Apparatus for dispensing successive zones of a disposable strip
First Claim
1. A dispensing apparatus requiring the use of disposable elements having the shape of strips to operate, each of these strips comprising in the longitudinal direction several successive utilisation zones intended to be detached from the strip after their use, said apparatus comprising:
- a case defining a circulation passage for said strips, said passage having, taking account of the direction in which said strips are introduced, an upstream end and a downstream end,a forward feed mechanism for bringing said strip out of the circulation passage in accordance with a step by step movement after its introduction into the latter by a user,a sliding unit mounted so as to move in said passage, operationally coupled to said forward feed mechanism and intended to be coupled to the corresponding end of said strip when it is introduced by the user, andcoupling means carried by said sliding unit and arranged so as to assure the coupling between the latter and said strip,said case also defining stop forming means situated at the upstream end of said passage, and in that it comprises in addition blocking means arranged to assure, in cooperation with said stop forming means, the blocking of said sliding unit in an upstream position of said passage in the absence of a strip in the latter and to release said sliding unit to move in said passage when the downstream end of said strip is coupled to said sliding unit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
This apparatus operates with disposable strips which are inserted therein by a user. It comprises a circulation passage (29) for the strips (34) wherein a cursor (35) is able to slide, each strip being able to be coupled to the cursor. A mechansim is provided so that the cursor (35) is able to move in the passage (29) only if it is coupled to a strip. Moreover, the cursor (35) remains blocked in the vicinity of the opening (28) of the circulation passage when no strips (34) are present. This invention can be applied in particular to objects dispensing devices such as medical tablets or to blood sugar level measuring devices.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A dispensing apparatus requiring the use of disposable elements having the shape of strips to operate, each of these strips comprising in the longitudinal direction several successive utilisation zones intended to be detached from the strip after their use, said apparatus comprising:
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a case defining a circulation passage for said strips, said passage having, taking account of the direction in which said strips are introduced, an upstream end and a downstream end, a forward feed mechanism for bringing said strip out of the circulation passage in accordance with a step by step movement after its introduction into the latter by a user, a sliding unit mounted so as to move in said passage, operationally coupled to said forward feed mechanism and intended to be coupled to the corresponding end of said strip when it is introduced by the user, and coupling means carried by said sliding unit and arranged so as to assure the coupling between the latter and said strip, said case also defining stop forming means situated at the upstream end of said passage, and in that it comprises in addition blocking means arranged to assure, in cooperation with said stop forming means, the blocking of said sliding unit in an upstream position of said passage in the absence of a strip in the latter and to release said sliding unit to move in said passage when the downstream end of said strip is coupled to said sliding unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification