FR2838034A1 - ONE TO ONE PACKAGING DISPENSER FOR STORES - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging dispenser. It relates to a dispenser which comprises a container (1) which houses a row of packaging (2) in series one behind the other, a thrust member (30) biased towards the before and in abutment against the last packaging in the row, a movable distribution member between closed and open positions for extracting the most forward packaging, a stop member (26) for movement towards the front, and a packaging displacement element towards a cleared position so that the displaced packaging can advance into the dispensing position while being ready for extraction when the dispensing member is open. Application for sale in store of expensive products .

Description

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 The invention relates to dispensers for containing a reserve of separate product packaging and for presenting the packaging so that it can be picked up by customers under self-service sales conditions in which customers pick up the items they want. buy and pay them at a checkout.

In shops and self-service shops, security can be an issue, not least because small packages of relatively high market value consumables can be stolen by taking multiple packages of the same product at the same time. We already know how to present such packaging to buyers of self-service in distributors intended to allow the withdrawal of only one packaging at a time.

 Our international patent application WO 00/10 433 published on March 2, 2000 describes a dispenser which comprises a container intended to contain a practically vertical stack of packaging, and a dispensing device, such as a drawer member, intended to house the lower packaging of the stack placed in the container, the dispensing device being able to be ordered by a customer so that it presents the received packaging which can be extracted from the dispenser. This dispenser, during testing, has proven to be efficient and reliable for the controlled distribution of product packaging. However, vertical distributors in which the product packages are stacked vertically impose certain restrictions on their installation at points of sale which are sometimes better suited to distributors in which the packages are arranged horizontally one behind the other. The aforementioned patent application also describes a dispenser having a container in which a row of packages placed one behind the other is pushed forward by a pushing member which undergoes the action of a return spring, and a door dispenser pivots at the front end of the container and can be operated by a customer who wants to remove

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 packaging one by one from the distributor. To limit the maximum rate at which the packages can be removed by repeatedly opening and closing the door, the return movement of the door from the open position to the closed position is delayed by a delay mechanism that includes a rotary damper. This construction is effective against the theft of a large number of packages, but the location of the damping mechanism can limit the size of the packages which can be dispensed by a dispenser having a determined height and / or width. In addition, reloading the dispenser described in packages when it is empty can be inconvenient and time consuming for store personnel. Obviously, the possibility of quick and easy reloading tends to be contrary to the security obtained by preventing the rapid extraction of the packages. The invention relates to these problems.

 In a first aspect, the invention relates to a packaging dispenser which comprises a container intended to accommodate a row of packaging of products arranged in series one behind the other, a pushing member guided so that it moves along the length of the container and recalled forward along it, the pushing member being intended to be in abutment against the last packaging in the row and to recall the row of packages towards the front end of the container, an arrangement of dispensing of packages placed at the front end of the container and comprising a movable dispensing member between a closed position and an open position intended to allow the extraction of the container most forward of the container from the dispensing position, a stop member intended to stop the forward movement of the row of packages under the action of the restoring force of the thrust member, and a packaging displacement element intended to move a packaging in abutment against the stop member towards a position released from the stop member following the

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 displacement of the dispensing member, so that the displaced packaging can advance, after closing of the dispensing member, in the dispensing position while being ready for extraction when the dispensing member is then opened.

 The dispenser distribution arrangement allows reliable separation of the individual packages at the front end of the series, with controlled extraction of only one package at a time from the dispenser. Very advantageously, the stop member is located on the floor of the container and the displacement element is intended to lift the packaging at a location which is above the stop member. The dispensing member can then include a door hinged to the container and intended to pivot about a horizontal axis adjacent to the lower part of the container. The stopper is preferably in the form of a wedge having a substantially vertical abutment face and a downwardly inclined upper surface which projects in front of the abutment face. The inclined upper surface can be used to promote the advance of a package in the dispensing position against the interior of the door so that it is ready to be removed when the door is opened, and it can also play the role of a ramp allowing rearward movement of the packages above the stop member when reloading the dispenser.

 In a particular embodiment, the displacement element is maneuvered so that it displaces a package for disengaging it from a stop member when the distribution member moves from the open position to the position of closing. The displacement member includes a lifting member and is movable upward through the floor of the container. A device for operating the lifting element advantageously comprises an arm which carries at a first end the lifting element, and a cam mechanism intended to raise and lower the arm when the dispensing member is moving.

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 In a particular embodiment, the dispensing member is movable from a closed position intended to house the most forward packaging to an open position presenting the received packaging which can be removed, and the displacement element of the packaging is coupled to the dispensing member so that a packaging which is in abutment against the stop member is moved to a position released from the stop member following the displacement of the dispensing member from the closed position to the open position, so that a displaced package can advance and can be received by the dispensing member when the dispensing member returns from the open position to the closed position. More specifically, the stop member is located on the floor of the container, the dispensing member comprises a door hinged on the container so that it can pivot about a horizontal axis adjacent to the floor of the container, and the displacement element comprises a finger or, more precisely, a pair of fingers placed on either side of the stop member and extending behind the door. It has been found that it is appropriate for the fingers to extend back beyond the stop member by a distance not exceeding about half of the depth of the packages.

 In another aspect, the invention relates to a packaging dispenser which comprises a container intended to accommodate a row of packaging placed in series one behind the other, a pushing member guided so that it moves along the length of the container and recalled forward along the latter, the return member being intended to bear against the last packaging in the row and to recall the row of packaging towards the front end of the container, a dispensing door placed at the front end of the container is movable between a closed position and a partial open position allowing the extraction of packages one by one, a mechanism with hooking member having a cooperation position in which the movement of the door of

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 dispensing beyond the partial opening position, in the opening direction, is prevented and a cleared position allowing the dispensing door to move beyond the partial opening position to a fully open position loading allowing the insertion of groups of at least two packages into the container and their pushing towards the rear of the container despite the return force of the pushing member.

 In yet another aspect of the invention, this relates to a packaging dispenser which comprises a container intended to accommodate a row of packaging placed one behind the other, a pushing member guided so that it moves longitudinally relative to the container and recalled forward along the container, the pushing member being intended to be in abutment against the last packaging of the row and to push the row of packages towards a front end of the container, a distribution arrangement placed at the front end of the container and intended to allow the extraction one by one of the packages, and an adjustable loading arrangement from a normal dispensing position to a loading position and intended to allow the introduction of packages into the dispenser, a hooking device intended to block the loading arrangement in the dispensing position and which can be unhooked to allow movement of the loading arrangement to the loading position, and a locking device intended to prevent separation of the hooking member when the number of packages placed in the dispenser container exceeds a predetermined number .

 Authorized personnel are unlikely to wish to open a dispenser that is already full or that contains multiple packages ready to be delivered in a controlled manner to bona fide customers, and blocking the separation of the fastener increases the security by introducing an additional obstacle encountered by an unauthorized person who wants to empty the distributor of its content in a dishonest manner.

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 In a particular dispenser according to the invention, the attachment member can be detached by a release member, for example a finger or a tool, inserted in a hole in front of the dispenser, and the blocking device comprises a member blocking coupled to the pushing member and intended to be positioned in this way between the hole and the catching member to prevent the insertion of the release member intended to separate the catching member. The locking member may be movable on a lever arm and / or carried by such an arm which pivots at the rear end of the underside of the distributor floor, the lever arm having a cam track with which the pushing member cooperates.

 In a particular construction, the loading arrangement comprises an opening through which packages can be inserted into the container, in groups, and a closure member intended to cover this opening and with which the attachment member is intended to cooperate . In a particularly simple and effective embodiment, the loading opening is the same as the opening through which the packages are removed during normal dispensing of the packages, and the closing member is formed by a dispensing door of which movement is normally limited by the latching member for dispensing while, when the latching member is released, the door is movable to the fully open position for loading the packages into the container.

 In another construction, the container comprises a box, and the loading arrangement comprises a drawer inserted into the box and movable towards the outside by an open front end of the box for loading the packages in the dispenser, the delivery member. 'hooking being intended to block the drawer in the dispensed position back into the housing and can be separated for the release of the drawer so that it can come out of the housing.

 Document US-A-4,134,520 describes a coin-operated dispensing machine in

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 which product packages are stacked one behind the other in a channel and are returned towards the front end of the channel by a thrust member by means of the return force of a spring. A dispensing mechanism controlled by an electromagnet is arranged at the front end of the channel and can ensure the release and the pushing down of the previous packaging of the series so that this packaging is ejected from the distributor. The thrust member is equipped with a friction brake which has a brake shoe pushed towards the floor of the channel by a spring, the role of the brake being to temporarily delay the advance of the thrust member, when a package is ejected so that the packages can be put in a suitable alignment position and that an untimely evacuation of at least two packages, due to a lack of alignment of the packages, is prevented. Braking the thrust member in this way does not determine the speed with which the packages can be dispensed, this characteristic not generally causing problems with coin-operated sales machines.

 In a particular aspect, the invention relates to a packaging dispenser which comprises a container intended to accommodate a row of packaging of products placed in series one behind the other, a pushing member guided so that it moves along the length of the container and recalled forward along it, the pushing member being arranged so that it is in abutment against the last packaging in the row and recalls the row of packages towards a front end of the container, an arrangement for dispensing packages placed at the front end of the container and comprising a movable dispensing member from a closed position suitable for receiving a package furthest from the row of packages and an open position having the packaging received so that it can be extracted, and a device for delaying the advance of the thrust member and therefore the r angel of

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 packaging along the container, so that the maximum frequency of distribution of the packaging by repeated movements of the dispensing member between the closed and open positions is less than the frequency of repeated movement of the dispensing member between these positions.

 The delay device can advantageously be worn on the pushing member and, thanks to the reduction in the speed with which the pushing member and the series of packages are moved towards the distribution device, the maximum speed with which the packages can be removed by maneuvering the dispensing arrangement can be limited, preferably to one packaging every 10 or 15 s, although the dispensing arrangement itself can operate at higher speed.

 In a preferred construction, the pushing member carries a rotary element, in particular a pinion, which is rotated when the pushing member is driven forward along the container, and the delay device comprises a damper rotary intended to delay the rotation of the pinion to which it can be coupled by a gear coupling. The pinion can be engaged with a rack which extends along the container and intended to drive the pushing member along the container using a spring carried on the pushing member or to be driven in rotation when the pushing member moves along the container.

 The pushing member is preferably subjected to the action of a spring which exerts a return force which is practically uniform at all the positions of the pushing member along the container. In a currently preferred construction, the spring has a coiled part which is carried by the pushing member and a linear part connected to the coiled part and which extends from the pushing member towards the front end of the container to which a free end of the spring can be fixed.

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 In another aspect, the invention relates to a packaging dispenser which comprises a container intended to contain a row of packaging placed in series one behind the other, a pushing member guided so that it moves along the length of the container and biased forward along the container, the pushing member being intended to bear against the last package in the row and to bias the row of packages towards a front end of the container, and a package distribution arrangement placed at the front end of the container to allow the extraction of the packages one by one, the container having a housing provided with a base, and a drawer inserted in the housing is movable towards the outside by an open front end of the housing for loading of packages in the dispenser, the pushing member being guided on the base of the housing so that the push and the packages which may be in series in front of the pushing member remain in the housing when the drawer is removed from the housing, and a device is intended to prevent access to the packaging remaining in the housing when the drawer is pulled towards the outside the housing for loading packages into the container.

 The arrangement of a loading drawer having a device preventing access to the remaining packaging in the dispenser indicates that reloading the dispenser can be easy without the risk of making the packaging of products present in the dispenser accessible for rapid extraction, for example by a person with dishonest intentions.

 In the presently preferred embodiment, the drawer, when removed from the housing, delimits a loading chamber having a loading opening placed at the top of the drawer, and the device intended to prevent access is an adjustable cover between a closed position in which the cover closes the loading opening and prevents the passage of the packages through the loading opening, and a position

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 loading in which the insertion of the packages in the loading chamber by this chamber is authorized and the cover forms a partition which separates the loading chamber from the interior of the housing in which the packages previously loaded and remaining in the dispenser are disposed . The cover is advantageously a shutter which can slide between the closed and loading positions. For increased security and proper use, a locking mechanism can be incorporated to prevent the drawer from being pushed back into the housing when the access suppression shutter is not adjusted in the closed position and / or blocks the shutter in the closed position unless the drawer is completely out of the housing.

A locking mechanism fulfilling the two functions consists of a locking member movably mounted on the drawer and which can move from a first position, by adjusting the shutter away from its closed position, to a second position in which the lock member prevents movement of the drawer inside the housing. In the first position, the lock member blocks the shutter in the closed position and, in the second position, the lock member is intended to be engaged with the housing to prevent movement of the drawer inside the housing. .

 The various aspects of the invention described above can be combined in a packaging dispenser which gives great convenience to store owners and authorized operators, while increasing security against dishonest removal of packaging.

 Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows of exemplary embodiments, made with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a dispenser according to the invention, having a series of four packages placed in the dispenser and ready to be

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 withdrawn by buyers, certain parts of the distributor being omitted for clarity of representation; Figure 2 is a bottom view of the dispenser; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing certain parts of the dispenser, other parts being omitted so that certain details appear; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the thrust member, the drawer release latching member and the locking device of the distributor latching member; Figure 5 is similar to Figure 4, but with the addition of the front of the base of the housing; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the base of the housing; Figure 7 is similar to Figure 1 but shows the dispenser with a single package, ready to be filled; FIG. 8 represents the dispenser of FIG. 7 when the drawer is pulled out in the recharging position and the shutter is adjusted in the loading position so that new packages can be loaded into the loading chamber; Figure 9 is a perspective view of the dispenser shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 shows the dispenser of Figure 9 with some parts omitted so that other parts are shown; Figure 11 is a perspective view of the thrust member, its return spring and the distributor delay mechanism; Figures 12 and 13 show other embodiments of the return spring and the delay mechanism; FIGS. 14 to 17 are views corresponding to FIG. 1 and illustrating the successive stages of the distribution of packages by the distributor, the procedure starting in a state loaded with a series of packages which have just been introduced into the distributor as as shown in Figure 1;

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 FIG. 18 indicates how the dispenser does not transmit a package to be extracted when the dispenser door is opened too soon after being closed; Figure 19 is a longitudinal and vertical section of another dispenser according to the invention; Figures 20 and 21 are perspective views of the front and rear and in longitudinal section of the dispenser of Figure 19; Figure 22 corresponds to Figure 19 but shows the dispenser door in the open dispensing position; and Figures 23 and 24 are perspective views of opposite sides of the dispenser of Figure 19 with some parts removed so that other elements appear clearly.

 FIGS. 1 to 18 show a dispenser intended for dispensing in a regulated manner over time individual packages of products. The packages 2 can be all kinds of small products, but, by way of representation, each package is represented in the form of a group of products, for example safety razor cartridges sealed in a cardboard pack with a support carton. , the packages being shown themselves and being a good example of how the razor cartridges are packaged for sale to customers. The dispenser comprises a container formed from a generally rectangular box 5 having a base 6 which delimits a container floor 7, opposite side walls 8 and a top wall 9, and a drawer 10 which can slide in the box. The drawer 10 has sides 11, a bottom divided into two lateral sections 12 by a relatively wide central slot 13 (FIG. 3), and an upper part which has a loading opening 14 adjacent to its front end. The front part of the drawer consists of a distribution door 16 which is articulated on a spindle 17 so as to be able to present a pivoting movement about a horizontal axis approximately at the floor of the

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 housing, between closed and open positions.

Wings 18 (Figures 9 and 10) are fixed to the side edges of the door 16 and have curved edges centered on the axis of the pivot, and a radial stop element 19 projects from the curved upper edge. The wings cooperate with complementary cavities or recesses 20 formed in the sides 11 of the drawer and comprising abutment shoulders 21 against which the elements 19 of the stop member come into contact to limit the pivoting of the door at a distance from its position closed vertical (Figure 1), and therefore defining the open position of the door 16 (Figures 14 and 16) for the extraction of a packaging 2 of product from the dispenser as described in more detail below.

 By changing the positions of the abutment shoulders 21 and / or the width of the stop member elements 19, the door opening position can be determined so that it corresponds to packages 2 having thicknesses or depths different. The door 16 can have a transparent front part and can accommodate a printed card (not shown), visible through the transparent front part and carrying information promoting the products available in the distributor and / or information on the operation of the distributor for remove the products.

 Longitudinal rails 22 placed on the underside of the bottom of the drawer cooperate with corresponding rails 23 of the base of the housing to guide the drawer 10 so that it moves towards the housing 5 and out of it.

 In the normal dispensing position, the drawer 10 moves back into the casing 5 so that the dispensing door 16 is placed against the front edges of the side walls 8 of the casing and just above the front 24 of the base of the casing , and the drawer 10 is locked in the retracted position by a hooking member 25 described in more detail below. When the latching member 25 is released, it releases a stop member 15 (FIG. 3) from the underside of the bottom of the drawer and releases the drawer 10 so that it can be removed from the housing 5 towards a position of

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 reloading (Figures 8 and 10) in which a downwardly facing lip 38, placed at the bottom of the bottom of the drawer, cooperates with a shoulder 39 of the floor 7 to prevent further movement of the drawer outside the housing.

 At the front end of the floor 7 of the container, formed by the upper part of the base 6 of the housing, is arranged a wedge-shaped stop member 26 having a vertical face 27 of abutment turned towards the rear, and a upper ramp surface 28 which is inclined downwards and forwards from the upper part of the abutment face. The width of the stop member 26 is such that it projects upwards through the slot 13 between the laterally opposite sections 12 of the bottom of the drawer. The packages 2 placed in the container cover the slot 13 to be guided in a sliding manner along the lower sections 12 of the drawer 10. A packaging thrust member 30 is guided so that it moves along the length on the base 6 of the housing and has a practically flat front face intended to bear against the rear of the rear packaging of the series of packages 2 placed in the housing. A return spring 32 is intended to return the pushing member towards the front end of the container, this spring 32 having the shape of a ribbon having a wound part 33 carried by the pushing member 30, and a linear part 34 connected to the part wound forward along the container and extending from this part wound in the slot 13 in the bottom of the drawer, so that it passes under the packages 2 housed in the container, the front end of the spring 32 being fixed to the base 6 of the housing by being hooked to the rear edge of an opening 35 formed in the floor 7 and around this edge. The spring 32 exerts a uniform force which recalls the thrust member 30 forward, along the container, regardless of the position of the thrust member along the container, this form of spring being known. The pushing member has a projection 36 directed downwards and which passes through a narrow rectilinear slot 37 which extends along the center of the

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 floor 7, and the pushing member 30 is thus guided, with cooperation with the rails 23, so that it moves along the length of the container. A delay mechanism intended to reduce the speed of movement of the pushing member along the container towards the stop member, under the action of the restoring force applied by the spring 32, is supported on the member of thrust 30. The delay mechanism has a rotary damper 40 (Figure 11) which is connected by gear to a pinion 41 which rotates at the rear of the thrust member, advantageously around an axis which coincides with the axis of the coiled spring portion 33. The pinion 41 is engaged with a fixed rack 42 which extends along the floor 7 of the container, so that the pinion 41 is rotated by the rack 42 when the member thrust 30 moves along the container. The rotary damper has a rotor which rotates in a sealed chamber containing a fluid and which is integral with a drive spindle on which is carried the driving pinion 43 which is engaged with the pinion 41. Thus, when the member thrust 30 is driven forward along the container by the force applied by the spring 32, the pinion 41 rotates and drives the pinion 43 so that the rotor of the shock absorber is driven in rotation and the speed of movement of the pushing member 30 is reduced. The damper 40 brakes only the forward movement of the thrust member because the backward movement of this member, which occurs during the recharging of the dispenser in packages, is practically not hampered by the damper 40.

 Other arrangements for driving and delaying the forward movement of the thrust member 30 are shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. In the arrangement of FIG. 12, the pinion 41 which is engaged with the pinion 43 which drives the shock absorber 40 is driven by a pin fixed to the spiral and spring part 33, the pin rotating when the spring 32 is wound up during the advance of the pushing member 30 along the container under the action of the spring. Spring 32 of the provision

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 shown in Figure 13 has two spiral parts 33A, 33B both carried on the thrust member 30, the spring being tensioned so that it tends to unwind from part 33A and to wind up at the other part 33B. A pin connected to the spring part 33A carries at one end a pinion 41 in engagement with the rack 42 so that the pushing member 30 is driven along the container of the distributor and, at the other end, it carries a pinion 44 engaged with the pinion 43 which drives the shock absorber. As in the preferred arrangement shown in Figure 11, in each of the arrangements of Figures 12 and 13, the spring 32 drives the thrust member 30 forward along the container, but the speed of movement is reduced by the shock absorber 40.

 A member 25 for hooking and releasing the drawer is placed in an orifice 47 in the floor 7 of the base 6 of the housing and pivots on a pin 48 forming a pivot.

The attachment member 25 consists of a member formed with an ear 49 turned upwards and intended to cooperate with the stop member 15 fixed to the drawer 10 so that the drawer is blocked and cannot be removed of the housing 5 (see FIG. 3), and a face 50 of an operating cam placed at the front end of the attachment member. The attachment member is recalled by a spring (not shown), such as a torsion spring disposed on the pivot pin 48, so that the lug 49 is pushed upwards in the locked position. The front edge of the ear 49 is inclined so that, when the drawer 10 slides back into the housing 5, the stop member 15 moves the ear 49 down by cam effect so that the introduction drawer is not obstructed. The cam face 50 is placed behind a hole 52 in the front 24 of the base 6 of the housing so that a tool, for example a member in the form of a long rod such as a pencil, can be inserted by the hole 52 and can act on the cam face 50 to rotate the latching member 25 down despite the force of the return spring and move the ear 48 away from the path of the stop member 15 so that the

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 drawer 10 can be removed from the housing 5 for reloading the dispenser in packaging, as described below.

 A locking device is incorporated in the dispenser so that it stops the separation of the hooking member 25 when the pushing member 30 is in a rear part of the container and there are a number of packages placed in series in the dispenser container in number greater than a predetermined number. This device includes a blocking member 54 which is movable between the hole 52 and the cam face 50 of the hooking member 25 so that a release tool is hampered and cannot operate the hooking member to release the drawer 10.

The locking member 54 is coupled to the pushing member 30 so that the locking member is moved away from the plugging position when the pushing member reaches a position that corresponds to only a small number of packages remaining in the distributor and that customers can withdraw. The locking member 54 is carried at the free front end of an elongated lever arm 55, the rear end of which pivots on a stud 56 fixed to the base 6 of the housing, so that the locking member 54 can switch to its locking position and away from it. A cam track 57 delimited by a slot formed in the lever arm extends along this lever arm 55, and the projection 36 of the pushing member 30, directed downwards, cooperates by sliding with the slot formed in the cam track. The cam track 57 comprises a rectilinear rear end section 58 and a front rectilinear section 59 offset laterally with respect to the rear section and connected to the latter by a short section 60 inclined laterally, and a front end section 61 inclined laterally.

When the dispenser is filled with the packaging, the pushing member 30 is placed towards the rear of the container and its projection 36 is arranged in the rear rectilinear section 58 of the cam track so that the locking member 54 occupies its position. blocking device to dissuade any attempt to release the fastening member 25. When

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 the packages 2 are dispensed, the pushing member 30 advances along the container, but the locking member 54 is held in the locking position until only a few packages 2 remain in the dispenser, when the projection 36 reaches the inclined section 59 of the cam track and the lever arm 55 pivots about its pivot so that the locking member 54 leaves its locking position and allows the release of the hooking member 25, if although the dispenser can be filled with packaging.

 So that store personnel can easily identify a dispenser ready for filling, an indicator is intended to indicate when the contents of the container are sufficiently exhausted to allow refilling. The indicator comprises an indicator member 62 coupled to the thrust member 30. Conventionally, the indicator member 62 is integral with the locking member 54, and a second hole or window 66 is formed at the front 24 of the base of the housing to allow observation of the indicator member 62 at the front of the dispenser. The indicator member has regions 63, 64 and 65 of surface which are distinguished from each other, for example by different colors. Thus, when the dispenser contains a suitable number of packages 2 and the locking member 54 occupies its locking position, a green region 63 is visible through the observation orifice 66 and, when the locking member is moved away from the blocking position, an orange zone 64 can be put in the observation position by the orifice 66, to indicate that the dispenser is ready to be recharged in packaging. When the thrust member 30 reaches its most forward position against the stop member 26, its projection 36 enters the front section 61 of the cam track 57 and moves the indicator member 62 to a position at which a red region 65 is visible through the orifice 66 and indicates that the dispenser is empty.

 The dispenser is filled by releasing the hooking member 25 and pulling the drawer 10 outside the

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 box 5 to the reloading position (Figures 8 and 9) in which the loading opening 14 is exposed at the top of the drawer. The drawer 10 includes a device intended to prevent access to the packages 2 remaining in the housing 5 when the drawer is pulled out of the reloading position. The device preventing access has the form of a sliding shutter 68 whose lateral edges are guided in the grooves 69 of the side walls 11 of the drawer so that the shutter is guided to move between a closed position in which it covers and closes the loading opening 14 (FIGS. 1 and 14 to 18) and a loading position in which the loading opening 14 is released and the shutter 68 forms a partition wall between the loading chamber 70 in the drawer and the interior of the housing (Figures 8 and 9). When the drawer 10 is pulled out for reloading the dispenser, the packages 2 remaining in the container cannot come out with the drawer because they are retained by the stop member 26, so that they are kept in the housing 5. The rearward sliding of the shutter 68 intended to give access to the loading chamber 70 puts it in the form of a partition wall preventing access to the remaining packages 2 in the distributor housing and hiding them , so that an attempt to quickly extract the packaging from the dispenser through the loading opening 14 is dissuaded.

Authorized personnel can easily and quickly load the packages in the loading chamber 70, the loading opening 14 and the chamber having dimensions allowing the group insertion of several packages at the same time. When the number of packages required has been inserted and the packages are arranged one behind the other in the loading chamber 70, the shutter 68 is slid backwards in the closed position and the drawer 10 is brought back into the housing 5 , so that the newly loaded packages push the packages remaining in the housing if any and the pushing member 30, the

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 packages 2 which have just been loaded sliding on the stop member 26 because of the presence of the ramp surface 28. So that the slide 10 is not pushed into the housing without adjusting the shutter 68 in position closure, a lock mechanism is incorporated and advantageously has the form of a lock member 72 which pivots at the top of the drawer near the rear edge of the loading opening 14. When the shutter 58 is adjusted remotely from the closed position, it immediately causes an upward displacement by cam effect of the latch member 72 so that a projection of the member projects above it near the front edge of the upper wall 9 of the housing 5 and, by contact with this edge, it blocks any attempt to push the drawer into the housing without the shutter 68 having been closed first. The same lock member 72 is intended to come into contact behind the rear edge of the shutter 68 when the shutter is adjusted to the closed position, and it is held in this position by the upper wall 9 of the housing, except when the drawer is pulled to its loading position, and thus any attempt to modify the content of the dispenser by attempting to open the shutter 68 while the drawer 10 is only partially removed from the housing 5 is prohibited.

 The product packages 2 can be removed one by one, in a time-controlled manner, by suitable order from the distributor. As indicated above, the dispensing door 16 can pivot from a closed position to a predetermined open position. In this open position, a package presented for extraction can be lifted above the dispenser by a customer using his fingers, but the other dispenser packages are not accessible, although the client can see that 'there are still some packaging available. Two packaging displacement members in the form of fingers 74 which are placed on either side of the stop member 26 are connected to the lower edge of the door 16 and protrude behind this

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 edge. Each finger has a shape which delimits a substantially perpendicular shoulder 75 at a small distance in front of the abutment face 27 directed towards the rear of the stop member 26, and a lifting element 76 which extends over the beyond the abutment face 67 by a distance which does not exceed half the depth or thickness of the packages 2 of products. When the dispensing door 16 is closed, the lifting elements 76 are in a packaging placed against the abutment face 27 of the stop member 26 (FIGS. 1,15 and 17) and, when the door is moved into position the elements 26 move the package 2 upwards by lifting it above the upper edge of the abutment face 27, so that the package and the packages aligned behind it can slowly advance forward under the action of the delayed advance of the thrust member 30 ensured by the return exerted by the spring 32. The advance of the packages, when the door 16 is open, is limited by the shoulders 75 of the fingers 74 (FIGS. 14 and 16). When the dispensing door 16 is closed, the fingers 74 are lowered and the previously lifted package is released and can advance along the ramp surface 28 and tilt against the door 16, so that it is housed in a position ready for distribution (Figures 15 and 17), the following packages being moved forward by the pushing member 30 until the next pack in the row is in contact with the stopper 26. The opening of the door 16 presents the packaging 2 received against the door and ready to be removed by a customer, the fingers 74 lifting the packaging towards the extraction opening to facilitate the extraction of the packaging (FIG. 16) .

 FIG. 1 represents the dispenser freshly filled with packages 2. When the door 16 is opened for the first time, for example by a pull tab 79, the first package from the row of packages arranged in series is lifted on the member d stop 26 (figure 14) but no conditioning is

<Desc / Clms Page number 22>

 presented for extraction. After closing the door 16, the first package is in the position ready for extraction and the following packages advance until the second package is in abutment against the stop member 26 (FIG. 15). Opening the door the second time presents the first package which can be removed and lifts the second package above the edge of the stop member 26 (Figure 16). If the packaging is removed and the door is closed, the dispensing cycle can be repeated with the packages presented one by one to be removed each time the dispensing door 16 is opened. On the other hand, if the door 16 is closed without extracting the packaging, the situation shown in FIG. 17 arises but, when the door is opened again, the situation in FIG. 16 is created again and a distribution regular conditioning one by one can run normally. As the fact that the advance of the pushing member 30 under the action of the return force of the spring 32 is delayed for a determined time is necessary for the series of packages to advance sufficiently between the operations of the door 16, the following packaging can be prepared to be presented when the door 16 is open. Thus, if the door is closed and opened too quickly, a package is not lifted by the fingers 74 and the series of packages does not come into abutment against the stop member 26 as indicated in FIG. 18, at less after the extraction of the first two packages. Tests have shown that the maximum speed of distribution of a package in fractions of 10 to 15 s is suitable.

 A second dispenser also intended for transmitting individual packages of products in a time-controlled manner is shown in FIGS. 19 to 24. This dispenser 100 comprises a container 101 having side walls 108, an upper wall 109 and a floor 107 which is at a level higher than that of the lower edges of the side walls 109. An opening 114 used both for the distribution of the packaging of the

<Desc / Clms Page number 23>

 dispenser and for loading packages into the dispenser, as described below, is delimited at the front end of the container 101 and a dispensing door 107 is hingedly mounted on pins 117 so that it moves around d a horizontal axis approximately at floor level 107 between a closed position which covers the opening 114 and closes it, and an open position. Wings 118 fixed to the lateral edges of the dispensing door 116 are formed by lateral plates having upper and lower sections 118A, 118B in the form of a quadrant, each having a curved edge centered on the pivot axis of the door. The curved edge of the lower quadrant 118B of a side wing 118 is toothed and engages with a pinion 141 which is mounted so that it rotates freely on the adjacent side wall 108 of the container for the reasons indicated below. The quadrant-shaped lower section 118B has legs 119 facing inwards at the outer ends of the free radial edges, these legs 119 being pressed against a front panel 124 of the container 101 when the door 116 is closed as shown in the figures 19 to 21. The upper quadrant section 118A has a radius greater than the lower section 118B and laterally delimits the opening created at the front of the distributor when the door 116 pivots towards the open position. The legs 119 can be in contact with the underside of the floor 107 to limit the maximum opening movement by pivoting of the door 116 to a position in which the door is practically coplanar with the floor 107. During normal distribution, however, the pivoting of the door is limited by an attachment member 125 formed by a lever mounted so that it can pivot on the underside of the floor 107 on a vertical spindle 148. The lever of the attachment member is recalled by a torsion spring (not shown) so that one end of the lever 125 normally extends into a slot 149 placed in one of the side wings 118, the slot 149 having a shape such as the pivoting opening movement of gate 116 is

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 normally stopped in the partially open position, for example at an angle of 10 to 15. from the vertical, as shown in Figure 22. The other end of the lever 125 has a thrust plate 150 (Figures 23 and 24) placed behind the hole 152 in the front panel 124 of the container 101 so that a tool, such as a pencil or the like, can be inserted through the hole 152 and can act on the thrust plate 150 to pivot the lever 125 despite the elastic restoring force, so that the lever separates from the slot 149 and the door 116 can then pivot in the fully open loading position. The dispensing door 116 is returned to the closed position by the spring (not shown).

 At the front end of the floor 107 of the container is placed a wedge-shaped stop member 126 having a vertical face 127 of abutment turned towards the rear, and an upper ramp surface 128 which is inclined downwards and towards the front from the upper part of the abutment face 127. The floor 107 has a central longitudinal slot 137 which extends towards the rear of the stop member 126, and a member 130 for pushing the packings is guided so that it moves along the slot 137 and has a practically flat front face intended to be pressed against the rear of the rear packaging of a row of packages housed in the container 1 between the pushing member 130 and the stop member 126. The pushing member 130 is biased forward by a spring (not shown). The spring may be a ribbon spring which exerts a practically uniform force recalling the member 130 for pushing forward along the container 101 whatever the position of the pushing member along the container. As described above with reference to the previous embodiments, the spring may have a spiral part carried by the thrust member and a linear part going from the spiral part to a free end fixed to the front panel 124 of the container. In addition, a delay device can be incorporated so that it delays the advance of the thrust member 130 under the action of the spring and limits the

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 maximum frequency with which the packages can be removed from the dispenser by repeated operation of the door 116, as in the embodiment already described. In the distributor represented in FIGS. 19 to 23, however, this result is obtained by another arrangement described below and the spring is mounted with its spiral part supported by the front panel 124 and its linear part which extends behind the spiral part, the free end of which is fixed to the lower face of the lower part 136 of the pushing member 130 which protrudes under the guide slot 137.

 The dispenser distribution arrangement includes a packaging displacement element intended to lift the most forward packaging from the series of packages retained between the stop member 126 and the pushing member 130, on the abutment face. 127 of the stop member 126, so that the packaging can advance into the dispensing position against the door 116 and can therefore be removed when the door is open. More specifically, an I-lifting arm 170 is placed under the floor 107 of the container. The rear cross member 171 of this arm has ends 172 facing downward and allowing the arm to pivotally mount between the side walls of the container on a transverse bar (not shown). The front cross member 174 of the lifting arm has ends turned upward, movable in holes 179 formed in the floor 171 and forming lifting elements 175 for packaging. A cam mechanism is intended to pivot the arm 170 so that the lifting elements 175 are raised and lowered, and comprise a single-lobe cam 176 which is fixed to a transverse shaft 178. The shaft 178 is fixed in rotation on the pinion 141 which is engaged with the toothed quadrant 118B.

Thus, when the dispensing door 116 pivots, the pinion 141 is rotated and the cam 176 rotates under the lifting arm 170. In the closed position of the door 116, the cam lobe is directed upwards like the indicate Figures 19 to 21, and the elements of

<Desc / Clms Page number 26>

 175 lift are at their highest position. When the door 116 deviates from the closed position, the pinion 141 rotates and the cam lobe moves away from contact with the arm 170, and the lifting elements 175 do not protrude above the floor 107 of the container , so that the packages placed in the container can advance under the action of the pushing member 130 until the first package or front package is in abutment against the abutment face 127 of the stop member 126. When the dispensing door 116 is then brought back to the closed position, the lobe of the cam 176 pivots the arm 170 upwards and thus causes the lifting elements 175 which raise the packaging placed above, by above the step formed by the stop member 126. A greater advance of the packages is then allowed under the action of the pushing member 130 until the next package is behind the é 175 lifting elements which are lifted. The most forward package which is lifted is moved to the ramp surface 128 and may slide along it and / or may fall against the interior of the dispensing door 116, so that it assumes the position dispenser from which it can be easily removed when the door 116 is then opened.

 The maximum frequency with which the packages can be removed by repeatedly opening and closing the door is limited by the delay in closing the door 116. For this purpose, a rotary damper 140 is mounted on a side wall of the container 108 and has a pinion leading 143 in engagement with pinion 141.

The rotary damper 140 has the same shape as the rotary damper 40 of the first preceding embodiment and has a rotor intended to rotate in a sealed chamber containing a viscous fluid and fixed to a spindle on which the driving pinion 143 is carried. When the door 116 of the distributor pivots from the open position to the closed position, the pinion 141 is rotated by the toothed quadrant 118B which drives the pinion 143 and the rotor

<Desc / Clms Page number 27>

 of the damper rotates so that the return of the door to the closed position is delayed. The damper 140 brakes only the return movement of the door 116, the opening movement allowing the customer to withdraw a packaging from the dispenser being practically not hampered. Whether the door 116 is closed by the simple action of the return spring or also by manual pushing, the damper ensures a suitable delay in the return of the door to the closed position to limit the maximum frequency with which the packages can be removed from the dispenser .

 The dispenser includes a device for blocking the separation of the lever 125 from the hooking member when there is a number of packages greater than a predetermined number in the container of the dispenser. This device comprises a locking member 154 which is movable between the hole 152 of the panel 124 of the container and the push plate 150 of the lever 125 to hinder the insertion of a release tool and thus prevent it from acting on the push plate 150 and release the lever 125. The locking member 154 is carried by the free front end of an elongated lever arm 155 (FIGS. 23 and 24), the rear end of which is pivotally mounted at the underside of the floor 107 by a pivot 156, so that the arm 155 can pivot in a horizontal position to move the locking member 154 to its locking position or to move it away. A longitudinal edge of the lever arm 155 delimits a cam track 157 and the part 136 of the thrust member 130 which projects under the floor 107 is intended to slide in cooperation with this cam track. A torsion spring (not shown) placed on the pivot 156 recalls the lever arm to ensure the cooperation of the thrust member with the cam track. The cam track has a rear straight section 158, a front straight section 159 offset laterally with respect to the rear section 158 and connected thereto by a short laterally inclined section 160, and a front end section 161 inclined laterally. When the dispenser is filled with

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 packaging, the pushing member 130 is placed towards the rear of the container, its projection 136 being adjacent to the rear rectilinear section 158 of the cam track, so that the locking member 154 occupies its locking position which dissuades any attempt to release the lever 125. When the packages are dispensed, the pushing member 130 advances along the container, but the locking member 154 remains in the locking position until only one remains small number of packages, when the projection 136 reaches the inclined section 160 of the cam track and the lever arm 155 pivots around its pivot 156, so that the locking member 154 leaves its locking position and allows access to the push plate 150 for the release of the lever 125 of the fastening member, so that the door 116 can be opened completely towards the reloading position so that the dispenser is filled with packages. In this reloading position, the door 116 is practically horizontal and level with the floor 107 and groups of two or more packages can be easily inserted by the open front end of the container and pushed along the container by driving the member thrust 130 behind the series of inserted packages. When the reloading is finished, the door 116 is returned to the closed position and the lever 125 of the latching member automatically locks in the slot 149 to limit the opening of the pore 116 to the partially open dispensing position described. previously. The return spring which normally recalls the door 116 in the closed position may have a provision allowing passage through a decentered position or maximum extension when the door pivots in the fully open position so that the spring also maintains the door in maximum open position for reloading. When the packages are inserted into the container during reloading of the container, the ramp surface 128 of the stop member 126 ensures proper guidance of the

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 packaging on the stop member and prevents them from being stopped when they are pushed along the container.

 So that store personnel can easily identify a dispenser ready to be filled, an indicator is intended to indicate when the contents of the container are sufficiently exhausted to allow refilling. The indicator comprises an indicator member 162 coupled to the thrust member. As in the previous embodiment, the indicator member 162 is advantageously secured to the locking member 154, and a second hole or window 166 is formed in the front panel of the container to allow observation of the indicator member to front of the dispenser. As described above with reference to the first embodiment, the indicator member has surface regions which can be distinguished visually so that, when the dispenser contains sufficient packaging and the blocking member 154 occupies its blocking position, a first green zone for example of the indicator member is visible through the observation window 166, but when the blocking member 154 is moved from its blocking position, another zone, for example orange, of the indicator member 162 becomes visible through window 166 so that it appears that the dispenser can be refilled. When the thrust member 130 reaches its most forward position, its projection 136 acts on the front section 161 of the cam track and the indicator member is moved to a position in which a third region, for example red, becomes visible through the observation window and indicates that the dispenser is empty.

 As can be noted from the above description, product packages can be removed one by one, in a time-controlled manner, thanks to the proper operation of the dispenser. The dispensing door can pivot from a closed position to a partially open dispensing position so that a package presented can be removed from the dispensing position by being lifted above the dispenser by the customer using its fingers but the others

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 packages placed in the container are held by the stop member 126 and are not accessible, although they can be seen and indicate that there are still packages in the dispenser. The repeated opening and closing of the dispenser door ensures the presentation of the packages so that they can be removed one by one, the maximum frequency with which this extraction is permitted is limited by the delay in the closing movement of the door by the rotary damper 140. However, when the door 116 is fully open for reloading the dispenser, the packages can be loaded quickly into the dispenser in groups of several.

 It may be noted that, from the above description, the dispensers according to the invention have several new characteristics which increase security against rapid extraction of the packages. However, the particular embodiments described are simple non-limiting examples since modifications fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. For example, the dispenser may have the following characteristics. a) The dispenser can be fixed firmly to a mounting bar placed in the cavity 78 by a clamping device, such as a screw, which is clamped by a long additional tool introduced by an opening 81 from the front 24 and which can normally be hidden by a facing plate 80 which engages elastically as indicated for the dispenser of FIGS. 1 to 18, or from an elongated clamping bar 180 which extends along the container under the floor and partially shown on the Figure 24. b) So that the door 16 of the dispenser of Figures 1 to 18 can not be lifted in the open position, it preferably includes a return spring intended to move it in the closed position, for example a spring torsion placed on the pin 17 forming a pivot, and, so that the door cannot slam in the closed position, the return movement can be damped, although this

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 movement does not determine the maximum frequency of distribution of the packaging which is determined by the advance of the pushing member 30 which is delayed in the manner described above. c) The lever arm 55,155 can be coupled to a sensor of an automatic inventory control system so that a signal can be created for example at a remote location to indicate when the dispenser is ready to be recharged and / or the numbers of packages dispensed can be controlled so that an alarm is created when the packages are removed faster than expected. d) Devices for adjusting the orientation of the packaging may be incorporated, for example brushes which prevent the packaging from falling during reloading.

 Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to the distributors which have just been described only by way of nonlimiting examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (64)

1. Packaging distributor, characterized in that it comprises a container (1,101) intended to house a row of packaging of products arranged in series one behind the other, a pushing member (30,130) guided so that it moves along the length of the container (1,101) and recalled forward along it, the pushing member (30,130) being intended to be in abutment against the last packaging of the row and to recall the row of packaging towards the front end of the container (1,101), a packaging distribution arrangement placed at the front end of the container (1,101) and comprising a movable distribution member between a closed position and an open position intended to allow the extraction of the most forward packaging from the container (1,101) from the dispensing position, a stop member (26,126) intended to stop the forward movement of the row of conditio nnements under the action of the restoring force of the pushing member (30,130), and a packaging displacement element intended to move a packaging in abutment against the stop member (26,126) towards a position released from the 'stop member (26, 126) following the displacement of the dispensing member, so that the displaced packaging can advance, after closing the dispensing member, in the dispensing position being ready for extraction when the dispensing member is then opened.  2. Dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the stop member (26,126) is located on a floor (7,107) of the container (1,101), and the displacement element is intended to lift the packaging to a position which is above the height of the stop member (26,126).  3. A dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that the stop member (26,126) has a substantially perpendicular abutment face and a downwardly inclined upper surface which extends forward from the abutment face. <Desc / Clms Page number 33>  4. Dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the displacement element is maneuvered so that it displaces a package at a distance from the stop member (26,126) following the displacement of the dispensing member from its open position to its closed position.  5. Dispenser according to claim 4, characterized in that the packaging displacement element is a lifting element movable upwards through a floor (7,107) of the container (1,101).  6. Dispenser according to claim 5, characterized in that the lifting element is supported by an arm, and a cam mechanism is intended to act on the arm so that it causes the raising and lowering of the arm during displacement of the distribution member.  7. Dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the dispensing member comprises a door (16,116) hinged on the container (1, 101) so that it can pivot around a horizontal axis adjacent to the floor (7,107) of the container (1,101).  8. Dispenser according to claim 7, characterized in that the door (16,116) is coupled to a device intended to delay the return movement of the door (16, 116) from the open position to the closed position.  9. A distributor according to any one of claims 6,7 and 8, characterized in that the door (16,116) is coupled to a delay device by a rotary drive element, and the cam mechanism comprises a cam coupled in rotation with the rotary drive element.  10. Distributor according to claim 9, characterized in that the arm has a rear end pivotally connected to the container (1,101), the lifting element being supported at the front end of the arm, and the cam being arranged so that 'it acts on the arm between its front and rear ends. <Desc / Clms Page number 34>  11. Packaging distributor, characterized in that it comprises a container (1,101) intended to accommodate a row of packaging of products arranged in series one behind the other, a pushing member (30,130) guided so that it moves along the length of the container (1,101) and recalled forward along it, the pushing member (30,130) being intended to be in abutment against the last packaging of the row and to recall the row of packaging towards a front end of the container (1,101), a packaging distribution arrangement placed at the front end of the container (1,101) and comprising a movable dispensing member from a closed position suitable for housing a front packaging of the row of packaging and an open position presenting the packaging received so that it can be removed, a stop member (26,126) arranged so that it stops the advance of the row e of packages under the action of the restoring force of the pushing member (30, 130), and a displacement element of the packaging coupled to the dispensing member and intended to move a packaging in abutment against the member stop (26,126) to a position released from the stop member (26,126) following the displacement of the dispensing member from the closed position to the open position, so that the displaced packaging can advance and be housed by the dispensing member when the dispensing member is returned from the open position to the closed position.  12. Dispenser according to one of claims 10 and 11, characterized in that the stop member (26,126) is arranged on a floor (7,107) of the container (1,101), and the displacement element is arranged so that 'it raises the packaging to a position which is above the height of the stop member (26,126).  13. Dispenser according to claim 12, characterized in that the dispensing member has a door (16, 116) hinged on the container (1,101) so that it can <Desc / Clms Page number 35>  pivot about a horizontal axis adjacent to the floor (7, 107) of the container (1,101).  14. Dispenser according to claim 13, characterized in that the displacement element comprises a finger protruding behind the door (16,116) along the stop member (26,126).  15. A dispenser according to claim 14, characterized in that the finger has a shoulder intended to limit the advance of the packaging moved and lifted by the finger until the door (16,116) is returned to the closed position.  16. Dispenser according to one of claims 14 and 15, characterized in that two fingers are incorporated and extend on opposite sides of the stop member (26, 126).  17. Distributor according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the stop member (26, 126) has a substantially perpendicular abutment face and an upper surface inclined downward which extends towards the from the stop face.  18. Dispenser according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the displacement element limits the advance of the displaced packaging and of the packaging placed in series behind the displaced packaging, so that the following packaging, behind the packaging moved, is kept in a distant position behind the stop member until the dispensing member is returned to the closed position.  19. Distributor according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the finger or each finger extends back beyond the stop member (26, 126) over a distance which is not not more than about half the depth of the packages.  20. Packaging dispenser, characterized in that it comprises a container (1, 101) intended to accommodate a row of packaging arranged in series one behind the other, a pushing member (30,130) guided so that it moves along the length of the container (1, 101) <Desc / Clms Page number 36>  and biased forward along the container (1,101), the pushing member (30,130) being intended to be in abutment against a last package of the row and to push the row of packages towards a front end of the container (1,101 ), and a package delivery arrangement placed at a front end of the container (1,101) so that the packages can be removed one by one, and a loading arrangement which can be adjustable from a normal delivery position to a delivery position. loading to allow the introduction of packaging into the dispenser, a hooking member (25,125) intended to block the loading arrangement in the dispensing position and which can be separated to release the loading arrangement to allow movement in position loading, and a device for blocking the separation of the attachment member (25,125) when the number of packages placed in se In the container (1,101) of the dispenser exceeds a predetermined number.  21. A dispenser according to claim 20, characterized in that the hooking member (25,125) can be separated by a release member inserted by a hole in the front of the dispenser, and the blocking device comprises a blocking member (54,154) movable between the hole and the latching member (25,125) so that it prevents the release of the latching member (25,125) by insertion of the release member.  22. Distributor according to one of claims 20 and 21, characterized in that the blocking device comprises a blocking member (54,154) coupled to the thrust member (30,130) of the blocking member (54,154) so that 'it occupies a blocking separation position of the fastening member (25,125) when the pushing member (30,130) is at the rear part of the container (1,101).  23. Distributor according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that the blocking member (54,154) is movable under the action of a lever arm having a cam track along its length, the member thrust (30, <Desc / Clms Page number 37>  130) cooperating by sliding with the cam track to cause the pivoting of the lever arm when the thrust member (30,130) moves along the container (1, 101).  24. Dispenser according to claim 23, characterized in that the lever arm has a rear end pivotally mounted on the underside of the floor (7,107) of the container (1,101), the locking member (54,154) being brought to the front end of the lever arm, and the floor (7,107) of the container (1,101) has a longitudinal slot through which the thrust member (30,130) passes so that it can cooperate with the cam track of the arm leverage.  25. A dispenser according to any one of claims 20 to 24, characterized in that the loading arrangement comprises an opening through which packages can be inserted into the container (1,101) in groups, and a closure member intended to cover the opening, the attachment member (25,125) being intended to cooperate with the closure member.  26. A dispenser according to claim 25, characterized in that the loading opening delimits an opening through which the packages are removed during normal dispensing of the packages, and the closing member is constituted by a dispensing door (16,116) , the movement of the dispensing door (16,116) in the opening direction being normally limited by the latching member (25,125) and the door (16,116), upon release of the latching member (25,125 ), being movable in the fully open position for loading the packages into the container (1,101).  27. A dispenser according to claim 26, characterized in that the loading opening is placed at the front end of the container (1,101), and the dispensing door (16,116) is articulated on the container (1,101) so that it has a pivoting movement about a longitudinal axis adjacent to the floor (7,107) of the container (1, 101). <Desc / Clms Page number 38>  28. Packaging distributor, characterized in that it comprises a container (1,101) intended to accommodate a row of packaging placed in series one behind the other, a pushing member (30,130) guided so that it moves according to the length of the container (1,101) and returned towards the front along the container (1,101), the pushing member (30,130) being intended to be in abutment against the last conditioning of the row and to recall the row of packaging towards a front end of the container (1,101), and a packaging distribution arrangement placed at the front end of the container (1,101) to allow the extraction of the packaging one by one, the container (1,101) having a housing having a base, and a drawer (10) inserted in the housing and movable towards the outside by an open front end of the housing for loading packages into the dispenser, a hooking member (25,125) for intended to block the drawer (10) in the retracted distribution position in the housing, the hooking member (25,125) being able to be separated to release the drawer (10) which can move outside the housing, and a blocking device which prevents separation of the attachment member (25,125) when the number of packages placed in series in the container (1,101) of the dispenser exceeds a predetermined number.  29. Distributor according to claim 28, characterized in that the hooking member (25,125) can be separated by a release member inserted by a housing hole, and the blocking device comprises a movable blocking member (54,154) between the hole and the latching member (25, 125) so that the insertion of the release member cannot disengage the latching member (25,125).  30. Dispenser according to one of claims 28 and 29, characterized in that the blocking device comprises a blocking member (54,154) coupled to the pushing member (30,130) so that the blocking member (54,154) occupies a position in which it prevents separation of the latching member (25,125) when the pushing member (30,130) is located at the rear part of the container (1, 101). <Desc / Clms Page number 39>  31. Distributor according to any one of claims 28 to 30, characterized in that the locking member (54,154) is movable under the action of a lever arm which pivots on the housing and having a cam track on its length, the pushing member (30,130) cooperating by sliding with the cam track to rotate the lever arm when the pushing member (30,130) moves along the container (1, 101).  32. A dispenser according to claim 31, characterized in that the lever arm has a rear end pivotally mounted on the underside of the base of the housing, the locking member (54,154) being carried at the front end of the lever arm, and the base of the housing has a longitudinal slot through which the thrust member (30,130) projects so that it cooperates with the cam track of the lever arm.  33. Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an indicator is intended to indicate the moment when the container (1,101) is ready to be refilled in packaging, the indicator comprising an indicator member movable towards a position which indicates that the reloading can be carried out when the pushing member (30,130) reaches a front end of its travel along the container (1,101).  34. Distributor according to claim 40, characterized in that the indicator member is movable on an observation orifice placed in the distributor.  35. Distributor according to one of claims 33 and 34 when it depends on one of claims 21 and 22, characterized in that the indicator member and the blocking member (54,154) are formed by the same element.  36. Distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and 11 to 35, characterized in that a delay device is intended to delay the advance of the pushing member (30,130) and therefore of the row of packages along the container (1,101), so that the maximum frequency of distribution of the packages by repeated movements of the dispensing member between <Desc / Clms Page number 40>  the closed and open positions is less than the frequency with which the dispensing member can be moved repeatedly between these positions.  37. Packaging dispenser, characterized in that it comprises a container (1,101) intended to house a row of product packaging placed in series one behind the other, a pushing member (30,130) guided so that it moves along the length of the container (1,101) and recalled forward along it, the pushing member (30,130) being arranged so that it bears against the last packaging in the row and recalls the row of packaging to a front end of the container (1,101), a packaging distribution arrangement placed at the front end of the container (1,101) and comprising a movable dispensing member from a closed position suitable for receiving a packaging the further forward from the row of packages to an open position presenting the package received so that it can be extracted, and a device for delaying the advance of the thrust (30,130) and therefore from the row of packages along the container (1,101), so that the maximum frequency of distribution of the packages by repeated movements of the dispensing member between the closed and open positions is lower at the frequency of repeated movements of the dispensing member between these positions.  38. Distributor according to one of claims 36 and 37, characterized in that the pushing member (30,130) carries a rotary element which rotates when the pushing member (30,130) is driven along the container (1, 101 ), and the delay device comprises a rotary damper for delaying the rotation of the rotary element.  39. Distributor according to claim 38, characterized in that the rotary element comprises a pinion coupled to the rotary damper by a gear assembly. <Desc / Clms Page number 41>  40. Distributor according to claim 39, characterized in that the pinion is engaged with a rack which extends along the container (1,101).  41. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 40, characterized in that the pushing member (30, 130) is biased along the container (1,101) by a spring intended to apply a substantially uniform biasing force on the pushing member (30,130) for all positions of the pushing member (30,130) along the container (1, 101).  42. Distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 41, characterized in that the spring has a spiral part and a linear part connected to the spiral part and extending between the front end of the container (1,101) and the thrust member (30,130).  43. Distributor according to claim 42, characterized in that the spiral spring part is supported by the pushing member (30,130).  44. Distributor according to claim 40, characterized in that a return spring is supported by the pushing member (30,130) and acts on the pinion so that it recalls the pushing member (30,130) along the container (1,101) by driving the pinion along the rack.  45. Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the maximum frequency of distribution of the packages is approximately one per fraction of 10 to 15 s.  46. Distributor according to any one of claims 37 to 40, characterized in that the distribution arrangement comprises a stop member (26,126) intended to prevent the forward movement of the row of packages placed in series under the influence of the pushing member (30,130), and a packaging displacement element coupled to the dispensing member and intended to move a packaging in abutment against the stop member (26,126) towards a position released from the stop member (26,126) during movement of the dispensing member, so that the offset packaging can advance <Desc / Clms Page number 42>  towards a dispensing position when the dispensing member is returned to the closed position.  47. Distributor according to any one of claims 11 to 19 and 37 to 40, characterized in that the container (1,101) comprises a housing and a drawer (10) inserted in the housing and movable towards the outside by a front end open the case so that packaging can be loaded into the dispenser.  48. A dispenser according to claim 47, characterized in that the pushing member (30,130) is guided on a base of the housing so that the pushing member (30, 130) and the packages which can be arranged in front of the member thrust (30,130) remain inside the housing when the drawer (10) is removed from the housing, and a device is intended to prevent access to the remaining packagings in the housing when the drawer (10) is removed from the housing to loading of packages in the container (1,101).  49. Packaging distributor, characterized in that it comprises a container (1,101) intended to contain a row of packaging placed in series one behind the other, a pushing member (30,130) guided so that it moves according to the length of the container (1, 101) and biased forward along the container (1,101), the pushing member (30,130) being intended to bear against the last packaging in the row and to recall the row of packages towards a front end of the container (1,101), and a packaging distribution arrangement placed at the front end of the container (1,101) to allow the extraction of the packaging one by one, the container (1,101) having a housing provided of a base, and a drawer (10) inserted in the box is movable towards the outside by an open front end of the box for the loading of packages in the dispenser, the pushing member (30,130) and ant guided on the base of the housing so that the thrust member (30,130) and the packages which may be in series in front of the thrust member (30,130) remain in the housing when the <Desc / Clms Page number 43>  drawer (10) is removed from the case, and a device is intended to prevent access to the packages remaining in the case when the drawer (10) is pulled out of the case for loading of packages into the container (1,101) .  50. A dispenser according to claim 49, characterized in that the drawer (10), when it comes out of the housing, delimits a loading chamber having a loading opening allowing the insertion of the packages, and the device intended to prevent the access is adjustable between a closed position preventing the passage of the packaging through the loading opening and a loading position allowing the introduction of the packaging into the loading chamber through the loading opening and preventing access to the loaded packaging previously and kept in the case when the drawer (10) is pulled out.  51. A dispenser according to claim 50, characterized in that the device intended to prevent access hides the packages loaded previously and kept in the housing so that they cannot be seen during adjustment in the loading position.  52. A dispenser according to claim 51, characterized in that the device intended to prevent access comprises a cover intended to close the loading opening in the closed position and forming a partition between the loading chamber and the interior of the housing in the loading position.  53. Distributor according to claim 52, characterized in that the cover comprises a shutter which can slide between the closed and loading positions.  54. Distributor according to any one of claims 50 to 53, characterized in that the loading opening is located at the upper part of the drawer (10).  55. Distributor according to any one of claims 50 to 54, characterized in that the latch mechanism is intended to prevent the pushing of the drawer (10) in the <Desc / Clms Page number 44>  housing when the device intended to prevent access is not put in the closed position.  56. Distributor according to claim 55, characterized in that the latch mechanism blocks the device intended to prevent access in the closed position when the drawer (10) is inserted into the housing.  57. Dispenser according to one of claims 55 and 56, characterized in that the latch mechanism comprises a member mounted on the drawer (10) and intended to move from a first position to a second position, the member to lock, when in the second position, being intended to cooperate with the housing so that it prevents movement of the drawer (10) in the housing.  58. A dispenser according to claim 57, characterized in that the lock member, in the first position, blocks the device intended to prevent access in the closed position.  59. Distributor according to one of claims 57 and 58, characterized in that the latch member is movable from the first position to the second position when the drawer (10) is pulled out of the housing by adjusting the device intended to prevent remote access from the closed position to the loading position.  60. Dispenser according to any one of claims 50 to 54, characterized in that a latch mechanism is intended to block the device intended to prevent access in the closed position when the drawer (10) is inserted in the housing .  61. Distributor according to any one of claims 47 to 60, characterized in that a hooking member (25,125) is intended to block the drawer (10) in the dispensed position retracted into the housing, the member hooking (25,125) which can be separated so that the drawer (10) is released and can come out of the housing, and a blocking member (54,154) being coupled to the pushing member (30, 130) so that it prevents separation of the hooking member (25,125) when the pushing member (30,130) is located at the rear part of the container (1, 101). <Desc / Clms Page number 45>  62. Dispenser for packages, characterized in that it comprises a container (1, 101) intended to house a row of packages placed in series one behind the other, a pushing member (30,130) guided so that it moves along the length of the container (1,101) and recalled forward along it, the pushing member (30,130) being intended to be in abutment against the last packaging of the row and to recall the row of packaging towards the front end of the container (1, 101), a dispensing door (16,116) placed at the front end of the container (1,101) and movable between a closed position and a partial open position allowing the extraction of packaging one by one, a latching mechanism (25,125) having a cooperation position in which the movement of the dispensing door (16, 116) beyond the partial opening position, in the opening direction , is em caught and an unobstructed position allowing the movement of the dispensing door (16,116) beyond the partial opening position towards a fully open loading position allowing the insertion of groups of at least two packages in the container (1,101) and their push towards the rear of the container (1,101) despite the return force of the pushing member (30,130).  63. A dispenser according to claim 62, characterized in that the dispensing member is a door (16,116) hingedly mounted on the container (1,101) so that it can pivot between the total closed and open positions.  64. Distributor according to one of claims 62 and 63, characterized in that it comprises a fixed stop member placed in the container (1,101) and intended to prevent the forward movement of the series of packages placed in the container (1,101) under the action of the pushing member (30,130), the stop member (26,126) having an inclined surface facilitating the displacement of the packages backwards above the stop (26, <Desc / Clms Page number 46>  126) when loading the packages in the container (1,101).