EP1503865A1

EP1503865A1 - Dosage dispenser

Info

Publication number: EP1503865A1
Application number: EP03704387A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gerhard Brugger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-05-04
Filing date: 2003-01-13
Publication date: 2005-02-09
Also published as: CN100400178C; WO2003092905A1; US20060054633A1; CN1658978A; AU2003206718A1

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to simplify the construction of a dosage dispenser (1) for dosing at least one component that is contained in a receptacle section (10), by means of a pump unit (6) connected to said section and a pump plunger (6'), which is inserted in said unit and can be actuated by means of an actuating element (3) using a handle (7), in particular about a horizontal pivoting axis (4) in a housing head (8) and which is connected to a delivery nozzle (9). To achieve this aim, the upper region of the pump unit (6) has an annular channel (21) facing towards the delivery nozzle (9).

Description

description

DOSAGE DISPENSER

The invention relates to a dispenser according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Dosing dispensers are known from EP 0 755 721 A2 and DE 198 18 434, in which the mixing ratio of two fluid components is infinitely adjustable. Such a dispenser can be used, for example, as a sun milk dispenser to mix two sun milk components with a sun protection factor of 1 and, for example, 25, so that the sun protection factor can be adjusted continuously in this area. This dispenser represents a considerable relief for the consumer, since he can choose the sun protection factor depending on the sun exposure and the habituation of the skin and no longer has to carry several containers with different sun protection factors with him.

Also in the solution proposed in the further development according to WO 00/09270, in particular FIG. 3, the metering dispenser has two pump units, each of which is assigned an exchangeable cartridge, each of which contains a type of sunscreen with very different sun protection factors. The pump units or their pump pistons are actuated via an actuating element which is operatively connected to a pump or nozzle head, which is mounted in a housing of the metering dispenser and is actuated by the consumer via a handle.

The known dosing dispensers have basically proven themselves in practice; nevertheless, there are still defects in details. In particular, the pump units and their pump pistons still have a comparatively complicated structure. In contrast, the invention has for its object to provide a metering dispenser which has at least one structurally simple and reliable pump unit.

This object is achieved by a metering dispenser with the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The solution according to the invention has a much simpler and more stable structure in comparison to the metering dispensers described at the outset, since the pump unit has an annular channel in its upper region towards the discharge nozzle. Through this ring channel in continuation of an annular gap, the component to be dosed can be routed to the discharge channel simply and safely without additional holes or channels. In addition, this arrangement allows the guidance of the pump piston or the pump unit to be carried out much more stably than the constructions described above, and the number of movable components can be reduced. The pump unit and / or the discharge nozzle is preferably formed in one piece into a mixing unit, in particular in the form of an injection molded part.

It is particularly advantageous that the housing for guiding the pump unit (s) is connected to the mixing unit of the dosing dispenser via an ultrasonic weld seam, which can also be integrally formed on the mixing unit as a raised bead to prepare the weld connection.

It is further preferred that the housing has two webs in its center, which in particular can also be integrally formed. This results in a groove-shaped recess, so that a partition of the discharge nozzle can be inserted in a stable position during assembly. The proposed metering dispenser can thus be installed particularly easily and can be designed to be stable with a low overall height. Other advantageous developments of the invention, in particular with regard to the design of the mixing unit and adjacent components, are the subject of the further subclaims.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. Here show:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the dosing dispenser according to the invention with two pump units.

Fig. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a

Mixing unit for holding the pump units in perspective (left from above; right from below); and

Fig. 3 is a three-dimensional view of a housing of the

Dosing dispenser (left from below; right from above).

1, the basic concept of the metering dispenser 1 according to the invention is first to be described, according to which the setting of the mixture takes place by rotating an adjusting element 3 about the vertical axis in relation to several pump units 6, which are actuated via the adjusting element 3. In this case, a pivot axis 4 is formed in one piece or integrally on the actuating element 3 and is therefore adjustable together with the latter relative to a housing 2 (cf. also FIG. 3) and the pump units 6.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the actuating element 3 is ring-shaped or disk-shaped, so that this actuating element 3 can be rotated about a vertical axis and can also be pivoted about the pivot axis 4 arranged approximately transversely thereto. The underside of the actuating element 3 rests on the two pump units 6, so that by depressing the actuating element 3 about the pivot axis 4, a pump stroke can be initiated on the pump piston or pistons 6 '. This pivoting or pressing down of the actuating element 3 about its pivot axis 4 is carried out by a manually operable handle 7, which on Edge of a housing head 8 mounted on the housing 2 is provided, in which the outlet or mixing nozzle 5 for the mixture is also arranged. Since lateral forces act on the pump pistons 6 ', a collar 16 is provided to guide them. The collar 16 is guided in a non-rotatable manner in at least one guide rail 12, 12 'on a mixing unit 11 and is thus stably supported.

If the actuating element 3 is pressed down or deflected by depressing the handle 7, it carries out a pivoting movement about the pivot axis 4, so that only the pump head of the pump unit 6 on the left in FIG. 1 is depressed. As a result, the pump 6 on the left here has a stroke or a delivery volume of 100%. The pump unit 6 on the right, which is not subjected to a force because it lies below the pivot axis 4, has a stroke or delivery volume of 0% (based on the total output quantity). The discharge quantity thus contains only components of the component from the left receiving compartment 10, which is conveyed by the left pump unit 6 via an annular channel 21, as indicated by the double-dashed arrow A within the discharge nozzle 9.

When the actuating element 3 is rotated by 90 °, an alignment of the pivot axis 4 is obtained in which it runs at a parallel distance from the connecting line of the two pump units 6. If the actuating element 3 is pressed downward from this position, the two pump units 6 are pressed downward in the same way, so that both pumps have an identical stroke or a delivery volume of 50% of the total output quantity. The mixture then contains the same parts of the two components from the two receiving compartments 10. With corresponding intermediate layers of the actuating element 3 or its swivel axis 4, there are corresponding intermediate ratios between the strokes or delivery volumes of the pumps 6, so that they are between 0%: 100% for each component. and 100%: 0% can be changed continuously. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, the respective guide 12, 12 ′ is formed on the circumference of the annular mixing unit 11. In the construction concept shown, the mixing unit 11 is designed as an annular hollow body with a multiplicity of stiffening ribs and also has a tower-like discharge nozzle 9 in its center, as can also be seen from FIG. 1.

As shown in Fig. 1 (assembly drawing), the housing 2 carries the rotatable housing head 8, on which the mixing nozzle 5 is also formed. The mixture set via the stroke of the pump units 6 exits through this. The mixture is adjusted by rotating the housing head 8 with respect to the housing 2. The receiving compartments 10, for example cartridges, glasses, bags for the components of the mixture, can also be fastened via connecting flanges on the housing 2. The components contained therein are guided via the central discharge nozzle 9 to the outlet or mixing nozzle 5, which exits radially from the housing head 8 here.

As can be seen from the figures, the metering dispenser 1 can be designed with a relatively small axial length, so that a particularly compact construction results. The individual components, in particular the actuating element 3, the housing head 8, the mixing unit 11 and the housing 2, are preferably manufactured using injection molding technology and preassembled by snap or snap connections and preferably connected to one another by an ultrasonic weld 13, so that simple assembly is achieved can be.

In the exemplary embodiment described above, the components from the receiving compartments 10 are fed to a common, central discharge nozzle 9 which is divided by a partition 9a. In principle, however, the individual components could also be guided separately from one another to the outlet or mixing nozzle 5, so that no internal mixing takes place there yet. The discharge nozzle 5 can preferably be in Exit radially or centrally from the end face of the housing head 8.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the mixing unit 11 of the metering dispenser 1 according to the invention, from which the one-piece design can be seen in particular. The respective pump unit 6 with its pump piston 6 'engages after insertion into the guide rail 12 of the mixing unit 11 and the cylindrical recess, as indicated in the left half in FIG. 2 by the arrow, so that stable guidance results. Furthermore, the pump piston 6 'has at its lower end an integrally molded seal 17, which significantly reduces the number of components required for the pump unit 6. In addition, a compression spring 18 can be inserted and thus stored within the seal 17, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 1. A reliable guidance of the pump piston 6 'is thus achieved, especially since, in addition to the torsion-resistant guide on the guide rail 12, the collar 16 with a rounded contact point 16' to the actuating element 3 surrounds the upper end of the pump piston 6 'in an annular manner and thus additionally reinforces it.

In Fig. 3 the above-mentioned housing 2 is shown in perspective, in which the mixing unit 11 with the pump units 6 projecting downwards is inserted, as indicated by the dash-dotted double arrow between Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 (right half). An indexing 2b engages in a recess 11b and the partition 9a engages in two webs 2a, which are sharpened centrally on the housing 2, in order to separate the two flat ring channels 21 of the two pump units 6 from one another. The housing 2 essentially surrounds the mixing unit 11 and is connected to it via the ultrasonic weld seam 13, so that there is a delimitation of the annular channel 21. In this case, an annular gap (around the pump unit 6) is formed over the radial webs 6a designated in FIG. 2, right half, for passage of the component to be metered in each case towards the upper annular channel 21 (cf. FIG. 1, lower beginning of arrow A). This annular gap can pass into the annular channel 21 with the same cross section or at least partially form it.

In addition, the housing 2 has two peg-like extensions 14 in its interior, which in the axial extension of the pump units 6 form connections for the bottle-like or cartridge-like receiving compartments 10. Arranged within each of these extensions 14 is a plunger 15 which is in contact with corresponding closure elements 19, in particular a spring-loaded ball on the receiving compartments 10. As a result, the respective receiving compartment 10, which is preferably designed in the form of a semicircular cartridge, is opened during the assembly of the metering dispenser 1. As can be seen in FIG. 3, left half, on the inside of the peripheral wall, partial thread turns are also provided, with which corresponding cartridges can be placed on the respective extensions 14 in the manner of a bayonet catch or the like.

In addition to cosmetics, spices, sauces or cleaning agents and the like can also be accommodated in the receiving compartments 10, it being essential that the pump piston 6 'does not come into contact with the product itself. This is particularly advantageous for hygienic reasons.

Claims

claims

1.Dosing dispenser for dosing at least one component accommodated in a receiving compartment by means of a pump unit connected thereto and a pump piston inserted therein, which can be actuated by an adjusting element by means of a handle, in particular about a lying pivot axis in a housing head, and is connected to a discharge nozzle , characterized in that the pump unit (6) in its upper region

Has annular channel (21) to the discharge nozzle (9).

2. Dosing dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the pump unit (6) and / or the discharge nozzle (9) is / are integrally formed on a mixing unit (11), in particular using injection molding technology.

3. Dosing dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the annular channel (21) has a cross-section widening towards the discharge nozzle (9).

4. Dosing dispenser according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the pump unit (6) is inserted in a housing (2) which is connected to the mixing unit (11) by an ultrasonic weld (13).

5. Dosing dispenser according to claim 4, characterized in that the annular channel (21) is delimited by the ultrasonic weld seam (13).

6. Dispenser according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the ultrasonic weld (13) is lemniscate-shaped.

7. Dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pump unit (6) in each case has a plunger (15) which extends towards the respective receiving compartment (10).

8. Dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that around the pump unit (s) (6) around a peg-like extension (14) is provided.

9. Dosing dispenser according to claim 7 and 8, characterized in that the plunger (15) is arranged essentially within the extension (14).

10. Dispenser according to claim 9, characterized in that the plunger (15) is in contact with a closure element (19) of the receiving compartment (10).

11. Dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) has two webs (2a) in its center, between which a partition (9a) of the discharge nozzle (9) engages.

12. Dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) has an indexing (2b), in particular a pin which engages in a corresponding recess (11a) of the mixing unit (11).