Apparatus for dispensing elastic bands and associated method

摘要

Apparatus and an associated method for effecting dispensing of elastic bands. An elongated handle member cooperates with a slide member which is secured for relative longitudinal sliding movement with respect to the handle. A magazine of the elastic bands is secured to the handle and is adapted to generally forwardly discharge the elastic bands. A pusher member is pivotally mounted on a slide member and is adapted to insert a blade behind the forwardmost elastic band after which forward movement of the slide serves to urge the elastic band away from the remaining elastic bands and to cause it to be expanded radially over the uniquely configurated head portion of the magazine. In a preferred embodiment a cam and cam follower combination cause the pusher member to rotate through its cycle of operation. The first biasing element tends to urge the pusher member into elastic band engaging position and second biasing means tends to urge the elastic bands forwardly. In one preferred embodiment the pusher member is manually engaged and urged forwardly. In another preferred embodiment a rearwardly disposed slide extension may be manually engaged and urged forwardly. The magazine head preferably has a forwardly diverging head portion disposed behind a forwardly converging head portion and terminates in a face portion. In a preferred use, the face portion may be adapted to engage an orthodontic bracket. A magazine having the above-described unique configuration. A method of dispensing elastic bands exemplified by the use of the above-described apparatus.