Dispensing device for tablets, lozenges, pellets, and the like

Oct. 17, 1939. R. P. WARREN ET AL 2,176,232

DISPENSING DEVICE FOR TABLETS. LOZENGES, PELLETS, AND THE LIKE

Filed Oct. 16, 1937

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Patented Oct. 17, 1939

2,176,232

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,176,232

DISPENSING DEVICE ENGES, PELLETS

FOR TABLETS, LOZ, AND THE LIKE

Riffiert P. Warren, Kenilworth, and Daniel C ff^r5ⁱⁿ’ Chicago, III., assignors to Morton Salt Co., Chicago, III., a corporation of Illinois

Application October 16, 1937, Serial No. 169,392

Claims.

This invention relates to a novel and improved dispensing device for tablets, lozenges, pellets and the like, and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed β out in the appended claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device of the kind, which is of simple and economical construction, which is capable of ready and easy operation, and which will posi10 tively deliver a single tablet or pellet at each operation of the device without breaking the tablets or pellets in the operation of the device from which they are delivered.

. The advantages of the invention will appear lo more fully as we proceed with the specification.

In the drawing:

Fig, 1 is a perspective view of the approved dispensing device.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the dispensing de20 vice.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper end of a standard provided with a part adapted to coact with a part on the dispensing device for supporting the dispensing device.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale through the center of the dispensing device.

Fig. 5 is a, horizontal section through the dispensing device in a plane indicated by the line 5—5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through the device in a plane indicated by the line 6—6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the operating member of the dispensing device.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the device with the 35 top cap removed, said view being ·on the same scale as Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring now to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing: 10 indicates a vertically elongated tube which constitutes the 40 body of the dispensing device. Said tube is closed by a top flanged cap 11 which is removably secured thereto in any convenient manner as by screws and bayonet slots as indicated at 12 in Fig. 4. 13 indicates the base of the device. It 45 consists of a cup having a flat bottom wall 14 and an upright flange 15. The flange 15 embraces and closes the bottom end of the tube 10. As shown, the flange 15 is made of increased diameter on its inner side near the top to provide 50 a shoulder 16 to receive the bottom marginal end of the tube 10, in such manner that the inner surface of the tube will be flush with the inner surface of the flange 15 below the shoulder 16. The tube and base are removably secured to55 gether by means of screws 17.

(CI. 312—94)

On the bottom wall 14 of the cup 13 is rotatably mounted a disc 18. At equally spaced arcuate distances about said disc are provided apertures 19 which are of a diameter to receive loosely the tablets or pellets to be delivered. Said .5 disc is provided with a centrally disposed, depending stud 20 which bears in an opening 21 formed in the bottom wall 14 of the base 13. A longer stud 22, co-axial with the stud 20, rises from the top of the disc 18. A dome-like mem- 1° ber 23 with a depending circular flange 24 located within a circle tangential to the inner edges of the apertures 19, is held to the disc 18 by means of a screw 29. A vertically disposed agitator 30 projects upwardly from said screw 29, being fixed ί⁵thereto in a convenient manner. It consists of a rod having a lateral bend 31 intermediate its ends.

indicates the operating arm of the dispensing device. This consists of a narrow, flat, ra- 20 dially disposed plate 26 having a bearing ring 27 at one end. Said bearing ring is mounted on the bottom stud 20 of the disc 18 and is held thereon by a washer and screw 28 so as to turn freely on said stud. 32 indicates a downwardly inclined 25 false bottom member located above the dome 23. It consists of an elliptical plate engaging at its periphery with the inner surface of the tube 10, but terminating at its lower end in an edge 33 which is spaced from the inner surface of the 30 cylinder. The agitator rod 30 projects through an aperture 34 in the plate 32 with the bend or loop 31 located slightly above said plate. The edge 33 provides a passageway or throat connecting the space below the plate 32 which may be 35 called the dispensing chamber, from the space in said tube above said plate which constitutes the main magazine in which the pellets to be dispensed are placed. An opening 35 is formed in the bottom wall 14 of the base 13 to receive 40 the pellets or tablets discharged from the apertures 19 in the disc 18. Said opening is disposed diametrically opposite the passageway or throat 33a between the edge 33 of the plate 32 and the proximate surface of the tube 10. 45

The disc 18 is provided with ratchet teeth 36 and is normally held against movement by means of a spring-back ratchet 37 which projects through an aperture 38 in the base flange 15 in the plane of the disc 18 for engagement with 50 said teeth. A horizontal slot 39 is formed in the base flange 15 in the plane of the disc 18 (see Figs. 5 and 6), and a spring-controlled pawl 40 carried by the operating arm 26 projects through said slot for engagement with the ratchet teeth 55

2,176,232 of the disc as clearly shown in Fig. 5. Said pawl is mounted in a barrel 41 in a familiar manner, as shown. The slot 39 is of such length that when the arm 26 is swung the full length of said 5 slot, an aperture 19 will be brought each time into register with the 'discharge opening 35. Above the discharge opening 35 and slightly above the plane of the disc 18 is a guard 42. This is preferably in the form of a sleeve 43 mounted on a 10 pin 44 secured to the flange i5 of the base and projecting diametrically across the discharge opening 35. Said guard prevents any tablets in the dispensing chamber above the disc 18 from blocking or otherwise interfering with a tablet 15 at the time of its discharge.

The operation of the device is as follows: The cap ί i is removed and the magazine is filled with the pellets or tablets to be dispensed. Said tablets fill the magazine above the inclined false 20 bottom plate 32 and pass through the throat 33^ainto the dispensing chamber below. They rest upon the dome 23, and as they move are guided by said dome into the annular space above the apertures i 9 and into said apertures. In the; nor25 mal position after the discharge of a tablet, the back ratchet 31 holds the disc 18 with the aperture from which the tablet has been discharged, vertically above the discharge opening. 35, as shown in Fig. 4. When another tablet is to be 30 discharged, the arm 25 is swung counter-clockwise to bring the spring-controlled pawl 40 into position for engagement with the next following tooth 36—in this movement swinging freely on the depending stud 20 of the disc i8. The arm 35 25 is then swung clockwise to bring another aperture 19 containing a tablet to a position above the discharge opening 35. When it reaches the discharge opening 35, it drops therethrough, being protected from interference by tablets in the dis40 pensing chamber above said opening by the guard 42.

Any suitable means may be attached to the tube 10 for mounting the dispensing device in upright position. As shown, the back of the tube 45 10, that is to say, the side diametrically opposite the discharge opening 35, is provided with a plate 46 with upwardly converging spaced flanges 41 which are adapted for engagement in a familiar manner upon the bracket 48 having an upright tongue 49—the bracket being secured to a standard 50.

While in describing my invention I have referred to several details of mechanical construe- 5 tion and arrangement, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto, except as pointed out in the appended claims.