JPH07137775A - Improved article distribution device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a device for dispensing articles which can be easily used by elderly persons, physically weak persons or physically handicapped persons, and single articles can be dispensed by placing the articles from a holding position to a dispensing position by the activation of the device. CONSTITUTION: This device for dispensing articles comprises a dispensing element 34 which is of such a size that can be hard held and is slidably attached to a housing 31 and a zone 34 for dispensing articles 36. The dispensing element 34 has, at a reference position, a next article 36a to be dispensed placed in a slit 45 between parts 43, 44 of the dispensing element 34 and also placed, while being engaged with a part 46 of the housing 31. When a user presses an activation part 42 to move upwards, the article 36a moves sidewards to drop into the zone 35, and a part 47 of the element 34 moves to a position for closing the lower end of a passage 38. The element 34 has an offset part 48 coupled to the parts 43, 44 on a side of the slit 45. When the element 34 can no longer be pushed upwards, it is urged by a spring which restores the element 34 to the reference position, so that next an article 36b at a lower end of the passage 38 is to be dispensed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an article dispensing device. According to one aspect of the invention, an article dispenser includes an article store and a dispenser operable to dispense the article from the store, the actuation of the dispenser moving the article from a holding position to a dispense position. Arranged to move. The dispensing device has a first portion and a second portion that receive the article in the holding position, and the movement of the first portion and the second portion moves the article to the dispensing position. When the article is in the holding position, the first
There may be a lost motion connection between the first part and the second part so that the second part is moved only by the dispensing movement of the part. There may be a device that disturbs the items in the store. The agitator may be operated by the dispenser. A connection between the agitator and the dispenser arranged to actuate the agitator by actuation of the dispenser to dispense an article and movement of the dispenser to a position to receive the next article to be dispensed. There may be parts. The connecting part may have a rack and a toothed wheel.

The storage section may have a storage area with an outlet passage arranged to reach the holding position and receive the article in a desired direction. The disturbing device may comprise a rotating device having an element extending to the reservoir. The rotating device may have an element extending into the outlet passage in the storage area adjacent to the inlet. The storage area may have a wall that is sloped towards the inlet and the element moves within the storage area adjacent to the wall. The device may have a housing with peripherally configured corners and the dispensing device has actuating devices at the corners. A safety device may be provided that is movable between an inoperative position in which actuation of the dispenser is resisted and an actuated position in which the dispenser is operable. There may be a device releasably holding the safety device in the inoperative position. There may be a device for releasably holding the safety device in the actuated position.
The device has a safety device having a housing and a member movably supported in the housing and is sized to be held by hand. According to another aspect of the invention, an article dispenser includes an article store, a device operable to dispense an article from the store, and a device for counting the number of actions in response to actuation of the dispenser. The counting device can only be activated when dispensing the articles, and actuation of the dispensing device moves the articles from the holding position to the dispensing position.

The dispensing device includes first and second portions that receive an article to be dispensed in a holding position, and the second portion moves with the first portion only when the article is received between the first and second portions. Thus, with a lost motion connection between the first and second parts, the counting device is responsive to movement of the second part. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for dispensing articles includes a container for articles, a housing for receiving the vessels, a device associated with the housing and operable to dispense articles, and the housing until all articles have been dispensed. A device that resists removal of the container. The resistance device is
A housing-container cooperation device may be provided for receiving the container in the housing. The cooperating device has first and second formations of the container and cooperates respectively with the first and second formations in the housing, by engagement of the first formation by receipt of the container, The second housing forming part is moved by cooperating movement with the second container forming part to actuate the dispensing device to resist removal of the container and dispense all articles. Second
It may be moved out of cooperation with the container forming part. The first container forming part is movable between an operative position in which it can cooperate with the first housing forming part and an inactive position, and the first container forming part is
The engagement of the first forming portion moves to the inoperative position.
The first container forming part may be supported by two stabilizers so that it can move between an operative position and an inactive position. The ejection device may have a spring device which is biased by the receipt of the container in the housing.

According to a further aspect of the invention, an article dispensing apparatus includes a container for articles, a housing for receiving the vessels, a device associated with the housing and operable for dispensing articles, the containers having outlets, outlet closures. The housing and the container have a cooperating device that releases the outlet upon receipt of the container in the housing. The closure is a flexible membrane coupled to the member that engages the housing to withdraw the membrane from the outlet upon insertion of the container into the housing. The closure is a flexible membrane and the housing is
It has a device operable to cut the membrane and move the cut membrane from the outlet by insertion of the container into the housing.
The outlet has four sides, the membrane extends beyond the sides of the outlet, and the device cuts the membrane along the three sides and outwardly to move the cutting membrane into the recess. To extrude the membrane along the four sides and to the sides. The device according to the invention comprises
Have one or more drawings. The invention may be carried out in various ways, and particular embodiments with possible variants are described by way of example with reference to the somewhat schematic drawing attached.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Generally, an article distributing device is, for example, an elderly person,
Arranged for ease of use for the frail or handicapped and for dispensing actuation of a single item. A counter may be placed that indicates the number of items that have been or have not yet been dispensed. A replaceable hopper that loads the device can be used. The device has a reservoir that limits the article to a single plane, the reservoir having an outlet passageway configured to receive the article in a desired orientation. In operation, the articles to be dispensed move from the holding or standby position to the dispensing position. In the first embodiment, for example, tablets and pills (table
t), devices for dispensing capsules or other solid drug articles 3
0 has a housing 31 containing a dispensing mechanism 32 and a hopper 33 for introducing the articles to be dispensed into the device. Figure 1
As shown in, the device 30 has a size that can be held by hand. The device has a dispensing element 34 slidably mounted on a housing 31 and a zone 35 for dispensing articles 36. A storage area 37 for receiving the hopper 33 is inside the housing 31. The distribution outlet passage 38 is located in the area 3
2 from the lower end of FIG.
As shown in FIG.
There is a. Region 37 has parallel walls 40, 41 spaced to limit stored article 36 to a single plane.

Distributing element 34 has an actuating portion 42 (FIG. 2) which is located at a corner of the housing in a reference position. In this position, the next article 36a to be dispensed is 2 of the dispensing element 34.
It is placed in the gap 45 between the two parts 43, 44 and in engagement with the part 46 of the housing 31. When the user presses the actuating portion 42 with a suitable surface and slides the element over the housing (FIGS. 3, 4), the article 3
6a moves sideways to fall into zone 35, and during movement of the article, part 47 of element 34 moves to a position that closes the lower end of passageway 38 (FIG. 4). Element 34
Has an offset protion 48 on one side of the gap 45, which is connected to the portions 43, 44. Element 34 is
When the element 34 is no longer pushed upwards, the article 36b at the lower end of the passage 38 is biased to the reference position by a spring 120 (not shown in some drawings) that returns the element to the reference position. Move to gap 45 for distribution by subsequent actuation of section 42. The device 30 preferably has a counter or indicating mechanism 50 for indicating how many articles have been dispensed from the initial number of articles in the storage area 37 or how many remain in the area 37. . To this end, a wheel 51, which rotates about an axis 52, is mounted in the housing 31, which wheel 51 is connected to the part 43 and is slidably guided in the housing 31 with an element 54. There are numbered peripheral teeth 53 that can cooperate together, so that each upward movement of the portion 42 causes the wheel 51 to rotate one tooth. A window 56 in the wall 57 of the housing 31 indicates either the number of articles dispensed or the number of articles remaining in the area 37. The number of teeth 53 corresponds to the number of articles initially in the area 37.

Actuating portion 42 when there is no article in area 37 is undesirable for the counter mechanism to be actuated. Therefore, a lost motion connection is provided between the parts 43,44. Portion 48 is omitted and element 34 is
It has a recess 58 in which a tongue 59 extending from the portion 43 and having a lip 59a can slide. Lip 5 at the reference position
9a is at the upper end of the recess 58, and when the article 36a is in the gap 45, distribution occurs because the article 36a is at the juncture between the portions 43,44. Then part 42,
When the gap 45 is emptied by the upward movement of 44, the portion 43
Does not move upwards. One reason for the gap 45 being empty is as shown in FIG.
6 is blocked or clogged so that it does not pass through the passage 38 continuously. The article discharge mechanism 60 has a housing 31.
And has two wheels 61 and 62 rotatably mounted in the housing 31. The wheels 61 and 62 have cooperating toothed peripheral portions 61a and 62.
a. The wheel 62 is a toothed rack 6 of an extension 65 of a part 42 which is slidably guided in the housing 31.
4 has coaxial teeth 63 cooperating with it.

The wheels 61 and 62 support a plurality of (three in this case) pegs 66 that are adjacent to the periphery of the wheels and extend parallel to the axis of rotation. The actuation of the portion 42 causes the wheels 61, 62 to rotate in opposite directions and the one or more pegs 66 to move inwardly of the surfaces 39, 39a in the storage area 37, disturbing the article 36, 36a to the gap 4
Can be moved to 5. The rack 64 and the teeth 63 are
So that the teeth 63 rotate only by the upward movement of the rack 64,
It has a one-way ratchet connection. Other devices for disturbing the articles may be provided. The hopper 33 has a housing 31 so that the hopper 33 cannot be easily tampered with after insertion.
And the hopper is configured to detect tampering prior to insertion. Thus, the flat hopper has opposing walls 67, 68, a top wall 69 and side walls 70, 71 that slidably engage the housing walls 40, 41. The wall 71 is inclined towards the wall 70 at the corner 71a so as to direct the article towards the outlet 72. Before the hopper is inserted into the housing 31, the outlet 72
It is closed by a stripping tape 73 that extends partially along the wall 70. When the hopper is pressed against the upper end of the housing 31, the boss 74 is placed in the recess 75 adjacent to the upper end of the housing, and the movement of the hopper causes the tape 73 to be stripped from the outlet 72. 14, 15, 16, articles can be moved from the hopper to the lower end of region 37, the hopper occupying the upper end.

The inner surface 40a of the housing wall 40 has a wall 70
It has a keyway 77 that can cooperate with the boss 78 of the. If the boss 78 is not in the correct position, the hopper cannot be inserted into the housing. The hopper 31 has an inner surface 40 when pressed.
It has a tongue 79 that can be pushed down by hand and can be inserted into the keyway 80 of a. A device is provided that causes the hopper 33 to project or partially project from the housing 31 when all articles have been dispensed. As mentioned, the number of teeth on the counter mechanism wheel 51 corresponds to the number of articles in the hopper before insertion into the housing. Boss 7 by inserting hopper
8 is a ring 8 attached to the counter wheel 51
2 through the gap 81 (FIG. 7). The plunger 83, supported by the moveable arm 84, engages the boss 85 of the ring 82 and the ring rotates to the position of FIG. 18 to prevent upward movement of the hopper, thus distributing the hopper to the rest of the article. Can not be removed until the gap 8
1 (FIG. 19) is again above the boss 78. Each arm 8
4 has a flexible portion 84a, which is rotatable at a predetermined end of the support 84b, so as to operate as an over-center mechanism in an upper stable position (FIG. 20) and a lower stable position (FIGS. 18 and 19). Is composed of. Insertion of the hopper causes the arm 84 to move upwards above the two stable states under engagement with the portions 83,85.

The spring 86 engages between the hopper and the housing and is compressed by the insertion of the hopper so as to move the empty hopper upward by the spring 86 when the gap 81 is again above the boss 78, The boss 78 passes through the gap 81. Furthermore, the hopper identification key 91 of the arm 84 cooperates with the keyway 92 on the inner surface 40a. Arm 84 is in two stable upper positions so that when the hopper is reinserted into the housing, plunger 83 does not engage boss 85 and spring 8
6 re-projects the empty hopper. 21-24, the configuration 87 is mounted on the hopper,
It has a U-shaped element 87a with arms 88,89. The arm 88 can be bent at the juncture 90 between the arms 88,89. When the hopper is inserted into the housing, the arm 88 moves slightly towards the arm 89, the arms 88, 89 pass through the gap 81, and then the arm 88 engages the ring 82, as shown in FIG. So that the hopper cannot be removed for
Move away from arm 89. Since the ring rotates step by step during use, the pip 93 moves the arm 88 to the arm 8
9 and the arms are held in this position by the catch 94 so that when the gap 81 returns to its initial position (FIG. 24), the arms 88, 89 can pass through the cap 81,
The spring 86 can cause the hopper to project. When the hopper is reinserted, it projects again. Arms 88, 89
Forms a configuration with two stable positions (FIGS. 21, 24).

In the apparatus of FIGS. 25-28, the hopper 33
Has an opening 96 through which the protruding latch 98 can slide. When inserting the hopper, a latch 98 at one end of the opening engages a shoulder 97 at one end of the cam surface 99 of the ring 82 to hold the ring 82 in the hopper holding position (FIG. 26). Move to. As wheel 51 rotates during use, latch 98 engages cam surface 99 and moves to the other end of the opening when device 30 is empty, at which point spring 86 causes the hopper to project. When the empty hopper is reinserted, the latch 98 does not engage the shoulder 97 and the hopper projects again. Thus, the latch 98 has two actuated positions at the end of the opening. 29 and 30 to 3
3 shows another device for opening the hopper with the outlet face closed by the sealing metal foil 100. The outlet of the hopper is formed by a wall 101 surrounded by a groove 102. Open at the ends and walls 104,10
A generally rectangular device 103 having 5,106,107 is mounted in the housing. Wall 104,105,1
The upper edge of 06 is formed as a cutter that cuts the foil when inserting the hopper. The edge of the wall 107 is convex, which presses the foil which is cut by one of the three sides into one side of the groove (FIG. 33). When the hopper is inserted, the walls 104-107 are in the groove 102.

The device 30 is preferably resistant to undesirable use to some extent, or is not handleable by children.
As shown in FIG. 34, one side portion of the housing 31 is provided with a trigger-shaped portion 110 that rotates at one end portion 111 and is gripped during use. Opening 11 in wall 40
A movable locking member 112 projecting inside 3 is slidably attached. The member 112 is provided with a tab 114 that prevents movement of the member 112 within the opening 113.
A latch, shown generally at 115, connects the trigger 110 and the portion 42 such that when the trigger 110 is in the nominal unpushed condition, the portion 42 is inoperative to dispense the articles. When removed by pulling tab 114, member 1
12 can move in the opening 113. The trigger is
Notches 116 and 117 are provided at two intervals. The tab 114 has been removed and the member 112 has been opened 11
3 at the lower end, the trigger 110 can be pushed and pulled to release the latch 115 and the member 42
Can be operated as in FIG. The requirement for pushing and pulling the trigger 110 is such that it cannot be handled by children.

When the trigger 110 is in the non-pushed state and the member 112 moves to the notch 116 as shown in FIG. 35, the member 42 cannot operate. The trigger is pushed and pulled, as shown in FIG.
The member 1 to hold the trigger in the push-pull state like C.
When the 12 is moved to the notch 117, the member 42 can be activated,
It will be handled by a child, but for users who cannot or cannot reliably pull on the trigger 110 due to age or weakness.
It will be noted that the actuating portion 42 is at a corner of the housing 31 so that the housing 31 can be placed on any side without actuating the portion 42. The slidable part is guided by the walls of the housing, but some walls are omitted for clarity. Zone 35 has a transparent wall for viewing the dispensed articles and has one or more openings 35a (FIG. 1) through which the dispensed articles can be removed by operating device 30. ,
For example, the article can be dropped onto a given plate or passed directly through the user's mouth. Article rest zone 3 if desired
5 may be omitted and the article may fall directly from the device 30.

The positions of the keys 78 and keyways 77 are different for different hoppers, and each housing only cooperates with the hopper with the exact key 78. Different keys 78
The hoppers with are loaded with different articles 36. A user having a particular housing 31 can only properly accommodate a housing having an associated key 78.
As shown in FIG. 4, springs can help dispense the articles 36a. The second embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 36 to 60. The same components as those of the first embodiment remain the same. The device 30 has a housing 31 with a dispensing mechanism 32 and a hopper 33 for introducing the articles to be dispensed into the device. In this embodiment, the distribution zone 35 is installed in a distribution element 34 which is slidably mounted in the housing 31. As in the first embodiment, the storage area 37 for receiving the hopper 33 is inside the housing 31. The distribution outlet passage 38 extends from the lower end of the region 37, and the side face of the region 37 has walls 39 and 39a inclined toward the passage 38 as shown in FIG. Area 37 has parallel walls 40, 41 spaced to limit stored article 36 to a single plane.

The distribution element 34 is installed at the base of the housing, as shown in FIG. When the user presses the device down on the surface, this element contracts into the housing. Shuttle (s) installed in a groove on one wall of the housing
huttle) 123 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
Has a follower 125 that extends into a groove 126 in the upstanding wall 65 of the element 34 (see FIGS. 43-46, 47). The article 36a falls to the position of the gap 45 between the shuttle 123 and the free shuttle 122 biased to the position of FIG. 37 by a lightweight spring (not shown). Upon raising the device, the element 34 returns to its initial position by a spring (not shown). Shuttle driver 124 is shuttle 123
To the initial position (FIG. 39). When the article 36a continuously falls to the position shown in FIG.
2 and is urged to move the side portion to the discharge position in FIG. The final slight contraction of the shuttle 123 caused by the upper crank end of the groove 126 allows the article to drop through the dispensing zone and into the dispensing element 34, from which the article is struck by the user's hand, mouth or other. Can be tilted to the receiving part.

When the article 36a is trapped in the position shown in FIG. 41, the spring 120 compresses, preventing damage to the trapped article. The counting mechanism of this embodiment is shown in FIG. Element 54 has a hole 76 that engages a peg at the rear of free shuttle 122, which peg projects through a slot in the housing wall. The device is activated and the article 3
When 6a are dispensed successively, the element 54 moves to the right (FIG. 48) and the ratchet arm of the element 54 engages the ratchet teeth 53 of the counterwheel 51. The wheel axis 52 has a ratchet mechanism which prevents the counter wheel 51 from reversing when the device is next actuated and the element 54 is moved to the left. If the article 36 is not dispensed because the article does not fall into place or is clogged, the shuttle 1
22 does not move and the counter wheel does not move forward. The number of articles dispensed is seen through the window 56 in the housing 57. A device for preventing breakage or clogging in this embodiment is shown in FIGS. The upstanding wall of the element 34 ends in two parallel racks 64 with ratchet teeth. These are drive wheels 61, 62 having vanes 66.
Acting with a toothed wheel 63 extending through the housing wall, the vanes 66 rotate in the direction shown when the device is operated, moving the article in a generally upward direction. The reversal of rotation is achieved by fingers 6 provided in the housing wall.
7 (FIG. 50). The vanes are set in a shallow well in one wall of the housing and are shaped so that the article cannot be trapped between the vanes and the sides of the housing.

In this embodiment, the holding of the hopper is as shown in FIG.
3 to 56. The boss 78 passes through the gap 81 when the hopper 33 is inserted into the housing. Bi-stably mounted peg 98 mounted in formation 121 of hopper
Engage rotationally the shoulder 97 of the counter wheel 51 to lock the boss 78 in the ring 82.
As the counter wheel 51 rotates during use, the peg 98 is moved by the cam surface 99 to the second stable position. The hopper is pushed out by the spring when the counter wheel 51 completes rotation and the boss 78 is again aligned with the gap 81. By reinserting the hopper with pegs 98 in this second position, contact with shoulder 97 does not occur and counter wheel 51 does not rotate to a position that confines boss 78. Therefore, the hopper is immediately ejected. As in the first embodiment, the trigger device 110 must be depressed before the dispensing mechanism can operate. In this embodiment, the locking mechanism has a slidable locking member 112 (FIG. 57) that can engage the notch 116 to prevent movement and prevent it from being handled by children. As an alternative, for those who find squeeze movement difficult, the trigger can be locked in the operative position by engaging member 112 with notch 117, as shown in FIG.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an article distribution device.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of this example showing the distribution of articles.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the present embodiment showing distribution of articles.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of this example showing the distribution of articles.

FIG. 5 is a modified view similar to FIG.

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an unjamming mechanism.

8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a counter mechanism.

10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 10-10 in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the operation of the non-clogging mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing the operation of the non-clogging mechanism.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing the operation of the non-clogging mechanism.

FIG. 14 shows the insertion of the hopper.

FIG. 15 shows the insertion of the hopper.

FIG. 16 shows the insertion of the hopper.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing insertion of a hopper.

FIG. 18 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 shows the interaction between the hopper and the counter mechanism.

FIG. 20 shows the interaction between the hopper and the counter mechanism.

FIG. 21 shows another form of interaction between the hopper and the counter mechanism.

FIG. 22 shows another form of interaction between the hopper and the counter mechanism.

FIG. 23 shows another form of interaction between the hopper and the counter mechanism.

FIG. 24 shows another form of interaction between the hopper and the counter mechanism.

FIG. 25 shows another form of interaction between the hopper and the counter mechanism.

FIG. 26 shows another form of interaction between the hopper and the counter mechanism.

FIG. 27 shows another form of interaction between the hopper and the counter mechanism.

FIG. 28 shows another form of interaction between the hopper and the counter mechanism.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a hopper and a counter.

FIG. 30 shows the operation of the foil cutting unit.

FIG. 31 shows the operation of the foil cutting section.

FIG. 32 shows the operation of the foil cutting section.

FIG. 33 shows the operation of the foil cutting section.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of a device with a lock.

FIG. 35 shows the actuation of the lock.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 37 is a partial sectional view showing a distribution element according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a partial sectional view showing a distribution element according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 39 is a partial sectional view showing a distribution element according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 40 is a partial sectional view showing a distribution element according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 41 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a distribution element according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 42 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a distribution element according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 43 is a partial sectional view showing a distribution element according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 44 is a partial sectional view showing a distribution element according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 45 is a partial sectional view showing a distribution element according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 46 is a partial sectional view showing a distribution element according to the second embodiment.

47 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 32-32 of FIG. 43.

FIG. 48 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the counter mechanism.

49 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 34-34 of FIG. 48.

FIG. 50 is a sectional view showing the operation of the non-clogging mechanism.

FIG. 51 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the non-clogging mechanism.

FIG. 52 is a sectional view showing the operation of the non-clogging mechanism.

FIG. 53 shows details of the hopper holding interaction between the hopper and the counter wheel.

FIG. 54 shows details of the hopper holding interaction between the hopper and the counter wheel.

FIG. 55 shows details of the hopper holding interaction between the hopper and the counter wheel.

FIG. 56 shows details of the hopper holding interaction between the hopper and the counter wheel.

FIG. 57 shows details of the trigger lock.

FIG. 58 shows the details of the trigger lock.

FIG. 59 shows the details of the trigger lock.

FIG. 60 shows details of the trigger lock.

[Explanation of symbols]

 30 ... Article distributor 31 ... Housing 32 ... Dispensing mechanism 33 ... Hopper 34 ... Distributing element 35 ... Zone 36 ... Article 37 ... Storage area 38 ... Distributing outlet passage 42 ... Operating part 110 ... Trigger

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Paul James Fearis London London W 148 14 8 Alt West West Kensington Evonmore Road 55 Flat 3 (72) Inventor Richard Paul Hayes Punkhurst England London Es W6 6 LPE Club Tree Lane 51 (72) Inventor John Henry Marley United Kingdom Liverpool El 18 3 El Jade Louise Park 20 (72) Inventor Anil Kumar Ryan United Kingdom Sally Katie 6 7 Ale X Surbiton Worthington Road 16

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An actuation of a dispensing device comprising: i) a container for an article; ii) a housing for receiving the container and having an article storage area; iii) a dispensing device operable for dispensing the article from the storage area. Is arranged to move the article from the holding position to the dispensing position, and iv) has a device for counting the number of actuations corresponding to the actuation of the dispensing device, the counting device only when dispensing the item. An article dispenser having a device which, when activated, v) resists removal of the container from the housing until all articles have been dispensed. 2. The dispensing device has a first portion and a second portion,
Receiving the article in the holding position between the first and second parts,
The movement of the first portion and the second portion moves the article to the dispensing position, and the lost motion connection between the first portion and the second portion is provided, and the article is held only by the dispensing movement of the first portion. The article dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the second portion is moved when in the position. 3. The article dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage area has an outlet passage to the holding position, the outlet passage arranged to receive the article in a desired orientation. 4. A device for disturbing articles in a storage area actuated by actuation of a dispensing device, the disturbing device comprising a rotating device having an element extending into the outlet passage in the storage area adjacent to the inlet. The article distribution device according to claim 1. 5. An article dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a safety device movable between an inoperative position where the operation of the dispensing apparatus is resisted and an operative position where the operation of the dispensing apparatus is possible. 6. An article dispenser according to claim 5, including a device for releasably retaining the safety device in the inoperative or activated position. 7. The dispensing device includes first and second portions for receiving articles to be dispensed in the holding position and the second portion together with the first portion only when the articles are received between the first and second portions. The article dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the counting device is responsive to movement of the second portion, having a lost motion connection between the first and second portions for movement. 8. The detachment resistance device includes a housing and container cooperating device for receiving the container in the housing, wherein the first and second forming portions of the container are first and second in the housing. Cooperating respectively with the forming part and by engaging the first forming part by receiving the container, move the second housing forming part in co-operation with the second container forming part and resist removal of the container. 2. The article dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second housing forming section is moved out of cooperation with the second container forming section by actuation of the dispensing apparatus to dispense all articles. 9. The first container forming part has a first container forming part as a first part.
Supported by two stabilizers for movement between an operative position that can cooperate with the housing forming part and an inactive position, the first container forming part prior to removal of the container from the housing. 9. The article dispensing device of claim 8, moving to. 10. The article dispensing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the resistance device comprises a projecting device operable to project the container from the housing when disabling dispensing of all articles. 11. The article dispensing apparatus of claim 8 including a spring device biased by receipt of the container in the housing. 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container of articles has an outlet and an outlet closure, and the housing and container have cooperating devices that open the outlet upon receipt of the container in the housing. 13. The closure is a flexible membrane, and the housing cuts the membrane by inserting the container into the housing, moves the membrane through the outlet, and pushes the membrane into the recess of the container. 13. The article dispensing device of claim 12, having an actuatable device. 14. The outlet has four sides, the membrane extends beyond the sides of the outlet, and the device cuts the membrane along three sides and on the outside to cut the cut membrane. 14. The article dispensing device of claim 13, wherein the membrane is extruded along and to the four sides to move into the recess.