EP0863084B1 - Kit and refill bag for dosing a powder - Google Patents

Abstract

A powder storage and filling pouch has a tapering cross-section from the centre downwards and a pouring outlet at the bottom with a flexible edge sealed by a plastics film of lower strength than the pouch. Also claimed is a device for metering powder into a solvent comprises a powder storage container (1), a metering outlet for the powder, a solvent feed system (4,5) which flushes powder through the outlet, a cutter (7) in the container and the above powder storage and filling pouch.

Description

The invention relates to a kit for metering a powder in a solvent.

Powder dosing devices for dosing a powder into a solvent is known from prior public use and primarily serve to meter powder Cleaners in commercial dishwashing systems. They point in usually a powder storage container, a metering opening for Discharge of the powder from the container and a feed device for solvent (usually water) that the powder rinsed out through the metering opening. The metering opening is located usually in the lower area of the powder storage container (usually at the bottom) and is passed through a sieve locked. The powder is used for metering through this Sieve rinsed out. The solvent feeder can either be above the sieve in the area of the bed of Powder can be arranged or the mesh screen from below Rinse solvent (water).

Periodically into the powder storage container Cleaner can be refilled. This turns powder from one Refill container poured into a filling opening of the container. When refilling, powder dust can escape, moreover there is a risk that the powder will spill. Because cleaning powder often aggressive or otherwise harmful to health Refill is included associated with a hazard for the operating personnel.

From EP-A-0014805 a liquid soap container is known which a refill chamber provided with a cutter having. The one taken from a cut bag Liquid soap flows from the refill chamber immediately into the separate one actual storage container.

The invention has for its object a safe and enable safe refilling of the powder storage container.

• eine Pulverdosiervorrichtung mit einem Pulvervorratsbehälter, einer Dosieröffnung zum Abführen des Pulvers aus dem Behälter, einer Zufuhreinrichtung für Lösungsmittel, das das Pulver durch die Dosieröffnung ausspült, und mit einer im Behälter angeordneten Schneideinrichtung,
• einen mit Pulver gefüllten Nachfüllbeutel, der einen sich vom mittleren Bereich des Beutels nach unten hin verjüngenden Querschnitt und eine im unteren Bereich des Beutels angeordnete Ausgießöffnung mit einem flexiblen Rand aufweist, die durch eine Kunststoffolie mit einer gegenüber dem Beutelmaterial verringerten Festigkeit verschlossen ist.

The invention relates to a kit for metering a powder into a solvent, with the components:

• a powder metering device with a powder storage container, a metering opening for discharging the powder from the container, a supply device for solvent which rinses the powder out through the metering opening, and with a cutting device arranged in the container,
• a refill bag filled with powder, which has a cross section tapering downwards from the central area of the bag and a pouring opening arranged in the lower area of the bag with a flexible edge, which is closed by a plastic film with a reduced strength compared to the bag material.

First, let's look at some of the terms used in the context of the invention explained. The bottom of the bag is the one with area of the pouring opening through which the contents emptied the bag when used as intended shall be. The opposite area of the pouch will accordingly referred to as the upper area, the one in between lying area, which is about the middle third of the bag may include as a middle range.

The cross section of the bag tapers from its central one Area down. This means that as intended filled with powder, the cross-sectional area of the Bag in the plane perpendicular to from the upper to the lower area pointing axis (longitudinal axis) larger in the middle than in lower bag area.

The pouring opening has a flexible edge. This means, that no reinforcing elements are provided, the form the edge of the pouring opening completely rigid. Usually the bag is made of a tear-resistant plastic film, this bag material can then advantageously immediately form the flexible edge of the pouring opening the plastic film of reduced strength for closing The pouring spout can be used directly with the bag material connected, in particular welded.

The plastic film closing the pouring opening has a reduced strength compared to the bag material. The term strength here refers in particular to the Resistance to the penetration of a sharp-edged cutting device. This strength should preferably be designed in this way be that the weight of the filled bag or possibly a little additional pressure leads to a bottom Cutting device to be explained in more detail on impact on the bottom film closing the pouring opening cuts through and thus opens the pouring opening.

The bag enables the powder storage container to be refilled very easily a powder metering device. The filled one and the sealed bag is placed in the storage container introduced that the bottom film closing the pouring opening on the cutting device to be explained below in Reservoir hits. The bottom film is cut through. Then the bag is slowly removed from the The storage container is lifted out and emptied the pouring spout. The risk of powder spillage or there is no excessive dust. The invention tapering cross-section to the pouring opening sure that the entire contents of the bag pass through the pouring opening expires. Another purpose of this cross-sectional taper is that not the entire weight of the bag contents reduced strength acts on the base film. Because of Rejuvenation becomes a significant part of the weight of the inclined inwards towards the pouring opening, tapered side walls of the bag, those made of stronger tear-resistant material, especially one according to suitable plastic film.

The cross-sectional area of the bag is in the middle preferably 1.5 - 3 times, more preferably that 2 - 2.5 times the cross-sectional area in the tapered lower area. On the one hand, such an area ratio causes one sufficient derivation of the weight of the powder content into the thicker side walls and on the other hand enables one sufficiently large pouring opening for rapid refilling of a Powder storage container.

The bottom film can, for example, be made of a PET / PE (polyethylene terephthalate / polyethylene) composite material consist. For the purpose of The bag preferably has handle openings for better handling and / or a handle. Can as bag material For example, PE, PET and PA films and composite materials be used from it.

The cutting device arranged in the powder storage container is positioned so that the refill bag when inserted into the container with its bottom film hits them. she is preferably arranged in the area of the metering opening of the container, which is usually in the bottom area of the container located.

The cutting device preferably has a plurality of Blades that form the edges of a pyramid whose Tip protrudes towards the filling opening of the container. Prefers the cutter has three blades that form the edges of a three-sided pyramid. When inserting of the refill bag, its bottom film first meets the Top of this pyramid. Because of the small contact area causes the bag's own weight to be high Pressure of the cutting device in the area of this contact surface, enough to cut through the bottom film. In the further The cutting device creates the bag in the container three radially outward from the point of contact Incisions. The area of the base by the blades The pyramid formed is preferably so shaped to the surface adapted to the bottom film that these radial cuts up completely or at least close to the edge of the pouring opening pass.

If the refill bag is then slowly lifted out, folds the divided into three segments by the cutting device Bottom film by the weight of the powder content, the contents of the bag are quickly emptied through the pouring opening in the powder container.

Fig. 1

einen Längsschnitt durch eine Pulverdosiervorrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht von oben;

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf ein Sieb aus PVC;

Fig. 4

einen Schnitt entlang der Linie A-A in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht auf ein Sieb aus Teflon;

Fig. 6

einen Schnitt entlang der Linie B-B von Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 und 8

zwei Ansichten eines Nachfüllbeutels für den Pulverdosierbehälter von der Seite.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the drawings. In it show:

Fig. 1

a longitudinal section through a powder metering device;

Fig. 2

a top view;

Fig. 3

a plan view of a sieve made of PVC;

Fig. 4

a section along the line AA in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

a plan view of a sieve made of Teflon;

Fig. 6

a section along the line BB of Fig. 5;

7 and 8

two views of a refill bag for the powder dosing container from the side.

First of all, let us take the measuring method for determining the angle of repose of a powder as described on this term below Reference is made.

Above the face of a vertical full metal cylinder with a diameter of 50 mm and about 8 mm in height a metal sieve is attached at a distance of 30 to 100 mm. The exact distance from the metal screen and metal cylinder depends on the pourability of the powder to be measured and should be slightly larger than the height of the cone. The powder is poured onto the metal sieve and with the help of a plastic spatula is slowly pushed through the sieve. The falling powder builds one on the metal cylinder Cone on. You pass powder through the sieve as long as until there is a geometrically uniform shape on the cylinder Cone has formed. The strainer is removed and the height of the pouring cone. From this height and the diameter of the metal cylinder can the angle of repose of the powder be calculated. It is the angle that the cone shell with the face of the metal cylinder on which the powder cone rests, includes.

The powder metering device shown in FIG. 1 has one Powder storage container 1, whose lower part in the base 2 of the powder metering device is used. The powder storage container 1 tapers downwards and points one open floor. The bottom area of the container is limited through a sieve 3 arranged in the base 2, the Design can be seen from FIGS. 3 to 6. Below of the sieve 3 is a cone nozzle 4 which is arranged by a Water supply line 5 is fed. The one in the dosing device resulting mixture or solution of powder with or in water is from the connector 6 and a dishwasher fed. In container 1 is one with sharp tops provided cutting device 7 arranged.

3 and 4 show a possible embodiment of the Siebs 3. A PVC plate 8 is with inclined slots 9th trained passage channels provided. The passage channels are arranged mirror-symmetrically to the line C-C. On Such a sieve is easy to manufacture in terms of production technology. It However, it is also possible and advantageous under certain circumstances Passage slots not in one half of the sieve plate 8 parallel to each other, but for example in shape of several rings concentric with each other. This arrangement in concentric rings can be due to the improved adaptation to the spray cone of the nozzle 4, the rinsability of the powder still improve.

Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of the sieve. The Sieve plate 10 here consists of Teflon. Because this material too cold flow tends, reinforcing ribs 11 are provided. The three arranged at a circumferential angle of 120 ° to each other Reinforcing ribs 11 divide the surface of the sieve plate 10 in three segments, on each segment are each other parallel, inclined passage slots 12 are arranged.

4 and 6 it can be seen that the slots 9 and 12 are inclined so that their opposite Inlet and outlet openings seen perpendicular to the sieve plane do not overlap, i.e. the sieve openings in this direction have no clear cross-section. If you apply that Sieve from the bottom of the nozzle 4 with water, can thus itself with empty or almost empty powder container 1 water not over the top of the powder container 1 also one of User looking up into container 1 in the face inject. The top of the powder container 1 is in operation usually by one not shown in the drawing Lid closed.

3 and 4 is for dosing an enzymatic cleaner is provided, the one has average grain size of about 1 mm. The angle of inclination the passage slots 9 is 45 °, the inside width of the Slots 2 mm. The angle of repose of the powder to be dosed is 60 °, which is slightly larger than the angle of inclination Through slots.

The powder container 1 is expediently refilled with the help of a refill bag shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The bag 13 consists of a plastic film, and is Provide handle openings 14 for better handling. The Cross section of the bag 13 tapers downwards in the direction towards the floor area 15. The tapered bottom of the Bag is designed as a pouring opening through a Plastic film 15 with compared to the rest of the bag material reduced strength is locked. The cross-sectional area of the bag in the middle area (in level D-D in 7) is approximately 1.5 to 3 times, preferably approximately 2 to 2.5 times the cross-sectional area in the tapered lower one Area (level E-E in Fig. 7).

The bag 13 is gripped at the openings 14 for refilling and placed in the powder container 1. The cutting device 7 penetrates the bottom film 15 from the comparison to the remaining bag material softer material. As a bottom film is, for example, a thin film of a PET / PE (polyethylene terephthalate / polyethylene) composite material suitable. The bag 13 is then slowly raised and empties through the slit bottom into the powder container 1. The tapering towards the bottom of the bag Form ensures that the bag is emptied completely. To refill the entire contents of a bag with 3 kg of content you need about 15 s. Refilling happens clean and practically dust-free, without the There is a risk of powder spillage.

The powder in the container 1 rests on the sieve and is rinsed out if necessary by starting the nozzle 4 or dissolved and through the discharge opening 6 of the dishwasher fed. The base 2 of the powder metering device can still one not shown in the drawing Have overflow, then through the water / detergent mixture can emerge when the discharge opening 6 clogs once should be.

Claims (7)

1. A kit for metering a powder into a solvent, comprising the components:

   a powder metering device with a powder reservoir (1), a metering orifice for discharging the powder from the container (1), a feed device (4,5) for solvent which flushes the powder through the metering orifice, and with a cutting means (7) disposed in the container (1),

   a refill bag which is filled with powder and which is of a cross-section tapering downwards from the central region of the bag and which has a pouring orifice with a flexible rim, which is disposed in the lower region of the bag and which is sealed by a plastics film (15) of reduced strength in relation to the bag material.
2. A kit according to Claim 1, characterised by the cross-sectional area of the bag in the central region is 1.5 to 3 times, preferably 2 to 2.5 times, the cross-sectional area in the tapered lower region.
3. A kit according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the plastics film (15) sealing the pouring orifice of the bag consists of a PET/PE composite material.
4. A kit according to Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the bag is provided with grip openings (14) and/or with a handle.
5. A kit according to Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the cutting means (7) is disposed in the vicinity of the metering orifice of the container (1)
6. A kit according to Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the cutting means (7) has a plurality of blades which form the edges of a pyramid, the vertex of which projects in the direction of the filling orifice of the container (1).
7. A kit according to Claim 6, characterised in that the cutting means (7) has three blades which form the edges of a three-sided pyramid.

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