GB2033344A - Apparatus for dispensing elongate objects from a container - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for dispensing elongate objects, e.g. cigarettes, from a container, is characterised by a reciprocable device which can engage an elongate object, is movable in one direction to deliver the engaged elongate object from the container and is movable in the opposite direction for engaging another elongate object prior to dispensing that object. The reciprocable device may be raisable pawl (2) with teeth (7) at one end and driven by engagement of a rack (3) and pawl (4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for dispensing elongate objects from a container TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to apparatus for dispensing elongate objects from a container. The elongate objects are preferably cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos in a pack.

BACKGROUND ART Cigarettes are usually sold in packets of ten or twenty, the packs being of stiff paper or card.

Usually, the cigarettes are dispensed from the pack by shaking or flipping the pack so that a cigarette passes through an opening previously torn in the top of the pack. This is, however, unsatisfactory in that more than one cigarette may be dispensed at a time, or a cigarette may not pass far enough out of the pack for it to be grasped and removed. Such packs also have another disadvantage. This is that the packs can be crushed or damaged, with resulting damage to the cigarettes.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the invention to mitigate these disadvantages of the prior art.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for dispensing elongate objects from a container, characterised by a reciprocable device which can engage an elongate object, is movable in one direction to deliver the engaged elongate object from the container and is movable in the opposite direction for engaging another elongate object prior to dispensing that object.

Thus using the invention it is possible to provide a rapid yet sure removal of an elongate object such as a cigarette from a container such as a hand-held pack of cigarettes.

There may be a movable device operatively connected with the reciprocable device for reciprocating that device. This allows the reciprocable device to be operated from outside the container by the movable member. In order to provide for positive operation manually, when the container is a hand-held container for cigarettes and the like, the movable device may comprise a member which may be turnable about an axis substantially at right angles to the direction of reciprocation of the reciprocable device.

The turnable member may be a rotatable pawl which engages a rack to which the reciprocable device is connected. This provides a relatively simple yet effective construction.

The container preferably has a closure which is hinged to the container, the arrangement being such that the reciprocable device engages the closure and moves it in a direction to open the container for dispensing an elongate object when the reciprocable device moves in the one direction. This construction allows the container to be opened automatically during dispensing of an object.

In order automatically to close the container after dispensing of an object, there may be biassing means which tends to urge the closure in a direction to close the container, it being understood that the force of the biassing means is overcome by the reciprocable means when that means moves in the one direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Constructions embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a vertical sectional view of a container for cigarettes; Figure 2 shows an end elevational view of the container of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a part transverse crosssectional view of the container of Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a scrap side elevational view of the container of Figure 1 with a full pack of cigarettes in position in the container of Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a scrap side elevational view of the container of Figure 1 with it full of cigarettes and serving one of said cigarettes; Figure 7 shows a view similar to that of Figure 6, but serving a last cigarette of a pack;; Figure 8 shows a transverse sectional elevational view of a second embodiment of container mem'dying the invention; Figure 9 shows an end elevational view of the container of Figure 8; Figure 10 shows a top elevationai view of the container of Figure 8: Figure 11 shows the container of Figures 8 to 10 in use, dispensing a single cigarette from a full pack of cigarettes; and Figure 12 shows the container of Figures 8 to 10 in use dispensing a final cigarette from a pack of cigarettes in the container.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 to 7 shows a first embodiment of apparatus for dispensing elongate objects such as cigarettes from a container 1 , comprising a reciprocable device in the form of a (as viewed) verticaliy raisable pawl 2 which is connected to the upper (again as viewed) end of a movable device in the form of a manually operable rack 3 and pinion 4 arrangement, the pinion 4 being turnable about an axis substantially at right angles to the vertical direction and the rack 3 (with which the pinion co-operates) being guided for vertical movement in a guide 5 within the container. The guide 5 comprises a short wall at each side of the container, parallel to the right hand end wall 6 (as viewed in Figure 4) which walls form guide channels for offset lateral parts of the rack 3 at each side of the rack 3.

The pawl 2 is hooked over the upper end of the rack 3, and has teeth 7 at its lower (as viewed) end which project upwardly away from the wall 6.

The container 1 itself has a lower rigid part 8, and an upper rigid part 9 both parts 8 and 9 being of plastics. The upper part 9 carries the apparatus.

The parts 8 and 9 can be separated and engaged together as at a joint 10. The top part 9 has a lid 11 which is hinged about an axis 12. There is biassing means in the form of a spring 1 3 which tends to urge the lid in a direction to close the lid 11.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described. First the parts 8 and 9 are separated, in an ordinary pack of cigarettes 14 (Figure 5) is inserted in the bottom part 8 having first of all torn off the top right hand corner of the pack so as to expose the cigarettes. The top part 9 is then engaged on the bottom part so that the pawl 2 slides down the inside of the pack between the pack and the cigarettes. The lid 11 is closed so that the cigarettes are protected by the rigid container. To dispense a cigarette, it is merely necessary to rotate the pinion 4 manually clockwise as shown in Figure 6 (in the direction of the arrow 'X' in Figure 6). This raises the rack 3 which in turn raises the pawl in one direction.The pawl 2 in turn engages the lid 11 and pushes it up to open the container in the direction of the arrow 'Y' against the pressure of the spring 13. The fine teeth 7 at the end of the pawl 2 gently engage and grip the outer surface of the cigarette and raise the cigarette through the now open container. The cigarette S raised enough for it to be easily gripped and removed from the container 1. When the cigarette is removed and the pinion 4 is released the spring 1 3 closes the lid 11 and in doing so pushes the pawl 2 in the opposite direction to place it in contact with another cigarette.

It will be understood that the pinion 4 could be turned manually in a direction opposite to the dispensing direction 'X' in order to retract the pawl 2.

The pawl 2 is thus reciprocable in opposite directions in one of which it can dispense a cigarette.

It will be understood too that although a pack has been described as being insertable in the container, the cigarettes could be taken from the pack before being loaded into the container.

The last cigarette in the container is dispensed in the same way as the others, except that as there are no other cigarettes to hold it, it comes out at an angle as shown in Figure 7 and the container may require to be tilted in order to engage a cigarette with the pawl.

Referring now to Figures 8 to 12, the embodiment shown comprises a container 20 in which the apparatus comprises a reciprocable member in the form of a pawl 21 having teeth 22 at its lower (as viewed) end which is pivoted at its upper end along axis to a movable device which is part of a lid 23. The lid part 23 is hinged to an upper container part by a hinge 24. Biassing means in the form of a spring 25 acts to urge the lid part 23, in a direction to close the container.

The lid part 23 is snap-engaged with a lower container part by a pin 26 in the lower container part 2 which engages in a notch 27 in an overlapping part of the upper part of the container.

The container also has a hinged cover 28 an edge of which mates with an edge of the lid part 23.

The pawl 21 is of U- or stirrup shape so that it has two parallel limbs joined by a web which has the teeth 22 for engaging a cigarette. Each limb is pivoted to the cover part along the axis 24.

In use, a pack of cigarettes is opened and is placed in the interior of the container and the pawl 21 is inserted between the cigarettes and the inside of the pack. The lid part 23 and cover are closed so that the Figure 8 attitude is taken up.

Then to dispense a cigarette, a tail or extension 29 of the lid part is manually moved anti-clockwise in the direction of the arrow 'T' (Figure 11) and a cigarette between the limbs of the pawl 21 is raised out of the now open container so that it can be removed. The last cigarette is removed in a similar way after tilting the pack (as in the first embodiment) to ensure that the cigarette is engaged by the teeth. As in the first embodiment, the cigarettes could be piaced directly in the container minus their original pack.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus for dispensing elongate objects from a container, characterised by a reciprocable device which can engage an elongate object, is movable in one direction to deliver the engaged elongate object from the container and is movable in the opposite direction for engaging another elongate object prior to dispensing that object.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that there is a movable device operatively connected with the reciprocable device for reciprocating that device.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterised in that the movable device comprises a member which is turnable about an axis substantially at right angles to the direction of reciprocation of the reciprocable device.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterised in that the member comprises a rotatable pawl which engages a rack, and in that the reciprocable device is connected with the rack.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterised in that the container has a closure which is hinged to the container and in that the reciprocable device engages the closure and moves it in a direction to open the container for dispensing an elongate object when the reciprocable device moves in the one direction.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterised in that there is biassing means which tends to urge the closure in a direction to close the container, the force of the biassing means being overcome by the reciprocable means moving in the one direction.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterised in that the member comprises a closure pivoted to the lid and to the reciprocable member.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the reciprocable member has a serrated part for engaging an elongate object.

9. Apparatus for dispensing elongate objects from a container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in any of the accompanying drawings.