Device for dispensing granular products

Abstract

Dispensers for successive release of tablet-like or pill-like products, such as for instance sweets, sweeteners, medication, lozenges and so on are already known. A drawback of the known dispenser is that only tablet products of the same shape can be successively dispensed. The invention relates to an improved device for dispensing such products.

1 . Device for dispensing granular products, comprising:
 at least one supply container for granular products, which supply container is provided with a bottom element for supporting the granular products,   at least one dosing compartment adapted to receive at least one grain, which dosing compartment is provided with at least one dosing element for supporting the at least one grain and which dosing compartment is provided with at least one dispensing opening for dispensing the at least one grain, and   at least one first closing element for closing the dispensing opening, which first closing element is displaceable between an opened position, in which the dispensing opening is left substantially clear, and a closed position in which the dispensing opening is substantially blocked,   wherein the relative orientation between the bottom element and the dosing compartment can be changed between an active position, in which the bottom element connects to the dosing compartment such that displacement to the dosing compartment of at least one grain supported by the bottom element is possible and in which the first closing element is in the closed position, and a non-active position in which the bottom element is located at a distance from the dosing compartment such that displacement of one or more grains supported by the bottom element is not possible.   
   
   
       2 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the first closing element is coupled to the bottom element such that the first closing element is oriented in the closed position in the case the bottom element is oriented in the active position. 
   
   
       3 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the first closing element is coupled to the bottom element such that the first closing element is oriented in the opened position in the case the bottom element is oriented in the non-active position. 
   
   
       4 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the device comprises operating means coupled to the first closing element for operating the first closing element between the opened position and the closed position. 
   
   
       5 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that during the displacement from the active position to the non-active position, the bottom element and the dosing compartment are mutually displaceable over a distance corresponding to at least three times the average diameter of the granular products received in the device. 
   
   
       6 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the shortest distance between the bottom element, at the position of the dosing compartment in the active position of the device, and an upper wall of the supply container opposite the bottom element corresponds to at least four times the average diameter of the granular products received in the device. 
   
   
       7 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the shortest distance between the dosing element, in the active position of the device, and a bounding element situated above the dosing element corresponds to at least four times the average diameter of the granular products received in the device. 
   
   
       8 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the dosing compartment forms part of a housing at least partially enclosing the bottom element. 
   
   
       9 . Device as claimed in  claim 8 , characterized in that the dosing element is connected in stationary manner to the housing. 
   
   
       10 . Device as claimed in  claim 8 , characterized in that a part of the supply container forms part of the housing. 
   
   
       11 . Device as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that at least one side wall of the supply container forms part of the housing. 
   
   
       12 . Device as claimed in  claim 8 , characterized in that at least a part of the supply container is accommodated displaceably in the housing. 
   
   
       13 . Device as claimed in  claim 8 , characterized in that the dosing compartment is bounded multilaterally by the housing in the active position of the device. 
   
   
       14 . Device as claimed in  claim 8 , characterized in that the dosing compartment is bounded multilaterally by the housing in the non-active position of the device. 
   
   
       15 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the bottom element and the dosing compartment are mutually displaceable according to a substantially linear path. 
   
   
       16 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the supply container has a substantially constant volume. 
   
   
       17 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the bottom element and a horizontal surface enclose a mutual angle in at least the active position of the bottom element. 
   
   
       18 . Device as claimed in  claim 17 , characterized in that the bottom element and a horizontal surface enclose a mutual angle which is greater than 5°. 
   
   
       19 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the dosing element and a horizontal surface enclose a mutual angle at least in the non-active position of the bottom element. 
   
   
       20 . Device as claimed in  claim 19 , characterized in that the bottom element and a horizontal surface enclose a mutual angle greater than 5°. 
   
   
       21 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the dosing compartment is positioned in the device such that grains present in the dosing compartment can leave the device by falling via the dispensing opening and after displacement of the first closing element to the opened position. 
   
   
       22 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the device comprises a second closing element for blocking a passage from the supply container to the dosing compartment in the non-active position of the bottom element. 
   
   
       23 . Device as claimed in  claim 22 , characterized in that the second closing element is coupled to an upper wall of the supply container. 
   
   
       24 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the device comprises biasing means for urging the bottom element to the active position. 
   
   
       25 . Device as claimed in  claim 24 , characterized in that the biasing means comprise at least one spring. 
   
   
       26 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the device comprises a plurality of dosing compartments. 
   
   
       27 . Device as claimed in  claim 26 , characterized in that the dosing compartments can be filled simultaneously with at least one grain in the active position of the bottom element. 
   
   
       28 . Device as claimed in  claim 26 , characterized in that the dosing compartments can be filled selectively with at least one grain in the active position of the bottom element. 
   
   
       29 . Device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the device is a hand-held device.