EP1616629A1 - Actuation device for a fluid dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The operating device for a manually operated medium dispenser has an energy accumulator (4) in the form of a helical spring (11) for the accumulating of energy required for operating the dispenser, and means for (6) for the loading of the energy accumulator independently of a manual movement of an operating element. A control device (5) interacts with the loading means and initiates a release of the operating energy upon achieving an energy level corresponding to the operating energy.

Description

The invention relates to an actuating device for a manually operable medium dispenser with an energy storage device for storing a necessary for the actuation of the medium storage actuation energy and means for charging the energy storage with the actuation energy depending on a manual movement of an actuating element.

DE 102 20 557 A1 is known from the prior art, which shows a manually operable medium dispenser with an actuating device. The actuator is provided with a path-dependent operated spool valve which is driven by relative movement between a piston rod and a control spike mounted in a pump cylinder. Since a pump chamber bounded essentially by the pump cylinder and a piston sleeve is closed in an initial state via the path-dependent slide valve, the pump chamber enclosed in the pump chamber is closed Medium pressurized upon actuation of the piston rod. As a result, a relative movement of the piston sleeve relative to the piston rod takes place. As a result of the relative movement, a spring, which acts as a loading means and is in operative connection with the piston sleeve, is prestressed, a balance of forces being present between a tension of the spring and a pressure in the medium. As soon as the piston rod has traveled a predetermined path, the slide valve opens due to the relative movement between piston rod and control pin, so that the medium pressurized by the spring can be discharged. This should be achieved by an independent manner of actuation discharge of the medium.

The object underlying the invention is to provide an actuating device of the type mentioned, which allows an improved, user-independent medium discharge.

This object is achieved in that a control device is in operative connection with the charging means, which carries out a release of the actuation energy of the energy store upon reaching an energy level corresponding to the actuation energy.

By stored in the energy storage minimum energy can be ensured that the discharge, which is to be achieved with the actuator runs such that the at least one, to be discharged from the medium dispenser medium dosed and distributed properly and independently of operating influences. This is particularly important for liquid, gel or creamy, low to high viscosity media and powdery media, which can be used in each case as, for example, pharmaceutical substances, of crucial importance. The actuating device ensures that the at least one medium stored in a medium dispenser is subjected to a sufficient actuation energy and an advantageous operating speed by the intended dosage and distribution or application of the medium, in particular by a spraying process in an environment to achieve. To ensure an advantageous discharge process, the control device is designed so that a release of the actuation energy can take place, provided that a minimum energy is stored in the energy storage. The actuator ensures that even users who have difficulty in applying the actuation energy, that a proper medium discharge takes place. The user can concentrate on the application of the trigger energy, while the discharge process for the medium proceeds without any further action by the user. Even a slow or uneven or interrupted actuation creates a uniform and precisely metered discharge process. This is particularly important in the design of media dispensers or discharge devices for children, weakened or elderly people. The solution according to the invention is particularly suitable for pharmaceutical, but also for cosmetic media and applications.

By the invention it can be ensured that an admission of the medium with the actuation energy takes place only when the control device causes the release of the actuation energy. This results in a particularly advantageous discharge behavior for the medium dispenser, since at the beginning of the discharge process, the maximum actuation energy is available, so that a very spontaneous medium discharge can take place. By such an arrangement, a compact power flow between the energy storage and acted upon by the actuating energy parts of the medium dispenser or the discharge device ensures a hibernation during the storage of the actuation energy and for the discharge, which is advantageous for the constructive dimensioning. The user acts on the actuating device with a predefinable work, that is, a force to be applied along an actuation path. In this case, the actuation path is the path to be actuated by the user Handle between a neutral position and a release position for the actuating energy travels. The work applied by the user essentially corresponds to the actuating energy stored in the energy store. Upon reaching the constructive predetermined actuation path ensures that the necessary for the proper operation of the medium dispenser or the discharge actuating energy is present, therefore, then the release of the actuation energy can take place. According to the invention, regardless of an operating speed, an operating force of the operator as well as independent of Betätigungswegcharakteristika or Rückhubcharakteristika a constant Dosiervolumen and defined metering properties such as spray pattern, droplet size and the like can be achieved. As a one- or multi-part energy storage in particular mechanical spring storage or pressurized energy storage are provided.

In an embodiment of the invention, the energy level is path-dependent achievable and corresponds to a predetermined operating position of the actuating element. Preferably, the actuating element is liftable, so that the relevant operating position is a predetermined stroke position in which the control device releases the energy store.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the control device has an actuating device for transmitting an actuating movement and a triggering device for controlling the actuating device, which are arranged relative to each other movable and can be brought into operative connection with each other for a release of the actuating energy. The adjusting device can be provided, for example, as an actuator for a pump piston of a medium dispenser or as a receptacle for a medium reservoir or a medium pump in a discharge device. The adjusting device is thus provided for a direct or indirect transfer of the energy stored in the energy storage actuating energy to the medium to be discharged. The triggering device is intended to release the actuation energy to be transmitted by the control device and thus to start the discharge process.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the adjusting device locking means for the positive engagement behind a retaining geometry in the rest position. As a result, a locking of the adjusting device can be achieved until the release of the actuating energy in a simple manner. The holding geometry can be provided, for example, on a wall of a pump cylinder or on a receptacle for a medium dispenser and be configured in particular as an undercut, shoulder or waistband. The locking means occur in the rest position of the adjusting device with the holding geometry in operative connection and thereby ensure a fixed positioning of the adjusting device. The latching means may be designed in particular as latching lugs or latching hooks and connected to solid-state joints with the adjusting device. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the locking means are resiliently biased so that they engage positively in reaching the rest position form fit into the holding geometry without further action.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the triggering device on positively acting unlocking means for controlling the locking means. As a result, a release of the locking means of the adjusting device can be made in a simple and reliable manner. The locking means are at the time of release of the actuation energy under a considerable load. By applying the positively acting unlocking the locking means can be deflected in an advantageous manner from the rest position.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the unlocking means are at least partially wedge-shaped. As a result, an advantageous coordination of the necessary to unlock the locking means actuating travel relative to the forces necessary for unlocking be made. Such a vote is possible in particular via an adjustment of a wedge angle of the unlocking.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the energy storage is provided for storing a kinetic energy by means of elastic deformation. This allows a very simple and compact design of the energy storage. The actuation energy can be stored in particular by elastic deformation of one or more energy storage sections. Preferably, the energy storage is formed by one or more coil springs. Alternatively, bellows springs made of plastic, leaf springs, elastomer elements, coil springs, metallic or non-metallic spring elements and the like may be provided. The energy store can also be designed as a tension element made of an elastic plastic material, in particular of thermoplastic elastomer. For this purpose, in particular a substantially tubular tension element or a tension element made of a plurality of elastomer strands, which are arranged loosely or connected to each other, is suitable. An embodiment of the energy storage as a pressure accumulator for a compressible gas, in particular air, is conceivable. This can be used in a simple manner, a linear movement for the introduction of actuation energy in the energy storage, a similar linear motion can be transmitted in the release of the actuation energy by the control device via the adjusting device to a pump piston of a medium dispenser or a medium storage or a medium pump discharge device , The helical spring may be designed as a linear, degressive, progressive helical spring or a combination thereof in order to achieve an optimum adaptation of the operating force to be applied by the user to the actuating travel.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the energy level for actuating the medium dispenser essentially by a spacing of the locking means of the unlocking means and / or a spring constant the energy storage and / or a bias of the energy storage in the rest position predetermined. By a spacing of the unlocking of the locking means of the actuation path is defined, within which the user exerts the actuating force and thus introduces the corresponding actuation energy in the form of work in the energy storage. The spring constant is determined by the elastic deformation of the energy storage device as a function of the applied force. The bias of the energy storage is that energy that is already stored in the rest position by elastic deformation of the built-in actuator energy storage. By changing one or more of the above-mentioned variables, a constructive influence on the minimum energy that is to be made available for actuating the medium dispenser can be taken.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a second, in particular single or multi-part energy storage is provided, which is designed as a restoring device for the first energy storage. As a result, it can be ensured that, after the discharge of the medium, the actuating device is returned to the rest position, so that a renewed actuation is made possible. The second energy store can be switched in particular in series with the first energy store, so that a release of the stored in the first energy storage actuation energy leads to a storage of energy in the second energy storage. The second energy store can be designed in particular as a helical spring with a low spring constant as the first energy storage.

Preferably, the actuating device is provided with a receiving region for different types of medium dispensers, which in particular have a thrust piston pump and a medium reservoir. Depending on the purpose, the actuator optionally be detachably connected to different media dispensers.

The object underlying the invention is also achieved by a medium dispenser having an actuating device according to the invention. In this case, the actuating device is preferably an integral part of the medium dispenser, in particular the medium pump, which is provided for the discharge of the medium from the medium reservoir. Thereby, a particularly advantageous, user-independent operation of the medium dispenser can be achieved directly by the structural design of the medium dispenser, in particular the medium pump. Compared to the known from the prior art actuators, a reliable distribution of the medium, in particular a nebulization, can be ensured in the actuator according to the invention just at the beginning of a discharge because the actuation of the pumping device is almost abruptly with the defined actuation energy. It is also possible to assign the actuating device to the medium dispenser externally, wherein preferably the medium dispenser and the actuating device are parts of a discharge or metering device.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the energy level can be achieved depending on the power. The energy level can be achieved only force-dependent or combined depending on path and force.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the control device on retaining elements which remain positively secured by static friction forces when charging the energy storage. In a further embodiment of the invention, the adhesion for the retaining elements is selected so that when reaching the energy level to release the actuation energy is a transition from a static friction to a sliding friction. Which by itself at a stationary Function part frictionally supporting retaining elements applied counterforce is chosen so that upon reaching the energy level to release the actuation energy, the retaining elements can no longer be supported by static friction on the stationary functional part, but rather get into a sliding movement, which inevitably causes the desired movement process.

In a further embodiment of the invention, means for influencing frictional forces between the movable retaining elements and a stationary functional part are provided. Depending on the configuration and intended use, friction coefficients or contact angles of retaining elements and / or functional part can be increased or reduced in various embodiments. Common options are different choice of material, roughening or smoothing of adjacent surfaces, coating and the like. An essential possibility is also to match the angle of the contact surfaces of the retaining elements on the stationary functional part so that the desired transition from static to sliding friction takes place. Depending on the design corresponding angle or coefficient of friction, different tripping characteristics can be achieved.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the energy storage is made as a least catchy coil spring made of a plastic material and has at least one integrally molded locking means. The design of the energy storage as a spiral spring made of plastic material, a particularly cost-effective production in the plastic injection molding process and a compact design of the energy storage can be realized. The integrally formed on the coil spring locking means ensures a particularly favorable flow of power between the energy storage and the control device, thereby a simple and reliable design of the actuator can be ensured. As plastic materials, in particular POM (polyoxymethylene), PC (polycarbonate), PP (polypropylene) preferably reinforced, or other engineering plastics are used.

In a further embodiment of the invention, an actuating element for an at least temporary exercise of a tensile force is formed on the coil spring. By utilizing a tensile force to actuate the medium dispenser, a particularly compact design of the energy storage can be achieved. The energy storage is at least substantially unstressed in a resting state and is elastically deformed only upon application of an actuating force to absorb the actuation energy. In contrast to energy storage, which are subjected to compressive forces, no compression space must be provided in an acted upon with tensile forces energy storage, but the charging process of the energy storage with actuation energy takes place by an expansion. Therefore, the energy storage in the rest position occupies a smaller space as in the energetic functional position, resulting in the advantageous, compact design. Furthermore, by designing the energy store for tensile forces, in particular when using creep materials such as plastics, stress relaxation is avoided, which is accompanied by a reduction in the amount of energy that can be stored. A stress relaxation can occur solely by the weight of the energy storage and is reinforced by supported on the energy storage components. The stress relaxation can occur, in particular, in the case of prestressed pressure springs made of creep-capable material materials, which plastically deform under continuous loads. On the other hand, the energy storage capacity which can be loaded on tensile force is at best reduced to its block length in the rest position by its own weight or supported components, that is to say the turns of the spiral spring come into mechanical contact with one another. However, this does not lead to a decrease in its spring force, so that the necessary for an actuation of the medium dispenser Betätigunsenergie reliable in the Energy storage can be cached. This allows the equipped with an energy stores on beastbaren energy storage actuator a particularly advantageous energy transfer from a user via the energy storage on the medium dispenser.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the actuating element is provided for a pivotable receptacle on a housing and has unlocking means for controlling the latching means. By a pivotable mounting of the actuating element on a housing, an advantageous handling of the actuating device can be ensured with one hand. For a medium discharge, the user picks up the actuating device with the aid of the thumb in the palm of his hand and exerts the actuating force on the other fingers of the hand by grasping the actuating device. By a particular one-piece attachment of a locking means on the actuating element, a simple construction and safe operation of the actuator can be ensured.

In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one positive and / or non-positively coupled with a media storage holding area is provided on the coil spring. As a result, an immediate recording of the media storage is made possible without the need for an intermediate adapter, whereby a simple and inexpensive design of the actuator is achieved. The holding region can be designed for frictional transmission of the actuating energy by means of friction forces, for example by a press fit between the coil spring and the medium reservoir. Alternatively or additionally, corresponding geometries can also be provided on the coil spring and the medium reservoir, which enable a transmission of the actuating energy and the associated actuating forces via pressure and / or tensile forces. The corresponding geometries thus ensure positive locking between coil spring and medium reservoir.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the holding region is designed as a piece integrally formed on an end face of the coil spring bottom portion. By a bottom portion a positive connection between a correspondingly shaped region of the medium container and the coil spring is achieved, while the medium container can come in particular with a substantially flat container bottom on the bottom portion of the coil spring to the plant. Thus, a transmission of the actuation energy is made possible essentially by compressive forces. The bottom portion may be formed as a continuous Bodeplatte, as radially inwardly facing, circumferential edge or as an arrangement of radially inwardly projecting projections.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the spiral spring has a wall thickness (xd) which amounts to at least 10% of a coil width (xw). This ensures a favorable relationship between an elasticity and the ability to absorb energy on the one hand and a stability of the spiral spring on the other hand.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the spiral spring has an inner diameter (xi), which corresponds to at least one coil width (xw). This is a particularly favorable ratio between a space occupied by the coil spring space and a storable in the coil spring energy can be achieved.

Fig. 1

in ebener Schnittdarstellung eine Betätigungseinrichtung,

Fig. 2

in ebener Schnittdarstellung eine Austrageinrichtung mit einer Betätigungseinrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 und einem darin eingesetzten Mediumspender in einer Neutralposition,

Fig. 3

in ebener Darstellung die Austrageinrichtung gemäß der Fig. 2 in einer Auslöseposition,

Fig. 4

in ebener Darstellung die Austrageinrichtung gemäß der Fig. 2 und 3 in einer Austragposition,

Fig.5

in ebener, Schnittdarstellung eine in einem Mediumspender integrierte Betätigungseinrichtung ähnlich Fig. 1 in einer Ruheposition,

Fig. 6

in ebener Schnittdarstellung die in einem Mediumspender integrierte Betätigungseinrichtung gemäß der Fig. 5 in einer Auslöseposition,

Fig. 7

in ebener Schnittdarstellung die in einem Mediumspeicher integrierte Betätigungseinrichtung gemäß der Fig. 5 und 6 in einer Endposition des Austragvorgangs,

Fig. 8

in ebener Schnittdarstellung eine Austrageinrichtung in einer Ruheposition ähnlich der Fig. 2 bis 4 mit einem Hebelgetriebe zur Ansteuerung der Betätigungsvorrichtung,

Fig. 9

in ebener Schnittdarstellung eine Ausschnittvergrößerung der Rastmittel und der korrespondierenden Haltegeometrie,

Fig. 10

in ebener Schnittdarstellung eine Austrageinrichtung mit einer von aussen aufgesetzten Betätigungseinrichtung in einer Ruheposition,

Fig. 11

in ebener Schnittdarstellung die Austrageinrichtung gemäß Fig. 10 in einer Auslöseposition,

Fig. 12

in ebener Schnittdarstellung die Austrageinrichtung gemäß der Fig. 10 und 11 in einer Endposition des Austragvorgangs,

Fig. 13

in ebener Schnittdarstellung eine weitere Ausführungsform einer Austrageinrichtung mit einer von aussen aufgesetzten Betätigungseinrichtung in einer Ruheposition,

Fig. 14

in ebener Schnittdarstellung die Austrageinrichtung gemäß Fig. 13 in einer Auslöseposition, und

Fig. 15

in ebener Schnittdarstellung die Austrageinrichtung gemäß der Fig. 13 und 14 in einer Endposition des Austragvorgangs

Fig. 16

in schematischer Darstellung einen als Wendelfeder ausgeführten Energiespeicher und ein daran angepasstes Betätigungselement,

Fig. 17

in schematischer Darstellung eine Draufsicht auf den Energiespeicher und das Betätigungselement gemäß der Fig. 16,

Fig. 18

in ebener Schnittdarstellung eine Austrageinrichtung mit einer Wendelfeder und einem Betätigungselement gemäß der Fig. 16 in einer Ruheposition,

Fig. 19

in ebener Schnittdarstellung die Austrageinrichtung gemäß der Fig. 17 in einer Betätigungsposition vor Auslösung des Mediumaustrags,

Fig. 20

in ebener Schnittdarstellung die Austrageinrichtung gemäß der Fig. 17 und 18 in einer Betätigungsposition nach Auslösung des Mediumaustrags.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the claims and the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which is illustrated by the drawings. Showing:

Fig. 1

in a planar sectional view of an actuating device,

Fig. 2

in a planar sectional view of a discharge device with an actuating device according to FIG. 1 and a medium dispenser inserted therein in a neutral position, FIG.

Fig. 3

in a planar representation of the discharge device according to FIG. 2 in a release position,

Fig. 4

in a planar representation of the discharge device according to FIGS. 2 and 3 in a discharge position,

Figure 5

in a plane, sectional view of an integrated in a medium dispenser actuator similar to FIG. 1 in a rest position,

Fig. 6

in a planar sectional view, the integrated in a medium dispenser actuator according to FIG. 5 in a triggering position,

Fig. 7

in a planar sectional view, the integrated in a medium storage actuator according to FIGS. 5 and 6 in an end position of the discharge,

Fig. 8

in a planar sectional view of a discharge device in a rest position similar to FIG. 2 to 4 with a lever mechanism for controlling the actuator,

Fig. 9

in a planar sectional view, an enlarged detail of the locking means and the corresponding holding geometry,

Fig. 10

in a planar sectional view of a discharge device with an externally mounted actuator in a rest position,

Fig. 11

in a planar sectional view of the discharge device according to FIG. 10 in a release position, FIG.

Fig. 12

in a planar sectional view of the discharge device according to FIGS. 10 and 11 in an end position of the discharge operation,

Fig. 13

in a planar sectional view of another embodiment of a discharge device with an externally mounted actuator in a rest position,

Fig. 14

in a planar sectional view of the discharge device according to FIG. 13 in a release position, and

Fig. 15

in a planar sectional view of the discharge device according to FIGS. 13 and 14 in an end position of the discharge process

Fig. 16

a schematic representation of a designed as a coil spring energy storage and an actuator adapted thereto,

Fig. 17

1 is a schematic representation of a plan view of the energy store and the actuating element according to FIG. 16, FIG.

Fig. 18

in a planar sectional view, a discharge device with a coil spring and an actuating element according to FIG. 16 in a rest position,

Fig. 19

in a planar sectional view of the discharge device according to FIG. 17 in an actuation position before release of the medium discharge,

Fig. 20

in a planar sectional view of the discharge device according to FIGS. 17 and 18 in an actuation position after release of the medium discharge.

The actuating device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 has an outer sleeve 12, an actuating device designed as a retaining device 6, an energy accumulator 4 designed as a helical spring 11 and a triggering device designed as a handle or actuating element 7. The outer sleeve 12 is designed substantially cylindrical and has a provided with a rounded, tapered end with an applicator 16 on. At the applicator 16 an inwardly facing, circumferential locking collar 17 is provided, which is designed for a positive connection with an applicator of a in Figs. 2 to 4 closer illustrated medium dispenser. At an opposite end of the outer sleeve 12, which is designed substantially cylindrical, an inwardly directed stop collar 18 is provided, which serves as an end stop for a linear movement of the handle 7 along a central longitudinal axis 19.

The handle 7 is designed for a positive operative connection with the stop collar 18 as a cylindrical member having two concentric outer diameter ranges, wherein a region having a larger outer diameter is received in a correspondingly designed inner diameter portion of the outer sleeve 12, while a smaller outer diameter portion longitudinally through the stop collar 18 the central longitudinal axis 19 is guided. The handle 7 has an end of the applicator 16 facing an unlocking means 10 running, conical taper of the wall thickness. The unlocking means 10 can cancel as part of the control device 5 after approach of the handle 7 on latching means 8 of the holding device 6 along the actuation path 31 a positive connection of the latching means with a receptacle 12 and thus cause a relative movement between the holding device 6 and receptacle 12. The product of actuating travel 31 and the force necessary for the deformation of the coil spring 11 results in the work to be performed by the user, which is stored in the spiral spring 11 in the form of deformation energy as actuation energy. The coil spring 11 is for this purpose with an inner surface of the handle 7 and a bottom surface of the holding device 6 in operative connection and allows a power transmission between the handle 7 and the holding device 6. The handle 7, which is mounted in a liftable manner within the housing-shaped receptacle 12, together with the receptacle 12 and the holding device 12, the loading means for tensioning the coil spring eleventh

On the handle 7, a guide bush 13 is provided, which is designed for a guide and Ausschlagbegrenzung a relative movement relative to the holding device 6. For this purpose, the guide bush 13 has a circumferential retaining collar 14, which can come into positive-locking operative connection with a peripheral collar of a guide pin 15 attached to the retaining device 6. By the retaining collar 14 and the encircling collar of the guide pin 15 prevents a biasing force that can be exerted by the spiral spring 11 designed as a compression spring on the handle 7 and the holding device 6, can lead to a sliding apart of these parts.

The holding device 6 is designed substantially cylindrical or cup-shaped and has on a cylinder jacket in each case oppositely arranged, pivotable in the radial direction, radially outwardly biased locking means 8, which are designed as snap hooks and are connected by means of solid joints 20 on the holding device 6. The locking means 8 engage behind in a rest position of the holding device 6 designed as a circumferential collar holding geometry 9 of the outer sleeve 12. At a bottom portion of the holding device 6, the guide pin 15 is attached. Through the interaction of the outer sleeve 12, the holding device 6, the energy storage 4 and the Handle 7 is caused by a bias of the energy storage 4 power flow closed, so that no movement takes place in the rest position of the holding device 6 without applying further forces. The bias voltage of the energy store can be low or vanishing in particular.

In the actuator 1, as shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 to 4, a manually operated medium dispenser 2 are used, which consists essentially of a medium container 21 and a medium pump 22 attached thereto. The actuating device 1 and the medium dispenser 2 then form a discharge device. The medium container 21 is designed as a substantially cylindrical hollow body with a closed and an open end. At the open end of the medium container 21, a collar region is provided, on which the medium pump 22 is mounted in a form-fitting manner sealed with sealing means. The medium pump 22 essentially has a first pump section fixedly mounted on the medium container 21 and a second pump section mounted relatively movably thereto.

The medium pump 22 is adapted for use in the actuator 1 such that it has a circumferential groove 23 on the second pump section instead of a finger pad usually mounted there, which can be brought into positive connection with the locking collar 17 of the outer sleeve 12 and thus a power transmission allowed from the outer sleeve 12 to the second pump section. The medium container 21 is received for the application of an actuating force in the holding device 6, which in turn is on the energy storage 4 with the handle 7 in operative connection and thus can be controlled by applying an actuating force. Thus, a relative movement of the second pump section relative to the medium container 21 and the first pump section formed composite, which leads to a discharge of the medium stored in the medium storage.

Between the first and the second pump section of the medium pump 22, a return spring 24 is provided which, in the absence of an actuating force on the medium pump 22, ensures the initial or neutral position between the first and the second pump section shown in FIG. In this initial position, an unspecified pump chamber of the medium pump 22 communicating via a riser 25 is connected to the medium in the container 21 and thus allows an inflow of medium into the pumping chamber. For actuation of the medium pump 22, in addition to frictional forces and a force necessary for pressurizing and overcoming the fluid friction of the medium during the discharge force, the spring force applied by the return spring 24 must be overcome, since the restoring spring 24 is designed as a compression spring.

At one end of the medium dispenser 2 facing away from the actuating device 1 and thus at the second pump section, an applicator 26 designed as a nose olive is provided, which has an unspecified medium guide with a pressure valve 29 and an outlet opening 27 arranged on the front side. By the applicator 26 and the outlet opening 27 provided therein, the medium to be conveyed by the medium pump 22 can be discharged as a fine spray into an environment of the medium dispenser.

Since a dispensing behavior of the medium dispenser which is independent of the actuation of a user is desired, especially when such a medium dispenser is used for the metering of pharmaceutical substances, the actuating device 1, which operates essentially independently of the medium dispenser 2 used, allows a control of the medium dispenser 2 in a predetermined manner and thus independent of a user-individual operation.

While the actuator 1 in the initial position shown in Fig. 2, only an internal power flow between the holding device 6, the energy storage 4 and the handle 7, in Figs. 3 and 4, the action of an external operating force is applied by a user represented. This operating force can be exerted on the actuating device 1, for example, by placing the actuating device 1 with the handle 7 on a surface and then applying an actuating force to the outer sleeve 12 with the user's hand, which results in a compression of the coil spring 11 Energy storage 4 leads. By the compression of the coil spring 11, which is accompanied by a relative movement of the handle 7 relative to the outer sleeve 12, an increase of the force exerted on the bottom of the holding device 6 is effected. Since the holding device 6 is held in a form-fitting manner with the latching means 8 in the holding geometry 9 of the outer sleeve 12, initially no relative movement of the holding device 6 takes place. Thus, the operating force applied by the operator along the actuation path initially merely leads to an increase in the actuation energy stored in the energy store 4 due to the work involved.

Due to the relative movement of the handle 7 relative to the outer sleeve 12 and the form-locking locked holding device 6, the unlocking 10 approach the locking means 8, wherein the design of the coil spring 11 as a linear compression spring, a substantially linear relationship between the approach of the unlocking of the locking means 8 and the introduced into the energy storage 4 actuation energy consists. In an embodiment of the invention, not shown, the energy storage 4 may be designed as a progressive or degressive coil spring, so that a non-linear Relationship between actuation energy and approach between the locking means and the Entriegelungsmitteln may occur.

Only when a maximum force determined by the spring constant of the coil spring 11, the distance of the unlocking means 10 from the locking means 8 and a bias of the coil spring 11 in the neutral position is exerted by the operator on the outer sleeve 12 or on the handle 7, the unlocking means 10 with the locking means 8 in a positive operative connection. The locking means 8 can be brought out of engagement with the retaining geometry 9 of the outer sleeve 12 due to the wedge-shaped outer surfaces and the correspondingly conically shaped locking means 10. In this situation, shown in more detail in Fig. 3, the positive connection between the locking means 8 and the holding geometry 9 is dissolved, whereby a relative movement of the holding device 6 relative to the handle 7 and the outer sleeve is made possible. At this time, the operating energy stored in the energy storage 4 results in a force application of the medium container 21 and the first pump section connected thereto, whereby the return spring 24 of the medium pump 22 is deformed.

The deformation of the return spring allows a relative movement between the first pump section and the second pump section. As a result of this relative movement, the medium contained in the unspecified pumping chamber is compressed and pressed along the unspecified medium channels into the applicator, from where it can be discharged into the environment at a minimum pressure defined by the pressure valve 29 through the discharge opening 27 , The restoring force of the return spring 24 is significantly lower than the pressure force of the coil spring 11, so that the operation of the medium dispenser 2 runs automatically and without further action of a user a desired and user-independent medium discharge takes place. At the end of the medium discharge, the second pump section enters with the first pump section the medium pump 22 in a blocking position shown in Fig. 4, so that no further relative movement between the first and the second pump section is possible. The originally stored in the energy storage 4 actuation energy has been transferred substantially to the return spring 24 and the discharged medium.

Upon release of the actuator 1 by the operator, the energy stored in the return spring 24 is now used to effect recovery of the first pump section relative to the second pump section in the course of another relative movement, with medium being drawn into the pumping chamber (not shown) is pressed by the relative movement between the first and the second pump section of the medium container 21 in the direction of the handle 7, whereby the holding device 6 is returned to the form-locking latched starting position. Since no operating force is exerted on the handle 7 at the same time, it is displaced from the end position shown in FIG. 4 into the neutral position shown in FIG. Thus, the actuator 1 and the medium dispenser 2 total return to the starting position shown in Fig. 2 and are the user for a further discharge of the medium available.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5, the actuating device 101 is integrated in a medium pump 122 of a medium dispenser. The medium pump 122 has a handle 107 for actuation. At the handle 107 unlocking means 110 are provided frontally, which are designed as a cone-shaped widening of the wall of the handle 107. The handle 107 is guided in a cylindrically shaped pump sleeve 141 and, by means of the energy accumulator 104 designed as a spiral spring, is in operative connection with the actuating device designed as a pump piston 142. At a pump piston 142 remote from the end of the handle a discharge opening 127 is provided, which is closed in the rest position by a spring-loaded pressure valve 129. The discharge opening 127 communicates with a medium channel 145 in communicating connection. The medium channel is supported relative to the pump piston 142 and sealed by an O-ring 146. The pump piston 142 has latching means 108, which are locked positively in the rest position in a holding geometry 109 of the pump sleeve 141. A sealing collar 143 designed as a conical ring for limiting a pump chamber 144 formed by the pump sleeve 141 is provided on the pump piston 142. The pump piston 142 is supported by a return spring 124 at the bottom of the pump sleeve 141.

For the following description, for the sake of clarity, only the respectively first figure is provided with all reference numerals in the case of the embodiments shown in a plurality of operating states, while the respective further figures are provided only with the relevant reference symbols.

Upon actuation of the handle 101, starting from the rest position shown in FIG. 5, a relative movement between the handle 107 and the pump sleeve 141 and the pump piston 142 shown in FIG. 6 first takes place. As a result, the energy storage 104 designed as a spiral spring is supplied with work which is stored as deformation energy. A relative movement of the pump piston 142 relative to the pump chamber does not take place at this time, so that the medium located in the pump chamber 144 is substantially depressurized. As a result of the relative movement of the handle 107, an approach of the unlocking means 110 to the latching means 108 takes place, which in the event of a sufficient actuating travel, as shown in more detail in FIG. 6, come into operative connection and lead to a resolution of the positive connection between the latching means 108 and the holding geometry 109 , At this time, the maximum actuation energy is contained in the energy storage, which comes with the triggering of the pump piston 142 through the unlocking 110 leads to a relative movement of the pump piston 142 relative to the pump sleeve 141 and thereby causes a sudden pressure increase in the pump chamber 144. The pressurized medium is pressed in the medium channel 145 of the handle 107, since it can not escape from the pump chamber 144 in any other way. Due to the increased pressure of the medium, the pressure valve 129 is actuated and allows the medium to escape through the discharge opening. As soon as the first energy store is in an equilibrium of forces with the second energy store 124 designed as a return spring, the discharge process ends and the actuating device assumes the final state shown in FIG. The user can now reduce the actuating force on the handle, so that the substantially relaxed first energy storage 104 can be pressed by the second energy storage 124 together with the pump piston 142 back to its rest position, the positive connection of the locking means 108 is restored with the holding geometry 109 , With the return of the pump piston 142 in the rest position medium is sucked via the riser 125 from a medium container, not shown, so that the pump chamber 144 is filled for a renewed discharge process with medium and the starting position is taken as shown in FIG.

In an embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 8, which is constructed similarly to the embodiment described in FIGS. 1 to 4, an actuation of the actuating element 207 takes place by means of an actuating lever 246. The actuating lever 246 is snapped onto a pivot pin 247 connected to the outer sleeve 212 and aligned orthogonally to the central longitudinal axis 219 by means of a latching or clip connection 250 and thus mounted so as to be pivotable relative to the outer sleeve 212. Connected to the clip connection 250 is a run-off path 248 designed as a circular arc segment, which is provided for transmitting the actuating movement, which can be introduced into the hand lever 249, onto the actuating element 207. By the process path 248, which can also be designed deviating from a circular arc segment shape, a low-friction transmission of the actuating movement is ensured on the actuator 207 in a simple manner.

In FIG. 9, which shows a detail enlargement of the detail X shown in FIG. 8, retaining means 208 and the corresponding retaining geometry 209 of the actuating device 201 according to FIG. 8 are shown in greater detail. A triggering behavior of the control device 205 is substantially determined by the geometric configuration of the retaining means 208 and the retaining geometry 209. In particular, the orientation of a contact surface 252 of the retaining means 208 that comes into operative connection with one another and a holding surface 253 of the retaining geometry 209 may be mentioned as influencing variables on the tripping behavior. Furthermore, the geometric configuration of the active surface 251 facing the unlocking means 210 and a corresponding angle γ as well as the choice of materials, the dimensioning of the solid joints 220 and the use of solid or liquid lubricants are also important. The contact surface 252 and the holding surface 253 are aligned in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 in such a way that they enter into operative connection in the illustrated rest state and an angle α of the latching surface 252 and an angle δ of the holding surface 253 relative to a radial plane 254 are identical. Be the angle α and / or the angle increases δ, as a force in the control device 205, which is introduced substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane 254, a greater normal force component F _N acts upon initiation of the spring force F _F of the resiliently biased solid joint 220 counter, so that, if appropriate, a release of the retaining means can take place before a forced release by the unlocking means 210. In an embodiment of the invention which is not shown, the unlocking means is even completely dispensed with, so that a completely force-controlled triggering of the actuating energy by the control device is made possible. A by the angle α and δ and the elastic properties of the solid state joint 220 substantially specific tripping characteristic of the control device can also be determined by sliding properties of the interconnected in operative connection surfaces of the latching means 208 and the holding means 209. For this purpose, both a sliding coating of one or both surfaces or the use of lubricants can be provided to allow a more spontaneous triggering. Alternatively, one or both surfaces can also be provided with a coating to increase the static and / or sliding friction in order to bring about a slower response of the control device 205. Another parameter for the tripping characteristic of the control device 205 is the latching depth 255, which describes how large the overlap of the latching means 208 with the holding means 209 is. The smaller the detent depth 255, the more spontaneous the triggering characteristic of the control device.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, an actuating device 301 is attached to a substantially commercially available applicator 326 of a discharge device. The actuator 301 is designed such that it can be attached to the applicator 326 without significant structural changes and is substantially independent of the applicator 326 is functional. Only a circumferential annular shoulder 355 of the applicator 326 is used by the actuator 301 for power support during the charging process of the energy storage 304. The actuating device 301 has an actuating element 307 embodied as a cylindrical handle with a finger support surface 356, which is provided with likewise cylindrically designed unlocking means 310 integrally integrated in the actuating element 307, which are arranged concentrically with the sleeve-shaped outer contour of the actuating element 307. The actuating element 307 is in operative connection with a holding sleeve 357 designed as a holding device, a spiral spring 311 for storing and transmitting an actuating energy is provided by the actuating element 307 on the receiving sleeve 357. The actuator 307 has to limit a relative movement relative to the receiving sleeve 357 on an inwardly facing, circumferential stop collar 318, which enters into operative connection with an outwardly directed boundary collar 358 in a rest position of the actuator of FIG. On a side facing away from the actuating element 307 end face of the receiving sleeve 357 locking means 308 are resiliently mounted, which are supported on the circumferential annular shoulder 355 of the applicator. The locking means 308 are designed as tapered circular arc segments.

For an actuation of the operatively connected to the actuator 301 applicator for discharging a medium, an operating force on the finger rest 356 along the central longitudinal axis 319 is exerted by a user, not shown. This results in an introduction of force into the coil spring 311, which deforms elastically and allows relative movement between the actuating element 307 and the receiving sleeve 357 statically supported on the annular shoulder 355. In this case, the stop collar 318 slides along a cylindrical outer surface of the receiving sleeve 357, while the unlocking means 310, which are integrally attached to the actuating element, are guided in a ring slot 359 formed by the receiving sleeve 357 and move in the direction of the latching means 308. As soon as the operator has introduced a minimum energy into the coil spring 311, the unlocking means 310 can interact with the latching means 308, as shown in FIG. 11. This results, as already described for the preceding embodiments of the invention, to a sliding movement of the locking surfaces 352 on the support surfaces 353, which leads to a force component substantially orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis 319 and thus causes an outwardly directed deflection of the locking means 308. Thus, the locking means 308 can no longer be supported on the annular shoulder 355 of the applicator and in the Coil spring 311 stored actuation energy leads to a movement of the receiving sleeve 357. Since the receiving sleeve 357 via a locking collar 317 is in operative connection with the applicator 326, this is acted upon by the movement of the receiving sleeve 357 with the actuating force and causes the desired medium discharge.

In the embodiment of an actuating device 401 shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, which represents a modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, an actuating lever 446 is provided, which enables a force transmission to the actuating element 407 via a travel path 448. In a departure from the embodiment of FIGS. 10 to 12, no elastically mounted locking means are provided in the actuating device 401 shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, but rather a sliding control 461 with a control bar 462 and a retaining wedge 463 is provided. While the control bar is connected to the actuating lever 446, the retaining wedge 463 is attached to the receiving sleeve 457. The control bar 462 has a surface facing the retaining wedge 463 with a circular section-shaped rounding. The radius of this rounding corresponds to the distance of the control bar 462 to the pivot point 464 of the actuating lever 446, the center of the rounding is also located in the pivot point 464. This ensures a favorable sliding of the control bar 462 relative to the retaining wedge 463 upon movement of the actuating lever 446.

Upon actuation of the operating lever 446 by a user, not shown, the control bar occurs by the rotation of the actuating lever 446 about the pivot point 464 in a form shown in detail in FIG. 14 form-locking operative connection with the retaining wedge 463. The introduced via the operating lever 446 in the actuator 408 Actuation energy is stored in the same manner as in the embodiment according to FIGS. 10 to 12 in the energy storage, not shown here. Since there is a positive connection between the control bar 462 and the retaining wedge 463, which with the retaining wedge 463rd provided receiving sleeve 457 perform no movement. The introduced actuation energy is therefore stored in the energy store until a rotation of the actuating lever has taken place so far that, as shown in more detail in FIGS. 14 and 15, the positive connection between control bar 462 and retaining wedge 463 is resolved by complete sliding and the Recording sleeve 457 is moved by the action of the stored actuation energy with entrainment of the applicator 426 and generating a medium discharge relative to the medium storage, not shown.

The energy store 504 shown in FIG. 16 is made as a helical spring 511 from a resilient plastic material and has a substantially tubular cross-section. The spiral spring 511 is designed as a tension spring and is provided in an end region with a profiled transverse groove 568, which is provided for the positive reception of a tie rod 569 of an actuating element 507. Tensile forces can be transmitted from the helical spring 511 or to the helical spring 511 via the tie rod 569. In an embodiment of the invention, not shown, the coil spring is integrally connected to the actuating element via an integrally formed flexurally elastic tie rod, which is in particular provided with film hinges, whereby a particularly advantageous manufacture and assembly of the energy storage is ensured.

The turns of the helical spring 511 are spaced from each other in the rest position according to FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 by a helically shaped, circumferential gap 571, wherein a width xs of the gap 571 is substantially smaller than a width xw of the winding 570 In the present embodiment, gap xs is approximately 20% of the width xw of the winding. An inner diameter of the coil spring xi is approximately 2 times the width xw of the winding. An outer diameter of the coil spring xa is approximately 2.2 times the width xw of the winding, so that a material thickness xd of the winding is approximately the width xs of the gap and thus corresponds to approximately 20% of the width xw of the winding.

While the coil spring 511 shown in FIGS. 16 to 20 is designed as a single-turn coil spring, in a non-illustrated embodiment of the invention, a multi-start coil spring can be provided with several helical thread-like columns after the manner of a multiple thread.

The actuating element 507 has, according to FIG. 16, a substantially U-shaped cross section, wherein a tie rod 569 is attached to legs 572 at the end, while the second leg 572 is provided with a projection 576 in an end region. Mounted on a base 574 of the actuator 507 is a mandrel 577 oriented substantially parallel to the legs 572 and 573 and intended to interact with the detent 566 of the coil spring 511. At a transition region between the base 574 and legs 572, a pivot 575 is mounted, which is provided for a pivotable mounting of the actuating element on a housing part of a medium dispenser. As shown in more detail in FIG. 17, the legs 572 are split fork-shaped starting from the pivot 575 and thus allow the medium pump to encompass, as shown in FIGS. 18 to 20.

At one of the transverse groove 568 facing away from the end of the coil spring 511 is shown in FIGS. 18 to 20 in more detail, circumferential and radially inwardly directed annular collar 565 is provided which is an integrally formed bottom portion and for the positive reception of a in Figs to 20 illustrated medium container 521 is provided. A mounted on a flexurally elastic support portion 567 locking lug 566 is integrally formed as a locking means on the coil spring 511.

The medium dispenser 502 according to FIGS. 18 to 20 is equipped with the spiral spring 511 and the actuating element 505 according to FIGS. 16 and 17 and has a medium pump 522 provided with a medium container 521. The medium pump 522 corresponds in its construction essentially to the medium pump according to FIGS. 2 to 4, for which reason reference is made to the associated description sections for details. The medium dispenser 502 is equipped with a housing 578 which encloses the medium container 521 and the medium pump 522, with the exception of the applicator 526. The actuator 507 is pivotally received on the housing 578 at a bearing 579 and thus allows transmission of a user applied to the base 574 operating force on the coil spring 511.

In a rest position shown in FIG. 18, the latching lug 566 of the coil spring 511 designed as latching means is in a latching position with a holding geometry 509 of the housing 578, so that the initiation of an actuating force on the actuating element 507 initially only results in an expansion of the tension spring Spiral spring 511 leads. By contrast, the portion of the helical spring 511 provided with the catch nose 566 and the medium container 521 positively coupled via the annular collar 565 remain in the rest position.

When the operating force exerted on the base 574 of the actuating element 507 is increased, there is an increasing elastic deformation of the coil spring 511 in the direction of the applicator 526, which manifests itself as a length expansion of the coil spring 511. Since due to the substantially dimensionally stable design of the actuating element 507 by the length expansion of the coil spring 511 results in a pivoting movement of the actuating element 507 about the bearing 579, the mandrel 577 approaches the locking lug 566 at. Once a minimum extension of the coil spring 511 is reached, which is the for Since there is a direct relationship between the elongation of the coil spring 511, the applied operating force and the deformation energy stored in the coil spring 511, it is ensured that the latching lug 566 does not come into contact with the latching spring 566 can then be urged by the mandrel 577 from the detent position with the housing 578, when one of the minimum elongation of the coil spring 511 corresponding minimum force is applied by the operator. This situation is illustrated in FIG. 19, in which the mandrel 577 urges the latching nose 566 out of the latching position with the housing 578.

Once the mandrel 577 has solved the positive connection of the detent 566 with the housing 578, the coil spring 511 can return the stored by the elastic deformation actuation energy by a recovery in the unstretched state of the medium pump 522, which via the medium container 521 with the annular collar 565th the coil spring 511 is connected and supported on the housing 578. This results in the desired medium discharge from the outlet opening 527 of the applicator 526, which takes place at least substantially independently of the user. In order to prevent an undesired further movement of the actuating element 507 after release of the latching nose 566, the second leg 573 of the actuating device 507 is designed such that it runs onto an inner wall of the housing 578 immediately after release of the latching lug 566 and thus further movement of the actuating element 507 prevented.

Once the user reduces the operating force on the actuator 507, the coil spring 511 is moved by its own weight and by the weight of the medium pump 522 and the medium container 521 and optionally by a return spring, not shown, back into the rest position shown in FIG. In this movement, the locking connection between the housing 578 and the latching nose 566 is restored and the actuating element 507 is also pivoted back to the rest position according to FIG. 18. The projection 576 bounds in operative connection with the housing 578, the pivoting movement of the Betätigungselelents 507. Thus, the medium dispenser 502 is available for a renewed discharge of the medium.

In a non-illustrated embodiment of the invention, a repeal of the positive connection between the locking means of the holding device and the outer sleeve is provided by means of a separate triggering device, which can only be triggered when the handle has been brought into a biased position, so that the proper Discharge of the medium necessary actuating energy is available. In this embodiment of the invention, not shown, a temporal separation between the introduction of the actuating energy into the energy storage and the triggering of the discharge process is thus achieved.

In one embodiment, not shown, of the invention designed as a coil spring energy storage is integrally formed on the medium container, which can be a particularly cost-effective actuator realize.

Claims (21)

Actuating device for a manually operable medium dispenser having an energy store (4, 104, 204, 304, 404) for storing an actuating energy necessary for actuating the medium dispenser, and means (6, 106, 206, 306, 406, 7, 107, 207, 307, 407) for charging the energy accumulator with the actuation energy depending on a manual movement of an actuation element,
characterized in that
with the Lademittein a control device (5, 105, 205, 305, 405) is in operative connection, which carries out a release of the actuation energy of the energy store upon reaching an energy level corresponding to the actuation energy. Actuating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy level is path-dependent achievable and corresponds to a predetermined operating position of the actuating element. Actuating device according to claim 2, characterized in that the actuating element is mounted linearly movable, and that the actuating position corresponds to a stroke position of the actuating element. Actuating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device has an adjusting device (6, 142, 206) for transmitting an adjusting movement and a triggering device (7, 107, 207, 307, 407) for controlling the adjusting device, which are arranged relative to each other movable and for a release of the actuation energy can be brought together in operative connection. Actuating device according to claim 4, characterized in that the actuator locking means (8, 108, 208, 308) for positively engaging behind a holding geometry (9, 109, 209, 355) in the rest position, are biased, in particular resiliently. Actuating device according to claim 4, characterized in that the triggering device has positively acting unlocking means (10, 110, 210, 310) for controlling the latching means. Actuating device according to claim 6, characterized in that the unlocking means are designed wedge-shaped at least in sections. Actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy store is provided for storing a kinetic energy by means of elastic deformation. Actuating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy level for actuating the medium dispenser is at least substantially defined by a spacing of the locking means of the unlocking means and / or a spring constant of the energy store and / or a spring bias of the energy store in the rest position. Actuating device according to claim 1, characterized in that a second energy store (24, 124) is provided, which is designed as a restoring device for the first energy store. Actuating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy level is force-dependent achievable. Actuating device according to claim 11, characterized in that the control device retaining elements (208) which remain positively secured by static friction forces when charging the energy storage. Actuating device according to claim 12, characterized in that the adhesion for the retaining elements is selected so that when reaching the energy level to release the actuation energy, a transition from a static friction to a sliding friction. Actuating device according to claim 13, characterized in that means (252, 253) are provided for influencing frictional forces between the movable retaining elements and a stationary functional part. Actuating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy store as at least one catchy coil spring (511) is made of a plastic material and that at least one latching means (566) is integrally formed on the coil spring. Actuating device according to claim 15, characterized in that an actuating element (507) is designed for an at least temporary exercise of a tensile force on the coil spring. Actuating device according to claim 16, characterized in that the actuating element for a pivotable Receiving in a housing (578) is provided and unlocking means (577) for controlling the locking means. Actuating device according to claim 17, characterized in that on the coil spring at least one positive and / or non-positively coupled with a medium storage holding area (565) is provided. Actuating device according to claim 18, characterized in that the holding region is designed as integrally formed on an end face of the coil spring bottom portion. Actuating device according to claim 15, characterized in that the helical spring has a wall thickness (xd) which amounts to at least 10% of a helix width (xw). Actuating device according to claim 15, characterized in that the helical spring has an inner diameter (xi) which corresponds to at least one helix width (xw).

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