EP0393573A1 - Pill dispensing device, especially for homeopathic pellets - Google Patents

Pill dispensing device, especially for homeopathic pellets Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0393573A1
EP0393573A1 EP90107244A EP90107244A EP0393573A1 EP 0393573 A1 EP0393573 A1 EP 0393573A1 EP 90107244 A EP90107244 A EP 90107244A EP 90107244 A EP90107244 A EP 90107244A EP 0393573 A1 EP0393573 A1 EP 0393573A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tube
dispensing device
granules
conduit
retaining
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EP90107244A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Gérard Delval
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SOMATER (CONDITIONNEMENTS)
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SOMATER (CONDITIONNEMENTS)
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Publication of EP0393573A1 publication Critical patent/EP0393573A1/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/04—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills
    • B65D83/0409—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation
    • B65D83/0436—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation the articles being dispensed by pinching action on a flexible tube

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to bottles of the type used in the pharmaceutical industry. It relates more particularly to a device for dispensing products in the form of solid beads, which can be fitted to a tank containing such loose beads to allow their distribution outside the tank.
  • the device according to the invention can find numerous applications, covering all the cases where it turns out to be desirable to distribute uniform balls one by one, if only for example to facilitate their counting.
  • Document US-A-2,960,259 proposes a device for dispensing pharmaceutical tablets in the form of balls which comprises a tube in which a series of balls are aligned one behind the other, while the first ball is retained in the vicinity of the expulsion end by the walls of the tube which are pinched one towards the other. Behind this first ball, bosses are provided inside the tube, at the same level as external buttons which facilitate an elastic deformation of the manually controlled tube. The bringing together of the two bosses towards the inside of the tube makes it possible to retain the second ball immediately following the first, at the same time that the pinched walls of the end move apart to let the first ball pass.
  • Such a dispenser can only be suitable for relatively large balls, the diameter of which is practically of the same order of magnitude as the dimension of the user's fingertips.
  • Document US-A-3 306 493 describes a device which has the same drawbacks.
  • This device rather intended for the distribution of flat cylindrical tablets, normally retains the first tablet in the terminal part of a tube containing them, the end of which is ovalized.
  • the expulsion command involves the intervention of the index finger as well as the thumb of the user at this terminal part, to both round the end and ovalize the base of the terminal part in order to retain the second tablet located immediately behind the first.
  • the device according to the invention has the advantage of adapting to the distribution of elements of much smaller dimensions, as is the case in particular for homeopathic granules.
  • the known devices require for their operation that the balls (or tablets) are previously stored correctly, aligned one behind the other, inside the distributor tube. Neither is suitable for the distribution of a product in the form of beads contained in bulk in a tank.
  • Homeopathic granules are in the form of small spherical beads, with a diameter generally between 1 and 6 millimeters, all regular and of uniform size in the same bottle intended for sale.
  • the invention proposes a new dispensing device, specially designed to automatically select and align a series of granules, or balls, of dimensions of the order a few millimeters, from a bottle where they are contained in bulk, and to allow the user to control the expulsion of the granules of the series one by one, counting them at their exit, without the need to control very precisely the position of his fingers, after which the granules in excess compared to the selected series, return to the bottle without being released into the open air, without it being necessary to shake the bottle after each granule expelled.
  • the dispensing device which is the subject of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a conduit for aligning a series of successive balls, externally limited by a flexible tube, elastically deformable of a natural section circular to an oval shape, and provided inside said conduit with first means for retaining a first ball of said series in the vicinity of an expulsion end of said duct, and second means for retaining a second ball immediately following the first in said series, said first and second retaining means being alternately respectively active and inactive during the deformation of the tube, and in that it comprises levers for manual control of the deformation of the tube to release said first ball by blocking the second, pivotally mounted on a rigid end piece integral with said tube, and means for selecting and guiding said balls through said endpiece towards said conduit, from a reservoir where said balls are contained in bulk.
  • the dispenser of the invention is further characterized in that said duct has a natural shape with circular section, elastically deformable by said levers to an oval shape having a larger diameter according to a first diametral plane (AA ′) of the distributor and a smaller diameter along a second diametral plane (BB ′) of the distributor, - in that said first retaining means situated along said first diametrical plane, are active for retaining said first ball of said series in the vicinity of the expulsion end of said conduit when said tube is in its natural form, and inactive when said tube is oval shaped, - And in that said second retaining means located along said second diametral plane, are active to retain said second ball when said tube is in its ovalized shape, but inactive when it has its natural shape.
  • AA ′ first diametral plane
  • BB ′ second diametral plane
  • said first and second retaining means can advantageously be arranged, shaped and dimensioned, so that the blocking of the second ball occurs even before the release of the first, and that the second retaining means do not interfere for as much the progression of the balls in the selection duct of said series before the intervention of the control means.
  • the dispenser according to the invention is preferably designed to be adapted by its rigid tip on a bottle of homeopathic granules and to be integrated in a removable closure lid of said bottle, in which case it is dimensioned in its various elements. constitutive, depending on the dimensions of said granules (which then constitute the balls), these dimensions being for example between 3.8 and 4.2 millimeters according to current practice in France.
  • various features of the distributor constituteting secondary characteristics of the invention, facilitate that the selection of a series of beads, or granules, is carried out by bringing them in line with each other under the effect of gravity when the bottle is returned to the appropriate position by the user, and then each released ball can fall out of the dispenser, without the need for special ejection means to expel it.
  • Such a dispenser is easy to make economically from plastic, preferably by molding in one piece.
  • the use for this purpose of a transparent plastic material has the advantage of allowing the user to easily monitor the correct operation of the dispenser, both for the selection and the correct alignment of a series of balls as for the expulsion of successive balls from the series.
  • the invention is applied to the distribution of spherical beads of homogeneous size, constituted by homeopathic granules which must be selected and brought out one by one from a bottle. where they are contained in bulk.
  • the bottle of homeopathic granules is of conventional external appearance, of cylindrical shape, although it incorporates a dispenser 1 according to the invention .
  • It comprises a tubular body 2, made for example of metal or plastic, which forms a reservoir for the granules 4, and a cover 3, which is here completely removable.
  • the cover 3 is of cylindrical tubular shape like the bottle body 2. However, it has a smaller wall thickness and a smaller internal diameter, which allows it, to close the bottle, to engage around one end 5 of the body 2 of narrowed section, until it abuts on an external shoulder 6 formed in the thickness of the walls of the body 2. The latter is obviously closed furthermore by a bottom which does not appear in the figures.
  • the dispenser 1 is molded in one piece from transparent plastic, which allows the user to follow its operation and to see the granules progress and fall one by one when he orders the expulsion as will be explained later. Furthermore, this dispenser has a general shape with symmetry of revolution and it is dimensioned in such a way, by the periphery of its various constituent elements, that it fits entirely inside the cover 3, the latter being itself even of sufficient length to be able to completely enclose the dispenser at the same time as it closes the bottle, at least when the dispenser is properly mounted on the body 2.
  • the dispenser 1 there is a distinction in the longitudinal direction, on the one hand, a mounting end piece 7, suitable for fitting onto the bottle body 2 by fitting inside the end 5 of the latter, and on the other hand a head 8 emerging outside the body 2, which represents the functional part of the dispenser for controlling the expulsion of the granules.
  • the distributor 1 is axially traversed by a conduit 9, which constitutes the main part of the means for aligning a series of granules to be distributed.
  • the mounting end piece 7 is designed in the form of an airtight closure cap of the bottle body 2. It mainly comprises three zones of different diameters.
  • the lower zone in FIG. 1 is that which first penetrates into the tubular body 2; it is a guide zone 11, the diameter of which is slightly less than the internal diameter of the body 2 and which ends in a conical end 12.
  • a clamping zone 13 the diameter of which is slightly greater than that of the body 2, so that during assembly, it must be forcibly engaged in body 2, thus ensuring the seal therewith and the blocking of the distributor.
  • the third zone, or external zone 14 forms an external shoulder 15 which then comes into abutment on the end face of the end 5 of the body 2.
  • the dispenser At its head 8, the dispenser comprises a flexible tube 16 which externally limits the axial duct 9 and which is elastically deformable, due to the reduced thickness of its wall.
  • the tube 16 At rest it has a natural shape with a circular section, with an outer diameter significantly smaller than that of the external zone 14 of the end piece 7 of which it is integral.
  • This tube 16 is flanked by two wings 17, diametrically opposite and symmetrical outside the tube 16, which appear in longitudinal front view in Figure 2 and in top view in Figure 3. These wings 17 constitute as is will see later manual control levers of the dispenser in its operation in pellet expulsion mode.
  • these wings serve to deform the tube 16, at least in the vicinity of its end over a length at least equal to a granule diameter, by passing it from its natural shape with circular section in accordance with Figures 1, 2 and 3, to a shape oval illustrated in FIG. 8.
  • these wings extend along the tube over a length of several granules, that is to say at least two granules and preferably three granules, and they function as rigid levers, articulated in a fixed position at the rear of these balls, so as to allow tilting towards one another, to control the deformation of the tube selectively in the vicinity of its end.
  • the tube 16 ends with an annular end 18, or end for expelling the granules, which protrudes from the wings 17, or at least of an area of attachment thereof with the tube 16, materialized by connecting tabs 19.
  • the annular end 18 can cooperate with a ring 21 inside which it penetrates and which is formed for this purpose in the removable cover 3, projecting internally from a transverse wall 20 closing off this lid.
  • This cooperation has two effects, in that the internal contour of the crown 21, of circular shape, corresponds as exactly as possible to the external contour of the end 18 of the tube in its natural circular shape.
  • the tube 16 When the tube 16 is in ovalized shape as illustrated in FIG. 8, its largest diameter is located along a first diametral plane of the distributor, shown diagrammatically in AA ′, and its smallest diameter is located along a second diametral plane BB ′ perpendicular to the first. Consequently, the two control wings 17 extend from the tube 16 along the second diametrical plane BB ′, because they are designed to operate in the direction of ovalization under the effect of a pinching action that the user exerts on the tube through them by pressing them towards each other between two fingers.
  • Each of the wings 17 is shaped symmetrically with respect to this plane BB ′, by forming, from the tongue 19 which connects it to the tube 16, a part 22, flared outwards to give rigidity to the wing in its together.
  • This flared part 22 ends in a support zone 23, with a surface in the form of a circular sector with a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the cover 3.
  • This support zone facilitates the gripping of the control system by the user for pressing the two wings towards each other and thus control the deformation of the tube 16 towards its oval shape.
  • the two wings 17 are molded in one piece by their base 24 with the external zone 14 of the end piece 7.
  • Their reduced grip on the complete section of the nozzle 7 means that they are nevertheless articulated relative to this base in order to be able to tilt towards one another. They thus constitute tilting levers.
  • the wings 17 At their end opposite the base 24 the wings 17 end in a conical shape at 25 on a support zone 23 rounded at the end. This arrangement facilitates the gripping of the wings 17 for the user, without detracting from the flexibility of the tube 16 and while providing the necessary space for the crown 21.
  • the conduit 9 ensures the selection and alignment of a series of balls as long as the first granule 31 ready to be expelled is still retained in the tube by lips 32 which will be described more fully below.
  • the internal diameter of the tube 16 is determined as a function of the diameter of the granules, for example of the order of 4 mm, so that there can never be two granules at the front and that in practice the granules which fall in the tube are placed in series in substantially aligned positions one behind the other and resting on one another.
  • Grooves 33, 4 or 6 for example, are formed in the longitudinal direction inside the tube 16 projecting from the inner wall thereof.
  • grooves 33 continuous in the longitudinal direction these could be replaced, as a variant of the invention, by shorter grooves or by bosses distributed differently on the inner wall of the tube 16 in levels of cross sections, different from this one.
  • the part of the conduit 9 strictly limited by the tube 16 thus strictly speaking ensures the positioning of a series of granules so that they are substantially axially aligned.
  • this selection conduit 9 extends through the end piece 7, widening towards the inside of the bottle body 2.
  • This extension of flared conduit 34 contributes to the selection of the granules by guiding them towards the conduit 9 under the effect of their gravity when the bottle is inverted.
  • Its internal surface is also provided at this level with fins 35 whose role is similar to that of the grooves 33. The granules are thus automatically withdrawn from the bottle and selected towards the conduit 9 for their alignment one behind the other. , without manual user intervention
  • the lips 32 which hold the first ball 31 of the series are produced in a thickness sufficiently small to make them elastically deformable. They are symmetrical to each other, in diametrically opposite positions on the longitudinal plane A-A ′. Each protrudes inside the conduit 9 in a transverse plane thereof. However, it is not the same transverse plane, each lip 32 being located in a plane inclined towards the expulsion end 18 relative to a plane of cross section of the tube 16. More precisely, each lip 32 has the shape of a disk sector (FIG. 3) joining on its periphery the tube 16 by a continuous attachment line 36.
  • the disk sector is limited by a rectilinear arc cord parallel to the axis BB ′, but one could also, as a variant, give the lips a half-moon shape, with curvilinear edges, to better accept the dimensions of granules deviating from the nominal dimension.
  • the lips 32 deform as it appears in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. While in the natural form of the tube 16, they have the effect of retaining the first granule 31 by stopping its fall , they retract to the inactive position when the tube is ovalized and provide between them a passage section sufficient to release the granule 31, which is thus expelled from the tube 16.
  • the lips 32 are deformed both by elastic stretching along from their line 36 of attachment with the tube, and by curvature of the surface of each lip with respect to its original transverse plane in a median part located in the vicinity of the longitudinal plane AA ′, the latter constituting for it a plane of symmetry throughout its deformation.
  • means are provided for retaining at the same time a second granule 37 which immediately follows the first 31 in the series of granules selected in the conduit 9.
  • These means comprise two bosses 38 formed in excess thickness of the internal wall of the tube 16, in diametrically opposite positions on the second longitudinal plane B-B ′. These bosses are therefore on the smallest diameter of the tube in its oval shape. Their thickness and their position are determined so that they then come to be interposed between the two granules 31 and 37 so that they block the granule 37 in its fall and simultaneously retain the granules which follow it.
  • Figures 6 and 7 explain how this blockage occurs at the time of the release of the first granule 31, or just before the expulsion of the latter, while in the natural circular shape of the tube 16, the bosses 38 are removed in position inactive, out of the section necessary for the passage of a granule.

Abstract

The invention concerns a dispensing device for pills such as homeopathic pellets, comprising a pipe (9) for the alignment of a series of successive pellets, bounded on the outside by a flexible tube (16), elastically deformable from a natural shape having a circular cross-section to an oval shape, and provided, inside the said pipe (9), with first means of retaining (32) a first pill (31) of the said series in the vicinity of an end (18) for expulsion from the said pipe, and second means of retaining (38) of a second pill immediately following the first one in the said series, the said first and second means of retaining being alternately active and inactive respectively during the deformation of the tube, characterised in that it comprises levers (17) for manually controlling the deformation of the tube to release the said first pill while blocking the second one, mounted in a rocking manner on a rigid end piece (7) integral with the said tube, and means of selection and guidance of the said pills through the said end piece (7) towards the said pipe (9), from a container where the said pellets are contained in bulk. These means of retaining are alternately active and inactive in opposition such that the use of the tube releases the first pill while blocking the second one. <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention concerne les flaconnages du type de ceux qui sont utilisés dans l'industrie pharma­ceutique. Elle se rapporte plus particulièrement à un dispositif distributeur de produits sous forme de billes solides, qui peut s'adapter sur un réservoir contenant de telles billes en vrac pour permettre leur distribution hors du réservoir.The present invention relates to bottles of the type used in the pharmaceutical industry. It relates more particularly to a device for dispensing products in the form of solid beads, which can be fitted to a tank containing such loose beads to allow their distribution outside the tank.

Le dispositif selon l'invention peut trouver de nombreuses applications, couvrant tous les cas où il s'avère souhaitable de distribuer des billes uniformes une à une, ne serait-ce par exemple que pour faciliter leur comptage. Cependant, on s'intéressera tout spécialement ici à l'industrie pharmaceutique, où ce problème se pose de manière particulièrement aiguë pour les granules homéopa­thiques.The device according to the invention can find numerous applications, covering all the cases where it turns out to be desirable to distribute uniform balls one by one, if only for example to facilitate their counting. However, we will pay special attention here to the pharmaceutical industry, where this problem is particularly acute for homeopathic granules.

L'art antérieur le plus proche de l'invention est illustré par les brevets américains US-A-2 960 259 et US-A-­3 306 493. Le document US-A-2 960 259 propose un dispositif de distribution de comprimés pharmaceutiques en forme de billes qui comporte un tube dans lequel une série de billes sont alignées les unes derrière les autres, alors que la première bille est retenue au voisinage de l'extrémité d'expulsion par les parois du tube qui sont pincées l'une vers l'autre. En arrière de cette première bille, il est prévu des bossages à l'intérieur du tube, au même niveau que des boutons extérieurs qui facilitent une déformation élastique du tube commandé manuellement. Le rapprochement des deux bossages vers l'intérieur du tube permet de retenir la seconde bille suivant immédiatement la première, dans le même temps que les parois pincées de l'extrémité s'écartent pour laisser passer la première bille.The closest prior art to the invention is illustrated by American patents US-A-2,960,259 and US-A-3,306,493. Document US-A-2,960,259 proposes a device for dispensing pharmaceutical tablets in the form of balls which comprises a tube in which a series of balls are aligned one behind the other, while the first ball is retained in the vicinity of the expulsion end by the walls of the tube which are pinched one towards the other. Behind this first ball, bosses are provided inside the tube, at the same level as external buttons which facilitate an elastic deformation of the manually controlled tube. The bringing together of the two bosses towards the inside of the tube makes it possible to retain the second ball immediately following the first, at the same time that the pinched walls of the end move apart to let the first ball pass.

Un tel distributeur ne peut convenir que pour des billes relativement grosses, dont le diamètre est pratiquement du même ordre de grandeur que la dimension des bouts de doigts de l'utilisateur.Such a dispenser can only be suitable for relatively large balls, the diameter of which is practically of the same order of magnitude as the dimension of the user's fingertips.

Le document US-A-3 306 493 décrit un dispositif qui présente les mêmes inconvénients. Ce dispositif, plutôt destiné à la distribution de comprimés cylindriques plats, retient normalement le premier comprimé dans la partie terminale d'un tube les contenant, dont l'extrémité est ovalisée. La commande d'expulsion implique l'intervention de l'index aussi bien que du pouce de l'utilisateur au niveau de cette partie terminale, pour à la fois arrondir l'extrémité et ovaliser la base de la partie terminale afin de retenir le second comprimé situé immédiatement derrière le premier.Document US-A-3 306 493 describes a device which has the same drawbacks. This device, rather intended for the distribution of flat cylindrical tablets, normally retains the first tablet in the terminal part of a tube containing them, the end of which is ovalized. The expulsion command involves the intervention of the index finger as well as the thumb of the user at this terminal part, to both round the end and ovalize the base of the terminal part in order to retain the second tablet located immediately behind the first.

Par rapport à cet art antérieur, le dispositif selon l'invention a l'avantage de s'adapter à la distribution d'éléments de dimensions beaucoup plus réduites, comme c'est le cas notamment pour les granules homéopathiques. De plus les dispositifs connus exigent pour leur fonctionnement que les billes (ou comprimés) soient préalablement rangées correctement, alignées les unes derrière les autres, à l'intérieur du tube du distributeur. Ni l'un ni l'autre ne sont adaptés à la distribution d'un produit sous forme de billes contenues en vrac dans un réservoir.Compared to this prior art, the device according to the invention has the advantage of adapting to the distribution of elements of much smaller dimensions, as is the case in particular for homeopathic granules. In addition, the known devices require for their operation that the balls (or tablets) are previously stored correctly, aligned one behind the other, inside the distributor tube. Neither is suitable for the distribution of a product in the form of beads contained in bulk in a tank.

Les granules homéopathiques se présentent sous la forme de petites billes sphériques, de diamètre générale­ment compris entre 1 et 6 millimètres, toutes régulières et de dimension uniforme dans un même flacon destiné à la vente. A chaque prise, l'utilisateur doit se conformer à une prescription médicale qui traduit la dose d'administra­tion homéopathique par un nombre de granules à absorber. Ce nombre étant variable d'une prescription à une autre, par exemple entre des patients différents ou entre des périodes différentes du traitement d'un même patient, seul un condi­tionnement des granules en vrac est possible économique­ment, et il ne peut être envisagé de conserver chaque dose unitaire d'administration sous emballage stérile comme on peut le faire pour d'autres produits pharmaceutiques.Homeopathic granules are in the form of small spherical beads, with a diameter generally between 1 and 6 millimeters, all regular and of uniform size in the same bottle intended for sale. Each take, the user must comply with a medical prescription which translates the dose of homeopathic administration by a number of granules to be absorbed. As this number varies from one prescription to another, for example between different patients or between different periods of treatment for the same patient, only packaging of the granules in bulk is economically possible, and it cannot be envisaged to keep each unit dose of administration in sterile packaging as can be done for other pharmaceutical products.

Il existe certes déjà des flacons pour granules homéopathiques qui sont fermés par une platine ménageant par rotation un orifice à peine supérieur à celui d'une granule. Mais la distribution des granules une à une est mal assurée. En général, soit les granules se coincent derrière l'orifice de sortie et le flacon doit être secoué entre chaque expulsion d'une granule, soit les granules sortent en trop grand nombre si l'orifice est trop grand. Il en résulte que l'utilisateur est trop souvent tenté de secouer le flacon de telle sorte que les granules soient expulsées en série sans qu'il puisse les compter, quitte à remettre ensuite manuellement dans le flacon celles qui sont en excès par rapport au nombre prescrit. Les conditions de stérilité, ou seulement d'hygiène indispensable, sont donc bien loin d'être respectées.There are certainly already bottles for homeopathic granules which are closed by a plate sparingly forming an orifice barely greater than that of a granule. But the distribution of the granules one by one is poorly assured. In general, either the granules get stuck behind the outlet and the bottle must be shaken between each expulsion of a granule, or the granules come out in too many if the orifice is too large. As a result, the user is too often tempted to shake the bottle in such a way that the granules are expelled in series without being able to count them, even if it means putting manually those in excess in relation to the number manually. prescribed. The conditions of sterility, or only essential hygiene, are therefore far from being met.

Après avoir observé que les distributeurs des documents cités ci-dessus ne permettent pas de pallier ces inconvénients, l'invention propose un dispositif distributeur nouveau, spécialement conçu pour sélectionner et aligner automatiquement une série de granules, ou billes, de dimensions de l'ordre de quelques millimètres, à partir d'un flacon où elles sont contenues en vrac, et pour permettre à l'utilisateur de commander l'expulsion des granules de la série une à une, en les comptant à leur sortie, sans avoir besoin de contrôler très précisément la position de ses doigts, après quoi les granules en excès par rapport à la série sélectionnée, retournent dans le flacon sans être sorties à l'air libre, sans qu'il soit nécessaire de secouer le flacon après chaque granule expulsée.After having observed that the dispensers of the documents cited above do not make it possible to overcome these drawbacks, the invention proposes a new dispensing device, specially designed to automatically select and align a series of granules, or balls, of dimensions of the order a few millimeters, from a bottle where they are contained in bulk, and to allow the user to control the expulsion of the granules of the series one by one, counting them at their exit, without the need to control very precisely the position of his fingers, after which the granules in excess compared to the selected series, return to the bottle without being released into the open air, without it being necessary to shake the bottle after each granule expelled.

Pour ce faire, le dispositif distributeur objet de l'invention est caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte un conduit de d'alignement d'une série de billes successives, limité extérieurement par un tube souple, élastiquement déformable d'une forme naturelle à section circulaire à une forme ovalisée, et muni à l'intérieur dudit conduit de premiers moyens de retenue d'une première bille de ladite série au voisinage d'une extrémité d'expulsion dudit conduit, et de seconds moyens de retenue d'une seconde bille suivant immédiatement la première dans ladite série, lesdits premiers et seconds moyens de retenue étant alternativement respectivement actifs et inactifs lors de la déformation du tube, et en ce qu'il comporte des leviers de commande manuelle de la déformation du tube pour libérer ladite première bille en bloquant la seconde, montés basculants sur un embout rigide solidaire dudit tube, et des moyens de sélection et guidage desdites billes à travers ledit embout vers ledit conduit, à partir d'un réservoir où lesdites billes sont contenues en vrac.To do this, the dispensing device which is the subject of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a conduit for aligning a series of successive balls, externally limited by a flexible tube, elastically deformable of a natural section circular to an oval shape, and provided inside said conduit with first means for retaining a first ball of said series in the vicinity of an expulsion end of said duct, and second means for retaining a second ball immediately following the first in said series, said first and second retaining means being alternately respectively active and inactive during the deformation of the tube, and in that it comprises levers for manual control of the deformation of the tube to release said first ball by blocking the second, pivotally mounted on a rigid end piece integral with said tube, and means for selecting and guiding said balls through said endpiece towards said conduit, from a reservoir where said balls are contained in bulk.

Suivant un mode de réalisation préféré, mais non exclusif, le distributeur de l'invention se caractérise en outre en ce que ledit conduit présente une forme naturelle à section circulaire, élastiquement déformable par lesdits leviers à une forme ovalisée présentant un plus grand diamètre selon un premier plan diamétral (A-A′) du distributeur et un plus petit diamètre selon un second plan diamétral (B-B′) du distributeur,
- en ce que lesdits premiers moyens de retenue situés selon ledit premier plan diamétral, sont actifs pour retenir ladite première bille de ladite série au voisinage de l'extrémité d'expulsion dudit conduit lorsque ledit tube est dans sa forme naturelle, et inactifs quand ledit tube est en forme ovalisée,
- et en ce que lesdit seconds moyens de retenue situés selon ledit second plan diamétral, sont actifs pour retenir ladite seconde bille quand ledit tube est dans sa forme ovalisée, mais inactifs quand il présente sa forme naturelle.According to a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment, the dispenser of the invention is further characterized in that said duct has a natural shape with circular section, elastically deformable by said levers to an oval shape having a larger diameter according to a first diametral plane (AA ′) of the distributor and a smaller diameter along a second diametral plane (BB ′) of the distributor,
- in that said first retaining means situated along said first diametrical plane, are active for retaining said first ball of said series in the vicinity of the expulsion end of said conduit when said tube is in its natural form, and inactive when said tube is oval shaped,
- And in that said second retaining means located along said second diametral plane, are active to retain said second ball when said tube is in its ovalized shape, but inactive when it has its natural shape.

De plus, lesdits premiers et seconds moyens de retenue peuvent avantageusement être disposés, conformés et dimensionnés, de telle sorte que le blocage de la seconde bille se produise avant même la libération de la première, et que les seconds moyens de retenue ne gênent pas pour autant la progression des billes dans le conduit de sélection de ladite série avant l'intervention des moyens de commande.In addition, said first and second retaining means can advantageously be arranged, shaped and dimensioned, so that the blocking of the second ball occurs even before the release of the first, and that the second retaining means do not interfere for as much the progression of the balls in the selection duct of said series before the intervention of the control means.

Par ailleurs, le distributeur selon l'invention est de préférence conçu pour s'adapter par son embout rigide sur un flacon de granules homéopathiques et pour s'intégrer dans un couvercle de fermeture amovible dudit flacon, auquel cas il est dimensionné dans ses différents éléments constitutifs, en fonction des dimensions desdites granules (qui constituent alors les billes), ces dimensions étant par exemple comprises entre 3,8 et 4,2 millimètres selon la pratique actuelle en France.Furthermore, the dispenser according to the invention is preferably designed to be adapted by its rigid tip on a bottle of homeopathic granules and to be integrated in a removable closure lid of said bottle, in which case it is dimensioned in its various elements. constitutive, depending on the dimensions of said granules (which then constitute the balls), these dimensions being for example between 3.8 and 4.2 millimeters according to current practice in France.

Dans ce contexte, diverses particularités du distributeur, constituant des caractéristiques secondaires de l'invention, facilitent que la sélection d'une série de billes, ou granules, s'effectue en les amenant en ligne les unes avec les autres sous l'effet de la gravité quand le flacon est retourné en position appropriée par l'utilisateur, et qu'ensuite chaque bille libérée puisse tomber hors du distributeur, sans qu'il soit besoin de moyens d'éjection particuliers pour l'expulser.In this context, various features of the distributor, constituting secondary characteristics of the invention, facilitate that the selection of a series of beads, or granules, is carried out by bringing them in line with each other under the effect of gravity when the bottle is returned to the appropriate position by the user, and then each released ball can fall out of the dispenser, without the need for special ejection means to expel it.

Un tel distributeur est facile à réaliser économiquement en matière plastique, de préférence par moulage d'une seule pièce. L'emploi à cette fin d'une matière plastique transparente a l'avantage de permettre à l'utilisateur de surveiller aisément le bon fonctionnement du distributeur, aussi bien pour la sélection et l'alignement correct d'une série de billes que pour l'expulsion de billes successives de la série.Such a dispenser is easy to make economically from plastic, preferably by molding in one piece. The use for this purpose of a transparent plastic material has the advantage of allowing the user to easily monitor the correct operation of the dispenser, both for the selection and the correct alignment of a series of balls as for the expulsion of successive balls from the series.

On décrira maintenant plus en détail une forme de réalisation particulière de l'invention qui en fera mieux comprendre les caractéristiques essentielles et les avanta­ges, étant entendu toutefois que cette forme de réalisation est choisie à titre d'exemple et qu'elle n'est nullement limitative. Sa description est illustrée par les dessins annexés, dans lesquels :

  • - la figure 1 représente un flacon de granules homéopathiques équipé du distributeur suivant l'invention, montré en position de repos, dans une vue en coupe longitudinale ;
  • - la figure 2 représente le même flacon selon un autre plan de coupe longitudinal, en montrant néanmoins les ailes de commande vues de l'extérieur ;
  • - la figure 3 est une vue de dessus du distribu­teur des figures 1 et 2, supposé démonté du flacon et toujours en position de repos, sur laquelle on a fait apparaître en A-A′ et B-B′ les plans de coupe respectifs des figures 1 et 2 ;
  • - en homologues des figures 1 et 2, les figures 4 et 5 représentent en coupe longitudinale le même flacon, équipé du distributeur, mais débarrassé de son couvercle, le distributeur étant montré dans sa position de fonctionnement en mode de sélection d'une série de granules ;
  • - de manière similaire, les figures 6 et 7 montrent le distributeur en position de fonctionnement en mode d'expulsion d'une granule ;
  • - la figure 8 constitue l'homologue de la figure 3 quand le distributeur est en fonctionnement en mode d'expulsion d'une granule, dans une vue de dessous des figures 6 et 7.
A particular embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail which will make it better understand the essential characteristics and the advantages, it being understood however that this embodiment is chosen by way of example and that it is not at all limiting. Its description is illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:
  • - Figure 1 shows a bottle of homeopathic granules equipped with the dispenser according to the invention, shown in the rest position, in a longitudinal sectional view;
  • - Figure 2 shows the same bottle in another longitudinal section plane, nevertheless showing the control wings seen from the outside;
  • - Figure 3 is a top view of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2, assumed disassembled from the bottle and still in the rest position, on which we have shown in AA ′ and BB ′ the respective section planes of Figures 1 and 2 ;
  • - in counterparts to Figures 1 and 2, Figures 4 and 5 show in longitudinal section the same bottle, equipped with the dispenser, but stripped of its cover, the dispenser being shown in its operating position in mode of selection of a series of granules;
  • - similarly, Figures 6 and 7 show the dispenser in the operating position in the expulsion mode of a granule;
  • FIG. 8 constitutes the counterpart of FIG. 3 when the dispenser is in operation in the mode of expelling a granule, in a bottom view of FIGS. 6 and 7.

Dans le mode de réalisation particulier considéré ici, l'invention est appliquée à la distribution de billes sphériques de dimension homogène, constituées par des granules homéopathiques qu'il s'agit de sélectionner et de faire sortir une à une à partir d'un flacon où elles sont contenues en vrac.In the particular embodiment considered here, the invention is applied to the distribution of spherical beads of homogeneous size, constituted by homeopathic granules which must be selected and brought out one by one from a bottle. where they are contained in bulk.

Tel qu'il est représenté sur les figures 1 et 2 quand il est posé verticalement en situation de repos, le flacon de granules homéopathiques est d'apparence extérieure classique, de forme cylindrique, bien qu'il intègre un distributeur 1 selon l'invention. Il comporte un corps tubulaire 2, réalisé par exemple en métal ou en matière plastique, qui forme réservoir pour les granules 4, et un couvercle 3, qui est ici totalement amovible. Le couvercle 3 est de forme tubulaire cylindrique comme le corps de flacon 2. Il présente cependant une épaisseur de paroi plus faible et un diamètre intérieur inférieur, ce qui lui permet, pour fermer le flacon, de s'engager autour d'une extrémité 5 du corps 2 de section rétrécie, jusqu'à venir buter sur un épaulement externe 6 ménagé dans l'épaisseur des parois du corps 2. Ce dernier est évidemment fermé par ailleurs par un fond qui n'apparaît pas sur les figures.As shown in Figures 1 and 2 when it is placed vertically in a resting situation, the bottle of homeopathic granules is of conventional external appearance, of cylindrical shape, although it incorporates a dispenser 1 according to the invention . It comprises a tubular body 2, made for example of metal or plastic, which forms a reservoir for the granules 4, and a cover 3, which is here completely removable. The cover 3 is of cylindrical tubular shape like the bottle body 2. However, it has a smaller wall thickness and a smaller internal diameter, which allows it, to close the bottle, to engage around one end 5 of the body 2 of narrowed section, until it abuts on an external shoulder 6 formed in the thickness of the walls of the body 2. The latter is obviously closed furthermore by a bottom which does not appear in the figures.

Tandis que le corps de flacon 2 et son couvercle 3 sont en général opaques, le distributeur 1 est moulé d'une seule pièce en matière plastique transparente, ce qui permet à l'utilisateur de suivre son fonctionnement et de voir les granules progresser et tomber une à une quand il commande l'expulsion comme on l'explicitera plus loin. Par ailleurs, ce distributeur présente une forme générale à symétrie de révolution et il est dimensionné de telle sorte, par le pourtour de ses différents éléments consti­tutifs, qu'il s'adapte entièrement à l'intérieur du couver­cle 3, ce dernier étant lui-même de longueur suffisante pour pouvoir enfermer intégralement le distributeur en même temps qu'il ferme le flacon, du moins quand le distributeur est convenablement monté sur le corps 2.While the bottle body 2 and its cover 3 are generally opaque, the dispenser 1 is molded in one piece from transparent plastic, which allows the user to follow its operation and to see the granules progress and fall one by one when he orders the expulsion as will be explained later. Furthermore, this dispenser has a general shape with symmetry of revolution and it is dimensioned in such a way, by the periphery of its various constituent elements, that it fits entirely inside the cover 3, the latter being itself even of sufficient length to be able to completely enclose the dispenser at the same time as it closes the bottle, at least when the dispenser is properly mounted on the body 2.

Dans le distributeur 1, on distingue dans le sens longitudinal, d'une part un embout de montage 7, propre à s'adapter sur le corps de flacon 2 par emboîtement à l'intérieur de l'extrémité 5 de celui-ci, et d'autre part une tête 8 émergeant à l'extérieur du corps 2, qui représente la partie fonctionnelle du distributeur pour la commande de l'expulsion des granules. Intérieurement, le distributeur 1 est traversé axialement par un conduit 9, qui constitue l'essentiel des moyens d'alignement d'une série de granules à distribuer.In the dispenser 1, there is a distinction in the longitudinal direction, on the one hand, a mounting end piece 7, suitable for fitting onto the bottle body 2 by fitting inside the end 5 of the latter, and on the other hand a head 8 emerging outside the body 2, which represents the functional part of the dispenser for controlling the expulsion of the granules. Internally, the distributor 1 is axially traversed by a conduit 9, which constitutes the main part of the means for aligning a series of granules to be distributed.

L'embout de montage 7 est conçu sous la forme d'un bouchon de fermeture hermétique du corps de flacon 2. Il comporte principalement trois zones de diamètres diffé­rents. La zone inférieure sur la figure 1 est celle qui pénètre la première dans le corps tubulaire 2 ; il s'agit d'une zone de guidage 11, dont le diamètre est légèrement inférieur au diamètre interne du corps 2 et qui se termine par une extrémité conique 12. Ensuite vient une zone de serrage 13 dont le diamètre est légèrement supérieur à celui du corps 2, de telle sorte que lors du montage, elle doit être engagée à force dans le corps 2, assurant ainsi l'étanchéité avec celui-ci et le blocage du distributeur en position emboîtée dans l'extrémité 5 du corps 2. La troisième zone, ou zone extérieure 14, forme un épaulement externe 15 qui vient alors en butée sur la face terminale de l'extrémité 5 du corps 2. Se plaçant ainsi à l'extérieur du corps de flacon, elle est donc la plus large des trois zones, avec une section supérieure à la section interne du corps 2, mais néanmoins légèrement inférieure à celle du couvercle 3 de manière à ne pas gêner la fermeture du flacon.The mounting end piece 7 is designed in the form of an airtight closure cap of the bottle body 2. It mainly comprises three zones of different diameters. The lower zone in FIG. 1 is that which first penetrates into the tubular body 2; it is a guide zone 11, the diameter of which is slightly less than the internal diameter of the body 2 and which ends in a conical end 12. Next comes a clamping zone 13, the diameter of which is slightly greater than that of the body 2, so that during assembly, it must be forcibly engaged in body 2, thus ensuring the seal therewith and the blocking of the distributor. nested position in the end 5 of the body 2. The third zone, or external zone 14, forms an external shoulder 15 which then comes into abutment on the end face of the end 5 of the body 2. Thus being placed outside of the bottle body, it is therefore the widest of the three zones, with a section greater than the internal section of the body 2, but nevertheless slightly less than that of the cover 3 so as not to hinder the closing of the bottle.

Au niveau de sa tête 8, le distributeur comporte un tube souple 16 qui limite extérieurement le conduit axial 9 et qui est élastiquement déformable, de par l'épaisseur réduite de sa paroi. De plus, au repos il présente une forme naturelle à section circulaire, avec un diamètre extérieur nettement inférieur à celui de la zone externe 14 de l'embout 7 dont il est solidaire. Ce tube 16 est flanqué de deux ailes 17, diamétralement opposées et symétriques à l'extérieur du tube 16, qui apparaissent en vue longitudinale de face sur la figure 2 et en vue de dessus sur la figure 3. Ces ailes 17 constituent comme on le verra plus loin des leviers de commande manuelle du distributeur dans son fonctionnement en mode d'expulsion d'une granule. Elles servent à déformer le tube 16, au moins au voisinage de son extrémité sur une longueur au moins égale à un diamètre de granule, en le faisant passer de sa forme naturelle à section circulaire conformément aux figures 1, 2 et 3, à une forme ovalisée illustrée par la figure 8. Toutefois ces ailes s'étendent le long du tube sur une longueur de plusieurs granules, soit au moins deux granules et de préférence trois granules, et elles fonctionnent comme des leviers rigides, articulés en position fixe à l'arrière de ces billes, de manière à permettre par basculement l'un vers l'autre, de commander la déformation du tube sélectivement au voisinage de son extrémité.At its head 8, the dispenser comprises a flexible tube 16 which externally limits the axial duct 9 and which is elastically deformable, due to the reduced thickness of its wall. In addition, at rest it has a natural shape with a circular section, with an outer diameter significantly smaller than that of the external zone 14 of the end piece 7 of which it is integral. This tube 16 is flanked by two wings 17, diametrically opposite and symmetrical outside the tube 16, which appear in longitudinal front view in Figure 2 and in top view in Figure 3. These wings 17 constitute as is will see later manual control levers of the dispenser in its operation in pellet expulsion mode. They serve to deform the tube 16, at least in the vicinity of its end over a length at least equal to a granule diameter, by passing it from its natural shape with circular section in accordance with Figures 1, 2 and 3, to a shape oval illustrated in FIG. 8. However, these wings extend along the tube over a length of several granules, that is to say at least two granules and preferably three granules, and they function as rigid levers, articulated in a fixed position at the rear of these balls, so as to allow tilting towards one another, to control the deformation of the tube selectively in the vicinity of its end.

A son extrémité supérieure sur les figures 1 et 2, le tube 16 se termine par une extrémité annulaire 18, ou extrémité d'expulsion des granules, qui dépasse des ailes 17, ou du moins d'une zone d'attache de celle-ci avec le tube 16, matérialisée par des languettes de liaison 19. Grâce à cette disposition, l'extrémité annulaire 18 peut coopérer avec une couronne 21 à l'intérieur de laquelle elle pénètre et qui est formée à cet effet dans le couvercle amovible 3, en saillie interne d'une paroi transversale 20 obturant ce couvercle. Cette coopération a deux effets, par le fait que le contour interne de la couronne 21, de forme circulaire, correspond aussi exactement que possible au contour externe de l'extrémité 18 du tube dans sa forme naturelle circulaire. D'une part une liaison étanche est ainsi assurée entre l'extrémité 18 du tube 16 et la couronne 21 du couvercle 3, de sorte que lorsque le flacon est au repos, fermé par son couvercle 3, le distributeur se trouve hermétiquement fermé bien que son conduit axial 9 soit vide de granules. Par là même, le tube 16 est d'autre part efficacement maintenu dans sa forme circulaire au niveau de son extrémité 18. Il est aussi automatiquement ramené dans cette forme circulaire au cas où il ne serait pas parfaitement revenu de sa forme ovalisée à sa forme naturelle après une période de fonctionnement du distributeur. On évite ainsi d'avoir à déplorer une déformation permanente du tube qui aurait pu se manifester après qu'il ait subi un grand nombre de déformations élastiques commandées lors de périodes de fonctionnement répétées.At its upper end in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tube 16 ends with an annular end 18, or end for expelling the granules, which protrudes from the wings 17, or at least of an area of attachment thereof with the tube 16, materialized by connecting tabs 19. Thanks to this arrangement, the annular end 18 can cooperate with a ring 21 inside which it penetrates and which is formed for this purpose in the removable cover 3, projecting internally from a transverse wall 20 closing off this lid. This cooperation has two effects, in that the internal contour of the crown 21, of circular shape, corresponds as exactly as possible to the external contour of the end 18 of the tube in its natural circular shape. On the one hand, a tight connection is thus ensured between the end 18 of the tube 16 and the crown 21 of the cover 3, so that when the bottle is at rest, closed by its cover 3, the dispenser is hermetically closed although its axial duct 9 is empty of granules. By the same token, the tube 16 is on the other hand effectively maintained in its circular shape at the level of its end 18. It is also automatically brought back into this circular shape in case it is not perfectly returned from its ovalized shape to its shape natural after a period of operation of the dispenser. This avoids having to deplore a permanent deformation of the tube which could have appeared after it has undergone a large number of elastic deformations controlled during repeated periods of operation.

Quand le tube 16 est en forme ovalisée comme illustré par la figure 8, son plus grand diamètre se situe suivant un premier plan diamétral du distributeur, schéma­tisé en A-A′, et son plus petit diamètre se situe suivant un second plan diamétral B-B′ perpendiculaire au premier. En conséquence, les deux ailes de commande 17 s'étendent à partir du tube 16 suivant le second plan diamétral B-B′, car elles sont conçues pour fonctionner dans le sens de l'ovalisation sous l'effet d'une action de pincement que l'utilisateur exerce sur le tube par leur intermédiaire en les pressant l'une vers l'autre entre deux doigts. Chacune des ailes 17 est conformée symétriquement par rapport à ce plan B-B′, en formant à partir de la languette 19 qui la relie au tube 16, une partie 22, évasée vers l'extérieur pour donner de la rigidité à l'aile dans son ensemble. Cette partie évasée 22 se termine par une zone d'appui 23, à surface en forme de secteur circulaire de diamètre légèrement inférieur au diamètre interne du couvercle 3. Cette zone d'appui facilite la préhension du système de commande par l'utilisateur pour presser les deux ailes l'une vers l'autre et commander ainsi la déformation du tube 16 vers sa forme ovalisée.When the tube 16 is in ovalized shape as illustrated in FIG. 8, its largest diameter is located along a first diametral plane of the distributor, shown diagrammatically in AA ′, and its smallest diameter is located along a second diametral plane BB ′ perpendicular to the first. Consequently, the two control wings 17 extend from the tube 16 along the second diametrical plane BB ′, because they are designed to operate in the direction of ovalization under the effect of a pinching action that the user exerts on the tube through them by pressing them towards each other between two fingers. Each of the wings 17 is shaped symmetrically with respect to this plane BB ′, by forming, from the tongue 19 which connects it to the tube 16, a part 22, flared outwards to give rigidity to the wing in its together. This flared part 22 ends in a support zone 23, with a surface in the form of a circular sector with a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the cover 3. This support zone facilitates the gripping of the control system by the user for pressing the two wings towards each other and thus control the deformation of the tube 16 towards its oval shape.

Comme il ressort encore de la figure 2, mais également des figures 5 et 7, les deux ailes 17 sont moulées d'une seule pièce par leur base 24 avec la zone externe 14 de l'embout 7. Leur emprise réduite sur la section complète de l'embout 7 fait qu'elles sont néanmoins articulées par rapport à cette base pour pouvoir s'incliner l'une vers l'autre. Elles constituent ainsi des leviers basculants. A leur extrémité opposée à la base 24 les ailes 17 se terminent en forme conique en 25 sur une zone d'appui 23 arrondie en bout. Cette disposition facilite la préhen­sion des ailes 17 pour l'utilisateur, sans nuire à la souplesse du tube 16 et tout en ménageant la place néces­saire pour la couronne 21.As can be seen from FIG. 2, but also from FIGS. 5 and 7, the two wings 17 are molded in one piece by their base 24 with the external zone 14 of the end piece 7. Their reduced grip on the complete section of the nozzle 7 means that they are nevertheless articulated relative to this base in order to be able to tilt towards one another. They thus constitute tilting levers. At their end opposite the base 24 the wings 17 end in a conical shape at 25 on a support zone 23 rounded at the end. This arrangement facilitates the gripping of the wings 17 for the user, without detracting from the flexibility of the tube 16 and while providing the necessary space for the crown 21.

On décrira maintenant les éléments constitutifs internes du distributeur en se référant également à son fonctionnement tel qu'il ressort des figures 3 à 8 quand il est retourné tête en bas pour une période de sélection et d'expulsion de granules. Le mode de fonctionnement en sélection et alignement de granules est assuré par ce retournement conformément aux figures 4 et 5, le tube 16 conservant encore sa forme naturelle circulaire. L'expulsion se produit conformément aux figures 6 et 7 quand on commande l'ovalisation du tube 16 par pincement des ailes 17 (figure 7) entre deux doigts, le flacon entier tenant au creux de la main de l'utilisateur.We will now describe the internal components of the dispenser, also referring to its operation as shown in Figures 3 to 8 when it is turned upside down for a period of selection and expulsion of granules. The mode of operation in selection and alignment of granules is ensured by this inversion in accordance with FIGS. 4 and 5, the tube 16 still retaining its natural circular shape. Eviction occurs according to Figures 6 and 7 when the ovalization of the tube 16 is controlled by pinching the wings 17 (FIG. 7) between two fingers, the entire bottle holding in the palm of the user's hand.

A cet effet, le conduit 9 assure la sélection et l'alignement d'une série de billes tant que la première granule 31 prête à être expulsée est encore retenue dans le tube par des lèvres 32 qui seront plus complètement décrites plus loin. Le diamètre interne du tube 16 est déterminé en fonction du diamètre des granules, par exemple de l'ordre de 4 mm, de sorte qu'il ne puisse jamais s'y trouver deux granules de front et qu'en pratique les granules qui tombent dans le tube se placent en série en des positions sensiblement alignées les unes derrières les autres et reposant l'une sur l'autre. Des cannelures 33, au nombre de 4 ou 6 par exemple, sont ménagées dans le sens longitudinal à l'intérieur du tube 16 en saillie sur la paroi interne de celui-ci. Elles réduisent localement le diamètre de la section de passage disponible et favorisent ainsi l'alignement des granules tout en évitant qu'un frottement de celles-ci sur les parois du tube ralentisse leur progression. Ceci est d'autant plus utile dans le cas présent que la matière d'enrobage des granules homéopathiques, généralement sucrée, n'est guère favorable à un bon coefficient de glissement. Bien que l'on ait préféré ici des cannelures 33 continues dans le sens longitudinal, celles-ci pourraient être remplacées, en variante de l'invention, par des cannelures plus courtes ou par des bossages répartis différemment sur la paroi interne du tube 16 en des niveaux de sections droites, différents de celui-ci.To this end, the conduit 9 ensures the selection and alignment of a series of balls as long as the first granule 31 ready to be expelled is still retained in the tube by lips 32 which will be described more fully below. The internal diameter of the tube 16 is determined as a function of the diameter of the granules, for example of the order of 4 mm, so that there can never be two granules at the front and that in practice the granules which fall in the tube are placed in series in substantially aligned positions one behind the other and resting on one another. Grooves 33, 4 or 6 for example, are formed in the longitudinal direction inside the tube 16 projecting from the inner wall thereof. They locally reduce the diameter of the available passage section and thus promote the alignment of the granules while preventing them from rubbing against the walls of the tube slowing their progress. This is all the more useful in the present case as the coating material of the homeopathic granules, generally sweet, is hardly favorable to a good coefficient of sliding. Although it has been preferred here grooves 33 continuous in the longitudinal direction, these could be replaced, as a variant of the invention, by shorter grooves or by bosses distributed differently on the inner wall of the tube 16 in levels of cross sections, different from this one.

La partie du conduit 9 strictement limitée par le tube 16 assure ainsi à proprement parler le positionnement d'une série de granules de sorte qu'elles soient sensiblement axialement alignées. Mais ce conduit 9 de sélection se prolonge à travers l'embout 7 en s'évasant vers l'intérieur du corps de flacon 2. Ce prolongement de conduit évasé 34, de forme conique, contribue à la sélection des granules en les guidant vers le conduit 9 sous l'effet de leur gravité quand le flacon est retourné. Sa surface interne est également munie à ce niveau d'ailettes 35 dont le rôle est analogue à celui des cannelures 33. Les granules sont ainsi automatiquement prélevées du flacon et sélectionnées vers le conduit 9 pour leur mise en alignement l'une derrière l'autre, sans intervention manuelle de l'utilisateurThe part of the conduit 9 strictly limited by the tube 16 thus strictly speaking ensures the positioning of a series of granules so that they are substantially axially aligned. However, this selection conduit 9 extends through the end piece 7, widening towards the inside of the bottle body 2. This extension of flared conduit 34, of conical shape, contributes to the selection of the granules by guiding them towards the conduit 9 under the effect of their gravity when the bottle is inverted. Its internal surface is also provided at this level with fins 35 whose role is similar to that of the grooves 33. The granules are thus automatically withdrawn from the bottle and selected towards the conduit 9 for their alignment one behind the other. , without manual user intervention

Les lèvres 32 qui retiennent la première bille 31 de la série sont réalisées sous une épaisseur suffisamment faible pour les rendre élastiquement déformables. Elles sont symétriques l'une de l'autre, dans des positions diamétralement opposées sur le plan longitudinal A-A′. Chacune fait saillie à l'intérieur du conduit 9 dans un plan transversal de celui-ci. Toutefois, il ne s'agit pas du même plan transversal, chaque lèvre 32 se situant dans un plan incliné vers l'extrémité d'expulsion 18 par rapport à un plan de section droite du tube 16. D'une manière plus précise, chaque lèvre 32 présente la forme d'un secteur de disque (figure 3) rejoignant sur son pourtour le tube 16 par une ligne d'attache continue 36. Dans le cas particu­lier illustré, le secteur de disque est limité par une corde d'arc rectiligne parallèle à l'axe B-B′, mais on pourrait aussi, en variante, donner aux lèvres une forme en demi-lune, à bords curvilignes, pour mieux accepter des dimensions de granules s'écartant de la dimension nominale.The lips 32 which hold the first ball 31 of the series are produced in a thickness sufficiently small to make them elastically deformable. They are symmetrical to each other, in diametrically opposite positions on the longitudinal plane A-A ′. Each protrudes inside the conduit 9 in a transverse plane thereof. However, it is not the same transverse plane, each lip 32 being located in a plane inclined towards the expulsion end 18 relative to a plane of cross section of the tube 16. More precisely, each lip 32 has the shape of a disk sector (FIG. 3) joining on its periphery the tube 16 by a continuous attachment line 36. In the particular case illustrated, the disk sector is limited by a rectilinear arc cord parallel to the axis BB ′, but one could also, as a variant, give the lips a half-moon shape, with curvilinear edges, to better accept the dimensions of granules deviating from the nominal dimension.

Quand le tube 16 prend sa forme ovalisée, les lèvres 32 se déforment comme il apparaît sur les figures 6, 7 et 8. Alors que dans la forme naturelle du tube 16, elles ont pour effet de retenir la première granule 31 en arrê­tant sa chute, elles se rétractent en position inactive lors de l'ovalisation du tube et ménagent entre elles une section de passage suffisante pour libérer la granule 31, qui est ainsi expulsée du tube 16. En pratique les lèvres 32 se déforment à la fois par étirement élastique le long de leur ligne 36 d'attache avec le tube, et par courbure de la surface de chaque lèvre par rapport à son plan trans­versal d'origine dans une partie médiane située au voisi­nage du plan longitudinal A-A′, ce dernier constituant pour elle un plan de symétrie tout au cours de sa déformation.When the tube 16 takes its ovalized shape, the lips 32 deform as it appears in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. While in the natural form of the tube 16, they have the effect of retaining the first granule 31 by stopping its fall , they retract to the inactive position when the tube is ovalized and provide between them a passage section sufficient to release the granule 31, which is thus expelled from the tube 16. In practice the lips 32 are deformed both by elastic stretching along from their line 36 of attachment with the tube, and by curvature of the surface of each lip with respect to its original transverse plane in a median part located in the vicinity of the longitudinal plane AA ′, the latter constituting for it a plane of symmetry throughout its deformation.

Afin qu'à chaque manoeuvre des ailes 17 dans le sens de l'ovalisation du tube 16, une seule granule soit expulsée du distributeur, à savoir la première granule 31, il est prévu des moyens pour retenir dans le même temps une seconde granule 37 qui suit immédiatement la première 31 dans la série de granules sélectionnées dans le conduit 9. Ces moyens comportent deux bossages 38 formés en sur­épaisseur de la paroi interne du tube 16, en des positions diamétralement opposées sur le second plan longitudinal B-­B′. Ces bossages se trouvent donc sur le plus petit diamètre du tube dans sa forme ovalisée. Leur épaisseur et leur position sont déterminées pour qu'ils viennent alors s'intercaler entre les deux granules 31 et 37 de sorte qu'ils bloquent la granule 37 dans sa chute et retiennent simultanément les granules qui la suivent.So that at each operation of the wings 17 in the direction of the ovalization of the tube 16, a single granule is expelled from the dispenser, namely the first granule 31, means are provided for retaining at the same time a second granule 37 which immediately follows the first 31 in the series of granules selected in the conduit 9. These means comprise two bosses 38 formed in excess thickness of the internal wall of the tube 16, in diametrically opposite positions on the second longitudinal plane B-B ′. These bosses are therefore on the smallest diameter of the tube in its oval shape. Their thickness and their position are determined so that they then come to be interposed between the two granules 31 and 37 so that they block the granule 37 in its fall and simultaneously retain the granules which follow it.

Les figures 6 et 7 explicitent comment ce blocage se produit au moment de la libération de la première granule 31, ou juste avant l'expulsion de cette dernière, alors que dans la forme naturelle circulaire du tube 16, les bossages 38 sont effacés en position inactive, hors de la section nécessaire au passage d'une granule.Figures 6 and 7 explain how this blockage occurs at the time of the release of the first granule 31, or just before the expulsion of the latter, while in the natural circular shape of the tube 16, the bosses 38 are removed in position inactive, out of the section necessary for the passage of a granule.

Les effets des lèvres 32 et des bossages 38 appa­raissent non seulement des figures 6 et 7 mais également des figures 3 et 8 dans leur positionnement relatif à l'axe du tube et par rapport à une granule 39 dont le diamètre est schématisé en traits mixtes. On remarque enfin sur les figures 6 et 7 que l'action des ailes 17 lors de leur pincement correspond effectivement à celle de leviers rigides basculants, ce qui entraîne que l'ovalisation du tube 16 est de plus en plus prononcée en partant de la base 24 vers l'extrémité d'expulsion 18. Les ailes 17 coordonnent ainsi automatiquement le fonctionnement approprié des deux moyens de retenue des granules, qui sont alternativement respectivement actifs et inactifs pour retenir la granule correspondante. Elles offrent aux doigts de l'utilisateur une surface d'appui suffisante pour la sécurité de la commande et indépendante de la localisation des granules elles-mêmes.The effects of the lips 32 and the bosses 38 appear not only from FIGS. 6 and 7 but also from FIGS. 3 and 8 in their positioning relative to the axis of the tube and with respect to a granule 39 whose diameter is shown diagrammatically in dashed lines. Finally, it is noted in FIGS. 6 and 7 that the action of the wings 17 when they are pinched actually corresponds to that of rigid tilting levers, which means that the ovalization of the tube 16 is more and more pronounced from the base. 24 towards the expulsion end 18. The wings 17 Thus automatically coordinate the appropriate operation of the two granule retaining means, which are alternately active and inactive respectively to retain the corresponding granule. They provide the user's fingers with a sufficient support surface for order security and independent of the location of the granules themselves.

Naturellement, l'invention n'est en rien limitée par les particularités qui ont été spécifiées dans ce qui précède ou par les détails du mode de réalisation parti­culier choisi pour illustrer l'invention. Toutes sortes de variantes peuvent être apportées à la réalisation parti­culière qui a été décrite à titre d'exemple et à ses éléments constitutifs sans sortir pour autant du cadre de l'invention. Cette dernière englobe ainsi tous les moyens constituant des équivalents techniques des moyens décrits ainsi que leurs combinaisons.Naturally, the invention is in no way limited by the features which have been specified in the foregoing or by the details of the particular embodiment chosen to illustrate the invention. All kinds of variants can be made to the particular embodiment which has been described by way of example and to its constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention. The latter thus includes all the means constituting technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations.

Claims (15)

1. Dispositif distributeur de billes telles que des granules homéopathiques,
comportant un conduit (9) d'alignement d'une série de granules successives, limité extérieurement par un tube souple (16), élastiquement déformable d'une forme naturelle à section circulaire à une forme ovalisée,
et muni à l'intérieur dudit conduit (9) de premiers moyens de retenue (32) d'une première bille (31) de ladite série au voisinage d'une extrémité (18) d'expulsion dudit conduit, et de seconds moyens de retenue (38) d'une seconde bille suivant immédiatement la première dans ladite série, lesdits premiers et seconds moyens de retenue étant alternativement respectivement actifs et inactifs lors de la déformation du tube, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte des leviers (17) de commande manuelle de la déformation du tube pour libérer ladite première bille en bloquant la seconde, montés basculants sur un embout rigide (7) solidaire dudit tube, et des moyens de sélection et guidage desdites billes à travers ledit embout (7) vers ledit conduit (9), à partir d'un réservoir où lesdites granules sont contenues en vrac.1. Device for distributing beads such as homeopathic granules,
comprising a conduit (9) for aligning a series of successive granules, externally limited by a flexible tube (16), elastically deformable from a natural shape with a circular section to an oval shape,
and provided inside said duct (9) with first retaining means (32) of a first ball (31) of said series in the vicinity of an end (18) for expelling said duct, and second means of retaining (38) of a second ball immediately following the first in said series, said first and second retaining means being alternately respectively active and inactive during the deformation of the tube, characterized in that it comprises levers (17) of manual control of the deformation of the tube to release said first ball by blocking the second, pivotally mounted on a rigid end piece (7) integral with said tube, and means for selecting and guiding said balls through said end piece (7) towards said conduit ( 9), from a tank where said granules are contained in bulk. 2. Dispositif suivant la revendication 1,
caractérisé en ce que ledit conduit (9) présente une forme naturelle à section circulaire, élastiquement déformable par lesdits leviers à une forme ovalisée présentant un plus grand diamètre selon un premier plan diamétral (A-A′) du distributeur et un plus petit diamètre selon un second plan diamétral (B-B′) du distributeur,
- en ce que lesdits premiers moyens de retenue (32) situés selon ledit premier plan diamétral, sont actifs pour retenir ladite première bille (31) de ladite série au voisinage de l'extrémité d'expulsion (18) dudit conduit lorsque ledit tube est dans sa forme naturelle, et inactifs quand ledit tube est en forme ovalisée,
- et en ce que lesdit seconds moyens de retenue (38) situés selon ledit second plan diamétral, sont actifs pour retenir ladite seconde bille quand ledit tube est dans sa forme ovalisée, mais inactifs quand il présente sa forme naturelle.2. Device according to claim 1,
characterized in that said duct (9) has a natural shape with a circular section, elastically deformable by said levers to an oval shape having a larger diameter along a first diametral plane (AA ′) of the distributor and a smaller diameter along a second diametral plane (BB ′) of the distributor,
- in that said first retaining means (32) located along said first diametrical plane, are active for retaining said first ball (31) of said series in the vicinity of the expulsion end (18) of said conduit when said tube is in its natural form, and inactive when said tube is in ovalized form,
- And in that the said second retaining means (38) located along said second diametral plane, are active in retaining said second ball when said tube is in its oval shape, but inactive when it has its natural shape. 3. Dispositif distributeur de billes selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de sélection 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de sélection et de guidage desdites billes vers ledit conduit d'alignement comportent un prolongement (34) dudit conduit (9) évasé vers ledit réservoir, ménagé à travers ledit embout (7), ce dernier constituant un bouchon de montage étanche dudit distributeur sur un flacon de granules homéopathiques constituant ledit réservoir et en ce que ledit tube (16) et lesdits moyens de retenu (32,38) sont dimensionnés en fonction de granules homéopathiques constituant lesdites billes.3. A ball dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said selection means 1 or 2, characterized in that said means for selecting and guiding said balls towards said alignment conduit have an extension (34) from said conduit (9) flared towards said reservoir, formed through said end piece (7), the latter constituting a sealed mounting cap of said distributor on a bottle of homeopathic granules constituting said reservoir and in that said tube (16) and said means retained (32,38) are sized according to homeopathic granules constituting said beads. 4. Dispositif distributeur de billes selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce qu'il est associé à un couvercle (3) de fermeture amovible dudit réservoir propre à enfermer ledit distributeur en position montée sur ledit flacon en fermant simultanément l'extrémité d'expulsion (18) dudit conduit (9).4. Device for distributing beads according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is associated with a cover (3) for removably closing said reservoir capable of enclosing said distributor in the position mounted on said bottle while simultaneously closing the expulsion end (18) of said conduit (9). 5. Dispositif distributeur de billes suivant la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que ledit couvercle (3) comporte des moyens (21) de maintien de ladite extrémité d'expulsion dans la forme naturelle dudit tube.5. A device for distributing beads according to claim 4, characterized in that said cover (3) comprises means (21) for holding said expulsion end in the natural shape of said tube. 6. Dispositif distributeur de billes suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que ledit conduit (9) comporte intérieurement des cannelures longitudinales en saillie (33) laissant librement passer les billes de ladite série pour les amener en position axialement alignées les unes derrière les autres.6. A device for distributing balls according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said conduit (9) internally has projecting longitudinal grooves (33) allowing the balls of said series to pass freely to bring them into an axially position aligned one behind the other. 7. Dispositif distributeur de billes selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisé en ce que lesdits leviers (17) de commande manuelle formant deux ailes rigides de pincement du tube entre deux doigts vers sa forme ovalisée, lesdites ailes étant formées d'une seule pièce avec ledit tube (16) en des positions diamétralement opposées sur le plan diamétral de plus petit diamètre (B-­B′).7. Ball dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said levers (17) of manual control forming two rigid wings for pinching the tube between two fingers towards its ovalized shape, said wings being formed in one piece with said tube (16) in diametrically opposite positions on the diametral plane of smaller diameter (B-B ′). 8. Dispositif distributeur de billes suivant la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que lesdites ailes sont formées le long dudit tube dans le prolongement d'un dudit (7) pour basculer l'une vers l'autre par pivotement sur ledit embout, celui-ci pouvant être notamment le bouchon de la revendication 3.8. Device for distributing balls according to claim 7, characterized in that said wings are formed along said tube in the extension of one of said (7) to tilt towards one another by pivoting on said end piece, the latter ci which may in particular be the plug of claim 3. 9. Dispositif distributeur de billes suivant la revendication 7 ou 8, caractérisé en ce que lesdites ailes (17) forment des leviers basculants et en ce que chacune d'elles comporte une languette (19) de liaison entre ledit tube souple (16) et une partie évasée rigide 22 formant un levier basculant terminé par une zone d'appui (23) des doigts d'un utilisateur.9. Ball dispensing device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said wings (17) form tilting levers and in that each of them comprises a tongue (19) connecting between said flexible tube (16) and a rigid flared part 22 forming a rocking lever terminated by a support zone (23) of the fingers of a user. 10. Dispositif distributeur de billes suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caracté­risé en ce que lesdits seconds moyens de retenue sont constitués par deux bossages (38) symétriques l'un de l'autre en surépaisseur dudit tube (16), faisant saillie à l'intérieur dudit conduit (9).10. A ball dispensing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second retaining means are constituted by two bosses (38) symmetrical to each other in excess thickness of said tube (16), projecting inside said conduit (9). 11. Dispositif distributeur de billes selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10, caractérisé en ce que lesdits premiers moyens de retenue comportent deux lèvres (32) symétriques l'une de l'autre, réalisées d'une seule pièce avec ledit tube (16), chacune faisant saillie à l'intérieur dudit conduit (9) dans un plan transversal de celui-ci quand le tube est dans sa forme naturelle.11. Ball dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said first retaining means comprise two lips (32) symmetrical to one another, produced in one piece with said tube (16), each projecting inside said duct (9) in a transverse plane thereof when the tube is in its natural form. 12. Dispositif distributeur de billes suivant la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que chacune desdites lèvres (32) est rétractable en position inactive lors de l'ovalisation du tube (16), au moins en partie par courbure par rapport audit plan transversal d'une partie médiane qu'elle comporte dans un plan diamétral (A-A′) du distributeur présentant un plus grand diamètre dans la forme ovalisée dudit tube.12. Ball dispensing device according to claim 11, characterized in that each of said lips (32) is retractable in the inactive position during the ovalization of the tube (16), at least in part by curvature relative to said transverse plane of a middle part that it comprises in a diametral plane (AA ′) of the distributor having a larger diameter in the ovalized shape of said tube. 13. Dispositif distributeur de billes suivant la revendication 11 ou 12, caractérisé en ce que chacune desdites lèvres (32) est en forme de secteur de disque présentant une ligne d'attache (36) continue sur ledit tube (16) et rétractable en position inactive lors de l'ovalisa­tion du tube au moins en partie par étirement élastique le long de ladite ligne d'attache (36).13. Ball dispensing device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that each of said lips (32) is in the form of a disc sector having a line of attachment (36) continuous on said tube (16) and retractable in position inactive during ovalization of the tube at least in part by elastic stretching along said attachment line (36). 14. Dispositif distributeur de billes suivant les revendications 12 et 13 combinées ensemble, caractérisé en ce que ledit plan transversal de chaque lèvre (32) est incliné par rapport à un plan de section droite du tube vers ladite extrémité d'expulsion (18).14. A ball dispensing device according to claims 12 and 13 combined together, characterized in that said transverse plane of each lip (32) is inclined relative to a plane of cross section of the tube towards said expulsion end (18). 15. Dispositif distributeur suivant les revendi­cations précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'il est réalisé d'une seule pièce en matière plastique transparente.15. Dispensing device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made in one piece from transparent plastic.
EP90107244A 1989-04-17 1990-04-17 Pill dispensing device, especially for homeopathic pellets Withdrawn EP0393573A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8905042A FR2645838B1 (en) 1989-04-17 1989-04-17
FR8905042 1989-04-17

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Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2686579A1 (en) * 1992-01-28 1993-07-30 Hoechst Behring Applic Pharmac Device for the packaging and unit-dispensing of tablets or the like
WO2000068109A1 (en) * 1999-05-08 2000-11-16 Friedrich Sanner Gmbh & Co. Kg Spritzgusswerk Tablet dispenser
FR2793778A1 (en) 1999-05-19 2000-11-24 Charles Feuillade Metering and dispensing assembly for granular material, utilizes a sliding dispensing housing with a chute for receiving material from a storage container
WO2004083073A1 (en) * 2003-03-15 2004-09-30 Gaplast Gmbh Dispenser for an essentially conical or spherical contents body of a container
FR2867459A1 (en) * 2004-03-11 2005-09-16 Denis Varichon Homeopathic granule dispensing device, has part presenting unit that isolates chamber from granule storage and another unit that elastically deforms chamber to compensate effects of retaining units
DE102012209503A1 (en) 2012-06-05 2013-12-05 Balda Medical Gmbh & Co. Kg Dispenser for solid portions and method for dispensing solid portions
US20220033169A1 (en) * 2019-04-18 2022-02-03 Splash Innovations, Llc Moisture-sensitive pod dispenser and method
CN114889994A (en) * 2022-06-29 2022-08-12 洛阳理工学院 Pill ration medicine feeding bottle

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US2960259A (en) * 1956-06-25 1960-11-15 James A Mcintosh Dispenser for pills or pellets and the like
US3306493A (en) * 1964-08-24 1967-02-28 Continental Can Co Dispensing container
US3481513A (en) * 1968-03-06 1969-12-02 Gerson L Ram Metering safety cap device
US4020974A (en) * 1976-01-15 1977-05-03 Bauer Martin G BB shot container and dispensing filler

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2960259A (en) * 1956-06-25 1960-11-15 James A Mcintosh Dispenser for pills or pellets and the like
US3306493A (en) * 1964-08-24 1967-02-28 Continental Can Co Dispensing container
US3481513A (en) * 1968-03-06 1969-12-02 Gerson L Ram Metering safety cap device
US4020974A (en) * 1976-01-15 1977-05-03 Bauer Martin G BB shot container and dispensing filler

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2686579A1 (en) * 1992-01-28 1993-07-30 Hoechst Behring Applic Pharmac Device for the packaging and unit-dispensing of tablets or the like
WO2000068109A1 (en) * 1999-05-08 2000-11-16 Friedrich Sanner Gmbh & Co. Kg Spritzgusswerk Tablet dispenser
FR2793778A1 (en) 1999-05-19 2000-11-24 Charles Feuillade Metering and dispensing assembly for granular material, utilizes a sliding dispensing housing with a chute for receiving material from a storage container
WO2004083073A1 (en) * 2003-03-15 2004-09-30 Gaplast Gmbh Dispenser for an essentially conical or spherical contents body of a container
US7487885B2 (en) 2003-03-15 2009-02-10 Gaplast Gmbh Dosing dispenser for essentially spherical items contained in a container
FR2867459A1 (en) * 2004-03-11 2005-09-16 Denis Varichon Homeopathic granule dispensing device, has part presenting unit that isolates chamber from granule storage and another unit that elastically deforms chamber to compensate effects of retaining units
DE102012209503A1 (en) 2012-06-05 2013-12-05 Balda Medical Gmbh & Co. Kg Dispenser for solid portions and method for dispensing solid portions
WO2013182459A1 (en) 2012-06-05 2013-12-12 Balda Medical Gmbh & Co. Kg Dispensing device for solid portions and method for dispensing solid portions
US10099841B2 (en) 2012-06-05 2018-10-16 Balda Medical Gmbh & Co. Kg Dispensing device for solid portions and method for dispensing solid portions
US20220033169A1 (en) * 2019-04-18 2022-02-03 Splash Innovations, Llc Moisture-sensitive pod dispenser and method
CN114889994A (en) * 2022-06-29 2022-08-12 洛阳理工学院 Pill ration medicine feeding bottle
CN114889994B (en) * 2022-06-29 2023-10-13 洛阳理工学院 Quantitative medicine feeding bottle for pills

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2645838A1 (en) 1990-10-19
FR2645838B1 (en) 1991-09-13

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