US3409172A

US3409172A - Tablet-dispensers

Info

Publication number: US3409172A
Application number: US624399A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fuglsang-Madsen Erik; Bernado Casa; Calle Hidalgo; Stocklund Sven Egon
Original assignee: Erik Fuglsang Madsen; Stocklund Sven Egon
Current assignee: ERIK FUGLSANG MADSEN
Priority date: 1966-03-28
Filing date: 1967-03-20
Publication date: 1968-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 1985-11-05
Also published as: AT273381B; SE342023B; GB1174995A; DE1586622A1; DK112605B; CH467204A; BE696033A; NL6704288A

Description

Nov. 5, 1968 TABLET-DI SPENSERS Filed March 20. 1967 E. FUGLSANG-MADSEN ET AL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v 6 E. FUGLSANG-MADSEN ETAL 3,409,172

TABLET 'DI SPENSERS Filed March 20, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,409,172 TABLET-DISPENSERS, Erik Fuglsang-Madsen, Casa, Bernado, Hidalgo Calle, Bajamar de Tenerife, Tenerife, Spain, and Sven Egon Stocklund, 23 Kildevej, Rung'sted Kyst, Denmark Filed Mar. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 624,399 Claims priority,application Denmark, Mar. 28, 1966,

13 Claims. (Cl. 221-229) ABSTRACT OF' THE DISCLOSURE I An article dispenser for dispensing tablets or other articles in definite increments. The dispenser comprises a tubular container, open at one end to receive a single pile of articles to be dispensed, a removable cap closing the open end of the container, and projections radially extending within the container, thereby defining among them an opening smaller than the greatest dimension of the article to be dispensed at right angles to the long axis of the tubular container. The projections are adapted, by operation of a dispenser operating member from the outside, to be displacedin such a manner that the opening they define will be widened and thereby permit the dispensing of an article or tablet therethrough.

p This invention relates to a tablet dispenser for dispen sing one single or a definite number of tablets or other uniform articles, for example pyrophoric fiints, at a time and comprising a tubular container, open at one end and adapted to enclose the articles placed on top of one another in one single pile, a removable cap closing the said open end of the container, and projections extending inside the inner side of the container, and defining between them an opening smaller than the major dimensions of the components measured at right angles to the axis of the container, which projections are adapted through operation of at least one operating member, operated from the outside and constituting an integral part of the tablet dispenser, to be displaced in such a manner that they will permit passage of a tablet or other article between them.

, Hitherto known tablet dispensers of this type are provided with a screw device by means of which a slide, adapted to support the pile of articles, can be pushed towards the open end of the container, whereby the outermost article is pressed against the projections which are thereby tilted or bent outwards to permit passage of the article. In case, as applies for example to many types of tablets, the articles are relatively brittle, the pressure required for expulsion of the tablets may be so high that not only the outermost tablet directly acting on the projections but also further tablets may be partly crushed wherefore such tablet-dispensers are not suitable for use in connection with such brittle articles. Moreover, in many cases, the resistance against movement of the pile of articles may be subject to a sudden reduction at the moment one of the articles passes through the gap between the projections and, as a result, the screw device will often be turned farther than actually intended, whereby, instead of one single article, several articles may be dispensed, and the reinsertion of excess articles thus dispensed involves difliculty. Moreover, the known tablet dispensers of the type in question suffer from the drawback that in the case the screw device is operated when the cap is removed, either the object must be taken by hand, which, as far as tablets are concerned, is unhygienic, will fall on the floor, which is inconvenient in any circumstances, or measures must be taken to secure that it falls into a receptacle, for example a bowl for tablets, which is inconvenient too.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tablet dispenser of the said type which is simple to operate and in which during the dispensing operation the articles contained in the dispenser are exposed only to a light pres sure which even brittle articles can stand without being crushed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tablet-dispenser of the said type; in which the refraction of the projections from the outermost article during the dispensing operation can be carried out without the articles being influenced from the outside. I

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tablet-dispenser of the said type, in which the retraction of the projections from the outermost article for releasing the outermost article in the container is carried out only by a displacement of the cap prior to the removal thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a tablet-dispenser of the said type, in which the articles are exposed to a steady slight pressure urging the outermost article against the projections or, when the projections have been retracted, through the gap defined between the projections.

A still further object of the present invention is to pro vide a tablet-dispenser of the said type which makes it possible to secure that the definite number of articles to be dispensed at a time are retained in the cap, at least provided during the dispensing operation the dispenser is held with the cap facing downwards.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tablet-dispenser of the said type, which is simple to produce and to operate, and which secures that oblong articles, such as pyrophoric stones, at the end of the dispensing operation is maintained clamped between the projections at its innermost end in such a manner that the dispenser may be used as an insertion tool for the article in case the latter has to be inserted into a channel or the like.

In embodying the present invention a cap of said type is provided in which the container is provided at its open end with a slot member carrying with the projections and being provided with slots permitting elastic deformation of said slot member, and in which the cap is provided with internal engaging means adapted by a displacement of the cap, when closing the open end of the container, in direction towards the container, to engage the slot member for deformation thereof to such an extent, that when the cap is fully home, the projections are moved outwards to define between them an opening at least equal to the major sectional dimensions of the articles.

Other aspects, objects and the several advantages of this invention will be apparent from a study of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings on an enlarged scale:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a tablet dispenser embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1, with the cap being removed;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through another particularly simple tablet dispenser embodying the invention;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view through a further embodiment of the invention, the cap being positioned but not screwed home;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4;

screwed home;

FIG. 7 is'an elevational view of the dispenser shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view through a dispenser for pyrophoric flints embodying the invention, the cap being positioned but not brought home;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view through the outlet end of the dispenser shown in FIG. 8, with the cap removed, and

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of an annular component of the dispenser shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The dispenser shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises an inner tube or container 10 for a pile of tablets 12 and arranged within an outer casing 14 with closed bottom 50. The bottom 50 is provided with an annular projection 52, slightly tapered on the outside and fitting into the bottom end of the likewise slightly tapered inner side of the inner tube 10, so that the inner tube 10 is held in position in the outer casing v14.

The pile of tablets 12 rests on a slide 18 axially displaceable inside the tube 10 and carried by a resilient member 54, which may be a compression spring which, when not compressed, has a length exceeding to some extent the length of the inner tube 10. In the embodiment shown, however, the resilient member is a rod of foamplastic of a natural length of approximately twice the length of the inner tube 10, being compressed to approximately of its natural length when the inner tube is filled to capacity.

The top part of the inner tube 10 is provided with four longitudinal slots 57, dividing it into four sections 58, each provided with an inwardly extending projection 40, a little below the top of the section. The projections 40 reach over the uppermost tablet 12, retaining same in the inner tube 10.

The top end of the outer casing 14 is closed by means of a cap 42, shown as a screw cap. Within the cap 42 is inserted a conical engaging member 56, adapted when the cap 42 is screwed on, to engage the top edge of the inner tube 10, and thereby to force the sections 58 outwards, whereby the projections 40 are moved away from the top tablet '12 which, in turn, through the action of the resilient member 54 is pushed out through the gap defined by the projections 40 and into the cap 42 until it is stopped by the free edge 60 of the engaging member 56, having a distance from the projections 40 which, when the cap 42 is screwed fully home, is smaller than the thickness of the tablets 12. The engaging member 56 is, however, of such a shape that when the cap is unscrewed to such a distance from the top edge of the inner tube 10 that the inner edges of the projections 40 are displaced inwardly to a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the tablets 12 the space between the two uppermost tablets 12 is situated opposite to the projections 40, so that, when the unscrewing of the cap 42 is continued, and consequently, the projections 40 move further inwards they engage the second tablet 12 from the top, and thus retain the same, whereas the uppermost tablet 12 is now contained in the cap 42. It should be noted that, during the unscrewing of the cap 42, the dispenser should be held in such a manner that the cap faces downwards.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 corresponds as to all essentials to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the outer casing is omitted, so that the tablet dispenser only consists of a single container or tube 10 divided at the top by means of the slots 57 in four sections 58 each provided with an inwardly extending projection 40, the motive means 54, the slide 18 and the cap 42. The slots 56 are in this case somewhat shorter than those used in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the sections 58 between the slots 57 are slightly tapered outwards, even in their normal position. The cap 42, which in this case is a push-on-cap, is inwardly at its bottom end provided with a cylindrical portion 43 having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the ex 4 panded outer end of the tube 10, maintained on the tube 10.

Above the cylindrical portion 43 the cap 42 is provided internally with a relatively strongly outward tapered part 45, permitting expansion of the slotted top portion of the tube 10. At the top the cap 42'is provided internally with an engaging member 56 shaped as a truncated cone.

When the cap is pressed downwards from its normal position shown, the engaging member 56 will engage the inner side of the tube 10, thereby expanding the upper part thereof, so that the projections 40 are tilted away from the uppermost tablet 12, which is then, by means of the motive means 54, forced towards the engaging member 56. When thereafter the dispenser is turned upside down, and the cap 42 is removed, the tablet introduced into the cap 42 will, in the same way as explained hereinbefore, remain in the cap 42, whereas the top portion of the tube 10 will move back to its normal position shown so that the projections 40 will retain the following tablet. If the dispenser is not turned upside down, the uppermost tablet in the pile will have passed the projections 40, so that a turning of the tube 10 will make it fall out, whereas the rest of the tablets 12 will still be retained by the projections 40.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 the container or the inner tube 10 is provided with a bottom portion 26 adapted to support the outer casing 14. The bottom portion 26 is provided with a transitional part 70 serving also as spacer and having on the outside a number of small circumferential grooves 74 engaging a corresponding number of small annular ribs 76 on the inside of the bottom part of the outer casing, so that the casing and the tube can be relatively rotated, whereas no axial displacement is possible. The said small grooves and ribs involve no difiiculty in moulding the casing 14 and the tube 10 of plastic materials, and the use of a number of such grooves and ribs provides sufficient axial interconnection of the said two members. The lower edge of the outer casing 14 is provided with a large number of small radial notches 78, adapted to be engaged by a number of, for example four, small projections 80, on the top of the bottom portion 26. These projections and notches permit a relative rotation of the outer casing 14 and the inner tube 10 with a view to adjustment, and secure their relative position on completion of the adjustment.

so that the cap 42 is Also in this embodiment the outward displacement of the tablets is effected by a resilient motive means 54 acting on the slide 18. In this embodiment, however, the slide is provided with fins 82 extending downwards and outwards. In the embodiment shown three such fins are provided, extending through longitudinal slots 84 in the inner tube 10, which slots are open at the top end of the tube, enabling thereby insertion of the slide 18. In the space between the inner tube 10 and the outer casing 14 an indicator ring 86 is attached to the fins 84. Thus the indicator ring 86 is located below the slide 18 but being movable together therewith. This indicator ring 86 may conveniently be given a conspicuous colour, for example red.

At the top the inner tube 10 is provided with a connecting ring 90 serving at the same time as spacer and at its upper end formed as a

slot member

92, 94 having a cross section approximately like an inverted U or V composed by an axially extending outer flange 92 arranged close to the inside of the outer casing 14 and an inwardly extending tapered retainer flange 94 divided into sections by means of practically radially extending slots 96. The retainer flange 94 extends inside the inner side of the inner tube 10, so that its innermost edges 40 function in the same manner as the projections 40 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, that is to say: they retain the uppermost tablet 12 in the inner tube 10.

The cap 42 is designed as a screw cap and is provided with a center portion 98 extending downwardly from the cap-bottom and ending in a cup 102 surrounded by an annular engaging flange 100 the inner diameter of which corresponds to the inner diameter of the inner tube 10. When the cap 42, from the position shown in FIG. 4 where it has just been placed on the open top end of the outer casing 14, is screwed home, as shown in FIG. 6, the engaging flange 100 act upon the tapered retainerflange 94, thereby tilting the same to a position outside the inner tube 10, and away from the uppermost tablet 12, which is then pushed up into the cup 102. The cup is of a depth, taken from the free edge of the engaging flange 100, less than the thickness of the tablets 12, and said free edge of the engaging flange is so arranged within the cap 42, that during the'unscrewing of the cap 42, the sections of the retainer-flange 94 will again move inwards and contact the second tablet 12 and retain the same in the tube 10.

The center portion 98 is hollow, to economize with material, but the cavity 104 is closed by means of a disc 106 pressed into its outer end. The name of the manufacturer or seller of the tablets may be stamped on this disc. Any description of the composition of the tablets should not be given on the disc, however, because caps may be interchanged.

In this embodiment the outer casing 14 is assumed to be made of a transparent material. It is provided, however, on the outside with a coating 108 indicated in FIG. 5 by a heavy circumferential line, said coating being for example a paint coating, or a decorative metal casing enclosing the outer casing 14. In the coating, on which the necessary indication of the composition of the tablets 12 may be printed, a longitudinal zone 110, FIGS. 5 and 7, is provided, having a length equal to the aggregate thickness of the total number of tablets 12 for which the inner tube is adapted, in the embodiment shown the number of tablets may for example be 28. When the slide 18 is in its bottom position, that is to say, when the inner tube 10 is filled to capacity, the bottom end of the Zone 110 will be immediately above the upper edge of the indicator ring 86.

On the outside of the inner tube 10, as shown in FIG. 5, seven axially extending rows of markings 112 are printed, indicating the number of tablets dispensed, or left. In the present case each of these rows comprises a number of markings which, from the bottom and upwards, indicate the first letters of the names of consecutive days of the week, covering three weeks in succession, and so that each individual row starts with one particular day of the week. The spacing, center to center, of consecutive marks in the same row is equal to the thickness of the tablets, and the bottom mark is so placed that it is opposite to the bottom end of the zone 110 on the outer tube, when the corresponding row of marks 112 is opposite to this zone 110.

In this embodiment the dispenser is assumed to contain tablets of which the daily dose is one.

When the dispenser is going to be used, the outer tube 14 is rotated relative to the innertube 10, until the marking 112 to be found at the bottom end of zone 110 of the outer tube corresponds to the day of the week on which the first tablet is to be taken. Every time a tablet has been taken, the indicator ring 86 is moved upwards a distance corresponding to the thickness of a tablet and will thus cover the mark corresponding to the relevant day.

Assuming the user does not remember whether the prescribed tablet has been taken or not on the particular day, and the indication on the dispenser is as shown in FIG. 7, looking at the marking of zone 110 the user, if the day in question is a Sunday, will clearly see that the Sunday marking is covered, and can be sure that the tablet has been taken. If, on the other hand, the day in question is a Monday the uncovered Monday marking shows that it is time to take the tablet.

When day-marks are used, the dispenser should be designed for a number of tablets divisible by seven, so

that the user will always be in a position to adjust his dispenses in the same way.

In many cases, within a cycle of a certain number of weeks, usually four, the user may have to take one tablet daily for a certain number of consecutive days and, thereafter, for a few days he shall not take any, and then again commence taking tablets on the same day of the week as applied to the first cycle. However, in many cases the close adherence to this cycle involves difiiculty; for this reason the dispenser considered here contains twentyeight tablets, the last tablets, six or seven for example, being neutral, and also innoxious. The user can therefore safely take one tablet every day, and the changeover to a new cycle just means to change over to a new dispenser, without any interruption of the consumption of tablets.

It is a matter of course that the markings may be just figures, indicating the number of tablets dispensed, or better still, the number of tablets left in the dispenser.

In addition to tablets for medical use, the dispenser according to the present invention, may also be used for many other articles, for example tablets of chemical reagents, in which case it is particularly of advantage that the dispenser can dispense an exact dosed number of tablets Without these having to be touched by hand.

The insertion of the tablets into the dispenser can be carried out mechanically. Thus for example in connection with the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the filling operation may be effected by means of a filler tube introduced into the top end of the inner tube 10, the filler tube thus introduced having engaging means moving the projections 40 outwards, to such an extent that the tablets can slide from the filler tube and through the gap defined by the projections. In the three embodiments described, and in similar embodiments, at the same time it is obtained that the tablets are pressed relatively gently down into the inner tube, and thus are not exposed to any detrimental eflect, as might be the case if they were falling freely. In addition, filling of an empty space with cotton or similar matter is not required, such as is necessary in connection with tablet bottles or dispensers of the classes known so far, which filling is usually done manually, which is not quite hygienic.

A dispenser, according to the invention, is, however, also applicable to uniform articles which cannot be directly termed tablets. Thus, in FIGS. 8 to 10, is shown an embodiment of the invention, intended primarily for supplying pyrophoric flints.

In this embodiment, the inner tube 10, being intended for being filled with flints placed in a pile in their longitudinal direction, is of relatively small diameter externally and internally. The inner tube 10, which is arranged inside the somewhat bigger outer casing 14 has its bottom end introduced into a recess in the bottom of the outer casing 14, preferably so that a clamping etfect is attained.

The inner tube 10 is at its outer end, in FIGS. 8 and 9 shown turned downwards, surrounded by a ring 90 ofa resilient material, this ring being at its outer edge provided with a transversal flange consisting of an outer flange 92 and an inner flange 94, so that the ring member is in effect of T-section. As appears from FIG. 10, the two

flanges

92 and 94 are both divided in sections by radial slots and each of the sections of the inner flange 94, which may be conical inwards and outwards, is provided on the inside with a hook-like projection 40.

Centering of the outer end of the inner tube 10 in the casing 14 is assured through a spacer-ring 132.

The cap 42 is on the inside provided with a ring shaped engaging flange 100, so located that positioning of the cap 42 makes it pass into the space between the ring 90 and the inside of the casing 14, whereby it contacts the outer flange 92 of the ring member, which, in turn, involves that the inner flange 94, or rather the sections of this flange, are turned downwards and outwards, FIG. 8. Thereby the projections 40, which in the position shown in FIG. 8 are engaging and retaining-the outermost flint 212, are turned away from this flint so that it can pass into the cap 42, the bottom of which, when the cap is brought fully home, is at a distance from the projections 40 considerably less than the thickness of the flints, that is to say, here the length of the flints. The distance is so, however, that the inner end of the outermost flint 212 will still remain between the projections 40 when the cap 42, in being removed, has been moved so far outwards that its engaging flange 100 goes out of engagement with the outerflange 92. As a result, after removal of the cap 42, the outermost flint, as shown in FIG. 9, will remain clamped between the sections of the inner flange 94, although only at'the innermost end. Hence, through the use of the dispenseras an insertion-tool, the flint can without difliculty be introduced into the flintcanal of a lighter, and then it can be loosened from the dispenser, just by slightly twisting-of the latter.

As a consequence, the projections 40 will swing fully back to their retaining positions, and prevent the following fiint from falling out.

As arule, pyrophoric flints are fully cylindrical, with end surfaces at right angles to the side-walls, which'are parallel to the axis, so that in a pile of such flints there will be no open space between consecutive flints. The dispenser, as shown, will in effect, due to the disinclination of the flints to move, with certainty retain the flint in the inner tube following after the flint dispensed, the release of the first stone being done with a sudden movement. Often, however, it may be convenient, as shown on the drawing, in connection with the insertion of such flints, or other objects of similar shape, into the inner tube 10, to insert a small spacer 170 between consecutive flints, the spacer having a cross section that is smaller than the free opening defined by the projections 40 in their closing position, so that space is provided between the flints, usable for the engagement of the projections 40.

Pyrophoric flints are relatively heavy, and in many cases they will stand impact without breaking. Due to the weight it is not strictly necessary that a moving device for the flints be introduced in the inner tube, although an elastic moving device, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, may be convenient. On the other hand, in the de-' sign shown, with a view to prevent the flints 112 from rattling excessively, a slide 160 is provided having guide pins 164 extending through longitudinal Slots in the inner tube 10. The outer ends of the guide pins 164 engage a flat U-shaped toothed member 166 extending through eX- tensions of the slots for the pins 164 at the bottom end of the inner tube 10 and being thus held in position relative to the inner tube 10. The toothed member 166 is made of a resilient material and is so shaped that its flanges, extending along the inner tube and provided with ratchet teeth 165, exert a gentle pressure against the inner tube 10. Therefore, when the slide 160 which may have a certain weight, is moving outwards together with the flints 212, the guide pins 164 will be able to move outwards relative to the toothed member 166 without any essential resistance, but it will be prevented from going back again due to the ratchet teeth 165.

Various changes and modification may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. Thus, for example, when an outer casing is used, the member or members carrying the projections 40 need not be directly connected to the inner tube or container, but, held in position by the outer casing, they may be placed at the open end of the inner tube.

We claim:

1. A tablet-dispenser adapted to dispense one single or another definite number of uniform articles at a time, comprising a tubular container having an open end and adapted to enclose said articles piled on top of one another in one single pile; a removable cap adapted to be placed directly on said container enclosing the same at said open end thereof to close said open end; said container comprising at said open end a slotted member having a free edge and divided into sections by means of mainly longitudinally extending slots open at said free edge and permitting elastic deformation of said slotted member; said sections being provided with projections extending inside the inner side of said container; said projections having ends defining between them an opening smaller than the major dimensions of the said articles measured at right angles to the axis of said container; each of said sections having a first engaging face; said engaging faces constituting a first engaging means, said cap being provided internally with a second engaging face constituting a second engaging means; one of said two engaging means being tapered realtive to the longitudinal axis of said container, said second engaging means being adapted by a displacement of said cap, when closing said open end of said container, in direction towards said container, to engage said first engaging means for gradual deformation of said slotted member to such an extent, that when said cap is fully home, said projections are moved outwards to define between their said ends an opening at least equal to the major sectional dimensions of the said articles.

2. A tablet-dispenser as defined in claim 1, said slot member being constituted by the portion of said container itself next to said open end thereof.

3. A tablet-dispenser as defined in claim 1, further comprising an outer casing, said container being inserted in said outer casing and defining together therewith an annular space at said open end, an annular member having a cross section corresponding to an inverted U or V and having an outer flange inserted in said annular space surrounding said container at its said open end and an inner tapered flange constituting said slot member.

4. A tablet-dispenser as defined in claim 3, said tapered flange being by said slots divided into fingers, the inner ends of said fingers constituting said projections.

5. A tablet-dispenser adapted to dispense one single or another definite number of uniform articles at a time, comprising a tubular container having an open end and adapted to enclose said articles piled on top of one another in one single pile, a removable cap adapted to close said open end of said container, said container comprising at said open end a slot member provided with projections extending inside the inner side of said container, said projections having ends defining between them an opening smaller than the major dimensions of the said articles measured at right angles to the axis of said container, said slot member being provided with slots permitting elastic deformation of said slot member, said cap being provided with internal engaging means adapted by a displacement of said cap, when closing said open end of said container, in direction towards said container, to engage said slot member for deformation thereof to such an extent, that when said cap is fully home, said projections are moved outwards to define between their said ends an opening at least equal to the major sectional dimensions of the said articles; said container comprising at its said open end an annular member having an approximately T- shaped cross section and being provided with an inner and an outer flange, both said flanges being slotted by means of common flange slots.

6. A tablet-dispenser as defined in claim 5, said inner flange being by said flange slots divided into fingers serving as said projections. I

7. A tablet-dispenser as defined in claim 1, said cap being provided with an internal stop member having, when said cap is brought fully home relative to said container, an axial distance from the said inner ends of said projections exceeding the aggregate thickness of said definite number of articles less one and being less than said aggregate thickness plus one, said aggregate thickness being measured in the axial direction of said pile of articles, said cap being provided with an outer wall and an inner engaging member having a tapered outside facing said wall, and a free end face, said tapered outside constituting said engaging means, said end face constituting said stop member.

8. A tablet-dispenser as defined in claim 1, said cap being provided with an internal stop member having, when said cap is brought fully home relative to said container, an axial disance from the said inner ends of said projections exceeding the aggregate thickness of said definite number of articles less one and being less than said aggregate thickness plus one, said aggregate thickness being measured in the axial direction of said pile of articles, said cap being iwardly provided with an axially extending engaging flange constituting said second engaging means, said engaging flange enclosing a cavity in said cap, said cavity having a bottom, said bottom constituting said stop member.

9. A tablet-dispenser as defined in claim 1, further comprising supporting means arranged within said container for supporting said pile of articles, said supporting means comprising a slide axially displaceable within said container and adapted to support the innermost article of said pile of articles, and motive means arranged in said container for moving said slide towards said open end of said container, said supporting means being resilient; an outer casing, said container being inserted in said outer casing coaxially thereto, said container being provided with a longitudinally extending container slot of an axial length corresponding at least to the length to be travelled by said slide for dispensing all articles to be contained in said container; indicating means connected to said slide and extending through said container slot, said casing being provided at least with a transparent longitudinally extending portion through which at least a part of said indicating means is visible.

10. A tablet-dispenser as defined in claim 1, further comprising an outer casing, said container being inserted in said outer casing and defining together therewith an annular space at said open end, an annular member having an approximately T-shaped cross section and being provided with an annular center flange inserted in said space surrounding said container at its said open end, an inner and an outer flange, both said flanges being slotted by means of common slots, said inner and said outer flange together forming said slot member.

11. A tablet-dispenser as defined in claim 9, said casing and said container defining between them an annular space, said indicating means comprising an arched indicator strip displaceably arranged in said annular space at least partly surrounding said container, and connecting means interconnecting said indicator strip and said slide and extending through said container slot.

12. A tablet-dispenser as defined in claim 11, said casing being provided with one single longitudinal extending transparent zone constituting said transparent longitudinal extending portion, said container being provided on its outer side with a number of longitudinal rows of markings at an axial spacing center to center corresponding to the aggregate thickness of said definite number of articles, said casing being adjustably rotatably connected to said container.

13. A tablet-dispenser as defined in claim 1, said dispenser being filled with cylindrical articles, such as pyrophoric flints, spacers of small thickness and having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said articles being inserted between consecutive of said articles.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,857,794 10/1958 Red 221-307 X 3,067,787 12/1962 Salk 22l-289 3,112,046 11/1963 Szekely 221--306 X 3,270,915 9/ 1966 Auer 2212 FOREIGN PATENTS 384,139 12/1932 Great Britain.

STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner.