EP2748085B1 - Dispenser - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing lumpy goods, in particular for dispensing sweetener tablets, with a housing having a reservoir from which the material separated into a separation chamber of the dispenser and can be transported by means of a dispensing mechanism in the direction of a dispensing opening of the dispenser wherein the dispensing mechanism has a with a component perpendicular to a running from bottom to top housing axis slider which can be inserted into the housing for the production of the dispenser.

An article according to the preamble of claim 1 is in the DE 42 01 995 C2 shown. The total of four-part dispenser is relatively expensive to assemble, since a plurality of assembly steps for fixing the side button and the formation of the sliding mechanism is necessary. It is an object of the present invention to minimize the manufacturing costs by reducing the assembly effort.

The object is achieved by an article according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims related to this claim and the following description. According to the invention, the dispenser has a movable, in particular flexible, limiter, which forms a lower boundary for the slide and which, for insertion of the slide from below into the housing from its removal of the inserted slider obstructing dispensing position is subjected to force to the side. The direction of movement of the slider also has a major component of motion perpendicular to the vertical axis of the dispenser. The limiter, which preferably secures the slide latching, is formed integrally with the housing and preferably arranged below the slide. The assembly of the slide is simplified, since a necessary in the prior art separate operation for securing the slide is eliminated or integrated into a further step.

By dispensing with additional latching parts, the dispenser can be designed in three parts with a lid for the storage chamber to be filled from above and the housing, which forms the singling chamber together with the slide. As a result, the workload is minimized, there are lower tooling costs. The dispenser is cheaper to produce overall.

The integration of the slider in the housing is improved because a wall or a part of the limiter forms a wall of the separation chamber. This wall may in particular be part of a limiter forming spring tab, which has an inverted nasal or wedge-shaped approach or approach at its lower end, can come to the individual to be separated to lie down. The this page The limitation of the separation chamber opposite the limiter is then preferably part of the slider or of the pushbutton.

Preferably, the limiter is also a lower boundary of the separation chamber, which minimizes the space required in the dispenser and reduces the cost price due to lower material requirements. The direction in which the limiter for releasing the insertion path for the slider is movable, in this case is approximately perpendicular to the main direction of movement of the slider. The parts surrounding the housing of the dispenser and the slider together form the output mechanism. Alternatively, the dispensing mechanism may also be formed by the slider alone.

In particular, the limiter may have a wedge-shaped part in vertical section in order to improve the insertion of the slider into the housing. During assembly of the dispenser, the movement of the limiter is predetermined by the slider pressing against the bevel of the wedge of a preferred direction, so that the limiter can be selectively moved to the side.

The dispenser, preferably designed as a side-key dispenser, advantageously has a slide which itself has an actuating region, which can be grasped or pressed, for example with the thumb or the hand, or an actuating field (push-button) for actuating the dispensing mechanism. The number of parts to be moved is thereby minimized. In particular, the area of action is a slightly curved, upwardly tapering and easy to grasp surface, which is formed along one side of the slider up and along the storage space. In this case, the operating range extends over at least 50% of the height of the dispenser to be good to be on the one hand, and is up and down, however, additionally enclosed by the housing and possibly a pulled on the side of the lid to an unintentional Prevent actuation. This fuse can also be improved by the fact that the operating field is curved towards the upper and lower bezels inwards. The formation of the outside with gripping areas without actuation and yet a large lateral touchpad or area is particularly advantageous for seniors with reduced haptic and visual perception.

The mechanism of the slider is further improved when the slider is pivotally mounted in the housing. Advantageously, the pivot axis of the slider is arranged in the upper part of the housing, while the flexible support is located at the lower end. In this respect, the upper part of the housing can be better used for the storage, since there the slider requires less space. Typically, a force accumulator is provided in the form of, for example, a spring latch, which holds the slide in its initial position in the housing.

In particular, the slide can be fixed at its upper end via a bearing pivotally mounted on the housing. Preferably, the bearing is formed by a web of the housing, which is encompassed by one or two at least upwardly open locking claws of the slider. Such a bridge is demoulding technology especially easy to produce, if he by loosening a lid from Housing and by removing the slider is exposed both from below and from above. For this purpose, the lid not only cover the pantry, but also lateral areas of the dispenser.

To secure the slide, it is for the desired simple production of advantage, if at least one of two vertical boundaries of the separation chamber forming walls during movement of the slide above the limiter remains and this thus independent of any latching at the upper end of the slide a fuse the same causes.

The slide mechanism is further improved when the slide has a ramp with different levels in the starting position, which cause a loosening of the goods located in the storage space when actuated. The edges of the levels are moved against the lumpy Good and relax this along with the movement caused by the pivoting movement and in particular raising of the ramp. The leadership of the slider in the housing is improved, provided that the ramp moves at least on one side along a wall of the storage space. The guide must therefore not be effected exclusively by the bearing at the upper end of the slide in the region of the pivot axis.

Preferably, the levels drop to the separation chamber to effect a preferential direction of movement of the tablets and to move them towards the separation chamber. Also, the edges and thus the transitions between the levels may point towards the singulation chamber. The separating chamber is formed in particular by a subsequent to the storage space below and separable by means of the slider area of the dispenser.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention proposes the slider with its located on a front side of the dispenser actuating field for securing in the housing against at least one of the front of the dispenser pioneering surface of the housing. The dispenser is thus secured by at least two mutually adjoining parts of slide and housing or cover against movement out against the actuating direction and in the direction of a force exerted by a spring tab of the slide force. The securing may be a stop which is formed by the limiter, so that the latter, on the one hand, carries out a support downwards and to the side and may have surfaces directed upwards and to the side for this purpose. Preferably, it is a fuse by a stop of a part of the slider against the inner surface of a housing wall enclosing the actuating field. This part of the wall is located for ease of support of the force exerted by a spring tab on the slide force preferably below the operating field.

For improved introduction of the slider in the housing, the limiter is preferably wedge-shaped or formed as a latching nose in vertical section. In the direction of the movement perpendicular to a vertical donor axis, the longitudinal extent of the limiter preferably corresponds to at least 2/3 - preferably completely - the stroke or swing length in the same direction. As a result, the separation chamber is sensibly sealed down.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the slide can have a passing into a side wall guide slope above the slide in the storage space befindliches Good improved in the direction of the separation chamber can be passed. Such a guide slope can be limited in particular by an edge or corner or wall perpendicular to this oblique surface, which can cause an additional loosening of the or a lifting tablets located on the slope in the actuation case.

Preferably, a dispenser according to the invention is designed such that on an inner side of a region of a wall which can be provided or provided with a label or an in-mold label on the outside, webs, flanges or bottoms formed integrally with the wall run vertically into them. As a result, shrinkage of the material, which runs into the wall at an angle, is prevented during curing, so that cavitation beneath the labels or labels is avoided.

Advantageously, the slide has a recess defined by a curved edge of the slide, whose radius of curvature is at least partially, in particular completely, greater than or equal to half the width of the separating chamber. In particular, the radius of curvature of a circle which can be inserted into this indentation is equal or slight, that is to say up to 30% greater than that Radius, the tablets to be transported out through the output shaft or the separation chamber. By the indentation crushing of tablets, which could be moved by a ramp of the slider or by the slide in the actuation case and in particular could be pressed against an inner side of the storage space, effectively avoided.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Gegenstands,
• Fig. 2 den Gegenstand nach Fig. 1 in einer vertikalen Schnittdarstellung
• Fig. 3 einen Teil des erfindungsgemäßen Gegenstands nach Fig. 2 in einer perspektivischen Darstellung,
• Fig. 4 einen weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Gegenstand in einer Ansicht gemäß Fig. 2,
• Fig. 5 den Gegenstand nach Fig. 4 in einer Betätigungssituation,
• Fig. 6 einen weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Gegenstand in einer Ansicht gemäß Fig. 2,
• Fig. 7 den Gegenstand nach Fig. 6 in einem Schnitt entlang VI - VI,
• Fig. 8 einen weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Gegenstand in einem Vertikalschnitt,
• Fig. 9 einen Teil des erfindungsgemäßen Gegenstands nach Fig. 8,
• Fig. 10 den Gegenstand nach Fig. 8 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht.

Further advantages and details and the embodiments of the invention are shown in the following description of the figures. The figures show schematically:

• Fig. 1 a perspective view of an article according to the invention,
• Fig. 2 the object after Fig. 1 in a vertical sectional view
• Fig. 3 a part of the article according to the invention Fig. 2 in a perspective view,
• Fig. 4 a further inventive article in a view according to Fig. 2 .
• Fig. 5 the object after Fig. 4 in an operating situation,
• Fig. 6 a further inventive article in a view according to Fig. 2 .
• Fig. 7 the object after Fig. 6 in a section along VI - VI,
• Fig. 8 another article according to the invention in a vertical section,
• Fig. 9 a part of the article according to the invention Fig. 8 .
• Fig. 10 the object after Fig. 8 in a perspective view.

Equal or similar parts are - if appropriate - provided with identical reference numbers. Individual technical features of the exemplary embodiments described below can also lead to developments of the invention with the features of the above-described embodiments.

In Fig. 1 a dispenser designed as a side-button dispenser for dispensing sweetener tablets is shown. This is a total of three parts formed with a housing 1, a cover 2 and a slide 3, the operation field is formed by the side button 4. The movement of the slide 3 is effected by pivoting with a (significant) movement component perpendicular to a vertically upwardly extending housing axis 5.

In the housing 1, a storage space further described below is arranged, from which the goods 16 separated via a separating chamber 13 and by means of the expenditure mechanism to a in this case on the underside of the tablet dispenser producible output port is transported towards. The slider 3 is pushed during the production of the side key dispenser from below into the housing and there by a still to be described flexible limiter 6 in his in Fig. 1 secured starting position shown.

During the manufacture of the dispenser, the slider is pushed in the direction of E in the housing 1 and secured against removal from the housing by the zurückschnellenden in its initial position and a limiting forming limiter 6 ( Fig. 2 ).

In addition, the pivoting slide 3 is provided at its upper end 7 with a flange 8, which forms at least one latching claw. This surrounds at least partially a web 9, whereby a bearing for fixing the slider is formed on the housing. The interaction of locking claw and web 9 leads to the formation of a sliding bearing and thus a pivot axis in the region of the web 9. This allows the slider to pivot in the manner shown below. Alternatively, the slider may also be fixed in the housing in its upper area, e.g. be braced and designed to be pivotable due to its own elasticity in the area below its flexible area.

In the slide 3 when actuated introduced forces are transmitted from the flange 8 on the web 9 and converted into a torque. In addition, is formed by the locking means of the manner of a resilient hook locking part the flange 8 of the slide 3 additionally secured against falling down.

For this purpose, the slide on a vertical boundary 11 which are moved in the view shown upon actuation of the slide along the top of the boundary or the limiter 6 and depending on the training can be supported on this. A parallel thereto extending vertical boundary 12, which also forms a wall of a separating chamber 13, could in the Fig. 2 strike against the left side of the limiter 6 and thus in addition to the edge 14 form a stop of the slider. In particular, however, the edge 14 secures the slide 3 in the housing by striking the inside surface 15 of the part of the housing wall located below the operating field 4.

By actuation of the slide 3 in the direction F chunk Good 16, in this case a sweetener tablet, moved sideways and can fall out through the output opening formed between boundary 12 and limiter 6.

The slider also has a ramp 17, which in the initial position has three different levels 18, 19 and 20 and which moves during the pivoting along the curved bottom 21 of the storage space 22. By the projections formed between the different levels 18, 19 and 20, the lumpy Good can be loosened up better. By shaping with a side sloping towards the separation chamber 13 side, the tablets beyond out in the direction of the separation chamber 13. The separation of the tablets is thus improved.

A possible shaping of the ramp is in particular again in Fig. 3 shown. The heels and edges located between the levels point in the direction of the separation chamber and thus improve the guidance of especially sweetener tablets. A spring tab 23, which is present against a wall 24 of the storage space 22, ensures after the actuation of the tablet dispenser for a transfer of the slide in his in the Fig. 2 shown starting position. The two upwardly open latching claws, which are formed by the flanges 8, the leadership of the slider is improved in the housing. A torque on the button due to a lateral overload can be better absorbed.

Between a lateral delimitation of the separating chamber 13 forming part 24 of the slider and a side wall 26 of the ramp, a recess 26.1 is formed, in which upon actuation of the slider 3, the bottom 21 partially retracts. As a result, the separation chamber 13 is separated from the rest of the storage space, so that when an output of Guts no further tablets can fall.

Unlike the donor after Fig. 2 is the embodiment of the Fig. 4 formed in four parts. This results from the use of a bottom plate 27 introduced from below into the housing, which has its own dispensing opening 28. Through this falls the lumpy good in the Fig. 5 shown operating position through from the dispenser. The separation chamber is displaced by actuation of the slide perpendicular to the vertical axis of the housing below the storage space so far that the tablet can fall out of the chamber. A moving into the pantry part of the slide then closes the lower end of the pantry.

The limiter 6 is formed horizontally in the present embodiment, the ramp 17 also has a slightly different shape but the same functionality.

The boundary 6 serves in addition to securing the slide 3 in the housing also as the web 29 a lateral boundary of the output path, the travels the tablet 16 from the dispenser. At the top, this path is limited by the bottom 21, so that the lumpy Good 16 can only by gravity through the opening 28 out of the housing. The in the FIGS. 2 to 6 recognizable part of the limiter 6 is formed by a latching lug 32 of the limiter described below.

The embodiment of Fig. 6 and 7 corresponds to the Fig. 4 with the exception of the bottom 27, which in the example of Fig. 6 and 7 is missing. Fig. 6 and 7 therefore also show a three-piece dispenser. The slider 3 is in its initial position in which it is held by a spring, not shown. An indicated and in the section VI -VI after Fig. 7 not shown tablet 16 is located in the separation chamber. As with the previous embodiments the housing with the web 9 before attaching the lid 2 and before introduction of the slider 3 is readily demountable.

The limiter 6 has at its lower end a wedge-shaped or nose-shaped training, which leads to a movement of the limiter 6 in the figure to the left during the insertion of the slider 3 due to the slope 31. The limiter is flexible due to its material selection. In particular, it is a flexible plastic in dimensions. Contrary to the insertion direction of the slider is blocked due to the locking lug 32. The limiter forms one in the Fig. 7 left side wall of the separation chamber, while the right wall is formed by a part of the slider 3.

Fig. 8 shows a vertical longitudinal section through the in the Fig. 10 in an external view shown dispenser according to the invention. In the area W of an outer side of a wall 36, labels or in-mold labels can be arranged. For this purpose, it is advantageous if webs, bottoms or flanges (in this case floor 21 of the storage space), which are integrally connected to this wall, run perpendicularly into this wall 36 in order to prevent the shrinkage of material in the area in which the web or floor 21 in FIG the wall runs into it as low as possible.

Compared to the previously described embodiment, the ramp of the slider 3 is constructed slightly differently. In particular, it has a recess 37, which is formed by a curved edge 38 of the slider. One in the plane of Fig. 8 inserted and conformed to the curvature of the indentation Circle here has a radius of curvature which is greater than half the width B of the separation chamber. This has the consequence that lumpy Good 16 can move into this recess 37 upon actuation of the slider and is not crushed between the wall 36 and the slider 3.

The Indian FIG. 9 Sporadically shown slider has an upper guide slope 33, which merges into a side wall 26 of the slider and allows an improved Hinleiten the tablets to the output shaft or to the separation chamber. This oblique guide surface is provided with a vertical edge 34 standing on her, the movement of the in the Fig. 9 left lying in front of her good can allow.

Claims (13)

1. Dispenser for dispensing an item (16) which is formed as a piece, in particular for dispensing sweetener tablets, comprising a housing (1) which comprises a supply chamber (22) from which the item (16) is separated into a separation chamber (13) of the dispenser and can be transported towards a dispensing opening of the dispenser by means of a dispensing mechanism, the dispensing mechanism comprising a slide (3) which can be moved using a component which is perpendicular to a housing axis (5) which extends from the bottom to the top, which slide can be slid into the housing (1) in order to produce the dispenser, characterised in that the dispenser comprises a movable limiter (6) which forms a lower limit for the slide (3) and which, when force is applied thereto, can be moved to the side from its starting position, in which removal of the inserted slide (3) is prevented, in order to insert the slide (3) into the housing (1) from below, and in that part of the limiter (6) forms a wall of the separation chamber (13).
2. Dispenser according to claim 1, characterised in that the limiter (6) forms a lower limit of the separation chamber (13).
3. Dispenser according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that, together with a housing lid (2) and the slide (3), the dispenser is made up of merely three parts.
4. Dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the slide (3) is pivotable.
5. Dispenser according to claim 4, characterised in that the slide (3) is connected, at its upper end (7), to the housing by means of a bearing.
6. Dispenser according to claim 5, characterised in that the bearing is formed by a connecting piece (9) which is surrounded, in part, by at least one upwardly open latching claw of the slide (3).
7. Dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one (11) of two vertical limits (11, 12) of the walls forming the separation chamber (13) remains above the limiter (6) during a movement of the slide (3).
8. Dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the slide (3) comprises a ramp (17) having levels (18, 19, 20) of different heights in the starting position, which levels loosen the items in the supply chamber (22) when actuation occurs.
9. Dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, for securing in the housing, the actuation region (4) of the slide, which actuation region is on a front face of the dispenser, strikes at least one upper surface (15) of the housing (1) facing away from the front face of the dispenser (3).
10. Dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, viewed in a vertical section, the limiter (6) comprises a wedge-shaped part (32).
11. Dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the slide (3) comprises a guide slope (33) which transitions into a side wall (26).
12. Dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, on an inner face (35) of a region (W) of a wall (36), the outer face of which can be provided with a label or an in-mould label, connecting pieces, flanges or bases (21), which are integral with the wall, transition into said wall.
13. Dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the slide (3) comprises an indentation (37), which is defined by a curved edge (38) of the slide, the radius of curvature of the protrusion being larger than or equal to half the width (B) of the separation chamber, at least in part.

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