EP0696541A1 - Récipient pour un dispositif doseur - Google Patents

Récipient pour un dispositif doseur Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0696541A1
EP0696541A1 EP94305965A EP94305965A EP0696541A1 EP 0696541 A1 EP0696541 A1 EP 0696541A1 EP 94305965 A EP94305965 A EP 94305965A EP 94305965 A EP94305965 A EP 94305965A EP 0696541 A1 EP0696541 A1 EP 0696541A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
dispensing channel
collecting chamber
metering
metering device
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP94305965A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
A. A. Guillou
Rompuy T. Van
S. F. Kelsey
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Procter and Gamble Co
Original Assignee
Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Procter and Gamble Co filed Critical Procter and Gamble Co
Priority to EP94305965A priority Critical patent/EP0696541A1/fr
Priority to PCT/US1995/009241 priority patent/WO1996005137A1/fr
Publication of EP0696541A1 publication Critical patent/EP0696541A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D25/00—Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D25/38—Devices for discharging contents
    • B65D25/52—Devices for discharging successive articles or portions of contents
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/72—Contents-dispensing means
    • B65D5/76—Contents-dispensing means for discharging metered quantities

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a container comprising a metering device for dispensing an accurately metered amount of granular product.
  • said metering device allows to accurately meter a variable amount of said granular product.
  • Metering devices are known in the art. These metering devices allow to measure out a specific and uniform amount of the total content from a container without a separate manual operation with a separate measuring device, like a scoop for example. Indeed, this manual operation is not only time consuming and messy, but may also result in an inaccurate measuring. In particular for concentrated granular detergents, the efficacy of these products is dependent upon the accuracy of the product amount used.
  • the amount of the detergent has to be varied for different washing conditions by the user. Different washing conditions can be performed with an incompletely filled dish- or laundry washing machine or different load types depending from the dirt or different degrees of water hardness. Indeed, for example, an increased amount of detergent has to be used to counterbalance a higher degree of water hardness or vice versa. Therefore the user should have the possibility to measure out smaller or greater amounts of detergent in an accurate manner to obtain optimal efficacy of said detergent for all washing conditions without wasting.
  • US-2 896 826 discloses a measuring dispenser adapted to regulate the amount of substance dispensed from its container.
  • This measuring dispenser comprises an outlet channel.
  • Said outlet channel has a part perpendicular to the side wall of said outlet channel. Said perpendicular part interrupts the direct flow from the interior of the container ensuring the dispensing of a uniform amount.
  • Said outlet is slidable. When the distance between the container bottom wall and the lower end of said outlet channel is increased, by pulling said dispensing channel upwards, the amount of content in the measuring compartment of said dispenser is also increased.
  • the outlet channel can be slid upwards also in the upright position of said container. Said container does not need to be inverted before said dispensing channel is pulled upwards.
  • the only possibility to decrease the amount of a granular substance is to empty the pre-measured quantity in the measuring compartment and decrease the measuring compartment before the container is returned to its normal upright position. Otherwise, the measuring compartment is filled again with an amount which cannot be decreased afterwards in the upright position of said container as explained above. Therefore the user has to foresee the amount which has to be poured in the next pouring, in particular if the user wants to reduce the amount. This is not always possible. The user should have the possibility to change the amount to be dispensed just prior to use the container.
  • the present invention provides a container (10) for granular products comprising a metering device (20).
  • Said metering device comprises :
  • Figure 1 illustrates a partial perspective view of the top part of an embodiment according to the present invention.
  • Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of the container with the metering device in an embodiment according to the present invention.
  • Figures 3a and 3b illustrate two different shapes of dispensing channel usable in the metering device according to the present invention.
  • the container (Fig. 2, 10) for each embodiment of the present invention comprises a side wall (Fig. 2, 11) defining a hollow body (Fig. 2, 12) with a base wall (Fig. 2, 14) and a top wall (Fig. 2, 15) parallel to said base wall.
  • the opening (Fig. 2, 16) is preferably located on said top wall (15).
  • the shape of said container may be rounded or polygonal.
  • Said container contains granular products, as granular detergents, and includes a metering device (Fig. 2, 20).
  • the container (10) comprises also a handle (not shown).
  • This handle may be a separate part permanently attached to the hollow body (16) of the container. But preferably said handle is an integral part of said body (16).
  • the base wall (14) may be adapted to receive the top wall (15) of another container to allow a stable stacking of a container over another. This means that said base wall has the reversed features of the top wall. For example, if the top wall is convex shaped and has securing ribs, the base wall is consequently substantially of the same dimension as the top wall, is concave shaped and has grooves corresponding to the securing ribs of said top wall.
  • said container comprises at least a transparent part which allows to look through into the container. Therefore, it is easy for the user to control the remaining amount of content in said container.
  • This transparent part may be of any shape and dimension. Also the location of this part is not critical to the present invention. It is also possible that said container is completely transparent.
  • the container (10) is made of a plastic material or cardboard.
  • adequate materials are chosen to be sufficiently resistant to external mechanical forces against damage or breakage. This may be achieved also with flexible plastic materials which are able to absorb the external forces acting on said material without permanent deformation or damage.
  • flexible materials parts like the handle or the base wall may be reinforced in respect to other parts to ensure a sure handling and stable standing and stacking.
  • Suitable plastic materials may be chosen by any person skilled in the art. High or low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate or polyvinyl chloride are, for example, suitable plastic materials for the container. Blow molding is the preferred manufacturing process of the containers made of plastic materials.
  • Figure 1 is a partial perspective view from the bottom of the top portion of an embodiment of the present invention showing the metering device (20).
  • Said metering device is preferably located around said opening (Fig. 2, 16) of said container.
  • a volume or reservoir (28) is located under said opening (16) of said container.
  • Said reservoir (28) is surrounded by a wall (26). Therefore, said opening (16) is not directly connected with the interior of said container.
  • At least an inlet opening (27) ensures the connection between said reservoir (28), and consequently said opening (16), and the interior of said container.
  • Said wall (26) of said reservoir may have any possible shape.
  • said wall of said reservoir is shaped in such a way to direct the content of said container to said inlet opening (27) when said container is tipped into the pour direction preventing any trapping.
  • at least the part of said wall (26) comprising said inlet opening (27) is inclined towards said top wall (15) of said container.
  • Other parts of said wall (26) may have other inclinations.
  • the size of said inlet opening is sufficient to allow to fill said reservoir when said container is tipped into the pour position.
  • Said inlet opening is preferably located close to the top wall (15).
  • said reservoir is subdivided in different chambers according to their specific function.
  • said reservoir may be divided principally in two chambers: a metering chamber (32), which is in connection with the interior of said container through said inlet opening (27), and a collecting chamber (34) which is in connection with said metering chamber.
  • Said collecting chamber comprises said opening (16) of said container.
  • said collecting chamber is located right under said opening (16) of said container, whereas said metering chamber is at least partially displaced from said opening (16).
  • said metering (32) and collecting (34) chambers perform different functions. This becomes evident during the pouring action, as illustrated in Figure 2b.
  • Said metering chamber (32) is filled with a certain amount of granular content from said container through said inlet opening (27) when said container is tipped into the pour direction. Therefore, this metering chamber meters a certain amount which is sufficient to fill or refill the collecting chamber (34).
  • said metering chamber is defined by part of said top wall (15), a part of said wall (26) of said reservoir (28) with said inlet opening (27) and a perpendicular wall to said top wall.
  • Said perpendicular wall can be part of the side wall (42) of the dispensing channel (40) or said non-movable baffle (36).
  • the collecting chamber together with the metering chamber contain the maximum amount of granular product which is ready to be dispensed through said opening (16) to the outside of said container.
  • the dispensing channel (40) comprises a side wall (42).
  • Said dispensing channel (40) comprises a spout (43) in the upper portion of said dispensing channel and an orifice (45) in the lower portion of said dispensing channel.
  • This dispensing channel is inserted into said opening (16) of said container.
  • said orifice (45) corresponds to said opening (16).
  • a certain insertion height of said dispensing channel closes said opening (16). The insertion height of said dispensing channel can be changed upwards or downwards through said opening (16).
  • the side wall (42) is rounded or rectangular and does not comprise any protruding part which prevents said dispensing channel from being able to be reversibly pushed into said collecting chamber regardless that said container is in its upright position and that said collecting chamber is filled with granular product.
  • a different insertion of said dispensing channel inside said opening (16) changes the height of said orifice (45) relative to the bottom of said collecting chamber.
  • the effect of changing the height is to change the volume of granular product that communicates with the orifice of said dispensing channel. Indeed, the granular product that does not lie immediately beneath said orifice (45) is unable to pass through said dispensing channel (40) and remains in said reservoir (28) when said container is tipped into the pouring direction. Therefore, a different quantity from the total amount present in said collecting chamber can be dispensed by varying the height upwards or downwards of said dispensing channel. Indeed, a small amount can be dispensed, if the height of the orifice of said dispensing channel is low over the bottom of said collecting chamber. This amount can be increased by increasing the height of said orifice.
  • FIGs 3a and 3b show other possible shapes of the dispensing channel usable in the present invention.
  • the dispensing channel of Figure 3a comprises said orifice (45), a top wall (46) and a side wall (47).
  • the side wall (47) in this embodiment of said dispensing channel comprises a window (48).
  • Said window represents the spout of said dispensing channel. Therefore, said window is located in the pour direction.
  • this dispensing channel can vary its height form the bottom wall of said collecting chamber in either direction upwards or downwards. In this manner, only the amount of granular product which is immediately below said orifice is able to dispensed through said dispensing channel. Any choice of the dose can be achieved when said container is in its upright position. Tipping said container in the pour direction, the selected amount flows through said dispensing channel to the exterior of said container through said window (48).
  • the side wall (47) comprises a series of flow holes (50).
  • This dispensing channel further comprises a top wall (46).
  • a variable amount of granular product contained in said collecting chamber is in communication with different flow holes of different dimensions and/or with a variable number of flow holes. Therefore, a selected quantity of product is able to flow through said dispensing channel outwards from the uppermost hole in said side wall (47) acting as said spout (43).
  • the user has the possibility to vary the dose of granular product when said container is in its upright position.
  • the position, dimensions and the number of the flow holes (50) are determined by the diameter of said dispensing channel, the quantity of the different doses desired, the capacity and the depth of said collecting chamber.
  • the dosing channel (40) has to be positioned in different heights relative to the bottom of said collecting chamber to vary the quantity of granular product dispensed through said spout (43).
  • the variable positioning of said dispensing channel will preferably be sufficiently accurate so to obtain that the dispensed quantity remains always the same for any selected dosing, i.e. to ensure the reproducibility of any selected dosed amount.
  • the manipulation of said dispensing channel in height has to be simple and immediate for the user. For example screw threads, snapping recesses and corresponding protrusions or ratchets between said dispensing channel and said opening (16) of said container may be employed to variably position in a defined height said dispensing channel.
  • the change of height of said dispensing channel may be achieved by sliding or rotating said dispensing channel upwards or downwards.
  • the height of said dispensing channel can be varied with the help of a lever or a similar device attached to the top of said dispensing channel. This lever remains easy to be manipulated by a user of said metering device (20).
  • a clear indication of the amount which will be dispensed thereafter by tipping said container in the pour direction can be added to said dispensing channel itself and/or on the external surface of the top wall (15) of said container.
  • said dispensing channel comprises a child resistant restraint means to limit the possibility of a child removing granular detergent from said container and accidentally ingest the detergent.
  • a possible child resistant restraint means which can be used in the present invention are caps which have to be at the same time pressed and screwed in order to detach them from a container.
  • said metering chamber (32) is always partially segregated from said collecting chamber (34) by a part of said side wall (42) of said dispensing channel.
  • the passageway (37) provides the necessary communication between said metering and said collecting chamber. This partial segregation of said metering chamber from said collecting chamber ensures that the flow, and therefore the continuous refilling of said collecting chamber from said metering chamber, is interrupted during the normal course of pouring. This continuous refilling of said collecting chamber during pouring may otherwise result in a dispensing of an inaccurate amount of granular product.
  • said metering chamber (32) is partially segregated from said collecting chamber (34) by a non-movable or fixed baffle (36).
  • This fixed baffle ensures that the flow interruption always happens at identical conditions. Furthermore, in this manner the size of said passageway (37) remains constant.
  • the dimension of said passageway is variable with the height of said dispensing channel itself.
  • said baffle achieves a more accurate dispensing of granular product.
  • Said baffle projects from the top wall of said container intermediate to said metering and said collecting chamber.
  • said baffle is substantially perpendicular to the top wall of said container. Therefore, said baffle is substantially parallel to said side wall (42) of said dispensing channel.
  • Said metering device (20) is preferably located in the most upper portion of said container (10). In this manner, said metering device is separated from the rest of the content of said container. This ensures a more accurate measuring, since the content gets in contact with said metering device only during pouring when said content is metered in said metering chamber.
  • the top wall (15) may also comprise a refilling opening. This refilling opening has a sufficient aperture to allow an easy refilling from a refilling bag or pouch.
  • the container comprises a leakage tight, reversibly detachable lid substituting the top wall (15) completely or only partially.
  • the refilling may be achieved either by having said refilling opening and/or detaching said lid.
  • said metering device (20) is preferably part of said lid or said metering device is completely inserted into a suitable orifice of said lid. This does not change the functioning mode of said metering device as will be described below.
  • said lid is made of a plastic material and manufactured through injection molding.
  • the function of the container (10) with said metering device (20) of the present invention as normally operated is as follows. In its upright position, a pre-metered product volume is resting in the collecting chamber (34). The user adjusts the height of the dispensing channel. In this manner, the user selects the desired quantity of product just prior to the use of the container (10) itself, before the dispensing through the spout (43) of said dispensing channel. Thereafter, the user tips said container in the direction of said spout (43). As the container is tipped, the quantity of the product selected previously by adjusting the height of said dispensing channel flows through said dispensing channel and out of said spout (43).
  • the granular product that does not lay immediately beneath said orifice (45), as determined by the height of said dispensing channel (40), is unable to pass through said dispensing channel and remains in said reservoir (28) also when said container is tipped into the pouring direction.
  • the granular product from the container (10) flows through the inlet opening (27) into the metering chamber (32). This flow continues until said metering chamber is filled and blocked by a part of the side wall (42) of said dispensing channel or by the fixed baffle (36).
  • the container is returned to its upright position. A certain amount of granular product flows from the metering chamber (32) through the passageway (37) into the collecting chamber (34) to fill said collecting chamber again. A rest amount of the metered amount remains in the metering chamber.
  • the height of the dispensing channel can be re-adjusted again to select a different quantity before the tipping of the container into the pour position as described above. Therefore the metering device according to the present invention gives the opportunity to chose the quantity to be dispensed just prior to use the container.
  • the user has also the possibility to change a previous selected quantity by simply readjusting the height of the dispensing channel of said metering device also when said container is in its upright position.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
EP94305965A 1994-08-11 1994-08-11 Récipient pour un dispositif doseur Withdrawn EP0696541A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP94305965A EP0696541A1 (fr) 1994-08-11 1994-08-11 Récipient pour un dispositif doseur
PCT/US1995/009241 WO1996005137A1 (fr) 1994-08-11 1995-07-21 Dispositif de dosage

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP94305965A EP0696541A1 (fr) 1994-08-11 1994-08-11 Récipient pour un dispositif doseur

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0696541A1 true EP0696541A1 (fr) 1996-02-14

Family

ID=8217809

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94305965A Withdrawn EP0696541A1 (fr) 1994-08-11 1994-08-11 Récipient pour un dispositif doseur

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0696541A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1996005137A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL1031135C2 (nl) * 2006-02-13 2007-08-14 Dispensing Technologies Bv Doseerinrichting voor een fluïdum.

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1077021A (fr) * 1953-03-14 1954-11-03 Distributeur-doseur à poudres
US2799436A (en) * 1956-03-02 1957-07-16 Bernhardt Robert Devices for dispensing measured amounts
US2896826A (en) * 1957-02-11 1959-07-28 Gustave O Matter Measuring dispenser
DE2611738A1 (de) * 1976-03-19 1977-09-29 Friedrich Georg Boes Vorrichtung zum dosierten abgeben von koernigem bis pulverfoermigem fliessfaehigen gut
DE2627496A1 (de) * 1976-06-18 1977-12-22 Friedrich Georg Boes Vorrichtung zum dosierten abgeben von koernigem bis pulverfoermigem fliessfaehigen gut
DE3544748A1 (de) * 1985-12-18 1987-06-25 Richard Kohn Vorrichtung zur dosierten ausgabe von fliessfaehigen medien
GB2220919A (en) * 1988-06-10 1990-01-24 Seikosha Kk Automatic metering feeder for particulate material
CH681293A5 (en) * 1990-06-19 1993-02-26 Stefan Bartha Free-flowing-material container with dispensing system - has barrier before opening into discharge passage, dividing material into batches

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1276382A (en) * 1917-11-14 1918-08-20 Harold Loveland Measuring and dispensing device.
US2952392A (en) * 1957-03-05 1960-09-13 Gustave O Matter Measuring dispenser
US3148804A (en) * 1959-07-03 1964-09-15 Stanley W James Measuring and dispensing device for finely divided dry material
US5259536A (en) * 1986-02-07 1993-11-09 Reyman Mark E Device for the controlled measuring and dispensing of a fluid

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1077021A (fr) * 1953-03-14 1954-11-03 Distributeur-doseur à poudres
US2799436A (en) * 1956-03-02 1957-07-16 Bernhardt Robert Devices for dispensing measured amounts
US2896826A (en) * 1957-02-11 1959-07-28 Gustave O Matter Measuring dispenser
DE2611738A1 (de) * 1976-03-19 1977-09-29 Friedrich Georg Boes Vorrichtung zum dosierten abgeben von koernigem bis pulverfoermigem fliessfaehigen gut
DE2627496A1 (de) * 1976-06-18 1977-12-22 Friedrich Georg Boes Vorrichtung zum dosierten abgeben von koernigem bis pulverfoermigem fliessfaehigen gut
DE3544748A1 (de) * 1985-12-18 1987-06-25 Richard Kohn Vorrichtung zur dosierten ausgabe von fliessfaehigen medien
GB2220919A (en) * 1988-06-10 1990-01-24 Seikosha Kk Automatic metering feeder for particulate material
CH681293A5 (en) * 1990-06-19 1993-02-26 Stefan Bartha Free-flowing-material container with dispensing system - has barrier before opening into discharge passage, dividing material into batches

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1996005137A1 (fr) 1996-02-22

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5054660A (en) Self-dosing measuring chamber and container
US5495964A (en) Measuring/dispensing device for granular or powder products
US6929159B1 (en) Quantitative measuring dispenser
US20090159620A1 (en) Dispensing device for dispensing a liquid product
CA2136898C (fr) Conteneur de mesure
JP3457673B2 (ja) 重力充填連続可変用量選択を有する流体分与装置
EP0117423B1 (fr) Dispositif distributeur de volumes déterminés d'une matière
AU645772B2 (en) Metering device for liquids
CA2254553C (fr) Contenant distributeur a mesures
CA2309288C (fr) Distributeur doseur
US4709424A (en) Automatic toilet bowl cleaner device
CA2417265C (fr) Doseur pour recipient
EP0696541A1 (fr) Récipient pour un dispositif doseur
US3258177A (en) Measuring and dispensing device for granular material
EP0701108A1 (fr) Dispositif de mesure
JPH0833315B2 (ja) 液体製品の改良された計量／注ぎ出し装置
TWM407222U (en) Dispensing container
CN112368216A (zh) 容器
WO2011110999A1 (fr) Dispositif de distribution
EP0239285A2 (fr) Distributeurs doseurs
US20020070233A1 (en) Container for measuring and dispensing fluids
EP1636552B1 (fr) Recipient de distribution
US3195789A (en) Measuring and dispensing device
CS247535B1 (cs) Dávkovač kapalin
JPH01254585A (ja) 計量分配器

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LI LU NL PT SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19960805

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19961219

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN

18W Application withdrawn

Withdrawal date: 19970130