EP0859725B1 - Device for dispensing lozenges and capsules - Google Patents

Abstract

In its most advantageous embodiment, the device is built into a cardboard container (12) having a pre-cut corner and a bottom wall with a rectangular cut-out. The device consists of a plastic element having two main parts, i.e. a stationary part and a flexible movable part fitted together in the dispensing position. The materials to be dispensed are inserted and the lid is closed, and the resulting closed receptacle assembly has a storage space in its upper portion and mutually engaging dispensing members in its lower portion. Once the pre-cut corner has been removed by pressing sideways on the movable part (18), an object (15) partially isolated in a dispensing space is released.

Description

The invention relates to a dispenser of objects one by one or n à n such as, sweets, lozenges, capsules and other objects of the same shape fitting on a packaging box or fitting into such a container, where n is a number 1, 2, 3 depending on the size of a room and that of the objects.

It is known from patent DE n ° 3 741 960 a distributor of tablets containing a case equipped with a reserve of storage of a room normally in communication with the reserve and exit to the outside closed by a body carried by a tongue. The tongue is movably mounted in the box fixed and is brought back to the starting position by its front part which abuts on an opposite side wall of the box and the end of which is curved. Positioning flat of the curved part tends to exert on the tongue a force backwards forcing the tab to return alone in the initial position. Such a device malfunctions because the return of the tongue to the rest position does not take place; the friction of the end of the tongue against the wall of the box opposes the removal of the tongue under the sole strength of it which, from the curved position, has difficulty in return to the right position. In this case there is no reciprocity because the friction is very important. He has tendency to wedge the tongue against the ends of the vertical walls of the room and on the other hand the room open on the parts in sliding contact means that if tablet waste occurs, the device jams.

Patent EP 161 538 describes a tablet dispenser composed of two half housings moving one inside the other causing the closure of a room previously in contact with a reserve and the opening on the outside of the room previously closed on the outside. The half housings are brought back into position under the action of a leaf spring leaning on lateral faces opposite each of the housings. As before, the room open to the parts in sliding contact means that if tablet waste, the device jams. These devices complicated due to the large number of corner pieces and nooks and crannies. The preamble of claim 1 is based on this state of the art.

The distributor, according to the invention by its simplicity, is made, in its most economical configuration, of a single piece, molded plastic, preferably incorporable into a traditional packaging (cardboard box, iron, plastic, glass). It can also be a box on its own. He distributes larger objects with more tolerance as well as objects of various shapes, due to its reliability and ease of operation. Its mass is reduced to a minimum when it is incorporated into a box. So a system in a box of sixty per cent by twenty millimeters weighs only six grams. It is obtained in its simplest form by a simple mold, without drawer. It allows associated, with a box in cardboard for example to keep all the benefits associated with it material, low price, good printing support, easy recycling, inviolability solutions allowing the economy of a "Blister".

The invention will be better understood using the drawings which represent nonlimiting examples of embodiment of the invention.

Figures 1 to 11 show sections of the distributors according to the invention, the second branch of which is divides into a horizontal plate and a shutter horizontal.

Figures 12 to 19 show sections of the distributor for the second branch is divided into one horizontal plate and a vertical shutter.

Figures 20 to 39 show sections of the distributors whose second branch ends with a stop vertical extended by an inclined plate.

Figures 40 to 42 show sections of the distributor showing various forms of variant of container.

In order to remedy the aforementioned problems, the invention offers a distributor of objects, for example lozenges or capsules, with a storage reserve, a room distribution, means to guide objects from the storage reserve towards the distribution chamber, as well as mobile distribution means by compared to the storage reserve moving from a first communication position of the room with the reserve and closing the chamber out to a second closed position of the room with the reserve and opening the room to the outside. According to the invention, a flexible blade forming only one piece with the reserve storage system has a first branch, one of which end is fixed as well as a second branch, and the means distribution are arranged at the free end of the blade flexible.

The invention also provides a package, which includes a case in which there is a distributor according to the invention. Advantageous features of this dispenser and this packaging are apparent from the subclaims.

The invention therefore relates to an object dispenser one by one or n to n from a storage reserve 1 to a room 4 then outwards characterized in that it is constituted by a flexible blade 8 cooperating with the chamber 4 to open and / or close access, and this blade 8 is made up a first branch 9 whose end is fixed relative to to the chamber and a second branch 10 whose end supports distribution means 8D, 8F, 13, 14, 51, 53, 55 objects 15, so that pressure is exerted perpendicularly on the first branch 9 of the blade 8 displaces the said means of distribution from a first communication position of room 4 with reserve 1 and chamber 4 closed to the outside, to one second chamber 4 closed position with reserve 1 and opening of bedroom 4 to the outside.

The two branches 9, 10 of the blade 8 form approximately the two arms of a square; the first one branch preferably has a convex rounding 9 towards the interior and is connected to the second branch 10 by an elbow concave 8B inwards so as to give the blade 8 a stiffness whose elements take positions precise opening and closing of room 4 during change to second position by pressing first branch and / or on the elbow 8B and which return in the first position for closing and opening the chamber when the pressure has stopped. The first branch can also be right.

selon la première variante (FIG 1 à FIG 11) La chambre est délimitée latéralement du côté de la lame par une cloison latérale verticale fixe 6D et du côté opposé à la lame par une cloison latérale 6E arrondie convexe vers l'intérieur de la chambre faisant un angle d'environ 45° avec la verticale en partie haute 30 de la chambre et étant sensiblement verticale en partie basse 31.

les moyens de distribution sont constitués par la seconde branche 10 de la lame 8 qui se divise en une plaquette horizontale 8F d'une longueur égale à la largeur de la chambre 4 et en un obturateur horizontal 8D décalé verticalement de la hauteur de la chambre par rapport à la plaquette 8F, ayant une longueur du double de la largeur de la chambre et comportant une découpe 13 placée en regard en dessous de la plaquette horizontale 8F, de sorte que, lors du passage de première en seconde position, la plaquette horizontale 8F ferme l'entrée haute 16 de la chambre 4 en repoussant les objets excédentaires vers la réserve 1 et l'obturateur 8D présente en face de la sortie de la chambre la découpe 13 qui laisse échapper vers l'extérieur le ou les objets retenus dans la chambre. (FIG 5, 6, 8, 11)

Objects are preferably placed in a layer over an object before entering the upper entrance to the room.

according to the first variant (FIG 1 to FIG 11) The chamber is delimited laterally on the side of the blade by a fixed vertical lateral partition 6D and on the side opposite to the blade by a rounded lateral partition 6E convex towards the interior of the chamber making an angle of approximately 45 ° with the vertical in the upper part 30 of the chamber and being substantially vertical in the lower part 31.

the distribution means consist of the second branch 10 of the blade 8 which divides into a horizontal plate 8F of a length equal to the width of the chamber 4 and into a horizontal shutter 8D vertically offset from the height of the chamber by compared to the plate 8F, having a length of twice the width of the chamber and comprising a cutout 13 placed opposite below the horizontal plate 8F, so that, when changing from first to second position, the horizontal plate 8F closes the upper inlet 16 of the chamber 4 by pushing the excess objects towards the reserve 1 and the shutter 8D presents, opposite the outlet of the chamber, the cutout 13 which lets out the object or objects retained in the bedroom. (FIG 5, 6, 8, 11)

The explanation of the distributor refers to the most simple in the first and second position (FIG 1, 2, 4, 10) and (FIG 5, 6, 8, 11) where the distributor is represented vertically, the force of gravity attracting objects naturally down.

According to an advantageous example, the case is made of a set of two pieces one standard and usual a case in cardboard or box which is materialized on the plan succinctly by lines in strong lines called "ghost" and in this example, it has a pre-cut corner (FIG 2) and (FIG 6) making this packaging for sale inviolable but in leaving after tearing of it access to the system. The case 12 constitutes the reserve 1 completely closed and glued after incorporation of objects to be distributed. It has at its base an exit 17. The case contains the second part obtained by molding; this second piece has two parts main one static or body having the function of channel objects widthwise into a single thickness of the reserve 1 down in room 4 where they pass before being one by one or n to n by the action of a movable blade 8 by deformation, released towards exit 17.

The body consists of the ramp 2A, the chute 3, the bedroom 4 and the recess in a partition participating in the distribution. Objects 15 evolve from their reserve of storage 1, towards exit 17 of the chamber channeled into a direction (FIG 1) between two front and rear walls, one belonging to the cardboard box the other to the body by 2A 2B and all the way in the other direction (FIG 2) by the partitions side 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D. The two side partitions making stretcher 6A in the upper part are provided to place manually or automatically the device in the box and wedge it once the case cover is closed. They give also rigidity to the whole.

The ramp 2A is formed by an inclined partition having the function of channeling the objects coming from reserve 1 and the put their thickness in a single layer between the wall 11 of the box and the wall 2B consisting of a plane occupying the remaining from the surface of the body.

The chute 3 is delimited by the side partitions 6B, 6C from the body. Its function is to channel the coming objects, if necessary, in wide and disordered flow of the ramp 2A towards the entrance to room 4. This is delimited also by the side partitions 6B, 6D, 6E and has the function not to contain in its space but with broadness only one or n objects; it has in its upper part a cutout 7 in order to pass a part of the blade. It is the transit area for objects. The recess 5 by the partition can contain the end of the movable part 8D, 8E, 8F of the blade 8 in second position. It has in its lower part by the thickness of the bottom plate a 2C slide to guide containing the displacement of the 8D end of the branch. The chute 3 and the chamber 4 are on the same plane of distribution and are the continuity of each other.

The second part of the molded part consists of the blade 8 (FIG 3, 7, 9, 10, 11), movable by bending by the property of its material, preferably plastic (polypropylene for example) and integral with the body. She has one width, thickness, material suitable for undergoing limited deformation without breaking. It includes a first 9 and a second branch 10 distinct. It is nested by concordance in the body and it opens chamber 4 in order to pass an object towards exit 17 and simultaneously by another of its part 8F close the entrance 16 of the room to or to the following objects.

The first branch 9 has a thin flat part and 8A convex curved extended by a concave 8B elbow on which manual pressure is exerted and which promotes deformation of the other part of the blade 8. Its function is to transmit its action to the other party and by its reaction of return the entire blade 8 to its initial position, the interior of the cutout 13 in abutment against the partition 6D. During his deformation, its convex curved part 8A develops so to allow a trajectory to the second part most possible parallel to the bottom of the case.

The second branch 10 of the blade 8 has a shape 8E, 8F composed of a vertical part 8E extended by a horizontal plate 8F. Its function is to close the room 4 while pushing the objects (FIG 6), or leave them enter (FIG 2). It has a cut 13 of dimensions P1 by P2 which by the displacement of the blade according to the limited stroke C of on either side of the end of the 6D partition, coincidence with exit 17 to let the object pass (FIG 6) or on the other side in the first position waiting; its flat and wide 8D end serves as a shutter. Passage 13 through dimension P1 contains the thickness of the partition 6D as well as the stroke C plus a low tolerance; the dimension P2 contains the distance H plus the thickness of the bottom 2B and benefits to pass behind this bottom (FIG 4) of the game functional given to the whole blade, so that it moves freely in the case.

During its manufacture, the blade is preferably molded in a position separated from the body such as that shown (FIG 3) in phantom so that after molding and after placing in situation (FIG 3, 9, 10, 11) the latent force is sufficient for each of its branches. So in his first standby position (FIG 2), the whole blade 8 by a branch 9 and elbow 8B reaction always returns to its initial position in abutment against wall 6D and reaction of the second branch 10 closes with the shutter 8D the output and in its displacement keeps a trajectory appreciably straight by the rotation and the deformation of the first branch due to its bending as well as the latent force of the second branch which by its predisposition makes it open. To keep the blade in the second dispensing position, we clip this element to make it larger than the passage authorized and force it when it is first set up in benefiting from the elasticity due to its material and its thinness; so for example the system can be integrated into the case in cardboard in working condition without risk of wrong way.

To operate the dispenser with objects in its reserve, we hold the box vertically sandwiched between two fingers index and thumb for example, objects go down by gravity down. They are through the ramp and chute channeled to the bedroom. The first object is naturally inside the room in support on the 8D shutter. With the middle finger just press the first branch and / or the elbow of the blade so that it allows, by bending in a rotary movement, a fast and continuous controlled trajectory of the second branch making it let the object pass while barring the passage, towards the room, to the next object. The object released passes through the exit hole. Once the pressure released the blade returns to its limited starting position in its recoil by the stop against the partition 6D, 8F leaving free the entrance to chamber 4 and the shutter 8D closing the hole Release. One or n new objects enter the room.

As a variant, the shutter is vertical 21 (FIG 12 to 19) and extends vertically over the height of the chamber 4 on the lateral front face of the chamber, having a length twice the width of the chamber and comprising a cutout. 14 placed adjacent to the horizontal plate 8F, so that when changing from first to second position the horizontal plate 8F closes the inlet 16 of the chamber by pushing the excess objects towards the reserve 1 and the shutter 21 present opposite the lateral outlet 17 from the chamber the cutout 14 which allows the object or objects retained in the chamber to escape towards the outside.

This solution illustrated by (FIG 12, 13, 15) in first closed position and the (FIG 16, 17, 19) in second opening position offers the possibility of an exit lateral; the cutout 13 on the blade has been removed and replaced by a vertical cutout 14 the shutter 8D is now located vertically on the end of the facing blade to the exit hole, for example made itself laterally on the cardboard case if applicable. A decrease in height of the partition 6E and here a reinforcing rib 18 allows the passage during operation of the shutter 8D; partition 2B towards the exit of the room ends with a slope 19 in order to orient the object 15 towards the lateral exit. The (FIG 14) represents the blade with dashed lines the blade in molding situation and in solid lines the blade in position after nesting in the body. By operating the blade behaves as in the first example described but the object comes out laterally. This solution is advantageous for the case where the reserve has only one thickness of object which allows for a more solid blade. A lamella making spring can be added on the first branch and / or the elbow to strengthen the reaction force if necessary the blade .

According to a second variant

(FIG 20 to 39) The chamber is delimited laterally on the side of the blade, by a fixed vertical lateral partition 6D extending at the top by a ceiling 40 extending the partition 6B and ending with a spout 41 covering the width of the chamber, the ceiling being inclined downwards in the direction of the spout, and on the side opposite to the blade by a rounded side wall concave towards the interior of the chamber, vertical at the end of the spout and ending in a point 45 in part bottom of the room by making an angle of the order of between 10 ° and 40 °, preferably 20 ° with the horizontal.

The distribution means consist of the second branch of the blade which ends in a vertical stop 50 extended by an inclined plate 51 having a length of the order of the width of the chamber so that when the blade is in the first position, the stop 50 is vertical in contact with the fixed vertical side wall 6D and the inclined plate 51 is in the extension of the tip 45 and constitutes the bottom of the chamber, the chamber then being open on the reserve and closed towards the outside, and so that when the blade is in the second position, the plate after being raised along the rounded partition 6C inside its concave part closes the upper entrance of the chamber in communication with the reserve by pushing back first the surplus objects towards the reserve while temporarily keeping one or more objects retained in the room, then released towards the outside while passing between the fixed horizontal partition 6D and l has a stop 50 through a cutout 53 made through the second branch of the blade at the rear of the plate 51.

The second branch is divided at the birth of the vertical stop into a plate 55 extending substantially horizontally the second branch and forming a fork with the plate 51 so that when the blade is in the second position, the stop 50 is between the plate and the plate and serves as a guide and support for the plate 51 . The vertical stop 50 and the plate 51 are connected by a plane inclined at approximately 45 ° relative to the vertical.

Partition 6B extends further down to form a the ceiling 40 covering the room which has an opening lateral 16 due to its overlap with the ceiling 40. The profile of the 2C slide is initially gently sloping to climb up to partition 6C; there must be a distance between the plate 51 and the plate so that at the end of travel C (FIG 27), the plate 51 obstructs the entry 16 of the chamber 4 and that the volume 5 below the tip 45 receives the end of the plate 55 in maximum stroke.

The blade is in the first standby position once its end is mounted inside the body (FIG 29) forced to set up as before.

The blade is molded in the situation in phantom (FIG 28) in order to facilitate molding but also to obtain a force latent by its branches caused by its position of distribution (materialized in solid lines) due to the elasticity of it.

The shape of the branch blade is chosen in depending on its rigidity and the 2C slide, so that when the blade is pushed the second branch 10 follows first time a relatively parallel trajectory and then (FIG 21, 22) goes up faster in the entrance 16 of the room. Of preferably between the plate 51 and the plate 55, a plane 52 chamfering promotes the distribution of elongated objects like capsules because in motion the point of equilibrium of the object is exceeded faster and it falls faster.

Half a 6G sloping bulkhead above the entrance to the chamber and partition 6C in the chute (FIG 38 39) for block objects on plane 2B is made, this partition starts from the intersection of the three planes 2A, 2B and the side wall 6A with a slope of 30 ° it is long in taking the distance from its end to the partition 6A and the horizontal of about one and a half times the width of an object to distribute and ends in a vertical direction towards the room at a distance of one and a half times the width of a object on the perpendicular projected on the ramp, in order to retain several objects awaiting distribution between the chamber and its lower side face. The (FIG 22) the represents in action in second position.

Holding the vertical box we press the first branch 9 and / or the elbow 8B of the blade and by movement obtained by deformation of the first branch, the second branch 10 moves and frees itself from its constraint until it recovers its initial molding position making it make a almost rectilinear movement, in this part of the cycle the plate 51 secured to its support advanced by lifting a little the object which by gravity always stalls on the partition fixed vertical 6D.

The plate 51 advances and exceeds the center of gravity by the rocking object, the plate 51 then undergoes a trajectory imposed by the first branch giving by bending and by its anchoring point a race almost in arc of circle making it go up thus blocking the entry 16 of the room 4 to the next object and simultaneously in the same action the horizontal cutout 53 finishes putting itself in front of exit 17 from the room and open it leaving pass the object through exit 17. By releasing the pressure on the blade it returns to its limited starting point in its retreat by the stop 50. The chamber 4 again receives one or n new objects.

As a variant to this last example, a second wall identical to the first (FIG 31 to 34) is symmetrical with this last with respect to the median plane of the case. The blade is symmetrical with respect to its median plane (FIG 33). This solution is advantageous for the case of large section of box to be able to center the distribution point.

The dispenser can be integrated (FIG 40) into a box one piece including the cover attached to the body by a hinged and molded film, a cover 60 remaining open for filling symmetrically around a plane median (FIG 40) or asymmetrical (FIG 42) with for cover on hinge film 65, one of its large faces.

Advantageously for manual packaging, the dispenser is integrated into a receptacle and associated with a cardboard box 12 (FIG 41).

In the previous examples the reserve can have the same thickness as the distribution width which removes the ramp 2A.

A sloping partition 61 in volume 5 (FIG 43) perhaps added so as to impose a constraint on the end of the plate 55 in order to facilitate the passage of the object.

The dispenser is made of thermoformed plastic, coated paper, metal or any other material having the same properties and characteristics, for techniques such as molding, pressing or other suitable.

Claims (9)

1. Device for dispensing objects, for example lozenges or capsules, comprising a storage space (1), a dispensing chamber (4), means to guide the objects from the storage space to the dispensing chamber, a flexible strip (8), together with movable dispensing means in a fixed storage space, moving from an initial position where chamber (4) communicates with storage space (1) and is closed to the outside, to a second position where the chamber no longer communicates with the storage space and is open to the outside,
      characterised by the fact that the flexible strip (8) forms a single piece with the storage space and comprises a first branch with a fixed end, and a second branch, and
      that the dispensing means are set out on the free end of the flexible strip (8).
2. A dispensing device as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the two branches of the flexible strip are perceptibly perpendicular.
3. A dispensing device as in claim 1 or claim 2, characterised by the fact that the first branch (9) presents a convex curved shape (8A) and is connected by a concave bend (8B) to the second branch (10).
4. A dispensing device as in any of claims 1 to 3, characterised by the fact that the chamber is delimited sideways on the dispensing member side by a fixed side partition (6D) continued in the top portion by a ceiling (40) ending in a spout (41) covering the width of the chamber, with the ceiling sloping downwards towards the spout, and on the side opposite the dispensing members by an inwardly concave rounded partition, ending in a tip (45) in the bottom portion of the chamber
5. A dispensing device as in claim 4, characterised by the fact that the dispensing means contain a limit stop (50) continued by a plate (51), whose length is perceptibly the width of the chamber, such that in a first position the limit stop is in contact with the fixed side partition (6D), and the plate (51) is in the continuation of the tip (45), forming the bottom of the chamber, and such that in a second position, the plate (51) is placed inside the concave part of the rounded partition and closes the entrance to the chamber by cooperating with the spout (41), a cut-out (53) being provided on the bottom of the chamber when the dispensing means have assumed the second position.
6. A dispensing device as in any of claims 1 to 3, characterised by the fact that the dispensing means contain a small plate (8F), whose length is perceptibly the width of the chamber and a sealing strip (8D) shifted by the height of the chamber with respect to the small plate, as well as a cut-out (13) placed opposite the small plate (8F) such that on moving from the first to the second position the small plate (8F) closes the entrance (16) to the chamber (4) pushing the excess objects back towards the storage space (1), and the cut-out (13) assumes the position of the sealing strip beneath the chamber (4).
7. A container, particularly for sweets, lozenges, capsules and similar objects, characterised by the fact that it contains a box housing a dispensing device as in any of claims 1 to 6.
8. A container as in claim 7, characterised by the fact that the box is made of cardboard and that the dispensing device is made of a synthetic material.
9. A container as in claim 7, characterised by the fact that the box has a pre-cut corner that can be removed, thereby ensuring access to the dispensing means. The container is thus tamperproof.

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