WO1986007575A1

WO1986007575A1 - Tablet dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO1986007575A1
Application number: PCT/GB1986/000350
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eugene Edward Davis
Original assignee: Johnsen and Jorgensen Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: Johnsen and Jorgensen Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1985-06-18
Filing date: 1986-06-17
Publication date: 1986-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1987-12-18
Also published as: GB8515357D0; ES294846U; ES294846Y; ZA864539B; AU6124186A

Abstract

A dispenser comprising a container body (1) provided with an opening at the top and a dispensing assembly (2) including a cradle (4) and an elongated rotable member (5) supported over the opening in the top of the body by the cradle and movable relatively to the cradle from an article picking up position to an article dispensing position, a pocket (8) shaped to receive an article (7) to be dispensed being provided in the dispensing member.

Description

CA

IAB EI_OISPENSER

This invention is concerned with the provision of a dispenser adapted to dispense pills, tablets, sweets or like articles one by one. The dispenser comprises a container body to hold the articles to be dispensed, the body being closed at the bottom_/* pessibly after it has been filled, and at the sides and having at the top a dispensing assembly including a dispensing member movable relatively to the container body so as to dispense the articles one by one- According to the present invention we provide a dispenser comprising a container body provided with an opening at the top and a dispensing assembly including a cradle shaped supporting element and an elongated rotatable dispensing member supported over the opening in the top of the body by the cradle-shaped supporting element and movable relatively to the cradle from an article picking up position to an article delivering or dispensing position. The dispensing member has a pocket shape*! to receive one article to be dispensed, when the^' dispensing member is in the picking up position, and to deliver the article when the dispensing member is in the delivery position. The elongated dispensing member is in the form of a roller which may be of rectangular shape when viewed from the top or the side or may be of ellipsoidal shape ie. shaped like a rugby football. The cradle shaped supporting element may be formed separately from the body and may be snap fitted or otherwise applied to. the body or the supporting element may be formed integrally with the body. In this speci ication references to the top and bottom of the dispenser refer to the dispenser when in the position shown in Fig 2 of the accompanying drawings. We have therefore provided an article dispenser wherein dispensing is effected by controlled rolling movement of a dispensing member of roCler or rugger ball shape relatively to a supporting cradle shaped to fit the dispensing member, the rolling movement first bringing the dispenser member into a position in which an article is picked up in a collecting pocket with the dispenser inverted and second bringing the dispensing member into an article delivering position.

The invention also includes a dispenser comprising a container body to hold articles, an ellipsoid dispensing member on the t body movable from an article collecting position to an article delivering position, a pocket in the dispensing member to hold a single article and a cradle shaped to support the dispensing member for rolling movement by manual manipulation from an article picking up position to an article delivering position. In order that the invention may be more clearly understood reference is now directed to the accompanying drawings, given by way of example in which:-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of dispenser

Fig. 2 is a side elevation in a suggested actual size.

Fig. 3 is a part side elevation, part longitudinal sectional view and

Fig.4 is a part cross sectioned view on the line B-B of Fig.1 Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are views corresponding to Figs. 1, 3, and 4 of a modified form of dispenser in which the dispensing member is of rugby ball shape.

Figs. 8 and 9 are views corresponding to Figs. 6 and 7 of another modified form of dispenser Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 .to 4, it will be noted that a tubular filled container body 1 is provided with a dispensing assembly 2 formed integrally with the main part of the body 1 e.g. by a moulding operation. The body 1 is closed at the bottom and at the sides and the assembly 2 closes the top of the body. The dispensing assembly comprises an outer casing forming part of the side wall of the body 1, a cradle-shaped supporting element 4, hereinafter simply called the cradle, and a dispensing member 5 supported within the cradle 4. The cradle 4 is shaped to provide an opening 3 leading into the inside of the container body 1. The dispensing member is elongated as shown in Fig 1 and is of circular section as shown in Fig 4 so that the member 5 forms a roller that can be turned relatively to the cradle 4. The cradle 4 is shaped to fit and support the member 5 and at the bottom the crqdle 4 is shaped to provide a funnel 6 surrounding the opening 3, when the dispenser is inverted to collect an article 7 to be dispensed and to guide the article into a pocket 8 in the member 5. The dispensing member 5 is angularly movable within and relatively to the cradle 4 from a first position shown in Figs 1, 3 and 4 in which the dispensing member is shown with the pocket 8 in its article dispensing position to a second position (not shown) in which the dispensing member has been moved through an angle of about 180 to bring the pocket 8 into an article receiving position.

A closure cap 11 is provided and a tamper-resistant band 12. The cap 11 has a thumb push-tab 13 and the band 12 has a tear tab 14, see Fig 4. Referring now to Figs 5 to 7, it will be noted that in general the dispenser is of similar shape to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 and the same references are used as in the description of Figs 1 to 4. The tubular container body 1 has a dispensing assembly 2 snap fitted into position over an open mouth 3 of the bod 1. The dispensing assembly 2 comprises an outer casing which fits around the mouth 3 of the body 1, a cradle shaped supporting element 4 disposed within the outer casing and an ellipsoid dispensing member 5 supported within the cradle 4. The dispensing member 5 can perhaps better be described as being shaped like a rugby football, this will clearly be seen in Fig 5. The cradle 4 is shaped at the sides to fit the member 5 and at the bottom the cradle 4 is shaped to provide a funnel 6, when the dispenser is inverted, to collect an article 7 to be dispensed and to guide the article into a pocket 8 in the member 5.

The dispensing member 5 is angularly movable within and relatively to the cradle 4 from a first position shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 in which the dispensing member is shown with the pocket 8 in its article delivering position to a second position (not shown) in which the dispensing member has been moved through an angle of about 180 to bring the pocket 8 into an article receiving position.

The dispensing member 5 is preferably moulded in two substantially identical half sections which are snap fitted along line 4 - 4 or otherwise assembled together and flutes 9 are provided in the outer profile to avoid complex mould design with 'splits' and/or thick moulded sections. The outer shape of the illustrated body 2 is the same as shown in Fig 3 and a preferred method of • fitting the outer casing 86/07575 - 5 - to the body with sealing provided by an annular bead 10 on the inner surface of the casing engaging the outer surface of the body 1, is shown in Fig 7.

A closure cap 11 is provided and a tamper-resistant band 12. The cap 11 has a thumb push tab 13 and the band 12 has., a tear tab 14, see fig 4.

Figs. 8 and 9 show an embodiment of the invention which differs from that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 only in that the cradle 4 is a snap fit on the body 1 instead of being formed integrally therewith. No further description will be given in relation to Figs. 8 and 9, but the same references have been used as in the previous description.

All parts of the dispenser are preferably moulded from a su table .plastics material. In operation, starting with the dispenser in the position and condition shown in Fig. 2 the tear band 12 is torn away, the user manipulates the band by gripping the tab 14. The cap 11 is then removed by pushing up on the thumb tab 13 in the direction of arrow A, to bring the dispenser into the position and condition shown in Figs 3, 6 and 8. The dispenser is then inverted so that the pocket 8 is directed downwards instead of upwards and the dispensing member is rolled, e.g. in the hand, to bring the pocket substantially into the middle of the funnel 6 provided by the shaping of the cradle. Now that the dispenser is inverted the articles 7 in the body 1 move towards the dispensing member and one article, guided by the funnel 6 enters the pocket 8. The dispensing member is then rolled back again more or less into the position shown in Fig. 4 and the article may be removed from the pocket or may be allowed to drop out into the hand of the person manipulating the dispenser. It is an important feature of the invention that the outer surface of the dispensing member 5 and the inner surface of the cradle 4 are so shaped that random movement of the dispensing member cannot take place, movement of the dispensing member from the first or article delivering position, shown e.g. in Figs. 1,

3 and 4 to the second or article picking up position being controlled to ensure that in the second position the pocket 8 is moved into the centre of the funnel 6. In accordance with this invention we may provide complete filled dispenser or we may provide dispensers that are ready for filling in which case the bottom of the body 1 may be open so that the body may be filled through the opening in the bottom, after which the bottom may be closed in any suitable way. Alternativel ^'when supplying a dispenser ready for filling we may provide a container body closed at the bottom and open at the top through which the body may be filled, together with a dispensing assembly adapted to be snap fitted or otherwise applied to the container body after filling. Another possibility is to provide the container body with an integrally formed cradle to which a dispensing member may be snap fitted or otherwise secured in position after filling through the opening in the dispensing member.

A further modification is shown in Figs. 10 to 14 in which Fig 10 is a longitudinal sectional view partly in elevation and Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view. In this modification which may be applied to any of the embodiments of the invention we provide a web separator 20 which spans or extends across the mouth of the funnel. The provision of the web separator 20 is especially useful where designing a dispenser according - 7 -

to this invention adapted to dispense articles such as capsules or lozenαes that have an irregular shape e.g. with a major and minor axis. In Figs 1 to 9 we show-a circular pocket 8 and a circular funnel 6 to dispense circular tablets. In this connection it will be understood that it is always advantaαeous for the shape of the Docket and of the funnel to match the shaoe of the article to be diSDensed. in Figs 10 to 14 the dispenser is adapted to dispense elongated capsules with a maior and minor axis. Therefore the pocket 0 8 and the funnel 6 will also have a maior and minor axis and the web... seoarator should span the minor axis of the. funnel 6 as shown in Fig 10. The provision of the web separator is intended to prevent a capsule of irregular shaoe bridαinα over or across the minor axis of the funnel 6 and may even '■^~ encouraαe a capsule to roll away and lie in the correct axis to match the contour of the pocket 8. A space 21 provided above the separator 20, when the dispenser is oriented in the position shown in Fiα 10, permits a capsule to roll under the separator 20, when the dispenser is inverted, to reach 20 what may be called the catchment area or position.

In the drawings of the modification described above, Fig 11 is a view similar to Fig 4, Fig 12 is a view similarto Fig. 1, Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig 3 and Fig. 14 is another view similar to Fig. 4. All these figures show dispensers 5 for use with irregular shaped capsules. In Fig. 14 an umbrella member 22 is provided further to facilitate dispensing.

Claims

1. A dispenser comprising a container body provided with an opening at the top and a dispensing assembly including a cradle and an elongated rotable dispensing member supported over the opening in the top of the body by the cradle and movable relatively to the cradle from an article picking up position to an article dispensing position, a pocket shaped to receive an article to be dispensed being provided in the dispensing member.

2. A dispenser comprising a container body provided with an opening in the top and a dispensing assembly including a dispensing member adapted to dispense articles one at a time characterised in that dispensing is effected by controlled rolling movement of the dispensing member which is of elongated rugger ball or roller shape and which is supported by a cradle which fits and supports the dispensing member, the rolling movement first bringing the dispensing member into a position in which an article is picked up in a collecting pocket with the dispenser inverted and second bringing the dispensing member into an article delivering position.

3. A dispenser according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the bottom of the body is open to permit the body to be filled with articles through the open bottom.

4. A dispenser according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the cradle embraces the dispensing member which is snap fitted into the cradle.

5. A dispenser according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the cradle embraces the dispensing member and that the cradle is formed integrally with the body.

6. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that the elongated cradle extends across the top of the body from side to side with an upper opening to receive the dispensing member and a lower funnel-shaped Lower opening to assist the dispensing member to pick up an article.

7. A dispenser according to claim 6 characterised in that the cradle has two side arms shaped to receive the dispensing member, the top of the side arms being above the horizontal diameter so that when the dispensing member has been inserted into the cradle, it cannot fall out again.'

8. A dispenser according to claim 6 characterised in that the openings in the cradle are Larger than the pocket in the dispensing member and that the cradle is shaped so that the dispensing member can be turned only on its Longitudinal axis so that the pocket can be positively Located in registra ion with one or other of the openings in the cradle simply by a rolling turning movement.

9. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims 1 and 2 or 4 to 8 filled with articles and with the bottom closed. 7575

10. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the funnel is provided with a web separator which spans the minor axis of a funnel of irregular shape, with a space below the separator when the dispenser is inverted.

11. A dispenser according to claim 10 wherein a web separator is provided with an umbrella member.