EP1090679A1 - Apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids - Google Patents
Apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1090679A1 EP1090679A1 EP99203225A EP99203225A EP1090679A1 EP 1090679 A1 EP1090679 A1 EP 1090679A1 EP 99203225 A EP99203225 A EP 99203225A EP 99203225 A EP99203225 A EP 99203225A EP 1090679 A1 EP1090679 A1 EP 1090679A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- turntable
- pumps
- container
- dispensing
- toothed ring
- 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.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
- B67D7/02—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes for transferring liquids other than fuel or lubricants
- B67D7/0288—Container connection means
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F33/00—Other mixers; Mixing plants; Combinations of mixers
- B01F33/80—Mixing plants; Combinations of mixers
- B01F33/84—Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins
- B01F33/841—Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins with component receptacles fixed in a circular configuration on a horizontal table, e.g. the table being able to be indexed about a vertical axis
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids, comprising a turntable rotatable around an axis of rotation; a plurality of containers containing the fluid to be dispensed and connected to the turntable in positions spaced about the circumference of the turntable; a plurality of pumps associated with each container for dispensing fluid therefrom and attached to the turntable, the pumps having connectors for releasably connecting the containers to the pumps.
- the principle object of the present invention is to remove this problem in an effective way and to provide an improved apparatus.
- the invention provides an apparatus which is characterized by a stationary actuator positioned at the circumference of the turntable and being movable to and fro a first inoperative position disengaged from the turntable, a first operative position in engagement with one of the connectors in which the connector is connected to the respective container, and a second operative position, in which the connector is disengaged from the container and the container may be removed and exchanged for another container.
- the container to be exchanged is positioned in front of the actuator and by operating the actuator, it is brought into engagement with the connector and then moved to such position that the container can be removed and replaced.
- the movement of the actuator to and fro the inoperative position and the first and second operative positions is done by one continuous manipulation of an actuating element, such as a handle.
- One conceivable embodiment to accomplish this is to provide the connector with a toothed rack and the actuator with a toothed ring, and wherein the toothed ring and the actuating element are coupled through a transmission mechanism transmitting a substantially continuous movement of the actuating element into a consecutive translating and rotating movement of the toothed ring.
- the connector includes a nipple which is insertable into an opening of the container, the nipple being slidable in longitudinal direction of a holder, the holder being provided with a slit extending in transverse direction of the holder in order to introduce and fix a flange of the container to the holder with said opening aligned with the nipple.
- the operator only has to slide the container with its flange out of, and then another into the slit of the holder in order to exchange the containers.
- a further improvement according to the invention is that the pumps are provided on the side of the turntable opposite to the side where the connectors are positioned, the pumps extending substantially parallel to the turntable in radial direction.
- the pumps By positioning the pumps on the other side than the connectors, the pumps do not interfere with the containers so that there is a maximum available space on the turntable enabling the use of large containers and thereby lengthening the time between exchanges of containers. Positioning the pumps parallel to the turntable allows for a compact structure of the apparatus.
- the turntable is rotatably supported by a plurality of rollers engaging the turntable at its circumference and supporting it in radial and axial directions.
- the pumps each include a valve which is movable between a position in which the pump may suck fluid from the container into a dosing reservoir and a position in which the pump may dispense fluid from the dosing reservoir, the valve being operable by a central gripper which has an operating stroke the ends of which being determined by sensors.
- This embodiment simplifies the apparatus and ensures a accurate dispensing of fluid from the containers.
- Fig. 1 is a side view, partially sectioned, of a turntable of the apparatus according to the invention, wherein several parts have been omitted.
- Fig. 1A is an enlarged detail of a portion encircled in Fig. 1.
- Fig. 2 is a top view of the turntable of fig. 1 with all container supports shown.
- Fig. 3 is a larger scale top view of the turntable with only the support means for the turntable shown.
- Fig. 4 are sectional views of the pumping arrangement of the apparatus in fig. 1, shown in four different positions to illustrate the operation of the pump.
- Fig. 5 is a side view, partially sectioned, of the operating means for the pumping arrangement of fig. 4.
- Fig. 6, 7 and 8 are a side view, cross section and front view, respectively, of the actuator for actuating the connector in order to exchange containers.
- Fig. 9 is an explosive view of the actuator of fig. 6-8, on a larger scale.
- Fig. 10 a-e are sectional views corresponding to fig. 7 illustrating the operation of the actuator through five different positions.
- the drawings show an apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids, such as hair dye contained in containers, in particular flexible packages or bags 1.
- the apparatus is used to mix dosages from several packages 1 in order to create a hair dye of a particular recipe.
- the apparatus is able to dispense the fluid in an accurate way.
- the apparatus according to the invention comprises a horizontal turntable 2 rotatable about a vertical axis.
- the turntable 2 does not have a shaft in the centre of the table, but is supported by support rollers 3, 4 (fig. 3), the rollers 3 thereof being fixed and being only rotatable, whereas the rollers 4 are journalled on a slide which can be moved to and fro the rollers 3.
- the object thereof is to engage the circumference of the turntable 2 in order to support it in axial and radial direction, or to disengage from the turntable in order to release it for demounting purposes.
- the turntable 2 is adapted to contain twenty packages 1 spaced around the circumference of the turtable 2.
- a connector 6 having a nipple 7 adapted to frictionally engage into an opening of the package.
- the flexible package 1 has a rigid dispensing portion 8 through which a dispensing opening 9 extends and which may engage around the nipple 7.
- the dispensing portion 8 includes a flat flange 10 at its free end and this flange 10 may be inserted into a space 11 in a holder 12 of the connector 6.
- a slit 13 is provided to allow passage of the neck of the dispensing portion 8 of the package 1.
- the dispensing portion 8 of the package 1 is connected to a storage portion 14 of the package 1.
- Such storage portion 14 is made of plastic foil and may be kept upright on the connector 6 by means of a bottom support 15 and side supports 16 of the connector 6.
- the side of the storage portion 14 of the flexible package 1 resting on the bottom support 15 and the opposite side of the package 1 is such that there are no dead spaces where fluid will be left as residu. During tests a residu of maximally 1% remained within the package 1 after emptying it.
- Fig. 1, 4 and 5 show a pumping arrangement 17 connected to each connector 6 and adapted to suck fluid from the respective package 1 and to press it out in order to dispense the fluid in an accurate dosage.
- the pumping arrangement 17 including a piston pump comprising a cylinder 18 as dosing reservoir and a piston 19 adapted to reciprocate within the cylinder 18 and being guided and controlled by a piston rod 20 carrying a driving lip 21 at its free end adapted to be engaged by a drive means to be described later on.
- the cylinder 18 of the pumping arrangement 17 is connected to the nipple 7 of the connector 6 through a valve block 22.
- a pin shaped valve body 23 is slideably arranged within the valve block 22 and is slideable between a first position (fig. 4a, 4b) opening a suction channel 24 and closing a dispensing channel 25, and a second position (fig. 4c, 4d) in which the valve body 23 closes the suction channel 24 and opens the dispensing channel 25.
- the valve and channel arrangements are of conventional design.
- the valve body 23 is operated by means of a control lever 26 which is pivotable around a horizontal pivot 27 and slideably engages with its forked end a pin 28 attached to the valve body 23 and extending through a vertical slot 29 in the valve block 22.
- the pin 28 engages in slots 30 on either side of the valve block 22 allowing movement between the control lever 26 and the pin 28 during vertical displacement of the pin 28 to move the valve body 23 to and fro the first and second positions.
- the end of the control lever 26 remote from the pin slot connection 28, 30 can be engaged by a gripper of an operating means which will be described hereafter.
- Fig. 5 shows the operating means for the valve body 23 and pumping arrangement 17, the operating means including a linearly movable pump gripper 31 driveable by means of a drive spindle 32, and a rotatable valve gripper 33 which is rotatable around a horizontal pivot 34 and is driven by a crank mechanism 35.
- a the crank shaft 36 of the crank mechanism 35 cooperates with a sensor 37 to determine the beginning and end of the stroke of the gripper 33.
- the beginning and end of the stroke of the crank mechanism 35 are near the top and bottom dead centre of the crank mechanism 35 so that small variations in the start and end positions of the crank shaft have minimal effect on the start and end positions of the valve gripper 33.
- valve and pumping arrangements The operation of the valve and pumping arrangements is as follows.
- the turntable is rotated by its drive means until the respective package 1 is positioned in line with the operating means.
- the grippers 31 and 33 thereof come into engagement with the driving lip 21 and the end of the control lever 26, respectively.
- the piston 19 and valve body 23 are in the positions according to fig. 4a.
- the piston 19 is displaced by the pump gripper 31 to the extent that the dosage to be dispensed is sucked into the cylinder 18 which serves as dosing reservoir.
- the computer software accurately registers the original fluid content of a container and the fluid dosages dispensed so that it is known if a container is empty or almost empty.
- the computer signals to the operator when the contents of a package are not sufficient for a dosage to be dispensed and the apparatus may be arranged such that the operator may choose between exchanging the almost empty container for a new container 1 right away or using for a dosage a last portion of the almost empty package 1 together with a first portion of a new full package 1. If an empty package 1 should be removed, the nipple 7 of the connector 6 should be extracted from the dispensing opening 9 of the package 1 in order to allow the flange 10 of the dispensing portion 8 of the package 1 to be moved laterally from the space 11 in the connector 6.
- an actuator 38 including a handle 39 as actuating element and by manipulating this handle 39 the holder 12 will be engaged and will be displaced upwardly thereby displacing the package 1 and the dispensing portion 8 thereof upwardly with respect to the stationary nipple 7. As a result, the dispensing opening 9 and the nipple 7 will become disengaged thereby enabling the dispensing portion 8 of the package 1 to be moved laterally without interference by the nipple 7. After a new package 1 has been positioned with its flange 10 in the space 11 of the holder 12, the handle 39 can be moved back and the new package 1 will be connected to this connector 6.
- the turntable 2 should be able to move freely with respect to the actuator 38 in order to bring the package 1 to be exchanged in front of the actuator 38.
- the actuator 38 should be disengaged from the turntable during rotation of the turntable.
- the actuator 38 should be able to perform different operations/movements and for this purpose there is provided a special transmission mechanism 40 converting a substantially continuous movement of the handle 39 into separate movements of its driving means, in this case consisting of a toothed ring 41 of the actuator 38 adapted to cooperate with a toothed rack provided on the outside of the holder 12 of the connector 6.
- Fig. 6-8 show the actuator 38, whereas the exploded view of fig. 9 show the various components thereof.
- the actuator 38 comprises a housing 43 including side plates 44 and upper and lower mounting plates 45 and 47.
- the handle 39 is fork-shaped on its lower side with an auxiliary part 47.
- the handle parts 39 and 47 are connected to the toothed ring 41 through torsion springs 48 the ends of which engage holes in the respective facing sides of the toothed ring 41 and the handle parts 39 and 47.
- the toothed ring 41 is mounted on a shaft 49 and is rotatable through a limited angle with respect to the shaft 49 which is determined by the engagement of a pin 50 protruding from the shaft 49 into a circumferential slot 51 extending circumferentially in the toothed ring 41 (cf. fig. 7).
- Both the shaft 49 and the handle parts 39 and 47 have a slotted hole 52, 53, respectively.
- the slotted holes 52, 53 extending axially are aligned with each other and are kept in relative position by fastening screws 54 fixing the handle 39 and the shaft 49 to each other.
- Extending through the slotted hole 52, 53 is an inner shaft 55 extending between the side plates 44 of the housing 43 and being supported thereby in a fixed manner.
- the handle 39, 47 is also connected to the side plates 44 through a pin slot connection including a rotatable pin 56 and a curved slot 57 in the side plates 44.
- the rotatable pin 56 is attached to the handle 39, 47 excentrically spaced from the slotted hole 53 therein, whereas the curved slot 57 includes a first slot portion 57' extending substantially in a direction to the mounting hole for the inner shaft 55 and a second slot portion 57'' extending concentrically around the mounting hole for the inner shaft 55.
- the operation of the actuator 38 will be described with reference to the various positions of the actuator 38 as shown in fig. 10a-e.
- the actuator is in the inoperative position with the handle 39 in an upright position. This position is maintained by leaf springs 58 attached on the lower mounting plate 46 of the housing 43 and engaging a recess 59 in the handle parts 39 and 47.
- the inner shaft 55 of the actuator 38 is at a first end of the horizontally extending slotted hole 52, 53 facing the connector 6.
- the toothed ring 41 is disengaged from the toothed rack 42 on the holder 12.
- one connector 6 is positioned in front of the actuator 38.
- the only possible movement of the handle 39 is a forward movement in which the slotted hole 52, 53 is moved with respect to the inner shaft 55 and when the inner shaft 55 has arrived at the second end of the slotted hole 52, 53 remote from the connector 6, the toothing of the toothed ring 41 has come into engagement with the toothing of the toothed rack 42 of the connector 6 and the pins 56 have left the slot portion 57' and have arrived in the concentric slot portion 57" of the curved slot 57, so that the pins 56 would now be able to perform a circular motion around the inner shaft 55.
- the handle 39, 47 is now able to rotate around the shaft 55 which is in the center of the handle and in the center of curvature of the slot portion 57".
- the handle 39, 47 will rotate relative to the toothed ring, thereby tensioning the torsion springs 48, until the pin 50 in the shaft 49 has reached the end wall of slot 51 in the toothed ring 41.
- the protruding part of the toothed ring 41 facing away from the toothing is now released from the wall of the housing 43, so that the toothed ring is now able to follow the rotation of the handle 39, 47.
- nipple 7 Due to the engagement of the nipple 7 into the dispensing portion 8 of the package, it pushes away a self-closing valve of the package, so that the package opens and closes automatically upon displacement of the nipple into or out of the dispensing portion 8 of the package 1.
- the handle may be replaced by a motor drive, such as an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic motor.
- a motor drive such as an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic motor.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids, comprising a turntable rotatable around an axis of rotation; a plurality of containers containing the fluid to be dispensed and connected to the turntable in positions spaced about the circumference of the turntable; a plurality of pumps associated with each container for dispensing fluid therefrom and attached to the turntable, the pumps having connectors for releasably connecting the containers to the pumps.
- Such apparatus is known in various embodiments. Problem in these apparatus is the exchange of containers, especially in case the operator is not trained to operate the apparatus.
- The principle object of the present invention is to remove this problem in an effective way and to provide an improved apparatus.
- To obtain the object, the invention provides an apparatus which is characterized by a stationary actuator positioned at the circumference of the turntable and being movable to and fro a first inoperative position disengaged from the turntable, a first operative position in engagement with one of the connectors in which the connector is connected to the respective container, and a second operative position, in which the connector is disengaged from the container and the container may be removed and exchanged for another container.
- Due to this feature according to the invention, it is possible to use a single actuator for several containers. By rotating the turntable, the container to be exchanged is positioned in front of the actuator and by operating the actuator, it is brought into engagement with the connector and then moved to such position that the container can be removed and replaced.
- It is preferred therein that the movement of the actuator to and fro the inoperative position and the first and second operative positions is done by one continuous manipulation of an actuating element, such as a handle.
- In this manner the operator does not have to do anything special to operate the actuator in two different ways. One conceivable embodiment to accomplish this is to provide the connector with a toothed rack and the actuator with a toothed ring, and wherein the toothed ring and the actuating element are coupled through a transmission mechanism transmitting a substantially continuous movement of the actuating element into a consecutive translating and rotating movement of the toothed ring.
- In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the connector includes a nipple which is insertable into an opening of the container, the nipple being slidable in longitudinal direction of a holder, the holder being provided with a slit extending in transverse direction of the holder in order to introduce and fix a flange of the container to the holder with said opening aligned with the nipple.
- In this embodiment, the operator only has to slide the container with its flange out of, and then another into the slit of the holder in order to exchange the containers.
- A further improvement according to the invention is that the pumps are provided on the side of the turntable opposite to the side where the connectors are positioned, the pumps extending substantially parallel to the turntable in radial direction.
- By positioning the pumps on the other side than the connectors, the pumps do not interfere with the containers so that there is a maximum available space on the turntable enabling the use of large containers and thereby lengthening the time between exchanges of containers. Positioning the pumps parallel to the turntable allows for a compact structure of the apparatus.
- It is favourable if the turntable is rotatably supported by a plurality of rollers engaging the turntable at its circumference and supporting it in radial and axial directions.
- Supporting the turntable at its circumference avoids the necessity of a shaft in the centre of the turntable which increases the maximum available space for the pumps. If one or more of the rollers is moveable to and fro the turntable, then the mounting and demounting of a turntable is facilitated.
- According to a further aspect of the invention the pumps each include a valve which is movable between a position in which the pump may suck fluid from the container into a dosing reservoir and a position in which the pump may dispense fluid from the dosing reservoir, the valve being operable by a central gripper which has an operating stroke the ends of which being determined by sensors.
- This embodiment simplifies the apparatus and ensures a accurate dispensing of fluid from the containers.
- The invention will hereafter be further elucidated with reference to the drawing showing an embodiment of the invention by way of example.
- Fig. 1 is a side view, partially sectioned, of a turntable of the apparatus according to the invention, wherein several parts have been omitted.
- Fig. 1A is an enlarged detail of a portion encircled in Fig. 1.
- Fig. 2 is a top view of the turntable of fig. 1 with all container supports shown.
- Fig. 3 is a larger scale top view of the turntable with only the support means for the turntable shown.
- Fig. 4 are sectional views of the pumping arrangement of the apparatus in fig. 1, shown in four different positions to illustrate the operation of the pump.
- Fig. 5 is a side view, partially sectioned, of the operating means for the pumping arrangement of fig. 4.
- Fig. 6, 7 and 8 are a side view, cross section and front view, respectively, of the actuator for actuating the connector in order to exchange containers.
- Fig. 9 is an explosive view of the actuator of fig. 6-8, on a larger scale.
- Fig. 10 a-e are sectional views corresponding to fig. 7 illustrating the operation of the actuator through five different positions.
- The drawings show an apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids, such as hair dye contained in containers, in particular flexible packages or
bags 1. The apparatus is used to mix dosages fromseveral packages 1 in order to create a hair dye of a particular recipe. In order to obtain an. accurate mixture of hair dye from several containers each containing a certain dye colour, it is necessary that the apparatus is able to dispense the fluid in an accurate way. - The apparatus according to the invention comprises a
horizontal turntable 2 rotatable about a vertical axis. Theturntable 2 does not have a shaft in the centre of the table, but is supported bysupport rollers 3, 4 (fig. 3), therollers 3 thereof being fixed and being only rotatable, whereas the rollers 4 are journalled on a slide which can be moved to and fro therollers 3. The object thereof is to engage the circumference of theturntable 2 in order to support it in axial and radial direction, or to disengage from the turntable in order to release it for demounting purposes. In principal it would also be possible to have only three rollers, one or two of which being moveable. - In this case, the
turntable 2 is adapted to contain twentypackages 1 spaced around the circumference of theturtable 2. For eachpackage 1 there is provided aconnector 6 having anipple 7 adapted to frictionally engage into an opening of the package. For this purpose, theflexible package 1 has arigid dispensing portion 8 through which a dispensing opening 9 extends and which may engage around thenipple 7. The dispensingportion 8 includes aflat flange 10 at its free end and thisflange 10 may be inserted into aspace 11 in aholder 12 of theconnector 6. Aslit 13 is provided to allow passage of the neck of the dispensingportion 8 of thepackage 1. It will be described later on how thenipple 7 and dispensing opening 9 of thepackage 1 are connected to each other. The dispensingportion 8 of thepackage 1 is connected to astorage portion 14 of thepackage 1.Such storage portion 14 is made of plastic foil and may be kept upright on theconnector 6 by means of abottom support 15 and side supports 16 of theconnector 6. The side of thestorage portion 14 of theflexible package 1 resting on thebottom support 15 and the opposite side of thepackage 1 is such that there are no dead spaces where fluid will be left as residu. During tests a residu of maximally 1% remained within thepackage 1 after emptying it. - Fig. 1, 4 and 5 show a
pumping arrangement 17 connected to eachconnector 6 and adapted to suck fluid from therespective package 1 and to press it out in order to dispense the fluid in an accurate dosage. Thepumping arrangement 17 including a piston pump comprising acylinder 18 as dosing reservoir and apiston 19 adapted to reciprocate within thecylinder 18 and being guided and controlled by apiston rod 20 carrying adriving lip 21 at its free end adapted to be engaged by a drive means to be described later on. - The
cylinder 18 of thepumping arrangement 17 is connected to thenipple 7 of theconnector 6 through avalve block 22. A pin shapedvalve body 23 is slideably arranged within thevalve block 22 and is slideable between a first position (fig. 4a, 4b) opening asuction channel 24 and closing a dispensingchannel 25, and a second position (fig. 4c, 4d) in which thevalve body 23 closes thesuction channel 24 and opens the dispensingchannel 25. The valve and channel arrangements are of conventional design. - The
valve body 23 is operated by means of acontrol lever 26 which is pivotable around ahorizontal pivot 27 and slideably engages with its forked end apin 28 attached to thevalve body 23 and extending through avertical slot 29 in thevalve block 22. Thepin 28 engages inslots 30 on either side of thevalve block 22 allowing movement between thecontrol lever 26 and thepin 28 during vertical displacement of thepin 28 to move thevalve body 23 to and fro the first and second positions. The end of the control lever 26 remote from thepin slot connection - Fig. 5 shows the operating means for the
valve body 23 andpumping arrangement 17, the operating means including a linearlymovable pump gripper 31 driveable by means of adrive spindle 32, and arotatable valve gripper 33 which is rotatable around ahorizontal pivot 34 and is driven by acrank mechanism 35. A thecrank shaft 36 of thecrank mechanism 35 cooperates with asensor 37 to determine the beginning and end of the stroke of thegripper 33. The beginning and end of the stroke of thecrank mechanism 35 are near the top and bottom dead centre of thecrank mechanism 35 so that small variations in the start and end positions of the crank shaft have minimal effect on the start and end positions of thevalve gripper 33. - The operation of the valve and pumping arrangements is as follows.
- If the computer of the apparatus has determined the dosage of a fluid to be dispensed from a
particular package 1, the turntable is rotated by its drive means until therespective package 1 is positioned in line with the operating means. Thegrippers driving lip 21 and the end of thecontrol lever 26, respectively. Thepiston 19 andvalve body 23 are in the positions according to fig. 4a. Depending on the dosage to be dispensed, thepiston 19 is displaced by thepump gripper 31 to the extent that the dosage to be dispensed is sucked into thecylinder 18 which serves as dosing reservoir. - In fig. 4b, the
piston 19 has been moved to its maximally displaced position so that the whole cylinder has been filled with fluid. Then, thevalve gripper 33 is rotated such that it moves thecontrol lever 26 to the position according to fig. 4c and hence, thevalve body 23 is moved from its position allowing suction of fluid to its position allowing dispensing of fluid. It is shown that thevalve body 23 closes thesuction channel 24 and releases the dispensingchannel 25. Thus, if thepiston 19 is now moved to its original starting position, the fluid is dispensed through a lower dispensing opening of the valve arrangement, for example into a mixing container in which the hair dye colours from the various packages l are brought together and mixed. - The computer software accurately registers the original fluid content of a container and the fluid dosages dispensed so that it is known if a container is empty or almost empty. The computer signals to the operator when the contents of a package are not sufficient for a dosage to be dispensed and the apparatus may be arranged such that the operator may choose between exchanging the almost empty container for a
new container 1 right away or using for a dosage a last portion of the almostempty package 1 together with a first portion of a newfull package 1. If anempty package 1 should be removed, thenipple 7 of theconnector 6 should be extracted from the dispensingopening 9 of thepackage 1 in order to allow theflange 10 of the dispensingportion 8 of thepackage 1 to be moved laterally from thespace 11 in theconnector 6. For this purpose, there is provided anactuator 38 including ahandle 39 as actuating element and by manipulating thishandle 39 theholder 12 will be engaged and will be displaced upwardly thereby displacing thepackage 1 and the dispensingportion 8 thereof upwardly with respect to thestationary nipple 7. As a result, the dispensingopening 9 and thenipple 7 will become disengaged thereby enabling the dispensingportion 8 of thepackage 1 to be moved laterally without interference by thenipple 7. After anew package 1 has been positioned with itsflange 10 in thespace 11 of theholder 12, thehandle 39 can be moved back and thenew package 1 will be connected to thisconnector 6. - Since there is only one
actuator 38 for allconnectors 6 andpackages 1, theturntable 2 should be able to move freely with respect to theactuator 38 in order to bring thepackage 1 to be exchanged in front of theactuator 38. For this purpose, theactuator 38 should be disengaged from the turntable during rotation of the turntable. When theconnector 6 is positioned in front of theactuator 38, the actuator should be brought into engagement with theconnector 6 and should be able to move it up and down. Thus, theactuator 38 should be able to perform different operations/movements and for this purpose there is provided aspecial transmission mechanism 40 converting a substantially continuous movement of thehandle 39 into separate movements of its driving means, in this case consisting of atoothed ring 41 of theactuator 38 adapted to cooperate with a toothed rack provided on the outside of theholder 12 of theconnector 6. - Fig. 6-8 show the
actuator 38, whereas the exploded view of fig. 9 show the various components thereof. Theactuator 38 comprises ahousing 43 includingside plates 44 and upper and lower mountingplates handle 39 is fork-shaped on its lower side with anauxiliary part 47. Thehandle parts toothed ring 41 through torsion springs 48 the ends of which engage holes in the respective facing sides of thetoothed ring 41 and thehandle parts toothed ring 41 is mounted on ashaft 49 and is rotatable through a limited angle with respect to theshaft 49 which is determined by the engagement of apin 50 protruding from theshaft 49 into acircumferential slot 51 extending circumferentially in the toothed ring 41 (cf. fig. 7). - Both the
shaft 49 and thehandle parts hole screws 54 fixing thehandle 39 and theshaft 49 to each other. Extending through the slottedhole inner shaft 55 extending between theside plates 44 of thehousing 43 and being supported thereby in a fixed manner. Thehandle side plates 44 through a pin slot connection including arotatable pin 56 and acurved slot 57 in theside plates 44. Therotatable pin 56 is attached to thehandle hole 53 therein, whereas thecurved slot 57 includes a first slot portion 57' extending substantially in a direction to the mounting hole for theinner shaft 55 and a second slot portion 57'' extending concentrically around the mounting hole for theinner shaft 55. - The operation of the
actuator 38 will be described with reference to the various positions of theactuator 38 as shown in fig. 10a-e. - In fig. 10a, the actuator is in the inoperative position with the
handle 39 in an upright position. This position is maintained byleaf springs 58 attached on thelower mounting plate 46 of thehousing 43 and engaging arecess 59 in thehandle parts inner shaft 55 of theactuator 38 is at a first end of the horizontally extending slottedhole connector 6. In this position, thetoothed ring 41 is disengaged from thetoothed rack 42 on theholder 12. Thus, in this position the turntable is able to be rotated without interference with theactuator 38. In fig. 10a, oneconnector 6 is positioned in front of theactuator 38. - When the handle is pulled away from the
turntable 2 and theconnector 6, a rotational force is exerted on theshaft 49 as well. However, thehandle 39 is unable to rotate around theinner shaft 55 since thepins 56 of thehandle parts curved slots 57 prevent such rotation. The only possible movement of thehandle 39 is a forward movement in which the slottedhole inner shaft 55 and when theinner shaft 55 has arrived at the second end of the slottedhole connector 6, the toothing of thetoothed ring 41 has come into engagement with the toothing of thetoothed rack 42 of theconnector 6 and thepins 56 have left the slot portion 57' and have arrived in theconcentric slot portion 57" of thecurved slot 57, so that thepins 56 would now be able to perform a circular motion around theinner shaft 55. - In Fig. 10b, the
handle shaft 55 which is in the center of the handle and in the center of curvature of theslot portion 57". Thehandle pin 50 in theshaft 49 has reached the end wall ofslot 51 in thetoothed ring 41. The protruding part of thetoothed ring 41 facing away from the toothing is now released from the wall of thehousing 43, so that the toothed ring is now able to follow the rotation of thehandle - From the position of fig. 10b to the position of fig. 10e, the
shaft 46 and, through thepin 50 engaging the end wall ofslot 51, thetoothed ring 41 are rotated with thehandle 39. Due to the engagement between thetoothed rack 42 and thetoothed ring 41, theconnector 6 is moved upwardly to such an extent that thenipple 7 is disengaged from the dispensingopening 9 of theflexible package 1 so that thisflexible package 1 which is empty may be removed and may be replaced by a full package. This is then engaged with its dispensingopening 9 over thenipple 7 by moving thehandle 39 back to the position of fig. 10a. Due to the engagement of thenipple 7 into the dispensingportion 8 of the package, it pushes away a self-closing valve of the package, so that the package opens and closes automatically upon displacement of the nipple into or out of the dispensingportion 8 of thepackage 1. - The invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown in the drawing and described herein before, which may be varied in different manners within the scope of the invention.
- For example, the handle may be replaced by a motor drive, such as an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic motor.
Claims (15)
- Apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids, comprising:a turntable (2) rotatable around an axis of rotation;a plurality of containers (1) containing the fluid to be dispensed and connected to the turntable in positions spaced about the circumference of the turntable;a plurality of pumps (17) associated with each container for dispensing fluid therefrom and attached to the turntable, the pumps having connectors (6) for releasably connecting the containers to the pumps;
- Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the actuator (38) to and fro the inoperative position and the first and second operative positions is done by one continuous manipulation of an actuating element (39), such as a handle or motor.
- Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the connector (6) is provided with a toothed rack (42) and the actuator (38) is provided with a toothed ring (41), and wherein the toothed ring (41) and the actuating element (39) are coupled through a transmission mechanism (40) transmitting a substantially continuous movement of the actuating element (39) into a consecutive translating and rotating movement of the toothed ring (41).
- Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transmission mechanism (40) comprises a shaft (49) fixed to a stationary support , a slotted hole (52, 53) in the actuating element (39) and the toothed ring (41) through which the shaft (49) extends, the length of the slotted hole (52, 53) being such that when the shaft is at a first end of the slotted hole, the toothed ring (41) is out of engagement with the rack (42) of the connector (6) and when the shaft is at the second end of the slotted hole (52, 53) the toothed ring (41) is in engagement with the rack (42) of the connector (6), the toothed ring and the support being further connected through a pin-slot connection (56, 57), the slot (57) having at least two segments, a first segment (57') dictating the translatory movement of the toothed ring and a second segment (57") dictating the rotary movement of the toothed ring.
- Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the actuating element (39) and the toothed ring (41) are rotatable with respect to each other to a limited extent and are coupled by means of a torsion spring (48).
- Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connector (6) includes a nipple (7) which is insertable into an opening (9) of the container (1), the nipple being slidable in longitudinal direction of a holder (12), the holder being provided with a slit (13) extending in transverse direction of the holder (12) in order to introduce and fix a flange (10) of the container (1) to the holder (12) with said opening (9) aligned with the nipple (7).
- Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pumps (17) are provided on the side of the turntable (2) opposite to the side where the connectors (6) are positioned, the pumps extending substantially parallel to the turntable in radial direction.
- Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the turntable (2) is rotatably supported by a plurality of rollers (3, 4) engaging the turntable at its circumference and supporting it in radial and axial direction.
- Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of rollers (3, 4) include two positionally fixed rollers (3) and one or two movable rollers (4) movable to and fro the turntable (2).
- Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is adapted to cooperate with flexible packages as containers (1), the turntable (2) being equipped with supporting means (15, 16) to hold the packages in an upright position in all emptying stages.
- Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pumps (17) each include a valve (23) which is movable between a position in which the pump may suck fluid from the container into a dosing reservoir (18) and a position in which the pump (18) may dispense fluid from the dosing reservoir, the valve being operable by a central gripper (33) which has an operating stroke the ends of which being determined by sensors (37).
- Apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids, comprising:a turntable (2) rotatable around an axis of rotation;a plurality of containers (1) containing the fluid to be dispensed and connected to the turntable in positions spaced about the circumference of the turntable;a plurality of pumps (17) associated with each container for dispensing fluid therefrom and attached to the turntable, the pumps having connectors (6) for releasably connecting the pumps to the containers;
- Apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids, comprising:a turntable (2) rotatable around an axis of rotation;a plurality of containers (1) containing the fluid to be dispensed and connected to the turntable in positions spaced about the circumference of the turntable;a plurality of pumps (17) associated with each container for dispensing fluid therefrom and attached to the turntable, the pumps having connectors (6) for releasably connecting the pumps to the containers;
- Container, preferably for use in the apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a flexible storage portion (14) made from foil material and a rigid dispensing portion (8) including the dispensing opening (9) and being attached to the storage portion (14) which tapers at least on one side towards the dispensing portion (8).
- Container according to claim 14, wherein the dispensing portion (8) includes a self-closing valve which is openable by insertion of a nipple (7).
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP99203225A EP1090679B1 (en) | 1998-10-07 | 1999-10-04 | Apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids |
AT99203225T ATE257032T1 (en) | 1999-10-04 | 1999-10-04 | DISPENSING DEVICE FOR VISCOUS LIQUIDS |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/167,890 US6003731A (en) | 1997-07-07 | 1998-10-07 | Dispensing apparatus for viscous fluids contained in flexible packages |
EP99203225A EP1090679B1 (en) | 1998-10-07 | 1999-10-04 | Apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1090679A1 true EP1090679A1 (en) | 2001-04-11 |
EP1090679B1 EP1090679B1 (en) | 2004-01-02 |
Family
ID=31189555
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP99203225A Expired - Lifetime EP1090679B1 (en) | 1998-10-07 | 1999-10-04 | Apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids |
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EP (1) | EP1090679B1 (en) |
Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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WO2005039747A2 (en) * | 2003-10-27 | 2005-05-06 | Fluid Management, Inc. | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids and container for use in the same |
US6935386B2 (en) | 2003-10-30 | 2005-08-30 | Fluid Management, Inc. | Automated cosmetics dispenser for point of sale cosmetics products |
US6945431B2 (en) | 2003-07-24 | 2005-09-20 | Fluid Management, Inc. | Sanitizable piston pumps and dispensing systems incorporating the same |
US7134573B2 (en) | 2004-05-07 | 2006-11-14 | Fluid Management, Inc. | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of powders and method of compounding substances |
US7185789B2 (en) | 2004-02-27 | 2007-03-06 | Lenteq, Lp | Hair dye dispenser |
WO2007045512A2 (en) * | 2005-10-21 | 2007-04-26 | Lenteq, Lp | Fluid dispenser |
US7228879B2 (en) | 2004-05-12 | 2007-06-12 | Fluid Management, Inc. | Apparatus for dispensing paint and stain samples and methods of dispensing paint and stain samples |
US7261131B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2007-08-28 | Fluid Management, Inc. | Articulated nozzle closure for fluid dispensers |
US7311223B2 (en) | 2004-05-07 | 2007-12-25 | Fluid Management, Inc. | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of powders and method of compounding substances |
US7654416B2 (en) | 2004-02-27 | 2010-02-02 | Stibbe Management Bv | Fluid and hair-dye dispensers |
EP2198950A1 (en) | 2008-12-19 | 2010-06-23 | Fluid Management Operations LLC | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids |
WO2012093020A1 (en) | 2011-01-07 | 2012-07-12 | Fluid Management Operation Llc | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids |
WO2012130881A2 (en) | 2011-03-28 | 2012-10-04 | Fluid Management Operations, Llc | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of liquids |
CN108014716A (en) * | 2016-11-04 | 2018-05-11 | 快速和流体管理私人有限公司 | Distributor and the fluid container being releasably attached for the distributor |
EP3702320A1 (en) | 2019-03-01 | 2020-09-02 | Fast&Fluid Management B.V. | Liquid dispenser and method of administering an additive |
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GB2060563A (en) * | 1979-09-28 | 1981-05-07 | Arrigoni G | A distributor for a dye storage and preparation plant |
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Cited By (25)
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US6945431B2 (en) | 2003-07-24 | 2005-09-20 | Fluid Management, Inc. | Sanitizable piston pumps and dispensing systems incorporating the same |
WO2005039747A2 (en) * | 2003-10-27 | 2005-05-06 | Fluid Management, Inc. | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids and container for use in the same |
WO2005039747A3 (en) * | 2003-10-27 | 2005-08-11 | Fluid Management Inc | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids and container for use in the same |
US7347344B2 (en) | 2003-10-27 | 2008-03-25 | Fluid Management Operation Llc | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids and container for use in the same |
US7360564B2 (en) | 2003-10-27 | 2008-04-22 | Fluid Management, Inc. | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids and container for use in the same |
CN100475322C (en) * | 2003-10-27 | 2009-04-08 | 流体管理公司 | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids and container for use in the same |
US6935386B2 (en) | 2003-10-30 | 2005-08-30 | Fluid Management, Inc. | Automated cosmetics dispenser for point of sale cosmetics products |
US7185789B2 (en) | 2004-02-27 | 2007-03-06 | Lenteq, Lp | Hair dye dispenser |
US7597217B2 (en) | 2004-02-27 | 2009-10-06 | Lenteq, Lp | Two disc valve pump assembly for a fluid dispenser |
US7654416B2 (en) | 2004-02-27 | 2010-02-02 | Stibbe Management Bv | Fluid and hair-dye dispensers |
US7261131B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2007-08-28 | Fluid Management, Inc. | Articulated nozzle closure for fluid dispensers |
US7134573B2 (en) | 2004-05-07 | 2006-11-14 | Fluid Management, Inc. | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of powders and method of compounding substances |
US7311223B2 (en) | 2004-05-07 | 2007-12-25 | Fluid Management, Inc. | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of powders and method of compounding substances |
US7228879B2 (en) | 2004-05-12 | 2007-06-12 | Fluid Management, Inc. | Apparatus for dispensing paint and stain samples and methods of dispensing paint and stain samples |
WO2007045512A2 (en) * | 2005-10-21 | 2007-04-26 | Lenteq, Lp | Fluid dispenser |
WO2007045512A3 (en) * | 2005-10-21 | 2007-07-19 | Lenteq Lp | Fluid dispenser |
EP2198950A1 (en) | 2008-12-19 | 2010-06-23 | Fluid Management Operations LLC | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids |
CN101823678A (en) * | 2008-12-19 | 2010-09-08 | 流体管理运转有限公司 | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids |
CN101823678B (en) * | 2008-12-19 | 2013-09-04 | 流体管理运转有限公司 | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids |
WO2012093020A1 (en) | 2011-01-07 | 2012-07-12 | Fluid Management Operation Llc | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids |
US9073026B2 (en) | 2011-01-07 | 2015-07-07 | Fast & Fluid Management B.V. | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids |
WO2012130881A2 (en) | 2011-03-28 | 2012-10-04 | Fluid Management Operations, Llc | Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of liquids |
US10143984B2 (en) | 2011-03-28 | 2018-12-04 | Fast & Fluid Management B.V. | Method and apparatus for dispensing liquids from a plurality of cartridges |
CN108014716A (en) * | 2016-11-04 | 2018-05-11 | 快速和流体管理私人有限公司 | Distributor and the fluid container being releasably attached for the distributor |
EP3702320A1 (en) | 2019-03-01 | 2020-09-02 | Fast&Fluid Management B.V. | Liquid dispenser and method of administering an additive |
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