CA1188269A - Method of and device for dispensing viscous concentrates of variable viscosity in accurately metered quantities of variable volume - Google Patents
Method of and device for dispensing viscous concentrates of variable viscosity in accurately metered quantities of variable volumeInfo
- Publication number
- CA1188269A CA1188269A CA000399323A CA399323A CA1188269A CA 1188269 A CA1188269 A CA 1188269A CA 000399323 A CA000399323 A CA 000399323A CA 399323 A CA399323 A CA 399323A CA 1188269 A CA1188269 A CA 1188269A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- volume
- hollow cylindrical
- pumping
- cylindrical body
- pumping volume
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01F11/00—Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it
- G01F11/02—Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it with measuring chambers which expand or contract during measurement
- G01F11/08—Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it with measuring chambers which expand or contract during measurement of the diaphragm or bellows type
- G01F11/082—Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it with measuring chambers which expand or contract during measurement of the diaphragm or bellows type of the squeeze container type
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
- Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)
- Beverage Vending Machines With Cups, And Gas Or Electricity Vending Machines (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
For the purpose of dispensing viscous concentrates, par-ticularly of organic substances, a cylindrical pumping space is defined by a hollow cylindrical body and two non-return valves associated with the ends of said body, said pumping space being supported in a radial direction at least during each pumping stroke in such a way that changes in volume are only possible in an axial direction in relation to said pumping space. The meter-ing accuracy capable of being attained by means of the device of the invention makes it possible, with the device being of simple and low-cost construction, to dispense extremely small quantities of a concentrate with the device being operated at a pumping cycle frequency which corresponds to the frequency of the power mains by means of which an electromagnetic actuating coil is operated.
For the purpose of dispensing viscous concentrates, par-ticularly of organic substances, a cylindrical pumping space is defined by a hollow cylindrical body and two non-return valves associated with the ends of said body, said pumping space being supported in a radial direction at least during each pumping stroke in such a way that changes in volume are only possible in an axial direction in relation to said pumping space. The meter-ing accuracy capable of being attained by means of the device of the invention makes it possible, with the device being of simple and low-cost construction, to dispense extremely small quantities of a concentrate with the device being operated at a pumping cycle frequency which corresponds to the frequency of the power mains by means of which an electromagnetic actuating coil is operated.
Description
26~
This inven-tion relates to a method of and a device for dispensing viscous concentrates of variable viscosity in accur-ately metered quantities of variable volume in which cyclic va riations of the pu~ping volume of a hollow body made of a flex-ible or elastically deformable material cause said concentrate to be drawn in from the storage volume of a container via a non-return valve and to be discharged on the output side via a se-cond non-return ~alve.
There have been known a variety of metering pumps in the form of discharging sections provided with two non-return valves, one of which functions as an inlet valve, the other one functioning as an outlet valve. For example, there has been dis-closed in British Patent Specification No. 827,778, a metering pump in wllich the discharge section is formed by a flexible tube which is adapted to be closed by the application of a radial squeezing pressure by means of an actuating device and which tends again to assume lts ~ull open cross-section upon said actuating device belng Ieleased. Opening of the inlet valve or the outlet valve, respectively, ls effected by pressure changes caused in said disch~rge portion. Such a device is not only hard to manipulate properly but permits only a relatively inaccurate metering ef-fect to be obtained. Therefore, such devices may be considered suitable for use with soap dispensers and the like in whlch metering accuracy is not at a premium. Besides, the means serving to operate said discharge section are extremely com-plicated and expensive.
It has further been known to provide a discharging section with a radially outwardly projecting bellows-like ~old which is adapted to be compressed in an axial direction between a pair of plate-shaped actuating elements so as to serve the ~unction oi a metering pump. In this case it is ~lso possible to construct the discharging section as a rubber bellows which has associated therewith suitable beak-like rubber valves ~orming non-return valves (c~. United States Patent Specification No. 25 54 570).
This known device also occupies considerable space and is, there~
fore, not suitable for ins-tallation in vending machine~s or the like. The metering volume o~ this known device is also re]atively inaccurate so tha-t it is extremely difficult to ensure accurate metering.
~'here it is desired to dispense metered quan-tities of certain highly viscous concen-trntes, an extremely accurate metering operation is necessary. In view o~ the iact that in certain applications, such as beverage vending machines, extremely little space is available for mechanical equipment, it is necessary to provide ~ metering device ~hich is o~ as comp~ct design as pos-sible. A particularly serious problem nrises ~rom -the fact that concentrntes of perishable organic substances pose great di~-ficulties as regards the maintenance o~ hygienic conditions, particularly in cnses in which the metering device and/or 12~3 accessories thereof may be contaminated by drops of such sub-stances. If all hygienic requirements are to be met, the neces-sary mnintenance operations and ~requent cle~ning of component parts prove to be extremely difficult and time-consuming, it being necessary to provide for constant supervision o~ such operations.
In the prior-art metering devices comprising a peristaltic pump or a similar -tube-shaped discharging section, only a relatively small restoring force is produced upon the elastic tube material being subjected to small amounts of deformation. The restoring force is not increased su~ficiently unless a m~jor amount oi deformation is caused. However, the magnitude oi the restoring force also affects the accurate reproduceability of the deform-ation and thus the accuracy of the metering operation. There-fore, these known devices are only adapted to dispense relatively large volumes of the concentrate, and the frequency ~ith which metering cycles can be performed is relatively low. The term "relatively large volumes" is understood to mean, for example, volumetric ~uantities o~ 0.4 cubic centimeters. Nor is it pos~
sible to prestress or bias a filled flexible tube sectio~ in its initial position because it is necessary to thread the tube sections into an actuating device such as a peristaltic pump, it being necessary to nvoid any de~ormation in order to prevent any drops of liquid.
.nother important factor tending to impair the metering accu-racy of such known devices resides in the ~act that, during a decrease in the pumping volume, the tube-shaped discharging section is subjected to uncontrollable additional deformation caused by the increased pressure occurring ~hithin said section.
~uch uncontrollable variations may onlv be tolerated where a relatively large metering volume is discharged during each cycle so that the influence of such variations remains sm~ll.
i In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to improve the method described above as well as the device for practicing said method in such a way as to avoid the disadvantages thereof and to enable even extremely small ciuantities of a concentrate to be dispensed in an extremely accurate manner and at a high cycling frequency.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for pxacticing the method which is of extremely compact construction so as to permit it to be easily accommodated in a small space, for example, in a beverage vending machine, or to permit the device to be installed in existing vending machines.
According to the present invention there is provided a method of dispensing viscous concentrates of variable viscosity in accurately meterable quantities of varying volume, in which, by varying the pumping volume of a hollow body made of flexible or shape-retaining resilient material in the direction of its longitudinal axis between stops, concentrate is firstly drawn in via a non-return valve at one end of the hollow body from a storage volume of a con-tainer and then is discharged at the other end of the hollow body, wherein the variable portion of the pumping volume of the hollow body is selected so as to be small with respect to the smallest quantity to be dispensed; wherein during the discharge phase the hollow body is supported against changes in shape in a radially outward direction and is resiliently pretensioned in its shape corresponding to its largest discharge volume in an axial direction corresponding to an increase of its pumping volume; and wherein the pumping volume is varied cyclically a plurality of times per second during each dispensing operation.
The present invention also provides a device for dispensing viscous concentrates of variable viscosity in accurately meterable quantities of varying volume comprising , ,~
a di.spensing section connectible at one end to a container for the concentrate via a non-return valve and insertable into an annular actuation device, the dispensing section comprising an axially movable actua-tion element acting axially on a section of flexible or shape-retainins resilient material forming a pumping volume for reducing the volume between stops, wherein the section forming the pumping volume is arranged as a hollow cylindrical body in the dispensing section insertable into the actuation device; wherein the section of the hollow cylindrical body which can be varied between the stops is formed so as to be small with respec-t to the quanti.ty to be dispensed in each case; wherein shape-retaining hollow cylindrical parts are provided which support the hollow cylindrical body in a shape-retaining manner against changes in shape. in a radially outward direction during a volume reduction phase; wherein the hollow cylindrical body is pretensioned in an initial position of largest pumping volume with a predetermined force in the direction of an increase of the pumping volume; and wherein the actuation element is movable axially in a reciprocat-ing manner a plurality of times per second by the actuation device during each dispensing operation.
According to the invention, a pumping effect is pro-duced by decreasing in an axial direction a cylindrical pump-ing volume which is supported in a shape-maintaining manner during the volume reducing operation with the result that uncontrollable deformation due to the increasing pumping pressure and changes in the metering volume are avoided. In this manner it is possible to provide an extremely high degree of precision of the metering operation even in cases in which extremely small quantities are dispensed per metering cycle. The axial compression of the cylindrical metering volume makes it possible for the hollow cylindrical body defining the pumping volume to be subjected in its initial position to a presettable axial bias in the sense of an increase in said volume. This results in the provision of - 4a -`'1';~ .
.. ..
~88~6g sufficiently large restoring forces even wi-th changes in volume of minimum rnagnitude. Moreover, this axial compression of the pumping volume i.n conjunction with the extremely high accuracy capable of attainment even with extremely small me-tering volumes makes it possible to provide a ~0 - 4b -~requency of metering cycles which i5 in agreement with the power mains frequency, i.e. a frequency of 50 to 60 Hz. This high cycling frequency and the smallness o~ the quantities capable of being metered make it possible to vary the total quantity to be discharged to be selected within a large range of adjustment simply by suitably controlling the number of metering pulses per unit time. This method of control can be implemented in an extremely simple and reliable manner ~lth mains-frequency controlled devic~s.
Despite the bias which exists in the inoperative position of the pumping volume, the discharging section can be easily and reliably threaded in*o the actuating means without drops o~
liquid being dispensed in an undesired manner. At the same time t~e hygienic problems are completely avoided which might other-wise be caused by contamination of the device. In addition, the arrangeJnent just described is improved considerably by the fact that all components which are of importance as regards reliable functioning o~ the device are enclosed in a rigid guiding tube which is either permanently or releasably connected to a container for shipping, storage and dispensing o~ the liquid, said contniner preferably being a single-use product.
The high cycling frequency of the device thus permits the liquid to be dispensed in the form o~ an almost continuous flow or stream with the aid of a train of rapidly repeated metering cycles with *he length of said train being capable of being adjusted to suit requirements.
The sleeve-shaped body of the device need only be o~ flexible nature, it being possible, by the addition of suitable elements such as spring elements or the like, to provide for the neces-sary bias and restoring action. In a preferred embodiment, however, the sleeve body is made of a shape-retaining elastic 8~269 mat0rial and secured to rigid hub-shayed bodies of said non-return valves.
The small dimensions of the dispensing section makes it possible to install the device in a vending machine in which extremely little space is available. An additional advantage of the device of the invention makes it possible to modi~y existing meterin~
devices by the addition of an electromagnetic annular coil for -the purpose of substituting a quantity controlled or volume controlled metering method for the time controlled metering method described ~here time controlled metering would result in undesirable fluctuations of accuracy due to changes in the viscosity of the liquid. The metering accuracy of the device o~ $he invention is not affected by such variations in consist-ency.
The invention and further particulars will be described more specifically hereinafter with reference to a preferred embodi-ment shown in the drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is an axial cross-sectional view of a container for the storage, transportation and dispensing of a liquid, -She container being provided with a dispensing section according to the invention;
Figure 2 ls an enl~rged exploded cross-sectional view of the component parts of the dispensing section; and ~igure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a modified embodiment of the dispensing section.
Preferably the device of -the invention is manufactured in the form of a single-use container which is adapted to store, trans-port and dispense metered quantities of a li~uid. Preferably, the dispensing section is permanently secured to the container _7_ during mnnufacture thereo~ and is discarded together with the container after use. Thus, the con-tainer constltutes a mass-RrdUced item~
Said container may comprise an external envelope and an interiorflexible bag adapted to contain the liquid and to collapse as liouid is being withdrawn. l~ith this construction, it is not necessnry to introduce air into the container to permit liquid to be dispensed. However, it would a]so be possible to provide an essentially rigid container with which ventilating means are associated which are adapted to be actuated for the purpose o~
dispensing liquid.
It should be understood that the container is preferably intended for the reception, storage and transportation as well as the dispensing of organic concentrates.
In the embodimen-t shown in Figure 1 the container comprises an external envelope 1 and a flexible and collapsible li~uid-receiving container 2 which latter is provided with a mouth-piece 3 to which the dispensing section 4 ls preferably per-manently attached. In Figure 1 the container is shown in the inverted position in ~!hich it is held when it is intended to dispense metered quantities of a li~uid; In this position, the dispensing section 6 ex-tends through the central aperture o~ an electromagnetic annular coil 5 which may, for e~ample, be fixedly installed in an automatic beverage vending machine.
The electromagnetic annular coil 5 is connected to suitable control means which make it possible, for example, to operate the electromagnetic annular coil 5 at the power mains ~requency ~ith the number of oscillations coil 5 is desired to follow being adjusted with the aid of said control means.
Dispensing section 4 cornprises a rigid tubular guide member 6 made of a plastic material, the upper end of which is ;9 permanently secured to mouthpiece 3 of the container. As shown in ~igure 2, tubular guide member 6 is provided with a free cross section through a major part of lts length forming an enlarged portion extending downwardly ~rom an annular shoulder 35. The tubular gu~de member 6 has associated therewith a rigid cover member 26 at its lo~er end, this cover member being pro-vided with a central discharge spigot 27. In the embodiment shown the two members G and 26 o~ the tubular guide member are interconnected by a hub-shaped valve body 20 which is provided with nn external annular ~lange 22 serving as an abutment up to which the tubular guide member and the cover member 26 may be slid over the valve body so as to hold the members in position.
In this arrangement, the hub-shaped valve body 20 is rigidly connected to both the tubular guide member G and the cover member 26.
Another similar hub-shaped valve body 8 is received with clear-ance by the larger-diameter portion of guide member 6 so as to be capable of-freely moving in an axial direction within guide member 6. A spigot-shaped terminal portion of valve body 8 made of a plastic material ~acing container l in an upward direction has attached thereto a magnetizable sleeve member 7 forming an annular armature, the lower annular shoulder of said sleeve member bearing against shoulder 9 of valve body 8.
Thus, valve body 8 and annular armature 7 constitute a rigid unit which is axially movable upwardly and downwardly within guide member 6 as indicated by the double-headed arrow 31.
The mutually facing ends o~ valve bodies 8 and 20 are provided with receiving and mounting portions 10, 11 and ~9, 21, re-spectivel~, for the sleeve-shaped end portions 16 and 1~ o~
a hollow cylindrical body 15. In the embodiment shown, body 15 is ~nade of an elastic material so that it also serves the ~unction o~ an elastic spring element. As shown in Figure 2, body 15 is provided ~lith terminal portions 16 and 18 of greater 326~3 _9 wall thickness serving to mount the two valve bodies 8 and 20 and is also provided with a radially inwardly projecting ~old or bead 17 of smaller thickness. Body 15 connecting the hub-shaped valve bodies 8 and 20 de~ines a predetermined metering volume between the valve bodies. The initial capacity o~ this volume is determined by the restoring action o~ body 15 in con-junction with the internal shoulder 35 of tubular guide member 6 on which the annular upper end ~ace o~ annular armature 7 bears in the rest position.
In the embodiment shown, each o~ the valve~ bodies 8 and 20 ls provided with a central bore 12 and 24, respectively, into which there may be spring-fitted a shaft portion of a valve ~lement 14 or 25, respectively~ said valve elements being of mushroom shape and made of an elastic material. A tapered ~nlargement provided on the free end o~ each mushroom-shaped portion serves to lock the yalve element to its associated hub-shaped valve body. The lip-shaped peripheral edge o~ the dish-shaped head portion of valve element 14 or valve element 25, respectively, is caused by the variable pressure to which it is subJected to bear sealingly against the adjacent inner end face o~ -the respective hub-shaped valve body 8 or 20, The inner portions of said valve bodies are provided with a plural-ity of passages 13 and 23, respectively, each plurallty forming a clrcular arrangement, said passages permitting liquid to enter the metering space and to be discharged therefrom, respe~tively.
Under static conditions, the elastic bias produced by the material of the mushroom-shaped valve elements 14 and 25 is sufficient to prevent liquid from ~lowing through passages 13 ~nd ~3. Only with pressure variations exceeding such static conditions will the lip-shaped peripheral edges of the dish-shaped head portions o~ the,valve elements be li~ted o~ the central end faces o~ said hub-shaped valve bodies 8 and 20 so as to permit liquid to flow through sald pas~ages.
1. .
.~ fi'9 The stroke length o~ the assembly ~ormed by valve body 8 and annular armature 7 in an upward direction is limited by the internal shoulder 35 o~ tubular guide member 6. In a downward di~ection the stroke length o~ said assembly is limited by the iact that durlng such downward motion the lower edge of portion 10 of the hub-shaped valve body 8 comes into contact with the , annular upper edge'of portion 21 o~ hub-shaped valve body 20.
I ~ithout the design o~ this arrangement being changed, it ~s possible by suitably selecting the length oi portions 10 and ~1 easily and accurately to adjust the stroke length 30 (Figure l) o~ the movable assembly 7, 8. As valve body 8 approaches valve body 20, portions 10 and 21 thereof enclose the hollow cylindrical body and support it ~rom the outside in such ~ man-ner that it cannot change its shape, the result being that body ~.5 cannot be expanded in a radial direction.
Figure 1 shows the component parts of the embodiment just described approximately in their actual size, the stroke length o~ this pre~erred embodiment being a little smaller than shown . at ~0 in Figure 1. The liquid volume dispensed through spigot 27 is determined by the number of pumping strokes oc~urring at the power mains ~requency. Therefore, this volume can be easily adjusted because the individual quantities discharged during each pumping stroke can be adjusted in an extrernely accurate manner even in the case of very small increments.
l~'ithin the dispensing section 4 the liquid i5 hermetically sealed so as to be protected a.gainst the action o~ atmospheric o~ygen. It is seen that the arrangement described is capable o~ being manu~actured in a simple manner and at low.cost, that it operates in a very reliable manner, that its manipulation is e~tremel~ simple and sa~e, and that no contamination o~ com-ponents located in the vicinity o~ the device is possible.
The stroke length may also be limited by means o~ stop members o~ dif~erent construction which are provided, for example, on the tubular guide member.
In order to avoid radial deformation of the hollow cylindrlcal body in the vicinity of the radially inwardly projecting bead 17, it may be o~ advantage to provide the or each bead in the area o~ 1ts internAlly projecting ridge with a rigid support-ing ring.
More specifically, it may be of particular advantage to give the ridge o~ the bead a helical shape. In this case lt is possible to provide in association with said ridge a supporting element in the form of a helically extending spring element which is ~dapted to be compressed in an axial direction only, said spring element serving the additional function of a~ially biassing the hollow cylindrical body 15. In the latter case body 15 need not be of a shape-elastic nature if it is made of a material having a sufficient degree of flexibility.
Under certain conditions it is possible to dispense with the non-return valve 25 provided on the discharge end o~ the device.
In this case the non-return valve at the exit of the pumping volume is replaced by a discharge spigot which is in unobstructed connexion with the pumping space. The inner diamter and the length o~ such a discharge spigot are so selected that the inner friction and the surface tension o~ the concentrate present in the discharge spigot suffice to retain the concentrate column in its axial position within the discharge spigot with the pumping volume remaining unchanged or bsing increased. The pumplng volume will remain constant as long as the non-return valve at the entering end of the device is closed. Wlth the pumping volume being increased, concentrate will be withdrawn from the container and transferred into the pumping space.
In a practical embodiment of this mod~fied device of the invent-... . .
ion, the inner diameter of the pumpin~ space a~ounted to between 8 and l? Inm. The stroke length was adapted to be adjusted between 1 and 2 mm. The stroking frequency amounted to 50 cycles per second~, but lt was possible to vary this ~requency bekween 10 and 100 cycles per second without the operation o~ the device being impaired. The device was tested with liquids having a viscosity ranging from 1 to lOO centipoise units. The non-return valve located on the entry side was provided as passages with slots arranged on a semicircle and adapted to be covered by a small valve plate. It ~as found that no dripping of con-centrate had to be expected with a length between 10 and 40 mm of the discharge spigot replacing the exit valve and with an inner dlameter o~ said spigot between 1 and 3 mm.
l~ithout the flexible body or bellows 15 being supported by the corset-like arrangement,said bellows will be subJect to an irregular formation o~ externally-curved portions, this pheno-menon impairing the accuracy o~ the metering operation. In contrast to this, the corset-like s~pporting means o~ the in-vention makes it possible to maintain volumetric tolerances of hardly measurable magnitude.
Figure 3 shows a modified embodiment of the component parts dei'ining the pumping space. Mounted in a cylindrical houslng 40, the upper end of which is adapted to be connected to the container for the concentrate, is an upper sleeve member 42 l~hich is provided with an outwardly projecting flange at its upper end. A corresponding lower sleeve member 43 is provided ill the lower end of housing 40 and rigidly attached to a cover member having an outlet spigot 49. In the example sbown, it is .ssumed that the lower sleeve member 43 is guided with clearance in the lower end of housing ~0. Also the lower sleeve member 43 is provided with an outwardly projecting flange. ~etween the lower portion of housing 40 and the two approximately aligned spigot sections 42 and ~3 which are made of a rigid material such as a plastic material there is provided an annular space 47.
Disposed in this annular space is a spreading or biasing spring ~8 the ends of which bear against the flanges of sleeve members 1~ and 4X, said spring tending to hold the t\~o sleeve members in their spread-apart position shown in Figure 3. In the embodiment shown the lower spigot is connected to an annular armature 45 which is adapted to be actuated in such a manner by the electromagnetic operating means (not shown) that the lower spigot 43 can be raised until it bears against the upper spigot 22 for the performance of a pumping stroke. The two opposing encls o~ the two spigots are sealingly interconnected by a bellows member 44 which essentially applies no ~orces to the spigots. l~ith the two spigots 4? and 43 being brought lnto their proximate position, the ~old 44 is practically closed ~ompletely.
In order to prevent air from being compressed in the annular space 47 in synchronism with the pumping strokes, said annular space is ventilated to the external atmosphere via slots or drilled holes 50 which should be arranged at the minimum pos-~ible Aistance from the final position attained during a pumping stroke so as to provide a flow path o~ minimum length ~or the air displaced as the volume o~ annular space 47 is varied.
Provided in the vicinity o~ the upper flange o~ spigot 42 is the inlet valve (not shown) o~ the pumping chamber, it being possible to provide an inlet valve which resembles the embodi-ment described earlier. In Figure 3 the pumping motion of the lower sleeve member 43 is indicated by the double~headed arrow ~. It would also be possible to provide an arrangement in which the two sleeve members are adapted to move towards and a~ay ~rom one another. The embodiment shown in Figure 3 a~ords the advantage that no concentrate can enter the annular space ~7. The spigot 49 can be constructed in such a way that it is not necessary to associate a non-return valve to the outlet.
It will be understood that such an arrangement which is operable independently o~ the elastic restoring i'orce o~ a rubber bellows is capable o~ metering almost paste-like media which are not adapted to be me-tered by means of the normally available restorlng force provitled by a shape~retaining elastic body.
In this case it will be necessary to provide the magnetic i'orces in a suitable mnnner. The spring ~orce can then be determined in an analogous manner.
. .
The metering de-~ice oi` the invention is also suitable for i~luids other than syrups and the likeO Particularly in the case of perishable fluids, the pump elements employed in the single-use unit afford the advantage that it is possible by suitable manufacturing methods to limit the useful life, for e~ample of the diaphragm, with the result that illegal re~illing of the contalner will cause rapid deterioration of the diaphragm so as to render the device useless. This is an effective method of preventing hygienic problems from nrising.
This inven-tion relates to a method of and a device for dispensing viscous concentrates of variable viscosity in accur-ately metered quantities of variable volume in which cyclic va riations of the pu~ping volume of a hollow body made of a flex-ible or elastically deformable material cause said concentrate to be drawn in from the storage volume of a container via a non-return valve and to be discharged on the output side via a se-cond non-return ~alve.
There have been known a variety of metering pumps in the form of discharging sections provided with two non-return valves, one of which functions as an inlet valve, the other one functioning as an outlet valve. For example, there has been dis-closed in British Patent Specification No. 827,778, a metering pump in wllich the discharge section is formed by a flexible tube which is adapted to be closed by the application of a radial squeezing pressure by means of an actuating device and which tends again to assume lts ~ull open cross-section upon said actuating device belng Ieleased. Opening of the inlet valve or the outlet valve, respectively, ls effected by pressure changes caused in said disch~rge portion. Such a device is not only hard to manipulate properly but permits only a relatively inaccurate metering ef-fect to be obtained. Therefore, such devices may be considered suitable for use with soap dispensers and the like in whlch metering accuracy is not at a premium. Besides, the means serving to operate said discharge section are extremely com-plicated and expensive.
It has further been known to provide a discharging section with a radially outwardly projecting bellows-like ~old which is adapted to be compressed in an axial direction between a pair of plate-shaped actuating elements so as to serve the ~unction oi a metering pump. In this case it is ~lso possible to construct the discharging section as a rubber bellows which has associated therewith suitable beak-like rubber valves ~orming non-return valves (c~. United States Patent Specification No. 25 54 570).
This known device also occupies considerable space and is, there~
fore, not suitable for ins-tallation in vending machine~s or the like. The metering volume o~ this known device is also re]atively inaccurate so tha-t it is extremely difficult to ensure accurate metering.
~'here it is desired to dispense metered quan-tities of certain highly viscous concen-trntes, an extremely accurate metering operation is necessary. In view o~ the iact that in certain applications, such as beverage vending machines, extremely little space is available for mechanical equipment, it is necessary to provide ~ metering device ~hich is o~ as comp~ct design as pos-sible. A particularly serious problem nrises ~rom -the fact that concentrntes of perishable organic substances pose great di~-ficulties as regards the maintenance o~ hygienic conditions, particularly in cnses in which the metering device and/or 12~3 accessories thereof may be contaminated by drops of such sub-stances. If all hygienic requirements are to be met, the neces-sary mnintenance operations and ~requent cle~ning of component parts prove to be extremely difficult and time-consuming, it being necessary to provide for constant supervision o~ such operations.
In the prior-art metering devices comprising a peristaltic pump or a similar -tube-shaped discharging section, only a relatively small restoring force is produced upon the elastic tube material being subjected to small amounts of deformation. The restoring force is not increased su~ficiently unless a m~jor amount oi deformation is caused. However, the magnitude oi the restoring force also affects the accurate reproduceability of the deform-ation and thus the accuracy of the metering operation. There-fore, these known devices are only adapted to dispense relatively large volumes of the concentrate, and the frequency ~ith which metering cycles can be performed is relatively low. The term "relatively large volumes" is understood to mean, for example, volumetric ~uantities o~ 0.4 cubic centimeters. Nor is it pos~
sible to prestress or bias a filled flexible tube sectio~ in its initial position because it is necessary to thread the tube sections into an actuating device such as a peristaltic pump, it being necessary to nvoid any de~ormation in order to prevent any drops of liquid.
.nother important factor tending to impair the metering accu-racy of such known devices resides in the ~act that, during a decrease in the pumping volume, the tube-shaped discharging section is subjected to uncontrollable additional deformation caused by the increased pressure occurring ~hithin said section.
~uch uncontrollable variations may onlv be tolerated where a relatively large metering volume is discharged during each cycle so that the influence of such variations remains sm~ll.
i In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to improve the method described above as well as the device for practicing said method in such a way as to avoid the disadvantages thereof and to enable even extremely small ciuantities of a concentrate to be dispensed in an extremely accurate manner and at a high cycling frequency.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for pxacticing the method which is of extremely compact construction so as to permit it to be easily accommodated in a small space, for example, in a beverage vending machine, or to permit the device to be installed in existing vending machines.
According to the present invention there is provided a method of dispensing viscous concentrates of variable viscosity in accurately meterable quantities of varying volume, in which, by varying the pumping volume of a hollow body made of flexible or shape-retaining resilient material in the direction of its longitudinal axis between stops, concentrate is firstly drawn in via a non-return valve at one end of the hollow body from a storage volume of a con-tainer and then is discharged at the other end of the hollow body, wherein the variable portion of the pumping volume of the hollow body is selected so as to be small with respect to the smallest quantity to be dispensed; wherein during the discharge phase the hollow body is supported against changes in shape in a radially outward direction and is resiliently pretensioned in its shape corresponding to its largest discharge volume in an axial direction corresponding to an increase of its pumping volume; and wherein the pumping volume is varied cyclically a plurality of times per second during each dispensing operation.
The present invention also provides a device for dispensing viscous concentrates of variable viscosity in accurately meterable quantities of varying volume comprising , ,~
a di.spensing section connectible at one end to a container for the concentrate via a non-return valve and insertable into an annular actuation device, the dispensing section comprising an axially movable actua-tion element acting axially on a section of flexible or shape-retainins resilient material forming a pumping volume for reducing the volume between stops, wherein the section forming the pumping volume is arranged as a hollow cylindrical body in the dispensing section insertable into the actuation device; wherein the section of the hollow cylindrical body which can be varied between the stops is formed so as to be small with respec-t to the quanti.ty to be dispensed in each case; wherein shape-retaining hollow cylindrical parts are provided which support the hollow cylindrical body in a shape-retaining manner against changes in shape. in a radially outward direction during a volume reduction phase; wherein the hollow cylindrical body is pretensioned in an initial position of largest pumping volume with a predetermined force in the direction of an increase of the pumping volume; and wherein the actuation element is movable axially in a reciprocat-ing manner a plurality of times per second by the actuation device during each dispensing operation.
According to the invention, a pumping effect is pro-duced by decreasing in an axial direction a cylindrical pump-ing volume which is supported in a shape-maintaining manner during the volume reducing operation with the result that uncontrollable deformation due to the increasing pumping pressure and changes in the metering volume are avoided. In this manner it is possible to provide an extremely high degree of precision of the metering operation even in cases in which extremely small quantities are dispensed per metering cycle. The axial compression of the cylindrical metering volume makes it possible for the hollow cylindrical body defining the pumping volume to be subjected in its initial position to a presettable axial bias in the sense of an increase in said volume. This results in the provision of - 4a -`'1';~ .
.. ..
~88~6g sufficiently large restoring forces even wi-th changes in volume of minimum rnagnitude. Moreover, this axial compression of the pumping volume i.n conjunction with the extremely high accuracy capable of attainment even with extremely small me-tering volumes makes it possible to provide a ~0 - 4b -~requency of metering cycles which i5 in agreement with the power mains frequency, i.e. a frequency of 50 to 60 Hz. This high cycling frequency and the smallness o~ the quantities capable of being metered make it possible to vary the total quantity to be discharged to be selected within a large range of adjustment simply by suitably controlling the number of metering pulses per unit time. This method of control can be implemented in an extremely simple and reliable manner ~lth mains-frequency controlled devic~s.
Despite the bias which exists in the inoperative position of the pumping volume, the discharging section can be easily and reliably threaded in*o the actuating means without drops o~
liquid being dispensed in an undesired manner. At the same time t~e hygienic problems are completely avoided which might other-wise be caused by contamination of the device. In addition, the arrangeJnent just described is improved considerably by the fact that all components which are of importance as regards reliable functioning o~ the device are enclosed in a rigid guiding tube which is either permanently or releasably connected to a container for shipping, storage and dispensing o~ the liquid, said contniner preferably being a single-use product.
The high cycling frequency of the device thus permits the liquid to be dispensed in the form o~ an almost continuous flow or stream with the aid of a train of rapidly repeated metering cycles with *he length of said train being capable of being adjusted to suit requirements.
The sleeve-shaped body of the device need only be o~ flexible nature, it being possible, by the addition of suitable elements such as spring elements or the like, to provide for the neces-sary bias and restoring action. In a preferred embodiment, however, the sleeve body is made of a shape-retaining elastic 8~269 mat0rial and secured to rigid hub-shayed bodies of said non-return valves.
The small dimensions of the dispensing section makes it possible to install the device in a vending machine in which extremely little space is available. An additional advantage of the device of the invention makes it possible to modi~y existing meterin~
devices by the addition of an electromagnetic annular coil for -the purpose of substituting a quantity controlled or volume controlled metering method for the time controlled metering method described ~here time controlled metering would result in undesirable fluctuations of accuracy due to changes in the viscosity of the liquid. The metering accuracy of the device o~ $he invention is not affected by such variations in consist-ency.
The invention and further particulars will be described more specifically hereinafter with reference to a preferred embodi-ment shown in the drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is an axial cross-sectional view of a container for the storage, transportation and dispensing of a liquid, -She container being provided with a dispensing section according to the invention;
Figure 2 ls an enl~rged exploded cross-sectional view of the component parts of the dispensing section; and ~igure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a modified embodiment of the dispensing section.
Preferably the device of -the invention is manufactured in the form of a single-use container which is adapted to store, trans-port and dispense metered quantities of a li~uid. Preferably, the dispensing section is permanently secured to the container _7_ during mnnufacture thereo~ and is discarded together with the container after use. Thus, the con-tainer constltutes a mass-RrdUced item~
Said container may comprise an external envelope and an interiorflexible bag adapted to contain the liquid and to collapse as liouid is being withdrawn. l~ith this construction, it is not necessnry to introduce air into the container to permit liquid to be dispensed. However, it would a]so be possible to provide an essentially rigid container with which ventilating means are associated which are adapted to be actuated for the purpose o~
dispensing liquid.
It should be understood that the container is preferably intended for the reception, storage and transportation as well as the dispensing of organic concentrates.
In the embodimen-t shown in Figure 1 the container comprises an external envelope 1 and a flexible and collapsible li~uid-receiving container 2 which latter is provided with a mouth-piece 3 to which the dispensing section 4 ls preferably per-manently attached. In Figure 1 the container is shown in the inverted position in ~!hich it is held when it is intended to dispense metered quantities of a li~uid; In this position, the dispensing section 6 ex-tends through the central aperture o~ an electromagnetic annular coil 5 which may, for e~ample, be fixedly installed in an automatic beverage vending machine.
The electromagnetic annular coil 5 is connected to suitable control means which make it possible, for example, to operate the electromagnetic annular coil 5 at the power mains ~requency ~ith the number of oscillations coil 5 is desired to follow being adjusted with the aid of said control means.
Dispensing section 4 cornprises a rigid tubular guide member 6 made of a plastic material, the upper end of which is ;9 permanently secured to mouthpiece 3 of the container. As shown in ~igure 2, tubular guide member 6 is provided with a free cross section through a major part of lts length forming an enlarged portion extending downwardly ~rom an annular shoulder 35. The tubular gu~de member 6 has associated therewith a rigid cover member 26 at its lo~er end, this cover member being pro-vided with a central discharge spigot 27. In the embodiment shown the two members G and 26 o~ the tubular guide member are interconnected by a hub-shaped valve body 20 which is provided with nn external annular ~lange 22 serving as an abutment up to which the tubular guide member and the cover member 26 may be slid over the valve body so as to hold the members in position.
In this arrangement, the hub-shaped valve body 20 is rigidly connected to both the tubular guide member G and the cover member 26.
Another similar hub-shaped valve body 8 is received with clear-ance by the larger-diameter portion of guide member 6 so as to be capable of-freely moving in an axial direction within guide member 6. A spigot-shaped terminal portion of valve body 8 made of a plastic material ~acing container l in an upward direction has attached thereto a magnetizable sleeve member 7 forming an annular armature, the lower annular shoulder of said sleeve member bearing against shoulder 9 of valve body 8.
Thus, valve body 8 and annular armature 7 constitute a rigid unit which is axially movable upwardly and downwardly within guide member 6 as indicated by the double-headed arrow 31.
The mutually facing ends o~ valve bodies 8 and 20 are provided with receiving and mounting portions 10, 11 and ~9, 21, re-spectivel~, for the sleeve-shaped end portions 16 and 1~ o~
a hollow cylindrical body 15. In the embodiment shown, body 15 is ~nade of an elastic material so that it also serves the ~unction o~ an elastic spring element. As shown in Figure 2, body 15 is provided ~lith terminal portions 16 and 18 of greater 326~3 _9 wall thickness serving to mount the two valve bodies 8 and 20 and is also provided with a radially inwardly projecting ~old or bead 17 of smaller thickness. Body 15 connecting the hub-shaped valve bodies 8 and 20 de~ines a predetermined metering volume between the valve bodies. The initial capacity o~ this volume is determined by the restoring action o~ body 15 in con-junction with the internal shoulder 35 of tubular guide member 6 on which the annular upper end ~ace o~ annular armature 7 bears in the rest position.
In the embodiment shown, each o~ the valve~ bodies 8 and 20 ls provided with a central bore 12 and 24, respectively, into which there may be spring-fitted a shaft portion of a valve ~lement 14 or 25, respectively~ said valve elements being of mushroom shape and made of an elastic material. A tapered ~nlargement provided on the free end o~ each mushroom-shaped portion serves to lock the yalve element to its associated hub-shaped valve body. The lip-shaped peripheral edge o~ the dish-shaped head portion of valve element 14 or valve element 25, respectively, is caused by the variable pressure to which it is subJected to bear sealingly against the adjacent inner end face o~ -the respective hub-shaped valve body 8 or 20, The inner portions of said valve bodies are provided with a plural-ity of passages 13 and 23, respectively, each plurallty forming a clrcular arrangement, said passages permitting liquid to enter the metering space and to be discharged therefrom, respe~tively.
Under static conditions, the elastic bias produced by the material of the mushroom-shaped valve elements 14 and 25 is sufficient to prevent liquid from ~lowing through passages 13 ~nd ~3. Only with pressure variations exceeding such static conditions will the lip-shaped peripheral edges of the dish-shaped head portions o~ the,valve elements be li~ted o~ the central end faces o~ said hub-shaped valve bodies 8 and 20 so as to permit liquid to flow through sald pas~ages.
1. .
.~ fi'9 The stroke length o~ the assembly ~ormed by valve body 8 and annular armature 7 in an upward direction is limited by the internal shoulder 35 o~ tubular guide member 6. In a downward di~ection the stroke length o~ said assembly is limited by the iact that durlng such downward motion the lower edge of portion 10 of the hub-shaped valve body 8 comes into contact with the , annular upper edge'of portion 21 o~ hub-shaped valve body 20.
I ~ithout the design o~ this arrangement being changed, it ~s possible by suitably selecting the length oi portions 10 and ~1 easily and accurately to adjust the stroke length 30 (Figure l) o~ the movable assembly 7, 8. As valve body 8 approaches valve body 20, portions 10 and 21 thereof enclose the hollow cylindrical body and support it ~rom the outside in such ~ man-ner that it cannot change its shape, the result being that body ~.5 cannot be expanded in a radial direction.
Figure 1 shows the component parts of the embodiment just described approximately in their actual size, the stroke length o~ this pre~erred embodiment being a little smaller than shown . at ~0 in Figure 1. The liquid volume dispensed through spigot 27 is determined by the number of pumping strokes oc~urring at the power mains ~requency. Therefore, this volume can be easily adjusted because the individual quantities discharged during each pumping stroke can be adjusted in an extrernely accurate manner even in the case of very small increments.
l~'ithin the dispensing section 4 the liquid i5 hermetically sealed so as to be protected a.gainst the action o~ atmospheric o~ygen. It is seen that the arrangement described is capable o~ being manu~actured in a simple manner and at low.cost, that it operates in a very reliable manner, that its manipulation is e~tremel~ simple and sa~e, and that no contamination o~ com-ponents located in the vicinity o~ the device is possible.
The stroke length may also be limited by means o~ stop members o~ dif~erent construction which are provided, for example, on the tubular guide member.
In order to avoid radial deformation of the hollow cylindrlcal body in the vicinity of the radially inwardly projecting bead 17, it may be o~ advantage to provide the or each bead in the area o~ 1ts internAlly projecting ridge with a rigid support-ing ring.
More specifically, it may be of particular advantage to give the ridge o~ the bead a helical shape. In this case lt is possible to provide in association with said ridge a supporting element in the form of a helically extending spring element which is ~dapted to be compressed in an axial direction only, said spring element serving the additional function of a~ially biassing the hollow cylindrical body 15. In the latter case body 15 need not be of a shape-elastic nature if it is made of a material having a sufficient degree of flexibility.
Under certain conditions it is possible to dispense with the non-return valve 25 provided on the discharge end o~ the device.
In this case the non-return valve at the exit of the pumping volume is replaced by a discharge spigot which is in unobstructed connexion with the pumping space. The inner diamter and the length o~ such a discharge spigot are so selected that the inner friction and the surface tension o~ the concentrate present in the discharge spigot suffice to retain the concentrate column in its axial position within the discharge spigot with the pumping volume remaining unchanged or bsing increased. The pumplng volume will remain constant as long as the non-return valve at the entering end of the device is closed. Wlth the pumping volume being increased, concentrate will be withdrawn from the container and transferred into the pumping space.
In a practical embodiment of this mod~fied device of the invent-... . .
ion, the inner diameter of the pumpin~ space a~ounted to between 8 and l? Inm. The stroke length was adapted to be adjusted between 1 and 2 mm. The stroking frequency amounted to 50 cycles per second~, but lt was possible to vary this ~requency bekween 10 and 100 cycles per second without the operation o~ the device being impaired. The device was tested with liquids having a viscosity ranging from 1 to lOO centipoise units. The non-return valve located on the entry side was provided as passages with slots arranged on a semicircle and adapted to be covered by a small valve plate. It ~as found that no dripping of con-centrate had to be expected with a length between 10 and 40 mm of the discharge spigot replacing the exit valve and with an inner dlameter o~ said spigot between 1 and 3 mm.
l~ithout the flexible body or bellows 15 being supported by the corset-like arrangement,said bellows will be subJect to an irregular formation o~ externally-curved portions, this pheno-menon impairing the accuracy o~ the metering operation. In contrast to this, the corset-like s~pporting means o~ the in-vention makes it possible to maintain volumetric tolerances of hardly measurable magnitude.
Figure 3 shows a modified embodiment of the component parts dei'ining the pumping space. Mounted in a cylindrical houslng 40, the upper end of which is adapted to be connected to the container for the concentrate, is an upper sleeve member 42 l~hich is provided with an outwardly projecting flange at its upper end. A corresponding lower sleeve member 43 is provided ill the lower end of housing 40 and rigidly attached to a cover member having an outlet spigot 49. In the example sbown, it is .ssumed that the lower sleeve member 43 is guided with clearance in the lower end of housing ~0. Also the lower sleeve member 43 is provided with an outwardly projecting flange. ~etween the lower portion of housing 40 and the two approximately aligned spigot sections 42 and ~3 which are made of a rigid material such as a plastic material there is provided an annular space 47.
Disposed in this annular space is a spreading or biasing spring ~8 the ends of which bear against the flanges of sleeve members 1~ and 4X, said spring tending to hold the t\~o sleeve members in their spread-apart position shown in Figure 3. In the embodiment shown the lower spigot is connected to an annular armature 45 which is adapted to be actuated in such a manner by the electromagnetic operating means (not shown) that the lower spigot 43 can be raised until it bears against the upper spigot 22 for the performance of a pumping stroke. The two opposing encls o~ the two spigots are sealingly interconnected by a bellows member 44 which essentially applies no ~orces to the spigots. l~ith the two spigots 4? and 43 being brought lnto their proximate position, the ~old 44 is practically closed ~ompletely.
In order to prevent air from being compressed in the annular space 47 in synchronism with the pumping strokes, said annular space is ventilated to the external atmosphere via slots or drilled holes 50 which should be arranged at the minimum pos-~ible Aistance from the final position attained during a pumping stroke so as to provide a flow path o~ minimum length ~or the air displaced as the volume o~ annular space 47 is varied.
Provided in the vicinity o~ the upper flange o~ spigot 42 is the inlet valve (not shown) o~ the pumping chamber, it being possible to provide an inlet valve which resembles the embodi-ment described earlier. In Figure 3 the pumping motion of the lower sleeve member 43 is indicated by the double~headed arrow ~. It would also be possible to provide an arrangement in which the two sleeve members are adapted to move towards and a~ay ~rom one another. The embodiment shown in Figure 3 a~ords the advantage that no concentrate can enter the annular space ~7. The spigot 49 can be constructed in such a way that it is not necessary to associate a non-return valve to the outlet.
It will be understood that such an arrangement which is operable independently o~ the elastic restoring i'orce o~ a rubber bellows is capable o~ metering almost paste-like media which are not adapted to be me-tered by means of the normally available restorlng force provitled by a shape~retaining elastic body.
In this case it will be necessary to provide the magnetic i'orces in a suitable mnnner. The spring ~orce can then be determined in an analogous manner.
. .
The metering de-~ice oi` the invention is also suitable for i~luids other than syrups and the likeO Particularly in the case of perishable fluids, the pump elements employed in the single-use unit afford the advantage that it is possible by suitable manufacturing methods to limit the useful life, for e~ample of the diaphragm, with the result that illegal re~illing of the contalner will cause rapid deterioration of the diaphragm so as to render the device useless. This is an effective method of preventing hygienic problems from nrising.
Claims (15)
1. A method of dispensing viscous concentrates of variable viscosity in accurately meterable quantities of varying volume, in which, by varying the pumping volume of a hollow body made of flexible or shape-retaining resilient material in the direction of its longitudinal axis between stops, concentrate is firstly drawn in via a non-return valve at one end of the hollow body from a storage volume of a con-tainer and then is discharged at the other end of the hollow body, wherein the variable portion of the pumping volume of the hollow body is selected so as to be small with respect to the smallest quantity to be dispensed; wherein during the discharge phase the hollow body is supported against changes in shape in a radially outward direction and is resiliently pretensioned in its shape corresponding to its largest dis-charge volume in an axial direction corresponding to an in-crease of its pumping volume; and wherein the pumping volume is varied cyclically a plurality of times per second during each dispensing operation.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cyclic variation of the pumping volume is performed at the mains frequency of the electric mains supply.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the pumping stroke is limited to between 1 and 2 mm.
4. A device for performing the method of claim 1, having a dispensing section connectible at one end to a con tainer for the concentrate via a non-return valve and in-sertable into an annular actuation device, the dispensing section comprising an axially movable actuation element acting axially on a section of flexible or shape-retaining resilient material forming a pumping volume for reducinq the volume between stops, wherein the section forming the pumping volume is arranged as a hollow cylindrical body in the dis-pensing section insertable into the actuation device; wherein the section of the hollow cylindrical body which can be varied between the stops is formed so as to be small with respect to the quantity to be dispensed in each case; wherein shape-retaining hollow cylindrical parts are provided which support the hollow cylindircal body in a shape-retaining manner against changes in shape in a radially outward direc-tion during a volume reduction phase; wherein the hollow cylindrical body is pretensioned in an initial position of largest pumping volume with a predetermined force in the direction of an increase of the pumping volume; and wherein the actuation element is movable axially in a reciprocating manner a plurality of times per second by the actuation device during each dispensing operation.
5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hollow cylindrical body comprises at least one annular fold directed radially inwards; and in that the hollow cylindrical parts radially supporting the hollow cylindrical body are formed by two rigid sleeve sections, one of which, forming a unit with the actuation element, is axially movable with respect to the other.
6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sleeve sections are simultaneously formed as stops cooperating with one another to limit the axial compression movement of the hollow cylindrical body.
7. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the axially movable rigid sleeve section and the actuation element form an axial movement unit with a rigid valve body of the non-return valve on the inlet side of the dispensing section.
\
\
8. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a rigid guide tube is provided in which one end of the hollow cylindrical body is disposed so as to be axially fixed and the other end of the hollow cylindrical body is guided so as to be axially displaceable.
9. A device as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, where-in the actuation element is formed as an annular armature of an electromagnetic actuation device, the actuation device being adapted to the axially movable unit in such a way that the latter is cyclically movable at the mains frequency sub-stantially between 50 Hz and 60 Hz.
10. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein between the ends of the hollow cylindrical body there is provided a spring retaining the body in the starting position with the largest pumping volume under stretching pretensioning.
11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the annular spring is arranged in an annular space between the rigid guide tube and the hollow cylindrical body, the annular space having venting apertures open towards the outer atmos-phere.
12. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a radially rigid support element is rigidly associated with the ridge of the radially inwardly directed fold of the hollow cylindrical body.
13. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the radially rigid support element is an axially flexible helical spring.
14. A device as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6, where-in the dispensing section has a further non-return valve through which viscous concentrate is in use discharged from the dispensing section.
15. A device as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6, where-in the pumping volume on the outlet side is freely connected to an outlet connection part having an internal diameter and axial length such that the inner friction and surface tension of the concentrate in the outlet connection part are sufficient to retain the concentrate column unchanged in the outlet connection part when the pumping volume is axially unchanged and when the pumping volume increases.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE3112024 | 1981-03-26 | ||
| DEP3112024.5 | 1981-03-26 | ||
| DEP3131650.6 | 1981-08-11 | ||
| DE3131650A DE3131650C2 (en) | 1981-03-26 | 1981-08-11 | Device for dispensing viscous concentrates of variable viscosity in precisely metered amounts of variable volume, especially for vending machines |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1188269A true CA1188269A (en) | 1985-06-04 |
Family
ID=25792167
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000399323A Expired CA1188269A (en) | 1981-03-26 | 1982-03-24 | Method of and device for dispensing viscous concentrates of variable viscosity in accurately metered quantities of variable volume |
Country Status (20)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AR (1) | AR230100A1 (en) |
| AT (1) | AT380081B (en) |
| AU (1) | AU555234B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR8201607A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1188269A (en) |
| CH (1) | CH659891A5 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3131650C2 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK151118C (en) |
| ES (1) | ES510765A0 (en) |
| FI (1) | FI69517C (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2502774B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2103296B (en) |
| IE (1) | IE52625B1 (en) |
| IL (1) | IL65121A (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1199980B (en) |
| LU (1) | LU84030A1 (en) |
| MX (1) | MX159215A (en) |
| NL (1) | NL184337C (en) |
| PT (1) | PT74657B (en) |
| SE (1) | SE454385B (en) |
Families Citing this family (30)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3243319A1 (en) * | 1982-11-23 | 1984-05-24 | Technica Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH & Co KG, 2418 Ratzeburg | Method and arrangement for the optional portioned or continuous discharge and mixing of different liquids in exact quantities and parts thereof, regardless of fluctuations in viscosity and/or any supply or flow pressure |
| US4570830A (en) * | 1983-06-28 | 1986-02-18 | Cadbury Schweppes, Plc | Gravity dispenser |
| US4658979A (en) * | 1986-01-13 | 1987-04-21 | American Can Company | Propellant filling and sealing valve |
| DE3622777A1 (en) * | 1986-07-07 | 1988-02-04 | Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete | ARRANGEMENT FOR PREPARING AND DOSING DISPENSING OF LIQUIDS |
| DE3827498C1 (en) * | 1988-07-15 | 1989-12-28 | Technica Entwicklungsgesellschaft Mbh & Co Kg, 2418 Ratzeburg, De | Method and device for delivering liquids of different or varying consistencies |
| NL8901867A (en) * | 1989-07-19 | 1991-02-18 | Douwe Egberts Tabaksfab | DEVICE FOR CHECKING THE FILLING LEVEL OF A DOSING SYSTEM. |
| DE3940877A1 (en) * | 1989-12-11 | 1991-08-01 | Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete | Liq. dispenser with reservoir and pump |
| DE4013323C2 (en) * | 1990-04-26 | 1996-07-25 | Hhs Leimauftrags Systeme Gmbh | Dosing valve |
| AU4957093A (en) * | 1992-09-18 | 1994-04-12 | Unilever Plc | Liquid dispenser |
| DE19522943A1 (en) * | 1995-06-23 | 1997-01-02 | Dagma Gmbh & Co | Electromagnetic dosing device with external armature |
| DE19522917A1 (en) * | 1995-06-23 | 1997-01-09 | Dagma Gmbh & Co | Delivery of precisely dosed concentrates |
| DE19523816A1 (en) * | 1995-06-29 | 1997-01-02 | Dagma Gmbh & Co | Dosing device with spring return |
| DE69817203T2 (en) | 1997-10-08 | 2004-06-17 | Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company, St. Paul | VALVE FOR DISPENSING LIQUID UNDER GRAVITY |
| EA003149B1 (en) | 1999-06-21 | 2003-02-27 | Сара Ле/Де Н.В. | Dosing device adapted for dispensing a concentrate from a holder |
| NL1013393C2 (en) * | 1999-06-21 | 2000-12-22 | Sara Lee De Nv | Dosing device used in beverage preparation apparatus, has gear pump in liquid flow path connecting housing inlet and outlet, while housing inlet is connected to storage space of holder |
| NL1013392C2 (en) * | 1999-06-21 | 2000-12-22 | Sara Lee De Nv | Dosing device used in beverage preparation apparatus, has gear pump in liquid flow path connecting housing inlet and outlet, while housing inlet is connected to storage space of holder |
| NL1012395C2 (en) * | 1999-06-21 | 2000-12-22 | Sara Lee De Nv | Dosing device used in beverage preparation apparatus, has gear pump in liquid flow path connecting housing inlet and outlet, while housing inlet is connected to storage space of holder |
| US6223791B1 (en) | 1999-10-21 | 2001-05-01 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Gravity feed fluid dispensing valve |
| US6450214B1 (en) | 2001-08-31 | 2002-09-17 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Gravity feed fluid dispensing valve |
| JP2007511421A (en) * | 2003-05-23 | 2007-05-10 | サラ リー／デーイー エヌ．ヴェー | Assembly of container filled with mineral concentrate and dosing device |
| NL1023521C2 (en) * | 2003-05-23 | 2004-11-24 | Sara Lee De Nv | Assembly for preparing mineral water, comprises dosing device provided with housing comprising inlet, outlet, liquid flow path, pump, and magnetizable or magnetic operating component manufactured from corrosion resistant steel |
| GB0424313D0 (en) * | 2004-11-03 | 2004-12-01 | Imi Norgren Ltd | Liquid dispensing system |
| BE1017042A6 (en) * | 2006-03-10 | 2007-12-04 | Cruysberghs Rudiger | PUMP MECHANISM METHOD WITH QUICK COUPLING. |
| EP2374541A1 (en) * | 2010-04-06 | 2011-10-12 | Symbion Medical Systems Sàrl | Disposable dispensing cartridge for medical assay instrumentation |
| US8899450B2 (en) | 2010-05-18 | 2014-12-02 | Aktiebolaget Electrolux | Battery-powered dosing device |
| MX2013012930A (en) | 2011-05-06 | 2014-05-28 | Electrolux Home Prod Corp | Reciprocating pump assembly for liquids. |
| RU2537099C1 (en) * | 2013-05-14 | 2014-12-27 | Открытое акционерное общество "Союзцветметавтоматика" | Device for measurement of weight flow and weigh batching of liquid flotation reagents (weighing flow meter/liquid batcher) |
| SI25455A (en) * | 2017-06-14 | 2018-12-31 | Bojan PAVČNIK | Flexible antidosing element for grease pushing, preferably for hard fluid composite compounds (chfc) |
| DE102018003507B3 (en) | 2018-04-28 | 2019-10-24 | Thomas Magnete Gmbh | Linear-acting electric pump unit with a bellows and method of operating the same |
| DE102018003509A1 (en) | 2018-04-28 | 2019-10-31 | Thomas Magnete Gmbh | Electromagnet and method of making the electromagnet |
Family Cites Families (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2554570A (en) * | 1948-09-27 | 1951-05-29 | Leo M Harvey | Measuring liquid dispenser having resilient walls |
| GB827778A (en) * | 1957-05-08 | 1960-02-10 | Newton Chambers & Co | An improved device for dispensing fluent materials |
| GB1104456A (en) * | 1965-09-14 | 1968-02-28 | Trico Folberth Ltd | Improvements in or relating to windscreen washing apparatus |
| FR1507222A (en) * | 1966-11-08 | 1967-12-29 | Stop Sa | Suction and pressure pump for vehicle windshield washer fluid |
| CH547084A (en) * | 1971-10-26 | 1974-03-29 | Test Sa D Etudes Tech | APPARATUS FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF A FLUID OR PASTE PRODUCT. |
| FR2349132A1 (en) * | 1976-04-23 | 1977-11-18 | Prodene | Long life dispenser for fluids and creams - has guide sleeve allowing intake and delivery of measured amounts by plunger |
| FR2392366A2 (en) * | 1977-01-06 | 1978-12-22 | Prodene | Long life dispenser for fluids and creams - has guide sleeve allowing intake and delivery of measured amounts by plunger |
| DE2851886C2 (en) * | 1978-11-30 | 1981-01-29 | Dagma Deutsche Automaten- Und Getraenkemaschinen Gmbh & Co Kg, 2067 Reinfeld | Device for the dosed delivery of liquids |
| GB2037255B (en) * | 1978-12-12 | 1982-10-20 | Dagma Gmbh & Co | Metered dispensing of liquid |
-
1981
- 1981-08-11 DE DE3131650A patent/DE3131650C2/en not_active Expired
-
1982
- 1982-02-26 IL IL65121A patent/IL65121A/en unknown
- 1982-03-01 CH CH1225/82A patent/CH659891A5/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1982-03-03 IE IE476/82A patent/IE52625B1/en unknown
- 1982-03-05 AU AU81152/82A patent/AU555234B2/en not_active Expired
- 1982-03-09 NL NLAANVRAGE8200969,A patent/NL184337C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1982-03-09 AR AR288690A patent/AR230100A1/en active
- 1982-03-11 MX MX191769A patent/MX159215A/en unknown
- 1982-03-11 GB GB08207098A patent/GB2103296B/en not_active Expired
- 1982-03-12 FI FI820853A patent/FI69517C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1982-03-19 FR FR8204864A patent/FR2502774B1/en not_active Expired
- 1982-03-23 BR BR8201607A patent/BR8201607A/en unknown
- 1982-03-24 LU LU84030A patent/LU84030A1/en unknown
- 1982-03-24 CA CA000399323A patent/CA1188269A/en not_active Expired
- 1982-03-24 SE SE8201867A patent/SE454385B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1982-03-24 ES ES510765A patent/ES510765A0/en active Granted
- 1982-03-24 IT IT20359/82A patent/IT1199980B/en active
- 1982-03-25 DK DK137282A patent/DK151118C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1982-03-25 AT AT0117282A patent/AT380081B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1982-03-25 PT PT74657A patent/PT74657B/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2103296B (en) | 1984-09-12 |
| AU555234B2 (en) | 1986-09-18 |
| DE3131650A1 (en) | 1982-10-14 |
| IT8220359A0 (en) | 1982-03-24 |
| DE3131650C2 (en) | 1985-02-14 |
| AT380081B (en) | 1986-04-10 |
| FI69517B (en) | 1985-10-31 |
| NL184337C (en) | 1989-06-16 |
| ES8302301A1 (en) | 1983-02-01 |
| IE52625B1 (en) | 1988-01-06 |
| DK151118C (en) | 1988-06-27 |
| PT74657B (en) | 1983-09-14 |
| NL8200969A (en) | 1982-10-18 |
| DK137282A (en) | 1982-09-27 |
| ATA117282A (en) | 1985-08-15 |
| BR8201607A (en) | 1983-02-08 |
| CH659891A5 (en) | 1987-02-27 |
| AR230100A1 (en) | 1984-02-29 |
| IT1199980B (en) | 1989-01-05 |
| AU8115282A (en) | 1982-09-30 |
| PT74657A (en) | 1982-04-01 |
| ES510765A0 (en) | 1983-02-01 |
| IL65121A (en) | 1989-02-28 |
| DK151118B (en) | 1987-11-02 |
| NL184337B (en) | 1989-01-16 |
| SE8201867L (en) | 1982-09-27 |
| GB2103296A (en) | 1983-02-16 |
| MX159215A (en) | 1989-05-04 |
| SE454385B (en) | 1988-04-25 |
| FI820853L (en) | 1982-09-27 |
| FR2502774B1 (en) | 1985-09-27 |
| FI69517C (en) | 1986-02-10 |
| IL65121A0 (en) | 1982-04-30 |
| FR2502774A1 (en) | 1982-10-01 |
| IE820476L (en) | 1982-09-26 |
| LU84030A1 (en) | 1982-07-08 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA1188269A (en) | Method of and device for dispensing viscous concentrates of variable viscosity in accurately metered quantities of variable volume | |
| US4518105A (en) | Method of and device for dispensing viscous concentrates of variable viscosity in accurately metered quantities of variable volume | |
| US7980425B2 (en) | Metering pump for dispensing liquid | |
| US10280909B2 (en) | Magnetically actuated fluid pump | |
| US5489044A (en) | Method of preparing replaceable liquid soap reservoir | |
| US5284425A (en) | Fluid metering pump | |
| US5518147A (en) | Collapsible pump chamber having predetermined collapsing pattern | |
| KR100886335B1 (en) | Foam forming unit | |
| US3529908A (en) | Variable output positive displacement bellows pump | |
| CA2045313C (en) | Disposable plastic liquid pump | |
| US5439178A (en) | Pump device including multiple function collapsible pump chamber | |
| CA2165315C (en) | Compressible pump chamber having predetermined collapsing pattern | |
| US8104646B2 (en) | Trigger sprayer having a reduced number of parts and a double tubular valve member | |
| US6769576B2 (en) | Delivery container | |
| US3730398A (en) | Liquid dispensing apparatus | |
| JPH06505191A (en) | A device for atomizing fluid by a repeatedly driven pump | |
| US5050782A (en) | Measured volume liquid dispenser having a rotatable plunger with a radial projection for selectively engaging one of a plurality of axial channels formed in the pump cylinder | |
| US5234134A (en) | Device for the measured dispensing of liquids out of a storage container | |
| CA2902813A1 (en) | Magnetically actuated fluid pump and pulse reducing apparatus | |
| GB2043594A (en) | Apparatus for dispensing a controlled dose of a fluid | |
| US20240017278A1 (en) | Foam-at-a-distance dispensers having small volume pump chambers and valve arrangements for same | |
| AU660619B2 (en) | A fluid valve device and a positive-displacement pump | |
| AU694114C (en) | Pump device including multiple function collapsible pump chamber | |
| JPS62267581A (en) | Precise measuring delivery device |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |