Iron Man™ PEZ™ Dispenser: A Technical Description

Jon Harding TWR 2000

Nov. 6, 2015 Technical Description Assignment

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Table of Contents

1. General Description…………………………………………………………………...….…3

2. Main Components…………………………………………………………………....……...4

2.1. Head…………………………………………………………………………….……….4

2.1.1. Hinge……………………………………………………………………………...4

2.1.2. Bolt………………………………………………………………………………...4

2.1.3. Face………………………………………………………………………………..5

2.2. Magazine………………………………………………………………………………..5

2.2.1. Flexor……………………………………………………………………………...5

2.2.2. Tube……………………………………………………………………………….6

2.2.3. Follower…………………………………………………………………………..6

2.2.4. Spring……………………………………………………………………………..6

2.2.5. Stand………………………………………………………………………………7

3. Cycle of Operation…………………………………………………………………………..7

3.1. Loading the Magazine…………………………………………………………………7

3.2. Dispensing the Candy……………………………………………………….…………8

4. References…………………………………………………………………………………….9

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1. General Description The Iron Man™ PEZ™ Dispenser is a simple plastic toy that dispenses PEZ™ candy. It was manufactured in China from red polystyrene plastic and is sturdy enough for repeated, long-term, gentle use. It is designed to appear uniform on the outside, and most of the toy’s mechanism is concealed. It stands 10.7 cm tall when in the upright position, so it can be displayed as part of a collection (see Figure 1). The PEZ™ logo is embossed in the plastic on both sides of the stand. PEZ™ candy is stored in the magazine and dispensed one piece at a time by pulling the head back in a lever action.

The Iron Man™ PEZ™ Dispenser is recommended for children ages three and up. It can be purchased at many stores that sell sundry items, like drugstores, dollar stores, and grocery stores. This one in particular is crafted in the red-and-gold image of the Marvel Comics character Iron Man™, and was released by PEZ™ Candy, Inc. in 2015 to coincide with the release of the Marvel Studios film Avengers: Age of Ultron. It costs $2.00 CDN at Dollarama, one of a set of four featuring the main characters from that film.

Figure 1: Iron Man™ PEZ™ Dispenser

Head

Magazine

10.7 cm

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2. Main Components The Iron Man™ PEZ™ Dispenser is comprised of two main components: (1) the head and (2) the magazine (see Figure 1). They are connected by a formed plastic hinge at the back of the head.

2.1 Head

The head is made of a single piece of molded red polystyrene and is situated at the top of the device. It measures 3.6 cm in height from chin to crown, and has the trademark of Marvel embossed on the back. The head has three important features: (1) the hinge, (2) the bolt, and (3) the face (see Figure 2). The head has two operational positions: upright (for display and candy storage) and tilted (for candy delivery).

2.1.1 Hinge

The hinge is where the head connects to the magazine, and is the fulcrum of motion in the operation of the device. It consists of two round indentations on either side of the inside of the head, molded to fit two corresponding nubs at either side of the top of the magazine. When connected, the hinge allows the head to tilt back to expose the candy. CAUTION: These nubs fit the indentations solidly and are not intended to come apart.

2.1.2 Bolt

The bolt is a curved, rigid, 0.8 cm plastic rod that extends down from the back of the head and pushes the candy forward. On the inside of the curve is a second, smaller ledge that rests against the flexor component of the magazine, allowing the head to spring back into its display position after the candy has been delivered (see Figure 3).

Figure 2: Components of the Head

Face

Hinge

Bolt

3.6

cm

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2.2.3 Face

The face, while not technically a component of the mechanism, is the device’s primary distinguishing feature. Its features are molded polystyrene plastic, coloured with gold paint, with white paint for the eyes. The Iron Man™ character of film and comic book fame is clearly recognizable.

2.2 Magazine

The magazine is a spring-loaded mechanism that stores the candy and raises it into the delivery chamber. It measures 7.5 cm in length and is comprised of five components: (1) the flexor, (2) the tube, (3) the follower, (4) the spring, and (5) the stand (see Figure 4). The magazine has two operational positions: open (for loading the candy) and closed (for dispensing the candy, and for display). When the magazine is in its closed position, most of the other components are concealed inside. Only the flexor is visible from the rear of the device, resting below the small ledge on the inside of the bolt.

2.2.1 Flexor

The flexor is comprised of four thin strips of white polystyrene plastic, 1.3 cm in length, directly below the head. The tube and flexor are moulded from the same piece of plastic. The ledge on the inside of the bolt rests on top of the flexor. When the head is tilted back to dispense the candy, the flexor strips bend downwards, increasing tension. When the candy is removed and the head released, the flexor snaps back to its original shape, lowering the head back to its upright position.

0.8 cm

Figure 3: Head in upright position

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2.2.2 Tube

The tube is an 8.6 cm sheath of white polystyrene plastic where the candy is stored (see Figure 4). The tube is open at the front for loading. At the top of the tube, jutting from either side of the flexor, are the nubs that fit into the hinge. At the back of the tube is a narrow opening where the follower fits, so that the follower’s orientation is correctly maintained during operation (see Figure 5). The tube is designed to be long enough to hold exactly 12 PEZ™ candies (9.0 g, 35 kCal), the contents of a single package.

2.2.3 Follower

The follower is a 0.9 cm stub of white polystyrene plastic, positioned inside the tube, with a tab that snaps into the tube’s rear opening (see Figure 4). This allows the follower to slide up and down inside the length of the tube as the candy is dispensed. The follower piece is hollow, and open at the bottom to accommodate the spring (see Figure 5).

2.2.4 Spring

The spring is a length of metal wire, thinner than a paper clip, coiled into a flattened oval

Figure 5: Components of the Magazine

Flexor Tube Follower

SpringStand

1.3 cm

8.6 cm

0.9 cm

~10 cm

7.5 cm

Figure 4: How the Follower fits into the Tube (Magazine partially disassembled)

Follower fits into this opening

Follower moves up and down inside tube

Spring

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shape so that it can fit inside the tube (see Figure 5). The spring is not visible unless the device is disassembled, but allowed to expand fully, it measures approximately 10 cm in length (See Figure 4). During assembly, one end of the spring is hooked onto a tab inside the base of the tube, and the other end fits inside the hollow bottom of the follower. This allows the spring to maintain a constant upward pressure on the follower, lifting the candy up into the delivery chamber where the bolt can dispense it piece by piece.

2.2.5 Stand

The stand is the outer shell, 7.5 cm in length, which contains the magazine assembly (see Figure 4). It is formed of red polystyrene plastic and has the PEZ™ logo and a U.S. Patent number embossed on the outside. There is a 2.0 cm by 3.0 cm flattened foot molded at the bottom, so that the device can stand upright for display.

3. Cycle of Operation This section describes how the Iron Man™ PEZ™ Dispenser is operated.

3.1 Loading the Magazine

The Iron Man™ PEZ™ Dispenser is laid on its back, so that Iron Man™ faces upward. The device is gripped by the head and the magazine, and the two assemblies are drawn apart from one another, compressing the spring inside the tube and extending the magazine into its open position. Although the spring’s tension will incline the magazine to snap back to its closed position, the magazine is pulled firmly and snugly into place so it remains open (see Figure 6). Next, the package of PEZ™ candy is opened and the candy is loaded into the tube one or several pieces at a time, the bottom piece flat against the follower, until the tube is full (see Figure 7). The magazine is then returned to the closed position by pushing the head and the magazine together, as the spring’s tension is fully taken up by the presence of the candy in the tube. The Iron Man™ PEZ™ Dispenser is placed back upright.

Figure 6: Magazine extended into the open position

Spring is compressed inside the tube

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3.2 Dispensing the Candy

The head is pulled back into its tilted position, increasing the tension of the bolt on the flexor. As the head tilts back, the long part of the bolt pushes the piece of candy at the top of the tube forward, so the candy can be gripped and removed from the delivery chamber. Once this is done, the head is released. The flexor returns to its original shape, pushing on the bolt so that the head falls back to its upright position. Once the bolt retracts to its original position, the spring pushes the follower upward so the next piece of candy can enter the chamber. This action is repeated until all 12 pieces have been dispensed.

Figure 7: Loading the Magazine

Candy placed flat against follower

Bolt pushes candy forward

Figure 8: Dispensing candy

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4. References

Coviello, Mike, “Glock magazine exploded view parts,” Tanner’s Gun Reviews. http://tannersgun.com/glock-magazine-assembly-exploded-view-parts.aspx

United States Patent 7523841 B2, “Tray for storing and individually dispensing tablets,” Google.com. https://www.google.com/patents/US7523841

Ironman PEZ™ Dispenser, “Dispenser archive by year, 2015” http://www.PEZ™.com/collectors/index.php?type=tertcat&ID=193&page=2

Hubpages, “How to Identify Different Types of Plastic,” Hubpages.com. http://hubpages.com/technology/How-plastic-is-really-recycled

Iron Man is ™ and © Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. 2015

PEZ is ™ and © PEZ™ Candy, Inc. 2015