EP0093087B1 - Dispensing apparatus for tablets - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Dispensing apparatus for tablets, especially for sweetening product lozenges, having a first housing element (10) and a second housing element (20), adapted so that they can be assembled so as to define an internal cavity intended to contain these lozenges, and a distribution device inside the housing to release selectively just one of the said lozenges, in which the first housing element (10) can be moved axially in relation to the second housing element (20) between a first and second position, this distribution device has a channel having deflectors (15) integral with the first housing element, and a fixed stop (28), integral with the second housing element, disposed in this channel having deflectors (15) when the two housing elements are assembled, this stop being arranged so that it blocks the passage of the lozenges across the channel having deflectors when the first housing element is in the said first position, and it allows the passage of the said lozenge when the said first element is in the said second position, characterised in that the channel having deflectors (15) has a rectilinear section, the width of which is substantially equal to the transversal section of the lozenges, and a lateral space (16) juxtaposed to the said rectilinear section and extending over a length substantially corresponding to the zone swept by the said stop (28), when the first housing element (10) moves from its first to its second position, the shape and dimensions of this lateral space (16) being such that it can only contain a single lozenge.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing lozenges, in particular lozenges for sweetening products, comprising a first housing element and a second housing element, adapted to be assembled so as to define an interior cavity intended to contain these lozenges, and a device for distribution housed inside the housing to selectively release only one of said pads, wherein the first housing element is axially movable relative to the second housing element between a first and a second position.

Various devices of this type are already known, in particular that described by the French publication FR-A-2460263. However, this device has the drawback of being of complex design, of comprising a relatively large number of molded parts, and consequently of requiring delicate assembly and leading to a high manufacturing cost. In addition, it does not solve the problem of blockage of the pellets due to the fact that a portion of tablet can unfortunately get stuck between the end of the supply passage and the movable upper projection arranged to periodically close this passage.

To this end, the dispensing device according to the invention is characterized in that the dispensing device comprises a baffled passage secured to the first housing element, comprising a rectilinear section whose width is substantially equal to the cross section of the pellets, and a lateral recess juxtaposed to said rectilinear section and extending over a length corresponding substantially to the zone swept by said stop when the first housing element moves from its first to its second position, this lateral recess having a shape and dimensions such that 'It can only contain one tablet.

This arrangement allows a controlled flow of the pellets through the baffle passage, the fixed stop acting as a valve, preferably releasing the pellets one by one.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the interior cavity of the housing communicates with the baffled corridor by means of a funnel. Such an arrangement facilitates the orderly penetration of the pellets in the baffle corridor. Two opposite side walls of this funnel preferably have the shape of a staircase, the steps of which are dimensioned to each support a single pellet. This construction allows a well-ordered placement of the pellets, which considerably facilitates the penetration and regular routing of the pellets at the mouth of the baffled corridor, avoiding the blocking of this mouth by the pellets superimposed at the entrance to the corridor. with baffles.

At least one of the housing elements comprises a stop member, arranged to define said first position of the first element of the housing relative to the second element of the housing, when these two elements are assembled. This stop member can advantageously be formed by a fixed stop secured to one of the elements of the housing, which cooperates with an elastic tongue integral with the other housing element and arranged to hang on the stop, when the first housing element is in its first position.

According to another particularly advantageous embodiment, the first housing element corresponds to a pusher formed at its upper end, and a drawer connected to this pusher and movable axially relative to the second housing element, and the second housing element has an upper opening for the passage of the pusher and a lower opening for the passage of at least one pellet, said drawer carrying a shutter arranged to form said lower opening when the first housing element is returned to its rest position relative to the second housing element , this shutter comprising a tab provided with a shutter surface whose shape and dimensions correspond to the shape and dimensions of the window of the second housing element.

This tab of the shutter is perpendicular to a tab integral with the drawer and has at least one surface oriented towards the inside of the housing and inclined relative to the direction of movement of this drawer.

The baffled corridor is preferably defined by said tab integral with the drawer carrying a fixed stud and by a partition for guiding the drawer integral with said second housing element.

The lower window is advantageously provided in the bottom wall of the second housing element, between one end of the drawer guide partition and the fixed stop which cooperates with the baffled passage to release the pellets one by one.

The device advantageously comprises a preselection chamber delimited by the tab of the drawer, the fixed stud carried by this tab, the guide partition, the fixed stop and the tab of the shutter, this chamber being dimensioned so that it cannot contain only one whole tablet.

The length of the tab is such that the length of the lateral openings formed along this tab, on either side of the shutter tongue, and corresponding to the stroke of the drawer, is at least equal to the diameter d 'a tablet, the height of the window, formed in the second housing element being at least equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the tab and a tablet deposited flat on this tab.

• La figure 1 représente une vue frontale en élévation du premier élément de boîtier d'un appareil distributeur de pastilles selon l'invention,
• La figure 2 représente une vue de dos en élévation du premier élément de boîtier de la fig. 1,
• La figure 3 représenteune vue partiellement en coupe du second élément de boîtier correspondant au premier élément de boltier des fig. 1 et 2,
• La figure 4 représente une vue en perspective de l'appareil distributeur de pastilles composé des éléments représentés par les fig. 1 à 3,
• La figure 5 représente une vue partiellement coupée d'une autre forme de réalisation de l'appareil distributeur selon l'invention,
• La figure 6 représente une vue partielle agrandie, illustrant le cheminement des pastilles à travers le couloir à chicanes des appareils distriteurs selon l'invention.
• Les figures 7 et 8 illustrent une autre forme de réalisation de l'appareil selon l'invention, vu respectivement dans sa position de repos et dans sa position de travail, et
• La figure 9 représente une vue en perspective d'un détail de l'appareil illustré par les fig. 7 et 8.

The present invention will be better understood with reference to the description of exemplary embodiments and the attached drawing, in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a front elevation view of the first housing element of a tablet dispensing device according to the invention,
• 2 shows a rear elevation view of the first housing member of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 represents a partially sectional view of the second housing element corresponding to the first boltier element of FIGS. 1 and 2,
• FIG. 4 represents a perspective view of the tablet dispensing device composed of the elements represented by FIGS. 1 to 3,
• FIG. 5 represents a partially cut away view of another embodiment of the dispensing apparatus according to the invention,
• FIG. 6 represents an enlarged partial view, illustrating the routing of the pellets through the baffled corridor of the distractors according to the invention.
• FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, seen respectively in its rest position and in its working position, and
• FIG. 9 represents a perspective view of a detail of the apparatus illustrated by FIGS. 7 and 8.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the first housing member 10 has a shape of rectangular parallelepiped provided with a rectangular window 11, formed on one of its large faces and communicating with an inner cavity 12 containing the pellets to be dispensed. This cavity is limited at its base by an inclined plane 13 which opens onto a funnel 14 communicating with the baffled corridor 15. The funnel 14 has two side walls in steps, the steps of one of the stepped walls being offset relative to those of the other staircase wall, for reasons which will be described in more detail with reference to the fiq. 6.

The corridor is provided with a lateral recess 16 adjacent to the evacuation orifice 17 of the corridor 15. In the example described, this recess is designed to accommodate a single tablet and to keep it waiting as long as the second part of the housing 20 (shown in Fig. 3) is in its first position. The first housing element 10 also comprises an axial rod 16, over which a helical spring 19 is fitted intended to constitute the agency spring member for constantly pushing this first housing element into its first position relative to the second housing element 20, when these two elements are assembled. The rod 16 serves as a support and guide for the spiral spring 19.

To maintain the two housings in the assembled position and prevent the element 20 from being pushed back by the spring 19, the first housing element 10 preferably comprises an elastic tongue 21 provided with a spout 22, arranged to cooperate with a stop 23 integral with the a side wall of the housing element 20. In this way, when the boltier element 10 is engaged inside the bolt element 20 by the upper opening 24 of the latter in the direction of the arrow A , the spout 22 slides over the ramp of the stop 23 and finally comes to hang on the latter, when the lower end of the spring 19 is in abutment against the surface of the wall 25 of the second housing element 20. The evacuation orifice 17 of the baffle channel 15 is bordered by a wall 26 having a U-shaped profile, which is intended to engage in an opening 27 formed in the center of the bottom 25 of the second housing element 20, when the two elements are assembled.

A stop 28, fixed to the inner surface of one of the large faces of the second housing element 20, is arranged to occupy a position 28 '(see fig. 1) adjacent to the recess 16, when the two elements are assembled as shown in fig. 4. In this position, the window 11 of the interior cavity 12 is hidden by one of the large faces of the second housing element, so that this cavity is completely closed. The pellets 29, housed inside this cavity, slide along the inclined plane 13 to engage through an opening 30, which communicates the funnel 14 with the cavity 12 to engage in the baffled corridor15 .

As shown in fig. 6, the baffle passage 15 is closed by the stop 28, which can adopt a first position 28a and a second position 28b relative to the first housing element, when the latter moves from its first to its second position. Indeed, when the user exerts, on the upper face of the first housing element 10, a push in the direction of the arrow 8 (see fig. 4), this element moves relative to the second housing element 20 towards its second position , in which the stop 28 occupies position 28a. In this position, it closes the channel 15 and prevents the pad 31 from moving in the direction of the recess 16. On the other hand, the pad 32, which is at this moment in the recess 16, rolls on the inclined plane 33 of this recess and slides towards the discharge orifice 17.

When the operator releases his pressure on the first housing element 10, the latter returns to its initial position relative to the second housing element 20, so that the stop 28 returns to its position illustrated by the reference 28b. In this position, it frees the passage of the patch 31 in the direction of the recess 16, so that when the operator exerts a new pressure on the element 10 in the direction of the arrow 8, the patch 31, then housed in the recess 16, or evacuated through the evacuation orifice 17.

It is easily understood that the stop 28 acts as a valve allowing the evacuation of the pellets one by one through the baffled passage 15. Of course, one could construct the recess 16 in such a way that two or more pellets can take place simultaneously and providing for the travel of the stop 28 so that the two or more pellets housed in the recess can be removed at each dispensing cycle. As shown in fig. 6, the steps 34 and 35 of the stairs, which constitute the side walls of the funnel 14, are offset. This allows a more regular distribution and avoids blocking the mouth of the baffle passage 15 by an accumulation of pellets.

Fig. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the dispensing apparatus according to the invention. It comprises, as before, a first housing element 40 and a second housing element 41, assembled as shown in the figure. The first housing element 40 is housed inside the housing element 41 and has an interior cavity 42 containing the pellets to be dispensed. The interior cavity 42 communicates with a funnel 43 via an inclined plane 44, this funnel opening onto a baffled corridor 45 similar to that described above.

As before, a spiral spring 46, for example mounted on a guide rod 47, makes it possible to push the first housing element 40 back into its first position as shown in the figure.

The profile of the housing made up of elements 40 and 41 is oval. The pellets have a diameter substantially equal to the width of the baffled corridor 45.

With reference to fig. 7, 8 and 9, the illustrated apparatus comprises, as before, a first housing element 50 housed inside a second housing element 51. This second housing element 51 consists of a box having four faces lateral, an upper opening 52 and a window 53 formed in a bottom 54 secured to the lower ends of the lateral faces. The first housing element 50 essentially consists of a drawer 55 sliding axially inside the second housing element 51, which is attached by two longitudinal arms 56 to a pusher 57 which closes the upper opening 52 of the second element housing. The drawer 55 has a transverse plate 58 which constitutes an oblique part of the bottom of the cavity 59 inside which pellets are stored, this transverse plate being extended downwards by a surface 60 whose role is to reduce the thickness of the cavity 59 to a dimension corresponding substantially to the thickness of the pellets. A ramp 61 serves to guide the pellets 62 towards the baffle corridor 63 described in more detail below. A spiral spring 64, mounted on a stud 65, is used to push the first housing element 50 upwards, that is to say towards its rest position illustrated in FIG. 1.

The baffled corridor 63 is defined by a tab 66 (see fig. 2), which extends the surface 60 of the drawer 55 'a guide partition 67 secured to the second housing element 51, a fixed stop 68, also secured to this element housing, and a stud 69 secured to the tab 66. This passage is closed at its lower end and, when the device is in its rest position defined by FIG. 7, by a tongue 70 which is embedded in the opening of the window 53. This tongue has a flat sealing surface 71, which is located in the extension of the outer surface of the bottom 54 of the housing when the device is in its rest position, andan inclined or pyramidal or conical surface 72 oriented towards the interior of the housing.

The various elements described above and forming the baffle corridor define a preselection chamber dimensioned in such a way that a single whole pad 73 (shown in broken lines in FIG. 7) can be accommodated there. This patch follows the path designated by the arrow M and is discharged through the window 53, then through one of the lateral openings formed on either side of the tongue 70 (as shown in FIG. 8) when the operator, in pressing push-button 57, brings the drawer into its working position. In this position, also illustrated in FIG. 9, the spring 64 is compressed. The shape of the surface 72 guarantees the evacuation of the pellet when the operator presses on the pusher.

The baffle corridor is designed in such a way that any chip debris flows directly, without being retained, into the preselection chamber and thus avoids the risk of the drawer being blocked by debris trapped between the fixed parts and the mobile parts .

One of the essential advantages of this embodiment is due to the fact that the box is completely closed at rest, which ensures very hygienic conservation of the pellets it contains.

Claims (10)

1. Dispensing apparatus for tablets, especially for sweetening product lozenges, having a first housing element (10) and a second housing element (20), adapted so that they can be assembled so as to define an internal cavity intended to contain these lozenges, and a distribution device inside the housing to release selectively just one of the said lozenges, in which the first housing element (10) can be moved axially in relation to the second housing element. (20) between a first and second position, this distribution device has a channel having deflectors (15) integral with the first housing element, and a fixed stop (28), integral with the second housing element, disposed in this channel having deflectors (15) when the two housing elements are assembled, this stop being arranged so that it blocks the passage of the lozenges across the channel having deflectors when the first housing element is in the said first position, and it allows the passage of the said lozenge when the said first element is in the said second position, characterised in that the channel having deflectors (15) has a rectilinear section, the width of which is substantially equal to the transversal section of the lozenges, and a lateral space (16) juxtaposed to the said rectilinear section and extending over a length substantially corresponding to the zone swept by the said stop (28), when the first housing element (10) moves from its first to its second position, the shape and dimensions of this lateral space (16) being such that it can only contain a single lozenge.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the internal cavity (12) of the housing communicates with the channel having deflectors by a slit (30) opening into a funnel (14).

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterised in that the said funnel (14) has two lateral walls in the form of a stair-case, the steps of which are dimensioned so that they can each support a single lozenge.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1, charcterised in that the first housing element has an elastic strip (21) having a protruberance (22), and in that the second housing element has a stop in the shape of a hook (23) arranged to hook on to the protruberance (22) of the first housing element.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the first housing element (50) has a push button (57) provided at its upper end, and a drawer (55) connected to this push button and axially mobile in relation to the second housing element (51), and in which the second housing element (51) has an upper opening (52) for the passage of the push button (57) and a lower window (53) for the passage of at least one lozenge, the said drawer (55) bearing an obturator (70) actuated to shut the said lower opening (53) when the first housing element (50) is brought into its position of rest in relation to the second housing element (51), characterised in that this obturator has a strip (70) having an obturation surface (71), the shape and dimensions of which correspond to the shape and dimensions of the window (53) of the second housing element (51).

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterised in that the strip (6) of the obturator (70) is perpendicular to a lug (66) integral with the drawer (55), and has at least one surface (72) oriented towards the interior of the housing and inclined in relation to the direction of displacement of the drawer.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the above claims, characterised in that the channel having deflectors (63) is defined by the said lug (66) integral with the drawer (55) bearing a fixed pin (69), and by a guiding partition (67) of the drawer integral with the said second housing element (51).

8. Apparatus according to any one of the above claims, characterised in that the lower window (53) is provided in the bottom wall (54) of the second housing element (51), between one end of the guiding partition (67) of the drawer and the fixed stop (68) which cooperates with the channel having deflectors so as to release the lozenges one by one.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the above claims, characterised in that it has a preselection chamber delimited by the lug (66) of the drawer (55), the fixed pin (69) borne by this lug, the guiding partition (67), the fixed stop (68) and the obturation strip (70), this chamber being dimensioned so that it can only contain a single complete lozenge.

10. Apparatus according to any one of the above claims, characterised in that the length of the lug (66) is such that the length of the lateral openings, provided along this lug on both sides of the obturation strip (70) and corresponding to the course of the drawer (55), and is at least equal to the diameter of a lozenge, and in that the height of the window (53), provided in the second housing element (51), is at least equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the lug (66) and of a lozenge laid flat on this lug.

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