GB2386116A

GB2386116A - Product dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2386116A
Application number: GB0217181A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Webb; Mark Armstrong
Original assignee: Gillette Co LLC
Current assignee: Gillette Co LLC
Priority date: 2002-03-06
Filing date: 2002-07-24
Publication date: 2003-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 2022-07-24
Also published as: GB0217181D0; FR2838034B1; DE10309589B4; FR2838034A1; GB0205302D0; DE10309589A1; GB2386116B

Abstract

A dispenser for product packages 2 which are intended to be removed from the dispenser by customers in a self-select retail environment has a container in which product packages are stacked one behind another, and a pivotal door 16 which can be moved between closed and open positions to allow product packages to be removed one at a time. A spring biased pushing member 30 acts on the rearmost package to urge the packages forwardly towards the door. A stop 26 is located adjacent the front of the container for arresting the forward movement of the packages, and a lifting element 76, coupled to the dispensing door, is operable to lift the packages one at a time to clear the stop and move into a dispensing position, in response to operation of the door. The advancement of the pushing member or the closing movement of the dispensing door may be retarded to limit the rate at which product packages can be removed by repeated opening and closing of the door. The container includes a reloading drawer which can be pulled out of the container for recharging the dispenser with product packages. A catch locks the drawer within the container and release of the catch is prevented when more than a predetermined number of packages are stacked in the dispenser. A shutter arrangement 68 blocks access to packages already in the dispenser when the reloading drawer is pulled out of the container.

Description

Product Dispensers This invention is concerned with dispensers for storing a supply of separate product packages and presenting the packages for removal by customers in a self-select retail environment in which customers collect items they wish to purchase and pay for the selected items at a so-called check-out station. In shops and stores which operate on a self-select basis, security can be a problem, and in particular small packages of consumable products having a relatively high sales value can be stolen with several packages of the same product being taken at the same time. It is known to present such packages to self-select customers in dispensers which are designed to enable removal of only one package at a time.

In our International Patent Application No. WO 00/10433, published on 2 March 2000, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, there is described a dispenser including a container for holding a substantially upright stack of packages, and a dispensing device, in particular a drawer member, for receiving a lowermost package from the stack contained within the container, the dispensing device being actuable by a customer to present the received package for removal from the dispenser. This dispenser has been found in tests to be effective and reliable in achieving controlled dispensing of product packages. However, upright dispensers in which product packages are stacked vertically impose certain restraints on their installation at retail sites which in some cases are better suited to dispensers in which packages are stacked horizontally one behind the other. The aforementioned published International Application also describes a dispenser having a container in which a row of packages stacked one behind the other is urged forwardly by a pushing member acted upon by a biasing spring, and a dispensing door is pivoted at the forward end of the container and is operable by a customer for

removing packages one at a time from the dispenser. In order to restrict the maximum rate at which 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 retarded by a retarding mechanism including a rotary damper. This construction is effective in deterring theft of large numbers of packages, but the location of the damping mechanism can restrict the size of packages that can be dispensed from a dispenser of given height and/or width. Also, recharging of the described dispenser with packages when it has been emptied can be awkward and time consuming for shop staff. Of course, the desire for quick and easy recharging tends to conflict with the wish for security by preventing rapid removal of packages. The invention described in the present application addresses these problems.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a package dispenser comprising a container for receiving a row of product packages stacked together one behind another, a pushing member guided for movement longitudinally of the container and biased forwardly therealong, the pushing member being arranged to bear on the last package in the row and to urge the row of packages towards a forward end of the container, a package dispensing arrangement disposed at the forward end of the container and including a dispensing member movable between a closed position and an open position to enable the forwardmost package in the container to be removed from a dispensing position, a stop positioned to arrest forward movement of the row of packages under the bias of the pushing member, and a package displacing element for displacing a package abutting the stop to a position clear of the stop in response to movement of the dispensing member thereby to enable the displaced package to advance, upon closing of the dispensing member, into the dispensing position ready for removal when the dispensing member is next opened.

The dispensing arrangement of the dispenser can ensure reliable separation of individual packages from the leading end for the stack of controlled removal, one at a time, from the dispenser. Most conveniently the stop is located on a floor of the container and the displacing element is arranged to lift the package to a position above the height of the stop. The dispensing member may then comprise a door hinged to the container for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis adjacent the floor of the container. The stop is preferably shaped as a wedge with a substantially upright abutment face and a downwardly inclined top surface extending forwardly from the abutment face.

The inclined top surface may serve to assist the advancement of a package into a dispensing position against the inside of the door ready to be removed when the door is opened, and can also act as a ramp to enable packages to move rearwardly over the stop during reloading of the dispenser.

In accordance with one particular embodiment the displacing element is actuated to displace a package clear of the stop in response to movement of the dispensing member from the open position to the closed position. The displacing element comprises a lifting element and is movable upwardly through the container floor. A device for operating the lifting element conveniently comprises an arm on one end of which the lifting element is carried, and a cam mechanism for raising and lowering the arm in response to movement of the dispensing member.

In another particular embodiment the dispensing member is movable from a closed position for receiving the forwardmost package to an open position presenting the received package for removal, and the package displacing element is coupled to the dispensing member for displacing a package abutting the stop to a position clear of the stop in response to movement of the

dispensing member from the closed to the open position, thereby to enable the displaced package to advance and to be received by the dispensing member upon the dispensing member being returned from the open position to the closed position. More specifically, the stop is located on the container floor, the dispensing member comprises a door hinged to the container for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis adjacent the floor of the container, and the displacing element comprises a finger, or more especially a pair of fingers located either side of the stop, extending rearwardly from the door. It has been found appropriate for the fingers to extend rearwardly beyond the stop by a distance not greater than about half the depth of the packages.

According to another aspect there is provided by the invention a package dispenser comprising a container for receiving a row of packages stacked one behind the other, a pushing member guided for movement longitudinally of the container and biased forwardly therealong, the biasing member being arranged to bear against the last package in the row and to urge the row of packages toward a forward end of the container, a dispensing door disposed at the front end of the container and movable between a closed position and a partially open position to enable packages to be removed one at a time, a catch mechanism having an engaged position in which movement of the dispensing door beyond said partially open position, in the opening direction, is prevented and a disengaged position permitting movement of the dispensing door beyond said partially open position to a fully open loading position permitting groups of two or more packages to be inserted into and pushed back along the container against the bias of the pushing member.

In accordance with yet another aspect the present invention provides a package dispenser comprising a container for receiving a row of packages stacked together one behind the other, a pushing member guided for movement

longitudinally of the container and biased forwardly therealong, the pushing member being arranged to bear against the last package in the row and to urge the row of packages towards a forward end of the container, a dispensing arrangement disposed at the forward end of the container to enable packages to be removed one at a time, and a loading arrangement adjustable from a normal dispensing position to loading position to permit introduction of packages into the dispenser, a catch for locking the loading arrangement in the dispensing position and disengageable to release the loading arrangement for movement to the loading position, and a blocking device for blocking disengagement of the catch when there are more than a predetermined number of packages stacked within the container of the dispenser.

It is unlikely that authorised personnel will wish to open a dispenser which is already full or contains several packages ready to be delivered in a controlled manner to bona fide customers, and blocking disengagement of a release catch adds extra security by placing a further barrier in the way of an unauthorised person looking to empty the dispenser contents in a dishonest manner.

In a particular dispenser embodying the invention, the catch is disengageable by a releasing member, e. g. a finger or a tool, inserted through a hole at the front of the dispenser and the blocking device comprises a blocking member coupled to the pushing member to be positioned thereby between the hole and the catch to obstruct insertion of the releasing member for disengaging the catch. The blocking member can be movable by and/or carried on a lever arm pivoted by its rear end to the underside of the dispenser floor, the lever arm having a cam track therealong with which the pushing member cooperates.

In one particular construction the loading arrangement comprises an opening through which packages can be inserted into the container in groups, and a

closure for covering this opening and with which the catch is arranged to cooperate. In an especially simple and effective embodiment, the loading opening is the same as the opening through which packages are removed during normal package dispensing, and the closure is formed by a dispensing door having its movement normally limited by the catch for dispensing and, upon release of the catch, being movable to a fully opened position for loading packages into the container.

In accordance with another construction, the container comprises a casing, and the loading arrangement includes a drawer inserted into the casing and movable outwardly through an open front end of the casing for loading packages into the dispenser, the catch being arranged to lock the drawer in a dispensing position retracted within the casing and being disengageable for releasing the drawer for movement out of the casing.

In US-A-4134520 there is described a coin-operated dispensing machine in which product packages are stacked one behind the other in a trough and are urged towards the forward end of the trough by a pushing member under the bias of a spring. A solenoid actuated delivery mechanism is located at the forward end of the trough and is operable to release and press down the leading package in the stack for ejecting this package from the dispenser. The pushing member is equipped with a friction brake which has a brake pad pressed against the trough floor by a spring, the purpose of the brake being to momentarily delay the advancement of the pushing member, and the stack of packages remaining in the trough, when a package is ejected so that the packages may settle into correct alignment and inadvertent discharge of two or more packages due to misalignment of the packages is precluded. The braking of the pushing member in this way does not determine the rate at which

packages can be dispensed, which is not generally a problem with coin operated vending machines.

In accordance with a particular aspect of the present invention there is provided a package dispenser comprising a container for receiving a row of product packages stacked together one behind another, a pushing member guided for movement longitudinally of the container and biased forwardly therealong, the pushing member being arranged to bear against the last package in the row and to urge the row of packages toward a forward end of the container, a package dispensing arrangement disposed at the forward end of the container and including a dispensing member movable from a closed position for receiving a forwardmost package of the row of packages and an open position presenting the received package for removal, and a device for retarding advancement of the pushing member, and hence the row of packages, along the container whereby the maximum rate of dispensing packages by repeated movements of the dispensing member between the closed and open positions is slower than the dispensing member can be repeatedly moved between said positions.

The retarding device can be conveniently carried on the pushing member and by retarding the speed at which the pushing member and stack of packages is driven towards the dispensing device the maximum rate at which packages can be removed by operation of the dispensing arrangement can be restricted, preferably to about one package every 10 to 15 seconds, even though the dispensing arrangement itself may be capable of being operated at a faster rate.

In a preferred construction the pushing member carries a rotatable element, in particular a pinion, which is rotated as the pushing member is driven forwardly along the container, and the retarding device comprises a rotary damper for retarding rotation of the pinion to which it may be coupled through a geared

connection. The pinion can be in mesh with a toothed rack extending along the container either for driving the pushing member along the container by means of a spring carried on the pushing member, or for the pinion to be rotated in response to movement of the pushing member along the container.

The pushing member is preferably acted upon by a spring which exerts a substantially uniform biasing force at all positions of the pushing member along the container. In a presently preferred construction the spring has a coiled portion which is carried on the pushing member and a linear portion connected to the coiled portion and extending from the pushing member to the forward end of the container at which a free end of the spring can be anchored.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a package dispenser comprising a container for receiving a row of packages stacked together one behind another, a pushing member guided for movement longitudinally of the container and biased forwardly therealong, the pushing member being arranged to bear against the last package in the row and to urge the row of packages towards a forward end of the container, and a package dispensing arrangement disposed at the forward end of the container to enable packages to be removed one at a time, the container comprising a casing with a base, and a drawer inserted into the casing and movable outwardly through an open front end of the casing for loading packages into the dispenser, the pushing member being guided on the base of the casing so that the pushing member and any packages stacked in front of the pushing member remain within the casing when the drawer is pulled out of the casing, and wherein a device is provided to deny access to packages remaining within the casing when the drawer is pulled out of the casing for loading packages into the container.

The provision of a loading drawer with a device denying access to packages remaining in the dispenser means that recharging of the dispenser can be facilitated without running risk of making product packages within the dispenser available for rapid removal, e. g. by a person with dishonest intentions.

In the currently preferred embodiment the drawer, when extended from the casing, defines a loading chamber having a loading opening, positioned at the drawer top, and the access denying device is a cover adjustable between a closed position in which the cover closes the loading opening and prevents passage of packages through the loading opening, and a loading position in which insertion of packages into the loading chamber through the loading chamber is permitted and the cover forms a partition separating the loading chamber from the interior of the casing where previously loaded packages remaining in the dispenser are accommodated. The cover is conveniently a shutter slidable between the closed and loading positions. For additional security and to ensure correct use, a latching mechanism can be provided to prevent the drawer being pushed back into the casing if the access denying shutter is not adjusted to its closed position and/or to lock the shutter in the closed position unless the drawer is fully extended from the casing. A latching mechanism capable of fulfilling both functions consists of a latch member movably mounted on the drawer and movable from a first position, by adjustment of the shutter away from its closed position, to a second position in which the latch member blocks movement of the drawer into the casing. In the first position the latch member locks the shutter in the closed position and in the second position the latch member being arranged for engaging the casing to block movement of the drawer into the casing.

The various aspects of the invention described above can be combined in a package dispenser which ensures convenience to store owners and authorised operators whilst providing enhanced security against dishonest removal of packages. A full understanding of the invention and its preferred features will be gained from the more detailed description which follows and in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating exemplary embodiments of the invention. In the drawings :- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through a dispenser embodying the invention with a stack of four packages disposed in the dispenser ready for removal by customers, some parts of the dispenser having been omitted as will become clear; Figure 2 is an underneath plan of the dispenser ; Figure 3 is an isometric view showing some parts of the dispenser, but with other parts omitted in order to reveal certain details; Figure 4 is an isometric view showing the pushing member the drawer release catch and the catch blocking device of the dispenser ; Figure 5 is the same as Figure 4, but with the front of the casing base added; Figure 6 is an isometric view of the casing base;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the dispenser with a single package and ready to be replenished; Figure 8 shows dispenser of Figure 7 with the drawer pulled out to the reloading position and the shutter adjusted to the loading position ready for new packages to be loaded into the loading chamber; Figure 9 is an isometric view of the dispenser as shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 shows the dispenser of Figure 9 with some parts omitted to reveal other parts which are shown; Figure 11 is a perspective view illustrating the pushing member, its biasing spring and the retarding mechanism of the dispenser; Figures 12 and 13 illustrate alternative arrangements for the biasing spring and the retarding mechanism; Figures 14 to 17 are views corresponding to Figure 1 and illustrating successive stages in dispensing packages from the dispenser, the procedure having started from a loaded condition with a stack of packages freshly loaded into the dispenser as shown in Figure 1; Figure 18 shows how the dispenser fails to deliver a package for removal if the dispensing door is opened too soon after being closed;

Figure 19 is a longitudinal vertical section through another dispenser according to the invention ; Figures 20 and 21 are longitudinally sectioned front and rear isometric views of the dispenser shown in Figure 19; Figure 22 is a view corresponding to Figure 19 but showing the dispenser door in an open dispensing position; and Figures 23 and 24 are underneath isometric views from opposite sides of the dispenser of Figure 19 with some parts omitted to facilitate a clear illustration of other components.

Figures 1-18 of the drawings illustrate a dispenser 1 arranged to deliver in a time controlled manner individual product packages. The packages 2 may be any small products, although for purposes of illustration each package depicted in the drawing represents a group of products e. g. safety razor cartridges sealed within a cardboard pack with a backing card, such packages being well known per se and being typical of the way in which razor cartridges are packaged for sale to customers. The dispenser includes container formed by a generally rectangular casing 5 with a base 6 defining a container floor 7, opposed side walls 8, and a top wall 9, and a drawer 10 slidably received within the casing.

The drawer 10 has sides 11, a bottom which is divided into two lateral sections 12 by a relatively wide central slot 13 (Fig. 3), and a top which includes a loading opening 14 adjacent its front or forward end. The drawer front consists of a dispensing door 16 which is hingedly mounted on a pin 17 for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis approximately level with the casing floor, between closed and open positions. Attached to the side edges of the dispensing door 16 are wings 18 (Figs. 9 and 10) with arcuate edges centered

on the pivot axis, and a radially directed stop element 19 projecting from the upper arcuate edge. The wings cooperate with complementary depressions or recesses 20 formed in the sides 11 of the drawer and including abutment shoulders 21 against which the stop elements 19 engage to limit the pivotal movement of the door away from the upright closed position (Fig. 1) and hence to define the open position of the door 16 (Figs. 14 and 16) for removal of a product package 2 from the dispenser 1 as described in greater detail hereinbelow.

By changing the positions of the abutment shoulders 21 and/or the width of the stop elements 19, the open door position can be set to suit packages 2 of different thickness or depth. The door 16 may include a clear front and be adapted to receive a printed card (not shown), visible through the clear front and carrying promotional information about the products available within the dispenser and/or information about how to operate the dispenser to remove products from it.

Longitudinal rails 22 on the underside of the drawer bottom cooperate with corresponding rails 23 on the casing base to guide the drawer 10 for movement into and out of the casing 5.

In the normal dispensing position the drawer 10 is retracted within the casing 5 so that the dispensing door 16 is positioned against the front edges of the casing side walls 8 and directly above a front 24 of the casing base, and the drawer 10 is locked in this retracted position by a catch 25 described in more detail below.

When the catch 25 is released it disengages a stop 15 (Fig. 3) on the underside of the drawer bottom and frees the drawer 10 to allow it to be withdrawn from the casing 5 to a reloading position (Figs. 8 and 9) at which a downturned lip

38 on the underside of the drawer bottom engages a shoulder 39 on the floor 7 to prevent further movement of the drawer out of the casing 5.

At the front end of the container floor 7 formed by the top of the casing base 6 is a wedge-shaped stop 26 having an rearwardly facing upright abutment face 27, and a top ramp surface 28 which slopes downwardly and forwardly from the top of the abutment face. The width of the stop 26 is such that it projects upwardly through the slot 13 between the laterally opposite sections 12 of the drawer bottom. The packages 2 within the container span the slot 13 to be slidably guided along the bottom sections 12 of the drawer 10. Guided for longitudinal movement on the casing base 6 is a package pushing member 30 comprising a substantially flat front face for bearing against the rear of the trailing package of a stack of packages 2 within the casing. A biasing spring 32 is provided for urging the pushing member towards the front end of the container, this spring 32 having the form of a ribbon with a coiled portion 33 carried on the pushing member 30, and linear portion 34 connected to and extending from the coiled portion forwardly along the container within the slot 13 of the drawer bottom so that it passes below the packages 2 stacked within the container, the leading end of the spring 32 being anchored to the casing base 6 by being hooked through and around the rear edge of an opening 35 formed in the floor 7. The spring 32 acts to exert a uniform force urging the pushing member 30 forwardly along the container whatever the position of the pushing member along the container, this form of spring being known per se.

The pushing member has a downwardly directed projection 36 which passes through a narrow rectilinear slot 37 extending along the centre of the floor 7 and the pushing member 30 is guided thereby and by cooperation with the rails 23 for movement longitudinally of the container. Carried on the pushing member 30 is a retarding mechanism for slowing down the speed of travel of the pushing member along the container towards the stop 26 under the biasing

force applied by the spring 32. The retarding mechanism comprises a rotary damper 40 (Fig. 11) having a geared connection to a pinion 41 joumaled for rotation on the rear of the pushing member, conveniently about an axis which is coincident with the axis of the coiled spring portion 33. The pinion 41 meshes with a stationary toothed rack 42 which extends along the floor 7 of the container so that the pinion 41 is rotated by the rack 42 as the pushing member 30 travels along the container. The rotary damper has a rotor which rotates within a sealed chamber containing a fluid and which is fast with a drive spindle on which is carried the driving gear 43 in mesh with the pinion 41.

Thus, when the pushing member 30 is driven forwardly along the container under the force applied by the spring 32, the pinion 41 rotates and drives the gear 43 so that the damper rotor is driven in rotation and the speed of travel of the pushing member 30 is retarded. The damper 40 only brakes forward movement of the pushing member, rearward movement of the pushing member, as will occur during reloading of the dispenser with packages, being substantially unimpeded by the damper 40.

Alternative arrangements for driving and retarding forward travel of the pushing member 30 are illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. In the arrangement of Figure 12, the pinion 41 which is in mesh with the gear 43 driving the damper 40 is driven by a spindle attached to the coiled spring portion 33, which spindle is rotated as the spring 32 coils up during the forward travel of the pushing member 30 along the container under the action of the spring. The spring 32 of the arrangement shown in Figure 13 has two coiled portions 33A, 33B both carried on the pushing member 30, the spring being tensioned to have a tendency to uncoil from one portion 33A and to coil up on the other 33B. A spindle drivingly connected to the spring portion 33A carries on one end a pinion 41 in mesh with the toothed rack 42 for driving the pushing member 30 along the container of the dispenser, and at the other end carries a gear 44 in

mesh with the gear 43 that drives the damper. As with the preferred arrangement shown in Figure 11, in each of the arrangements of Figures 12 and 13, the spring 32 drives the pushing member 30 forwardly along the container, but the speed of travel is retarded by the damper 40.

Positioned within an aperture 47 in the floor 7 of the casing base 6 and joumaled on a pivot pin 48 is the drawer release catch 25. The catch 25 consists of a member formed with an upwardly directed ear 49 for engagement with the stop 15 fixed to the drawer 10 to lock the drawer against being pulled out of the casing 5 (see Fig. 3), and an actuating cam face 50 at the forward end of the catch member. The catch member is biased by a spring (not shown), such as a torsion spring located on the pivot pin 48, so that the ear 49 is pushed upwardly into a locking position. The front edge of the ear 49 is sloped so that when the drawer 10 slides back into the casing 5, the stop 15 cams the ear 49 downwardly in order that insertion of the drawer is not impeded. The cam face 50 is disposed behind a hole 52 in the front 24 of the casing base 6 so that a tool, e. g. an elongate rod-like member such as a pen, can be inserted through the hole 52 and act on the cam face 50 to pivot the catch 25 downwardly against the force of the biasing spring and thereby move the ear 49 out of the path of the stop 15 so that the drawer 10 can be pulled out of the casing 5 for reloading the dispenser with packages as later described.

A blocking device is included in the dispenser for blocking disengagement of the catch 25 when the pushing member 30 is located in a rear part of the container and there are more than a predetermined number of packages stacked within the container of the dispenser. This device comprises a blocking member 54 which is moveable between the hole 52 and the cam face 50 of the catch 25 to obstruct a releasing tool and prevent it actuating the catch to release the drawer 10. The blocking member 54 is coupled to the pushing member 30

so that the blocking member is moved out of an obstructing position when the pushing member reaches a position corresponding to just a small number of packages left in the dispenser and available for customers to remove. The blocking member 54 is carried on the free leading end of an elongate lever arm 55 the rear end of which is pivoted on a post 56 fixed to the casing base 6 so that the blocking member 54 can swing into and out of its blocking position.

Extending along the lever arm 55 is a cam track 57 defined by a slot in the lever arm and the downwardly directed projection 36 of the pushing member 30 is slidably engaged in the slot for cooperation with the cam track. The cam track 57 includes a straight rear end section 58, and a straight forward section 59 laterally displaced with respect to the rear section and joined thereto by a short laterally inclined section 60, and a front end section 61 which is laterally inclined. When the dispenser is filled with packages, the pushing member 30 is located towards the rear of the container and its projection 36 is positioned within the straight rear section 58 of the cam track so that the blocking member 54 occupies its blocking position to thwart any attempt to release the catch 25.

As packages 2 are dispensed, the pushing member 30 advances along the container, but the blocking member 54 is maintained in the blocking position until there are just a few packages 2 left in the dispenser, when the projection 36 reaches the inclined section 59 of the cam track and the lever arm 55 is caused to swing about its pivot so that the blocking member 54 is moved out of its blocking position to permit release of the catch 25 so that the dispenser can be replenished with packages.

So that store personnel can easily identify a dispenser ready to be refilled, an indicator is provided to indicate when the container contents have been sufficiently depleted to permit recharging. The indicator comprises an indicating member 62 coupled to the pushing member 30. Conveniently, the indicating member 62 is integral with the blocking member 54, and a second

hole or window 66 is formed in the front 24 of the casing base to enable the indicating member 62 to be viewed from the front of the dispenser. The indicating member has surface areas 63,64 and 65 which are distinguishable from each other, for example by having different colours. Thus, when the dispenser contains an adequate number of packages 2 and hence the blocking member 54 occupies its blocking position, a green area 63 may be visible through the viewing aperture 66, and when the blocking member is moved out of the blocking position an orange area 64 may be brought into position to be seen through the aperture 66 to indicate that the dispenser is ready to be recharged with packages. When the pushing member 30 reaches a forwardmost position against the stop 26, its projection 36 enters the front section 61 of the cam track 57 and moves the indicating member 62 to a position in which a red area 65 is visible through the aperture 66 and indicates that the dispenser is empty.

The dispenser is refilled by releasing the catch 25 and pulling the drawer 10 out of the casing 5 to the reloading position (Figs. 8 and 9) in which the loading opening 14 in the top of the drawer is exposed. The drawer 10 is equipped with a device to deny access to packages 2 remaining in the casing 5 when the drawer is pulled out to the reloading position. The access denying device takes the form of a sliding shutter 68 the side edges of which are guided in grooves 69 in the side walls 11 of the drawer so that the shutter is guided for movement between a closed position in which it covers and closes the loading opening 14 (Figs. 1 and 14-18) and a loading position in which the loading opening 14 is uncovered and the shutter 68 forms a partition wall between a loading chamber 70 within the drawer and the interior of the casing (Figs. 8 and 9). When the drawer 10 is pulled out for refilling the dispenser, any packages 2 remaining in the container are prevented by the stop 26 from moving out with the drawer and as a consequence they are retained within the casing 5. Sliding back the

shutter 68 to gain access to the loading chamber 70 brings it to form the partition wall denying access to and concealing from view, those remaining packages 2 in the dispenser casing thereby to thwart any attempt to remove packages rapidly from the dispenser via the loading opening 14. Authorised personnel can easily and quickly load packages into the loading chamber 70, the loading opening 14 and chamber being dimensioned to enable groups of several packages to be inserted at the same time. When the required number of packages have been inserted and stacked one behind the other in the loading chamber 70, the shutter 68 is slid back to the closed position and the drawer 10 is pushed back into the casing 5 so that the newly loaded packages in turn push back the packages already remaining in the casing, if any, and the pushing member 30, the freshly loaded packages 2 sliding over the stop 26 by virtue of the ramp surface 28. To prevent the drawer 10 being pushed into the casing without the shutter 68 being adjusted to its closed position a latch mechanism is provided and conveniently takes the form of a latch member 72 pivoted on the drawer top adjacent the rear edge of the loading opening 14. When the shutter 68 is adjusted away from the closed position it immediately cams the latch member 72 upwardly so that a protrusion on the member projects upwardly adjacent the front edge of the top wall 9 of the casing 5 and by engaging this edge blocks any attempt to push the drawer in to the casing without the shutter 68 having first been closed. The same latch member 72 is arranged to engage behind the trailing edge of the shutter 68 when the shutter is adjusted to the closed position, and is held in this position by the top wall 9 of the casing, except when the drawer is pulled out to its loading position, and thereby any attempt to interfere with the dispenser contents by trying to open the shutter 68 with the drawer 10 only partially withdrawn from the casing 5 is prevented.

Product packages 2 can be removed one at a time, in time controlled manner, by correct operation of the dispenser. As mentioned above the dispensing door

16 is pivotable from a closed position to a predetermined open position. In this open position a package presented for removal can be lifted out of the dispenser by a customer using his or her fingers, but the other packages in the dispenser are not accessible although the customer may see that there are still packages present and available. Connected to and extending rearwardly from the lower edge of the door 16 are a pair of package displacing members in the form of fingers 74 which are positioned to lie one either side of the stop 26.

Each finger is shaped to define a substantially upright shoulder 75 at a short distance in front of the rearwardly directed abutment face 27 of the stop 26, and a lifting element 76 extending beyond the abutment face 27 by a distance of not greater than about half the depth or thickness of the product packages 2. When the dispensing door 16 is in the closed position, the lifting elements 76 are disposed to lie beneath a package positioned against the abutment face 27 of the stop 26 (Figs. 1,15 and 17) and when the door is moved to its open position the elements 26 displace the package 2 upwardly lifting it above the top edge of the abutment face 27 so that the package, and those packages lined up behind it, can advance slowly forward under the influence of the retarded advance of the pushing member 30 brought about by the bias exerted by the spring 32.

The advancement of the packages, whilst the door 16 is open, is limited by the shoulders 75 on the fingers 74 (Figs. 14 and 16). Upon closing the dispensing door 16, the fingers 74 are lowered and the previously lifted package is freed to move further forwards down the ramp surface 28 and to tip against the door 16, whereby it is received in a position ready to be dispensed (Figs. 15 and 17), the following packages also being moved forwards by the pushing member 30 until the next package in the row engages against the abutment stop 26. Opening the door 16 presents the package 2 received against the door ready for removal by a customer, the fingers 74 lifting the package towards the removal opening to facilitate removal of the package (Fig. 16)

Figure 1 illustrates the dispenser freshly loaded with packages 2. When the door 16 is opened for the first time, e. g. by means of the pull tab 79, the first package of the row of stacked packages is lifted over the stop 26 (Fig. 14), but no package is presented for removal. Upon closing the door 16, the first package is received in position ready for removal, and the following packages advance until the second package abuts against the stop 26 (Fig. 15). Opening the door for the second time presents the first package for removal, and lifts the second package over the edge of the stop 26 (Fig. 16). If the package is removed and the door is closed, the dispensing cycle can be repeated with the packages being presented one at a time for removal each time the dispensing door 16 is opened. On the other hand if the door 16 is closed without the packaged being removed, the situation shown in Figure 17 arises, but on reopening the door the situation of Figure 16 is recreated and smooth dispensing of packages one at a time can still proceed normally. Because the forward movement of the pushing member 30 under the bias of the spring 32 is retarded a predetermined finite time is needed for the stack of packages to advance sufficiently between each dispensing actuation of the door 16 for the next package to be received ready for presentation when the door 16 is opened.

Thus, if the door is closed and opened too rapidly, a package will not be lifted by the fingers 74 and they will prevent the stack of packages advancing into abutment with the stop 26, as shown in Figure 18, at least after the first two packages have been removed. Trials have indicated that maximum dispensing rate of one package every ten to fifteen seconds is appropriate.

A second dispenser also arranged to deliver individual product packages in a time controlled manner is illustrated in Figures 19-24. This dispenser 100 includes a container 101 with side walls 108, a top wall 109 and a floor 107 which is at a lever above the lower edges of the side walls 109. An opening 114 which serves both for dispensing packages from the dispenser and for

loading packages into the dispenser, as further described below, is defined at the forward or front end of the container 101 and a dispensing door 116 is hingedly mounted on pins 117 for movement about a horizontal axis approximately level with the floor 107 between a closed position covering and closing the opening 114, and an open position. Attached to the side edges of the dispensing door 116 are wings 118 formed by lateral plates having upper and lower quadrant sections 118A, 118B, each with an arcuate edge centred on the pivot axis of the door. The arcuate edge of the lower quadrant 118B of one side wing 118 is toothed and is in mesh with a pinion 141 freely rotatably mounted on the adjacent container side wall 108 for reasons which are explained below. The lower quadrant sections 118B have in-turned tabs 119 at the outer ends of their free radial edges, which tabs 119 rest against a front panel 124 of the container 101 when the dispensing door 116 is closed, as shown in Figures 19-21. The upper quadrant sections 118A have a larger radius than the lower quadrant sections 118B and they laterally confine the opening created at the front of the dispenser when the dispensing door 116 is pivoted to the open position. The tabs 119 can engage the underside of the floor 107 to limit the maximum opening pivotal movement of the dispensing door 116 at a position in which the door is substantially coplanar with the floor 107. During normal dispensing use, however, the pivotal movement of the door is further restricted by a catch 125 formed by a lever which is pivotally mounted on the underside of the floor 107 by a vertical pin 148. The catch lever is biased by a torsion spring (not shown) so that one end of the catch lever 125 normally extends into a slot 149 provided in one of the lateral wings 118, the slot 149 being shaped so that opening pivotal movement of the dispensing door 116 is normally arrested at the partially open dispensing position, e. g. at around 100 to 150 to the vertical, as shown in Figure 22. The other end of the catch lever 125 has a push plate 150 (Figs. 23 and 24) which is disposed behind hole 152 in the front panel 124 of the container 101 so that a tool, e. g. a pen or

the like, can be inserted through the hole 152 and act on the push plate 150 to pivot the catch lever 125 against the spring bias so that it disengages from the slot 149 and the door 116 is then free to pivot to the fully open loading position. The dispensing door 116 is biased to the closed position by a spring (not shown).

At the front end of the container floor 107 is a wedge-shaped stop 126 having a rearwardly facing upright abutment face 127, and an upper ramp surface 128 which slopes downwardly and forwardly from the top of the abutment face 127. The floor 107 includes a longitudinal central slot 137 extending rearwardly of the stop 126, and guided for movement along the slot 137 is a package pushing member 130 having a substantially flat front face for bearing against the rear of the trailing package of a stacked row of packages received in the container 101 between the pushing member 130 and the stop 126. The pushing member 130 is biased forwardly by a spring (not shown). The spring can be a ribbon spring which exerts a substantially uniform force urging the pushing member 130 forwardly along the container 101 whatever the position of the pushing member along the container. As described above in connection with the previous embodiment, the spring may include a coiled portion carried by the pushing member, and linear portion which extends from the coiled portion to a free end which is anchored to the front panel 124 of the container.

Furthermore, a retarding device may be arranged to retard advancement of the pushing member 130 under the influence of the spring in order to limit the maximum rate at which packages may be removed from the dispenser by repeated actuation of the dispensing door 116, as in the case of the previously described embodiment. In the dispenser illustrated in Figures 19-23, however, this result is achieved by another arrangement which is described below and the spring is mounted with its coiled portion supported by the front panel 124 and with the linear portion extending rearwardly from the coiled portion and having

its free end secured to the underside of the lower part 136 of the pushing member 130 which projects downwardly through the guide slot 137.

The dispensing arrangement of the dispenser includes a package displacing element to lift a forwardmost package of the stack of packages held between the stop 126 and the pushing member 130 over the abutment face 127 of the stop 126 and thereby allow this package to move forwards to a dispensing position against the dispensing door 116 so that it can be removed when the door is opened. More particularly an I-shaped lifting arm 170 is located under the floor 107 of the container. The rear cross member 171 of this arm has downturned ends 172 by means of which the arm is pivotally mounted between the container side wall on a transverse bar (not shown). The forward cross member 174 of the lifting arm has upturned ends which are movable through holes 179 in the floor 107 and form package lifting elements 175. A cam mechanism is provided for pivoting the arm 170 to raise and lower the lifting elements 175 and includes a single lobed cam 176 fixed on a transverse shaft 178. The shaft 178 is rotationally fast with the pinion 141 which is in mesh with the toothed quadrant 118B. Thus, as the dispensing door 116 undergoes pivotal movement the pinion 141 is driven in rotation with the result that the cam 176 is rotated beneath the lifting arm 170. In the closed position of the door 116 the cam lobe is directed upwardly, as shown in Figures 19-21, and the lifting elements 175 are in their uppermost position. As the door 116 is pivoted away from the closed position the pinion 141 is rotated and the cam lobe is moved out of contact with the arm 170 so that the lifting elements 175 do not project above the container floor 107 whereby product packages within the container are able to advance under the influence of the pushing member 130 until the first or front package abuts against the abutment face 127 of the stop 126. When the dispensing door 116 is subsequently returned to the closed position the lobe of the cam 176 acts to pivot the arm 170 upwardly thereby

causing the lifting elements 175 to be raised to lift the package disposed thereabove over the step formed by the stop 126. Further advancement of the packages is then permitted under the influence of the pushing member 130 until the next following package engages behind the raised lifting elements 175.

The lifted forwardmost package is moved towards and can slide down the ramp surface 128 and/or fall against the inside of the dispensing door 116, thereby taking up the dispensing position from which it can easily be removed from the dispenser when the door 116 is next opened.

The maximum rate at which packages can be removed by repeated opening and closing of the dispensing door is restricted by retarding the closing of the door 116. For this purpose a rotary damper 140 is mounted on a side wall of the container 108 and has a driving gear 143 in mesh with the pinion 141. The rotary dlamper 140 has the same form as the rotary dlamper 40 of the first embodiment above and has a rotor which is arranged to rotate within a sealed chamber containing a viscous fluid and which is fast with a spindle on which the driving gear 143 is carried. As the door 116 of the dispenser pivots from the open dispensing position to the closed position the pinion 141 is driven in rotation by the toothed quadrant 118B thereby driving the gear 143 so that the damper rotor is rotated and the return of the door to the closed position is retarded. The damper 140 only brakes the return movement of the dispensing door 116, opening movement thereof to enable a customer to remove a package from the dispenser being substantially unimpeded. Whether the door 116 is closed by the action of its return spring alone, or by also being manually pushed, the damper will ensure an adequate delay in the return of the door to the closed position to limit the maximum rate at which packages can be removed from the dispenser.

The dispenser includes a blocking device for blocking disengagement of the catch lever 125 when there are more than a predetermined number of packages stacked within the container of the dispenser. This device comprises a blocking member 154 which is moveable between the hole 152 in the front panel 124 of the container and the push plate 150 of the catch lever 125 to obstruct insertion of a release tool and thereby preventing it acting on the push plate 150 to release the catch lever 125. The blocking member 154 is carried on a free leading end of an elongate lever arm 155 (Figs. 23 and 24), the rear end of which is pivotally mounted to the underside of the floor 107 by a post 156 so that the arm 155 can swing in a horizontal plate for moving the blocking member 154 into and out of its blocking position. One longitudinal edge of the lever arm 155 defines a cam track 157 and the part 136 of the pushing member 130 projecting below the floor 107 is arranged for sliding cooperation with this cam track. A torsion spring (not shown) located on the pivot pin 156 biases the lever arm to ensure engagement of the pushing member with cam track. The cam track includes a straight rear section 158, a straight forward section 159 displaced laterally with respect to the rear section 158 and joined thereto by a short laterally inclined section 160, and a laterally inclined front end section 161. When the dispenser is filled with packages, the pushing member 130 is located towards the rear of the container, its projection 136 being positioned adjacent the straight rear section 158 of the cam track so that the blocking member 154 occupies its blocking position to thwart any attempt to release the catch lever 125. As packages are dispensed, the pushing member 130 advances along the container, but the blocking member 154 remains in the blocking position until there are just a few packages left in the dispenser, when the projection 136 reaches the inclined cam track section 160 and the lever arm 155 is caused to swing about its pivot 156 with the result that the blocking member 154 is moved out of its blocking position to make the push plate 150 accessible for release of the catch lever 125 so that the door 116 can be opened

fully to the reloading position for replenishing the dispenser with packages. In this reloading position the door 116 is substantially horizontal and level with the floor 107 and groups of two or more packages can be easily inserted through the open front end of the container and be pushed-back along the container forcing the pushing member 130 back along the container behind the inserted stack of packages. When reloading is complete the door 116 is returned to the closed position and the catch lever 25 latches automatically into the slot 149 for restricting opening of the door 116 to the partially open dispensing position as described above. The return spring which normally biases the door 116 to the closed position may be arranged to pass through a maximum extension or over-centre position when the door is pivoted into the fully open position so that the spring will serve to hold the door fully open for reloading purposes. When packages are inserted into the container during recharging of the container the ramp surface 128 of the stop 126 ensures that the packages are guided over the stop and are not impeded thereby as they are pushed back along the container.

To allow store personnel to easily identify a dispenser ready to be refilled, an indicator is provided to indicate when the container contents have been sufficiently depleted to permit recharging. The indicator comprises an indicating member 162 coupled to the pushing member. As with the previous embodiment the indicating member 162 is conveniently integral with the blocking member 154, and a second hole or a window 166 is formed in the front panel of the container to enable the indicating member to be viewed from the front of the dispenser. As described above in relation to the first embodiment, the indicating member has surface areas which are visually distinguishable so that when there are sufficient packages in the dispenser and the blocking member 154 occupies its blocking position a first, e. g. green area of the indicating member is visible through the viewing window 166, but when

the blocking member 154 is moved out of the blocking position another, e. g. orange area of the indicating member 162 becomes visible through the viewing window 166 to show that the dispenser is ready to be recharged. When the pushing member 130 reaches a forwardmost position, its projection 136 acts on the front section 161 of the cam track and the indicating member is moved to a position at which a third, e. g. red area becomes visible through the viewing window to signal that the dispenser is empty.

As will be understood from the foregoing description, product packages can be removed one at a time, in time controlled manner, by correct operation of the dispenser. The dispensing door is pivotable from a closed position to a predetermined partially open dispensing position to allow a package presented for removal at the dispensing position to be lifted out of the dispenser by a customer using his or her fingers, but the other packages stacked in the container are held back by the stop 126 and are not accessible although it may be seen that there are more packages still in the dispenser. Repeated opening and closing of the dispenser door presents the packages for removal in turn one at a time, the maximum rate at which this is permitted being limited by the closing movement of the door being retarded by the rotary damper 140.

Nonetheless, when the door 116 is opened fully for recharging the dispenser, packages can be loaded rapidly into the dispenser in groups of several packages.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that the dispensers of the invention have several novel features ensuring additional security against rapid removal of packages. However, the specifically described embodiments are given by way of non-limiting example only and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims

which follow. Additional features which may be incorporated in the dispenser include the following. a) The dispenser may be securely fastened to a mounting bar accommodated in the recess 78 by a clamping device, such as a screw, which is tightened by an extra long tool inserted through an opening 81 in the front 24 of the which can be normally concealed by a snap-on face plate 80, as shown in the dispenser of Figures 1 to 18, or by an elongate clamping bar 180 which extends along the container beneath the floor as partially shown in Figure 24. b) To preclude the door 16 of the dispenser of Figures 1-18 being left in the open position it is preferably equipped with a return spring for moving it to the closed position, such as a torsion spring located on the pivot pin 17, and to prevent the door slamming shut the return movement can be damped although this will not determine the maximum package dispensing rate which is set by the advancement of the pushing member 30 being retarded as described above. c) The lever arm 55,155 could be coupled with a sensor of an automatic stock control system whereby a signal could, for example, be generated at a remote location to indicate when the dispenser is ready for refilling and/or the numbers of packages being dispensed could be monitored so that an alarm is generated if packages are being removed faster than normally expected. d) Devices for controlling the package orientation may be included, such as brushes to hold packages against falling over during reloading.

Claims

Claims 1. A package dispenser comprising a container for receiving a row of product packages stacked together one behind another, a pushing member guided for movement longitudinally of the container and biased forwardly therealong, the pushing member being arranged to bear on the last package in the row and to urge the row of packages towards a forward end of the container, a package dispensing arrangement disposed at the forward end of the container and including a dispensing member movable between a closed position and an open position to enable the forwardmost package in the container to be removed from the dispensing position, a stop positioned to arrest forward movement of the row of packages under the bias of the pushing member, and a package displacing element for displacing a package abutting the stop to a position clear of the stop in response to movement of the dispensing member, thereby to enable the displaced package to advance, upon closing of the dispensing member, into the dispensing position ready for removal when the dispensing member is next opened.
2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the stop is located on a floor of the container, and the displacing element is arranged to lift the package to a position above the height of the stop.
3. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the stop has a substantially upright abutment face and a downwardly inclined upper surface extending forwardly from the abutment face.

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4. A dispenser according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the displacing element is actuated to displace a package clear of the stop in response to movement of the dispensing member from the open position to the closed position.
5. A dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the package displacing element is a lifting element movable upwardly through a floor of the container.
6. A dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the lifting element is carried by an arm and a cam mechanism is provided for acting on the arm for raising and lowering the arm in response to movement of the dispensing member.
7. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the dispensing member comprises a door hinged to the container for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis adjacent the container floor.
8. A dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the door is coupled to a device for retarding return movement of the door from the open position to the closed position.
9. A dispenser according to claims 6,7 and 8, wherein the door is coupled to the retarding device through a rotary drive element and the cam mechanism includes a cam rotationally coupled with the rotary drive element.

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10. A dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the arm has a rear end pivotally connected to the container, the lifting element being carried at the forward end of the arm, and the cam being disposed to act on the arm intermediate the forward and rear ends thereof.
11. A package dispenser comprising a container for receiving a row of product packages stacked together one behind another, a pushing member guided for movement longitudinally of the container and biased forwardly therealong, the pushing member being arranged to bear against the last package in the row and to urge the row of packages towards a forward end of the container, a package dispensing arrangement disposed at the forward end of the container and including a dispensing member movable from a closed position for receiving a forwardmost package of the row of packages and an open position presenting the received package for removal, a stop positioned to arrest forward movement of the row of packages under the bias of the pushing member, and a package displacing element coupled to the dispensing member for displacing a package abutting the stop to a position clear of the stop in response to movement of the dispensing member from the closed to the open position, thereby to enable the displaced package to advance and to be received by the dispensing member upon the dispensing member being returned from the open position to the closed position.
12. A dispenser according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the stop is located on a floor of the container, and the displacing element is arranged to lift the package to a position above the height of the stop.

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13. A dispenser according to claim 12, wherein the dispensing member comprises a door hinged to the container for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis adjacent the floor of the container.
14. A dispenser according to claim 13, wherein the displacing element comprises a finger extending rearwardly from the door alongside the stop.
15. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the finger has a shoulder for limiting forward advancement of the displaced package lifted by the finger until the door is returned to the closed position.
16. A dispenser according to claim 14 or 15, wherein two fingers are provided and extend on opposite sides of the stop.
17. A dispenser according to any of claims 12 to 16, wherein the stop has a substantially upright abutment face and a downwardly inclined upper surface extending forwardly from the abutment face.
18. A dispenser according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the displacing element limits forward advancement of the package displaced thereby and the packages stacked behind the displaced package, whereby the next package behind the displaced package is held at a position spaced rearwardly from the stop until the dispensing member is returned to the closed position.
19. A dispenser according any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the or each finger extends rearwardly beyond the stop by a distance not greater than about half the depth of the packages.

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20. A package dispenser comprising a container for receiving a row of packages stacked one behind the other, a pushing member guided for movement longitudinally of the container and biased forwardly therealong, the pushing member being arranged to bear against the last package in the row and to urge the row of packages towards a forward end of the container, and a package dispensing arrangement disposed at a forward end of the container to enable packages to be removed one at a time, and a loading arrangement adjustable from a normal dispensing position to a loading position to permit introduction of packages into the dispenser, a catch for locking the loading arrangement in the dispensing position and disengageable to release the loading arrangement for movement to the loading position, and a blocking device for blocking disengagement of the catch when there are more than a predetermined number of packages stacked within the container of the dispenser.
21. A dispenser according to claim 20, wherein the catch is disengageable by a releasing member inserted through a hole at the front of the dispenser, and the blocking device comprises a blocking member movable between the hole and the catch to obstruct insertion of the releasing member for disengaging the catch.
22. A dispenser according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the blocking device comprises a blocking member coupled to the pushing member for the blocking member to occupy a position blocking disengagement of the catch when the pushing member is located in a rear part of the container.

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23. A dispenser according to claim 20,21 or 22, wherein the blocking member is movable by a lever arm having a cam track therealong, the pushing member having sliding cooperation with the cam track for pivoting the lever arm as the pushing member travels along the container.
24. A dispenser according to claim 23, wherein the lever arm has a rear end pivotally mounted to the underside of the container floor, the blocking member being carried on the forward end of the lever arm, and the container floor has a longitudinal slot through which the pushing member projects for cooperation with the cam track of the lever arm.
25. A dispenser according to any one of claims 20 to 24, wherein the loading arrangement comprises an opening through which packages an be inserted in groups into the container, and a closure member for covering said opening, the catch being arranged for cooperation with the closure member.
26. A dispenser according to claim 25, wherein the loading opening defines an opening through which packages are removed during normal package dispensing, and the closure member is constituted by a dispensing door, movement of the dispensing door in the opening direction normally being limited by the catch, and the door, on release of the catch, being movable to a fully opened position for loading packages into the container.
27. A dispenser according to claim 26 wherein the loading opening is at the forward end of the container, and the dispensing door is hinged

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to the container for pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis adjacent the container floor.
28. A package dispenser comprising a container for receiving a row of packages stacked together one behind the other, a pushing member guided for movement longitudinally of the container and biased forwardly therealong, the pushing member being arranged to bear against the last package in the row and to urge the row of packages towards a forward end of the container, and a package dispensing arrangement disposed at the forward end of the container to enable packages to be removed one at a time, the container comprising a casing with a base, and a drawer inserted into the casing and movable outwardly through an open front end of the casing for loading packages into the dispenser, a catch for locking the drawer in a dispensing position retracted within the casing, the catch being disengageable for releasing the drawer for movement out of the casing, and a blocking device for blocking disengagement of the catch when there are more than a predetermined number of packages stacked within the container of the dispenser.
29. A dispenser according to claim 28, wherein the catch is disengageable by a releasing member inserted through a hole in the casing and the blocking device comprises a blocking member moveable between the hole and the catch to obstruct insertion of the releasing member for disengaging the catch.

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30. A dispenser according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the blocking device comprises a blocking member coupled to the pushing member for the blocking member to occupy a position blocking disengagement of the catch when the pushing member is located in a rear part of the container.
31. A dispenser according to claim 28,29 or 30, wherein the blocking member is movable by a lever arm pivoted to the casing and having a cam track therealong, the pushing member having sliding cooperation with the cam track for pivoting the lever arm as the pushing member travels along the container.
32. A dispenser according to claim 31, wherein the lever arm has a rear end pivotally mounted to the underside of the casing base, the blocking member being carried on the forward end of the lever arm, and the casing base has a longitudinal slot through which the pushing member projects for cooperation with the cam track of the lever arm.
33. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein an indicator is provided to indicate when the container is ready for recharging with packages, the indicator comprising an indicating member movable to a position indicating readiness for recharging in response to the pushing member reaching a forward end of its travel along the container.
34. A dispenser according to claim 40, wherein the indicating member is movable across a viewing aperture in the dispenser.

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35. A dispenser according to claim 33 or 34, when appended to any of claims 21 to 22, wherein the indicating member and the blocking member are formed by the same part.
36. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 7 or 11 to 35, wherein a retarding device is provided for retarding advancement of the pushing member, and hence the row of packages along the container whereby the maximum rate of dispensing packages by repeated movements of the dispensing member between the closed and open positions is slower than the dispensing member can be repeatedly moved between said positions.
37. A package dispenser comprising a container for receiving a row of product packages stacked together one behind another, a pushing member guided for movement longitudinally of the container and biased forwardly therealong, the pushing member being arranged to bear against the last package in the row and to urge the row of packages toward a forward end of the container, a package dispensing arrangement disposed at the forward end of the container and including a dispensing member movable from a closed position for receiving a forwardmost package of the row of packages and an open position presenting the received package for removal, and a device for retarding advancement of the pushing member, and hence the row of packages, along the container whereby the maximum rate of dispensing packages by repeated movements of the dispensing member between the closed and open positions is slower than the dispensing member can be repeatedly moved between said positions.

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38. A dispenser according to claim 36 or 37, wherein the pushing member carries an rotatable element which is rotated as the pushing member is driven along the container, and the retarding device comprises a rotary damper for retarding rotation of the rotatable element.
39. A dispenser according to claim 38, wherein the rotatable element comprises a pinion coupled to the rotary damper through a geared connection.
40. A dispenser according to claim 39, wherein the pinion is in mesh with a toothed rack extending along the container.
41. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 40, wherein the pushing member is biased along the container by a spring which is arranged to exert a substantially uniform biasing force on the pushing member at all positions of the pushing member along the container.
42. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 41, wherein the spring has a coiled portion and a linear portion connected to the coiled portion and extending between the forward end of the container and the pushing member.
43. A dispenser according to claim 42, wherein the coiled spring portion is carried on the pushing member.
44. A dispenser according to claim 40, wherein a biasing spring is carried by the pushing member and acts on the pinion for biasing the

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pushing member along the container by driving the pinion along the rack.
45. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the maximum rate at which products can be dispensed is approximately one every 10 to 15 seconds.
46. A dispenser according to any one of claims 37 to 40, wherein the dispensing arrangement comprises a stop positioned to arrest forward movement of the row of stacked packages under the influence of the pushing member, and a package displacing element coupled to the dispensing member for displacing a package in abutment with the stop to a position clear of the stop in response to movement of the dispensing member, thereby to enable the displaced package to advance to a dispensing position upon the dispensing member being returned to the closed position.
47. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims 11 to 19 or 37 to 40, wherein the container comprises a casing and a drawer inserted in the casing and movable outwardly through an open front end of the casing for loading packages into the dispenser.
48. A dispenser according to claim 47, wherein the pushing member is guided on a base of the casing so that the pushing member and any packages stacked in front of the pushing member remain within the casing when the drawer is pulled out of the casing, and a device is provided to deny access to packages remaining within the casing when the drawer is pulled out of the casing for loading packages into the container.

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49. A package dispenser comprising a container for receiving a row of packages stacked together one behind another, a pushing member guided for movement longitudinally of the container and biased forwardly therealong, the pushing member being arranged to bear against the last package in the row and to urge the row of packages towards a forward end of the container, and a package dispensing arrangement disposed at the forward end of the container to enable packages to be removed one at a time, the container comprising a casing with a base, and a drawer inserted into the casing and movable outwardly through an open front end of the casing for loading packages into the dispenser, the pushing member being guided on the base of the casing so that the pushing member and any packages stacked in front of the pushing member remain within the casing when the drawer is pulled out of the casing, and wherein a device is provided to deny access to packages remaining within the casing when the drawer is pulled out of the casing for loading packages into the container.
50. A dispenser according to claim 49 or 50, wherein the drawer, when extended from the casing, defines a loading chamber having a loading opening for insertion of packages, and the access denying device is adjustable between a closed position preventing passage of packages through the loading opening and a loading position permitting introduction of packages into the loading chamber through the loading opening and preventing access to previously loaded packages retained in the casing when the drawer is pulled out.

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51. A dispenser according to claim 50, wherein the access denying device conceals the previously loaded packages retained in the casing from view when adjusted to the loading position.
52. A dispenser according to claim 51, wherein the access denying device comprises a cover for closing the loading opening in the closed position thereof and forming a partition between the loading chamber and the interior of the casing in the loading position.
53. A dispenser according to claim 52, wherein the cover comprises a shutter slidable between the closed and loading positions.
54. A dispenser according to any one of claims 50 to 53, wherein the loading opening is at the top of the drawer.
55. A dispenser according to any of claims 50 to 54, wherein a latch mechanism is provided to prevent the drawer being pushed into the casing if the access denying device is not adjusted to the closed position.
56. A dispenser according to claim 55, wherein the latch mechanism locks the access denying device in the closed position when the drawer is inserted into the casing.
57. A dispenser according to claim 55 or 56, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a member mounted on the drawer for movement from a first position to a second position, the latch member in the second position being arranged to engage the casing to block movement of the drawer into the casing.

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58. A dispenser according to claim 57, wherein the latch member in the first position locks the access denying device in the closed position.
59. A dispenser according to claim 57 or 58, wherein the latch member is movable from the first position to the second position, when the drawer is pulled out of the casing, by adjustment of the access denying device away from the closed position towards the loading position.
60. A dispenser according to any one of claims 50 to 54, wherein a latch mechanism is provided to lock the access denying device in the closed position when the drawer is inserted into the casing.
61. A dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 47 to 60, wherein a catch is provided for locking the drawer in a dispensing position retracted within the casing, the catch being disengageable for releasing the drawer for movement out of the casing, and a blocking member being coupled to the pushing member for preventing disengagement of the catch when the pushing member is located in a rear part of the container.
62. A package dispenser comprising a container for receiving a row of packages stacked one behind the other, a pushing member guided for movement longitudinally of the container and biased forwardly therealong, the biasing member being arranged to bear against the last package in the row and to urge the row of packages towards a forward end of the container, a dispensing door disposed at the front end of the container and movable between a closed position and a

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partially open position to enable packages to be removed one at a time, a catch mechanism having an engaged position in which movement of the dispensing door beyond said partially open position, in the opening direction, is prevented and a disengaged position permitting movement of the dispensing door beyond said partially open position to a fully open loading position permitting groups of two or more packages to be inserted into and pushed back along the container against the bias of the pushing member.
63. A dispenser according to claim 62, wherein the dispensing member is a door hingedly mounted to the container for pivotal movement between the closed and fully open positions.
64. A dispenser according to claim 62 or 63, including a fixed stop in the container for arresting forward movement of a stack of packages in the container under the influence of the pushing member, the stop including an inclined surface to facilitate movement of packages rearwardly over the stop during the loading of packages into the container.