GB2219279A

GB2219279A - Dispenser for small articles

Info

Publication number: GB2219279A
Application number: GB8813268A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter J Tapper
Original assignee: Showcard Systems Retail Ltd
Current assignee: Showcard Systems Retail Ltd
Priority date: 1988-06-04
Filing date: 1988-06-04
Publication date: 1989-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-04
Also published as: GB2219279B; GB8813268D0

Abstract

A dispenser (10) for small articles, such as sweets, nuts, beans, etc., provides for improved hygiene and minimum wastage by comprising a closed receptacle for the articles, a hatch (21) normally closing an access opening to the receptacle, an enclosed dispensing chute (30), a release slide (35) operable to free articles contained within the chute, and a rake (27) manually operable from outside the receptacle to transfer articles into the chute. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPENSER FOR SMALL ARTICLES SPECIFICATION This invention relates generally to dispensers for small articles, and is particularly concerned with dispensers designed for use with confectionery items which are to be sold "loose" on a self-service basis.

There has been a trend in the retailing of confectionery towards self-service shops where the customer is encouraged to select confectionery items from one or more of a range of products which are stored and displayed in transparent containers.

Conventionally, these containers have lids or covers which the customer has to open in order to gain access to the contents, with a scoop being provided for the customer to take items from the stock. However, such dispensing arrangements are open to the objection that they are unhygienic, in that the customer is not prevented from handling the items and indeed is required to place a hand into the container. There is also the possibility of foreign bodies being introduced into the container. Additionally, the open access to the interior of the container can encourage customers to "taste" an item before deciding to purchase, thus introducing a further element of wastage so far as the retailer is concerned.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dispenser for small articles, especially confectionery, in which these problems are overcome or at least substantially reduced, and in which in particular the dispensing of confectionery products is more hygienically controlled.

Broadly in accordance with the present invention this is achieved by a dispenser for comprising a receptacle for small articles, a hatch normally closing an access opening to the interior of the receptacle, an enclosed dispensing chute in communication with the interior of the receptacle, release means operable to free articles contained within the dispensing chute, and gathering means manually operable from outside the receptacle to transfer articles from within the receptacle into the dispensing chute.

The gathering means is preferably in the form of a rake, the handle of which projects through the hatch in order to enable it to be grasped by the user.

Because the receptacle is normally closed, and the dispensing chute is enclosed, the user can only make physical contact with the articles after they have been released from the dispensing chute. The dispenser of the present invention thus provides a clear interface between the customer and the articles to be dispensed.

References herein to "small articles" is intended to be understood broadly to include any items which are capable of being dispensed from bulk storage, and is not to be regarded as being limited to sweets and chocolates. For example, various grocery products would also lend themselves to being dispensed on a self-service basis using the dispensers of the present invention. These could include beans, nuts, etc. by way of example.

In order that the dispenser of the present invention may be more fully understood, one presently preferred embodiment of dispenser in accordance with the invention will now be described in more detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the dispenser; Fig. 2 is a side view of the chassis of the dispenser; Figs. 3(a), (b) and (c) are plan, side and front views respectively of the hatch of the dispenser; Figs. 4(a) and (b) are side and front views respectively of the chute of the dispenser; and, Figs. 5(a), (b) and (c) are rear, side and front views respectively of the release slide of the dispenser.

The dispenser shown in the drawings is made entirely of transparent material, for example of clear acrylic sheet. The dispenser is preferably made up of a plurality of components which can each be made by simple machining operations, with the components then being assembled, for example by being glued together, to form the completed article. This form of fabrication is easier and considerably cheaper than using moulding techniques.

As shown in the drawings, the dispenser comprises a chassis 10 which, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, is formed from sheet material bent to define a flat top 11, a flat base 12, a vertical rear wall 13, a downturned top edge portion 14 and an up-turned lower front portion 15. The lower front portion 15 is provided midway across its width with a rectangular recess indicated at 16 in Fig. 2. The sides of the chassis 10 are closed by a pair of side panels 17 and 18, each of which is provided with an outwardly projecting pin 19 adjacent to the upper front edge.

The chassis 10 may be provided with slots 20 in the rear wall 13, to receive fixing screws to enable the dispenser to be mounted on a wall.

The front, upwardly-facing access opening to the receptacle defined by the chassis 10 and side panels 17, 18 is normally closed by a hatch 21 which is shown most clearly in Figs. 3(a) to 3(c). The hatch 21 comprises a flat plate having a projecting tongue 22, the width of which is the same as the width of the recess 16 in the front of the chassis. The hatch 21 includes a pair of side flanges 23, each of which is provided with a T-shaped slot 24 for engagement by the pin 19 on the outside of the side panel. As will be apparent from the drawings, the T-shaped slot 24 has one arm of the T longer than the other. In normal use the hatch is pushed down so that the pins 19 locate at the ends of the longer arms of the slots, as can be seen from Fig. 1.The hatch 21 is also provided with an elongate slot 25 which, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1, receives a rod-shaped handle 26 of a rake which is indicated generally at 27. The rake 27 comprises the rod-shaped handle 26 and a toothed plate 28 which is shaped to enable items to be dragged forward within the receptacle. The teeth 29 have recesses therebetween, each of which subtends an angle of 900.

The sides of the plate 28 are curved or bent slightly in order to improve the gathering power of the rake.

The rake handle 26 projects out through the elongate slot 25 in the hatch 21, the shape of the slot 25 permitting the rake to be moved sufficiently within the receptacle to enable it to perform its function.

However, the rake 27 is captive within the dispenser.

Beneath and behind the hatch 21 is a dispensing chute which is indicated generally at 30 in Fig. 1 and which is shown in more detail in Figs. 4(a) and 4(b).

The dispensing chute 30 comprises a generally U-shaped chute having a base 31 and side walls 32 and 33. The side walls 32, 33 are slotted, as indicated at 34 by broken lines, in order to -receive a release slide 35 therein. The release slide 35 is designed to be manually raised and lowered within the slots 34 in the dispensing chute. With the release slide 35 lowered, items raked into the dispensing chute are held therein, whereas when the release slide 35 is raised those contents of the dispensing chute will fall from the chute into a bag or other receiving container. The release slide 35 comprises a flat plate 36 having an upper end flange 37, on which wording such as is shown in Fig. 5(c) can be printed for example. The plate portion 36 of the slide is provided with a stop 38 which may be glued on to the plate and which serves as a locating means.

The front face of the hatch 21 is provided with a label holder 39 which is designed to receive a label which can be provided with information as to price or information as to the contents of the dispenser for example.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A dispenser for small articles comprising a receptacle for such articles, a hatch normally closing an access opening to the interior of the receptacle, an enclosed dispensing chute in communication with the interior of the receptacle, release means operable to free articles contained within the dispensing chute, and gathering means manually operable from outside the receptacle to transfer articles from within the receptacle into the dispensing chute.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the gathering means is a rake.

3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, in which the rake has a handle projecting through the hatch to enable it to be grasped by a user.

4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the rake comprises an at least partially curved plate having a plurality of substantially triangular shaped teeth along the lower edge thereof.

5. A dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the receptacle is generally box-shaped and the hatch closes an upwardly facing access opening at the front of the receptacle above the dispensing chute.

6. A dispenser as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the receptacle comprises a flat base, a flat top, a vertical rear wall, a pair of flat vertical side panels, and at the front a down-turned top portion and an up-turned bottom portion which define the access opening therebetween, with the bottom front portion having a recess therein in communication with the dispensing chute.

7. A dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the release means comprises a plate which can be raised and lowered within the chute to free or block the passage of articles along the chute.

8. A dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the dispensing chute is U-shaped in crosssection and is closed over the top by a projecting tongue of the hatch.

9. A dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the hatch is provided on each side with a flange having a T-shaped slot therein, the slots being engageable with respective locating pins on side panels of the receptacle, and with the upper arm of each Tshaped slot being longer than the lower arm thereof.

10. A dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, made from transparent plastics material, with the components assembled together by adhesive.

11. A dispenser for small articles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.