EP0236786A2 - Measuring device for fluids - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises a container, which has at least one elastically deformable wall portion, and a measuring vessel. The container has an outlet with a removal opening which is so narrow in adaptation to the liquid to be measured that the liquid emerges only when the deformable wall portion is pressed in. The measuring vessel can be connected detachably to the container in such a way that it surrounds the removal opening during the measuring operation. When measuring with the container and measuring vessel in the inverted position, the measuring vessel remains connected to the container in a liquid-tight manner. The very narrow removal opening allows the liquid to emerge when the deformable wall portion of the container is pressed in, but it does not allow any more liquid to continue flowing when the measuring operation has been completed and the measuring vessel removed. …<IMAGE>…

Description

State of the art, task, solution

The invention relates to a metering device for liquids, wherein "liquids" are also to be understood here as slurry-like media. The dosing device has a container and a measuring vessel, which can consist of transparent material. It can also be graduated, although in some embodiments this is not required. The container either consists entirely of elastically deformable material or has at least one wall section that is elastically deformable.

Dosing devices of this type are known in which liquid can be pressed into the measuring vessel from the container through a riser pipe. The riser pipe extends from the bottom of the container into the measuring vessel as far as the specified dosage requires. If the container is pressed together (in an upright position), liquid is conveyed into the measuring vessel and, after the pressure exerted on the container, is sucked back up to the height of the riser pipe end.

This known metering device has the following disadvantages: It is expensive due to the necessary assembly of the riser pipe and a cumbersome closing process. The application is not hygienic, because at the end of the dosing process with the liquid that is sucked back into the container from the measuring vessel, foreign bodies such as dirt particles can also get into the container.

• Komplizierte Manipulationen am oder mit dem Behälter sind erforderlich;
• die Präzision läßt zu wünschen übrig;
• die Dosierer sind teuer.

Other known dispensers have at least one of the following disadvantages:

• Complicated manipulations on or with the container are required;
• the precision leaves something to be desired;
• the dosers are expensive.

It is also known to simply pour liquid into a measuring vessel, in particular a measuring cup, up to the level of a mark. Handling is cumbersome and the metering flow is difficult to control.

The present invention is intended to provide a liquid metering device which is free from the disadvantages mentioned above, is easy to use, in which metering can be carried out with high accuracy and in which liquid cannot get back into the container from the measuring vessel.

This object is achieved according to claim 1.

(The following explanations also refer to the preamble to the claims.)

During the dosing process, the measuring vessel remains connected to the container in a liquid-tight manner. Dosing is carried out after reversing the unit from the container and the measuring vessel, so that the container is at the top and the measuring vessel at the bottom. Dosing in this position is made possible by the very narrow removal opening, which only allows liquid to escape when the deformable wall section of the container is pressed in. After the dosing process has ended, the upright measuring vessel is separated from the inverted container. Liquid can come out of the container because of the Do not leak the fineness of the discharge opening unless further pressure is exerted on the container. no liquid can be sucked back into the container during the dosing process, even if the container can be expanded again, since the liquid level in the measuring vessel is separated from the removal opening by an air space.

Special measures for venting the container are generally not necessary, since air is sucked into the container either when the pressure is released or after removing the measuring container from the outside.

Developments of the invention

According to claim 3 it can be achieved that on the one hand the container for transport is to be shut off by a closure cap or other closure parts, so that liquid cannot escape even when the container is pressed. Furthermore, the measuring vessel can already be held in its position on the container intended for the dosing process during transport.

According to claim 4, a container can be permanently parked in its position suitable for the dosing process, so that only the measuring vessel needs to be moved if necessary.

According to claim 5, the container itself can be designed so that it can be set up on its own shelf in the metering position, and that above a base on which the container rests, there is enough space for plugging and removing the measuring vessel.

According to claim 6, a simplified handling when dosing can be created in that just one desired portion (dose) of the rivers by pressing once on the elastically deformable wall section liquid exits, e.g. B. with detergents or liquid detergents is sufficient, in which no high demands are placed on the accuracy of the dosing process, while simplified handling is very desirable.

According to claim 7, a very precise dosing can be made possible or facilitated by the fact that air can escape when the measuring vessel is filled. Such a dosage is particularly interesting for pharmacy. Liquids in amounts of e.g. B. 0.5 or 1 ml can be dosed with high accuracy. This eliminates the annoying dropping or dropping with a pipette.

While one can accommodate a reducing insert on the container itself or in its opening, which has the narrow removal opening, the removal opening can instead be provided in the bottom of a measuring vessel according to claim 8, which can be plugged or screwed onto the mouth of the container and which has a removable lid which is closed during the dosing process and is opened to empty the measuring vessel.

According to claim 10 or 11, a dosing device can be created, which is preferably used in pharmacy, and in which a particularly dome-like measuring vessel is screwed over a cone-like structure at the mouth of a container, usually a medicine bottle. When dispensing, the space remaining between the measuring vessel and the body is completely filled, while all air escapes from this space. Compared to other options, e.g. B. drip inserts, only a very small investment is required here. Exemplary embodiments with further features of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings.

• Figure 1 shows in cross section the upper part of a bottle with a plug-on measuring vessel, a variant of the left representation being shown on the right of an axis of symmetry.
• FIG. 2 shows in cross section a container with a measuring vessel that can be plugged on from below.
• Figure 3 shows in cross section a measuring vessel that can be screwed onto the mouth of a container.
• Figure 4 shows in partial cross section a dome-like measuring vessel at a bottle mouth.

First embodiment

As FIG. 1 shows, a container 1 in the form of a bottle has a mouth 2 with a screw thread 3, which receives a reducing insert 5. A removal opening 7 is provided in the reducing insert, which runs partly in a pipe socket 9 of the reducing insert. The mouth 2 can be closed by a screw cap 11, which is only of importance for transport and is removed before metering.

The measuring vessel 12 here has the shape of a beaker, which consists of transparent plastic and is provided with a metering scale 14. The measuring vessel can be plugged on under some pretension. In a first variant, which is shown on the left in Figure 1, the mouth 2 is surrounded by a ring 16 made of plastic, which, for. B. is shrunk and has an outer diameter that is larger than that of the screw cap 11. In the variant shown on the right in Figure 1, the container ter 1 a ring bead 18 that serves the same purpose as the ring 16th

Before use, the screw cap 11 is removed and the measuring vessel 12 is plugged on again. For dosing, the container including the measuring vessel 12 is turned upside down. The container is either completely elastic or has at least one elastically deformable wall section. If pressure is exerted on the container or the wall section, liquid emerges through the removal opening 9 and is filled into the measuring vessel up to the desired mark of the metering scale 14. As soon as the pressure drops, air that is still above the liquid level in the measuring vessel enters the container. It replaces the volume of the amount of liquid dispensed. The removal opening 7 is, to match the liquid to be metered, so narrow that liquid cannot flow out by itself. The dosing vessel and its contents can now be removed from the mouth of the container facing downwards. A suitable choice of dimensions and materials ensures that the measuring vessel remains securely attached to the mouth of the container even when filled with liquid, but can still be removed with reasonable effort.

The container can be closed by a screw cap for transport on other orphans, e.g. B. by a stopper, which is inserted into the removal opening, by a cap which is placed on the pipe socket 9 or by a sealing washer which is glued to the underside, that is to say the side of the reducing insert facing the inside of the bottle. All of these parts are only used for transport protection and are removed before dosing.

If it is desired that air enters the outside when filling the measuring vessel, one can ensure that air can pass between the edge of the measuring vessel 12 and the ring 16 or the annular bead 18, for. B. in that approximately axially parallel channels are provided on the edge in the inner wall of the measuring vessel. It is not necessary for this connection is liquid-tight, since the measuring vessel with its contents must be removed while the mouth of the container 1 is still turned down. But then there is no danger that liquid will escape at the edge of the measuring vessel.

Variant of the first embodiment

The container is shaped, e.g. B. a relatively wide shoulder that it can be placed with the opening facing down on a pedestal, the mouth of the container being so large a distance from a surface on which the pedestal rests that the measuring vessel can be turned up and down without difficulty can be removed again. The dosage is simplified in that the container does not have to be turned upside down and put back again each time.

Second embodiment

Figure 2 shows in cross section a relatively large container 1.2 made of plastic, which is either elastically deformable as a whole or is relatively rigid, but has an elastically deformable Uand section 20. The container has a footprint 22 or individually molded legs with which it can be placed on a base 24. Its mouth 2.2 is provided on a wall piece 26, which is located above the horizontal extension of the footprint, ie above the base 24, so far that the measuring vessel 12 can be conveniently plugged in and removed. A reduction insert 5 with a removal opening 7 is also provided here. The measuring vessel 12 can be plugged onto an integrally formed ring 28, on which it holds with sufficient tension for this purpose. Dosing is carried out by pressure on the container wall, in particular on the wall section 20. The container is preferably in the region of the wall section 20 slim that you can grasp it with one hand. The dosing process proceeds in the manner described above.

The measuring vessel can in turn be provided with a metering scale. With such large containers, the z. B. to be used for detergents or liquid detergents, where a very precise sealing is not important, can also be metered in such a way that a single press-in of the elastic wall section 20 leads to the dispensing of the desired amount. For this purpose, the Uand section is preferably designed so that it is curved outwards in the idle state and, in contrast to the remaining wall of the container, is relatively easily deformable. The wall section is dimensioned so that the desired amount is dispensed by pressing it once. If a single wall section is not sufficient for this purpose, two such wall sections can be provided on opposite sides of the container. The mouth 2.2 can in turn be closed by a screw cap (not shown here) for transport.

Third embodiment

Figure 3 shows a measuring vessel 12.3, in particular made of plastic, which is equipped in one piece with a screw cap 30 for a container mouth. The measuring vessel has a bottom 32 with a removal opening 7.3, which is partly inside a pipe socket 9.3. The pipe socket can be closed by a push-on cap 34 for transport. The measuring vessel itself can be closed by a cover 36, which can be plugged on under some pretension.

For use, the measuring vessel is screwed onto the mouth of a container with the aid of its screw cap 30. Dosing is carried out in the manner described in the first embodiment. In the opposite position, the measuring vessel is sealed by its cover 36. After returning the container to its normal position (mouth at the top) unscrewed and its contents poured out after removing the lid 36.

Fourth embodiment

This embodiment is particularly intended for dosing pharmaceutical liquids. The container 1.4 is usually a bottle, in the mouth 2.4 a cup-like reducing insert 5.4 is made of plastic. A conical structure 42 (in the position according to FIG. 4) runs upwards from the lower edge 40 of this reducing insert. It has a relatively steep frustoconical section 44 at the bottom, which merges into a cone section 46 with a lower wall inclination. At the tip of the cone section, which protrudes slightly beyond the bottle mouth, there is the narrow removal opening 7.4. The reducing insert 5.4 is seated with an outer flange 48 on the edge of the mouth 2.4.

A transparent, dome-like structure (metering dome 50) made of polyethylene with an outer flange 52, which is firmly mounted in a screw cap 54, serves as the measuring vessel. The dosing dome has a downwardly projecting thin, elastically deformable extension 56, which lies sealingly against the outer wall of the frustoconical section 44. This results in a metering space 58 between the metering dome 50 and the conical structure 42 on the one hand and, as shown, an annular space 60 on the other hand. Both contain air before dosing.

If the bottle wall is pressed in with the bottle and dosing device in the head position, the dosing space 58 is filled with liquid through the removal opening 7.4, and indeed completely. Air escapes from the dosing space while elastically deforming the attachment 56 into the annular space 60. After unscrewing the dosing dome 50 (in the head position), the dose can be removed.

Different doses can be achieved by dosing domes of different shapes, in particular heights.

B E Z U G S Z E I C H E N

• 1 container
• 2 mouth
• 3 screw threads
• 5 Reduction insert
• 7 removal opening
• 9 pipe sockets
• 11 screw cap
• 12 measuring vessel
• 14 dosing scale
• 16 ring
• 18 ring bead
• 20 Uand section
• 22 footprint
• 24 pad
• 26 wall piece
• 28 ring
• 30 screw cap
• 32 bottom
• 34 push-on cap
• 36 lid
• 39 floor
• 40 rand
• 42 cone-like structures
• 44 frustoconical section
• 46 cone section
• 48 outer flange
• 50 dosing dome
• 52 outer flange
• 54 hole screw cap
• 56 approach
• 58 dosing room
• 60 annulus - - -

Claims (11)

1. Dosing device for liquids with a container (1 usu.), Which has at least one elastically deformable wall section (20), and a (in particular transparent) measuring vessel (12 usu.), Characterized by the following features: a) the container has an outlet with a removal opening (7 usu.), which is so narrow to match the liquid to be dosed that the liquid only escapes when the deformable wall section is pressed in, b) the measuring vessel is detachably connected to the container so that it surrounds the removal opening during the dosing process. 2. Dosing device according to claim 1, characterized in that a container mouth with a reducer (in particular reducing insert (5 usu.)) Is provided, which (in turn) has the narrow removal opening (7 usu.). 3. Dosing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the neck of the container mouth has an annular bead (18) or is surrounded by a ring (16) which projects beyond other mouth parts, and possibly a closure cap radially and its outer shape and Dimensions are chosen so that the measuring vessel (12) can be plugged in under voltage. (Figure 1) 4. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container has an outer shape which allows it to be set up (possibly on a stand) with the discharge opening facing downwards. (Not illustrated) 5. Dosing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the removal opening (7) is arranged so far above a footprint (22) of the container (1.2) that sufficient space for attaching and detaching the measuring vessel (12) and for this itself above one Pad (24) remains on which the container rests. (Figure 2) 6. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastically deformable wall section (20) is arched outward in the idle state and such dimensions and such a high elasticity in comparison to the remaining Uandmateriel of the container that one-time complete pressing of the wall section to a predetermined filling of the measuring vessel leads. (Figure 2) 7. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when the measuring vessel is plugged in, an opening remains on the inner edge thereof, which allows air to escape from the measuring vessel when the measuring vessel is filled. (Figure 1, 2, 4) 8. Dosing device according to claim 1, characterized by the following features: a) the removal opening (7.3) is provided in the bottom of the measuring vessel (12.3), b) the bottom is provided with a cap (in particular screw cap (32) or push-on cap) for placing the measuring vessel on the mouth of the container, c) the measuring vessel can be closed by a lid (36). (Figure 3) 9. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pipe socket projecting into the measuring vessel and surrounding the removal opening attaches to the bottom and can be closed by a push-on cap (34). 10. Dosing device according to claim 1, characterized by the following features: a) in a cap closing the container mouth (in particular a perforated screw cap (54)) with an opening in the bottom, a measuring vessel (metering dome 50) is attached in a liquid-tight manner and ends in an elastic, approximately cylindrical extension (56), b) the container mouth receives a cup-shaped insert (5.4), from the bottom of which an outwardly directed, kagel-like structure (42) rises, the tip of which has the removal opening (7.4), c) the neck (56) of the measuring vessel is arranged such that its inner edge seals at least one of these parts against the outer wall of the conical structure (42) with elastic deformation when the metering device is closed. (Figure 4) 11. Dosing device according to claim 10, characterized in that there is an annular space (60) for receiving air within the cup-shaped insert (5.4) and outside a portion (44) of the conical structure (42) and the approach (56) of the measuring vessel , which is displaced from the dosing chamber (58) when the measuring vessel is filled.

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