초록 ▼

A dispenser has an upper loading chamber (38), a dispensing chamber (40) located beneath the loading chamber, first and second openable covers (24, 34) for the loading chamber ( 38) and a dispensing chamber (40) and a gate means (32) mounted in the housing between the two chambers and forming a lowe

A dispenser has an upper loading chamber (38), a dispensing chamber (40) located beneath the loading chamber, first and second openable covers (24, 34) for the loading chamber ( 38) and a dispensing chamber (40) and a gate means (32) mounted in the housing between the two chambers and forming a lower wall of the loading chamber (38). The gate means (32) is movable to allow selective communication of a loading chamber (38) and the dispensing chamber (40) to allow the contents of the loading chamber to fall into the dispensing chamber (40). Opening of the gate means (32) to an extent sufficient to allow the contents to fall into the dispensing chamber generates a signal from a limit switch (59) indicative that the loading chamber (38) is empty.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A dispenser comprising a loading chamber, access means for removing the contents of the dispenser and means for generating a signal indicative that the loading chamber is empty, wherein the access means comprises a further chamber, and said dispenser further comprising

The invention claimed is: 1. A dispenser comprising a loading chamber, access means for removing the contents of the dispenser and means for generating a signal indicative that the loading chamber is empty, wherein the access means comprises a further chamber, and said dispenser further comprising a gate or shutter which is movable to allow the contents of the loading chamber to be discharged from the loading chamber, and wherein the means for generating a signal indicative that the loading chamber is empty comprises means for sensing movement of the gate or shutter to a position where the contents of the loading chamber are displaced out of the loading chamber. 2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal is adapted to actuate a visual indication that the loading chamber requires refilling. 3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the visual indication is located in the vicinity of the dispenser. 4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal is adapted to illuminate a lamp to indicate that the loading chamber requires refilling. 5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 4, comprising means for directing light emitted from the lamp. 6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means for directing light comprises a light guide. 7. A dispenser as claimed in claim 6, wherein the light guide enables light from the lamp to be visible from the front of the dispenser. 8. A dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lamp is located on a support on which the dispenser is mounted. 9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lamp comprises a light emitting diode. 10. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gate or shutter forms a lower wall of the loading chamber. 11. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for generating a signal indicative that the loading chamber is empty comprises a limit switch actuated by the gate or shutter. 12. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein opening the gate or shutter discharges the contents of the loading chamber to the access means. 13. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the further chamber is located below the loading chamber. 14. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the further chamber comprises an openable cover. 15. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loading chamber comprises an openable cover to allow loading. 16. A dispenser as claimed in claim 15, further comprising locking means for selectively locking the cover of the loading chamber. 17. A dispenser as claimed in claim 16, wherein the locking means locks the cover of the loading chamber shut in the absence of a signal indicative that the loading chamber is empty. 18. A dispenser as claimed in claim 16, wherein the locking means comprises a locking member which is movable between a first, locked position in which it prevents the closed cover from being opened and a second, unlocked position in which it permits the cover to be opened. 19. A dispenser as claimed in claim 18, wherein the locking member engages the cover in the first, locked position. 20. A dispenser as claimed in claim 18, wherein the locking member is movable by an electrically-operated actuator. 21. A dispenser as claimed in claim 20, wherein the locking member is movable by means of a solenoid actuator. 22. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal indicative that the loading chamber is empty is transmitted to a control means as a notification that the loading chamber requires refilling. 23. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for cancelling the signal which is indicative that the loading chamber is empty. 24. A dispenser as claimed in claim 23, comprising manually operated means for cancelling the signal. 25. A dispenser as claimed in claim 24, wherein the cancelling means is located on the dispenser. 26. A dispenser as claimed in claim 24, further comprising means for generating a cancelling signal from a control means. 27. A dispenser as claimed in claim 26, comprising means for informing the control means that the loading chamber has been refilled. 28. A dispensing system comprising a plurality of dispensers as claimed in claim 1. 29. A dispensing system as claimed in claim 28, further comprising mounting means for mounting a plurality of dispensers in proximity to each other. 30. A dispensing system as claimed in claim 29, wherein the mounting means comprises a support frame. 31. A dispensing system as claimed in claim 29, comprising interengaging electrical connectors on the dispensers and the mounting means. 32. A dispensing system as claimed claim 1, further comprising a control means for receiving a signal from each dispenser indicative that its loading chamber is empty. 33. A dispensing system as claimed in claim 32, wherein the signal identifies the dispenser from which the signal originates. 34. A dispensing system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the signal identifies the contents of the dispenser. 35. A dispensing system as claimed in claim 32, wherein the control means comprises a computer. 36. A dispensing system as claimed in claim 32, wherein the control means is adapted to reorder stock in response to receipt of a signal indicative that a loading chamber is empty. 37. A dispenser comprising a loading chamber, access means for removing the contents of the dispenser and means for generating a signal indicative that the loading chamber is empty, wherein the access means comprises a further chamber and wherein the loading chamber comprises an openable cover to allow loading, said dispenser further comprising locking means for selectively locking the cover of the loading chamber, wherein the locking means locks the cover of the loading chamber shut in the absence of a signal indicative that the loading chamber is empty. 38. A dispenser as claimed in claim 37, wherein the locking means comprises a locking member which is movable between a first, locked position in which it prevents the closed cover from being opened and a second, unlocked position in which it permits the cover to be opened. 39. A dispenser as claimed in claim 38, wherein the locking member engages the cover in the first, locked position.