(19)
(11) EP 0 236 039 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
22.02.1989 Bulletin 1989/08

(43) Date of publication A2:
09.09.1987 Bulletin 1987/37

(21) Application number: 87301558.0

(22) Date of filing: 24.02.1987
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)4: B65D 83/04
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE ES FR GB IT NL SE

(30) Priority: 01.03.1986 GB 8605130

(71) Applicant: The Boots Company PLC
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG2 3AA (GB)

(72) Inventors:
  • Fullwood, Richard Leslie
    Chilwell Nottingham (GB)
  • Halliday, Alfred William
    Shipley West Yorkshire (GB)

(74) Representative: Thacker, Michael Anthony et al
THE BOOTS COMPANY PLC Group Patents Department 10th Floor, Newland House 49 Mount Street
Nottingham NG2 3AA
Nottingham NG2 3AA (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Tablet dispenser


    (57) Tablets are dispensed one at a time from a dispenser in which the tablets are randomly orientated in a reservoir (29) and pass first into a triangular chamber (10), and then along a passageway (15) of such a width that only a single column of abutting tablets can be accommodated. The chamber and passageway are formed in an inner member (5) which moves from a first non-dispensing position to a second dispensing position within the casing of the dispenser. When the inner member moves from the first to the second position, the lowermost tablet in the passageway enters a gate and from there falls into a predispensing chamber as the inner member is urged towards its first position by a spring 6. When the inner member is again moved to the second position the tablet in the predispensing chamber is dispensed.







    Search report