APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING ITEMS COMPRISING A WHEEL WITH A PLURALITY OF POCKETS

摘要

An apparatus for dispensing items one at a time from a discharge position, comprises a wheel (1) having a plurality of pockets or hollows (5) in the circumferential surface thereof. Each pocket (5) is circumferentially spaced from its immediate neighbour by a first distance and each pocket (5) is adapted to receive an item. Vacuum means creates a reduced pressure in each of the pockets (5) to cause the item to be retained therein, and indexing means (3) allows the wheel (1) to rotate in steps through the said first distance to bring each pocket (5) in turn to the discharge position where the contents of each pocket is ejected.