as needed, whereas the counter-cutter blade has an identical conformation and the cutting operation is effected by the two blades pivotally moved toward each other, like in a scissors cut. As shown in Figure 17, to avoid any spillage of the packet contents during the cutting process, opposite compression means 21 are provided, adjacent to the cutting blades 1, 2, for pressing the packet surfaces towards each other. These means consist of a plate and a corresponding counter-plate 21, and at least one of these plates 21 moves in a direction parallel to the cutting plane for the packet surfaces to be pressed against each other prior to operation of the blades that cut the peripheral strip of the packet.

These plates 21 have straight, curved or slightly arched shapes and said shapes are complementary to each other, to constantly compress the packet surfaces throughout their extension parallel to the sliding plane .

Said means 21 are arranged parallel to the cutting and/or counter-cutting plane at a distance from the counter-cutting plane that is longer than the distance between the cutting plane and the counter-cutting plane, to allow the packet to be closed when it is introduced in the slit 30 and its thin peripheral strip to be trimmed.

In a preferred embodiment, the compression plates 21 are located between the wall of the case 20 having the slit 30 for introducing the packet and the trimming means, and said plates 21 are driven by the manual or motor-driven means that are used for driving the cutter 1 and/or the counter-cutter 2 or by means similar

thereto .

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus for opening packets comprises the following parts :

- Motor by Micro motors RH158.12.200 - rechargeable lead-acid battery S312/1.2 (12V/1.2AH)

- Battery charger 2750-FW7118M/12 (12VDC/500MA)

- ON-ON single-pole toggle switch 1A11-NF1STSE

- plain lever microswitch XCG8-81J1Z1 - Crouzet 83137 miniature switch

- battery charger socket

- red LED

- blue LED

The housing case 20 as shown in the embodiments of Figs . 4 , 8 , 9 has at least one aperture 30 , which aperture 30 substantially coincides with the cutting area between the blade and the counter surface, for one object to be inserted therein, particularly a thin object, such as a single-serving food or non-food package, a sugar packet, a shampoo packet a sauce packet or the like in such cutting area. Particularly, the aperture 30 for introducing the packet in the cutting area is of such a shape and size as to prevent any accidental introduction of users' fingers and is an elongate rectangular aperture as large as about 3 - 10 mm, preventing any access of users' fingers in the aperture, while allowing a border of the packet to be inserted therein.

Advantageously, the housing case 20 is also equipped with one or more fastener members 50 for securing the case to a bearing surface, such as a table, a bar counter, a shelf, or the like, said fastener members being preferably of the removable

type, such as suction cups or the like.

Advantageously, the apparatus 10 is thus adapted to be mounted to a bar counter so that a user can open a sugar packet by one hand, while avoiding any spillage of the packet contents .

Furthermore, for the severed and trimmed off portion of the peripheral edge of the packet to be advantageously collected, at least one tray, container or the like, is provided for collecting said trimmed portion. The container or tray may be advantageously situated either inside the shell, e.g. removably accommodated in the case, such as in a drawer-like fashion or the like, or outside the shell under the cutting line, so that the trimmed off portion of the packet can be directly collected by the apparatus of the present invention . In the preferred embodiments , as shown in the figures , the cutting plane is oriented vertically, whereas the packet is designed to be fed in a horizontal or substantially horizontal orientation and the bin for collecting the trimmed portions of the packets is situated under the cutting line defined in said cutting plane from the stationary position of the cutting edge of the counter-cutter, which is flush or substantially flush with the horizontal lying plane of the packet.

As shown in Fig. 9, the case has means for providing the function of a container or dispenser of packets, such as sugar packets or the like, to advantageously integrate multiple functions in the same apparatus, thereby providing a multifunction robot that can be advantageously laid on the bar counter or the like.

Alternatively or in addition to the above, the

apparatus of the present invention has a support surface in the form of a support shelf, as shown in Fig. 8, and may be used for holding a sugar container thereon or in the form of a tray or even directly integrated in the structure of the bar counter, as an extension or prolongation thereof.

Also, according to a variant embodiment, the container or dispenser consists of an element of said case, such as a tray or holder or storage compartment, possibly having automatic packet dispensing means that pick up packets from the tray and/or magazine and convey them to an exit, for user withdrawal.

According to further advantageous variant embodiments, the case of the apparatus has at least one wall or one part of a wall that acts as an element for displaying or accommodating text, pictures, or the like and for instance the wall or a part of the wall has a housing for a sheet, the outer wall of said housing being formed of a clear member. Alternatively or in addition to the above, at least one part of a wall of the case supports or is formed of a display screen with an electronic unit associated thereto, comprising a processor, a memory and a graphic controller for the display means , one or more pictures being stored in the memory and software being loaded in the microprocessor for selecting and displaying said one or more pictures as fixed pictures and/or as a succession of multiple pictures.

Thus the apparatus of the present invention can be advantageously used as an apparatus for projecting and displaying pictures such as advertising pictures or the like.

The apparatus of the present invention may

advantageously include at least one rotary means, for pivoting said apparatus about at least one axis, such as a circular joint and/or a ball joint.

For instance, the apparatus may have one or more joints or flexible couplings allowing rotation and/or tilting of said apparatus about one or more axes , as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

For example, in Fig. 10 the apparatus 10 is shown as being able to tilt about a horizontal axis passing through a joint at the base of the apparatus 10, whereas in Fig. 11 the apparatus is shown in a schematic plan view that is able to pivot about a vertical axis .

Thus , the apparatus may be advantageously rotated and/or tilted even directly by a user, to reach an optimal operating condition.

For example, the apparatus may be tilted towards the user for easy operation if it is placed on a particularly raised counter bar or, if the apparatus is placed at a corner, it can be advantageously rotated for use thereof by multiple users .

The case of the apparatus of the present invention may further have any desired shape, without departure from the scope of the present invention. For example, the case may have shapes related and similar to geometrical shapes, such as those that are shown in the above mentioned figures , otherwise the case may resemble natural elements, such as a flower, an animal or the like or alternatively it can resemble one or more characters of the cartoons or comic strips, or even have a shape with anthropometric references , i.e. hands and feet or possibly reproduce a trademark.

The apparatus of the present invention may also be

advantageously provided with a power supply, a battery supply, as shown and described above or, alternatively or in addition to the above, it can include a battery charger for said battery or possibly a solar cell for supplying power from a renewable energy source, such as light.

The apparatus of the present invention may be provided as a part of a different apparatus , such as a coffee machine for office or home use, to provide a function in addition to that of known coffee machines .

Referring to Figure 12, in one embodiment the apparatus of the present invention is designed to be used for opening shampoo or bath foam packets, or the like. For example, in this case the apparatus may be advantageously supplied as directly mounted in a shower box 90, as a useful accessory or advantageously integrated in a shower box structure as shown in Fig. 12 , which shows the slit 30 for inserting the end of the shampoo or bath foam packet that the user may advantageously open even with wet hands , in a convenient and easy manner. A battery power supply in the apparatus of the present invention further allows installation near water, such as near or in a shower box 90 , while advantageously avoiding any risk for users .

In yet another preferred embodiment as shown in Fig. 13, the apparatus is integrated, for example, in the case of a coffee machine for office use 91 , such as a coffee pod machine or the like, to advantageously provide an integrated coffee making and sugar packet cutting unit, which shows the slit 30 for inserting the end of the packet to be cut, such as a sugar or honey packet or the pod packet itself. Thus, a coffee machine

is advantageously provided, that also integrates the functions of hygienic, shakeless cutting of the honey or sugar packets or the like.