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SE2350270A1 - A dispenser device, a dispenser system, use of a dispenser device or dispenser system, and a method of manufacturing a dispenser system - Google Patents

A dispenser device, a dispenser system, use of a dispenser device or dispenser system, and a method of manufacturing a dispenser system

Info

Publication number
SE2350270A1
SE2350270A1 SE2350270A SE2350270A SE2350270A1 SE 2350270 A1 SE2350270 A1 SE 2350270A1 SE 2350270 A SE2350270 A SE 2350270A SE 2350270 A SE2350270 A SE 2350270A SE 2350270 A1 SE2350270 A1 SE 2350270A1
Authority
SE
Sweden
Prior art keywords
carrier
dispenser
dispensing
claws
dispenser device
Prior art date
Application number
SE2350270A
Other languages
Swedish (sv)
Other versions
SE547154C2 (en
Inventor
Henrik Svanberg
Ranko Davidovic
Original Assignee
Phadia Ab
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Phadia Ab filed Critical Phadia Ab
Priority to SE2350270A priority Critical patent/SE547154C2/en
Priority to PCT/EP2024/055986 priority patent/WO2024188794A1/en
Priority to EP24710380.7A priority patent/EP4676279A1/en
Publication of SE2350270A1 publication Critical patent/SE2350270A1/en
Publication of SE547154C2 publication Critical patent/SE547154C2/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G59/00—De-stacking of articles
    • B65G59/10—De-stacking nested articles
    • B65G59/105—De-stacking nested articles by means of reciprocating escapement-like mechanisms
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
    • A47F1/00—Racks for dispensing merchandise; Containers for dispensing merchandise
    • A47F1/04—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs
    • A47F1/08—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs dispensing from bottom
    • A47F1/085—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs dispensing from bottom for nested articles, e.g. cups, cones
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
    • A47F1/00—Racks for dispensing merchandise; Containers for dispensing merchandise
    • A47F1/04—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs
    • A47F1/08—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs dispensing from bottom
    • A47F1/10—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs dispensing from bottom having mechanical dispensing means, e.g. with buttons or handles
    • A47F1/106—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs dispensing from bottom having mechanical dispensing means, e.g. with buttons or handles for nested articles, e.g. cups, cones
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G59/00—De-stacking of articles
    • B65G59/10—De-stacking nested articles
    • B65G59/101—De-stacking nested articles by means of oscillating escapement-like mechanisms
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/02—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines
    • G07F11/04—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other
    • G07F11/16—Delivery means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F13/00—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs
    • G07F13/10—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dispenser system (200) and a dispenser device (100) for dispensing a vessel (110) from a nested stack of vessels (110) in a hollow carrier (120). The invention also relates to the use of such a dispenser system (200) or dispenser device (100) for dispensing a vessel (110). The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such a dispenser system (200).

Description

A DISPENSER DEVICE, A DISPENSER SYSTEM, USE OF A DISPENSER DEVICE OR DISPENSER SYSTEM, AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A DISPENSER SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to dispensing a vessel from a nested stack of vessels in a holloW carrier. The present invention also relates to dispensing such a vessel from a nested stack of vessels in a holloW carrier While reducing the risk of double dispensing.
The present invention includes a dispenser device, a dispenser system, use of such a dispenser device or dispenser system, and a method of manufacturing such a dispenser system. BACKGROUND Dispensing of vessels, Which may in different applications e.g. be referred to as for example cups, caps (CAP; carrier-polymer system), tubes or Wells, is an important step in many medical analysis systems, Wherein the vessels are to be individually dispensed in process chambers before a sample is loaded and a test or analysis is performed.
There exist several solutions for dispensing vessels from a nested stack of vessels in a holloW carrier. For example, there are related art solutions that comprise using a dispenser unit together With a robot gripper that handles the transfer of small test tubes (cups, caps, vessels, Wells) from an ImmunoCAP/ EliA Carrier into the process chambers of a Phadia instrument, such as Phadia 250, Phadia 1000 or Phadia 2500. These dispensing solutions further comprise solutions for preventing double dispensing, i.e., simultaneous dispensing, into one process chamber, of two (or more) test tubes that are stuck together.
Although the mentioned dispensing solutions achieve the desired result of dispensing vessels, and may also provide solutions for preventing double dispensing, it is a problem that the existing dispenser devices and systems comprise many interacting individual pieces or components, making the manufacturing of the dispenser device and system complex and costly. The number of interacting components further adds to the complexity of operating the dispenser device and system. It also risks reducing the expected life time of the device or system due to the increased risk that one of the many components malfunctions or is worn out, or that an interconnection between two components fails. It is further complex to troubleshoot the device or system when there are many components to take into consideration. Furthermore, it can be hard to replace one or more components in the complex structure, leading to the need to replace the entire, costly, dispensing device when an error occurs.
Clearly, there is still a need for an improved dispensing solution with reduced complexity in manufacture and use, increased robustness, and lower manufacturing cost.
It is further a problem that double dispense errors can occasionally occur despite the existing complex mechanisms to prevent double dispensing. There is hence also a need for an improved solution for preventing double dispensing. SUMMARY The object of the invention is to provide a low complexity solution for dispensing vessels from a nested stack of vessels in a hollow carrier. This is achieved by a dispensing system, a dispensing device, the use of said dispensing system or device, and a method of manufacturing said dispensing system, according to the appended independent claims.
In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a dispenser system for dispensing a vessel from a nested stack of vessels in a hollow carrier having an open end for dispensing vessels from the carrier, and at least two resilient carrier claws, each carrier claw extending distally from the open end in the longitudinal direction of the carrier and gripping a lower edge of a brim of a vessel positioned within the carrier. The dispenser system comprises at least one dispenser device. Each of the at least one dispenser device comprises a hollow cylindrical body for holding a carrier, the hollow cylindrical body having a receiving end for receiving the carrier and a dispensing end for dispensing a vessel from the open end of the carrier. Each of the at least one dispenser device also comprises at least two resilient dispenser claws. Each dispenser claw extends distally from the dispensing end in the longitudinal direction of the hollow cylindrical body for gripping a lower edge of a brim of a vessel positioned within the carrier. The at least two dispenser claws are arranged along the circumference of the dispensing end such that, in a first rotational position of the carrier in relation to the dispenser device, each dispenser claw overlaps with a respective one of the at least two carrier claws and, in a second rotational position of the carrier in relation to the dispenser device, each dispenser claw is non-overlapping with each of the at least two carrier claws. The dispenser system further comprises an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly is configured to move the hollow carrier along a longitudinal symmetry axis of the hollow cylindrical body in a first direction from the receiving end towards the dispensing end and/ or move the dispenser device in a second direction opposite to the first direction, such that the hollow carrier moves from a neutral position to a dispensing position relative to the dispenser device. The actuator assembly is further configured to move the hollow carrier along the longitudinal symmetry axis of the hollow cylindrical body in the second direction and/ or move the dispensing device in the first direction, such that the hollow carrier moves from the dispensing position to the neutral position relative to the dispenser device. The actuator assembly is also configured to rotate one of the carrier or the dispenser device in relation to the other around the longitudinal axis between the first rotational position and the second rotational position.
Suitably, the dispenser system according to the present invention has a much less complex design, is more robust and easier to replace, is much cheaper to produce and less complex to operate compared to the existing solutions. In fact, the dispenser device of the dispenser system may preferably be manufactured in one piece. Of course, the different parts of the dispenser device may be manufactured separately and assembled into a single dispenser device in any suitable manner known in the art but manufacturing it as one solid piece even further improves the simplicity/ low complexity and robustness compared to existing dispensing solutions. Furthermore, the dispenser device according to the invention is, beside it preferably comprising only one piece, a passive device, which greatly reduces the complexity in operating the dispenser device or system as well as greatly increases the robustness of the dispenser device and any system in which it may be comprised. Instead of the dispensing device comprising parts that move relative to each other such as vessel separators, motorized parts or the like, the present dispensing system hence only requires movement between the passive dispensing device as a whole and a carrier comprised therein. The relative movement of the one-piece passive dispenser device and the carrier causes outward flexing or bending and then repositioning of the resilient carrier claws and the resilient dispenser claws that is needed to achieve the dispensing of a vessel from the carrier.
The number of resilient dispenser claws maybe the same as the number of resilient Carrier claws. Thereby, each resilient dispenser claw overlaps a resilient Carrier claw, and each resilient Carrier claw is overlapped by a resilient Carrier claw in the first rotational position of the Carrier and the dispenser device in relation to each other. Alternatively, the number of resilient dispenser claws may be lower than the number of resilient Carrier claws. Thereby, each resilient dispenser claw overlaps at least one resilient Carrier claw, but each resilient Carrier Claw does not have to be overlapped by a resilient dispenser claw in the first rotational position. Alternatively, the number of resilient dispenser claws may be higher than the number of resilient Carrier claws whereby, for at least one of the resilient Carrier claws, more than one resilient dispenser claw overlaps the resilient Carrier claw in the first rotational position. Suitably, for all these embodiments, each resilient dispenser Claw overlaps at least one resilient Carrier claw in the first rotational position. This overlap in the first rotational position is what enables the resilient dispenser claws to bend or flex radially outwards and the gripping end of each resilient dispenser Claw to release its grip on the lower edge of the upper brim of the vessel that it has been gripping (the lower-most vessel) when the actuator moves the Carrier in the first direction, and/ or moves the dispenser device in the second direction.
The at least two resilient dispenser claws are preferably integral with the hollow Cylindrical body. Thereby, the dispenser device Can be manufactured in one piece, which advantageously provides increased robustness of the dispenser device and lowered complexity and Cost in manufacturing the dispenser device.
The dispenser device may be made of a non-deformable plastic material, polyethylene, styrene, microtite plates or steel, or any other material suitable for Working as a spring, i.e. a material that is resilient or elastic and Can store mechanical energi and that is suitable for a certain application and/ or manufacturing process. Suitably, using a material with the desired resilient or elastic properties enable the dispenser Claws to be resilient and thereby grip the lower edge of a brim of a vessel positioned within the Carrier to prevent it from being dispensed when the vessel is to be held in place, and to bend or flex radially outwards over the Carrier Claws to release their grip on the lower edge of the brim of said vessel when the vessel is to be dispensed.
The dispenser system may Comprise a dispenser fixation device arranged to hold the dispenser device. Thereby, the passive dispenser device can be held securely in place.
The resilient carrier claws are preferably configured to bend radially outwards to a release position where a vessel is released from the carrier. The hollow cylindrical body of each of the at least one dispenser device may be dimensioned to fit around the hollow carrier to prevent the resilient carrier claws from bending to the release position except when the hollow carrier is in the dispensing position relative to the dispensing device. Advantageously, this effectively prevents double dispensing from occurring, as the hollow carrier f1ts inside the dispenser device such that the resilient carrier claws are prevented from bending to the release position except for when it is intended, i.e., when the hollow carrier is in the dispensing position relative to the dispenser device.
The dispensing system may further comprise a controller configured to generate a control signal configured to control the actuator assembly to move the hollow carrier along a longitudinal symmetry aXis of the hollow cylindrical body in a first direction from the receiving end towards the dispensing end and/ or move the dispenser device in a second direction opposite to the first direction, such that the hollow carrier moves from a neutral position to a dispensing position relative to the dispenser device; to move the hollow carrier along the longitudinal symmetry aXis of the hollow cylindrical body in the second direction and/ or move the dispensing device in the first direction, such that the hollow carrier moves from the dispensing position to the neutral position relative to the dispenser device; and/ or to rotate one or both of the carrier and the dispenser device in relation to the other around the longitudinal axis between the first rotational position and the second rotational position. Suitably, movements of the hollow carrier and/ or the dispenser device during the dispensing process can thereby be controlled and performed in an automatic and exacts manner.
In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a dispenser device for dispensing a vessel from a nested stack of vessel in a hollow carrier, the hollow carrier having an open end for dispensing vessels from the carrier, and at least two resilient carrier claws, each carrier claw eXtending distally from the open end in the longitudinal direction of the carrier and gripping a lower edge of a brim of a vessel positioned within the carrier. The dispenser device comprises a hollow cylindrical body for holding a carrier, the hollow cylindrical body having a receiving end for receiving the carrier and a dispensing end for dispensing a vessel from the open end of the carrier. The dispenser device further comprises at least two resilient dispenser claws, each dispenser claw eXtending distally from the dispensing end in the longitudinal direction of the hollow cylindrical body and gripping a lower edge of a brim of a vessel positioned within the carrier. The at least two dispenser claws are arranged along the circumference of the dispensing end such that, in a first rotational position of the carrier in relation to the dispenser device, each dispenser claw overlaps with a respective one of the at least two carrier claws and, in a second rotational position of the carrier in relation to the dispenser device, each dispenser claw is non-overlapping with each of the at least two carrier claws.
Similarly as described for the dispenser system, suitably the dispenser device according to the present invention has a much less complex design, is more robust and easier to replace, is much cheaper to produce and less complex to operate compared to the existing dispenser devices. In fact, the dispenser device may preferably be manufactured in one piece. In such embodiments, the at least two resilient dispenser claws are integral with the hollow cylindrical body. Of course, the different parts of the dispenser device may be manufactured separately and assembled into a single dispenser device in any suitable manner known in the art, but manufacturing it as one solid piece even further improves the simplicity/ low complexity and robustness compared to existing dispensing solutions. The dispenser device is, beside it preferably comprising only one piece, a passive device, which also adds to the robustness of the device. Instead of the dispensing device comprising parts that move relative to each other such as vessel separators, motorized parts or the like, the present dispensing device only requires movement between the passive dispensing device as a whole and a carrier comprised therein. The relative movement of the one-piece passive dispenser device and the carrier causes outward flexing or bending and then repositioning of the resilient carrier claws and the resilient dispenser claws that is needed to achieve the dispensing of a vessel from the carrier.
As described above in connection with the dispenser system, the number of resilient dispenser claws may be the same as the number of resilient carrier claws. Alternatively, the number of resilient dispenser claws may be lower than the number of resilient carrier claws. Alternatively, the number of resilient dispenser claws may be higher than the number of resilient carrier claws. Suitably, for all these embodiments, each resilient dispenser claw overlaps at least one resilient carrier claw. This overlap in the neutral position is what causes the resilient dispenser claws to bend or flex radially outwards and the gripping end of each resilient dispenser claw to release its grip on the lower edge of the upper brim of the vessel that it has been gripping (the lower-most vessel) when the actuator moves the carrier in the first direction and/ or moves the dispenser device in the second direction, so that the carrier and the dispensing position are positioned into the neutral position in relation to each other.
As further described above in connection with the dispenser system, the dispenser device may be made of a non-deformable plastic material, polyethylene, styrene, microtite plates or steel, or any other material suitable for Working as a spring, i.e. a material that is resilient or elastic and can store mechanical energy and that is suitable for a certain application and/ or manufacturing process. Thereby the dispenser claws are enabled to grip the lower edge of a brim of a vessel positioned within the carrier to prevent it from being dispensed when the vessel is to be held in place, and to bend or flex radially outwards over the carrier claws to release their grip on the lower edge of a brim of said vessel when the vessel is to be dispensed.
The hollow cylindrical body of the dispenser device may be dimensioned to fit around a hollow carrier to prevent the resilient carrier claws of the carrier from bending radially outwards to a release position wherein a vessel is released from the carrier, except when the hollow carrier has been moved in a first direction from the receiving end towards the dispensing end along a longitudinal symmetry axis of the hollow cylindrical body has been moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction, such that the hollow carrier and the dispenser device are in a dispensing position relative to each other.
A third aspect of the invention includes the use of a dispenser device or dispenser system according to any of the embodiments described herein, that is in the summary, detailed description, or the claims, for dispensing a vessel from a nested stack of vessels in a hollow carrier.
A fourth aspect of the invention includes a method for manufacturing a dispenser system. The method comprising providing a hollow carrier having an open end for dispensing vessels from the carrier, and at least two resilient carrier claws, each carrier claw eXtending distally from the open end in the longitudinal direction of the carrier and gripping a lower edge of a brim of a vessel positioned within the carrier. The method further comprises providing at least one dispenser device, wherein the dispenser device comprises a hollow cylindrical body having a receiving end for receiving the carrier and a dispensing end for dispensing a vessel from the open end of the carrier, and wherein the dispenser device further comprises at least two resilient dispenser claws arranged along a circumference of a dispensing end, each dispenser claw eXtending distally from the dispensing end in the longitudinal direction of the hollow cylindrical body, and the hollow cylindrical body. The method further comprises providing an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly is configured to move the hollow carrier along a longitudinal symmetry aXis of the hollow cylindrical body in a first direction from the receiving end towards the dispensing end and/ or move the dispenser device in a second direction opposite to the first direction, such that the hollow carrier moves from a neutral position to a dispensing position relative to the dispenser device. The actuator assembly is also configured to move the hollow carrier along the longitudinal symmetry aXis of the hollow cylindrical body in the second direction and/ or move the dispensing device in the first direction, such that the hollow carrier moves from the dispensing position to the neutral position relative to the dispenser device. The actuator assembly is further configured to rotate one or both of the carrier or the dispenser device in relation to the other around the longitudinal axis between the first rotational position and the second rotational position. The actuator assembly is further configured to introduce the hollow carrier in the hollow cylindrical body of the dispenser device such that the at least two resilient dispenser claws grip a lower edge of a brim of a vessel positioned within the carrier, and such that, in the first rotational position of the carrier, each dispenser claw overlaps with a respective one of the at least two carrier claws and, in the second rotational position of the carrier, each dispenser claw is non-overlapping with each of the at least two carrier claws.
Suitably, the manufacturing of the dispenser system is greatly simplified and much less expensive and less time-consuming compared to manufacturing known dispenser systems comprising a large number of separate and possibly relatively moveable and interacting parts.
Any advantage described in connection with one aspect of the invention, e.g. the dispenser system, is equally applicable to corresponding embodiments of other aspects of the invention, e.g. the dispenser device, the use of such a dispenser system or dispenser device, and the method for manufacturing such a dispenser system.
Many additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood by the skilled person in view of the detailed description below. DRAWINGS The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, wherein: Fig.
Fig.
Fig.
Fig.
Fig.
Fig.
Fig.
Figs. 7- 10c Fig. 4a 4b 11 schematically discloses a dispenser system according to one or more embodiment of the invention; schematically discloses a dispenser device according to one or more embodiment of the invention; schematically discloses a vessel that can be dispensed from a nested stack of vessels using embodiments of the invention; schematically discloses a hollow carrier for holding a nested stack of vessels; schematically discloses a hollow carrier holding a nested stack of vessels; schematically discloses a dispenser device according to one or more embodiment of the invention; schematically discloses a dispenser device according to one or more embodiment of the invention holding a hollow carrier With a nested stack of vessels; schematically disclose a sequence of steps performed to dispense a vessel from a nested stack of vessels in a hollow carrier, using a dispenser system or dispenser device according to one or more embodiment of the invention; and is a flow chart showing a method for manufacturing a dispenser system according to an embodiment of the invention.
All the figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the respective embodiments, whereas other parts may be omitted or merely suggested. Any reference number appearing in multiple drawings refers to the same object or feature throughout the drawings, unless otherwise indicated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION There is provided a dispenser system, a dispenser device, a method for manufacturing such a dispenser system, and use of such a dispenser system or dispenser device to solve the problem of how to dispense a vessel from a nested stack of vessels in a hollow carrier with reduced complexity in manufacture and use of the dispenser system or device, lower manufacturing cost, and increased robustness. Embodiments of the invention further provides an improved solution for preventing double dispensing.
It is noted that any sizes, dimensions, angles, relations etc. given herein are not to be seen as only covering the exact given values but also include minor variations due to manufacturing tolerances. It is also to be noted that features from the various embodiments described herein may freely be combined, unless it is explicitly stated that such a combination would be unsuitable.
There are references herein to a first direction D1 and a second direction D2, which are shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7-10c. The first direction D1 is from a receiving end of a dispenser device towards a dispensing end of the dispenser device, along a longitudinal symmetry axis A of the hollow cylindrical body 130 of the dispenser device 100. The longitudinal aXis A is in other words aligned with the longitudinal centreline of the hollow cylindrical body 130 of the dispenser device 100. The first direction may hereinafter also be referred to as the downward direction. The second direction D2, which is opposite to the first direction D1 and hence is directed from the dispensing end towards the receiving end along the same longitudinal symmetry axis, may hereinafter also be referred to as the upward direction. Throughout this disclosure, if a feature of an element is referred to as being "upper", e.g. an upper brim of a vessel, or "lower", e.g. a lower edge of the upper brim, this is to be understood as being above or below other features of the element along the downward, first, direction D1 or the upward, second, direction D2. For example, the "lower-most" vessel in the nested stack of vessels is to be understood as the vessel furthest from the receiving end in the first direction D1 (downward). It is thereby assumed throughout this disclosure that the dispenser device is kept in an upright position, i.e. that the longitudinal symmetry axis of the dispenser device coincides with the vertical direction. This is for easy of illustration, and the skilled person of course understands that the longitudinal axis of the dispenser device may deviate from the vertical irection during manufacturing or assembly of a dispenser system, as well as during use of the dispenser device or system described herein.
In a first aspect of the invention, a dispenser system 200 for dispensing a vessel 1 10 from a nested stack of vessels 1 10 in a hollow carrier 120 will first be described with reference to Figs. 1, 3, 4a, 4b, 5 and 6.
Fig. 1 schematically discloses a dispenser system 200 according to one or more embodiment of the invention, for dispensing a vessel 110 from a nested stack of vessels 110 in a hollow carrier 120. The hollow carrier 120 has an open end 122for dispensing vessels 110 from the carrier 120. This is illustrated in Fig. 4a, which schematically discloses a hollow carrier 120 for holding a nested stack of vessels 1 10. Turning now to Fig. 3, there is illustrated a schematic vessel 1 10, showing an upper brim 1 12 with an upper edge 1 13 and a lower edge 1 1 1. The hollow carrier 120 has at least two resilient carrier claws 126, each carrier claw 126 extending distally from the open end 122 in the longitudinal direction of the carrier 120 and gripping a lower edge 111 of a brim 112 of a vessel 110 positioned within the carrier 120.
As shown in the figures, it is the lower-most vessel in the stack, in other words the vessel that is next in line to be dispensed, that is gripped and hence held in place by the carrier claws 126, before it is dispensed. The lower-most vessel in the stack is in other words the lower-most undispensed vessel. Hence, when a vessel is dispensed and is therefore no longer in the stack, the next vessel (the vessel next in line to be dispensed) becomes the lower-most vessel in the stack. For reference we turn to Figs. 4a and 4b, wherein Fig. 4a shows a schematic illustration of an empty hollow carrier 120, and Fig. 4b shows the same hollow carrier 120 holding a nested stack of vessels 110. In Fig. 4b the lower-most vessel in the nested stack, i.e. the vessel next in line to be dispensed, is referred to as 1 10". When the lower-most vessel 1 10' in the stack has been dispensed, the next/subsequent vessel 110" will become the lower-most vessel in the nested stack. After dispensing vessel 1 10", vessel 1 10"' will become the lower-most vessel in the nested stack, etc.
The hollow carrier 120, also referred to herein as just carrier 120, may have continuously or section-wise tapered walls, along the entire length of the carrier 120 or a part of it, such that at least the inner circumference of the carrier 120 at the open end 122 is smaller than the inner circumference at the opposing end of the carrier 120. In some embodiment, depending on the shape of the vessels 110 to be dispensed, this design may be suitable to hold the nested stack of vessels 1 10 in the carrier 120. However, as is understood by the skilled person, many variations of the shape and size of the vessels 1 10, the carrier 120, the interior of the hollow cylindrical body 130, the resilient carrier claws 126, the dispenser claws 140 etc., that achieve the functions described herein are possible within the scope of the claimed invention. As can further be seen from Fig. 4b, the upper brims 1 12 of two adjacent vessels 1 10 in the nested stack are typically separated by a distance d. The distance d may of 11 course vary depending on the size and shape, i.e. the design, of the vessels 110 to be stacked. Having a distance d between the upper brims 112 of two adjacent vessels 1 10 in the nested stack facilitates gripping the lower edge 1 1 1 of an upper brim 1 12 of a vessel 110 in the nested stack, by a carrier claw 126 or a dispenser claw 140. The distance d may be selected, and the vessels hence be designed, to fit the gripping ends of the claws of the carrier and/ or the dispenser.
The dispenser system 200 comprises at least one dispenser device 100 and an actuator assembly 150, or one actuator assembly for each dispenser device 100. Below, the dispenser system 200 is described according to its simplest configuration, comprising a single dispenser device 100 and one actuator assembly 150. In embodiments wherein there is more than one dispenser device 100 in the system 200, the configuration and function of each dispenser device 100 is the same as described for the one dispenser device 100 below and. In embodiments wherein there is more than one actuator assembly 150 in the system 200, the configuration and function of each actuator assembly 150 is the same as described for the one actuator assembly 150 below.
The dispenser device 100 comprises a hollow cylindrical body 130 for holding a carrier 120. As schematically illustrated in the dispenser device 100 of Fig. 5, the hollow cylindrical body 130 has a receiving end 131 for receiving the carrier 120 and a dispensing end 132 for dispensing a vessel 1 10 from the open end 122 of the carrier 110. That a vessel 110 is positioned within the carrier 120 may therefore also be referred to as the vessel 110 being comprised in the nested stack of vessels 1 10 in a carrier 120 when the carrier 120 is positioned in, or held by, the hollow cylindrical body 130.
As further shown in the figures, the dispenser device 100 comprises at least two resilient dispenser claws 140, each dispenser claw 140 eXtending distally from the dispensing end 132 in the longitudinal direction of the hollow cylindrical body 130 for gripping a lower edge 111 of a brim 112 of a vessel 110 positioned within the carrier 120, wherein the at least two dispenser claws 140 are arranged along the circumference of the dispensing end 132 such that, in a first rotational position ROTP1 of the carrier 120 in relation to the dispenser device 100, each dispenser claw 140 overlaps with a respective one of the at least two carrier claws 126 and, in a second rotational position ROTP2 of the carrier 120 in relation to the dispenser device 12 100, each dispenser claW 140 is non-overlapping With each of the at least two carrier claWs 12 6.
The actuator assembly 150 is configured to move the holloW carrier 120 along a longitudinal symmetry aXis A of the holloW cylindrical body 130 in a first direction D1 from the receiving end 131 towards the dispensing end 132 and/ or move the dispenser device 100 in a second direction D2 opposite to the first direction, such that the holloW carrier 120 moves from a neutral position NP to a dispensing position DP relative to the dispenser device 100. In other Words, from a starting point Wherein the holloW carrier 120 and the dispenser device are positioned in the neutral position NP in relation to each other the actuator assembly 150 is configured to move one or both of the holloW carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100 along the longitudinal symmetry axis A such that the holloW carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100 move from the neutral position NP, relative to each other, to the dispensing position DP, relative to each other.
The dispensing position DP is the relative position of the holloW carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100, along the axis A, in Which dispensing of the lower-most vessel 110' in the nested stack of vessels 110 is possible. In any other relative position of the dispenser device 100 and the carrier 120, referred to herein by the collective term the neutral position NP, the carrier claWs 126 are prevented by the holloW cylindrical body 130 of the dispenser device 100 to flex out and release their grip the lower edge 111' of the brim 112' of the lower-most vessel 110', Whereby the vessel cannot be dispensed.
The actuator assembly 150 is further configured to move the holloW carrier 120 along the longitudinal symmetry axis A of the holloW cylindrical body 130 in the second direction D2 and/ or move the dispensing device 100 in the first direction D1, such that the holloW carrier 120 moves from the dispensing position DP to the neutral position NP relative to the dispenser device 100. In other Words, from a starting point Wherein the holloW carrier 120 and the dispenser device are positioned in the dispensing position DP in relation to each other the actuator assembly 150 is configured to move one or both of the holloW carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100 along the longitudinal symmetry aXis A such that the holloW carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100 move from the dispensing position DP, relative to each other, to the neutral position NP, relative to each other. 13 The actuator assembly 150 is further configured to rotate one of the carrier 120 or the dispenser device 100 in relation to the other around the longitudinal axis A between the first rotational position ROTP1 and the second rotational position ROTP2. In other Words, the actuator assembly 150 is configured to rotate the carrier 120 around the longitudinal axis A, to rotate the dispenser device 100 around the longitudinal axis A, or to rotate both the carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100 around the longitudinal axis A.
The actuator assembly 150 comprises at least one actuator configured to move the carrier 120 along a longitudinal axis A of the holloW cylindrical body 130 in the first and second directions D1, D2. The same at least one actuator may be configured to also rotate the carrier 120 in relation to the dispenser device 100 around the longitudinal axis A. Alternatively, the actuator assembly may comprise an additional at least one actuator configured to rotate the carrier 120 in relation to the dispenser device 100 around the longitudinal axis A.
The number of dispenser claWs 140 can be less than, the same as, or more than the number of carrier claWs 126. In all of these embodiments, each dispenser claW 140 overlaps a carrier claW 126 in the first rotational position ROTPl of the carrier 120, so that each dispenser claW 140 is caused by the carrier claW or claWs 126 With Which it overlaps to bend or flex radially outWards When the distal end, or gripping end, of the dispenser claW 140 also overlaps the carrier claW or claWs 126 vertically, in height. This is for example the case When the holloW carrier 120 and the dispensing device 100 are in the dispensing position DP relative to each other. It is noted that each resilient carrier claW 126 does not have to be overlapped by a resilient dispenser claW 140 in the first rotational position ROTP1.
That each dispenser claW 140 extends distally in the longitudinal direction of the holloW cylindrical body 130 includes extending distally in the main longitudinal direction of the holloW cylindrical body 130, Within a certain allowed tolerance. For example, each dispenser claW 140 may extends distally in the exact longitudinal direction of the holloW cylindrical body 130, or in a direction that is at an angle of up to 25 degrees radially inWards from the exact longitudinal direction of the holloW cylindrical body 130. Depending on the material and dimensions of the dispenser system components and the outer dimensions of the holloW carrier from Which the vessel is to be dispensed, other angles of deviation from the longitudinal direction may be suitable. Similarly, that each carrier claW 126 extends distally from the open 14 end 122 in the longitudinal direction of the carrier 120 includes extending distally in the main longitudinal direction of the carrier 120, within a certain allowed tolerance, depending on the design of the hollow carrier 120.
The resilient claws 126 and 140 may be referred to as resilient elements configured to grip. As described herein and shown in the figures, each of the resilient carrier claws 126 as well as each of the resilient dispenser claws 140 grip a lower edge 1 11 of a brim 111 of a vessel 110 positioned within the carrier 120, unless the resilient carrier claw 126 or resilient dispenser claw 140 is bent or flexed radially outwards. As is evident to the skilled person, a claw is an element that inherently comprises means for gripping. As illustrated in the figures, a gripping end (i.e. the distal end) of each resilient carrier claw 126 or dispenser claw 140 may extend radially inwards compared to the main extension direction of the entire claw, to facilitate gripping. In Fig. 4a, such an inward eXtending gripping end of one of the carrier claws 126 is indicated by a dashed outline 127. Similarly, in Fig. 5, such an inward eXtending gripping end of one of the dispenser claws 140 is indicated by a dashed outline 141.
For completeness, Fig. 6 schematically discloses a dispenser device 100 according to any embodiment described herein holding a hollow carrier 120 with a nested stack of vessels 110, wherein the lower-most vessel 110' is held by the carrier claws 126 and ready to be dispensed. In Fig. 6, the dispenser device 100 and the hollow carrier 120 are shown in the neutral position NP relative to each other, and further in the first rotational position ROTPl relative to each other, wherein each dispenser claw 140 overlaps with a respective one of the at least two carrier claws 126.
That each dispenser claw 140 overlaps with a respective one of the at least two carrier claws 126 in the first rotational position ROTPl of the carrier 120 in relation to the dispenser device 100 means that each dispenser claw 140 overlaps at least partially with a respective one of the at least two carrier claws 126. Preferably, but not necessarily, at least half of the width of each dispenser claw 140 overlaps with a respective one of the at least two carrier claws 126. Also preferably, but not necessarily, each dispenser claw 140 is circumferentially aligned with a respective one of the at least two carrier claws 126, i.e. the longitudinal symmetry axis of the dispenser claw 140 is aligned with the longitudinal symmetry axis of the respective carrier claw 126. Thereby, in the first rotational position ROTP1, each dispenser claw 140 can be caused to bend or flex radially outwards by a carrier claw 126 (or more than one carrier claw 126), if the gripping ends of the dispenser claws 140 also overlap the carrier claws 126 vertically, in height. This is illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10c, showing steps of using the dispenser device or system according to the invention for dispensing a vessel 1 10.
That each dispenser claw 140 is non-overlapping with each of the at least two carrier claws 126 in the second rotational position ROTP2 of the carrier 120 in relation to the dispenser device 100 means that no part of any dispenser claw 140 overlaps any part of any of the at least two carrier claws 126. This may also be described as each dispenser claw 140 being circumferentially displaced from each of the at least two carrier claws 126. Thereby, in the second rotational position ROTP2, the dispenser claws 140 cannot be caused to bend or flex radially outwards by the carrier claws 126. This is illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10c, showing steps of using the dispenser device or system according to the invention for dispensing a vessel 1 10.
Suitably, the dispenser system 200 according to the present invention has a much less complex design, is more robust and easier to replace, is much cheaper to produce and less complex to operate compared to the existing solutions. The at least two resilient dispenser claws 140 are preferably integral with the hollow cylindrical body 130, and the dispenser device 1 10 of the dispenser system is preferably manufactured in one piece. Of course, the different parts of the dispenser device 110 may be manufactured separately and assembled into a single dispenser device in any suitable manner known in the art but manufacturing it as one solid piece even further improves the simplicity/ low complexity and robustness of the dispenser device 110 and system 200 according to embodiments herein compared to existing dispensing solutions.
Furthermore, the dispenser device 110 according to the invention is, beside it preferably comprising only one piece, a passive device, which greatly reduces the complexity in operating the dispenser device 110 or system 200 as well as greatly increases the robustness of the dispenser device and the system in which it is comprised. Instead of the dispensing device 1 10 comprising parts that move relative to each other such as vessel separators, motorized parts or the like, the present dispensing system 200 hence only requires movement between the passive dispensing device 110 as a whole and a carrier 120 comprised therein. The relative movement of the one-piece passive dispenser device 1 10 and the carrier 120 causes radially outward flexing and then repositioning (radially inward, returning to original 16 position) of the resilient carrier claWs 126 and the resilient dispenser claWs 140 that is needed to achieve the dispensing of a vessel from the carrier.
Thereby, the dispenser device can be manufactured in one piece, Which advantageously provides increased robustness of the dispenser device and lowered complexity and cost in manufacturing the dispenser device.
In one or more embodiment, the dispenser system 200 may comprise a dispenser fixation device 160 arranged to hold the dispenser device 1 10. Thereby, the dispenser device 1 10 can be held securely in place during the dispensing process.
The dispenser system 200 may further comprise a controller 170 configured to generate a control signal C configured to control the actuator assembly 150 to move the holloW carrier 120 along a longitudinal symmetry aXis A of the holloW cylindrical body 130 in the first direction D1 from the receiving end 131 towards the dispensing end 132 and/ or move the dispenser device 100 in the second direction D2 opposite to the first direction, such that the holloW carrier 120 moves from a neutral position NP to a dispensing position DP relative to the dispenser device 100, in any of the manners described herein in connection With the dispenser system 200. Alternatively, or additionally, the control signal C is in these embodiments configured to control the actuator assembly 150 to move the holloW carrier 120 along the longitudinal symmetry aXis A of the holloW cylindrical body 130 in the second direction D2 and/ or move the dispensing device 100 in the first direction D1, such that the holloW carrier 120 moves from the dispensing position DP to the neutral position NP relative to the dispenser device 100, in any of the manners described herein in connection With the dispenser system 200. Alternatively, or additionally, the control signal C is in these embodiments configured to control the actuator assembly 150 to rotate one or both of the carrier 120 or the dispenser device 100 in relation to the other around the longitudinal axis A between the first rotational position ROTP1 and the second rotational position ROTP2, in any of the manners described herein in connection With the dispenser system 200. The actuator assembly 150 is in these embodiments in turn configured to be controllable in response to a control signal C.
The resilient carrier claWs 126 may be configured to bend, or flex, radially outWards to a release position RP Where a vessel 110 is released from the carrier 120. The holloW cylindrical body 130 of the dispenser device 100 is in this embodiment dimensioned to fit around the holloW carrier 120 to prevent the resilient carrier claWs 17 126 from bending to the release position RP except When the hollow carrier 120 is in the dispensing position DP relative to the dispensing device 100. Advantageously, this effectively prevents double dispensing from occurring, as the hollow carrier 120 thereby fits inside the dispenser device 1 10 in such a manner such that the resilient carrier claws 126 are prevented from bending to their release position RP except for When it is intended, i.e., When the hollow carrier 120 is in the dispensing position DP relative to the dispenser device 110. This is further illustrated in, and described in connection With, Figs. 7 to 10c.
The dispenser device 110 may be made of a non-deformable plastic material, polyethylene, styrene, microtite plates or steel, or any other material suitable for Working as a spring, i.e. a material that is resilient or elastic and can store mechanical energy and that is suitable for a certain application and/ or manufacturing process.
In a non-limiting embodiment, the carrier 120 is made of styrene, but other suitable materials or combinations of materials may also be used depending on the application and/ or manufacturing process.
As non-limiting examples, the vessels 110 may be any type of EliATM Well or ImmunoCAPfM vessels and the hollow carrier may be a hollow carrier for holding EliATM Well or ImmunoCAPfM vessels. The dispenser device 100 and dispenser system 200 of the invention may of course be adapted to fit vessels and carriers of other dimensions.
In a second aspect of the invention, a dispenser device 100 for dispensing a vessel 1 10 from a nested stack of vessels 1 10 in a hollow carrier 120 Will now be described With reference to Figs. 2, 3, 4a, 4b, 5 and 6. All features described for Figs. 3, 4a, 4b, 5 and 6 in connection With the dispenser system 200 are the same When relating to the dispenser device 100 and Will therefore not be described again.
Fig. 2 schematically discloses a dispenser device 100 according to one or more embodiment of the invention. The at least one dispenser device 100 of the dispenser system 110 may be the dispenser device according to any embodiment described under the second aspect of the invention. Correspondingly, any embodiment of the dispenser device 100 described in connection With the dispenser system 200, i.e. in the first aspect of the invention, may be applied to the dispenser device 100 of the second aspect of the invention. 18 Turning to Fig. 2, in combination with Figs. 3, 4a, 4b, 5 and 6, there is shown a dispenser device 100 for dispensing a vessel 1 10 from a nested stack of vessels 110 in a hollow carrier 120, the hollow carrier 120 having an open end 122 for dispensing vessels 110 from the carrier 120, and at least two resilient carrier claws 126, each carrier claw 126 extending distally from the open end 122 in the longitudinal direction of the carrier 120 and gripping a lower edge 111 of a brim 112 of a vessel 110 positioned within the carrier 120. The dispenser device 100 comprises a hollow cylindrical body 130 for holding a carrier 120, the hollow cylindrical body 130 having a receiving end 131 for receiving the carrier 120 and a dispensing end 132 for dispensing a vessel 110 from the open end 122 of the carrier 110. The dispenser device 100 further comprises at least two resilient dispenser claws 140, each dispenser claw 140 extending distally from the dispensing end 132 in the longitudinal direction of the hollow cylindrical body 130 and gripping a lower edge 11 1 of a brim 111 of a vessel 110 positioned within the carrier 120, wherein the at least two dispenser claws 140 are arranged along the circumference of the dispensing end 132 such that, in a first rotational position ROTPl of the carrier 120 in relation to the dispenser device 100, each dispenser claw 140 overlaps with a respective one of the at least two carrier claws 126 and, in a second rotational position ROTP2 of the carrier 120 in relation to the dispenser device 100, each dispenser claw 140 is non- overlapping with each of the at least two carrier claws 126.
The dispenser device 100 thereby has a much less complex design, is more robust and easier to replace, is much cheaper to produce and less complex to operate compared to the existing dispenser devices.
The dispenser device 100 may preferably be manufactured in one piece. In such embodiments, the at least two resilient dispenser claws 140 are integral with the hollow cylindrical body 130. Alternatively, the different parts of the dispenser device may be manufactured separately and assembled into a single dispenser device in any suitable manner known in the art. The dispenser device 100 is, beside it preferably comprising only one piece, a passive device, which also adds to the robustness of the device. Instead of a dispensing device comprising parts that move relative to each other such as vessel separators, motorized parts or the like, the present dispensing device 100 only requires movement between the passive dispensing device 100 as a whole and a carrier 120 comprised therein. The relative movement of the one-piece passive dispenser device 100 and the carrier 120 causes the outward flexing or bending and then repositioning of the resilient carrier claws 126 and the resilient 19 dispenser claws 140 that is needed to achieve the dispensing of a vessel 1 10 from the carrier 120. The required movements may be achieved manually by an operator holding and moving at least one of the dispenser device 100 and the carrier 120, or automatically by means of one or more actuator performing the movements as described herein, e.g. at least one actuator of the actuator assembly 150 described herein. The actuator assembly 150 may in these embodiments be controlled by a controller 160 to perform the required movements.
The number of resilient dispenser claws 140 may be the same as the number of resilient carrier claws 126. Alternatively, the number of resilient dispenser claws 140 may be lower than the number of resilient carrier claws 126. Alternatively, the number of resilient dispenser claws 140 may be higher than the number of resilient carrier claws 126. Suitably, for all these embodiments, each resilient dispenser claw 140 overlaps at least one resilient carrier claw 126 in the first rotational position ROTP1. This overlap is what causes the resilient dispenser claws 140 to bend or flex radially outwards and the gripping end of each resilient dispenser claw 140 to release its grip on the lower edge of the upper brim of the vessel 1 10 that it has been gripping (the lower-most vessel 110) when the carrier 120 is moved in the first direction D1 and /or the dispenser device 100 is moved in the second direction D2.
As described herein, the dispenser device 100 may be made of a non-deformable plastic material, polyethylene, styrene, microtite plates or steel, or any other material suitable for Working as a spring, i.e. a material that is resilient or elastic and can store mechanical energy and that is suitable for a certain application and/ or manufacturing process. By making the dispenser device 100 from a material with these properties, or a combination of such materials, the dispenser claws 140 are enabled to grip the lower edge 1 1 1 of a brim 1 12 of a vessel 1 10 positioned within the carrier 120 to prevent it from being dispensed when the vessel 110 is to be held in place, and further to bend or flex radially outwards over the carrier claws 126 over which they overlap to release their grip on the lower edge 1 1 1 of the brim 1 12 of said vessel 110 when the vessel 1 10 is to be dispensed.
The hollow cylindrical body 130 of the dispenser device 100 may be dimensioned to fit around the hollow carrier 120 to prevent the resilient carrier claws 126 of the carrier 120 from bending radially outwards to a release position RP wherein a vessel 1 10 is released from the carrier 120, except when the carrier 120 has been moved in the first direction D1 from the receiving end towards the dispensing end along the longitudinal symmetry axis A of the hollow cylindrical body 130, and/ or the dispenser device 100 has been moved in the second direction D2 opposite to the first direction D 1 , such that the hollow carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100 are in a dispensing position DP relative to each other. In Fig. 10a, the release position RP of the carrier claws 126, i.e. when the resilient carrier claws 126 of the carrier 120 are bent radially outwards to release a vessel 1 10 from the carrier 120, is illustrated.
A third aspect of the invention includes the use of a dispenser system 200 according to any embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, or a dispenser device 100 according to any embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, for dispensing a vessel 1 10 from a nested stack of vessels in a hollow carrier 120.
With reference to Figs. 7-10c we will now describe an example sequence of steps performed to dispense a vessel 110 (the lower-most vessel 1 10') from a nested stack of vessels 110 in a hollow carrier 120, using a dispenser device 100 or dispenser system 200 according any embodiment described herein.
All movements in the first direction D1, in the second direction D2 and rotational movements between the first and second rotational position ROTP1, ROTP2, described for the steps of Figs. 7 to 10c may be performed by the actuator assembly 150 according to any embodiment described herein, or manually, or a combination thereof. If a movement is performed by the actuator assembly 150, it may be performed in response to a control signal C.
As illustrated in Fig. 7, a hollow carrier 120 may be introduced and lowered, i.e. moved downwards in the first direction D1, into the hollow cylindrical body 130 of a dispenser device 100. Alternatively, or additionally, the dispenser device 100 may be moved upwards in the second direction D2 to obtain the same resulting relative displacement of the hollow carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100 along the aXis A. The carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100 are in this step in the first rotational position ROTPl in relation to each other, wherein each dispenser claw 140 overlaps with a respective one of the at least two carrier claws 126. The carrier 120 is moved in the first direction D1 and/ or the dispenser device 100 is moved in the second direction D2 until the carrier 120 is held by the hollow cylindrical body 130 and the carrier claws 126 are in contact with, or gripped by, their respective overlapping dispenser claws 140. The carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100 are now in a neutral position NP in relation to each other. 21 As shown in Fig. 8a, the carrier 120 is then moved further in the first direction D1 (or alternatively or additionally the dispenser device 100 is moved further in the second direction D2), causing the resilient dispenser claws 140 to bend, or flex, radially outwards over the carrier claws 126 as the gripping end 141 of each dispenser claw 140 passes the gripping end 127 of the respective carrier claw(s) 126 that the dispenser claw 140 overlaps. The carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100 are still in the first rotational position ROTPl in relation to each other. This means that the carrier claws 126 have now loaded a spring force in the dispenser claws 140 and, by the overlap in the first rotational position ROTP1, keep the dispenser claws 140 from returning to their original position, i.e. the non-bent state. Fig. 8b illustrates that the movement(s) of Fig. 8a continue until the gripping ends 127 of the carrier claws 126 are positioned between the brim 1 12' of the lower-most vessel 1 10' and the brim 1 12" of the subsequent vessel 1 10" in the nested stack. In other words, the gripping ends 127 of the carrier claws 126 are now positioned, vertically, in the gap represented by the distance d. The carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100 have now moved, along the axis A, to the dispensing position DP in relation to each other, as the carrier claws 126 are no longer prevented by the hollow cylindrical body 130 of the dispenser device 100 to flex radially outwards to the release position RP. However, since the carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100 are still in the first rotational position ROTP1 in relation to each other, the overlapping dispenser claws 140 stops the carrier claws 126 from flexing out and releasing their grip on the brim 1 12' of the lower-most vessel 1 10".
As illustrated in Fig. 9a, at least one of the carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100 is then rotated in relation to each other around the axis A to move the carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100 from the first rotation position ROTP1 to the second rotational position ROTP2 relative to each other. In the second rotational position ROT2 shown in Fig. 9, each dispenser claw 140 is non-overlapping with each of the carrier claws 126. Since there is now no overlap between the carrier claws 126 and the dispenser claws 140, and the carrier claws 126 thus no longer keep the dispenser claws 140 from releasing the built-up spring force and flex back to their original position, the rotation causes the dispenser claws 140 to flex back or bend back radially inwards. The dispenser claws 140, being positioned vertically in the gap represented by the distance d, will thereby engage with, or grip, the lower edge 1 1 1" of the brim 1 12" of the subsequent vessel 1 10". Fig. 9b shows a different rotational view of Fig. 9a. From the view of Fig. 9b, it can more clearly be seen that the rotation 22 into the second rotational position ROTP2 has caused the dispenser claws 140 to flex back to their original position, thereby engaging, or gripping, the lower edge 1 1 1" of the brim 1 12" of the subsequent vessel 1 10".
Fig. 10a illustrates that the carrier 120 is then moved upwards in the second direction D2 (or alternatively or additionally the dispenser device 100 is moved downwards in the first direction D 1) along the axis A. By the movement, the dispenser claws 140 come into contact with and engage the upper edge 1 13' of the brim 1 12' of the lower-most vessel 1 10', causing the lower-most vessel 1 10' to be pushed down in the first direction D1 by the dispenser claws 140. At the same time, the relative upward displacement of the carrier 120 causes the carrier claws 126 to bend, or flex, radially outwards to their release position RP as the gripping end 127 of each carrier claw 126 passes the lower edge 111' of the brim 112' of the lower-most vessel 110'. The carrier claws 126 are at first still gripping the lower edge 1 1 1' of the brim 1 12' of the lower-most vessel 1 10', but will be forced to open / bend radially outwards, because of the higher force in the dispenser claws 140 pushing against the upper edge 113' of the brim 112' of the lower-most vessel 110'. The carrier claws 126 are thereby caused to no longer grip the lower edge 111' of the lower-most vessel 110'. The bending into the release position has also loaded a spring force in the carrier claws 126. When the relative movement along axis A described in connection with Fig. 10a continues the carrier claws 126 will pass the upper edge 113' of the brim 1 12' of the lower-most vessel 1 10'. As illustrated in Fig. 10b, this causes the carrier claws 126 to release the built-up spring force and flex back, or bend back radially inwards, from the release position RP to their original position, whereby they engage with and grip the lower edge 1 1 1" of the brim 1 12" of the subsequent vessel 1 10". At the same time, caused by the continuation of the relative movement, the lower-most vessel 110' is pushed downward by the engaging dispenser claws 140. Since the lower-most vessel 110' now has nothing holding it, the push of the dispenser claws 140 causes it to be dispensed. This is illustrated in Fig. 10c. After the lower-most vessel 110' is dispensed from the nested stack of vessels 110, the subsequent vessel 1 10" becomes the new lower-most vessel in the nested stack of vessels 1 10.
Since the carrier claws 126 now grip the lower edge 111" of the brim 112" of the subsequent vessel 110", i.e. the new lower-most vessel, double dispensing is prevented. According to embodiments herein, the risk of double dispensing is even further reduced by the hollow cylindrical body 130 of the dispenser device 100 being dimensioned to fit around the hollow carrier 120 to prevent the resilient carrier claws 23 126 from bending to the release position RP except when the hollow carrier 120 is in the dispensing position DP relative to the dispensing device 100. As the carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100 have now returned to the neutral position NP in relation to each other, the carrier claws 126 are prevented from bending to the release position RP. As shown in Fig. 10c, the carrier claws 126 are at this point partly inside the hollow cylindrical body 130 of the dispenser device 100, as indicated by the dotted circle 128, which effectively stops the carrier claws 126 from flexing out into the releasing position RP.
After step 10c, at least one of the carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100 is rotated until the carrier 120 and the dispenser device 100 are in the first rotational position ROTP1 in relation to each other and at the relative position along the axis A as illustrated in Fig. 7. To dispense the next lower-most vessel in the nested stack from the carrier 120, the process is iterated from Fig. 8a to Fig. 10c.
With reference to the flow diagram in Fig. 11, we will now describe a method for manufacturing a dispenser system 200 according to an embodiment of the invention.
The method illustrated in Fig. 1 1 comprises: In step 1100: providing a hollow carrier 120 having an open end 122 for dispensing vessels 110 from the carrier 120, and at least two resilient carrier claws 126, each carrier claw eXtending distally from the open end 122 in the longitudinal direction of the carrier 120 and gripping a lower edge 1 1 1 of a brim 1 12 of a vessel 1 10 positioned within the carrier 120.
The hollow carrier 120 is the hollow carrier described in connection with other aspects of the invention herein.
In step 1110: providing at least one dispenser device 100 comprising a hollow cylindrical body 130 having a receiving end 131 for receiving the carrier 120 and a dispensing end 132 for dispensing a vessel 110 from the open end 122 of the carrier 110, the dispenser device 100 further comprising at least two resilient dispenser claws 140 arranged along a circumference of a dispensing end 132, each dispenser claw 140 extending distally from the dispensing end 132 in the longitudinal direction of the hollow cylindrical body 130, and the hollow cylindrical body 130.
The dispenser device 100 is the dispenser device according to any embodiment described herein. 24 In step 1 120: providing an actuator assembly 150.
The actuator assembly 150 is configured to move the hollow carrier 120 along a longitudinal symmetry aXis A of the hollow cylindrical body 130 in a first direction D1 from the receiving end 131 towards the dispensing end 132 and/ or move the dispenser device 100 in a second direction D2 opposite to the first direction, such that the hollow carrier 120 moves from a neutral position NP to a dispensing position DP relative to the dispenser device 100. The actuator assembly 150 is further configured to move the hollow carrier 120 along the longitudinal symmetry aXis A of the hollow cylindrical body 130 in the second direction D2 and/or move the dispensing device 100 in the first direction D1, such that the hollow carrier 120 moves from the dispensing position DP to the neutral position NP relative to the dispenser device 100. The actuator assembly 150 is also configured to rotate at least one of the carrier 120 or the dispenser device 100 in relation to the other around the longitudinal axis A between the first rotational position ROTP1 and the second rotational position ROTP2.
The actuator assembly 150 is the actuator assembly according to any embodiment described herein.
In step 1 130: introducing the hollow carrier 120 in the hollow cylindrical body 130 of the dispenser device 100, such that the at least two resilient dispenser claws 140 grip a lower edge 111 of a brim 111 of a vessel 1 10 positioned within the carrier 120, and such that, in the first rotational position ROTPl of the carrier 120, each dispenser claw 140 overlaps with a respective one of the at least two carrier claws 126 and, in the second rotational position ROTP2 of the carrier 120, each dispenser claw 140 is non-overlapping with each of the at least two carrier claws 126.
In some embodiments, the hollow carrier 120 is introduced into the hollow cylindrical body 130 of the dispenser device 100 by means of the actuator assembly 150. Suitably, this provides an automated and reliable introduction of the carrier 120, controllable in response to a control signal generated by the controller 170. Alternatively, the carrier 120 may be manually introduced. This alternative suitable reduces the system complexity and allows for a dispenser system 200 that is low complexity, low cost and smaller in size.
The carrier 120 is at this stage introduced into the neutral position NP, in preparation of dispensing of the first vessel 1 10, i.e. the lower-most vessel 1 10' in the nested stack of vessels in the carrier 120.
Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the draWings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.
The term "comprises/ comprising" When used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components. The term does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more additional elements, features, inte- gers, steps or components or groups thereof. The indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. In the claims, the Word "or" is not to be interpreted as an exclusive or (sometimes referred to as "XOR"). On the contrary, expressions such as "A or B" covers all the cases "A and not B", "B and not A" and "A and B", unless otherwise indicated. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
It is also to be noted that features from the various embodiments described herein may freely be combined, unless it is explicitly stated that such a combination Would be unsuitable.
The invention is not restricted to the described embodiments in the figures but may be varied freely Within the scope of the claims. 26

Claims (16)

1. A dispenser system (200) for dispensing a vessel (110) from a nested stack of vessels (1 10) in a hollow carrier (120) having an open end (122) for dispensing vessels (110) from the carrier (120), and at least two resilient carrier claws (126), each carrier claw (126) extending distally from the open end (122) in the longitudinal direction of the carrier (120) and gripping a lower edge (1 11) of a brim (112) of a vessel (110) positioned within the carrier (120), the dispenser system (200) comprising: at least one dispenser device (100) comprising: - a hollow cylindrical body (130) for holding a carrier (120), the hollow cylindrical body (130) having a receiving end (131) for receiving the carrier (120) and a dispensing end (132) for dispensing a vessel (1 10) from the open end (122) of the carrier (110); and at least two resilient dispenser claws (140), each dispenser claw (140) extending distally from the dispensing end (132) in the longitudinal direction of the hollow cylindrical body (130) for gripping a lower edge (11 1) of a brim (11 1) of a vessel (110) positioned within the carrier (120), wherein the at least two dispenser claws (140) are arranged along the circumference of the dispensing end (132) such that, in a first rotational position (ROTP1) of the carrier (120) in relation to the dispenser device (100), each dispenser claw (140) overlaps with a respective one of the at least two carrier claws (126) and, in a second rotational position (ROTP2) of the carrier (120) in relation to the dispenser device (100), each dispenser claw (140) is non- overlapping with each of the at least two carrier claws (126), and an actuator assembly (150) configured to: - move the hollow carrier (120) along a longitudinal symmetry aXis (A) of the hollow cylindrical body (130) in a first direction (D1) from the receiving end (131) towards the dispensing end (132) or smove the dispenser device (100) in a second direction (D2)opposite to the first direction, such that the hollow carrier (120) moves from a neutral position (NP) to a dispensing position (DP) relative to the dispenser device (100); - move the holloW carrier (120) along the longitudinal symmetry axis (A) of the hollow cylindrical body (130) in the second direction (D2) or move the dispensing device (100) in the first direction (D1), such that the hollow carrier (120) moves from the dispensing position (DP) to the neutral position (NP) relative to the dispenser device (100); and - rotate one of the carrier (120) or the dispenser device (100) in relation to the other around the longitudinal aXis (A) between the first rotational position (ROTP1) and the second rotational position (ROTP2). .
2. The dispenser system (200) according to claim 1, Wherein the number of resilient dispenser c1aWs (140) is the same as the number of resilient carrier claWs (126). .
3. The dispenser system (200) according to claim 1 or 2, Wherein the number of resilient dispenser claWs (140) is lower than the number of resilient carrier claWs (126). .
4. The dispenser system (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, Wherein the at least two resilient dispenser c1aWs (140) are integral With the holloW cylindrical body (130). .
5. The dispenser system (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, Wherein the dispenser device (100) is made of a non-deformable plastic material, polyethylene, styrene, microtite plates or steel. .
6. The dispenser system (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a dispenser fiXation device (160) arranged to hold the dispenser device (100). .
7. The dispenser system (200) according to any of the preceding claims, Wherein the resilient carrier c1aWs (126) are configured to bend radially outWards to a release position (RP) Where a vessel (110) is released from the carrier (120), and Wherein the hollow cylindrical body (130) of each of the at least one dispenser device (100) is dimensioned to fit around the hollow carrier (120) to prevent the resilient carrier claws (126) from bending to the release position (RP) except when the hollow carrier (120) is in the dispensing position (DP) relative to the dispensing device (100).
8. The dispenser system (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a controller (170) configured to generate a control signal (C), the control signal (C) being configured to control the actuator assembly (150) to: - move the hollow carrier (120) along a longitudinal symmetry aXis (A) of the hollow cylindrical body (130) in the first direction (D1) or move the dispenser device (100) in the second direction (D2), such that the hollow carrier (120) moves from a neutral position (NP) to a dispensing position (DP) relative to the dispenser device (100); - move the hollow carrier (120) along the longitudinal symmetry aXis (A) of the hollow cylindrical body (130) in the second direction (D2) or move the dispensing device (100) in the first direction (D1), such that the hollow carrier (120) moves from the dispensing position (DP) to the neutral position (NP) relative to the dispenser device (100); or - rotate one of the carrier (120) or the dispenser device (100) in relation to the other around the longitudinal axis (A) between the first rotational position (ROTP1) and the second rotational position (ROTPQ).
9. A dispenser device (100) for dispensing a vessel (1 10) from a nested stack of vessels (110) in a hollow carrier (120), the hollow carrier (120) having an open end (122) for dispensing vessels (110) from the carrier (120), and at least two resilient carrier claws (126), each carrier claw (126) eXtending distally from the open end (122) in the longitudinal direction of the carrier (120) and gripping a lower edge (11 1) of a brim (112) of a vessel (110) positioned within the carrier (120), wherein the dispenser device (100) comprises: - a hollow cylindrical body (130) for holding a carrier (120), the hollow cylindrical body (130) having a receiving end (131) for receiving the carrier (120) and a dispensing end (132) for dispensing a vessel (1 10) from the open end (122) of the carrier (110); and- at least two resilient dispenser claws (140), each dispenser claw (140) extending distally from the dispensing end (132) in the longitudinal direction of the hollow cylindrical body (130) and gripping a lower edge (1 1 1) of a brim (1 1 1) of a vessel (1 10) positioned Within the carrier (120), wherein the at least two dispenser claws (140) are arranged along the circumference of the dispensing end (132) such that, in a first rotational position (ROTPl) of the carrier (120) in relation to the dispenser device (100), each dispenser claw (140) overlaps with a respective one of the at least two carrier claws (126) and, in a second rotational position (ROTP2) of the carrier (120) in relation to the dispenser device (100), each dispenser claw (140) is non-overlapping with each of the at least two carrier claws (126).
10. The dispenser device (100) according to claim 9, wherein the at least two resilient dispenser claws (140) are integral with the hollow cylindrical body (130).
11. The dispenser device (100) according to any one of the claims 9 or 10, wherein the number of resilient dispenser claws (140) is the same as the number of resilient carrier claws (126) of the carrier (120) to be received in the hollow cylindrical body (130).
12. The dispenser device (100) according to any one of the claims 9 or 10, wherein the number of resilient dispenser claws (140) is lower than the number of resilient carrier claws (126) of the carrier (120) to be received in the hollow cylindrical body (130).
13. The dispenser device (100) according to any one of the claims 9 to 12, wherein the dispenser device (100) is made of a non-deformable plastic material, polyethylene, styrene, microtite plates or steel.
14. The dispenser device (100) according to any one of the claims 9 to 13, wherein the hollow cylindrical body (130) of the dispenser device (100) is dimensioned to fit around a hollow carrier (120) to prevent the resilient carrier claws (126) of the carrier (120) from bending radially outwards to a release position (RP) wherein a vessel (110) is released from the carrier (120), except when the hollow carrier (120) has been moved in a first direction (D1) from the receiving end (131) towards the dispensing end (132) along a longitudinal symmetry aXis (A) of the hollow cylindrical body (130), or the dispenser device (100) has been moved in a second direction (D2) opposite to the first direction, such that the hollow carrier (120) and the dispenser device (100) are in a dispensing position (DP) relative to each other.
15. Use of a dispenser system (200) of any one of the claims 1-8, or a dispenser device (100) of any one of the claims 9-14, for dispensing a vessel (110) from a nested stack of vessels in a hollow carrier (120).
16. Method for manufacturing a dispenser system (200), the method comprising - providing a hollow carrier (120) having an open end (122) for dispensing vessels (110) from the carrier (120), and at least two resilient carrier claws (126), each carrier claw eXtending distally from the open end (122) in the longitudinal direction of the carrier (120) and gripping a lower edge (11 1) of a brim (112) of a vessel (1 10) positioned within the carrier (120); - providing at least one dispenser device (100) comprising a hollow cylindrical body (130) having a receiving end (131) for receiving the carrier (120) and a dispensing end (132) for dispensing a vessel (110) from the open end (122) of the carrier (110), the dispenser device (100) further comprising at least two resilient dispenser claws (140) arranged along a circumference of a dispensing end (132), each dispenser claw (140) extending distally from the dispensing end (132) in the longitudinal direction of the hollow cylindrical body (130), and the hollow cylindrical body (130); - providing an actuator assembly (150) configured to: - move the hollow carrier (120) along a longitudinal symmetry aXis (A) of the hollow cylindrical body (130) in a first direction (D1) from the receiving end (131) towards the dispensing end (132) or move the dispenser device (100) in a second direction (D2) opposite to the first direction, such that the hollow carrier (120) moves from a neutral position (NP) to a dispensing position (DP) relative to the dispenser device (100); - move the hollow carrier (120) along the longitudinal symmetry axis (A) of the hollow cylindrical body (130) in the second direction (D2) or move the dispensing device (100) in the firstdirection (D1), such that the ho11ow carrier (120) moves from the dispensing position (DP) to the neutral position (NP) re1ative to the dispenser device (100); and - rotate one of the carrier (120) or the dispenser device (100) in relation to the other around the 1ongitudina1 aXis (A) between the first rotational position (ROTP1) and the second rotational position (ROTP2); and introducing the ho11ow carrier (120) in the ho11ow cylindrical body (130) of the dispenser device (100) such that the at 1east two resi1ient dispenser c1aws (140) grip a 1ower edge (1 11) of a brim (1 11) of a vesse1 (110) positioned within the carrier (120), and such that, in the first rotational position (ROTPl) of the carrier (120), each dispenser c1aw (140) over1aps with a respective one of the at 1east two carrier c1aws (126) and, in the second rotationa1 position (ROTP2) of the carrier (120), each dispenser c1aw (140) is non-overlapping with each of the at 1east two carrier c1aws (126). 32
SE2350270A 2023-03-10 2023-03-10 A dispenser device, a dispenser system, use of a dispenser device or dispenser system, and a method of manufacturing a dispenser system SE547154C2 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE2350270A SE547154C2 (en) 2023-03-10 2023-03-10 A dispenser device, a dispenser system, use of a dispenser device or dispenser system, and a method of manufacturing a dispenser system
PCT/EP2024/055986 WO2024188794A1 (en) 2023-03-10 2024-03-07 A dispenser device, a dispenser system, use of a dispenser device or dispencer system, and a method of manufacturing a dispenser system
EP24710380.7A EP4676279A1 (en) 2023-03-10 2024-03-07 A dispenser device, a dispenser system, use of a dispenser device or dispencer system, and a method of manufacturing a dispenser system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE2350270A SE547154C2 (en) 2023-03-10 2023-03-10 A dispenser device, a dispenser system, use of a dispenser device or dispenser system, and a method of manufacturing a dispenser system

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SE2350270A1 true SE2350270A1 (en) 2024-09-11
SE547154C2 SE547154C2 (en) 2025-05-06

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EP (1) EP4676279A1 (en)
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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2538185A (en) * 1946-09-26 1951-01-16 Edith M Anderson Cup dispenser
US2730268A (en) * 1952-04-22 1956-01-10 Marbac Corp Cup dispenser
US2974828A (en) * 1958-04-16 1961-03-14 Diamond National Corp Vertical chute dispenser
EP0744145A1 (en) * 1994-08-26 1996-11-27 Florencio Garcia Egido Manual dispenser of disposable heat-shaped cups
GB2356857A (en) * 1999-10-23 2001-06-06 David Ramsay Sibbald Apparatus for dispensing cups from the bottom of a nested stack

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4535913A (en) * 1984-02-08 1985-08-20 Hooie David W Game chip storage and dispensing device
CN210008779U (en) * 2018-12-31 2020-02-04 广州富港万嘉智能科技有限公司 Automatic discharging machine for appliances

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2538185A (en) * 1946-09-26 1951-01-16 Edith M Anderson Cup dispenser
US2730268A (en) * 1952-04-22 1956-01-10 Marbac Corp Cup dispenser
US2974828A (en) * 1958-04-16 1961-03-14 Diamond National Corp Vertical chute dispenser
EP0744145A1 (en) * 1994-08-26 1996-11-27 Florencio Garcia Egido Manual dispenser of disposable heat-shaped cups
GB2356857A (en) * 1999-10-23 2001-06-06 David Ramsay Sibbald Apparatus for dispensing cups from the bottom of a nested stack

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SE547154C2 (en) 2025-05-06
WO2024188794A1 (en) 2024-09-19
EP4676279A1 (en) 2026-01-14

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