MAGAZINE FOR ARTICLES TO BE DISPENSED FROM A STACK

摘要

A magazine (10) for articles (38), in a stack (40), the articles (38) to be sequentially removed from a dispensing station (15) of the magazine (10). A stack positioning element (45) in the magazine (10) has an anti-backup member including a pair of pawls (50, 52) resiliently urged into engagement with cooperating ratchet teeth (56) on opposed inner wall surfaces of the magazine (10) to inhibit movement of received articles (38) away from the magazine's dispensing station (15). The magazine (10) is adapted to receive a plunger (42) which provides the required force to move the stack positioning element (45) and article stack (40) toward the dispensing station (15) incrementally as articles (38) are removed therefrom. It is arranged that pressure from the plunger (42) causes a reduction in the force of engagement of the paws (50, 52) with the ratchet teeth (56) in order to minimize the force required of the plunger (42) to move the element (45) and article stack (40) toward the dispensing station (15).