Apparatus intended for dispensing successive zones of a disposable strip

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 utilization zones adapted 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 circulation passage by a user;
• a sliding unit, mounted so as to move in said passage, operationally coupled to said forward feed mechanism and adapted to be coupled to the downstream 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 sliding unit comprising a cursor mounted so as to slide in said circulation passage and provided with a driving member, said forward feed mechanism comprising ratchet means adapted to co-operate with said driving member to assure said coupling and to enable the step by step forward feed of said cursor, and said ratchet means being coupled to a control button mounted freely in said case to enable said step by step movement to be controlled;
• and
• wherein said ratchet means comprises a ratchet bar mounted in said case parallel to said circulation passage so as to be able to carry out an orbital movement in its own plane, said ratchet bar having means for, during each orbital movement corresponding to one forward step of said cursor, engaging with said driving member of said cursor.