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(11) | EP 0 039 004 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Product dispensing device and method |
| (57) A product dispenser includes a storage station (34) for storing items of a product
to be dispensed, an exit from the dispenser (58), and an intermediate station (46)
inaccessible from the exit except during delivery of an item to the exit. A transport
member (12) carries one item or a predetermined number of items of the product at
a time from the storage station to the intermediate station. An item or the predetermined
number of items at the intermediate station are delivered to the exit through a gate
(14) movable between an open position and a closed position. A perceptual indication
of the presence of an item or the predetermined number of items at the intermediate
station is given by a window (20) in the dispenser or other means so the user may
know when to open the gate. A latch (70) enables and disables the gate responsive
to a timer at prescribed time intervals and another latch (62) disables the transport
member when the gate is open so delivery of the prescribed number of items to the
exit may not be exceeded. |